'Ill 9961

'Y^lLIE-WJMWIEiasninf-

Gift of
JOHN HOWARD WEBSTER, Y '6
1930

^4^A^A/\UA^

HISTORY OF

THE WESTERN RESERVE

BY
HARRIET TAYLOR UPTON

H. G. CUTLER
Editor of the Lewis Publishing Company
And a staff of Leading Citizens collaborated on
the Counties and Biographies

ILLUSTRATED

VOL. I

19 10
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO NEW YORK

r'

Copyright 1910
BY
HARRIET TAYLOR UPTON

DEDICATION.
/ dedicate these volumes to my father, who believes
that since women, as well as men, were and are the
builders of our Commonwealth, they are entitled to all
its rights and privileges. I am thankful to him for
pointing out this great truth.

INTRODUCTION.
In writing this homely history of a vigorous, pros
perous people, the author has purposely kept away
from usual lines. The reader will find little geology,
topography, or zoology ; little of that which is mili
tary or political ; but instead, the home life of the
pioneers and the domestic, conditions of today are
treated in great fulness.
Women, as well as men, laid the foundation of the
Western Reserve and helped build its walls, and no.
work which neglects to take notice of. this fact is a
history, any more than one dealing only with woman's
acts would be history.
To mention the names of those who have aided in
gathering facts or verifying statements, or to give a
list of books read and authorities quoted, would be
an endless task. The author has used freely all the
information she was able to procure, and hereby
acknowledges her indebtedness.
If she has been able to make any newcomers or any
young people realize the debt they owe the people
who first felled the forests, first turned the sod and
built the highways andjiomes, she will be repaid fully
for her two years' work.
Harriet Taylor Upton.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I- — ^len and Women Colonizers  i
II. — Connecticut Stretches Westward  7
III. — Pioneers of New Connecticut  17
IV. — Surveyors of the Western Reserve  27
V. — Reserve Settled and Mapped  37
VI. — Organization of Counties  56
VIL— Mail Routes and Post Offices   60
VIII. — Roadways and Waterways  69
IX. — Famous Men of.the Reserve  75
X. — Judicial and Legislative  91
XI. — Defense of the Reserve  97
XII. — Men and Women of the Civil War  107
XIIL — Religious Organizations  121
XIV. — The Old Western Reserve Bank  135
XV. — Press of the Western Reserve  138
XVI. — First Cemeteries of the Reserve  143
XVII. — -Schools of the Reserve  145
XVIII. — Medicine and Surgery  148
XIX. — ^Trumbull County  150
XX. — Lorain County  223
XXI. — ^Lake County  265
XXII. — Geauga County  307
XXIII. — Summit County  334
XXIV.— Medina County  364
XXV. — Erie County  390
XXVI. — Huron County  422
XXVII. — Cuyahoga County  461
XXVHL— Ashtabula County  528
XXIX. — Mahoning County  585
XXX. — Portage County  634

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

TITLE PAGE
Map of the Western Reserve (facing) ... i
Development of the Western Reserve
(three maps)  ,  6
Development of Ohio Counties (four
maps)  i6
Pioneers' Route from Connecticut  20
General Moses Cleaveland  26
Upper Dam and Water Works, Warren . . 30
Judge Kingsbury's House (1800)  37
Centennial Log Cabin  44
A Cabin Fire-place  45
Spinning Wheels for Wool and Flax  46
Centralized School and First Brick High
School  49
A "Dutch Oven"  50
Old-Time Household Utensils  S3
Simon Perkins' Home and Land Office. . . 61
Map of Western Reserve (1829)  73
Early Ohio Governors from the Reserve . . 83
Joshua R. Giddings  88
The Perry Monument, Cleveland  102
James A. Garfield  106
William McKinley  108
House of General William B. Hazen  1 1 1
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Rouse  117
Floral Hall, Qeveland Sanitary Fair  118
Rutherford B. Hayes  120
Old Methodist Church, Warren  125
Mormon Temple at Kirtland  130
Old Western Reserve Bank, Warren  133
Main Street, Warren (about 1848)  141
Old Austin House  160
Old James Scott House, Warren  162
Old Graeter House, Warren  164
John Lowrey's Saloon, 1807, Warren. . . . 168
Dana Musical Institute, Warren  lyi
The Kinsman Homestead, Warren  177

TITLE PAGE
Iddings' Map of Warren, 1816  179
Kinsman Church, Warren  183
Old and Present Court Houses of Trum
bull County  187
Old Engine House (site of City Park),
Warren  199
McKinley's Birthplace, Niles  211
Seven Churches of Niles  213
Chalker High School, Southington  217
Lorain County Court House, Elyria  222
Soldiers' Monument, Elyria  230
Historic Elm, Oberlin  232
First Congregational Church, Oberlin .... 233
Finney Memorial Chapel, Oberlin College 236
Peters Hall, Oberlin College  238
Talcott Hall, Oberlin College  240
Warner Hall, Oberlin College  241
Oberlin College Campus and Vicinity,
1858  243
American Ship Building Company's
Docks, Lorain  248
South Lorain Steel Works  250
St. Mary's Church, Lorain  255
"Gray Canyon" Quarry, Amherst  258
Lake County's Court House, Painesville . . 264
Old Lake County Court House, Painesville 265
Charter Oak Park and Paine Statue,
Painesville  271
Samuel Huntington House, Fairport  273
Old and New Bridges, Painesville  275
Painesville City Infirmary  277
Rider's Tavern, Painesville  279
Painesville High School  280
Public Square, Painesville  281
Main Buildings, Lake Erie College,
Painesville  283
viii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IX

TITLE PAGE
Mary Evans and Luette P. Bentley, Lake
Erie College  286
Bentley Hall of Science, Lake Erie Col
lege  287
Murray Library, Lake Erie College  289
Fairport Light House, Lake County  292
Union School, Willoughby  295
Birthplace of Joseph Smith, Jr., Kirtland. 302
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Madison .... 304
A Geauga County Sugar Camp  309
Geauga County Court House, Chardon. . . 311
Century Inn, Middlefield  316
Geauga Seminary, Chesterland  317
Grammar and High Schools, Chardon . . . 320
Old Hudson Residence, Hudson  336
House Built by John Brown, Hudson  338
Old Western Reserve College, Hudson . . . 342
Cuyahoga Falls Water Power, Summit
County  348
Main Street Looking North, Akron  353
Buchtel College Buildings, Akron  356
Summit County's Old and New Court
Houses, Akron  361
Medina County Court House  365
B. & O. Bridge at Lodi  370
Bee Supplies Plant, A. I. Root & Com
pany, Medina  373
Taylor's Inn, Lodi  376
Chippewa Lake, Medina County  378
Erie County Court House  390
First Engine Built in Sandusky, or the
West  399
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Sandusky. . . 408
Confederate Cemetery, Johnson's Island. . 410
Great Glacial Grooves, Kelley's Island. . . . 413
Almon Ruggles' House, Ruggles Beach. . 417
Old Canal Basin, Milan  419
Thomas A. Edison at His Birthplace,
Milan  420
Huron County Court House  422
Ruggles Map of the Fire Lands, i8i8'. . . . 424
Old Pioneers of Huron County  425
Old Huron County Jail (1819), Norwalk. 426
Old and New Episcopal Churches, Nor
walk  428
Platt Benedict (aged 75 years)  429

TITLE PAGE
H. C. Gallup  433
Museum of Firelands Historical Society,
Norwalk  434
East Main Street (1854), Norwalk  435
First Engine from Norwalk to Huron .... 436
Bellevue High School  441
Pearl Street, Chicago Junction  444
West Main Street, New London  446
Park and School House, New London . . . 447
Huron River View, Monroeville  448
Old Covered Bridge near Monroeville .... 450
Map of Cleveland (showing annexations) 462
Seth Pease Map of Cleveland (1796) .... 466
Seth Pease  467
Franklin House, Qeveland  469
Amos Spaiiford Map of Cleveland (1796) . 470
First Court House, Cleveland  472
Map of Cleveland in 1814  474
Four Qeveland Pioneers  476
Cleveland in 1833  479
John W. Willey, First Mayor of Cleveland 480
Cleveland Harbor in 1849  481
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Cleve
land  495
Lincoln Lying in State, Cleveland Public
Square  500
Garfield Memorial and Hanna Mauso
leum, Lake View Cemetery  504
Cleveland in 1833  506
Edwin Cowles  509
Rockefeller's Boyhood and Present
Homes, Cleveland  520
T. L. Johnson Residence, Cleveland  522
Marcus A. Hanna  524
River Scene at Ashtabula  529
Ashtabula County Court House  532
Old Bridge at Mechanicsville  542
Soldiers' Monument, Ashtabula  558
Port of Ashtabula ( 1873)  560
Ore Docks at Conneaut  563
Andover Band (about 1856)  565
Benjamin F. Wade  (facing) 572
First Spencerian Writing School, Geneva . 578
Ingersoll's Boyhood Home, Ashtabula. .. 579
Mahoning County Court House  585
Trinity M. E. Church, Youngstown  589

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

TITLE PAGE
Remains of the Old "Yellow Creek Fur
nace"  593
A Manufacturing Section of Youngstown 599
Lake Cohasset, Mill Creek Park, Youngs
town  601
Reuben McMillan Free Public Library,
Youngstown  622
West Federal Street, from Public Square,
Youngstown  626
The Mygatt Homestead, Canfield  628
Swallow House (Old Hotel), Poland. . . . 630
Building where First Court in Portage
was Held, Ravenna  640
McClintock Saw Mill, Garrettsville  644
Garrett Home, Garrettsville; Campbell
House, Campbellsport  646
Almeda A. Booth  656

TITLE PAGE
Hiram College (Original Building)  662
Hiram College and Campus  666
Old Court House and Jail, Ravenna
(1865)  670
William R. Day  672
Sheldon Residence, Aurora. .. (opposite) 675
Old School House and Woolen Mill, Gar
rettsville  683
Mr. and Mrs. E. Garrett  685
Old Feeder Dam, Cuyahoga River,
Ravenna  701
Public Square and Chestnut Street,
Ravenna  703
Riddle Coach and Hearse Factory,
Ravenna  705
J. C. Beatty  707

INDEX

Abbey, George, 1355.
Abbey, Horace, 1214.
Abrams, John A., 1502.
Adams, Asahel, Jr. (mail carrier), 62.
Adams, Aseal E., 1554.
Adams, Eugene E., 1688.
Adams, Harry W., 1126.
Adams, Martin G., 1688.
Adgate, John H., 153.
Agler, Walter E., 1722.
Aiken, David H., 1283.
Ainger, Charles D., 1376.
Ainger, Charles E., 1488.
Akron — ^Founding of, 351; first house, 352; early
expansion, 352; first railroad, 352; the canal;
353; present city, 353; industries, 354; Buchtel
College; 356; famous Akron school law, 362.
Akron School Law, 362.
Albert, Harvey E., 1616.
Albert, John M., 1693.
Alcorn, A. W., 672.
Alderman, Elsworth A., 1151.
Alderman, Florence L., 1151.
Alford, Darius M., 1434.
Alger, Eussell A., 389.
Allen, James S., 1035.
Alvord, George W., 872.
Alvord & Peters Company, Sandusky, 405.
American House, Warren, 170.
Amherst — Great industry of the Cleveland Stone Com
pany, 259; famous Amherst sandstone, 259; Post
master General Hitchcock, 259.
Amherst sandstone, 259.
Amidon, Henry N., 1703.
Anderson, George F., 1780.
Anderson, George S., 1395.
Anderson, John J., 1700.
Anderson, Eobert, 984.
Andover — Its mineral springs, 565.
' ' Andover Citizen, ' ' 555.
Andress, Henry M., 1813.
Andrews, Chauncey H., 1624.
Andrews, Ebenezer, 1558.
Andrews, Eleanor, 1558.
Andrews, Louisa B., 1626.
Andrews, Norraan (and family), 609.
Andrews, Stanley C, 1087.
Andrews, death of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace C, 296.
Andrew's Institute for Girls, Willoughby, 296.
Arms, Charles D., 615.
Arms, Freeman, 615.
Arms, Myron I., 1551.
Arms family, 615.
Arndt, Henry F., 1248.
Arrel, George F., 612.
Artman, William E., 1223.
Artress, Thomas H., 1632.

Ashtabula — Town in 1837, 537; early history, by H.
L. Morrison, 546; newspapers, 552; high prices of
1855, 557; schools, 557; soldiers' monument,
558; the terrible railroad disaster, 558; present
city, 559; enormous ore port, 560.
Ashtabula Academy, 558.
Ashtabula county — Postmasters, 66; "Mary Esther"
county, 528 ; first settlers and home builders, 529 ;
Jefferson, the county seat, 531; first court house,
532; disastrous southern migration, 533; judges
and noted cases, 533; first births and deaths,
534; agriculture and industries, 535; first grist
and saw mills, 535 ; first marriages, 537 ; towns in
1837, 537; early settlers by towns, 541; first
schools, 541 ; Grand Eiver Institute, 542 ; physi
cians, 545; early Ashtabula, 546; congressmen,
549; first churches and missionaries, 549; news
papers, 552; Ashtabula (present city), 559; early
settlers of Geneva, 561; Conneaut, 562; Andover,
565; Joshua E. Giddings, 566; Benjamin P.
Wade, 572; the Howellg family, 576; Platt E.
Spencer, 577; Eobert Ingersoll, 578; women art
ists, 582.
Ashtabula railroad disaster, 558.
"Ashtabula Eecorder, " 552.
"Ashtabula Sentinel," 554.
Ashtabula soldiers' monument, 558.
"Ashtabula Telegraph," 554.
Atkin, George, 1051.
Atkins, Nancy C, 895.
Atkins, Quintus, 579.
Atwater, Amzi, 34, 691.
Atwater, Caleb, 637.
Atwater township, Trumbull county, 41, 674.
Aurora township, Portage county, 675.
Austin, Benajah, 159.
Austin, Enos, 170.
Austin, Harmon, 160.
Austin, John, 1061.
Austin, Milo A., 819.
Austin, Eaymond W., 1643.
Austinburg — In 1837, 537 ; first school, 541 ; churches.
550.
Austintown tovvnship, Mahoning county, 628.
Avery, C. A., 285, 288.
Avery, Catherine H. T., 489.
Avery, Elroy M., 1427.
Axtell, Manley W., 1710.
Babcock, Allison H., 1344.
Babcock, Betsey E., 1133.
Babcock, Charles, 1350.
Babcock, Horace C, 1147.
Babcock, James W., 1256.
Babcock, Joseph C, 920.
Babcock, John F., 969.
Babcock, Julia G., 1624.

XI

Xll

INDEX

Bacon, Augustus H., 1489.
Bacon, Calista A., 998.
Bacon, Constant S., 998.
Bacon, David (and his colony), 350.
Bacon, William S., 1764.
Badger, Joseph, 123.
BaUey, David L., 1050.
Bailey, George B., 1833.
Bainbridge township, Geauga county, 320.
Baker, Adolphus, 1720.
Baker, Cyrus H., 1421.
Baker, David, 1117.
Baker, Elbert H., 511.
Baker, Willard M., 1454.
Baldwin, Alonzo G., 1263.
Baldwin, Columbus J., 1607.
Baldwin, Cornelius, 694.
Baldwin, David C, 934.
Baldwin family, 931.
Baldwin family, Youngstown, 615.
Baldwin, Harvey, 337, 1199.
Baldwin, Seymour W., 931.
Baldwin, Stephen, 694, 1855.
Baldwin papers, 650.
Baldwins of Hudson, 337.
BaUantine, William G., 239.
Bancroft, George H., 1743.
Bancroft, Lysander M., 1315.
Banks and Banking — First Western Eeserve bank,
135; Union National bank, Warren, 135; stock
holders and directors of old Western Eeserve
bank, 136.
Barber, Allen A., 870.
Barber, Frank W., 879.
Barber, Ohio C, 1532.
Barberton — Founded by Ohio C. Barber, 357 ; its great
industries, 358.
Barclay, George D., 981.
Barclay, John E., 1362.
Barclay, Marie G., 1376.
Bardwell, Seth E., 1564.
Barnard, Bertie A., 868.
Barnard, James B., 1738.
Barnard, Eoy W., 1493.
Barnard, Samuel G., 866.
Barnes, Frank, 1004.
Barnes, Harley, 999.
Barnett, James, 115, 1760.
Barnum, James Mitchell, 76.
Barr, Thomas, 603.
Barrows, John H., 240.
Bartholomew, Leander, 837.
Basore, William H., 1427.
Bassett, Adelia W., 910.
Bassett, Edward W., 910.
Bates, George A., 1102.
Bates, Ira, 1712.
Bates, Miner L., 1720.
Bath township. Summit county, 359.
Battle of Lake Erie, 101, 473.
Battles, Mary M., 1510.
Beans, Allen M., 973.
Bear, Abraham, 1776.
Beard, Mrs. Harriet W., 306.
Beard, James H., 305.
Beard, William H., 305.
Beatty, John C, 706, 916.
Beaver, John F., 195.
Beehtel, Henry C, 1797.
Bechtel, John C, 1798.
Beck, Frederick, 1136.

Beck, George S., 1034.
Beck, Henry A., 1174.
Beck, Joseph L., 1034.
Beckley, Willis J., 1202.
Bedford — Present village, 527.
Beebe, Artemas, 225, 227.
Beebe, Horace Y., 661, 708.
Beebe, Mrs. William (Ella Eeeves), 215.
Beebe, William H., 1670.
Beecher, John T., 1301.
Beede, Moses W., 1237.
Beidler, Jacob A., 1702.
Belden, Hiram, 1749.
Bell, Elbert J., 956.
Bell, Eobert, 957.
Bell, William, 158.
Bellevue — Early settlers, 438; first things and events,
439; "Grandma Sawyer," 440; early village
plats, 440 ; coming of railroads and ificorporation
of town, 440; schools and churches, 441; Y. M.
C. A. and publio library, 442; industries, banks
and newspapers, 443.
Beman, Hiram S., 916.
Bemis, Mahlon C, 1402.
Benedict, Platt, 426, 430.
Benjamin, Allen N., 1056.
Benjamin, Eeuben 35., 1174.
Bennett, Lionel L., 882.
Bennington, Thomas B., 1568.
Benson, Edwin K., 1111.
Benson, Jeremiah C, 1103.
Bentley, Charles, 1345.
Bentley, Eobert, 1363.
Berea — Sandstone industries, Baldwin University, etc.,
527.
Bergin, John, 1369.
Berlin Heights — Present village, 418.
Berlin township, Mahoning county, 626.
Berry, Judson C, 1004.
Bierce, Lucius V., 355.
Biermann, George C, 1715.
Billings, George D., 1789.
Bilhneyer, Henry P., 1502.
Billow, George, 900.
Billow, George W., 859.
Bingham, Charles A., 1508.
Birchard, Joseph A., 1424.
Bissell, Algernon B., 276.
Blackney, Orlando S., 1554.
Blakely, Elbert F., 1869.
Blakeslee, John M., 1856.
Blair, William A., 1377.
Blake, Harrison G., 1524.
Blake, Merrill H., 1025.
Blanchard, Addison J., 1507.
Blish, Helen P., 1443.
Blood, Francis B., 1103.
Boardman township, Mahoning county, 628.
Boleubocker, William, 1297.
Bolich, William, 1504.
Bolton, Sarah K., 526.
Bonnell, William S., 1593.
Booth, Almeda, 656.
Booth, Charles H., 1630.
Booth, Lloyd, 1630.
Boston township, Summit county, 345.
Bostwick, Abel A., 1537.
Bostwick, Abner F., 1537.
Boswell, Jesse, 1152.
Botsford, James L., 761.
Boynton, Washington W., 732.

INDEX

xm

Braden, Andrew D., 914.
Bradford, Olin F., 1177.
Bradley, Alva, 1386.
Bradley, Arthur, 1431.
Bradley, Morris A., 1387.
Brady, Peter, 743.
Brady, Samuel, 688.
Brainard, E. P., 708.
Brainerd, Charles W., 1083.
Brakeman, George A., 1342.
Brakeman, Eiley J., 1133.
Branson, Edwin C, 1097.
Bratten, Harry, 836.
Bratten, Eobert, 836.
Braun, Edward A., 1647.
Brayman, Lorenzo E., 1565.
Brazee, Job, 1538.
Breckenridge, Benjamin F., 1841.
Breed, Nathan T., 1031.
Brett, William H., 492, 1634.
Brewster, B. W., 1027.
Brewster, Eobert L., 1027.
Brewster, Wadsworth, 1028.
Bridgeman, Charles, 1121.
Briggs family, 1629.
Briggs, Daniel G., 1492.
Briggs, Frank W., 1630.
Briggs, Mary C, 1493.
Briggs, Ehoda A., 1492.
Briggs, Thomas G., 1492.
Brimfield township. Portage county, 677.
Britton, John H., 1416.
Brockett, Henry W., 1013.
Brockett, Lewis B., 926.
Brodbeok. John, 1341.
Erode, WiUiam H., 1461.
Brooks, Harry C, 1754.
Brooks, Thomas H., 1356.
Brooks, Walter E., 986.
Brough, John, 87, 521.
Brown, Alfred L., 1373.
Brown, Alvah T., 1732.
Brown, Anne F., 1639.
Brown, Antoinette, 235.
Brown, Benjamin, 939.
Brown, Benjamin, family, 939.
Brown, Celia S., 1008.
Brown, Edward P., 1730.
Brown, Ephraim, 45, 214, 1635.
Brown, Fayette, 1637.
Brown, Frederick, 1008.
Brown, Frederick H., 1373.
Brown, George M., 1382.
Brown, Henry, 1531.
Brown, John (at Hudson), 338.
Brown, John (of Ossawattomie), 688.
Brown, John, Jr., 220, 583.
Brown, Luther L., 941.
Brown, Mary B., 1635.
Brownlee, James, 616.
Brunswick township, Medina county, 379.
Brush, Charles F., 512.
Brush, Theodore M., 1840.
Bryant, Clark L., Sr., 1439.
Buchtel College, Akron, 356.
Buckley, Bemus, 1084.
Buechner, W. H., 1620.
Bueehner, W. L., 1620.
BuUard, John S., 1446.
BuUard, WaUaee H., 1854.
Burgett, Henry, 1577.

Burgett, William, Jr., 1577.
Burke, Edward, 1354.
Burnett, W. E., 409.
Burr, Edward, 1233.
Burr, Ernest L., 1170.
Burr, George, 1656.
Burr, Martha, 1233.
Burrell, Elbert J., 1522.
Burrell, Mahala, 1523.
Burridge, Eleazar, 1803.
Burroughs, Howard, 1342.
Burrows, Jerome B., 722.
Burrows, Julius C, 582.
Burrows, J. B., 582.
Burton Academy, 324, 490.
Butler, Alfred E., 1149.
•Butler, J. G., Jr., 1633.
Butler, Lucius F., 1403.
Buttenbender, Charles H., 946.
Byers, Catherine P., 991.
Byers, Charles C, 1206.
Byers, George E., 1202.
Byers, John F., 991.
Byers, William G., 973.
Cable, Edward J., 1550.
Cable, Laurence, 1549.
Cadwell, Darius, 583.
Cadwell, Ida B., 827.
Cadwell, James P., 825.
Cady, Francis M., 1396.'
Caldwell, Eknan L., 1725.
Callahan, Patrick J., 1524.
Callow, Charles, 1137.
Callow, Edmund, 1136.
Callow, Henry F., 1137.
Calvin, Anthony B., 1468.
Calvin Pease house, Warren, 174.
Camp, William L., 1224.
Campbell, Homer W., 1184.
Campbell, James A., 1766.
Campbell, James C, 1713.
Campbell, John, 637.
Campbell, John E., 1325.
Campbell, Eobert C, 1208.
Canfield township, Mahoning county, 628.
Cappan, Benjamin, Jr., 635.
"Captain George," killing of, 80.
Captain Pipe (see Hopocan).
Carlton, Clarence C, 1169.
Carlton, Willis A., 1200.
Carnahan, Eobert B., 1014.
Carpenter, James D., 1667.
Carraher, Arthur, 1501.
Carter, D. K., 661.
Carter, Oren F., 949.
Case, Eckstein, 1412.
Case family, 124.
Oase, Leonard, 155, 491, 521.
Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, 491.
Case, William, 522.
Casement, John S., 115, 805.
Cassidy, James H., 1632.
Cassidy, Thomas K., 1222.
Castalia, Erie county, 420.
"Castle WiUiam," Warren, 167.
Cathcart, Wallace H., 1435.
Catherman, S. J., 399, 1548.
Cedar Point, Sandusky Harbor, 402.
Cemeteries — First of Eeserve, 143; distinguished dead
of Warren, 143; biers and hearses, 144.

XIV

INDEX

Center, Clark, 1546.
Chagrin Falls — Thriving industrial village, 527.
Chalker, Charles W., 1107.
Chalker, Newton, 814.
Chamberlain, George H., 777.
Champion, Joel H., 1150.
Chapin, Levi, 1409.
Chapin, Merton W., 1530.
Chapman, Chesley G., 1657.
Chapman, Eleazer P., 1227.
Chapman, Frank C, 1407.
Chapman, Franklin P., 884.
Chapman, S. D., 1802.
' ' Chardon Free Democrat, ' ' 328.
' ' Chardon Spectator and Geauga Gazette, ' ' 327.
Chardon township, Geauga county, 321.
Charlestown township. Portage county, 678.
Cheney, T. J., 1584.
Chesney, Jane, 175.
Cliesney, Samuel, 175.
Chester township, Geauga county, 317.
Chicago Junction — B. & O. railroad town, 443; its
great fire, 444; town organized and railroad
yards extended, 445 ; banks and ' ' Chicago
Times, ' ' 445 ; schools and churches, 446.
Chillicothe Eoad, 274.
Chisholm, Henry, 512.
Chisholm, William, 512.
Christy, John H., 833.
Christy, Will, 846.
Church, Augustus B., 852.
Churches (see Eeligion in the Eeserve).
City Infirmary and Hospital, Cleveland, 518.
"City of Ohio," 480, 482.
Civil War Relief Work, 116; first work of Cleveland
women, 117.
Clague, Edward J., 1198.
Clapp, Alvin E., 1672.
Clapp, E. J., 305.
Clapp, Henry S., 1109.
Claridon township, Geauga county, 319.
Clark, Addison M., 1559.
Clark, Edward P., 1413.
Clark, George A., 1457.
Clark, N. D., 708.
Clark, Porter 0., 1212.
Clarksfield — Present village, 451.
Claus, Bernhart, 1825.
Cleaveland, Charlotte Ursula, 220.
Cleaveland, Moses, 19, 20, 465.
Cleveland — The commencement of, 463; Moravian
missions, 463; first Fourth of July, 464; biog
raphy of Moses Cleaveland, 465 ; spelling, of the
name, 467; first survey of Cleveland, 467; resur-
veyed, 468 ; made a port of entry, 471 ; founding
of industries, 472; first court house, 472; incor
porated as a village, 473; first publio schools,
475; first newspapers and churches, 477; open
ing of Ohio Canal by Governor DeWitt Clinton,
477; Cleveland expands, 478; cholera epidemics,
478; incorporated as a eity, 480; first harbor
improvements, 481 ; pioneer railways, 482 ; ab
sorbs Ohio City, 482; further expansion, 483;
public schools systematized, 484; Cleveland's
high schools, 486; school board women, 489;
Western Eeserve University, 490; Case School
of Applied Science, 491; St. Ignatius College,
492; Cleveland Medical College, 492; Public
Library and Western Eeserve Historical Society,
492; Old Volunteer Firemen, 493; oity water
works system, 495 ; Soldiers ' and Sailors'' monu

ment, 496; "Cleveland Grays" and the Civil
War, 499; commencement of park system, 501
present system, 502; Clevelaad cemeteries, 502
Euclid avenue, 503; Arcades and viaducts, 507
newspapers, 508 ; industrial and commercial, 511
Cleveland's harbor and railroads, 515; Chamber
of Commerce, 516; churches and charities, 516
hospitals, 518; notables of city and county, 518.
.Cleveland, George H., 1078.
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, 516.
Cleveland "Gazette and Commercial Eegister, " 477.
Cleveland "Herald," 508.
Cleveland Medical College, 4^2.
"Cleveland Plain Dealer," 510.
"Cleveland Press," 511.
Cleveland Protestant Orphan Asylum, 518.
Cleveland Public Library, 492.
Cleveland State Hospital, 518.
Cleveland Stone Company, 259, 260.
Cleveland West High School, 487.
Clewell, D. M., 707.
Clinton, DeWitt, 477.
Coats, James M., 834.
Coburn, Edwin A., 922.
Cochran, Chauncey A., 1477.
Cochran, Lucius E., 1469.
Coe, Auga L. D., 959.
Coe, Harry P., 959.
Coe, Wilbur C, 1138.
Cohasset Lake, Youngstown, 601.
Colburn, Fairchild S., 1221.
Colburn, Frederick E., 1221.
Cole, Jedediah, 1741.
Cole, William B., 1850.
Coleman, Adam F., 1217.
Collins, David C, 1432.
CoUister, William N., 1205.
Colton, George H., 1738.
Confederate conspiracy, Johnson's Island, 409.
Oonkle, Michael, 1494.
Conkling, Selwyn E., 793.
Conneaut Academy, 563.
Conneaut — The Town in 1837, 538; first settlement,
562; Conneaut harbor in 1850, 562; Giddings
recollections, 563; schools, 563.
' ' Conneaut News-Herald, ' ' 553.
Conneaut township, Ashtabula county (first churches),
550.
Connecticut Land Company formed, 11.
Connor, W. H., 1200.
Converse, Julius C, 528.
Conway, Thomas A., 1305.
Cook, Daniel A., 1435.
Cook, Eugene E., 1052.
Cook, Harry B., 1830.
Cook, Howard D., 1727.
Cook, James, 1226.
Cook, Luke, 1197.
Cook, Orrin B., 1205.
Cooke, Eleatheros, 395.
Cooke, Francis M., 764.
Cooke, Henry D., 396.
Cooke, Jay, 107, 396.
Cooley, George S., 1532.
Cooley, Lathrop, 1606.
Cooliilge, Carlos, 1284.
Coolman, D. C, 707.
Coolman, Jacob, 1644.
Coons, William N., 1215.
Copeland, James W, 1199.
Copley township. Summit county, 359.

INDEX

XV

Cornell, James A., 1089.
Corner, Horace B., 1410.
Corning, Warren, 1441.
Gornwell, Llewellyn M., 1496.
Costley, John, 1298.
Cotgreve, William, 144.
Cottingham, Guy C, 935.
Cotton, Elmer F., 971.
Cotton, George W., 1448.
Coughlan, Frank T., 1847.
Covell, Silas, 1275.
Coventry township. Summit county, 347.
Cowell, Philip S., 1782.
Cowles, Betsey, 580.
Cowles, Edmund, 509.
Cowles family, 580.
Cowles, Giles H., 580.
Cowles, Horace A., 1520.
Cowles, Samuel, 1485.
Cowles, William T., 1157.
Cox, Allen M., 1812.
Cox, Charles A., 1433.
Cox, Jacob D., 87, 110.
Crafts, William H., 752.
Craig, Olive, 928.
Craine, Samuel J., 1158.
Cramblett, Ida A., 1251.
Crane, Bentley F., 1306.
Crane, C. M., 686.
Crary, William E., 829.
Crawford, William, 1621.
Crehore, Charles J., 1018.
Crile, George W., 1368.
Crosby, Dwight L., 1586.
Crosby, Eliakim, 360.
Crosby, Silas, 1171.
Crouse, George W., 717.
Crowell, Dwight, 1357.
Culver, Edwin E., 1614.
Culver, Henry T., 952.
Cumings, Frank A., 1094.
Cumings, Homer P., 995.
Cumings, Henry H., 1053.
Currie, Tabiatha, 19.
Cutler, Carroll, 340.
Curtis, Amos, 1188.
Curtis, L. L., 1559.
Curtis, W. D., 1558.
Curtiss, Carl H., 911.
Curtiss, Boswell C, 906.
Curtis, Ealph M., 1777.
Curtis, John P., 823.
Cuyahoga county — Postmasters, 68 ; now almost
purely industrial, 461; organization, 461; com
mencement of Cleveland, 463; Moravian missions,
463; first Fourth of July, 464; character of
land, 465; county pioneers and happenings, 468;
Cleveland a port of entry, 471; rise of Newburg,
471; opening of Ohio Canal, 477; United States
senators and congressmen from the county, 484;
schools of the county, 490; County Early Set
tlers' Association, 493; military history, 499;
notables of the county, 519.
Cuyahoga Falls — Origin of name, 349; founding of
great water power, 349; schools and newspapers,
349; claims to fame, 349.
Dager, William F., 1408.
Dale, Walter, 1394.
Damon, George J., 728.
Dana Musical Institute, 172.

Daniels, David, 41.
Dauch, Jacob J., 1508.
Davey, James A., 1141.
Davey, John, 885.
Davis, Carrie C, 1293.
Davis, Charles W., 1463.
Davis, Edward L., 825.
Davis, Irvin B., 1776.
Dawley, Jay P., 1745.
Dawson, Samuel, 1353.
Day, George T., 886.
Day, Luther, 87, 709.
Day, William L., 1398.
Day, William E., 668, 671.
Dayton, L. D., 1264.
Dean, Arthur H., 1113.
Dean, Asa B., 1412.
Dean, Bailey S., 780.
Dean, David H., 1412.
Dean, Mary, 290.
Deane, Lavinia (Mrs. Delamater), 163.
Decker, William, 1201.
Deeley, Benjamin E., 1779.
Deerfield township, Portage county, 679.
Deetriek, James W., 1471.
Dellefield, George M., 1814.
"Democratic Press," Eavenua, 651.
Denmark township, Ashtabula county (first churches),
552.
Denton, Paul E., 330, 1511.
Derhammer, Samuel, 1851.
Derhammer, William H., 1851.
Derthick, Frank A., 1446.
Devereux, John H., 519.
Dewey, Joel A., 112.
Dexter, John H., 1404.
Diamond Match Company, Barberton, 358.
Dick, Charles, 1784.
Dickerhoff, William, 1791.
Dickey, Edward J., 1714.
Dickinson, Arthur F., 982.
Dickson, Orr A., 1605.
Dix, John F., 1042.
Dix, John P., 1042.
Doan, John, 39.
Doan family, 39.
Dodge, Hiram L., 1295.
Dodge, William J., 1660.
Doll, Charles, 1225.
Dollar Savings & Trust Co., 1552.
Donaldson, Harry N., 1302.
Doollttle, Amos, 43.
Doollttle, Charles E., 1333.
Doollttle, Herbert M., 1291.
Doolittle, Horace A., 1131.
Douglas, Edward A., 1294.
Downing, Sanford M., 875.
Downs, Marceiius E., 1364.
Drugan, Cornelius, 1736.
Drury, John, 1278.
Dudley, Arthur L., 1776.
Dulmage, David J., 1838.
Duncan, Samuel, 899.
Dunham, Truman, 1627.
. Dunning, Almon S., 1119.
Dussel, John H., 1193.
Dyer, Albion M., 1242.
Eady, Henry J., 1071.
Early Settlers' Association of Cuyahoga County, 493.
Eason, Daniel, 1431.

XVI

INDEX

East Cleveland— Village of, 527.
East End Park, Youngstown, 601.
Easton, Giles M., 994.
Easton, Mary C, 994.
Eaton, Dan (originally Heaton), 604, 617.
Eckert, Herbert C, 880.
Eddy, George S., 766.
Edgerton, Mary P., 355.
Edgerton, Sidney, 354.
Edinburg township. Portage county, 682.
Edison, Thomas A. (birthplace of), 420.
Edson, Susan, 584.
Education — Eeserve lands sold for support of schools,
145; Ohio school laws (1802-53), 146; Yankee
idea of schooling, 146.
Edwards, Anna C, 286.
Edwards, John M., 607.
Edwards, John S., 78, 156.
Edwards, Lewis, 1602.
Edwards dwelling house, Warren, 174.
Elliott, Lee, 1619.
Ellsworth township, Mahoning county, 627.
Ellsworth, James W., 341.
Elwell, Wesley A., 1800.
Ely, Heman, 224.
Ely, Joshua S., 1830.
Ely, Lewis, 42.
Ely family, 1796.
Elyria — Founded by Heman Ely, 224; made the
county seat, 224; pioneer events, 227; first
churches, 227; schools, newspapers and banks,
228; public library, 228; W. C. T. U., 228; in
dustries, 229 ; public school system, 230 ; munici
pal water works, 230.
Epworth Memorial church, Cleveland, 517.
Erie county — Postmasters, 68; Fort Sandusky
founded, 390; Ogontz Place, 391; deaths of Omic
and Semo, 392; the Castalia massacre, 392; first
permanent settlers, 393; original Sandusky flats,
393; pioneer merchant, 394; first engine built iu
Sandusky, 399 ; modern Sandusky, 400 ; Kelley 's
Island, 401; Put-in-Bay and Gibraltar, 401;
Pelee Island, 401; Sandusky Harbor and Cedar
Point, 402; Soldiers and Sailors' Home, 408;
Confederate Conspiracy, Johnson's Island, 409;
Glacial grooves, Kelley's Island, 412; settlement
of Kelley's Island, 413; Huron, 414; Vermilion,
416; Buggies Beach, 417; BerUn Heights, 418;
Milan, 418; Castalia, 420; Venice, 421.
Eries — Extermination of, by the Iroquois, 97.
Essex, Edward C, 1461.
Euclid avenue, Cleveland, 467, 503.
Euclid township, Cuyahoga county, 527.
Evans, William N., 1719.
Evans, William B., 1706.
Everingim, Thomas, 1495.
Fairchild, Albert B., 792.
Fairchild, James H., 238.
Fairport — The present village, 291; in the forties,
292; first lighthouse, 293; Fairport 's harbor,
293; ore and coal movements, 293.
Falkner, Arthur, 1374.
Fancher, Thaddeus W., 1222.
Farmer, Lydia H., 526.
Farnham, Patrick H., 985.
Fassett, Henry, 583.
Fauver, Frank E., 984.
Fauver, Lester A., 1269.
Faxon, Isaac D., 785.
Faxon, John H., 787.

Faxon, John H., 784.
Faxon, Theodore E., 786.
Faxon, Theodore S., 786.
Faxon family, 784.
Feick, Adam, 1371.
Feick, Emil A., 1141.
Feick, George, 1140.
Feick, John A., 1372.
Feick, Lewis A., 1372.
Fenn, Charles M., 1246.
Fenton, Mary B., 1013.
Ferguson, Albert D., 844.
Ferriman, Thomas, 1795.
Fessenden, Angie E., 1747.
Fessenden, Bryon W., 1747.
Petterman, Eoney H., 1394.
Fetzer, Calvin M., 1675.
Fiebach, Peter, 1758.
Fifield, H. O., 257.
Findley, May Eecord, 799.
Findley, May Becord, Memorial Chapel, 799.
Findley, Walter T., 799.
Finney, Charles G., 236.
"Fire Lands," 10.
Firelands Historical Society, Norwalk, 432.
First engine built West of the Alleghanies, 399.
First National & Dollar Savings Banks, 1539.
First Ohio Agricultural Society, 621.
Pish, David A., 804.
Fish, Lewis B., 803.
Fisher, Bert A. J., 1422.
Fisher, Charles E., 1456.
Fisher, Cornelius, 1460.
Fisher, James A., 1175.
Fisk, Amos C, 1228.
Fitch, Edward H., 1037.
Fitch, O. H., 581.
Fitch, Sarah, 526,
Fitch, Winchester, 1040.
i'itch family, 1036.
Pitzsimons, William J., 1640.
Plagg, John A., 1435.
Flagler, Henry M., 450.
Fliekinger, England D., 1663.
Foley, Thomas P., 1703.
Folger, Delia M., 1768.
Folger, Thomas, 1766.
Ford, Albert J., 1396.
Ford bank failure, Geauga county, 323.
Ford, James E., 1057.
Ford, James H., 605, 902.
Ford, John S., 1863.
Ford, Pearley V., 1058.
Ford, Seabury, 87.
Fordyce, George L., 1599.
Poster, Charles, 431.
Frank, Charles H., 1779.
Frank, Frank J., 1311.
Frank, Pryor L., 869.
Franklin House, Cleveland, 469.
Franklin Housed Warren, 172.
Franklin Mills — Founded, 687; early manufactories,
688.
Franklin township, Portage county, 687.
Frazer, William, 673.
Pi-azier, Samuel E., 1300.
Frederick, Charles H., 1822.
Freedom township, Portage county, 684.
Freeman, Charles D., 1516.
Freeman, Isaac A., 1185.
Freeman, Joseph H., 1598.

INDEX

XVll

Freeman, Myron I., 615.
Freeman home, Warren, 178.
French, Amos, 1183.
French, Birney A., 952.
French, Edward, 1182.
French, George E., 817.
French, Helen M., 1147.
French, Henrv L., 1539.
French, Milton, 1771.
French, Newton E., 831.
French, Theodore L., 1146.
Frick, Celestia, 1120.
Friedman, Adolph, 1207.
Frost, James B., 1770.
Fuller, Clifeord W., 1834.
Fuller, Francis J., 1086.
Fuller, Otis, 965.
Gage, Fanny Dana, 216.
Gage, Louis P., 964.
Gallup, Caleb H., 433, 435, 723.
Gallup, Mozart, 1611.
Gard, John, 1305.
Gardner, Christopher C, 814.
Garfield, Mrs. Eliza, 653.
Garfield, James A., 14, 87, 109, 653.
Garfield home (Lawnfield), Mentor, 301.
Garford, Arthur L., 854.
Garlick, Henry M., 1540.
GarHck, Eichard, 1310.
Garlick, Theodore, 605.
Garrett, Eobert, 1346.
Garrettsville — Founded by John Garrett, 685; village
incorporated, 686; newspapers, 686; present vil
lage, 687.
"Garrettsville Journal," 652, 686.
Garrison, Maxwell G., 978.
Gaskill House, Warren, 169.
Gates, Frederic H., 1071.
Gates, Nahum B., 1069.
Gates, William N., 1070.
Geauga county — First settlement, 39; origin of name
and natiiral features, 307; dairy products, 307
maple sugar and syrup, 308; population, 309
civic organization, 310; first court house, 311
County Agricultural Society, 312; first school
houses aud churches, 314; Burton, 315; Middle-
field, 315; Chardon, 321; great drought of 1845,
323; Ford bank failure, 323; schools, 325; early
epidemics, 325 ; early physicians, 327 ; first news
papers, 327; old county roads, 330; railroads,
331; war of 1812, 331; Civil war, 332.
"Geauga County Eecord," 329.
Geauga "Freeman," 327.
Geauga Furnace, Paiuesville, 281.
Geauga Furnace & Manufacturing Company, Paines-
viUe, 282.
"Geauga Leader," 330.
"Geauga Eepublican," 329.
General History — Men and women colonizers, 1;
Puritan mothers and fathers, 1; New World
divided, 2; England demands Connecticut's char
ter, 7; Connecticut in Pennsylvania, 8; ordinance
of 1787, 8; saves her Westem Eeserve, 9; Clark
and the Northwest, 14; pioneers of New Connec
ticut, 17; surveyors of the Western Beserve, 27;
Eeserve settled and mapped, 37; organization of
counties, 56; roadways and waterways, 69;
famous men of the Eeserve, 75; judicial and
legislative, 91; defense of the Eeserve, 97; men
and women of the Civil war, 107; religious or

ganizations, 121; banks of the Eeserve, 135;
press of the Beserve, 138; schools of the Eeserve,
145; medicine and surgery, 148.
Geneva — First saw mill. 536; early settlers, 561; in
1837, 538.
"Geneva Times," 553.
Genung, Charles W., 975.
George, Eobert, 1108.
Gibbs, Earl N., 1840.
Giddings, Joshua E., 87, 563, 566.
Giddings family letters, 569.
Gilbert, Edwin J., 1681.
Gilcher, William H., 1557.
Gill, Harlan P., 1079.
Gillett, Isaac, 954.
Gillett, Stephen E., 1164.
GiUette, Buell S., 1205.
Giilmore, Quincy A., 110, 261.
Gillmore, Quincy A., 1018.
Girdled Eoad, 274, 593.
Gist, David D., 881.
Gist, Tunie A., 882.
Glitsch, George L., 1228.
Gladding, Henry A., 1868.
Golde, William, 1388.
Golden. H. G., 892.
Goodell, Carlton, 1106.
Goodell, Homer, 1106.
Goodhue, Nathaniel P., 868.
Gordon, F. E., 1060.
Gordon Park, Cleveland, 502.
Goss, Clara W., 1246.
Gougler, Harvey E., 1841.
Graeter, Augustus (and family), 165.
Grafton — Village of today, 260.
Graham, Abelino, 1005.
Grand Eiver Institute, Mechanicsville, 542.
Granger, Gideon, 531, 533.
Granger township, Medina county, 381.
"Granny" Beckwith (heroine), 530.
Grant, Charles P., 1098.
Grant, Jesse, 661.
Grant, Noah, 661.
Grant, EosweU M., 38.
Grant family, 606.
Graves, Alice L., 1605.
Graves, Erasmus D., 1605.
Gray, Elisha (the inventor), 158.
Gray, Frank M., 861.
Gray, J. W., 510.
Gray, Martin E., 860.
' ' Gray Canyon ' ' quarry, Amherst, 258.
Green, Clarence B., 918.
Greene, George G., 937.
Greene, J. H., 374.
Greene — Its quaint cemetery, 221.
Greenlee, Albert D., 977.
Greenwich — Present village, 451.
Gregory, Edwin, 338.
Grierson, Benjamin, 603.
Griesinger, Andrew, Jr., 1596.
Griesinger, Andrew, Sr., 1596.
Grifieth, Thomas M., 796.
GrifSn, Frederick A., 1280.
Griffin, Frederick E., 1280.
Griggs, Oscar P., 968.
Grills, Albert T., 1661. ;,
Griswold, Giles 0., 1626.
Griswold, Irving H., 1323.
Griswold, Olive P., 790.
Griswold. Eoger W., 936.

xvm

INDEX

Gross, Martin, 1285.
Guerin, WilUam E., Jr., 1314.
Guilford township, Medina county, 377.
Gun, Ann, 19.
Hageman, Albert V., 1327.
Hahn, Charles, 1778.
Hahn, Henry J., 1208.
Haines, Clark W., 928.
Hale, John C, 525.
HaU, Almira C, 905.
Hall, Edwin L., 1745.
Hall, Levi, 905.
HaU, Marvin C, 1143.
HaU, Sereno E., 1450.
Hall, Walter D., 1815.
Hall, WilUam J., 1494.
Hallock, Hiram A., 919.
Halstead, Beuben O., 1094.
Hambden township, Geauga county, 318.
Hamlin, Henry B., 1755.
Hamlin, Lorenzo D., 1059.
Hammond, Herman 0., 1125.
Hanna, Marcus A., 523, 711.
Hannold, WilUam H., 1278.
Hanselman, Sheldon P., 1172.
Hardy, Asa S., 1082.
Hardy, George S., 1072.
Hardy, Mary E., 1206.
Harmon, Aaron, 1517.
Harmon, Albert, 1252.
Harmon, Edwin, 1252.
Harmon, Elias, 691.
Harmon, Frank S., 1517.
Harmon, Heman, 165.
Harmon, JuUa, 1517.
Harmon, Olive, 143.
Harmon, Orrin G., 1154.
Harmon, Sheldon, 1517.
Harper, Alexander, 529, 861.
Harper, Alexander J., 861.
Harper, Jane, 861.
Harper, Polly, 861.
Harper, Eobert, 861.
Harper, Eobert E., 772.
Harper, SteUa C, 861.
Harper family, 861.
Harpersfield township, Ashtabula county (first
churches), 550.
Harrington, Charles A., 194.
Harris, Albert, 1666.
Harris, Alfred P., 1849.
Harris, Hugh C, 955.
Harris, J. A., 508.
Harris, Minnie S., 1849.
Harris, Nelson, 1665.
Harris, S. D., 651.
Harris, W. S., 1805.
Harrison, Catherine C, 1091.
Harrison, Dan M., 1110.
Harrison, Frederick W., 1109.
Harrison, Hannah, 1091.
Harrison, John, 1090.
Harrison, John H., 1091.
Harrison, Thomas, 1091.
Harrison, Thomas H., 1091.
Hartle, James W., 1117.
Hartman, John, 1510.
Hartsgrove township, Ashtabula county (flrst
churches), 551.

Hartzell, Stephen P., 306, 1234.
Harvey, Thomas W., 945.
Hasenpflug, John W., 1813.
Haserodt, Otto B., 1398.
Haskell, WilUam, 1673.
Hathaway, Eussell, 1820.
Haueisen, Edward B., 1224.
Hausch, 0. O., 1300.
Hawks, EosweU, 285.
Hawley, Amos H., 1261.
Hawley, Charles M., 1003.
Hawley, Edwin H., 1001.
Hawley, Prank H., 1261.
Hawley, MUes S., 1716.
Hawley, Theodore E., 1623.
Hayden, George, 713.
Hayden, H. C, 288.
Hayes, Titus, 530.
Hayes, Eutherford B., 87, 431.
Haymaker, Arvin 0., 1009.
Haymaker, Mary S., 1014.
Haymaker, Oscar P., 1014.
Haymaker, William J., 807.
Haynes, John T., 409, 1608.
Hazen, WiUiam B., 11, 694.
Heaton, Daniel, 207.
Heaton, James, 208, 617.
Heaton, Maria, 208.
Heighton, Marius H., 1375.
Heiser, John B., 1198.
Heldmyer, WilUam, 1503.
Hemmeter, WilUam E., 1597.
Henninger, Jacob P., 1501.
Herb, Herbert, 1650.
Herrick, Myron T., 87, 1340.
Herrife, Ira L., 760.
Hess, George P., 1361.
Hess, Gust, 1497.
Heyman, Frank W., 1592.
Heyman, Eose B., 1592.
Hickenlooper, Andrew, 112.
Hickox, Asa W. W., 552.
Hicks, Loren, 1111.
High, U. Grant, 1653.
Higley, Alfred M., 1417.
Higley, Mary E., 1418.
Higley, Philander E., 1411.
Higley, WilUam A., 1642.
HiU, George, 1618.
HiU, George P., 1577.
Hill, Jasper, 999.
HiU, Sidney G., 1047.
Hill, WiUiam W., 998.
Hilliard, Jay B., 1498.
Hillmau, James, 38, 587.
HiUs, Clinton W., 997.
Hills, Howard B., 1471.
Hiltz, Joseph, 1591.
Hinckley hunt, Medina county, 383.
Hinckley township, Medina county, 383
Hinds, George E., 1686.
Hine, Cecil D. 1567.
Hine, Horace L., 737.
Hine, Sydney H., 993.
Hinkson, Harry, 1017.
Hinman, Albert G., 1410.
Hinmau, Edgar H., 1016.
Hinsdale, Maria C, 848.
Hinsdale, Boldon O., 849.
Hiram College— Founding of, 665; President Amos

INDEX

xix

S. Hayden, 667; President B. A. Hinsdale, 668;
Presidents E. V. ZoUars and Minor L. Bates.
668.
Hiram township. Portage county — Description of,
699; first settlers, 699; Smith and Eigdon tarred
and feathered, 699.
Hirst, Thomas H., 1590.
Hitchcock, Prank H., 259.
Hitchcock, Julia A., 622, 623.
Hitchock, Peter, 324.
Hitchcock, Eeuben, 288; (death), 289.
Hodge, Orlando J., 719.
Hoeg, Decatur, 959.
Hoeg, WiUiam B., 959.
Hogue, Fred E., 745.
Holcomb, Dereath E., 1462.
Holcomb, Saphronia C., 1680.
Holcomb, Wanzer, 1679.
Holden, Harry C, 1180.
Holden, L. B., 510.
Holden, Liberty E., 1860.
Holden, Sarah P., 1385.
Holden, WUIiam L., 1029.
HoUand, Bonald G., 1810.
HolUnger, Harvey M., 788.
HoUinger, Jennie W., 788.
Holm, James B., 1662.
Honey, Abraham' S., 635, 691.
Hooper, Henry, 847.
Hoose, Warren L., 835.
Hopkins, George C, 1437.
Hopkinson, A. G., 487.
Hopocan (Captain Pipe), 347, 620.
Hopper, George H., 1040.
Hopper, Harriet A., 1040.
Hopper family, 1040.
Horner, John, 1853.
Horner, Margaret B., 1853.
Horner, WiUiam J., 1659.
Homing, Edward W., 876.
Horr, Eoland A., 257.
Horr, EosweU P., 257.
Horton, Joseph D., 707.
Hoskin, Marion, 989.
Hoskin, Milton B., 1314.
Hoskin, Ozro A., 988.
Hosmer, Stiles A., 1631.
Hostetler, Walter S., 383, 1873.
House, Charles F., 751.
House, Edward L., 1269.
House, Everett J., 838.
House, Samuel E., 838.
Houser, John, 837.
Howard, Francis BI., 1194.
Howe, Eber D., 291.
Howe, Frederic C, 1760.
Howe, OrviUe D., 965.
HoweU, Charles A., 1289.
Howell, Edna C. A., 1290.
Howells, Joseph A., 576, 1534.
HoweUs, W. C, 554.
HoweUs, WUIiam Dean, 576.
Howells, William D. II., 1536.
HoweUs family, 576.
Hower, M. Otis, 903.
Howk, Albert M., 1822.
Howland, Charles E., 744.
Howland, W. P., 583.
Howland township, Trumbull county, 153.
Hoyt home, Warren, 178.
Hubbard, Henry, 581.

Hubbard, Watson, 1648.
Hubbell, Charles J., 835.
Hudson, David, 40, 336.
Hudson house, Hudson, 338.
Hudson — Incorporated, 340; famous EUsvyorth cam
paign, 340.
Hudson township. Summit county, 343.
Huene, Adolph, 1821.
Hug, Edward V., 1753.
Hulbert, Elmer C, 1409.
Hulbert, Marcena M., 1406,
Hulburt, JuUa, 1579.
Hulburt, Halsey, 1578.
Hulburt, William, 1579.
Hull, Barton 0., 1763.
Humphreys, James 0., 1067.
Humphreys, Boswell, 1067.
Hunt, Edward C, 1344.
Hunt, Henry H., 1488.
Hunter, Jacob W., 1114.
Huntington, Edwin G., 730.
Huntington, Balph E., 1711.
Huntington, Samuel, 82, 87, 272, 475.
Huntington, WilUam E., 1286.
Huntley, Truman, 1504.
Huntsburg township, Geauga county, 318.
Hurd, Frank, 1627.
Hurlburt, David E., 987.
Hurlburt, Sage, 1129.
Huron — History of, 414; commerce and ship build
ing, 414; transfer point for ore and coal, 415.
Huron county — Postmasters, 68; organized, 422; sur
vey of the "Fire Lands," 423; Buggies sur
veys, 423 ; settlement of the townships, 4p4 ;
county organization, 424; Norwalk, 425; county
seat esta'blished, 426; Bellevue, 438; Chicago
Junction, 443; New London, 447; Monroeville,
448; Greenwich, 451; other settlements of the
county, 451 ; pioneer medical societies, 455 ; ' ' Un
derground Bailways, " 455; Wellington rescue
case, 457;; war history of the "Fire Lands."
- 458.
Hutchins, Francis E., 87.
Hutchins, John, 193.
Hutchins, John C, 1458.
Hutchinson, Patrick J., 736.
Hutson, Herbert 0., 993.
Iddings, Eichard, 174.
Iddings homestead, Warren, 174.
IngersoU, Charles B., 1819.
Ingersoll, Henry W., 1244.
Ingersoll, Bobert, 578.
Inman, William C, 995.
Irish, Charles M., 1196.
Iron Furnaces — First in the West, 592; second suc
cessful plant, 602; the Heaton furnace, 617;
first American blast furnace, 617; other
Youngstown furnaces, 617; first and second
rolling mills, 618.
Isaacs, Sallie, 80.
Jackson, Josiah J., 1664.
Jackson township, Mahoning county, 627.
Jefferson made county seat, Ashtabula county
531, 533.
"Jefferson Gazette," 554.
Jenkins, Arlie B., 1183.
Jenkins, Charles C, 840.
Jenkins, WUbur A., 1183.
Jenne, Albert K., 1821.

INDEX

Jenne, John P., 1753.
Jennings, Albert B., 1129.
Jennings, George W., 1116.
Jennings, Isaac, 362.
Jennings, Louis E., 1129.
Johnson, Albert H., 958,
Johnson, Alonzo, 1008.
Johnson, Andrew, 1655.
Johnson, Britton S., 883.
Johnson, Cyrus L., 1445.
Johnson, Dell, 1378.
Johnson, E. G., 821.
Johnson, Eliza P., 1656.
Johnson, James C, 1271.
Johnson, Tom L., 522.
Johnson, William H., 1104.
Johnson's Island, Sandusky harbor, 412.
Joiner, V. E., 1080.
Jones, Asahel W., 612.
Jones, Asa W., 194.
Jones, Edward, 153.
Jones, Ensign N., 1449.
Jones, James, 1704.
Jones, John D., 1705.
Jones, J. Powell, 1323.
Jones, MiUard F., 1601.
Jones, L. C, 194.
Jones, Pheodora T., 1474.
Judges of the Eeserve supreme eourt, 91; court of
common pleas, 91.
Kaiser. John, 1049.
Kauffman, Henry C, 872.
Kean, WiUiam, 1463.
Kelley, Ambrose E., 1379.
Kelley, Henry S., 904.
Kelley's Island, Sandusky harbor, 401, 412.
KeDogg, Henry H., 1530.
KeUogg, Walter M., 765.
Kelsey, Carlos, 1791.
Kendeigh, Alonzo H., 1635.
Kendeigh, Charles D., 1159.
Kendeigh, MUo C, 1726.
Kendall, FrankUn H., 946.
Kennan, George, 431.
Kennan, Jairus E., 721.
Kennedy, Hiram P., 802.
Kennedy, James, 1541.
Kennedy, Eansom, 802.
Kent, Charles S., 1063.
Kent, Horace H., 1698.
Kent, Marvin, 688, 748.
Kent, WiUiam S., 751.
Kent, Zenas, 745.
"Kent News," 652.
"Kent Saturday BuUetin," 652.
Keuts in England, New England and Western Ee
serve, 1696.
Kewish, Helen J., 1868.
Kewish, Lucius L., 1867.
Kilbourn, Charles L., 1725.
Kilbourne, Margaret, 290.
Kile, .James T., 1487.
Kimball, Elliott, 1854.
KimbaU, Leila Helen, 1212.
Kimball, Lemuel H., 1210.
King, Alfred A., 1162.
King, Edmund B., 1538.
King, Frank J., 1217.
King, Guy S., 1166.

King, Henry C, 240.
King, Howard H., 1459.
King, Gertrude S., 1044.
King, WilUam G., 1772.
Kingsbury, James, 31, 37.
Kingsley, Algernon, 1512.
Kingsville Academy, 563.
Kinsman home, Warren, 176.
Kirtland, Jared P., 606.
Kirtland, Turhand, 593, 594.
Kirtland— First settlers, 301; Mormon Temple, 303.
Kirtland Bank, 131.
Kishman, Adam, 1824.
Kishman, Henry B., 1215.
Kishman, Martha C, 1824.
Kumph, Nathan D., 902.
Klute, John, 1617.
Knapp, Arthur D., 1694.
Knapp, Cyrus C, 1567.
Knapp, Prank A., 1291.
Knapp, Gilbert, 1567.
Knapp, Henry J., 1204.
Knight, Maurice A., 1309.
Knowles, Eufus, 1171.
Knowlton, James C, 1381.
Knox, Agnes C, 955.
Kolbe, Henry, 1701.
Kreider, WiUiam A., 1504.
Kuder, George, 1654.
Kuebeler, Jacob, 1575.
Kulp, EU S., 1651.
Kiimmel, Charlotte C, 1021.
Kurtz, Andrew, 1065.
Kurtz, Prank, 1065.
Kyle, John W., 1254.
Ladd, Mrs. Eunice B., 291.
Ladd, George T., 306.
Ladd, Isaac, 57.
Ladd, William A., 1772.
Lake county— Organization, 265; natural features,
266; schools, 266; first as a pear producer 266-
prehistoric fort, 266; last of the Indians, 267-
coming of the first whites, 269; first permanent
settler, 270; county roads and railroads, 273;
bridges 277; PainesviUe, 278; county court
house 278; Lake Erie College, 282; Fairport,
Qon' ¦^•^i°'°?'^?,.^^^' WiUoughby, 295; Mentor
300; Kirtland, 301; Madison, 304; Soldiers' and
bailors' Home, 305; postmasters, 1850-2, 68
Lake County Herald," Painesville, 291.
Lake Erie College— Founded as Lake Erie Female
Seminary, 282; removes to Painesville, 285-
Miss Mary Evans and Miss Luette P. Bentley'
286; respect for work and worker, 287- faithful
trustees, 288; the Hitchcock fund, 288- the
coUege as it is, 289. ' ' ^'^^
Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, 503
La Marehe, Frank C, 1446.
Lampson, Edward C, 1352.
Lampson, Elbert L., 554, 1351.
Lamson, Chai-Ios, 1]00.
Lane, Charles P., 1331.
Lane, Henry (and family), 153, 172
Lane street, Warren, 172.
Langshaw, Thomas, 1173.
Lanterman MiUs, Youngstown 600
Larkeom, Giles N., 1362. '
Larnard, Hiram L., 1768.
Latham, Thomas "W., 1019.

INDEX

xxi

Latter Day Saints, 128.
Lawrence, Amos E., 1058.
Lawrence, Edward E., 974.
Lawyer, Charles, 843.
Lea, James D., 1560.
Lea, Lewis M., 1560.
Leatherman, Daniel, 1646.
Leatherman, John N., 1513.
Leavitt, John, 166.
Leavitt, John (and family), 155.
Lee, Aldisa, 1647.
Lee, Ann (the Shaker), 126.
Lee, George P., 1647.
Lee, Mrs. Henry, 338.
LefangweU, Fred L., 1614.
Leggett, Mortimer D., 112, 525.
Leicester King House, Warren, 176.
Leiter, Ida M., 1313.
Leiter, Thomas C, 1311.
Lersch, Bobert B., 1254.
Lewis, Betsey, 175.
Lewis, Eber H., 1164.
Lewis, George W., 1163.
Lieey, Alvan D'., 773.
Licey, John O., 1414.
Lincoln, Andrew P., 1787.
Lincoln, Henry, 245.
Lines, Charles N., 1392.
Litchfield township, Medina county, 386.
Little, William N., 1243.
Livenspire, Edgar C, 1388.
Liverpool township, Medina county, 366.
Livingston, EUner C., 1031.
Lloyd, Eobert T., 1457.
Lockwood, Sarah, 1641.
Loehr, Jeremiah, 1650.
Loehr, Lewis, 1616.
Longsworth, Myron V., 948.
Loomis, H. E., 1148.
Loomis, Susan B., 923.
Loomis, Timothy G., 922.
Loomis, Walter H., 1138.
Lorain — Its founding, 247; early shipbuilding, 247;
railroads come, 248; American Shipbuilding
Company, 249; Lorain Steel Works (National
Tube Company), 249; other Lorain industries,
250; harbor of Lorain and fish industry, 251;
banks, 251; electric service, 252; property val
uation, 253; newspapers, 253; water works,
253; schools, 254; public library, 255; as a
Catholic community, 255.
Lorain county — ^First settlement, 223; Elyria, the
county seat, 224; different court houses, 224;
County Historical Society, 224; County In
firmary, 225; early post routes, 226; first
ehurches, 227; OberUn CoUege, 231; Lorain
founded, 247; viUage of WelUngton, 257; Am
herst, 258; Grafton and Carlisle, 260; famous
soldiers, 261; postmasters, 1850-2, 67.
Lowe, John W., 1359.
LoweU, Almon G., 1227.
Luther, Sylvester M., 1691.
Lyman, Darius, 672.
McBride, Marion G., 1685.
McClave, Charles, 1466.
McComb, John W., 1748.
McConnell, Harry A., 994.
McCready, George A., 1481.
McCurdy, Bobert, 755.

MacDonald, S. F., 979.
McElroy, Hugh L., 1478.
McFarland, Samuel, 595.
McGarvey, John P., 1369.
McGee, Thomas C, 1649.
McGovern, Thomas, 1053.
McKelvey, John, 1317.
McKelvey, Mathew, 1317.
McKelvey, Nancy A., 1318.
McKinley, WilUam, 87, 109, 211.
McKinnon, WiUiam S., 1346.
McNab family, 608.
McPherson, James B., 109, 431.
Maag, WUUam P., 1473.
Mack, Egbert H., 405.
Mack, Isaac P., 405.
Mack, John D., 405.
Mack, John T., 405.
Mack, Mrs. John T., 405.
Mackey, James, 607.
Madison — Present village, 304; Madison Seminary,
305; Soldiers' and SaUors' Home, 305.
Madison Seminary, 305.
Mahan, Asa, 234.
Mahan, Willard, 1190.
Mahoning county — Surveyors enter the county,
585; the Salt Springs tract, 586; first settler
(James Hillman), 587; John Young, founder of
'Youngstown, 589; meeting of Hillman and
Young, 589; first mills, 591; first western iron
manufactured, 592; first births, 595; Youngs
town platted, 595; county seat, 596; Canfield
chosen for the time being, 597; origin of name,
598 ; county seat question settled, 598 ; last
county of the Beserve, 598; Youngstown of the
present, 598; Mahoning Valley Historical So
ciety, 602; first successful iron furnace, 602;
first Western Beserve lemons, 606; Struthers,
608; first American blast furnace, 617; bitu
minous coal industry, 618; mails, 619; county's
only exeeution, 620; state senators and repre
sentatives, 624; population, 625.
"Mahoning County EepubUcan," 595.
Mahoning valley — First dwelUng in, 38.
Mahoning Valley Historical Society, 602.
Manchester, Healey M., 1848.
Manchester, Bobert, 1711.
Manley, Orville T., 1724.
Manning, John W., 1576.
Manning, Margaret, 1577.
Mantle, Frank E., 763.
Manton, Irvin B., 828.
Manton, Harriet E., 772.
Manton, James B., 771.
Mantua township. Portage county, 691.
March, Frank W., 1190.
March, James E., 1190.
Marine Hospital, Cleveland, 518.
Markham, Caroline A., 897.
Marshall, Elizabeth, 580.
Marshall, James E., 1585.
Martin, Alba B., 858.
Martin, Clark, 923.
Marvin, Edwin W., 1675.
Marvin, George W., 1324.
Marvin, James, 1470.
Marvin, Bichard P., 886.
Mason, George L., 1581.
Mason, Levi J., 1440.
Mather, George E., 1707.

INDEX

Mather, Samuel, 715.
Mathews, Mrs. Ellen, 261.
Matteson, Charles F., 1475.
Matteson, Gordon P., 1165.
Matteson, Horace E., 1461.
Maxson, Edgar W., 1160.
Mayhew, Ernest D., 1010.
Maytham, Edward C, 1192.
Means, Henry, 854.
Mecca-Dixie — Its exploded oil boom, 218.
Medbury, Asahel, 605.
Medicine and Surgery — The unsung hero (old-time
doctor), 148; mysterious cures, 149; frightened
into health, 149.
Medina — ^Village founded, 371; first Fourth of July,
371; the city, 372; Boot's manufactory of bee
supplies, 372; banks and newspapers, 374.
Medina county — Postmasters, 67; area and natural
features, 364; pioneer settlers, 364; first native
white child, 364; increase in population, 365;
first survey, 366; War of 1812, 366; first school,
369; Medina village founded, 371; pioneer road
ways, 370; township organization, 370; the
present Medina, 372; Lodi, 375; Chippewa
Lake, 376; village of Seville, 379; Brunswick,
379; Wadsworth, 381; war history of the
county, 387.
"Medina County Gazette," 374.
Medina township, Medina county, 369.
Meek, Gordon S., 950.
Mentor — Its pioneer, 300; Lawnfield (the Garfield
home), 301.
Meriam, Theodore P., 1004.
Merrell, Phineas, 1098.
MerrUl, G. C, 298.
Merrill, F. H., 298.
MerriU, J. H., 298.
Merrills, George H., 795.
Merts, Charles, 1033.
Mertz, Jacob, 1563.
Mertz, John, 1564.
Metcalf, Birdsey S., 1486.
Metcalf, Chauncey, 893.
Metcalf, Eliab W., 1845.
Metcalf, Ezra E., 893.
Metcalf, Friend, 892.
Metcalf, Irving W., 1846.
Metcalf, Isaac S., 1842.
Meyer, Jacob, 1413.
"Middlefield Messenger," 330.
Mighton, Perceptemas J., 1023.
Milan — History and description, 418; once a ship
building port, 419; birthplace of Edison, 420.
Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, 600.
MiUer, Frederick S., 1237.
MiUer, Henry, 1497.
Miller, James P., 1505.
Miller, Joel, 944.
MiUer, Joseph E., 1288.
Miller, Mary P., 1236.
MiUer, Seth E., 1245.
Miller, WiUiam B., 1509.
MiUer, WiUiam E., 1235.
Miller, WiUiam S., 1236.
Mills, Alfred L., 1396.
Mills, Asahel, 42.
Mills, Delaun, 42, 692.
MiUs, Isaac, 42.
M-iUs WiUiam S., 271.

MiUs family, 638, 1395.
Milton township, Mahoning county, 626.
Minich, Napoleon J. A., 774.
Mixer, William F., 1247.
Monosmith, Olney B., 1454.
Monroe, Pauline B., 1871.
Monroe, Thomas B., 1870.
Monroeville — History of, 448.
"Monroeville Spectator," 450.
Montgomery, Mrs. Louisa M., 602.
Montgomery, Eobert, 602, 617.
Montville township, Geauga county, 322.
Monument Park, Cleveland, 468, 495.
Moodey, Charles A., 1167.
Moodey, Frank C, 1576.
Moore, Cheney J., 1099.
Moore, Henry, 1570.
Moore, Mary J., 1571.
Moore, Thomas M., 1065.
Moravian missionaries, 14, 122, 223, 463.
Morley, Charles T., 1143.
Morley, J. H., 290.
Mormon Temple, 131, 132.
Morris, Spencer B., 939.
Morrison, Henry L., 1676.
Morrison, Nancy P., 1677.
Morrissey, P. J., 1336.
Morse, Anna, 623.
Morse, Charles H., 1016.
Morse, Elkanah, 613.
Morse, Hiram, 1015.
Morse, John, 612.
Morse family, 612.
Moseley, E. L., 413.
Munson, Albert, 1681.
Munson township, Geauga county, 322.
Murray, Frederick H., 1792.
Murray, WUIiam P., 1831.
Myers, Addison D., 862.
Myers, Elsie L., 920.
Myers, Holmer J., 879.
Myers, Worthy A., 920.
Mygatt, George, 608.
Nash, George K., 389.
Nearing, Kate C, 1358.
Nelson, Luman T.. 1296.
Nelson, Orlo E., 1400.
Nelson township. Portage county, 692.
Nettleton, Mrs. A. B., 260.
New Haven — Present village, 451.
New London — Present viUage and early settlement,
447. '
New Lyme township, Ashtabula county, 564.
Newberry, John S., 116, 355.
Newberry, Willis J., 1641.
Newburg — Cleveland's early rival, 471, 483.
Newbury township, Geauga county, 319.
Newman, Andrew J., 1123.
Newspapers (see Press).
Newton, Charles B., 1678.
Newton, Eben, 86.
Newton Falls — Past and present, 216.
NichoU, Edward H., 1716.
NichoU, EUa H., 1283.
NichoU, James, 1281.
Nichols, Abner P., 743.
Nichols, Adelaide A. N., 1155.
Nichols, Bernard H., 1426.
Nichols, Byron G., 1423.

INDEX

XXUI

Nichols, John L., 1604.
Nichols, Lyman C, 1387.
Nichols, Marcus H., 1257.
Nichols, Paris C, 1012.
•Nichols, WiUiam M., 1011.
Nicholson, Lancelot S., 1424.
Nicholson, Lewis C, 808.
Nickel Plate MiUing Co., 1011.
Nieding, Anthony, 1049.
Niles — Pounding of, 206; pioneer iron furnace (Yel
low creek), 206; first white native child, 208;
Niles named, 209; manufactures, 209; schools,
210; McKinley's birthplace, 210; churches, 212.
NUes, Carl, 1105.
Nolan, Harry T., 1139.
North Fairfield — Bise and decline, 451.
Northfield township. Summit county, 351.
Northampton township. Summit county, 344.
Northway, Sherman B., 1110.
Northway, Stephen A., 583.
Norton, David Z., 1857.
Norton, Edson J., 1216.
Norton, Eugene J., 1234.
Norton, EoUin C, 923.
Norton township, Summit county, 358.
Norwalk — Pounding of, 425; county seat muddle set
tled, 426; first church organized, 427; a paper
mUl iu 1831, 427; Elisha Whittlesey and Platt
Benedict, 429; schools and Norwalk Academy,
430; Hayes, Foster and McPherson boys, 431;
Norwalk Seminary and Institute, "Wbittlesey
Academy and the Public Library, 432; Fire
Lands Historical Society, 433; a famous execu
tion (Ne-Go-Sheck and No-gon-a-ba), 435; rail
roads wake up Norwalk, 436; industries and
churches, 437; newspapers, 438.
Norwalk Academy, 430.
Norwalk "Experiment-News," 438.
Norwalk "Eeflector," 438.
Norwalk Seminary and Institute, 432.
Nye, Clark H., 725.
Nye, David J., 726.
Oakes, I. N., 943.
Oakes family, 943.
Oakley, John H., 751.
Oatman, Simeon S., 1130.
Oberlin — City and college founded together, 231;
schools and churches, 242; Oberlin Cemetery As
sociation, 244; clubs and societies, 245; Oberlin-
WeUington rescue case, 245; Oberlin made a vil
lage, 246; water works system, 246.
Oberlin CoUege — Its founding, 231; the historic elm,
232; first Oberlin colonist, 233; first college
building, 233; first ladies' haU, 233; First Con
gregational church, 233; Big Tent and Cincin
nati HaU, 234; President Mahan, 234; Lucy
Stone and Antoinette Brown, 235; President
Finney and Finney Memorial Chapel, 236; Car
negie Library, 237; OberUn in the CivU war and
in the Boxer uprising, 237; President Fairchild 's
administration, 238; "Oberlin CoUege Eeview"
foimded, 239; President BaUantine, 239; Presi
dents Barrows and King, 240; new deans created,
240; endowment fund created, 241; Warner and
Peter haUs, 242; Spear laboratory, 242; Talcott
haU, 242.
Oberlin College Library, 1348.
Oberlin Musical Association, 235.
Oberlin Telegraph school, 244.
Oberlin Temperance AlUance, 239.

Oberlin- Wellington Eescue Case, 245.
O'Blenis, Guy A., 1788.
O'Brien, Matthew, 904.
Oden, George W., 1363.
Odenbach, Frederick, 492.
Ogontz (his death), 391.
"Ohio Star," 650.
Ohio State Teachers' Association, 362.
"Old Forge" district, Akron, 352.
Old Stone chureh, Cleveland, 517.
Oldest Coach Company in the United States, 704.
Olds, Charles J., 330.
OUn, James E., 1127.
Olson, Mary Darrow, 221.
Omic, 392.
Opdyke, Emerson, 113.
Orton, John J., 1447.
Ostrander, George L., 1668.
Ostrander, Solomon, 1668.
Otis, Charles A., Jr., 1420. i
Otterbacher, John M., 1829.
Owen, Harriet B., 1384.
Paddack, Abbie H., 956.
Paddack, Joseph H., 955.
Page, Elam B., 1214.
Page, Christiana B., 1214.
Page, Florence A., 1708.
Page, John M., 1708.
Paine, Alfred J., 1735.
Paine, Charrie M., 926.
Paine, Edward, 30, 270.
Paine, Henry, 925.
Paine, Hendrick E., 925.
Paine, George E., 1582.
Paine, George B., 1583.
Painesville — Pounding of as Champion, 272; present
eity, 278; court house and hospital, 278; Eider's
Tavern, 279; industries, 279; schools, 281;
pioneer iron plants, 281; Lake Erie CoUege, 282;
Morley Library, 290; newspapers, 290; Y. M.
C. A., 291.
PainesviUe Citizen's Band, 281.
Painesville " Telegraph-Bepublican, " 290.
Palmer, Albert, 1807.
Palmer, Charles H., 1809.
Palmer, S. J., 1567.
Palmer, Vanderlyn, 1566.
"Palmyra Lump" coal, 640.
Palmyra township. Portage county, 694.
Pape, Thomas W., 1773.
Paris township. Portage county, 695.
Parker, AUen L., 889.
Parker, Elmore M., 1719.
Parker, Florence, 1490.
Parker, Frank W., 1490.
Parker, Herman C, 1774.
Parker, Nathan, 1394.
Parker, Oren N., 1425.
Parker, Thomas M., Jr., 754.
Parkman Academy, 324.
Parkman township, Geauga county, 318.
Parmly, Jahial, 1251.
Parmly, Mary E., 993.
Parmly, James L., 991.
Parsons, Charles C, 262.
Parsons, Edward A., 769.
Parsons, Hartley C, 329, 1523.
Parsons, Samuel H., 18, 76.
Parsons, Timothy G., 1691.
Parsons, Stephen B., 1245.

INDEX

Parsons, Thomas L., 1747.
Parsons House, Warren, 165.
Patchin, Edward, 1521.
Patton, A. A., 942.
Payne, Orlando, 1166.
Payne, Carl W., 1166.
Payne, Corwin N., 877.
Payne, Mary Perry, 526.
Pearl, Addison H., 1588.
Pearce, John J., 1066.
Pearson, Sarah E., 622, 623.
Pease, Calvin, 84, 620.
Pease, Seth, 19, 21, 32.
Peck, Bertie W., 1583.
Peck, Charlotte I., 1500.
Peck, Charles W., 1156.
Peck, Julius, 1823.
Peck, Lucius W., 1500.
Peck, WiUiam E., 1815.
Peek, Wilson, 1030.
Peckham, George A.. 775.
Penfield, Louis W., 1702.
Pepoon, Benjamin, 1316.
Pepoon, Helen A., 1317.
Pepoon family, 1315.
Perkins, George T., 739.
Perkins, Henry B., 62.
Perkins homestead, Warren, 177.
Perkins, Joseph, 518.
Perkins, Martha S., 526.
Perkins, Simon, 61, 98, 177, 352, 361, 1536.
Perkins, Mrs. Simon, 61.
Pfile, Cory O., 1230.
Phelps, Abel W., 1851.
Phelps, CUnton A., 1304. ^
Phelps, Francis B., 1384.
PhUe, Jacob, 1310.
Physicians and Surgeons (see Medicine and Surgery).
Pickton, Thomas C, 990.
Pierce, EUsha M., 1337.
Pierce, WiUiam H., 1142.
Pierce, Walter O., 1432.
Pitney, EHzabeth, 609.
Pitzele, WUUam A., 1436.
Plaisted, J. M., 1209.
Plank, E. H., 1674.
Plato, Henry A., 1825.
Plato, John A., 1274.
Plato, John E., 1274.
PUmpton, Florus B., 695.
Plum, Samuel J., 1634.
Poe, WiUiam L., 824.
Poland township, Mahoning county, 629; Hannah
Smith's notes, 631.
Poland Union Seminary, 630.
Pole, Wilbur S., 1332.
Pond, Arkinson B., 1756.
Pond, Chester H., 244.
Population — Western Beserve for a century, 96.
Portage county — Name and natural features, 634;
New Englanders and Pennsylvania Dutch and
Germans, 634; Scotch-Irish, 635; first settler,
635; flrst child born, 637, 675; first marriage,
637 ; first bride, 638 ; pretty lakes, 638 ; old roads,
639; coal ("Palmyra lump"), 640; first court,
641; first settlers, 641; stories about pioneer
lawyers, 641; first marriages and first births,
642; first deaths and first schools, 643; first
churches and sermons, 644; flrst saw mills, 645;
names and proprietors of townships, 645; pioneer
agricultural society, 647; horticulture and flori

culture, 648; area and population, 650; news
papers, 650; railroads, 652; Garfield homestead,
653; greatest woman of the Western Eeserve,
656; congressman, 659; state senators, 659;
state representatives, 660; schools, 660; Hiram
College, 664; flrst court house and jail, 669;
executions, 669.
"Portage County Democrat," 651.
Portman, Fred, 1148.
Post, Harry A., 1327.
Post, Sidney J., 1684.
Postoffices of the Westem Eeserve, 64.
Potter, Selden J., 1155.
Power, Charles M., 1484.
Powers, A. M., 1230.
Powers, Friink W., 1482.
Powers, Harry W., 1225.
Poxon, Samuel D., 1180.
Pratt, Charles A. B., 962.
Pratt, Frances M., 963.
Pratt, Parley P., 128.
Prentiss, Edwin, ¦ 1499.
Press of the Western Eeserve — The flrst newspaper,
138; newspapers of 1850-2, 141.
Price, Benjamin P., 994.
Price, David W., 1702.
Price, Joseph, 993.
Price, Merritt C, 1338.
Prichard, Lucius W., 1389.
Prindle, George W., 1118.
Pryce, Samuel V., 1195.
Put-in-Bay, Erie county, 401.
Putnam, Charles S., 1308.
Pyle, Frederick T., 1005.
Quinby, Ephraim, 151.
Quinby, George H., 152.
Quinby, Samuel, 215.
Quinby, Sarah, 215.
Quinby residences, Warren, 177.
Quine, Chalmers L., 1169.
Quine, Lynn, 1169.
Quirk, Fred J., 1769.
Bailroad accident — First fatal, in Ohio, 276.
Bamsey, Eussell K., 1542.
Eandolph township. Portage county, 696.
Banney, Henry C, 1297.
Bansom, Caroline L., 582.
Bansom, Delos C, 1774.
Basmussen, Niels M., 1405.
Eathbone, Abel G., 1306.
Eavenna — Connection with Fugitive slave law, 663;
Lincoln's visit, 664.
Bavenna township, Portage county, 700.
Eawdon, Freeman B., 1232.
Bawson, Samuel B., 937.
Bay, FrankUn, 1162.
Eay, Frank H., 1476.
Bayen, William, 604.
Bayen school, Youngstown, 616.
Eaymond, Glenn H., 1729.
Eebman, Frederick B., 1484.
Eecord, George J., 797.
Becord. Marv J., 798.
Bedfleld, Charles W., 1777.
Beed, Charley, 1386.
Beed, Herman A., 1437.
Beed, Luther A., 1290.
Beed, Eobert, 1380.
Beed, Walter W., 1397.

INDEX

xxv

Eeed, WiUiam W., 1385.
Eees, WiUiam P., 1452.
Eeese, Frank, 1663.
Eeese, Newton -N., 1645.
Eeeve, Joel E., 789.
Beeve, Leander, 1334.
Eeeve, Olive P., 792.
Eeeves, John, Jr., 215.
Eeich, WilUam, 1653.
Eeichlin, Charles, 1351.
Eeid, Virginia, 85.
Eeilly, J. W., 113.
Beisinger, Bert J., 1596.
Eeligicin in the Eeserve — Moravian missionaries 122;
pubUc moneys for reUgion, 122; early preachers,
123; the flrst sermon, 123; first churches, 124;
the reUgious "jerks," 125; the Shakers, 126;
the "New Lights," 127; Latter Day Saints, 128.
Benner, George J., 1529.
Eeno, James M., 1864.
Eescue case, 457.
Eeuben McMillan Free Public Library, Youngstown,
622.
Eeynolds, Arlington G., 783.
Eeynolds, Franklin E., 1403.
Eeynolds, James C, 976.
Eeynolds, Terrenoe, 1528.
Ehodenbaugh murder, 671.
Eice, Grover C, 1667.
Bice, George W., 1706.
Eice, Harvey, 485.
Eice, Joseph J., 1292.
Bice, Joseph P., 1615.
Eichard, Isaac H., 1126.
Bichards, S. A., 619.
Bichards, Thomas, 1105.
Bichards, WiUiam, 619.
Eichardson, Calvin J., 853.
Bichardson, John, 1603.
Eichardson, John E., 824.
Eichfield township. Summit county, 358.
Eichmond — At the height of its fame (1835), 293;
trade of today, 294; Thomas Eichmond, its
founder, 294.
Eichmond, Albert J., 1253.
Eichmond, Bird, 1254.
Eichmond, Thomas, 294.
Biddle, Albert J., 576, 692.
Biddle, H. Warner, Sr., 707.
Biddle, Henry W., 1219.
Eiddle Coach & Hearse Company, Bavenna, 705.
Eider, Joseph, 279.
Eider, Zerah P., 888.
Eiedinger, Fred, 989.
Bieg, John P., 1793.
Eigdon, Sidney, 128, 131, 699.
Eiley, Girdeon L., 1770.
Bissmann, Paul A., 1445.
Eitscher, Lemuel K., 1526.
Bitter, George W., 1307.
Eiverside Cemetery, Cleveland, 503.
Boads of the Western Beserve — Girdled road, 69;
State road, 69; Indian trail, 70; Warren turn
pike, 70.
Eoath, Harvey D., 1346.
Eoberts, James W., 1338.
Boberts, Orlo, 1444.
Eoberts, Eobert P., 1299.
Eobinson, A. D., 1035.
Eobinson, Byron W., 924.
Eobinson, Claire W., 1635.

Eobinson, Thomas L., 1562.
Eockefeller, John D., 519.
Bockefeller (Doane Brook) Park, Cleveland, 502.
Eockwell, David L., Sr., 1191.
BockweU, David L., 873.
Eockwell, Mary B., 1192.
Bodgers, Joseph C, 960.
Eogers, Charles H., 1503.
Eogers, -Wilbert W., 1671.
Bohrer, Abram H., 1651.
Eood, Frank P., 963.
Boot, Amos I., 372.
Boot, The A. I. Company, 372.
Boot, Azariah S., 1348.
Boot, Earnest B., 373.
Boot, Elizabeth A., 1189.
Boot, John W., 1736.
Bootstown township. Portage county, 680.
Eose, Charles P., 812.
Boss, FrankUn E., 1330.
Eothgery, Joseph W., 1404.
Bouse, Duane W., 794.
Bouse, Eebecca E. C, 117, 519.
Eowe, H. G., 375.
Boyce, Corrin N., 1518.
Boyer, Elmer E., 999.
EudesiU, Milton L., 935.
Buedi, Jacob M., 839.
Euedi, Jennie W., 839.
Buggies, Almon, 417.
Buggies, Benjamin, 533.
Buggies, Charles, 417.
Buggies, Frances, 417.
Buggies, Hiram L., Jr., 1794.
Buggies Beach, 417.
Eundschau, The, 1473.
Bussell township, Geauga county, 322.
Bust, Ann L., 1115.
Bust, Corodyne 0., 1115.
Byder, Brainard P., 983.
Sackett, Skene D., 1204.
St. Ignatius College, Cleveland, 492.
St. John, GamaUel C, 297.
St. Joseph's Hospital, Lorain, 256.
St. Joseph 's Eoman Catholic church, 904.
St. Mary's chureh, Lorain, 255.
St. Paul's Episcopal church, Norwalk, 427, 437.
Salt Spring region, 18, 586.
Sandusky — Founding of (as Fort Sandusky), 390;
Ogontz Place, 391 ; first settlers and surveys, 393 ;
John Garrison, pioneer merchant, 394; the
Cookes, 395; flrst engine built in Sandusky, 399;
modern Sandusky, 400; Confederate monument
and cemetery, Johnson's Island, 400; Sandusky
Harbor and Cedar Point, 402; the flsh business,
402; coal, lumber, iron, wine, etc., 403; banks,
404; Chamber of Commerce, 404; press, 404;
water works and pubUc schools, 405; Public
Library and churches, 406; artists, 407.
Sandusky ' ' Demokrat, ' ' 405.
Sandusky "Eegister," 404.
Sandusky " Star- Journal, " 405.
Sattertee, Bertha M., 1010.
Satterlee, Marcus D., 1010.
Sawyer, Charles W., 986.
Sawyer, Victor P., 1055.
Schaible, John G., 1828.
Schibley, Christian B., 1268.
Sehibley, George, 1262.
Schoepfle, Christian P., 1873.

XXVI

INDEX

Sehramling, Alvin, 756.
Schultz, Henry, 878.
Schumacher, Ferdinand, 1534.
Scofleld, Levi T., 1390.
Scott, Mr. and Mrs. James, 162.
Scoville, James P., 1101.
Scribner, Burr P., 1302.
Searls, Charles W., 929.
Seeley, Jesse, 1171.
Seeley, Weslev A.. 1171.
Seher, WiUiam, 1440.
Seiberling, Charles W., 804.
Seiberling, Frank A., 842.
SeUers, Edgar A., 894.
"Seneca," 269, 345.
Sessions, Lydia A., 286.
SeviUe — History of vUlage, 379.
Sexton, Meritt, 1550.
Shaker Heights (near Cleveland), 127, 502.
Shalersville township. Portage county, 696.
Shankland, S. D'., 773.
Sharon Academy, Medina county, 387.
Sharon township, Medina county, 386.
Sharp, William G., 918.
Shaw, John E., 1669.
Shaw, Thomas, 1514.
Shaw. Zimri A., 1383.
Shehy, Daniel, 592.
Sheldon, Albert G., 1218,
Sheldon, Amos D., 1181.
Sheldon, Christopher W., 1444.
Sheldon, Ebenezer, 41, 636.
Sheldon, Eichard E., 1754.
SheUey, James H., 1850.
Shepard, Eugene D., 1185.
Sherman, A. Jenette, 1402.
Sherman, John W., 1403.
Shewell, Albert G., 1258.
Shilliday, Alexander, 989.
ShiUiday, Elgie, 1437.
ShilUday, George, 971.
Shilliday, John, 1279.
Shilliday, WiUiam G., 973.
Shinn, Nathan, 1575.
Shinn, Sarah A., 1576.
Shipherd, John J., 231.
Shively, Charles, 1110.
Shook, Jonathan, 1012.
Shreader, John J., 1213.
Shulenberger, W. J., 1674.
Silver Lake, Summit county, 344.
Simison, David, 990.
Simmons, Ansel T., 811.
Simmons, L. 0., 448.
Simpson, David P., 86.
Simpson, Mary A., 742.
Simpson, WiUiam A., 740.
Simonds, Charles H., 1505.
Simonds, Charles S., 1504.
Sites, Eugene, 1262.
Skinner, Abraham, 1032.
Slabaugh, Amos L., 1000.
Sloane, Jonathan, 672.
Sloane, Bush E., 1580.
Sloane, Thomas M., 1546.
SmaU, Vivian B., 289, 1789.
Smead, David D., 1091.
Smith, Ashbel G., 1365.
Smith, Mrs. Charles (nee Scott), 164.
Smith, Charlotte A., 1490.

Smith, Edmond, 219.
Smith, EUen M., 1059.
Smith, Enos C, 1743.
Smith, Fred N., 1187.
Smith, George, 1267.
Smith, Hall (flrst Ashtabula merchant), 556.
Smith, Henry K., 767.
Smith, Mrs. Henry W. (nee Stone), 164.
Smith, Irving, 1574.
Smith, James C, 947.
Smith, James P., 1221.
Smith, Jane, 164.
Smith, Jay C, 1562.
Smith, John F., 789.
Smith, Joseph, 699.
Smith, Joseph, Jr., 131, 132, 303.
Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Justus, 163.
Smith, Lucia E., 1575.
Smith, M. E., 1587.
Smith, Olive, 56.
Smith, Beuben S., 1058.
Smith, Samuel H., 1561.
Smith, Welding E., 1491.
Smith, WUbur F., 1783.
Smith, Wynne S., 1048.
Snowden, James G., 1564.
Snyder, Custer, 1339.
Snyder, Cyrus B., 1874.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Madison, 305.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Sandusky, 408.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Cleveland, 496.
Soldiers' Monument, Windsor, 564.
Sonnanstine, B. F., 1393.
Southington — Chalker High School, 217.
Spafford, Amos, 19, 468.
Spaulding, Charles B., 1801.
Spaulding, Bufus P., 355.
Spear, WilUam T., 195.
Spear, Mrs. WiUiam T., 195.
Speers, Henry, 124.
Spelman, Henry, 876.
Spelman, Marcus, 696.
Spencer, Harvey S., 851.
Spencer, Lewis C, 852.
Spencer, Platt B., 577.
Sperra, Orion P., 778.
Sperry, Calvin, 1464.
Sperry, Perry, 1158.
Spicer, Avery K., 818.
Spiegelberg, William H., 1443.
Spiers, Emanuel E., 1777.
Spitler, George H., 1554.
"Spotted John," 81.
Sprague, Mrs. Harriet G., 421.
Sprague, J. H., 1510.
Sprague, John W., 113.
Spray, William, 1787.
Spring, Amos A., 906.
Spring, Flavins A., 846.
Springfield township, Summit county, 351.
Sprotbery, William P., 1447.
Squire, Andrew, 1455.
Squire, Nancy W., 913.
Squire, Samuel, 913.
Stack, James F., 1648.
Stahl, Harlow C, 1249.
Stambaugh, Harry J., 1483.
Stambaugh, John, 607, 1602.
Stamm, Arthur C, 1107.
Stanley, Abram H., 1620.

INDEX

xxvu

Stanley, Wilber P., 1587.
Stanton, Arthur, 1349.
Stanton, Herbert M., 1328.
Starr, Judson G., 1259.
Stearns, Myron A., 1646.
Steele, Andrew J., 1662.
Steele, George T., 290.
Steinbacher, Erhard, 863.
Steinbacher, Jane S., 864.
Steinbrueek, Otto G., 1077.
Stephenson, Thomas S., 1524.
Stevens, Benjamin, 1757.
Stevens, Harriet, 1758.
Stevens, Horace (and family), 173.
Stevens, James H., 1245.
Stevens, Mary, 173.
Stevens, Mary C, 1758.
Stevens, Orrin, 1189.
Stevens, Phebe A., 1189.
Stewart, James B., 1772.
Stewart, Philo P., 231.
StUes, Job, 29, 30.
StiUson, Dwight, 1064.
Stillson, Martha, 1064.
StiUson, BolUn, 1064.
Stocking, Chauncey H., 1325.
Stocking, WiUiam W., 865.
Stolzenburg, William, 1649.
Stone, Judson N., 1652.
Stone, Lucy, 235.
Storm, Stephen T., 1798.
Storrs, Charles B., 340.
Storrs, Mary E., 1480.
Storrs, WiUiam G., 1479.
Storrs, WUUs P., 1480.
Stow, Joshua, 19.
Stow township. Summit county, 343.
Stratton, Josephine A., 931.
Stratton, Samuel, 931.
Streetsboro township. Portage county, 681.
Strenick, James P., 1274.
Strickland, John W., 977.
Strong, Cornelia, 582.
Strong, Henry C, 1543.
Struthers, John, 608.
Stuart, Emma, 1267.
Stuart, Michael, 1264.
Stuart, Bobert, 1132.
Stull, John M., 1849.
Sturdevant, H. A., 1364.
Stutzman, Aaron B., 912.
Sudro, Charles F., 1336.
Suffield township. Portage county, 697.
Summit county — Postmasters, 67; a county of nat
ural lakes, 334; Cuyahoga Valley, 335; the
Divide and Portage Path, 335; first settler
(David Hudson), 336; Western Beserve Col
lege, 340; village of Hudson, 340; first mar
riage and death, 343; first school house, 343;
Monroe Falls and its falls, 344; Northampton
as a war center, 345; Boston and its downfall,
346; Cuyahoga Palls, 348; first publio Ubrary,
350; founding of Akron, 351; Middlebury, 352;
present eity of Akron, 353; Barberton, 357;
county charities, 361; Akron vs. Cuyahoga
Falls (county seat) fight, 361; newspapers of
the oounty, 362; banks, 363; Civil war, 363.
Sutliff, Euth (Granger), 217.
Swager, John, 595.
Sweet, Mahlon E., 864.
Sweitzer, Louis S., 810.

Swetland, Salmon, 1007.
Swift, Isaac, 708.
Swift, Zephaniah, 143.
Symmes, Anna (marriage of), 76.
Symmes, John Cleves, 76.
Taft, Frederick L., 712.
Talcott, E. W., 1026.
Tallmadge Academy, Summit county, 350.
Tallmadge township. Summit county, 350.
Tappan, Benjamin, 40, 79.
TattersaU, Charles W., 951.
Taylor, Benjamin, 1287.
Taylor, Charles M., 1178.
Taylor, Ezra B., 195, 694.
Taylor, Grant W., 1800.
Taylor, James H., 1799.
Taylor, Eichard V., 1147.
Taylor, Eobert W., 607.
Taylor, Boyal, 672.
Tenney, Eoxanna B., 284.
Tew, Enos, 1163.
Thayer, Burton E., 1519.
Thomas, David W., 1343.
Thomas, Edith M., 584.
Thomas, Fred F., 1857.
Thomas, John M., 1717.
Thomas, Eobert M., 1717.
Thomas, Stephen S., 1453.
Thompson, Charles H., 961.
Thompson, DeUa Blair, 962.
Thompson, John D., 1196.
Thompson, John H., 983.
Thompson, Thomas, 1122.
Thompson, William B., 1231.
Thompson township, Geauga county, 316.
Thornton, Carroll, 1599.
Thorp, Joel (and family), 530.
Thwing, Charles P., 730.
Tibbals, John S., 1132.
Tidball, Alonzo H., 827.
TUden, Daniel B., 525, 672.
Tilden, Mason B., 1654.
TUlotson, Loyal H., 1835.
TiUotson, Mrs. Sarah, 379.
Tinker, Burritt J., 1327.
Tod, David, 609, 1838.
Tod, George, 80, 98, 611.
Tod, Henry, 1572.
Tourgee, Albion W., 582.
Towne, Benjamin ctjncle Ben), 167.
Towne Hotel, Warren, 167.
Townsend, J. Fred, 1613.
Treat, John M., 1229.
Trinity Church, Cleveland, 517.
Tripp, Charles E., 1373.
Tripp, Edward S., 1372.
Tro-xel, David S., 1078.
Truesdale family, 608.
Trumbull county — Subscriptions to first court house,
56; Youngstown fights for the oounty seat, 58;
postmasters, 1850-2, 66; first supervisor of high
ways, 71; river improvements, 71; Ephraim
Quinby and Eichard Storer, first settlers, 150;
other early settlers, 151; second party of set
tlers, 152; first settlers from Connecticut, 152;
Warren tax payers in 1804, 161 ; Warren selected
as county seat, 161; pioneer hotels in Warren,
166; pioneer woman suffragist, 175; Main street
in the old days, 175; Warren map of 1816, by
Louis M. Giddings, 178; flrst sermon preached

xxvm

INDEX

in Warren, 181; pioneer teacher, 186; develop
ment of present school system, 186; women on
the school board, 188; women physicians, 189;
physicians of the county, 190; bar of the oounty,
190; common pleas judges, 197; state senators
since 1874, 197; TrumbuU county's only hang
ing, 197; the '49ers from Warren, 198; de
structive fires, 199; fire department, 201; Warren
City Hall, 201; Warren PubUc Library, 202;
newspapers of the county, 204; Masons and Odd
FeUows, 205; Trumbull oounty artists, 206;
NUes, 206; Newton FaUs, 216; Southington, 217;
Greene, 221.
Troy township, Geauga oounty, 320.
"Trump of Fame," 138.
Tryon, Edmund H., 902.
Tuckerman, Elizabeth E., 1112.
Tuckerman, Jacob, 543, 1112.
Turner, Benjamin P., 1085.
Turner, Edith M., 1220.
Turner, George, 1474.
Turner, Harry, 1220.
Turner, Horatio N., 1475.
Turner, Matthew, 1475.
Turner, Beuben, 1085.
Turney, Carlos A., 1073.
Turney, Omar A., 1076.
Tuttle, Charles, 1436.
Tuttle, George M.. 194.
Tuttle, Grandison N., 1276.
Tuttle, Isaac D., 1547.
Tuttle, Lloyd G., 1609.
Tuttle, Martin A., 1044.
Tuttle, Vine H., 1492.
Tyler, Erastus B., 114.
Tyler, Henry W., 800.
Twinsburg Institute, Summit county, 360.
Twinsburg township. Summit county, 359.
Upson, Joseph E., 1370.
Upson, WilUam H., 355.
Upton, Harriet T., 188, 196.
Vair, Alexander, 963.
Vanarnam, James L., 1810.
Vanderslice, John V., 839.
Van Deusen, Clarence E., 1288.
Van Fleet, John, 1573.
VanGorder, James L., 167.
Van Orman, George P., 1274.
Vaughn, John C, 1093.
Venice, Erie county, 421.
Vermilion — Present village, 416.
Vienna Academy, 189.
"Vindicator," The, 1472.
Vischer, WilUam, 1811.
Vrooman, Arba E., 1118.
Wade, Benjamin P., 87, 572.
Wade, Edward, 575.
Wade, James P., 811.
Wade, Jeptha H., 501, 1593.
Wadsworth, Elijah, 60.
Wadsworth, Harry A., 809.
Wadsworth — Present viUage, 382.
Wadsworth "Banner-Enterprise," 383.
Wadsworth township, Medina county, 381.
Waite, James E., 1077.
Wakefield, Edmund B., 1722.
Wakeman — Present village, 451.
Walker, Charles, 900.
Walker, Charles H., 1237.

WaUace, Anna D., 1120.
Walworth, John, 41, 269.
War of 1812 — First company from the Beserve, 99;
results of Hull's surrender, 99; effects of the
war, 100; Giddings' account of Sandusky battle,
100; battle of Lake Erie, 101.
Ward, EUjah, 1714.
Ward, EUjah A., 757.
Ward, John C, 988.
Ward, Jonathan, 820.
Ward, Joseph A., 759.
Ward, Bobert C, 1088.
Warner, Carlos J., 1594.
Warner, Elbridge 0., 1708.
Warner, P. G. L., 1190.
Warner, Sally U., 364.
Warren — Tax payers in 1804, 161; selected as county
seat, 161; pioneer hotels, 166; oldest business
buUding, 172; Iddings map of 1816, 178;
churches, 181; Warren's School Association and
Academy, 186; present school system, 186;
women on the school board, 188; destructive
fires, 199; city hall, 201; PubUc Library, 202;
newspapers, 204.
Warren, Arthur J., 1401.
Warren, Moses, 19, 34.
Waterways of the Beserve — Improvement of Cuya
hoga and Tuscarawas rivers, 72; Lake Erie and
Ohio Canal, 72; Mahoning Canal, 73.
Watson, George B., 1095.
Watson, Sarah L., 1095.
Wean, Addie, 1124.
Webb, Eli, 1285.
Webb, EoUin S., 1861.
Webb, Thomas D., 144, 193.
Webber, Amos E., 728.
Webber, Tice L., 1135.
Webber, W. M., 305.
Webster, Edward P., 1241.
Webster, Daniel N., 981.
Webster, Mary A. C. S., 829.
Webster, Norman, 828.
Webster, EusseU B., 1240.
Webster family, 1239.
Wedge, Edwin, 1124.
Wedge, Louisa C, 1124.
Weldy, George W., 919.
Weiler, George L., 982.
Wellington — Present village, 257; home of the
Horrs, 257.
Wells, Benjamina, 1746.
Wells, Edward, 1816.
Wells, Guy E., 1819.
Wells, John P., 812.
Wells, Lewis, 1746.
Werner, Edward P., 794.
Werner, Paul E., 890.
Wesbeeher, Joseph, 1299.
West, Thomas B., 1161.
West, WiUiam T., 1242.
Western Eeserve Bank, Warren, 135.
"Western Eeserve Chronicle," 138.
Western Eeserve CoUege, Hudson, 340.
Western Beserve Historical Society, 492.
Western Eeserve Teachers' Seminary, Kirtland,
Western Eeserve University, Cleveland 490
Westover, Ira, 1186. '
Wetmore, Henry, 1566.
Wheatley, WUIiam E., 1290.
Wheeler, Eichmond O., 1159.

INDEX

XXIX

¦Wheeloek, Adelbert W., 1000.
White, Albert J., 897.
White, Charlotte, 1631.
White, Fred H., 1680.
AVhite, Henry A., 1140.
White, Joseph W., 327.
White, WUford W., 1683.
Whitner, Frank M., 857.
Whiton, Joseph L., 1827.
Whittlesey, Charles, 493.
¦Whittlesey, EUsha, 85, 429.
Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sciences, iSTor-
walk, 432.
Whitworth, John, 1557.
Wick, Henry K., 1764.
Wick, Myron C, 1698.
Wick, Paul, 1826.
Wick, William C, 123.
Wick family, Youngstown, 601.
Wick Park, Youngstown, 601.
Wickens, EUzabeth, 1420.
Wickens, George, 1419.
Wickens, George B., 1740.
Wickham, Charles P., 1622.
Wickham, Frank D. E., 1688.
Wickham, VV. S., 438.
Wickware, Mary, 1055.
Widmann, Joseph S., 1614.
Wiegand, John G., 1234.
Wightman, Charles D., 1515.
Wilcox, Aaron, 285, 288, 289.
WUoox, Olive S., 1273.
WUcox, WUIiam L., 1704.
Wilder, Horace, 581.
WiUies, John, 1256.
WiUces, Lucy E., 1256.
WUkins, Charles H., 1608.
WiUjs, Anna, 1064.
WUks, Sarah, 1064.
WUks, Tyler, 1064.
Wilks, John, 1064.
WUley, John W., (Cleveland's flrst mayor), 480, 484.
WUUams, Adam C, 1046.
WUUams, Culton E., 324.
WiUiams, Edgar L., 1048.
WUUams, H. B., 406.
WiUiams, John B., 1718.
WUUams, J. H., 1506.
WiUiams, Perry S., 1452.
Williams, Boy H., 1619.
WiUiams, Seward H., 1643.
WilUard, John H., 887.
WiUoughby — Present vUlage, 295; Andrew's Insti
tute for Girls, 296; burning of the steamer
"Grifath," 298.
WUloughby Female Seminary, 284.
"Willoughby Independent," 298.
WiUoughby Public Library, 1624.
WUlson, Andrew, 1329.
WiUyard, Charles H., 1220.
Wilson, Sidney S., 777.
Wilson, Sidney V., 776.
WUson, Volney, 1560.
WUt, Lucian A., 1226.
Winch, David, 1128.
WincheU, Warren, 1711.

Winchester, Jonathan, 1039.
Winchester family, 1036.
Windham township. Portage county, 698.
Winsor township, Ashtabula oounty (first churches)
551.
WisweU, Bert, 1030.
Wiswell, EoUin E., 1029.
Witter, Elijah C, 1601.
Witter, James B., 1600.
Woleott, Christopher P., 356.
Woleott, Duncan B., 779.
Woleott, Simon P., 779.
Woleott, WiUiam P., 1096.
Wolfram, Ealph, 1270.
Women on Western Beserve school boards, 93.
Wood, James B., 735.
Wood, Eeuben, 87, 521.
Wood, Thomas C, 1260.
Woodbridge, Timothy, 611.
Woodbury, Hamilton B., 583, 1043.
Woodbury, Mary E., 1044.
Woodman, Thaddeus P., 1468.
Woodrow, Mrs. Eunice, 143.
Woodruff, Lewis, 1400.
Woods, Edward H., 1666.
Woods, Sallie Ann (Mrs. Lanterman), 600.
Woodward, WiUiam W., 1591.
Woodworth, Gilman A., 840.
Woolsey, Sarah CooUdge, 526.
Woolson, Constance Fennimore, 526.
Wooster, Moses P., 116.
Work, Alanson, 927.
Wright, George M., 908.
Wright, Henry, 951.
Wright, Hubert J., 1429.
Wright, Isaac S., 1054.
Wright, Jabez, 1571.
Wright, John A., 739.
Wright, John B., 895.
Wright, Thompson H., 1781.
Wright, Walter J., 1416.
Wurst, Henry W., 1449.
Wybel, A. A., 923.
Yeend, James C, 882.
Y. M. C. A. (for steel workers), Lorain, 256.
Yoder, PhUip N., 1374.
Yoder, Lucy J., 1373.
York, H. B., 1441.
York, Henry E., 980.
Young, Clinton, 770.
Young, John, 38; 589.
Young, Eeuben C, 1871.
Youngstown — First land buyers, 591; first mills
erected, 591; two Youngstown traits, 592;
Youngstown founded, 595; flrst newspaper and
first cemeteries, 595; county seat question set
tled, 598; city incorporated, 598; industries,
598; MUl Creek Park, 600; East End and
Wicks Parks, 601; old times in Youngstown,
603 ; first Ohio agricultural society, 621 ; Youngs
town Humane Society, 623; mayors of Youngs
town, 623; railroads, 625.
Zabst, George, 1781.
Zelnar, Harry T., 1777.
Zurhorst, Edmund H., 1555.

MAP OP THE

Conneaut Han

)|ap

.^; EESEBVE

History of the Westem Reserve.

CHAPTER I.

MEN AND WOMEN COLONIZERS.

The spirit of all colonization by nations is
commercial, the development of all unoccupied
territory by companies or individuals is like
wise commercial, but because the people of
the United States are at this moment money-
mad, let us not imagine that those who lived
hundreds of years ago cared for conquest only
in the name of religion. Gold, yellow gold,
urged on most explorers, sometimes to success,
usually to disappointment and failure.
Colonization was not accomplished by men
alone. Women played a great part in it. Some
day when the history of the whole people, not
one-half, is written, the world will be aston
ished at the part women played in the impor
tant development of countries.
Men laughed at Columbus when he tried
to make them see that the nation which
financed his expedition would become power
ful. They shook their heads and denied that
the gold of the East could be found by sailing
west. Columbus, as man has always done
when he has utterly failed with men, turned
to a woman — a queen. To be sure, he told her
of the eastern 'gold which would be hers and
of the fame which would come to Spain, but
he dwelt at great length on the opportunities
she had for planting her religion in a new
world. Women then, as now, were religious.
The Spanish Queen.
History tells us, that because of her devo
tion to her church, she raised the necessary
money by the sale of her jewels. At any rate,
we know she herself contributed more than

half the money he needed, and made the town
of Palos give him two vessels. The discov
eries he made did reflect credit upon her
kingdom, and through the upper parts of
South America and most of the today West
India Islands, and Central America and Mex
ico, Spanish is ' the language spoken, and the
Roman Catholic is the universal religion. That
religion, especially its ritual, is making itself
felt in the United States today in ways of
which we are unconscious. That church mod
ified the forms of the pagan worship and
adopted them as its own.. The Anglican
church uses moderately many of these forms,
while the ordinary Protestant church of today
follows at a respectful distance. Methodist,
Baptist, Presbyterian, and so on, read the^
Psalter, sing the Gloria, say the Creed, repeat
the Lord's Prayer, and take on other forms to
make the service attractive and effective. The
vestments of the Episcopal priest are fashioned
more and more after his Romish brother, while
the garments of Protestant clergymen dis
tinguish them often from their fellow men.
In fact, if the Pilgrims, as they stepped upon
the rock, could have had a vision of the church
of today, with its stained glass, its organ, its
choir, its forms and ceremonies, possibly they
would have re-embarked. It is well for us
they had not that power of foresight.
Puritan Mothers and Fathers.
Separatists came to this country seeking
religious liberty and some other things. If it

Vol. I— 1

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

had been religious liberty for themselves alone
they could have staid in Holland. It was
freedom of religious belief for themselves and
their descendants and successors they sought.
These Pilgrims were both men and women;
they had been born in a constitutional mon
archy where the established church was pow
erful, and the man became the monarch of the
family, and the man preacher, the ruler of
the community. On the rocky coast of New
England the Puritan mother helped to carve
out the nation, as well as did the Puritan
father. She loved religious liberty as well
as did he, but she spoke and acted at second
hand. If she felt so strongly that she let her
voice be heard, she endangered her life and
was sometimes hung or burned as a witch
or disturber. Those early women, accus
tomed to a mild climate, bore the severities of
their new home with utmost patience and
resignation. They bore and buried their chil
dren, in great numbers, and most of them
yielded up' their lives when young. Hundreds
of grave-stones in New England, with only
a little modification, testify that "Mary Anne
Smith died at the age of twenty-six, leaving
eight children to the tender mercy of God."
The liberal (?) religion brought across the
seas was not liberal enough for some members
ofthe new community ; the love of leadership
too, was in the hearts of these malcontents
but, as people were few, leaders were neces
sarily few, and many would-be leaders had
to be followers. The soil of the upper
Atlantic coast lay thin on the rocks, and crops
were raised only by great effort. All these
things tended to induce some of the colonists
to move on to the Southern coast where the
play of the New England settlers was acted
again with some newer scenes of liberty.
Still later, commercialism and religion, the
latter's voice somewhat weakened, allured
Connecticut people to Pennsylvania, where
other men, also with love of money and relig
ion, met them and slaughtered most of them,
the survivors returning East.
Later, the Connecticut people made another

effort, going in the eastern corner of the
North-West Territory, where they accum
ulated property, modified their religion and
became very powerful and most prosperous,
some of them the leaders of the nation, as
we shall see.
The New World Divided.
But to return to Columbus. He was not the
first man to declare the world to be round,
but as he really believed it, he was anxious
to prove, to be true, what was then but a
theory. In August, 1492, with three small
vessels and about one hundred men, some of
them criminals, he set sail, and on October
12 sighted land, one of the Bahamas. He
returned home in January. Isabella and
Fedinand, and in fact all Spaniards, were over
joyed at the success of the enterprise. The
Queen hastened to the Pope, Alexander VI,
and asked him to grant to Spain dominion
over this new land.
Spain and Portugal.
When in the beginning Columbus had tried
to interest the Portuguese in his adventure,
that country had pretended it believed nothing
in the theory, but true to their reputed
natures, while denying his claim, these people
set sail to make the voyage, hoping to obtain
the glory for their nation. These sailors,
not having the faith of Columbus, soon be
came disheartened, and turned back. How
ever, when Columbus returned, Portugal was
so chagrined that she immediately sent an
expedition to India via Cape of Good Hope,
and thus De Gama,"in 1498, reached the land
all were seeking, before any European. These
facts would be of no interest to the readers of
this history, except that Pope Alexander be
lieved Portugal as well as Spain had reached
the "Golden Land," and "drawing a meridian
one hundred leagues west of the Azores, de
creed that all new lands west of this line
should belong to Spain, and those east to
Portugal." It is a pity that Columbus died without

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

knowing that he had discovered a new world.
On his second voyage he visited Porto Rico,
which island, four hundred years later, was
a part of the United States.
Spain and Portugal owned the land in the
new' world, provided the people who lived
here (erroneously named Indians) had no
claim to the forests over which their fathers
had roamed many centuries before either Port
ugal or Spain had heard of a round world or
a short passage to India, and provided the
Norsemen were not exploring with the idea
of colonizing, which they were probably not.
Enter England.
Stupid, penurious Henry VII was quite
disturbed by Columbus' success, and in 1497
sent John Cabot after India's gold, and the
next year sent Sebastian Cabot, the son, on
the same errand. The father landed on the
North American coast and the son in the
territory of the United States. Neither hav
ing found treasures of any kind, England
discontinued her voyages, although upon these
two expeditions she later laid claim to a goodly
part of the land east of the Mississippi.
Spain for many years sent explorers and
colonies into the new unknown West, some
times to South America and the Islands, some
times to Mexico, to Florida, to California and
the country in between. It was about one
hundred years from the time of Columbus'
first voyage that it became understood that
Spain would confine herself to the southern
part of the Northern continent.
France Takes a Hand.
France was slow in attempting to colonize
in the western hemisphere. It was more than
one hundred and fifty years from Columbus'
first voyage before the Huguenots, for relig
ious reasons, fled from France to make a
new home in Florida. As this land was claimed
by the Spanish, the Spanish Christians slew
the French Liberal Christians, and were in
turn hanged by the French Regular Chris
tians. Oh ! the agony, the bloodshed, the
torture inflicted by those supposing themselves

to be the followers of the gentle, loving, the
non-resisting Jesus.
In 1535 the French sailed into the St.
Lawrence and from that time on made ex
cursions in all directions. In 1605 there was
a permanent settlement in Nova Scotia. In
1660 they were on Lake Superior, in 1673 on
the upper Mississippi, in 1679 La Salle
launched a boat of sixty tons, the "Griffin,"
on Lake Erie, and proceeded up the lakes. In
1682 he was at the mouth of the Mississippi.
In fact, on the border of the land claimed by
the English, the French military posts were
numerous and were constantly encroaching.
We remember that it was Isabella who
started Columbus on the discovery of the new
land, and it was Elizabeth who really began
the planting of the English in the western
world. As we have seen, Henry VII kept his purse
strings tightly drawn and was too self-cen
tered to see beyond his borders. It is hardly
for us, descendants of the New England
pioneers, to dwell on Henry's penuriousness,
because this trait our ancestors brought with
them into New England, or into New Connect
icut, and their great-great-grandchildren, as a
rule, do not scatter gold but rather gathereth
and keepeth it. Money is plenty and it
is spent, as it should be, but it is drawn
forth under protest from the descendant of
the early New Englander. We not only do
not sell all that we have and give to the poor,
but many of us think ourselves the poor with
out reason. However, the Western Reserve
is not the only spot on earth where people are
saving or where the church doctrine is not
followed to the letter.
Henry VIII had to give much time to what
for politeness is called "domestic affairs," but
what in reality was a licentious life. He
divorced and killed wives, and in th|e name of
the church tortured and dispatched Christians.
Queen Elizabeth.
Many historians try to belittle Elizabeth,
saying the success of her reign was due not

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

to her own ability, but to the wise men whom
she drew around her. If this be true, does
that fact itself not show a sagacious mind?
The holy world says she was not virtuous.
The world says that of all women who have
ability and talent, and who use them in new
lines. It is the thing women, as a whole,
least deserve and most dread. Elizabeth knew
what was said,-^she did not care. Wise was
she, far wise above her generation. She may
have had lovers in the insinuating sense, but
she judiciously avoided a husband. She was
a woman, and in that far-away time, heads
rolled off of shoulders easily at a wave of
a majestic hand and she did not like to see
them roll and the position of heads was quite
normal during her reign. She knew husbands
could not be divorced without punishment,
whereas lovers could be set aside easily ; the
quieter, the better.
At any rate, Elizabeth had time for things
other than domestic (here, domestic is used
as applied usually to men), and one of these
things was colonizing the new world. She
granted charters to Sir Humphrey Gilbert,
and she and Sir Walter Raleigh realized that
the new world was the place to cripple Spain.
With the assistance of Sir Francis Drake, a
gentleman in those days, a pirate in ours, she
made the beginning.
Of course, colonizing was a new business
and she did not know that idle gentlemen,
degenerate second sons, laborers who refused
to labor, with no women, never had success
fully made homes in the wilderness, or any
where else.
The early expeditions of England are so
well known to all who can read at all that
they are not repeated here. These three coun
tries are mentioned in this work because indi
rectly they had a bearing on The Western
Reserve history.
James I granted charters to the London and
the Plymouth Companies in 1606. The
Plymouth Company was given the land from
Nova Scotia to Long Island running indefi

nitely westwards: while the London Company
was given the land from the Potomac to Cape
Fear, the intermediate portion being open to
both. In 1609 a new charter was granted by
James to the London Company, extending the
coast line two hundred miles below and above
the present Old Point Comfort. The northern
line then began a little above the center
of the New Jersey coast and ran at an angle
of about forty-five degrees, touching near Buf
falo, on through Lake Huron, Lake Superior
"up into the lands throughout from sea to
sea and northwest." This covered nearly one-
half of the North American Continent. There
fore, in 1609, the land which later became The
Western Reserve belonged to England, had
been granted to the London Company, and
claimed by Virginia, so called in honor of
the Virgin queen.
The people of Northeastern Ohio owe a
great debt to the London Company, for it
succeeded in doing what Elizabeth began to
do — held back the Spanish nation, and estab
lished a self-govetnment which a people be
longing to a constitutional monarchy could do
and which a people belonging to an absolute
monarchy could not do. The rulers of Spain
were real rulers, not leaders; people had no
voice whatever in their own government. The
rulers of England were not all powerful. The
Virginians were conformers and therefore
did not displease the king, as did the northern
folks. Hence it kept its charter, while ]\Ias-
sachusetts' was revoked in the latter part of
the eighteenth century.
William Stowell Mills says that there were
eleven claimants to the lands now occupied
by the people of the Western Reserve: —
Firstly, England; secondly, France; thirdly,
Virginia ; fourthly, Massachusetts ; fifthly, Erie
Indians; sixthly, Iroquois; seventhly, tribes in
common; eighthly, Connecticut; ninthly. New
York ; tenthly, the United Colonies ; eleventhly,
the Cdnnecticut Land Company.

TRUMBULL COUNTV
Embracing all of the western neaEHVE and the fire lands
ESTABLISHED BV PROCLAMATtON JULY IO- IftOO.

OHIO COUNTIES1802.

Map smov»/img
GEAUGA OOUNTY
I605.

(Courtesy of S. P. Orth.)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTEEN EESEEVE

CHAPTER II.

CONNECTICUT STRETCHES WESTWARD.

The Connecticut constitution was drawn up
in 1639 by the men of the three settlements
or towns, Hartford, Wethersfield, and Wind
sor. It provided for a government by the
people and did not mention king or parliament.
Other towns later organized under the title
of New Haven. It was in this colony that the
laws were so strict as to be called the "Blue
Laws," although these laws did not compare
in severity with many laws of Old England.
On April 23, 1662, Charles II confirmed all
Connecticut charters and deeds, and because
he hated the New Haven colony (it had defied
him and denied him certain requests) he
turned it in as Connecticut under this charter.
The conveyance gave to Connecticut "all the
territory of the present state and all of the
lands west of it, to the extent of its breadth,
from sea to sea." This really gave to Con
necticut aside from the home state, the upper
third of Pennsylvania, about one-third of Ohio,
and parts of what has become Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and
California.
England Dem.\nds Connecticut's Charter.
Connecticut became prosperous and tran
quillity seemed near when Andros, the gover
nor of Massachusetts, appeared in the state
and demanded their charter. The question of
releasing this valuable document was con
sidered for hours, eloquent arguments were
made, the hardships of early settlers were
depicted, but even when night fell the governor
was still demanding. No Tungsten burner
Hghted the room in which the council was
held, but the best of the time — the tallow dip

— was there. Suddenly there was darkness.
When the dips were set sputtering again the
charter could not be found. Some patriot, or
patriots, had spirited it away and had hid
it in the hollow of an oak tree where it re-
. mained till Massachusetts rebelled against
Andros, when it was triumphantly produced.
On Sundays, on Thanksgiving, and on Fourth
of July, when the early settlers of New Con
necticut had time to think or to hear orations,
their hearts swelled with gratitude as they
recalled that the charter which gave them the
land upon which they had built their homes
had been preserved to them by Yankee wit
and courage, and the "Charter Oak" was ever
held in reverence.
Modern historians are cruel. Not only do
they declare that there was no William Tell,
no apple, no arrow ; but that Pocahontas did
not leap forth from the darkness and save
the life of John Smith. They say she was a
wise, beautiful, gentle, loving Indian girl do
ing many good deeds for the white people
and her own, and who in turn was loved for
her devotion and her bravery. Pshaw ! that
picture does not replace the other. Too many
women have been good, wise and devoted to
this great country, in the beginning, later and
at this minute, to have "special mention.''
It is the beautiful Indian in red skirt, beaded
waist and tiny moccasins standing defiant that
we love to think about. The cruel historian
hatefully insinuates that the hollow oak may
have held nuts, leaves, dead branches, toads,
squirrels, but no parchment — no paper upon
which the chesty king in 1662 had placed his

8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

name and seal ; anyway oak or not, they do not
declare there was no charter, for which we
are profoundly thankful.
Connecticut in Pennsylvania.
Connecticut's far western land held out hope
for the home folks and land companies were
formed to establish settlements in northern
Pennsylvania, then more or less of a wilder
ness. When the companies were ready, men
and women set out? to make new homes in
the beautiful valley of the Wyoming. They
sought property and liberty, but they found
others ahead of them who wanted the same
things. Seven times did the Connecticut emi
grants attempt to make a settlement. Each
time they were driven out by whites and
Indians, and twice massacred. The life of
a pioneer is a hard life at best, but for men
and women to be cold, hungry, lonely and fear
ful most of the time, as they struggled for
existence, and to be killed at the end, seems
useless when we know how the fertile land,
plenty of it for themselves, their children, and
their children's children, stretched out invit
ingly before them. To them it seemed as
inaccessible as does Mars to us, no telescope
discerned its canals.
Sometimes husbands settled their farailies
in this valley and went out to fight or to hunt,
and the women ' did the work of both, their
children hanging to their skirts. They list
ened as they labored for the whoops of the
dreaded red man.
So busy' were these frontiersmen during the
Revolutionary war that they neglected the
warning of the wives at home, and when at
last, they reluctantly returned, they found
themselves wholly unprepared for what
awaited them. They proceeded immediately
to construct fortresses, while the women en
gaged in the manly occupation of making the
powder. To us they seem to have been a
fool-hardy lot for instead of keeping within
the barricades about three hundred of them
marched boldly forth to meet twelve hundred

Indians, Tories and British. One hundred
and sixty were killed outright, while one
hundred and forty escaped, nearly all to be
recaptured and tomahawked or tortured to
death. Some were pinned down with pitch
forks onto blazing logs, or were made to run
through crackling fires till they fell fainting
and were burned to death. One hundred and
fifty widows and nearly six hundred orphans
were made "that day. When women realized
what was happening they seized their children
and started for the east, through the "Dismal
Swamp." In one of these groups there were
nearly one hundred women and children and
only one man. Alfred Mathews in "Ohio and
Her Western Reserve" says : "All were with
out food, many scarcely clothed, but they
pressed on, weak, trembling and growing con
stantly worse from this unaccustomed labor
through the thicket, mire and ooze. One by
one the weakest gave out. Some wandered
from the path and were lost; some fell from
exhaustion, some from wounds received in
battle, but the majority maintained life in some
miraculous way and pressed on. The only
manna in that wilderness was whortleberries,
and these they plucked and eagerly devoured,
without pausing. Children were born and
children died in that fearful forced march.
One babe that came into the world in this
scene of terror and travail was carried alive
to the settlements. At least one which died
was left upon the ground, while the agonized
mother went on. There was not time nor
were there means to make even a shallow
grave. One woman bore her dead babe in
her arms twenty miles rather than abandon
its little body to the beasts."
The Ordinance of 1787.
One of the last and greatest acts of the
Congress of Confederation was the passing of
the famous charter of Freedom, more com
monly known as the Charter of 1787. Of it
Daniel Webster said, "I doubt whether one
single law of any law giver, ancient or modern.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

9

has produced effects of more distinct, marked
or lasting character than the ordinance of
1787." This ordinance provided for the govern
ment of the Northwest territory and has been
the foundation of the laws governing all our
territories since. It prohibited negro slavery
in that territory, provided for religious free
dom for all settlers of that region and for
schools, stating that "the means of education
shall forever be encouraged."
A court, organized by congress under the
Articles of Confederation entered into by the
states during the Revolution, sat at Trenton,
New Jersey, in 1787, to consider the dispute
between Connecticut and Pennsylvania as to
boundary. A decision was rendered for Penn
sylvania. When the author was a young girl she
accompanied her father as he went from
county seat to county seat in the dual capacity
of common pleas and circuit judge. Being
thus thrown for weeks together with judges
and lawyers, she soon learned, to her surprise,
that printed, high judical decisions were not
always so clearly and firmly worded as to
make differences of opinion among lawyers
and judges impossible, and, further, that con
ditions and circumstances, personal and politi
cal, entered into decisions in many cases.
Saves Her Western Reserve.
The ruling in regard to the right of Con
necticut to the western lands is a fair sample.
This state had charters for land in New York,
but Charles had also given the same land to
New York. His geography was as shady as
¦was the spelling of our first president. New
York and, Connecticut began to settle their
differences in 1683 and finished in 1733. In
1787, Connecticut was possessed of her char
ter, shorn of all east of the western Pennsyl
vania line. This Western land was still hers.
She was Yankee and did not let go. Her
chance was here and she took it. When the
general government was begging the states
to relinquish their titles, Connecticut coquet-

tishly or mulishly, held back. At last she
agreed, reserving for herself the portion of
land which was bordered on the north by the
lake, east by the Pennsylvania line, south by
the 41st parallel, and on the west by a line a
hundred and twenty miles west of the Penn
sylvania west line. That this request was
granted rather strengthens the thought that
the judges knew the early decision had been
unfair and that amends ought to be made.
Otherwise why should Connecticut be the ex
ception to all other states?
Connecticut, after all this trouble and un
certainty of years, was at last victorious and
she possessed the thing, or part of the thing,
for which she had contended.
The stories of states are not unlike the
stories of people. Connecticut was barely
relieved of a great anxiety — that of a pos
sible loss of her land, — before she was beset
by another one. She owned the land, but what
should she do with it. An unbroken wilder
ness, hundreds of miles away, was not money
in the purse. She had seen the Indians driven
farther and farther away, she had' had a
peculiar experience herself of owning and be
ing deprived of, she had seen reversal of de
cisions, beside she realized the approaching
power of central government and knew that
individual communities might have to suffer
for the good of the whole. She said to her
self, "If I am not to be undone even at this
late day, I myself must be up and doing."
Connecticut's "White Elephant.'"
The Connecticut legislature in 1786 ap
pointed a committee of three to dispose of its
far western land. The price was placed at
fifty cents per acre and the territory was to
be divided into townships six miles square.
The general assembly agreed to make a grant
of a township to each purchaser, his heirs and
assigns, and to reserve five hundred acres of
good land in each township for the support of
the "Gospel minister," five hundred acres for
"the support of the schools 'forever," and
two hundred and forty acres in "fee simple to

IO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the first Gospel minister who shall settle in
such town."
It also was agreed to survey the tract into
tiers and ranges. No. I to be what is now the
northeastern corner of Ashtabula county. The
legislature of the following year although sub
stantially ratifying this agreement, made a
few minor changes such as placing No. i
township at the southeast corner, Poland, and
making the township five miles square. In
1788 Judge Samuel Parsons bought the Salt
Springs tract. This was the first land sold
on the Reserve and the only land sold by the
commissioners. The deed is recorded in War
ren. There had been no survey, but the
tiers and townships of this tract are usually
spoken of as if surveyed.
The "Fire Lands."
During the war of the Revolution the Brit
ish destroyed property belonging to Con
necticut land owners and they demanded reim
bursement from the legislature. This claim
was considered by that body in 1791 and in
1792, and the 500,000 acres set off for these
sufferers, or their heirs, was known at first as
"The Sufferers' Land," later as "Fire Lands."
Most of the property destroyed had been
burned. The shrewdness of Connecticut is seen even
in this transaction. She gave to those needing
and deserving help, as men usually give alms,
that is, she gave that for which she cared
least, the land that was farthest away. Neither
did she include the islands lying near and be
longing properly to the territory. Every emi
grant as he journeyed to his new home in
the "Fire Lands" helped to make a roadway
for the later settlers, and every acre cleared
and every cabin erected on these "Fire Lands"
added to the value of the land to the east
awaiting purchasers.
Thus, the present counties of Huron and
Erie, although belonging to the Western Re
serve, brought no substantial gain, unless can
celling moral obligations be considered sub

stantial gain. Few men so considered it in
these days. Selling the Reserve.
In 1795 Connecticut having grown desperate
over her "White Elephant" determined to dis
pose of it. After formally resolving to sell it,
the legislature selected a committee of eight,
one from each county, to transact the business.
They were John Treadwell, Hartford county;
James Wadsworth, New Haven county; Mar
vin Wait, New London; William Edmonds,
Fairfield; Thomas Grosvenor, Windham;
Aaron Austin, Litchfield; Elijah Hubbard,
Middlesex; and Sylvester Gilbert, of Tolland
county. It will be seen that the names of
these men and these towns were used in many
ways in New Connecticut, as were also the
names of the purchasers. At this time, sev
eral individuals wished to buy land for them
selves or their friends, but the land company
feared that some of them who were not from
Connecticut were not financially responsible,
while the price others offered was not suffi
cient. Among the latter were Zepheniah
tice of Connecticut. He offered a million dol-
Swift, author of Swift's Digest, ex-chief jus-
lars for the whole tract. This, however, was
not entirely individual, some of his friends
were interested with him.
The selected, after careful consideration sold
the tract September 5th, to the following per
sons for the following amounts :
Joseph Howland and Daniel L. Coit, $30,461
Eliam Morgan and Daniel L. Coit, 51,402
Caleb Atwater, 22,846
Daniel Holbrook, 8,750
Joseph Williams, 15,231
William Law, 10,500
William Judd, 16,250
Elisha Flyde and Uriah Tracy, S7,400
James Johnston, 30,000
Samuel Mather, Jr., 18,461
Ephraim Kirby, Elijah Boardman,
and Urial Holmes, Jr., 60,000
Solomon Griswold, 10,000

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

II

Oliver Phelps and Gideon Gran

ger, Jr.,

80,000

William Hart,

30,462

Henry Champion, 2d

85,67s

Asher Miller,

34,000

Robert C. Johnson,

60,000

Ephraim Root,

42,000

Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr.,

19,039

Solomon Cowles,

10,000

Oliver Phelps,

168,185

Ashael Hathaway,

12,000

John Caldwell and Pelig Sanford,

15,000

Timothy Burr,

15,231

Luther Loomis and Ebenezer King, Jr.

, 44,318

William Lyman, John Stoddard, and

David King,

24,730

Moses Cleaveland,

32,600

Samuel P. Lord,

14,092

Roger Newbury, Enoch Perkins and

Jonathan Brace,

38,000

Ephraim Starr,

17,415

Sylvanus Griswold,

1,683

Jozeb Stocking and Joshua Stow,

11,423

Titus Street,

22,846

James Ball, Aaron Olmstead and

John Wiles,
30,000
Pierpoint Edwards,
60,000
Amounting to $1,200,000
The early diaries show some little differences
in names and amounts, the total always re
maining the same, but the above is from a
"Book of Drafts" in the recorder's office, at
Warren. It was prepared by Hon. T. D.
Webb, and given out by Joseph Perkins of
Cleveland. Both men were accurate and pains
taking.
The Connecticut Land Company.
These then were the men who formed them
selves into the Connecticut Land Company.
So careful were they as to the letter of the
law, so exacting as to the carrying out of
their obligations, and sugh personal standing
had they, that, whereas in tracing titles in
most places in the United States one must
go back to the grants made by the rulers of
the old world, in northeastern Ohio it is
sufficient to go back only to the Connecticut
Land Company.
In the beginning this territory was supposed
to contain four million acres, but it was found
later that early maps and sketches had been
defective ; that Lake Erie made a decided
southern dip so that part of the land proved
to be water with some air thrown in.
Below is a table prepared by Judge Fred
erick Kinsman, who was very accurate in all
stateraents.
Quantity of Land in the Connecticut
Western Reserve by Survey.
Connecticut Land Company, land east
of the Cuyahoga River, etc., 2,002,970
Land west of the Cuyahoga River,
exclusive of surplus Islands, 827,291
Surplus land (so called), 5,286
Islands Cunningham or Kelley's, 2,749
Islands Bass or Bay No. i, 1,322
Islands Bass or Bay No. 2, 709
Islands Bass or Bay No. 3, 709
Islands Bass or Bay No. 4, 403
Islands Bass or Bay No. 5, 32 5,924
Amount of Connecticut Land Com
pany land in acres 2,841,471
Parson's or "Salt Spring Tract" in
acres, 25,450
Sufferers' or Fire Lands, 500,000
Total number of acres in the
Connecticut Western Reserve 3,366,921
The $1,200,000 received in payment was
placed by Connecticut in its school fund and
has always there reraained.
Connecticut having obtained her western
land by grant, having retained it by diplo
macy and persistence, and having sold it to
her satisfaction, watched with pride its devel
opment. Even at this writing a larg,e part of
the Western Reserve, particularly the eastern
section, is quite as much like New England as
Connecticut itself.
12

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The Reserve of the Present.
Tlje width of the Western Reserve is the
same as the widest part of Connecticut ; that
is, seventy-one and a half miles. It is nearly
six per cent greater than the state of Con
necticut. When all the lines were drawn and the
townships laid out, the Reserve did not divide
into full and exact counties. Three town
ships of Ashland county are north of the forty-
first parallel — Ruggles, Troy and Sullivan.
This county is a large and prosperous one, but,
as so much of it lies outside the Reserve,
little in connection with it appears in this
history. The township of Danbury and part of the
Islands belonging to Ottawa county lie east
of the west line of the Fire Lands, and are
a part of the country of which we are writing.
The Southern tier of townships of Mahoning
county are below the southern boundary of
the Reserve, and they do not figure in this
history. They are Springfield, Beaver, Green,
Goshen and Smith.
The Nature of New Connecticut.
What was the nature of this new Connect
icut? It was heavy with excellent timber, oak,
elm, maple, hickory, walnut, beech, etc. It
was bounded on one side by a great blue
lake deep enough to carry the trans^atlantic
steamers of today, and containing more fish
in proportion to its size than any known body
of water in the United States.
It had several navigable rivers and num
erous creeks and rivulets. The climate was
temperate, a little colder in winter perhaps
than the home state and possibly warmer in
summer. The surface soil was a rich sandy
loam in the northern portion, running a little
heavier with clay at the southern part.
Within this territory was fine sandstone for
building purposes and excellent flagging for
walks, as the towns of today will testify.
Bituminous coal (now nearly exhausted) of
the finest quality lay waiting to be mined.

The soil was adapted to fruit growing and
the very strip of land over which the Cleve
land surveyors passed is now almost covered
with vineyards. The maple tree stood ready
for service and today, in the northeastern
portion, is made the finest maple syrup in the
world. The woods abounded in game and the
streams in fish.
The land in some places is low and wet,
and, in others, flat and uninteresting, while
there were rolling, hilly spots with touches of
exquisite scenery.
Nature had done well by this part of the
world and now man was to demonstrate what
he could do on such a foundation. "The folks
back home" — the land company — had bought
this territory as the boys trade marbles, "un-
sight, unseen." New Englanders knew noth
ing of the flat fertile middle west. Their
country was a stony one and to them trees
meant fertility. The Western Reserve was
a forest ; that satisfied them.
Some writers of the New Connecticut his
tory say that into this vast forest, into this
wild region, through whose woods and over
whose hills no white man's foot had passed,
came the advance guard, the surveyors of the
Connecticut Land Company.
This statement is an exaggeration. White
men were here when the first surveyor ar
rived, and had been here, as travelers, mis
sionaries, soldiers and traders long before.
Possibly La Salle with his party, going
east and west, in 1682-83, walked the shores
of Lake Erie (French forts were at Niagara,
Presque Isle (Erie), and at the mouth of the
Maumee) ; it is more probable that he took
the north shore, however, since, the Indians
of that region were his friends.
The journals, diaries, survey books, etc.,
which are now being brought to light, show
that in many parts of the Reserve timber
¦was felled by a wliitfe man's ax at a very early
day. In 1840 Colonel Charles Whittlesey,
who wrote an early history of Cleveland, says
he examined a stump of an oak tree, in Can-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

13

field, which was two feet ten inches in diam
eter and "about seven inches from the center
were marks of an ax, perfectly distinct, over
which 160 layers of annual growth had ac
cumulated." Mr. Whittlesey procured a por
tion of the tree extending from the outside
to the center on which the ancient and mod
ern marks of the ax are equally plain; the
tools being of about the same breadth and in
equally good order. "The Canfield tree must
be considered a good record as far back as
1660." This block may be seen now in the
Western Reserve Historical Society, in Cleve
land. Mr. Jason Hubbell, of Newburg, reported
the finding of like marks which he estimated
to have been made in 1690.
Mr. Lapham, of Willoughby, felled a tree
in 1848 which was seen by many people of
that time and the stump of which was in
1867 standing near the railroad track one mile
and a half west of Willoughby. This showed
400 rings outside the cut, indicating it to have
been chopped in 1448 or forty-four years be
fore Columbus' landing at San Salvador. Mr.
Whittlesey says some trees form two terminal
buds a year and if this were so it would bring
the date about 1648 or near the time of the
other marks.
The early surveyors and settlers were usu
ally good woodsmen ; while not expert with
the' ax themselves they appreciated the good
work in others. Being able to make the
cleanest cut in felling a tree in the early days
of the last century called forth as much ad
miration as the management of a huge indus
trial plant, or the forming of a great trust.
There was no chance, therefore, of these ax
marks being confused with those of the In
dians. The "squaw axes" given the Indians
between 1608-20 had different length of bit
and the marks the red men made were entirely
different in character. In fact, no matter how
much we may sympathize with the Indiains in
the loss of their hunting grounds and the de
struction of their tribes, we miist admit that
they did not take kindly to agriculture or man

ual labor, and few, if any, ever excelled in
these directions. If they had, some of us
who now have blue eyes might have had black
ones, or we might now be wearing feathers in
our hair instead of on our hats.
"In 1815," says Mills, "a human jawbone
was found in a roadway which had been cut
through a mound. Near the, bone was an arti
ficial tooth of metal which exactly fitted a
cavity in the jaw."
Jesuits were among the Iroquois Indians
in New York as early as 1656, but it does not
seem, even if they penetrated as far as the
Reserve, that they could have chopped so
many trees, because the number found 200
years , later was too great for travelers to
have made. Just why the Norsemen landed
on our New England coast, when they were
there, how long they really staid, will never
be known positively, neither will the time
when the white men visited the Ohio Lake
region be determined, how long they staid,
why they came, when they left. But we
know that they, like the Norsemen, were
here. A. T. Goodman in a tract of the Western
Reserve Historical Society says : "The earli
est known occupation of the territory em
braced within the limits of the state of Ohio
by any collective body of white men was by
the French in 1680." From that time until
the conquest of Canada by the French, French
traders were scattered throughout the terri
tory, building a post, station or store at al
raost every Indian town. English traders first
made their appearance in the Ohio country in
1 699- 1 700. From that time until 1745 we
hear of them at various towns and stations.
In 1745 they built a small fort or blockhouse
among the Hurons on the north side of San
dusky Bay, near the extreme western edge of
the Reserve.
For many years previous to the coming of
the surveyors of the Connecticut Land Com
pany, men who made a business of trading
with the Indians, bringing to them provisions,
trinkets and whiskey, taking in exchange furs.

T-4

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

hides, etc., were staying — one could hardly call
it living — between Pittsburg and the mouth of
the Cuyahoga. Sorae of those men had married
squaws and had children. The traders who
brought their wives with them did not remain
long. The Indians preferred to trade with
squaw men, as they vvere at least connected
with the tribe, and the hardships attending a
frontier life and the lack of companionship
were a double burden which white women were
not willing to endure when there was no prora
ise of horae. Some of the diaries of the first set
tlers which the author has exarained state
that the travelers came upon a cabin in the
lower part of the Reserve, and saw a white
woman at work. She gave a cry of joy at
the sight of men coming from civilization.
With trembling lips and moist eyes she begged
them to partake of refreshments, saying she
had not seen the face of a white woman in
three years.
The Moravians were now and then in
northern Ohio, at Sandusky, on the Lake
islands, and for about a year, 1786-87, on the
east side of the Cuyahoga river. They were
forced to leave during hostilities.
The presence of the French in the North
west Territory was distressing to the English.
The Frenchman, principally because he was
an explorer and not a colonizer, attached him
self to the Indians. He did not buy land for
beads and spoil the hunting grounds. He was
no menace to the roving red men, and hence
became an ally, not an eneray.
Clark and ti-ie Northwest.
Just here the author wishes to- introduce an
interesting bit of history which applies only
indirectly to the Western Reserve. James
A. Garfield, 'when a representative in Con
gress, m.ade an address for the Historical So
ciety at Burton, Geauga county, in which he
said: "The cession of that great territory under
the treaty of 1783 was due raainly to the fore
sight, the courage and the endurance of one

man, who never received from his country
any adequate recognition for his great 'serv
ice. That man was George Rogers Clark;
and it is worth your while to consider the
work he accomplished. Born in Virginia, he
was in early life a surveyor, and afterwards
served in Lord Dunmore's war. In 1776 he
settled in Kentucky, and was in fact the
founder of that commonwealth. As the war
of the Revolution progressed, he saw that the
pioneers west of the Alleghanies were threat
ened by two formidable dangers ; first by the
Indians, many of whom had joined the stand
ard of Great Britain ; and, second, by the
success of the war itself. For, should the
colonies obtain their independence while the
British held possession of the Mississippi val
ley, the Alleghanies would be the western
boundary of the new republic, and the pioneers
of the west would remain subject to Great
Britain. "Inspired by these views, he made two jour
neys to Virginia to represent the case to the
authorities of that colony. Failing to impress
the house of burgesses with the importance of
warding off these dangers, he appealed to the
governor, Patrick Henry, and received from
him authority to enlist seven companies to go
to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and serve
for three months after their arrival in the
west. This was a public commission.
"Another document, bearing date Williams
burg, January 2, 1778, was a secret commis
sion, which authorized him, in the name of
Virginia, to capture the military posts held
by the British in the northwest. Armed with
this authority, he proceeded to Pittsburgh,
where he obtained ammunition, and floated it
down the river to Kentucky, succeeded in en
listing seven companies of pioneers, and in
the month of June, 1778, commenced his march
through the untrodden wilderness to the region
of the Illinois. With a daring that is scarcely
equaled in the annals of war, he captured the
garrisons of Kaskaskia, Saint Vincent and
Cahokia, and sent his prisoners to the governor

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

15

of Virginia, and by his energy and skill won
over the French inhabitants of that region to
the American cause.
"In October, 1778, the house of burgesses
passed an act declaring that "all the citizens
of the commonwealth of Virginia, who are
already settled there, or shall hereafter be set
tled on the west side of the Ohio, shall be in--
eluded in the District of Kentucky, which
shall be called Illinois County.' In other
words, George Rogers Clark conquered the
Territory of the Northwest in the narae of Vir
ginia, and the flag of the Republic covered it
at the close of the war.
"In negotiating the treaty of peace at Paris,
in 1783, the British commissioners insisted on
the Ohio river as the northwestern boundary
of the United States ; and it was found that the
only tenable ground on which the American
comraissioners relied to sustain our claim to

the Lakes and the Mississippi as the boundary
was the fact that George Rogers Clark had
conquered the country, and Virginia was in
undisputed possession of it at the cessation of
ho.stilities. "In his 'Notes on the Early Settlement of
the Northwest Territory,' Judge Burnet says :
'That fact (the capture of the British posts)
was confirmed and adraitted, and was the
chief ground on which the British commis
sioners reluctantly abandoned their claim.'
"It is a stain upon the honor of our coun
try that such a man — the leader of pioneers
who made the first lodgment on the site now
occupied by Louisville, who was in fact the
founder of the state of Kentucky, and who
by his personal foresight and energy gave nine
great states to the republic — was allowed to
sink under a load of debt incurred for the
honor and glory of his country."

INDIANA
KfVOX c

Prom 1787 to 1792.

THE FinsT COUNTIES"
IN OHIO.

Prom 1796 to 1799.

¦V.OHIO COUNTIES

(Courtesy of Samuel P. Orth.)
MAPS SHOWING DEVELOPMENT OP OHIO COUNTIES.

CHAPTER III.

TFIE PIONEERS OF NEW CONNECTICUT.

Although the French (both Protestant and
Roman Catholic), the Spanish, the Dutch, the
Quaker, and the English (Cavalier and Puri
tan) colonized the new world, we are apt to
think of the early inhabitant as the Massa
chusetts Puritan alone. Somehow the Puri
tan, especially the Pilgrim, with his plain,
dark clothes, his high hat and his determined
countenance, impresses itself deeply upon our
sub-consciousness. Just so do we give all
the credit of the successful settling of the
Western Reserve to the Connecticut emi
grants, which is entirely incorrect.
There were two ways to enter New Con
necticut, namely, through New York state to
Buffalo and along Lake Erie, or through
Pennsylvania to Pittsburg, up the rivers.
From the state of Pennsylvclnia carae the
Pennsylvania Dutch and the Scotch-Irish;
these, with the New Yorker, joined with the
Connecticut Yankee in the making of the
new state. Some of the truest and most help
ful citizens were the Scotch-Irish ; some of the
raost frugal and industrious were the Pennsyl
vania Dutch. The Yankee considered himself
stiperior to his neighbors, who said "du bish"
or had a brogue. His education as a rule
was better, his family longer established in
these United States, and he b'elieved hiraself
responsible for the development of the coun
try. On the other hand, the early Dutch Penn
sylvanian saw faults in his Yankee neighbor,
and commented upon the sarae. The early
Dutch housewife would say to her neighbor,
when inviting her to stay to a meal, "It's not

much we have, but anything is better than
the weak tea and crackers of the Yankees."
The "Dutchmen" were frugal, neat, industri
ous, but liked good living. Early settlers in
Pennsylvania uniformly testify to the excel
lent cooking of Pennsylvania Dutch women.
A Trumbull county man, now fifty years old,
who as a boy taught school in western Penn
sylvania, refers with pleasure to those days
when he boarded around. A prominent citi
zen of Warren, whose grandparents were
Pennsylvania Dutch, and whose raother and
wife were both excellent housekeepers, gives
credit to both for being successes as home-
makers, but usually ends with "but no one
ever quite came up to grandmother's cooking."
It was the Scotch-Irish who made the mirth
for the pioneers, particularly at "frolic times,"
as house-raisings, log-rollings, and like occa
sions were called. They cared less for money
than did the Yankee or the Gerraan, and did
not leave land fortunes to their descendants.
They did, howeyer, one thing for which they
are never given credit. They, and not the
raen from the state of the Blue Laws, were
first in establishing and raaintaining churches.
Lest we raay be tossing our heads in pride,
we who trace back to the Connecticut fore
father, let us see what others thought and
think of us. W. H. Hunter, of Chillicothe,
in an address at Philadelphia, on "Influence of
Pennsylvania on Ohio," says:
"The clairas raade for the Puritan settlement
at Marietta give us an exaraple of Puritan
audacity; the New England settlements on

Vol. 1—2

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the Western Reserve give us examples of
Yankee ingenuity. In Connecticut he made
nutmegs of wood; in Ohio he makes maple
molasses of glucose and hickory bark. In
New England the Puritan bored the Quaker
tongue with red-hot poker ; in Ohio he dearly
loves to roast Deraocrats. The Reserye was
the home of crankisras. Joseph Smith started
the Mormon church in Lake county. And
there were others."
Colonized by the College Man.
The Connecticut pioneer impressed himself
on the Western Reserye history because he
was a college man. He became the surveyor,
the lawyer, the judge, the legislator, the gov
ernor, because he was mentally equipped for
such positions. Almost every leading jurist
of that day was a Yale graduate.
It is known that for many years before the
organization of the Connecticut Land Com
pany, as early as 1755, people had traveled
from Pennsylvania to Salt Springs, between
Niles and Warren, for the purpose of making
salt. Long vats and kettles showing much
wear and httle care were early found by trad
ers and explorers. Men who were identified
with the early times have written of seeing
travelers with kettles thrown over the back
of a horse on their way to the springs. Salt
was expensive, costing, according to some
authorities, six dollars a bushel; others, six
teen dollars a barrel. The water here was
only brackish and cost of making too expensive
to be profitable. "• Some of the Salt Spring ket
tles were later found in a spot near Brace-
ville, where the Indians used them for making
maple sugar, and within the last few years one
of them still existed.
Salt Spring Region.
So far as we know, nothing very good ever
came out of the Salt Spring region. The first
man who owned the tract — Judge Parsons —
was drowned. A raan stationed in one of the
cabins to watch the goods belonging to a
Beaver firm was' killed. The white raen who

' constructed cabins there were in constant fear
of the Indians, and were not financially repaid
for their trouble. "The Pennsylvanians who
had recourse to it during the Revolution
erected cab'ins there. In 1785 Colonel Brod
head, commanding the troops at Fort Pitt,
had orders to dispossess them, and did so. The
Indians soon burned the cabins they had
erected." Here occurred the first murder on
the Reserve, and here, time and again, in the
latter part of the nineteenth century, people
have had hope of making fortunes from the
mineral water, only to give it up in despair
later. In 1906 or 1907 the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad acquired the land, and now, where
once men, white and red, boiled water into
salt, while they drank whiskey and fought;
where women and children suffered from fear
of the red man ; where men invested time and
money to no purpose, runs a great trunk line,
and men and. women sleep and eat as they
pass over that spot where so much unhappi
ness existed, and never think of Indians or
murder or even salt, for the latter served them
in the diner by black men without cost.
First Land Purchases.
General Samuel H. Parsons, of Connecticut,
whose father was a distinguished clergyman,
and whose mother (a descendant of Henry
Woleott) was a strong character, was the first
lawyer, and the first purchaser of land on the
Western Reserye. He was an early friend
of John Adaras, a graduate of Yale, took an
active interest in colonial pohtics, and became
one of the boldest of America's generals. Old
records in the hands of the family attribute to
him the planning of the siege of Ticonderoga,
which was the first hostile move in the war
of the Revolution. Congress, in 1785, ap
pointed him as one of the commissioners to
treat with the Indians for cessions of land.
Cincinnati stands on one of the portions ceded.
Two years later he was appointed judge for
the territory of the United States northwest
of the Ohio river, and in 1789 became chief
justice of the Northwest Territory. Having

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

traveled through this county, he was familiar
with the land, and finally bought from the
commissioners appointed by the Connecticut
legislature to sell land, a tract situated in the
townships now known as Lordstown, Weath
ersfield, Jackson and Austintown. The deed
to this twenty-five thousand acres is now on-
record in the Trumbull county court house,
and all records and maps agree as to its bound
aries. He chose this spot, undoubtedly, be
cause the Indians and traders had cleared land
round about, because the springs found there
contained brackish water from which he hoped
later to manufacture salt, and because Pitts
burg was comparatively near at hand and
stores could be gotten at Beaver and other
points on the river. He, however, never occu
pied this purchase. He was drowned, as above
stated, in the Beaver river, probably at the
falls, when returning east. Little or no raoney
had been actually paid down for the land, but
his heirs claimed it nevertheless. From Webb's
manuscript we learn :
"And although the Connecticut Land Com
pany ran their township and range line re
gardless of this claim, and although they in
their proceedings at the time called it only
a 'pretended claim,' yet, in, making partition
of their lands, they reserved land enough in
the townships Nos. 2 and 3, in the third and
fourth range, to satisfy this claim, which they
never aparted and which they ultimately aban
doned to the heirs and assigns of General
Parsons." First Land Purchaser.
The rules and regulations of the Connecti
cut Land Corapany are of great interest.
Every possibility of misunderstanding is pro
vided for, minor details are mentioned, and
the document shows the workmanship of the
careful, conservative New England mind.
The directors of the company were Oliver
Phelps, Henry Champion, Roger Newberry,
and Samuel Mathews, Jr.
Following is a list of the surveying party
of 1796:

General Moses Cleaveland, Superintendent.
Augustus Porter, Principal Surveyor and
Deputy Superintendent.
Seth Pease, Astronomer and Surveyor.
Amos Spafford, John Milton Holley, Rich
ard M. Stoddard and Moses Warren, Sur
veyors. Joshua Stow, Commissary.
Theodore Shepard, Physician.
Employees of the Company.

Joseph Tinker,
Boatman.
George Proudfoot.
Samuel Forbes.
Stephen Benton.

Daniel Shulay.
Joseph McIntyre.
Francis Gray.
Amos Sawtel.
Amos Barber.

Samuel Hungerford. WilHam B. Hall.
Samuel Davenport. Asa Mason.
Amzi Atwater. Michael Coffin.
EHsha Ay ers. Thomas Harris.
Norraan Wilcox. Timothy Dunham.
George Gooding Shadrach Benham.
Samuel Agnew. Wareham Shepard.
David Beard. John Briant.
Titus V. Munson. Joseph Landon.
Charles Parker. Ezekiel Morly.
Nathaniel Doan. Luke Hanchet.
Jaraes Halket. ' James Hamilton.
Olney F. Rice. John Lock.
Samuel Barnes. Stephen Burbank.
We are told in several original manuscripts
that this party consisted' of fifty, but as the
above nurabers only forty-six, Gun, who was
to have charge of the stores at Conneaut;
Stiles, who was to- have like position at Cleve
land ; Chapman and Perry, who were to .fur
nish fresh meat and trade with the Indians,
must have made up the number. In some of
the original records the full list of the men
are given with these words, "and two females."
So unused were makers of books and keepers
of records to giving a woman's name, unless
she were queen or a sorceress, that this seemed
nothing unusual.
These "two females," who made the first
real homes on the Reserve, were Ann, the
wife of Elija Gun, and Tabiatha Currie, the

20

HISTORY OF THE WESTElRN RESERVE

wife of Job Stiles. Not only did they keep
house, one at Conneaut and the other at
Cleveland, but they kept them so well that the
surveyors took themselves .there upon the
shghtest pretext. They also had an oversight
and care of the company.
Instructions to Moses Cleaveland.
Here is given the instructions of the direct
ors to their agent :

and enter into friendly negotiations with the
natives who are on said land, or contiguous
thereto, and may have any pretended claim to
the same, and secure such friendly intercourse
amongst them as will establish peace, quiet,
and safety to the survey and settlement of
said lands, not ceded by the natives under the
authority of the United States. You are
hereby, for the foregoing purposes, fully
authorized and empowered to act, and trans-

[Dra-wn for the History of the Western Eeserve]
PIONEEES' EOUTE PEOM OLD TO NEW CONNECTICUT.

To Moses Cleaveland, Esq., of the County of
Windham, and State of Connecticut, one
of the Directors of the Connecticut Land
Company, Greeting:
We, the Board of Directors, of said Con
necticut Land Company, having appointed
you to go on to said land, as Superintendent
over the agents and men, sent on to survey
and make locations on said land, to make,

act all the above business, in as full and ample
a manner as we ourselves could do, to make
contracts in the foregoing raatters in our be
half and stead; and make such drafts on our
Treasury, as may be necessary to accomplish
the foregoing object of your appointment.
And all agents and men by us employed, and
sent on to survey and settle said land, to be
obedient to your orders and directions. And
you are to be accountable for all monies by

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

21

you received, conforming your conduct to
such orders and directions as we may, from
time to time, give you, and to do and act in
all matters, according to your best skill and
judgment, which may tend to the best inter
est, prosperity, and success of said Connecti
cut Land Company. Having more particu
larly for your guide the Articles of Association
entered into and signed by the individuals of
said Corapany.
Pittsburg and Canandaigua were the out
lying posts for travelers to the Western Re
serve. The Connecticut Land Company in
structed the surveying party to gather at
Canandaigua and proceed.
. Several of the journals of these young sur
veyors are in the possession of the Western
Reserve Historical Society, and the entries in
sorae of them which have never been pub
lished are curious. Mr. Seth Pease says
under several dates in close succession: "I
began my journey, Monday, May 9, 1796.
Fare from Suffield to Hartford, six shiUings;
expenses four shillings six pence. * * * At
breakfast, expense two shillings. Fare on
my chest from Hartford to Middletown, one
shilling, six pence." In telling about his trip
lo New York, he says : "Passage and liquor
4 dollars and three quarters. When he ar
rived in New York we find the following
entry: "Ticket for play 75c; Liquor 14c;
Show of elephants, 50c; shaving and comb
ing, 13c." Apparently Mr. Pease was seeing
New York. Usual Route to the Reserve.
It will pay the reader to take a map and
follow their route from Connecticut to Schen
ectady, up the Mohawk river into Oneida
lake, on to the Oswego river, into Ontario
lake," along the southern shore of this lake to
Canandaigua, and then to "Buffalo, from there
touching at least once at Presque Isle (Erie),
on past the Pennsylvania line. They rowed,
sailed and walked the shore. Sometimes part
of them turned back to help bring up those
delayed, or went ahead of the party to coun

sel with military officers or to make necessary
preparations for the party. It was a tedious
trip. The four batteaux filled with provisions,
baggage and men were heavy, and most of the
men were unused to river boating. One of
them records that pulling up the Mohawk was
as hard work as he ever did in his life. It
was a relief when they began going down the
Oswego and came to Fort Stanwix (Rorae,
N. Y.). Here Mr. Stow procured the neces
sary papers to allow the party to pass Fort
Oswego, which was in the hands of the Brit
ish. At this very time an agreement had been
reached which provided that Americans could
have access to the Lakes. The party there
fore rapidly proceeded only to find they had
been too sanguine. The officers in charger of
the fort had no new orders from Fort Niag
ara; the old orders allowed no Araericans to
pass. The party, soraewhat disappointed, put
into a little bay in the river. The land was
low, the soldiers at the fort were many of
thera ill and dying, and the surveyors, ready
and anxious for work in the far west, were
not pleased at the thought of lying idly in this
unwholesome spot until a messenger could
go to Niagara and return. The directors
of the Land Company had anticipated this
trouble, as said above, and had instructed Mr.
Stow, who was the commissary, not to pass
the fort if there was opposition. The situa
tion was trying to Mr. Stow. Since he dis
obeyed orders and brought the party through
successfully, we consider him an intelligent,
faithful employee. Had the winds been a lit
tle stronger, the waves a little higher, condi
tions a little less favorable, so that the boats
and the passengers had been lost, he would
always have been referred to as a guilty, in
competent hireling.
The officers of the fort at Oswego knew
that the party arrived in four boats ; conse
quently, when Mr. Stow, with one boat, went
by the fort, he was not disturbed. These offi
cers did not observe he carried provisions ;
they only thought he was going to Fort Niag-

22

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ara to obtain permission for the party to
move on. The guard not being on the out
look, the three other boats passed the fort
under the protection of night. Thus the
party safely reached Lake Ontario. They had
been hindered and bothered in many ways,
but now they believed their troubles to be
over. However, as is often the case when
people are sanguine, the worst they were to
see was near at hand. A storm came up
quickly and violently, throwing the three boats
into Sodus Bay, where one of them was ut
terly disabled and where the whole party, al
most miraculously, escaped drowning. One
can imagine the anxiety of Mr. Stow, who
had gone on to Irondequoit (the port for
Rochester) when he learned that the three
boats following him had been lost and nothing
saved but an oar and a gun, thrown on shore
at Sodus Bay. Either he or Auguster Porter
(accounts disagree) with some men, turned
about from Irondequoit to go to Sodus, hoping
to learn how the shipwreck occurred. They
were overjoyed to meet Captain Beard, who
told them that instead of all being lost ex
cept the oar and gun, the oar and gun were
the only things which really were lost. One
of the boats, however, which was useless, was
abandoned, and the party proceeded on its
way to Irondequoit, Canandiagua and the new
home. The Indians at Buffalo were expecting
them, and like all traders they were wonder
ing what they dare demand; that is, how
much they could get for their right to the
land. It's a wise man who offers neither too
much nor too little. A raan who preceded the
party with the horses was forced to pay three
dollars for pasture. Since the grass was
neither cared for nor used by anybody, this
was exorbitant. Bargaining with tpie Indians.
It exasperates the reader of today to watch
the slow movement of this party of surveyors.
When they arrived at Buffalo, some of them

went to Fort Niagara, possibly on business;.
some took a look at the Falls, while Holly,
under the date of June i8th, says: "Porter
and myself went on the Creek (Buffalo) in
a bark canoe a fishing and caught only three
little ones." How could people with such
uncertainty ahead of them stop to angle?
Finally, the council with the red men was
had, and a picturesque scene it was. On the
shore of the lake, under the starry June sky,
the white men, forerunners of the Western
Reserye citizens, with joy in their faces and
hope in their hearts, sat around the blazing
fire prepared by the red men. Speeches were
made on both sides, diplomatic messages ex
changed, and while part of the Indians per- '
forraed a swinging dance, the rest grunted
an accompaniment from their sitting position
on the ground. Negotiations were not com
pleted then — not at all ; it was too soon. The
Indian was "long on time" and short on
whiskey. They must get drunk, of course.
What was the good of a treaty without a
pow-wow ? What was the good of the white .
man except for his whiskey? So pow-wow
and whiskey it was, fortunately with no bad
results. On June 23rd, "after much talking on the
part of the Indians, Cleaveland offered Capt.
Brant 500 pounds New York currency, which
equals $1,000, provided he would peacefully
relinquish his title to the western land. This
sura was not large enough to please the cap
tain, but after much parley he finally agreed
to it, provided Cleaveland would use his influ
ence with the United States and obtain from
the government the sum of $500 annually for
his tribe. In case he could not accomplish
this he was to promise that the Land Com
pany would pay an additional $1,500 in cash."
Whether this agreement was kept, and
whether either the government or company
paid this sum is not known to the author, but
as white men were treating with Indians, we^
presume this money is the last they saw.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

23

Title Bought of the Red Man.
Cleaveland then gave two beef cattle and
100 gallons of whiskey to satisfy the eastern
Indians, and a feast followed. The western
Indians were also given provisions to help
them home and all had been entertained dur
ing the council. It is greatly to the credit of
the Connecticut Land Company, and a source
of much satisfaction to the residents of the
Western Reserve today that the title to the land
was not stolen, but was bought and paid for,
even if the price was low; further, that pos
session of the new country was given and
taken under the best of feehng and without
one drop of bloodshed. To be sure, our fore
fathers must have had a Httle larger supply
of whiskey than the sentiment of today would
allow them, when we remember they gave
away one hundred gallons and had plenty for
all summer. History niust be studied from
its own time.
Early Drunkenness.
Whiskey was as plentiful during the early
days of the colonization as was food. To be
sure, it was not our adulterated stuff of today,
but it was whiskey, and it did what alcohol
always has done and always will do to men.
Its stimulating qualities for a time relieved the
lonesomeness and fatigue, but the depression
following surely more than overbalanced the
good. All of the misunderstandings among
travelers and early settlers and Indians were
caused raore or less by whiskey. The women
in the early settlements abhorred it. They
feared to have their husbands take it, lest
trouble should follow. Anxiously these women
in their own cabins, with wolves howling-
near outside, and babies huddled close within,
awaited the coming of the husband who had
been to an adjoining clearing, not knowing
what animal or savage might have made way
with him because of his drunkenness. These
women saw their neighbors succeed and be
come prosperous because of their self-control,
while they remained poor because of the
"fruit of the corn." Many and many an over

worked wife who had looked forward to a
log-rolling for weeks went home from the
same with weeping eyes and heavy heart, her
husband too drunk to guide the horse or act
as her protector. Some people believe that
there was not as much drunkenness then as
now, and will bring proof to bear upon it.
This is not the place to discuss the temper
ance question, but, when we know that in
range one, number one, Poland, there were
eighteen stills; that in many settlements min
isters were paid in whiskey, we can scarcely
believe that the drunkenness of today is greater.
Then, as now, women were temperate; then,
as now, they suffered from drunkenness and
its consequences ; then, as now, they per
suaded and begged their very own to desist;
then, as now, they wept and prayed, and then,
as now, a few were heeded, while more were
not. One woraan of this section, whose husband
took too rauch at stated intervals, when he
came home in that condition, obliged him to
sit in a straight-back chair till he was sober.
If he started to move, she raised a stick of
wood as if to strike him, when he immedi
ately resumed his seat. He finally declared
there was no use in drinking if one had to
sit stiH until sober, and he reformed. As a
rule, however, the stick, in a real or meta-
.phorical sense, was, and is, in the hand of
man. First Independence Day.
I
At last the surveyors had reached their des
tination. Even though they were adults, they
had said good-bye to their home friends with
thick throats and heavy hearts. They had pad
dled slowly the New York rivers, had out
witted the British officers, had suffered ship
wreck, had endured the discomforts of long,
slow travel, had successfully treated with the
Indians, and now, in the afternoon of a sum
mer day, they had corae upon the "promised
land." The blue waters of the lake lapped
the shore, the creek sluggishly sought its bay,
the great forest trees were heavy with bright

24

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

green leaves, the grass was thick and soft, the
sky was blue, and the lowering sun bathed the
landscape with delicate reds and yellows. It
was the Fourth of July, Independence Day,
for which their fathers, twenty years before,
had fought, and for which they themselves
held holy reverence. They had double reason
to rejoice, and they shouted, sang, fired guns
across the water, adding an additional salute
for the new territory. They drank water from
the creek and wiskey from the jug; they named
the spot Fort Independence, and drank toasts
to the president of the United States, the state
of Connecticut, the Connecticut Land Company,
the Fort of Independence, and "the fifty sons
and daughters who have entered it this day."
When the camp fires had died down, and the
stars above were thick and bright, they went
to sleep in the new land which was shortly
to be broken up into thirteen counties, or parts
of counties (Ashtabula, Geauga, Cuyahoga,
Lake, Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage, Sumrait,
part of Medina, part of Ashland, Erie, Huron
and Lorain) . If anyone had dreamed that
night that in one hundred and fifteen years
these thirteen counties would have almost as
much influence in the world as the thirteen
original colonies -had at that tirae ; that raost
of the huge forests would be supplanted by
cultivated fields and prosperous towns; that
Indian paths would be macadam roads ; that
over tiny wires one could talk to any part of

this New Country' as easily as they could talk
to each other that night on the lake shore;
that school houses and churches would be thick
throughout that region; and that both would
be free; that over the very spot where they
lay sleeping, powerful engines would carry
sleeping passengers at the rate of sixty miles
an hour; that vehicles without horses would
spin along the lake front from Buffalo creek
to the Cuyahoga in less time than^ it took
them to put their camp in order; that raoun
tains of ore would lie in the lake ships a few
railes from them ; that no man wilder than
they would be east of the Mississippi; that
the wildest aniraals would be the youthful bull
or the aged house-dog ; that in the nearby val
leys would be sorae of the most wonderful in
dustrial plants in all the world, and that hun
dreds of men would have sufficient money to
buy and pay for the whole Western Reserve
without inconvenience; that on this territory
would stand the sixth largest city in the
United States; that slavery would not exist;
that women would have a voice in making the
school laws, and that men would float or fly
through the air above their heads in machines
raade for flying, — if any one of the party had
dreamed any or all of these things, and related
them in the morning, he would have been de
clared untruthful or as suffering too much
from that taken from the gurgling jug.

(Courtesy of Samuel P. Orth.)
GEN. MOSES CLEAVELAND.

CHAPTER IV.

SURVEYS OF THE WESTERN RESERVE.

On the morning of the 5th of July, two
boats put back to Fort Erie for some supplies
which had been left there, while the surveyors
began preparations for the field. On the fol
lowing day the Indians, who naturally Hked
pow-wows, and to whom a party of settlers
was a curiosity, asked for another council.
Both sides were in a happy mood. The In
dians m_ade speeches full of praise to General
Cleaveland, and Paqua presented him with a
pipe of peace. This pipe is still in the posses
sion of the family. Although it is hard for a
New Englander to "roll out honied words,"
still the general did the best he could, and
made up his deficiency by flattery and the giv
ing of presents. He gave them a string of
wampum, silver trinkets, besides twenty dol
lars' wortli" of whiskey.
On July 7th, the members of the surveying
party left Conneaut. They were arnbitious not
only to do their work quickly, but well. Joy
ously they started into the unknown wilder
ness. Porter, Pease and Holley ran the first
east line. They found the north'* corner of
Pennsylvania, and ran down five or six miles
west of that Hne.
New Connecticut, Not Heaven.
Moses Warren and party had a line farther
west. Before the summer was over, it is
written of Warren, sometimes, "he was a little
less energetic," and other times, "he is indo
lent." He was either ease-loving or slow.
However, the author owes him a debt of grati
tude because he wrote a full, clear hand and

was a good speller. Manuscripts of long ago
try the patience of the readers of today. Both
Pease and Holley left copious notes, and from
them we learn that the first line they ran
caused them much trouble and raany vexa
tions, as the land was not only covered with
huge trees, but with small ones and with thick
underbrush ; it was impossible to sight at long
range. The spring had been a wet one, the
streams swollen, and the swamps sometimes
itnpassable. The land lay flat, and on the
whole was uninteresting. The horses often
wandered off at night and precious raorning
time was spent corralling them. Sometimes
the surveyors waded the swamps and streams,
sending the cooks, supplies, horses, and labor
ers around. This always brought about delay
and more or less distress. As the surveyors
took the shortest route, they arrived first, and,
wet, tired, and hungry, they were obliged to
wait for the rest of the party, who were some
times hours late. Mr. Stow, the commissary,
had his trials, first, in finding it hard to ob
tain fresh supplies, and second, in reaching
the various parties in the field. Very often
we find notes like these : "Ate our last break
fast," or, "Only one more dinner left," or
"Had less than a half of a pint of rum left."
The mosquitoes and gnats were troublesome.
The surveyors complained of "earth gas," and
they attributed the fever and ague which came
later to this gas, but almost always at the same
time mentioned the presence of mosquitoes.
The plan was to find the 41st parallel at the
Pennsylvania Hne, and then run west one hun-

27

28

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

dred and twenty railes. From this base line,
five miles apart, lines were to be run north,
and later cross lines, parallel with the base
line, thus making twenty-four townships across
and twelve in the deepest place.
These townships were nurabered as ranges,
and frora the base lines up as towns. Before
towns or hamlets were naraed, they were called
by number. Poland was range i, number i,
Cleveland range 12, number 7. Again and
again do we read in diaries and papers :
"Went to number 4; stopped at Quinby's."
Number 4 was not only township 4, but it
was range 4.
As the Porter-Holley-Pease party proceeded
south they, or their workmen at least, real
ized that New Connecticut was not a Para
dise. The monotonous records show occa
sional changes. Only when they reached the
middle-east of the present Trumbull county
and could see the Pennsylvania hills with the
valleys in between, they wrote that it was the
first time they had seen "over the woods," and
they felt cheered. The rest of the route south
was a little less troublesome and more inter
esting. Once they thought they heard the
tinkle of a cow bell, and hastened to find it,
without success. They believed they had
imagined the sound; not so, for there was
then a family living in that vicinity. When
they reached the Mahoning river they saw
some traders in a boat, near the present sight
of Youngstown. They talked with them and
learned that supplies could be had at Beaver,
and that these traders were on their way to
Salt Springs, whose praises they sang.
Part of Forty-first Parallel Surveyed.
Finally, on July 23rd, they set up a wooden
post at the intersection of the 41st parallel
and the Pennsylvania line, southeast corner of
Poland. They had been seventeen days running this
line. Surely, they had not been idle, and
they had overcome grievous obstacles. Their
poor instruraents showed variations, and they
did not have time to prove their work. When
the whole survey was finished, they were half

a mile out of the way. It was intended that
each township should have sixteen thousand
acres of land, and not one of them has just
exactly that amount.
Moses Warren and the other surveyors
came up with the Pease-Porter .party on the
23rd, and they then separated, beginning five
railes apart, and ran the line back to the lake.
The return trip was about the same, except
that the laborers showed less inclination to
work, and the cooks becarae raore irritable.
On the 5th of July the laborers began the
erection of a crude log house on the east side
of Conneaut creek, which was used for a store
house. It is referred to in the early 'history
as "Stow Castle." A second house was later
erected as a dwelling for the surveyors. It
was then expected that Conneaut would be the
headquarters.
Mouth of Cuyahoga River.
As soon as all was under way. General
Cleaveland started by lake for the Cuyahoga
river. He reached his destination the day be
fore the corner post was set in Poland, July
22nd. Among those accompanying him were
Stow, the commissary, and Mr. and Mrs.
Stiles. There is no record of how this spot
pleased the party, although several writers
have drawn imaginary pictures and noted pos
sible thoughts. So far as the writer knows,
Moses Cleaveland did not commit to paper
his first irapression. True it is, that many a
purchaser of New Connecticut land, who in
tended to settle near the present site of Cleve
land, when he saw the desolate sand of the
lake shore and felt the chilly winds, retraced
his steps onto the Hiram hills, to the Little
Mountain district, or the ridges of Meso
potamia, Middlefield or Bloomfield.
The running of the parallels was trouble
some, the work was not finished the first sum
mer, as there was not tirae to do that and to
plat the Cleveland vicinity. The Chagrin
river, not being on any of the maps, gave
most of the surveyors some trouble, and they
all took it for the Cuyahoga, of course. The

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

29

field work was destructive to shoes and clothes,
and, as said before, food was not always cer
tain. Part of the laborers early became dis
satisfied with only hard work and Httle pay,
and the company, to ease things, promised
them pieces of land and other rewards. Some
of them were early discharged, and others left.
On September i6th, Holley writes: "En
camped a little east of the Chagrin river.
Hamilton, the cook, was very cross and lazy.
Was on the point of not cooking any sup
per, because the bark would not peel and he
knew of nothing to make bread upon. Daven
port wet some in the bag." •
Thursday, September 22nd: "He discov
ered a bear swimming across the river."
"Munson caught a rattlesnake which was
boiled and ate."
Septeraber 28th: "I carved from a beech
tree in Cuyahoga town, 'Myron Holley, Jr.,'
and on a birch, 'Milton Holley, 1796. Septem
ber 26, 1796, Friendship.' " Apparently the
young man was getting homesick.
October i6th: "Came to camp in conse
quence of hard rain; found no fire; were all
wet and cold, but after pushing about the bot
tle and getting a good fire and supper we were
as merry as grigs."
First Houses on Cleveland's Site.
During the suramer a cabin was put up for
Stiles on lot 53, east side of Bank street, where
the store of Kinney & Leven now stands. A
house for the surveyors and a house for stores
was erected near the mouth of the Cuyahoga.
These were the first houses built within the
present district of Cleveland for perraanent
occupancy. There had been a number of
buildings erected by traders, by companies, by
missionaries, and so forth, but they were put
together for teraporary purposes and were
destroyed either by the wind and weather or
by the Indians. The latter seemed always to
rejoice when a chance was offered to burn a
vacant building. Colonel James HiHman, who
figured conspicuously in the early history of
Trumbull county, said he erected a small cabin
on the river near the foot of Superior street

in 1786. This was ten years before Cleveland
was laid out. A party of Englishmen who
were wrecked on the lake built a cabin in
which they lived one winter, probably '87.
In 1797, as we shall see, James Kingsbury
occupied a dilapidated building, put up before
'86, for protecting flour which was brought
from Pittsburg for Detroit people.
Work Stopped for the Year.
The cold fall days warned the party that
they must stop work. They were not satisfied
with the results, and neither was the Land
Company. The latter had spent $14,000 and
apparently had little to show for it. The
southern boundary of their territory had not
been run west after the fourth range. A large
tract had not been surveyed at all. All of
the territory "east of Cuyahoga, west of the
fourth meridian, and south of the sixth par
allel" was still not touched. None of the six
townships intended for sale were ready except
in the neighborhood of Cleveland. However,
the surveyors had done the best they could
under the conditions, and one can read between
the lines of their ordinary surveyor notes an
intense desire to be at home.
Holley says: "Tuesday, Oct. i8th, we left
Cuyahoga at three o'clock and seventeen rain
utes for home. Left Job Stiles and wife and
Joseph Landon with provisions for the win
ter." Porter, Holley and Shepard rowed along
the lake shore by moonlight. Pease walked,
taking notes of the coast. (Pease was a poor
sailor.) The pack horses were to go back
to Geneva. Atwater and othefs took thera by
land. So anxious were these young men to
reach home that they arose one morning at
2 :oo a. m. and another 3 :oo a. m., and ar
rived at Conneaut on Friday, the 21st. They
left Fort Erie October 23rd at i :30 a. m. and
arrived at Buffalo at 10:30, where they struck
a fire "and were asleep in less than thirty min
utes." As they proceeded and their desire for
home increased, their hours of travel were
longer. Once they rowed all night. They
reached Irondequoit Friday, the 27th. Here

30

HISTORY OF THE WE'STERN RESERVE

somehow they got out of the channel and had
to jump into the water up to their waists and
push the boat thirty rods. Wading in water
waist deep the last of October is neither pleas
ant nor safe. On the 29th they separated at
Canandaigua. When we remember that Hol
ley was only eighteen years old, and all of

at Salisbury, Connecticut, and his son, Alex
ander H., became governor. Moses Cleave
land did not return, either, though he retained
his interest, more or less, in the Western Re
serve. At one time he purchased an interest
in the Salt Spring Tract, of Parsons. His
brother, Camden, married a Miss Adams, and

(Photo loaned by Fred Byard, of Warren.)
THE UPPEE DAM AND WATEE WOEKS, WAEEEN.
On the right is the site of the first Van Gorder mill, o-wned by Justus
Smith, and also of the oil mill. On the left, further up the
bank, ¦was the Dally farm, -where the first "white
child in old Trumbull County was born.

thera were young men with education, or older
men without experience or education, we be
lieve that most of them did their duty "in that
state of life in which it shall please God to
call them." Porter was the chief surveyor,
as we have seen. Neither he nor Holley re
turned with the party the next year. They
became brothers-in-law later. HoUey settled

many of their descendants and connections live
in Trumbull county.
When the winter in its wanton fury set in,
there were in Cleveland only Job Stiles and
his wife. Richard Landon, one of the sur
veying party, had expected to spend the win
ter with them, and it is not known why he
left. Edward Paine, for whom Painesville

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

31

was named, took his place in this cabin. It
is a tradition that in this cabin, during the
winter, a child was born, the mother being at
tended only by a squaw, but this has never
been fully verified. SuppHes had been left in
Cleveland, and, the Indians were exceedingly
good to the settlers, so even if it was a hard
winter for the three, there were some miti
gating conditions. Mr. and Mrs. Stiles were
there until 1800, and Mrs. Stiles, who is de
scribed as a capable, courageous woman, lived
to a good old age.
First Independent Adventurer.
Aside from a few people at Fort Erie, there
were no white people between Buffalo and
"the French settlement on the River Raisin,"
except those at Cleveland and Conneaut. Soon
after General Cleaveland and party arrived at
Conneaut, James Kingsbury, his wife and
three children, appeared. He was the first
"independent adventurer" who- took up his
residence on the Reserve. They had come
from New Hampshire, stopping possibly in
New York for a little time. His wife was
Eunice Waldo, a woman of strong and pleas
ing personality. In the early faH, the Land
Company cleared about six acres of land,
sowed it to wheat, and this was probably the
first wheat raised by white men on the West
ern Reserve, and Kingsbury is credited as
being the first to thrust a sickle into the wheat
field, planted on the soil of the new country.
Just what Kingsbury did through the sura
mer, we are not told, but when all the sur
veying party had disappeared, he and his fara
ily occupied one of the cabins, presumably
"Stow Castle," Mr. and Mrs. Gun, the other.
Mr. Kingsbury found it necessary to go back
to New Hampshire, and he went on horse
back to Buffalo. He expected to be gone, at
the latest, six weeks. His trip was unevent
ful, but as soon as he reached his destination
he was taken with a fever, probably the kind
with which the surveyors had suffered, and it
ran a long course. He had left with his fam
ily a nephew thirteen years old, a cow and a

yoke of oxen. During the early part of his
stay, the Indians furnished the family with
meat, and Mr. and Mrs. Gun were kind to
them. Even when the husband's fever sub
sided his great weakness rendered it impos
sible for him to travel, and his anxiety as to
his family retarded his progress. There being
no communication at any time, Mrs. Kings
bury had the same anxiety for him, and in
addition she was starving to death. At this
crisis a son was born to her, Mrs. Gun being
with her at that time. As this child is re
ported to be the first child born on the West
ern Reserve, we are led to think that the fami
hes of Kingsbury and Stiles becarae mixed in
the minds of some recorders, and that there
was no child born during that winter at Cleve
land, and that this was the first.
Before Mr. Kingsbury was able to travel,
he set out and reached Buffalo the 3rd of De
cember. This winter was a severe one, and
the snow was over five feet deep in the lake
region. However, Mr. Kingsbury, with an
Indian guide, traveled toward his family
as fast as he could. His horse became dis
abled, but still he staggered along and
reached his cabin Christmas eve. Mrs. Kings
bury had recovered enough to be up and
had decided to leave with her family for
Erie Christmas day. "Toward evening a gleam
of sunshine broke through the long-clouded
heavens, and lighted up the surrounding for
est. Looking out she beheld the figure of her
husband approaching the door." So weak was
she that she relapsed into a fever, and her
husband, nearly exhausted, was obliged, the
first minute he could travel, to go to Erie for
provisions. The snow was so deep he could
not take the oxen, and he drew back a bushel
of wheat on the sled. This they cracked and
ate. Presently the cow died and the oxen
were killed eating poisonous boughs. The low
state of the mother's health and the death of
the cow caused the starvation of the two-
months-old baby. Tales have appeared in
newspapers in reg'ard to this incident which
stated that as Mr. Kingsbury entered his door

32

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

on his return trip he saw the baby dead on
its little couch, and the mother dying. The
child did not die until a month after Mr.
Kingsbury reached home.
The Sad First Burial.
A reliable old man, who was about eighty-
four years old in 1874, in talking of the hard
ships of the people of New Connecticut, ^said :
"But the hardest day's work I ever did was
the one in which I got ready to bury my boy."
There were then no hearses, no coffins, no
undertakers, no grave-diggers, but there were
tender, loving friends, all of whom were ready
to do all in their power. But the first family
of the Reserve was without such comfort.
Mr. Kingsbury, entirely alone (when the Guns
left, we do not know), was obliged to do
everything there was to be done for his dead
baby. He, and his thirteen-year-old nephew,
found a box, and, laying the body in it, car
ried it to the top of a hiH, where Mrs. Kings
bury, on her bed, could raise herself enough
to see the body lowered to the grave. When
this sad duty had been performed, and Mr.
Kingsbury returned to the house, he found
his wife unconscious, and for two weeks she
took no notice of anything going on. Mr.
Kingsbury, still feeble, was nearly discour
aged, when suddenly the severe north winds
were supplanted by southern breezes, and in
the atmosphere was a slight promise of spring.
Early in March, when he was hardly able to
walk, he took an old rifle which his uncle had
carried in the War of the Revolution, and
went into the woods. Presently, a pigeon ap
peared. He was no marksman. He was so
anxious, however, to get something which was
nourishing for his wife that the tears fairly
came to his eyes when he shot and saw the
bird fall. He raade a broth and fed her, and
saved her life.
From this on, the family grew slowly better,
and when the surveying party carae back in
the spring, all were well enough to accom
pany it to Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Kings
bury occupied a cabin earlier referred to and

later built a cabin on the east side of the public
square. In the faH of that year a more com
fortable cabin was built, further to the east.
Here his family was well, decidedly better
than the settlers who dwelt near the mouth of
the Cuyahoga. Some time afterward he built
quite a nice frame dwelling. The first crop
he raised was on the ground near the pubhc
square. He had three children: Mrs. Sher
man, Amos, and Almon. He lived to be
eighty years old, and his wife seventy- three. '
He had a railitary coraraission in New Hamp
shire, with the rank of colonel. In 1800 he
was appointed judge of the court of quarter
sessions of the peace for the county of Trum
bull, and in 1805 he was elected a member of
the legislature. His letters written to Judge
Kirtland of Poland at this time, now in the
possession of Miss Mary Morse, are raost dig
nified and business-like. He was a close friend
of Comraodore Perry and General Harrison.
It is said the day before the battle of Lake
Erie, he was with Perry, and the latter asked
him what he thought ought to be done. The
judge replied : "Why, sir, I would fight."
F;-ora all accounts it^ seems that Judge and
Mrs. Kingsbury were exemplary citizens and
that the sufferings and distresses which came
to them their first winter in the new land were
wiped out by the happy, joyous years which
followed.
Three Heroines Rewarded.
It is a pleasant fact to record that the three
woraen who came to the ^^'estern Reserve the
first winter of its existence courageously bore
the hardships, shared the sorrows and con
ducted themselves in a heroic manner. The
Connecticut Land Company realized this and
presented to IN Irs. Gun one one-hundred-acre
lot; to Mrs. Stiles, one city lot, one ten-acre
lot and one one-hundred-acre lot. The com
pany also gave to James Kingsbury and wife
one one-hundred-acre lot.
Tiie Survey of 1797.
The principal surveyor of the party of 1797
was Seth Pease, who had occupied- the position

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

33

of astronomer and surveyor the year before.
He was born at Suffield, 1764, married Bath-
sheba Kent, 1785, died at Philadelphia, 1819.
From Pease Genealogical Record we learn :
'"He was a man of sterling worth, accurate and
scientific. He was surveyor general of the
United States for a series of years and after
wards was assistant postmaster general under
Postmaster General Gideon Granger (his
brother-in-law) during the administrations of
Jefferson and Madison." He has descendants
of his own in the central part of the state, and
the sons of Frederick Kinsman, of Warren,
are his grand-nephews.
Early in the spring he organized a party and
proceeded west. Of those who accompanied
him, the following had been with him the
year before: Richard M. Stoddard, Moses
Warren (who despite the report of his easy
going ways must have satisfied the company
or he would not have been re-employed),
Amzi Atwater, Joseph Landon, Amos Spaf
ford, Warham Shepard, as surveyors. Em
ployed in other capacities, Nathaniel Doan,
Ezekial Morley, Joseph Tinker, David Beard,
Charles Parker. Mr. Pease not only had the
management of the party but the care of the
funds as well. He left his home on the 3rd
day of April and had more inconvenience
than the party of the first year, because the
company was not so willing to keep him in
funds. He says but for the financial help of
Mr. Mathers he would have been many times
greatly embarrassed. Six boats started up the
Mohawk on April 20th, and on April 25th
were re-enforced at Fort Schuyler by Phideas
Baker and Mr. Hart's boat. They received
other recruits at several places, and on April
30th Mr. Pease obtained his trunk, which he
had left at Three River Point the year be
fore. Arriving at Irondequoit, May 4th, others
joined the party. On May 6th he inter
viewed Augustus Porter, hoping to induce
him to take charge of the party for the sum
mer. In this he was not successful. One of
his men on the following day deserted because
of homesickness. They proceeded from Can

andaigua in two parties, one going by land and
the other by the lake, and arrived at Fort
Niagara on May 14th. The following day
boats went back to Irondequoit for the rest of
the stores. When the lake party reached Buf
falo on May 19th, they found the land party
had been there two days. They reached Con
neaut on May 26th and put the boats into the
creek. In the night a cry was raised that
during the storra the boats had broken loose
and gone out into the lake ; fortunately, this
proved to be a mistake. On May 29th Spaf
ford began surveying, and reached the Cuya
hoga June 1st. The Kingsbury family was
found in a very low state of health at Con
neaut, but the Stiles and Gun households were
very well at Cleveland. Mr. Gun was at that
date back in Conneaut. On the third day of
June, in attempting to ford the Grand river,
one of the land party, David Eldredge, was
drowned. We find the following entry : "Sun
day, June 4th. This morning selected a piece
of ground for a burying ground, the north
parts of lots 97 and 98; and attended the
funeral of the deceased with as much decency
and solemnity as could be expected. Mr. Hart
read church service. The afternoon was de
voted to washing." Thus have life and death
always gone hand in hand.
Survey Commenced in Earnest.
When a garden had been raade, the survey
ing began in earnest, headquarters at Cleve
land. The comraissary departraent of the
party was rauch more 'satisfactory the second
year than the first, but there was much more
sickness. On the 25th of June Mr. Pease
began running the unfinished line, .marking
the lower boundary of the Reserve.
Amzi Atwater, in speaking of the second
trip, makes this curious and interesting nota
tion : "In passing down this stream (Oswego),
which had long been known by boatmen, we
passed in a small inlet stream two large, for
raidable looking boats or small vessels which
reminded us of a sea-port harbor. We were
told that they were, the season before, con
veyed from the Hudson river, partly by water

voL 1—3

34

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and finally on wheels, to be conveyed to Lake
Ontario; that they were built of the lightest
material and intended for no other use than
to have it published in Europe that vessels of
those dimensions had passed those waters to
aid land speculations.'' Thus early did some
Yankees attempt to interest (?) Englishraen
in western commercial enterprises.
Amzi Atwater.
Amzi Atwater, born in New Haven in 1776,
was early thrown upon his own resources,
as his father lost his health in the war for
Independence. He learned to read and write,
but was early "hired out" to an uncle for
sixty dollars a year. At one time he went to
visit this uncle. Rev. Noah Atwater, who was
a successful teacher of young men. Upon in
vitation he spent the winter there, studying
surveying. His title in the first Connecticut
Land Company's employees was that of "ex
plorer's assistant." He started from Connecti
cut, on foot and alone, to meet Shepard at
Canandaigua. He had charge of the cattle
and the pack horses and went the entire dis
tance by land. He served in almost every
capacity. When the survey was finished here,
he worked at his profession in the east, and
in 1800, accompanied by his brother, came to
Mantua. He bought a farm on the road be
tween Mantua and Shalersville, on the Cuya
hoga, and there he lived and died. Judge
Ezra B. Taylor, of Warren, now in his eighty-
seventh year, remembers Judge Atwater well,
having first 5een him when he was a boy
thirteen years old. ' He describes him as a
gentle, dignified, influential person, who was
known to almost all the early residents of
Portage county. He died in 1851, at the age
of seventy-six. The Warren Field Notes.
The author of this work has been able to
secure from Mrs. Julia Warren, of Rockford,
Illinois, whose husband was the grandson of
Moses Warren, some heretofore unpublished

notes from his field book. Mrs. Warren has
the entire record, and an important collection
of facts it is.
"Moses Warren, Jr., left Connecticut May
I, 1796, on the schooner 'Lark,' for the Con
necticut Reserve. The party reached Schen
ectady May I2th; there loaded forty- four boats
under the order of Mr. Porter for 'Fort Stan
wix.' On July 4th, the boats reached Walnut
creek, three miles frora the neck, with a fine
beach all the way to Coneought. Plenty of
springs of good water. About Elk creek the
land is high and is called Elk Mountain. We
found the shore line of Pennsylvania twenty-
five railes from Delaware, and after traveling
about four miles found the west line, passed
it. Eight in our corapany, and gave three
cheers for New Connecticut. About two miles
farther is Coneought creek, at which place we
arrived at 5 P. M. At 6 the boats and cattle
arrived and a federal salute is fired and a
volley for 'New Conn.' The enlivening
draughts went round in plenty, five or six
toasts were drank, 'The President,' 'The Conn.
Land Co.,' 'Port Independence,' and the 'Sons
of Fortitude that by perseverance have en
tered it this day,' &c. ; and in future this place
is to be caHed 'Port Independence.'
"The land looks well, the timber is plenty,
here we encamp and conclude to make our
first storehouse. On July 6th they laid the
first log of the first house in New Connecti
cut." [This is what they thought, but we
have seen that they were mistaken.]
On Sunday, July 10, 1796, is the following
entry: "General Cleaveland, Mr. Stow and
Captain Buckland go to Ash de Bouillon [no
tice the spelling of Ashtabula Creek on dis
covery and all hands at rest once more; the
hands seem more inclined to whist and all
fours than the Gospel."
On Saturday, June loth, 1797: "Started
from Cleveland to run the E and W line No.
5 from the corner left by Mr. Pease last
year, to Pennsylvania, being forty miles ; then
to run the E and W line No. 2 from Penn to

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

35

Cuyahoga. Have three pack horses with stores
of various kinds ; pork lOO lbs., flour 320 lbs.,
•etc. With me is Col. Wait, Solomon Giddings ;
chainmen John Hine and Samuel Keeney ; axe
men John Doran and Eli Canfield ; pack horse
man Thomas Green; also to return in ten
days with the grey mare. The horses Han
nah and Peggy reriiain with me. Went east
with Shepard and his party to the east line
¦of Cleveland ; then south to No. 6, loth range ;
then east till past the Sugar Orchard, and
camped on Sugar creek. Good feed for the
horses, and the land hereabout is exceHent,
being No. 7, nth range. Northern and mid-
-dle part of the line between Cleveland and
No. 7 is strong beach land, but not very
tempting." Under date June 12th is a note, as follows :
"The post that I set last year in the 9th merid
ian was thrown down and all the marks cut
out with a Tomahawk. I set a new one and
remarked it yesterday."
Under date of Aug. 15th, while they were
near Mahoning hill and creek : "The muskitos
are the plentiest I ever found them and, like
the furnace of the King of Babylon, heated
with 7-fold rage. I never was so tormented
-with them before. (Their wrath increases as
their time grows short.) So greedy were they
as to light on the Company's glass and try to
pierce it with their bills; I suppose deceived
hy the agitation of the needle and expecting
hlood instead of magnetism."
The records of the second party of sur
veyors ai^e more distressing than those of the
first. Nearly every entry mentions illness.
Mr. Pease is obhged to discontinue his journal
hecause of his fearful chills and fever. War
ren seems to have escaped, or, at least, he does
not mention it. During this summer occa
sional prospectors appeared at Conneaut, at
Cuyahoga, and the places in between. "The
three gentlemen we saw the other day going
to Cleveland hailed us. As they contemplated
hecoming settlers, we furnished them with a
loaf of bread." Generous !

Sunday, October 8: "Opened second bar
rel of pork. Found it very poor, like the
first, consisting almost entirely of head and
legs, with one old sow belly, teats two inches
long, meat one inch thick."
The party was at Conneaut October 22nd,
on their way home. There they met Mr. John
Young, of Youngstown, who brought them
word of the drowning of three acquaintances
at Chautauqua, the murdering of a man on
Big Beaver, and like news. The party, in
several divisions, then proceeds eastward, ar
riving in Buffalo November 6. The winter
snows had begun. The party continued to
Canandaigua and dispersed, Mr. Pease re
maining some time to bring up the work.
The survey was practically finished.
The facts in regard to the distribution of
land, the Connecticut Land Company, and so
forth, are of great interest, but there is not
space to tell of them here. How, and when,
and by whom these lands were purchased will,
in part, be told later.
In the unpublished journal of Turhand
Kirtland is a letter written by Sarauel Hunt
ington, under date of April 12, 1806, in which
he says: "At town meeting I am told there
was much abuse of the Land Company. * * *
A harrange from C. * * * and sent them and
all their agents to the D — e — 1. Those who
were mad were in the majority. * * * J think
you will have a warm time when you come
here."
Some Facts About the Reserve.
With the close of this narrative which so
vividly portrays the numerous difficulties at
tending the survey of the Western Reserve, it
may be well to call attention to a few facts'.
The territory of the present counties em
braced in the old Reserve has an area of 5,280
square miles. It is narrowest at the east end
of Huron and Erie counties. The extreme
northwest land of the Reserve is the Isle of
St. George, which is seventeen miles farther
north than Cleveland, and very near to the

36 HISTORY OF! THE WESTERN RESERVE
parallel that passes through the viHages of but this is not true of those bordering on the
Painesville and Jefferson, and over the spot Lakes. There were two hundred and eighteen
famous for Perry's victory. As a rule, the townships on the Reserve — more than one-
townships on the Reserve are five miles square, seventh of the number in the State of Ohio.

CHAPTER V.

RESERVE SETTLED AND MAPPED.

James Kingsbury may be considered the first
permanent settler in old Trumbull county.
Stiles and Gun were ahead of him with the
party, but Gun only stayed a little while,
three or four years, and it is not sure that
Stiles intended to stay when he came. It is
undoubtedly true that the Kingsbury baby that
starved to death was the first white child born
to permanent settlers.

JUDGE KINGSBUEY'S HOUSE. BUILT IN 1800
That Kingsbury proved later to be a valued
citizen, we have seen. There is now in the
possession of Miss Mary L. W. Morse, of
Poland, the following, which was found among
the papers of Judge Turhand Kirtland, Miss
Morse's great-grandfather :
"May i8, 1811. Rec'd, Cleveland, of Tur
hand Kirtland a deed from the trustees of the
Connecticut Land Company for 100 acres, lot
No. 433, being the same lot of land that was
voted by said company to be given to said
Kingsbury and wife for a corapensation for
early settlement, and sundry services rendered
said company with me. "James Kingsbury."

After the Connecticut Land Company had
withdrawn its surveyors, the emigrants who
appeared settled in isolated spots. This was
because they bought their land in large
amounts and because the Connecticut Land
Company scattered them as much as possible.
Settlers were thus lonesome, far away from the
base of supplies, and obliged to grind their own
corn and grain, found trouble in procuring
domestic animals, in having implements re
paired, or in securing the services of a physi
cian. No wonder they became sick and dis
couraged or, as metaphysicians say today, dis
couraged and sick, and returned to their old
homes. They lived quiet, uneventful lives,
and when they were gathered to their fathers
•the world knew them no raore. The nuraber
of those coming in 1798 and 1799 was small.
Unlike the surveyors when they went East,
it was not to write reports for directors of a
land company, but to get their families, and
after they were in their new homes they were
too rnuch occupied to write diaries by the fire
light, and, having few or no mails, wrote few
or no letters. Suramer days were too precious
to be used in letter writing, and winter ones,
in dark cabins, too dismal to want to tell of
thera. It was expected that the northern part
of the Western Reserve would be settled be
fore the southern, but the opposite was true.
The road from Pittsburg was less hard to
travel than the one from Canandaigua ; the
lake winds were too severe to be enjoyed; the
bits of land cleared long before, lying in the
lower part, seeraed very inviting to those who
had atterapted to remove the huge trees cover

ing almost the entire section. All these things

37

38

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

corabined to draw settlers nearer the 41st
parallel. Of the first settlers, some men walked the
entire way from Connecticut ; sorae rode horse
back part way, sharing the horse with others ;
some rode in ox carts ; some drove oxen ;
some came part way by land and the rest by
water; some came on sleds in mid-winter;
some plowed through the mud of spring, or
endured the heat of summer ; some had bleed
ing feet, and sorae serious illnesses. Some
times it was a bride and a groom who started
alone; sometimes it was a husband, wife and
children; sometimes it was a group of neigh
bors who made the party. Children were born
on the way, and people of ah ages died and
were buried where they died. But after they
came, their experiences were almost identical.
John Young.
John Young, a native of New Hampshire,
who emigrated to New York and in 1792 mar
ried Mary Stone White, daughter of the first
settler of the land on which Whitestown now
stands, came to the lower part of Trumbull
county in 1796; this was the year Kingsbury
was at Conneaut. He began his settlement,
calling it Youngstown. He removed his fam
ily, wife and two children, to the new house
in 1799. That year a son was born to them,
Williara, and in 1802 a daughter, Mary. His
oldest son, John, says :
"In 1803 our mother, finding the trials of
her country life there, with the latch-string
always out and a table free to all, too great
with her young farail)^, for her powers of en
durance, our father, in deference to her ear
nest entreaties, closed up his business as best
he could and returned with his family to
Whitestown and to the horae and farra which
her father had provided and kept for them."
He therefore spent but seven years in the
town which bears his narae and which is
known throughout the United States as a great
industrial center. He, however, returned occa
sionally for a visit, probably the last time in
his own sleigh in 1814. It is supposed that

M.v. Young's brother-in-law, Philo White, and
Lemuel Storrs were equally interested in the
land purchased. However, the contract with
the Connecticut Land Company was made
alone to Mr. Young.
James Hillman.
James Hillman was early at Youngstown.
Three different stories in regard to the friend
ship of Young and Hillman are in existence.
The most comraon one is that Hillman was
on the river in a canoe, and, seeing smoke lon
the bank of the river, landed and found Mr.
Young and Mr. Woleott. He visited with
them a few days (people were not in such a
frantic hurry as they are now), and then he
persuaded thera to go down to Beaver, where
his headquarters were, to celebrate the Fourth
of July. This they did, and upon their return
Mr. Hillman came with them, and from that
time they lived in close friendship.
Another tradition is that Hillman brought
Young up the river from Pittsburg and that
Hillman was induced to take up his residence
with Young. Still another, that Young stopped
at Beaver on his way west for suppHes or
rest, and that Hillman, whose business was
transporting passengers and trading with In
dians and frontiersmen, carried Young up the
river, and that from their acquaintance came
a friendship which resulted in Hillman locating
there. The first story seeras to be the gener
ally accepted one.
First Dwelling in M.m-ioning Valley.
The first house erected as a settler's dweHing
in the Mahoning Valley was Youngs. This
was in the neighborhood of Spring Coraraon,
probably Front street in Youngstown. Young
also erected a cabin on the river bank in War
ren back of the present residence of Chas.
Wannemaker, on .South Alain. This stood in
a clearing made by the Indians. Here he
sowed a crop, harvested it and stored it in the
cabin and transported it to Youngstown by
sled in the winter.
Roswell M. Grant, the uncle of Ulysses

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

39

Grant, under the date of September 7, 1875,
sent a, letter to the Pioneers Association of
Youngstown for its celebration on September
lOth, which contained some facts in regard to
James Hillman. He says that Hillman was a
native of Northumberland county, Pennsyl
vania, although his father lived on the Ohio
river. Janies was in the Revolutionary war and
was captured at Georgetown. "After his re
turn he went to a corn-husking, where he raet
a Miss Catherine  . After dancing
with her for some time he proposed marriage.
A squire being present, they were married
the same night. I have heard Mrs. HiHman
many a time say she never had a pair of shoes
or stockings until after her marriage, and I
have often heard them both say that she had
neither shoes nor stockings when they were
raarried." Mr. Grant then teHs a story of
Mr. Young being carried up from Pittsburg
by HiHman. "Mrs. HHlman went with them.
After they arrived at Youngstown, John
Young offered Mrs. HiHman her choice of six
acres, any place she would choose it in the
town plot, if she would remain. She did so.
Mrs. Hillman took her six acres east of the
spot where William Rayen's house stood.
James Hillman helped John Young to lay out
the town. He understood the Indians and
they understood him. When trouble arose
between the white and the red man he would
volunteer to settle it provided he could go
alone to do it. In this way he did efficient
service to both, and did for the pioneer what
no other settler seemed able or willing to do."
First Settlement in Geauga County.
The first settlement in present Geauga
county I was at Burton in the year 1798 when
three families came from Connecticut.
As we have seen. Job Stiles and his wife
and Edward Paine spent the winter of '96
at the mouth of the Cuyahoga. The next
year James Kingsbury and his family were
there, together with Major Lorenzo Carter
and Ezekiel Holley ahd their families. In 1798
Rodolphus Edwards and Nathaniel Doan and
family were added to the colony.

The Doan Family.
The early manuscripts show that it took Mr.
Doan ninety-two days to raake the journey
frora Chathara, Connecticut. The fever, and
fever and ague, ¦^ere if anything worse dur
ing this year of '98 than in '97. The Doan
family consisted of nine persons, and only one
of them had strength enough to bring water
to the others. This was Seth Doan, a boy of
thirteen. The fever and ague which prevailed
in many parts of the Reserve in the '50s and
'60s was intermittent. Chills would occur
every other day for a stated period, and then
cease, beginning again on their every-other-
day schedule at the end of a certain interval.
But araong the Cleveland people a patient was
considered fortunate if he had only one attack
a day ; most patients had three.
At -one time none of the Doan family could
leave the house and they had only turnips to
eat. It was about this time that Judge Kings
bury and his faraily did great good in nursing
and caring for the sick. The Carter faraily
did not seera to suffer as much as did the fam
ily of Mr. Doan. Howe says, "destitute of
a physician and with a few medicines, neces
sity again taught them to use such means as
nature had placed within their reach. For
calomel, they substituted piHs from the extract
.of the bark of the butternut, and, in lieu of
quinine, used dog-wood and cherry bark."
Probably because of this malarious condition,
and because of the severe winds, the colony at
the mouth of the Cuyahoga did not grow, and
from January, 1799, to April, 1800, Major
Carter's faraily was the only one living there.
The others had moved back onto the hills
and into the country.
When John Doan came west he had six
children, the youngest three years old. They
separated at Buffalo, the father and one son
taking the Indian trail and carrying part of
the goods on the backs of the horses and oxen.
They followed the first road made along the
lake shore, but there were no bridges. "The
mother with the other children made the trip
frora Buffalo by water. She was accorapanied

40

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

by an Indian and several white men who had
been engaged to assist her on the journey.
They came in a row-boat propelled by oars at
times, and again by a tow-line carried on the
bank. Besides their furniture and household
goods, they carried a box of live geese, which
were declared to be 'the first domesticated
birds of the kind ever brought into Ohio.'
This of course must mean northern Ohio. At
the mouth of the Grand river the boat was
over-turned, throwing mother, children, goods
and box overboard. By good fortune, the
water was shallow, and while the red men
carried the children ashore, the white raen and
Mrs. Doan saved the goods. The geese
floated out into the lake, but in sorae way
becarae freed from their prison and swimming
ashore were recaptured. At Grand river Mr.
Doan met thera and the boat was taken on to
Cleveland -without further adventures.
Hon. Benjamin Tappan.
One of the earliest settlers of old Trum
bull county was Hon. Benjamin Tappan, who
arrived in June, 1799, and settled where Ra
venna now stands. A Mr. Honey, as we
have seen, preceded hira, but there were few
others. On the way from Connecticut he fell
in with David Hudson and they carae on to
gether to the raouth of the Cuyahoga river.
They went up that river as far as Boston.
Mr. Pludson stayed at Hudson. Mr. Tappan
left his goods and family at Boston, and cut
a road through to his new home. With the
man who accompanied him he built a dray,
yoked on his oxen, and took part of his goods
from Boston to his carap. When he went back
for the second load the raan who had been
left in charge of the tent had joined Mr. Hud
son's party. The weather being warra and
wet, one of his oxen died frora fly bites, he
was left with his goods in the wilderness, and
no money. One of his men went to the
commandant at Fort Erie, a hundred railes
distant, to borrow raoney. He hiraself did
what most people 'did who lived in this new
country, went to James Hillman, at Youngs

town, with his troubles. Hillman encouraged
hira, and sold hira an ox on credit "at the
usual price." It seems then as now men took
advantage of other men in distress and in
several records is this fact stated to show HHl-
man's character. This unfortunate occurence
delayed him in the planting of crops. He had
to depend upon his own gun for meat, ex
cept as he bought some from the Indians.
He had to travel to western Pennsylvania
for his supplies. He lived in a sort of a
bark house until his log cabin was finished,
whicb was January i, 1800. Mr. Tappan
proved to be not only a good citizen for
Ravenna and vicinity, but' to the state as
well. His later biography is given under
Bench and Bar.
David Hudson and Party.
Mr. Hudson and his party, traveling by
water, had a serious time. The Niagara river
was filled with ice and their boat had to be
pulled by ropes by men on shore to keep it
from drifting down with the current. The
lake was also dangerous from large cakes of
ice. He had fallen in with Elias Harmon,
and when the party was off the Ashtabula
shore their boats were driven in and jNIr.
Harmon's badly damaged. They, however,
repaired this, put baggage and supplies in
it, and the party, including Harmon, Tappan,
and Hudson, arrived in Cleveland June 8, 1799.
The river was so low, because of the drought,
that they had to drag their boats over the
shallow places. The surveyors had described
the water near the Hudson purchase to be
the depth they had found the water of the
Cuyahoga. So when they began dragging the
boat they thought they had reached their land.
The party went ashore, tried to locate lines,
and after wasting nearly a week, found they
were a good ways from their destination. The
cattle belonging to Tappan and Hudson came
overland. They got out of their way, and
instead of going direct to Hudson, went
south to the Salt Spring tract, and, after
raany narrow escapes in their wanderings.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

41

reached the Cuyahoga, at Boston, where
the boats were left. While they were fixing
yokes for the oxen, and making a primitive
road, the Indians stole part of their provi
sions from the boats. This gave Mr. Hudson
grave fears of their being able to get through
the winter. He therefore turned about,
hoping to meet his man who was com
ing with stores, and did find him, on July 2nd,
"lying at his ease near Cattaraugus." He got
back to his party in time to save them from
suffering. His account of that summer of
his going east for his family in the damaged
boat which he had purchased of Harmon, and
which was so leaky that it had to be bailed 'all
the tirae it was on the lake; of his reaching
his home, getting his family and his party, and
returning the foHowing year, reads like a
most veritable romance. He was the founder
of Hudson, had much to do with the Western
Reserve College, and was a strong, able, hon
est man. He has direct descendants residing
in Hudson now. His daughter Maria married
Harvey Baldwin, both of whora were vitally
interested in the college which lately became
the Western Reserve- University at Cleveland.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin mar
ried Edwin Gregory, who was a prominent
Ohio educator, being principal of the Rayen
School of Youngstown for raany years.
David Daniels, of Salisbury, Connecticut,
ought to be raentioned in this list of pioneers,
since he came to Palmyra in 1799, and raade
preparation for his family, which he brought
the following year.
Ebenezer Sheldon, like Daniels, carae in
1799, and prepared the way for his family.
They started from Connecticut in the early
spring of 1800, and came, as did most of the
settlers of that year, in a wagon drawn by
oxen. They led their horses. They had no spe
cial adventures in the beginning, but were
overtaken by a storm in the woods west of
Warren and miraculously escaped death. Tim
ber fell all about them to such an extent as to
hem them in. They were obliged to stay all

night in the woods and were not released the
next day until they got assistance to cut the
road. One of the Miss Sheldons became the
wife of Amzi Atwater.
Hon. John Walworth.
Hon. John Walworth, a native of New Lon
don, Connecticut, who had spent several years
in travel, was small of stature and supposed
to have tuberculosis, visited Cleveland in 1799.
He was then living in the neighborhood of
Cayuga lake. New York. Upon his return, he
went to Connecticut, and bought 2,000 acres
of land in number 11 in range 8 (Painesville).
Late in February of 1800, he started for his
new home. Others joined hira, so that the
party filled two sleighs when they reached
Lake Erie. They drove on the ice, stopping
on the shore at Cattaraugus creek for one
night. Just how men, woraen and children
could carap in the snow with heavy wind blow
ing we do not understand, but they did and
declared themselves comfortable. Leaving his
family at Erie-, he went back to Buffalo for his
goods, and all came safety to their new home.
Judge Jesse Phelps, Jared Woods, Ebenezer
Merry, Charles Parker and Moses Parks were
living in Mentor. It was about April ist when
the faraily was settled and General Edward
Paine, who had made his headquarters at
Cleveland,, took up his residence there.
Atwater Township, Trumbull County.
One of the earliest townships settled was
Atwater. Early in the spring, April, 1799,
Capt. Caleb Atwater, Jonathan Merrick, Peter
Bonnell, Asahel Blakesley, and Asa Hall and
his wife arrived in Atwater. In the fall all of
them except Hall and his wife returned to the
east. For two whole years these people were
the only white people in Atwater. Their
nearest neighbor, Lewis Ely, lived in Deerfield.
In the spring of the following year a child
was born, Atwater Hall, who was the first
child ' born inside the limits of the present
Portage countv.

42

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Settlers of Deerfield.
The first actual settler in Deerfield was
Lewis Ely, who came with his family in July,
1799. Alva Day, John Campbell and Joel
Thrall having walked frora Connecticut, arriv
ing in March of 1800. They suffered raany
hardships going over the mountains in the
snow and that they made the trip successfully
seeras astonishing. John Carapbell did not
know that his hard experiences were soon to
be forgotten in his joy. In that very year he
.raarried Sarah, the daughter of Lewis Ely.
This was the first raarriage among white peo
ple recorded in the present Portage county.
There were no ministers in that neighborhood,
and Calvin Austin, of Warren, a justice of
the peace, was asked to perform the wedding
service. Justice Austin did not know any
set form for marriage. Calvin Pease offered
to teach him a proper form. They did not sit
down by some good fire and prepare for this
wedding. Somehow the people of this time
had to do so rauch walking they continued it
when it was not necessary. So 'these two Cal-
vins walked twenty-one miles together through
the woods in drear November, one teaching,
one repeating as they went. Calvin Pease had
a great sense of huraor and was a tease with
aH. When, therefore, Mr. Austin had in a dig
nified manner repeated this service, concluding
with 'T pronounce )'ou man and wife, and may
God have raercy on your souls," the assembled
guests were astonished, and Mr. Pease sup
pressed his laughter, with great difficulty. The '
great-granddaughter of the frontier bride re
members that when she was nearly eighty
she was tall, straight for her age, wore a dark
brown frontpiece of hair under her snowy
cap. Her dress of dark brown delaine had pink
roses, a fichu-like cape of the same material
was about her shoulders, with a touch of white
at the throat. She was rather sober of face
and never held or kissed this great-grand
daughter. People did not show inward love
in outward expression then ; besides if she had
held and kissed his grandchildren and her

great-grand-children she would have had no
time for anything else, for the age of race
suicide had not begun.
Daniel Boone of Trumbull County.
It was the intention not to mention in the
list of "the first settlers" any one arriving after
1800, but the family of Mills, which came very
early in that year, having been so identified
with the early settlement that exception is
made of them. Three brothers, Delaun, Ase-
hel, and Isaac, carae in covered wagons. The
trip was more expensive than they expected
and they had less than twenty-five cents among
them when they arrived. At that time the
northern part of Portage was being surveyed
under Amzi Atwater, and these men engaged
to work as ax-men under the surveyors. Isaac
was not raarried and after a time went back
'to the east. Delaun and Asehel settled on the
road running west from the center of Nelson,
now Portage county. All the old diaries of
early travelers who went to Burton, Paines-
viHe, etc., haVe this statement, "Stopped at
Mills for dinner," or "Fed horses at Mills,"
or "Stayed several days at Mills." Delaun
received the title of captain and was a great
hunter, of both animals and Indians. He was
the Daniel Boone of old Trumbull county.
Wonderful, indeed, are the stories told of his
adventures. His chddren were Methodists, and
it is not hard for the author to close her eyes
and hear the rather sweet voice of Albert jNIills,
a son of one of these men, leading the Sunday
school with "There'll be something in Heaven
for children to do." The son Homer stiH
lives on the old home farm.
First Map (Pease) of the Reserve.
Albion Morris Dyer, curator of the Western
Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland — and
a close student of history, lately contributed
the foHowing to the Cleveland Plain Dealer
and with his consent it is reproduced here:
"There has recently turned up among a lot
of unclassified letters and papers in the West
ern Reserve Historical Society four letters

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

43

bearing date of 1798, that have an interesting
connection with the beginning of civilization
on the Connecticut Western Reserve. The
four letters tell of the making of the first
map of the Western Reserve and disclose as
a fact the source of the family names sprinkled
over the geography of the lake counties of
Ohio. "As the reader may have observed the names
of the townships in northeastern Ohio read
like a list of epitaphs in a Connecticut town
grave-yard. Some of the names point to the
classics, and no doubt may be traced to the
sanctum of the Greek department of Yale
College. Others follow the town names of
Connecticut, which do themselves, but repeat
the local names of Old England — Norwalk,
Canterbury, Groton, Windsor, Hartford, etc.
But the most of the townships of the reserve
bear names that indicate the proprietary nature
of the foyndation of society in this part of the
west — Pierpont, Kinsman, Trumbull, Hub
bard, Boardman, Leffingwell, Randolph, Gran
ger, Townsend, Perkins, Sherman, Bronson,
Jessup, Parkman, etc., reminders of the 'mil
lionaires' of that day.

"Several copies of the map in the pos
session of the Historical Society, teH the story
of the zeal of the proprietors to secure undying
fame by attaching their family names to the
townships — they wanted their own names on
the map and they besieged the workshop of
the engraver while the map was being made to
secure that distinction.
"The letters were written at New Haven
soon after the return of the first company of
surveyors from Cleveland, and before the draft
of lands was negotiated at Hartford. It hap
pened that there dwelt at New Haven, and
worked at his art, a famous engraver and
printer of views and maps and to him applied
the surveyor to prepare a plate for the map
of the Connecticut Reserve. This engraver
was Amos Doolittle and his workshop and
home stood at the northwest corner of the

college green opposite the campus where the
Yale Divinity school is now located.
"The engraver made some famous plates
here — of early Yale — of events of the revolu
tion, and of maps for the New York and
Boston publishers. He made maps of the
early states and of the North Araerican Con
tinent — some of which are in the cartography
collection of the Historical Society. They
show a technical ability of engraving and
printing equal to that of the map makers of
the old world. He worked on a polished cop
per plate with the wax process and his lines
are clear and sharp. He used the siraple
wooden press with the platen coming down
to strike on points and no doubt mixed his own
ink of real lamp black and linseed oil so that
the lines have a rich velvety appearance as
if cut with a steel die and placed applique out
of depths of Nubian darkness as clear and
black and glossy today as when first printed
over a century ago.
"Doolittle was a self-developed engraver
and soraething of a local hero. He went to
the front at the outbreak of the Revolutionary
war along with his feHow townsman Col. Bene
dict Arnold, and he turned up at Boston in
tirae to witness the famous engagement at
Concord. He used this historic scene as the
subject of his first engraving. This picture
appeared in all the early illustrated histories
of the Araerican war and besides it stands
at the head of the list as the first engraving
on raetal raade and printed in America. This
and other historical scenes raade by Doolittle
won for him the title of Father of American
Engraving — all of which is duly enshrined in
the classics on this subject, Stauffer's Ameri
can Engravers on Copper and Steel, and Dun-
lap's History of the Art of Design.
^ ^ ^ i}: i)^
"The four letters were found among papers
of Seth Pease, chief of the surveyors of the
reserve, to whom they were addressed. Pease
had finished the survey and returned to his
home in Suffield, where he drew off his notes

44

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and made the beautiful manuscript plat
on the reserve now on exhibition in the
museum of the historical society. He wished
to publish the map and wrote to the engraver
asking his price. The letters written by Doo
little in the correspondence that followed tell
the story. Here is one, with the peculiarities
of orthography and punctuation characteristic
of the time :"
Sir: I here with send you a 
Maps, of the Connecticut Reserve ; hope they
will answer your expectations. — There has a
nuraber of Gentlemen sent in name to certain
Towns in which they were concerned and trust
it will meet your Aprobation — I am now print
ing the Maps and shall have the 500 ready for
delivery next week would thank you to enform
whether I shall dispose of any of the maps and
send you an account, also the price you propose
to sell thera at.
The paper which is raade for the maps weigs
35P pr Reera which is charged at 2s pr lb.
I ara Sir with Esteem your most
humble servant,
Amos Doolittle.
Newhaven, April 19, 1798.
Seth Pease, Esqr.-
Home Life of the Pioneers.
Before we proceed farther with the history
of the Western Reserve after 1800, let us take

CENTENNIAL LOG CABIN.
a look at the home life of the people who lived
in New Connecticut in the first early days.
There were no steam cars, street cars, auto
mobiles or coaches. No large boats came this
way, since even on the lake there were no nat

ural harbors to admit them. Men who had
the most money and had therefore bought large
tracts of land arrived during the summer days,
located their land, cleared a spot for the house,
and returned home. If they were very wealthy
they left a man or two to stay through the
winter to construct the cabin and care for a few
domestic animals. The following spring they
brought their families and began a new life.
Such cases were few, because the number of
rich emigrants was small. Most of the
travelers came in family or neighborhood
groups, with an ox cart for the baggage, and
a horse or two. There was seldom place for
all to ride and they took turn about. A
large percent came by horseback. Sometimes
a woman would ride, carrying a baby and
utensils for cooking, while the husband would
walk, leading another horse on which was
piled the baggage. Often a husband and wife,
newly married, would ride horses, or one horse,
to the new home. Soraetiraes men used boats
as far as streams were navigable, walking the
rest of the way. Sometimes men walked all
the way. Sometimes women came in pairs
without men, walking the entire distance.
Sometimes women carried babies on their
backs while the husbands carried the provisions
on his. When it came night they would sleep
on the ground, with no covering if it were
pleasant, under the trees or large pieces of
bark stuck on poles, if it were rainy. Record
is given of women who came alone (except
as they would fall in with parties now and
then), carrying a baby or leading a chHd. In
this latter case the trip was exceedingly hard.
In the beginning such a traveler was in civil
ization, where she could easily find shelter and
lodging. However, as she proceeded, and
grew raore weary and more lonesome, hamlets
were farther apart, until houses almost dis
appeared. It is recorded that several women
carried their babies in their aprons all the way
from New England. The apron was worn
alraost as rauch as the dress, colored cottons
for hard work, white for home dress-up, and
araong the wealthy silk for visiting. They

•HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

45

were used for many purposes for which we
would never think of using them today.
When women came alone it was usually be
cause they were exceedingly poor and had in
herited land in the new country, or because the
husband had preceded them to prepare a
place for them. Many a pioneer mother, when
she reached the land belonging to her or to
her husband, saw the wHd country, remem-^
bered her abiding place "back home," covered
her face with her hands, sat down on the fresh
hewn logs, or made her way into the forests,
and gave way to her feelings in floods of
tears. As soon as this first disappointment
was over, she turned her attention to her duty.
If any women, anywhere, in all the wide world,
ever did the courageous things, the right
things it was the women who came to New
Connecticut and helped to transform it from
a wHdemess to one of the most prosperous
places of the world.
As there were some women who came in
rather comfortable ox-carts, so there were some
woraen who had homes awaiting them, but this
percent was so small that it is hardly to be
considered.
Sweet Child Voice in the Wilds.
Mr. Ephraim Brown, of North Bloomfield, .
one of the early wealthy men, came one season,
left men there to build his house, while he went
back for the winter. There were no women
in that neighborhood. One Sunday morning
in June of the following year as his raen,
with sorae neighbors, were sitting in the sun
in the opening about the house, they heard a
sound. They aH Hstened. They recognized
a baby's cry. One of the men said afterwards,
"That' was the sweetest sound I ever heard
in my Hfe." Of course, he did not mean that
the distressed baby's voice was so pleasant,
but he knew that where a baby was, a mother
was, and where a mother was a real home
would be.
Great traveling preparations were made by
the emigrants. One woman in Connecticut
baked her oven several times full of bread,

dried it, rolled it, and packed it in sacks that
it might serve for food on the joumey.
Upon arrival, families sometimes slept in
the ox-cart, but more often slept under bark
roofs, keeping their clothing and provisions
near by in hollow trees. One of the first things
these pioneers did, if they came in the early
spring, was to clear a little patch and start
a .garden. Men struggled for a chance to
make garden then as boys and men struggle
now not to make them. Almost all of them
brought seeds, and so carefully did they have
to plan not to have heavy baggage, nor to be
burdened with small bundles, that apple seeds
were sometimes brought in the hollow cane
which they used for a staff.
The second act was preparing logs for the
house. Some of these buildings had no chim
ney, no doors, no windows. It is surprising
to find in how many cases this was true.
Women cooked meals at the side of chest
nut stumps for weeks and months at tiraes.
In many cases men were so occupied in other
directions that they gave little attention to
domestic conveniences of any kind. Record

A CABIN PIEB-PLACE.
is hadof several women who, in despair, made
ovens of clay and mud in which to bake bread.'
Before that, they had had to stir their bread
on a fresh hewn log and wrap it around a
stick or a corncob. Their children were set
to holding it and watching it as it baked and

46

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE .

browned. Children, in those days, were like
children in these, and some of them carefully
watched the bread, baked it evenly, while
-others who dropped it in the ashes or burned
it were chastised for their carelessness. The
result was the sarae in those days as now :
the careless child did not grow any more
¦careful, and the careful child did most of the
bread-baking. One of the sturdy foreraothers, a Farm-
ington woman, who had a poor fireplace in
her dingy cabin, and who loved to pre
pare good things to eat for her fam
ily, became desperate because her hus
band procrastinated in building an oven

he who braved the storms and the cold to
bring provisions from Pennsylvania ; neverthe
less, he was neglectful of the smaller things.
On many farms even in late days there were
no cisterns. All water had to be caught in
tubs as it fell from the roof on a flatboard
leading into barrels and tubs. These recep
tacles naturally must stand near the house,
and the raosquitos hatched therein were con
veniently near their feeding grounds. Woraen
carried their clothes to the nearby creeks and
washed thera, laying them on the grass to
dry. The well was often far from the house.
If there chanced to be a spring, the stable was
invariably put nearer to it than the house.

^L/

g

A

/

(Courtesy of Samuel P. Orth.)
SPINNING WHEELS POR WOOL AND PLAX.

for her. She said she had baked bread and
done all of her cooking in one big iron kettle
and she was tired of it. She, therefore, fash
ioned some bricks of mud, burned them in
some way, and constructed an oven which was
such a success that people traveling her way
stopped to see it.
Men and women, by temperament and
environraent, were the sarae in that day as
this, and some husbands were thrifty, loving,
temperate and just, and sorae were quite the
opposite ; some woraen were clinging, tender
and childish, while the majority were not.
The forefather was really the monarch of the
family, and when the food was low it was

Within the recollection of the writer, a
farraer who kept five men and whose wife
did the work, either thoughtlessly or pur
posely neglected to keep her supplied with
sufficient wood. Several times the housewife
threatened to get no- dinner unless wood was
brought for her. This threat was not effective.
She knew and the men knew that there was
plenty of cold food in the pantry with which
they could satisfy themselves. One day when
the husband came to dinner with the hired
hands he was obliged to step over two rails
of his choice fence which were sticking out
the doorway, the other ends being in the stove
furnishing fuel for the dinner. As this rail

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

47

fence was his pride and as rail spHtting was
hard work, he always thereafter delegated one
of his men to keep the wood box fuH.
Evils of the Quilt Doorway.
We have seen that most of the log houses
had no doors or windows. Blankets and quilts
often served the places .of doors. Bears some
times walked in under them ; wolves some
times ventured so near that if there was a
loft and the raen were away, mothers took
their children and climbed into the loft. Some
times women built fires in front of these
blanket doors, or stood outside and waved
pifeces of burning wood, or set fire to a little
powder to frighten these dangerous animals.
Indians were especially attracted toward the
quHt doorways. As we know, they walked
very quietly, and many an early housewife has
been badly frightened as she realized that In
dians were examining her quilt from the out
side. It was not possible, often, to finish a house
immediately. Sometimes the roof was not
on for a long time in summer. The time in
warm weather was precious and a settler could
build his house when he had nothing else to
do. As soon as possible doors were hung.
After a time windows were made, but not of-
glass, — only greased paper.
The chimneys were usually built outside and,
under certain climatic conditions smoked badly.
After a time there was a floor, and women
and children, on winter evenings, helped to
stuff the cracks between the logs with anything
suitable that they could procure, while the
father, and sometimes the mother, smoothed
with the adz the inside of the logs. As a rule,
this primitive log house had but one room.
Poles were stuck in between the logs and
furnished the bedstead, while the cord for the
same was made of strips of elm bark. Ticks
were usually filled with straw. As soon as it
was possible a loft was made, and here, in
summer, ahd sometimes in winter, the children
and the hired men slept. In reading of the

early self-made raen of this country, it is al
most universally stated that as children they
used to wake in the raorning to find snow on
their beds. Access to these lofts was had by
ladder usually; occasionally by rude steep
stairs. As a rule, there was a hatch door to
keep the cold from the room below. Some
times when there was no loft, a corner of the
cabin was screened off by cotton curtains.
The early plows were of wood with points
of steel. The harrows used at first was made
of tree crotch with wooden pegs set in. Dishes
were often of wood. However, each fore-
mother seemed to find a way to bring some
thing to her new crude home which she loved.
The early German women, and the New Eng
land women as well, often brought a fav--
orite bulb or a cutting from a plant at home,
and these they nursed and nourished, and by
exchanging with each other had some lovely
gardens in this wilderness. A woraan of Cham
pion had some peonies which have bloomed in
that town for seventy years, and one of these
roots still lives on the old Rutan farm.
• Sometimes they brought a few pieces of
silver, or a picture. One of the ; plainest
women in Portage county, who was a fore-
mother, brought a looking glass. This her
granddaughter stiH cherishes. They struggled
to make the interior of their dingy cabins look
places, and upon these they set their pewters,
homeHke. Rude shelves were put over fire-
which, despite all other hard work, they faith
fully polished with wood ashes. They had no
rocking chairs. The stools were made with
three legs, since it was easier to adjust them
on the rough floors. They could work at noth
ing in the evening which required close atten
tion, since the flicker of the log or small tallow
dip furnished meager light. However, every
evening was full of duties, for they dipped
candles, plaited straw for hats, sheHed corn
and cracked nuts. They also spun, sometimes
far into the night. As Hon. Thomas D. Webb,
of Warren, observed his wife spinning one
evening, he made a calculation of her steps,
and when she had finished he told her she had

48

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

walked as far as from Warren to Leavittsburg
and back; that is six miles.
The Best Bargain of the Yankee.
Most of the pioneer mothers who really
clothed and fed the people of the Western Re
serve had to beg for all the money they had,
and the forefather took great pride in think
ing how well he supported his wife. He did
not know it, but the Yankee settler, when he
married a young, virtuous, strong, capable
woman, made the best bargain any man
ever made. Sometimes a woman, inheriting a
strong feeling of independence frora her inde
pendent father, stood up, in what seeras to
us now, a feeble way, and demanded a small
part of what was due her. Such a woman was
said to "wear the breeches," and her husband
was termed "hen-pecked." Next to drunken
ness and infidelity, the women who first lived
in new Connecticut suffered more from finan
cial dependence than from any other one
thing. The pleasures were visiting, church-going
and house raising. ' There were no undertakers.
and no nurses. The housewives knew the
medicinal value of herbs, and when left alone
did good service. The community was like a
great independent faraily, one raan ingeniously
making ax helves, while another pulled, or
rather screwed out the teeth with a turn-screw,
and each helped the other when in trouble.
If a raan was sick, his neighbors raised his
house or gathered his crops. A pioneer who
had nursed the sick and shared the sorrows
of his friends in the early days, died recently
at extreme age, and some of his young neigh
bors thought they could not leave plowing to
attend his funeral. In the old days it was
friendship first, money afterwards.
People were baptized in streams when the
ice had to be cut.
Books were few and reading not indulged
in to any great extent. In fact, it was con
sidered almost wicked to waste day-light in
stud}'. Occasionally, a boy who had deter
mined to become a professional man did raost

of his studying winter evenings by the light
of the log fire, and hunted the neighborhood
for railes around for the worn and tattered
volumes which were there.
Reserve School Houses.
When the schoolhouses began to appear, the
smaller children attended in summer, and raost
of the sraaller ones, and the older ones, in win
ter. They walked miles to school, wore no
woolen underclothing, the girls cotton dresses,
the boys no overcoats. They carried their
dinner in a pail or basket, and often ran most
of the way. They studied or not, learned or
not, got whipped or not, as they cared to and
deserved, but at noon they ate their half-frozen
dinners in front of the blazing logs. The only
thing the early settlers of Trumbull county had
was plenty of firewood.
Neighbors would sometimes gather in
schoolhouses where the men held debates. No
one any more thought of asking a wom.an to
debate a question than they would have
thought of urging her to become a candidate
for governor. In some coraraunities these de
bates were on a religious subject. The ques
tion of atoneraent, fore-ordination, sprinkling,
immerson and like topics were debated to
such a degree that friendships were broken
and coraraunities divided and disturbed tem
porarily. Other questions less serious were
"Which is the worst, a scolding wife or a
smoking chimney?" or "How many angels can
stand on the point of a needle?"
And here in this new country, where aH
started nearly equal, some men became leaders,
others were lost sight of. Some accuraulated
property and assumed a certain superiority (as
most moneyed men are bound to do), while
others, ?trueg;le as they might, never held
to that \\'hich they bought and died owning
nothing, or worse, owing much. Stories are
told how sorae of the original land owners
becarae rich hy pressing hard men who owed
them, and how the same bits of land came
back to them, time after time, with pioneer
improvements, because payments could not be

TYPICAL CENTEALIZED SCHOOL OF WESTEEN EESEEVE.
Coaches and Children from Rural Districts in Poreground.

Vol. 1—4

(Loaned by The Tribune.) FIEST BEICK HIGH SCHOOL, WARREN.

50

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

kept up. The people were better than their
Connecticut ancestors, in that they did not
bring the whipping post and the ducking stool,
did not burn witches, and did not torture,
physically, heretics, but in the matter of money
they followed closely their progenitors.
One of the early settlers writes that the
members of his family were great readers and
being unable to procure many books, read those
which they had through repeatedly. He him
self read "Pilgrim's Progress" twice without
stopping. Joshua Giddings' First Mince Pie.
In the beginning they had few pastries and
pies. Joshua R. Giddings says: "The first
raince pie I ever ate on the Reserve was com
posed of pumpkin instead of apple, vinegar in
the place of wine or cider, bear's meat instead
of beef. The whole was sweetened with wild
honey instead of sugar, and seasoned with
domestic pepper, pulverized, instead of cloves,
cinnamon and allspice. And never did I taste
pastry with a better relish." The pie soon
became a necessity in the household. In the
early winter the housewife would bake fifty
or more mince pies and put them- in a cold
roora where they would often freeze, and then

t

A "DUTCH OVEN."
they were brought out as occasion needed and
warraed. The woraan who made the oven of
bricks once had it full of pies, cooling, when
the Indians carae in the night and carried thera
off. Cooking was interfered with in the early
time in the spring by the leeks, which ren

dered the milk almost undrinkable. The rem
edy for this was the serving of onions at
meals, since one bite of an onion disguised
the taste of the leek.
Women not only were the cooks and house
keepers, as we have seen, but they spun cot
ton, occasionally mixing it with a linen which
they always spun for summer clothes. They
not only spun the flax, but hetcheled it. They
carded the wool, spun it, wove it, and made
it into garments. Some of the early men and
boys wore suits of buckskin which, over a
flax shirt, raade up a full-dress suit. One
-writer says that once when a pair of scissors
was lost, his mother cut out a buckskin suit
with a broad-ax. Another woman cut wool
from a black sheep, carded, spun, wove it,
and made a suit in three days for a sudden
occasion. Openings for Women.
There were three occupations open to
women, and even these were not open practi
cally the first few years of pioneer life here.
They were teaching, tailoring, and housework,
and the remuneration was exceedingly smaU.
One of the earliest teachers (all were paid by
the patrons of the school) received, in com
pensation, among other things, calves, corn, a
bureau, the latter being stiH preserved by her
family. One rhan paid her by giving her a
load of corn, another by carrying this corn to
PainesviHe and exchanging it for cotton yarn,
while the third, a woman, wove the yarn into
a bedspread. This spread is preserved with
the bureau.
Women were good nurses and in many
cases they worked side by side with a doctor.
Again and again do we read of woraen walk
ing through snow and cold to be with other
women at the birth of children or to encour
age them during the illness of members of their
family. These woraen often rode miles horse
back ; sometimes they were so helpful that the
doctor begged them to help him and carried
them behind him on his horse. There are
authentic cases of women not only going in

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

51

the cold on horseback, but swimming streams
and arriving at the destination with frozen
clothes. Occasionally, a woman would be more
capable or more ambitious than her husband
or her neighbors, and by extra hours of weav
ing would pay the taxes on the property, or
make a payment on the principal. Girls of
fourteen and fifteen soraetiraes became expert
spinners and weavers. One in particular was
able to weave double coverlets at that age.
There were no poorhouses, nor hospitals, and
women, suddenly bereaved of husbands were
taken into other families, while men, losing
wives, were looked after by the women of
the neighborhood. Children left alone were
•cared for in the families as if they belonged
there. Hardly a family existed which did not
have attached to it a dependent or unfortunate
person. Some women, feeHng that they had
a right to a certain percent of the earnings,
'demanded a calf or a sheep, which as it grew
gave them a little revenue; or asked for a
small portion of a crop from which they had
their "pin" money.
In 1814 it took seventy-two bushels of corn
to buy a woman's dress.
Why Pioneer Women Died Early.
Under the hardships and exposures, with
the long hours of work and the large families,
women died early, and most men had two
wives. Occasionally a father and mother
would both die and leave the children to care
for themselves. Several cases are given in
early records and letters of girls who reared
their little brothers and sisters in their primi
tive cabins. One such girl, eleven years old,
kept house for three younger children and was
herself married at sixteen to a boy aged nine
teen. The community watched over these
young folks and called thera "the babes in the
woods." They themselves were the parents
of six girls and seven boys. Families were
large in those days, but, although people had
many children, the percent which grew to
mature years is so small as to be startling.
When churches began to be buih, women

contributed in work, not only in furnishing
but even in raising the building. One woman
solicited small donations of wool from people
of the vicinage and wove a carpet for the
church. Although women spun and wove the clothes
which they and their families wore, even to
the men's caps, they did not make shoes.
Therefore, when shoes wore out, they some
times went without them; in consequence,
they were careful of them. In the "Pioneer
Women of the Western Reserve," many times
shoes are mentioned as being most desired be
longings. Women who walked to Warren
from Howland put theirs on under the elm
tree in front of Harmon Austin's residence on
High street. Those who came from Lords-
town, if they came to market, stopped on the
bank of the river for this same purpose, and
if to church, they sometimes waited until they
got nearer the meeting house. In one town
ship we read that it was not an unusual thing
to see women sitting on the church steps put
ting on their shoes and stockings. In another
place we read: "We always put on our shoes
in the preacher's barn." Sometimes a woman
would have two pairs of shoes, or two or three
dresses, in which case she gladly loaned them
to her less fortunate neighbor.
A woman in Mecca, who was exceedingly
enterprising, raised silkworms and spun silk
to get extra money.
Many of the women were devoted Chris
tians and traveled many miles on Sunday by
horseback, soraetiraes taking two children with
them, to attend services. These same women
allowed little or no work to be done on Sun
day. Cows, of course, must be milked, and
stock fed, but no cooking was permitted. Beds
were aired all day and made up after sundown.
Although people did their duty, there was
raore sorrow then than now, more discomfort
then than now, less freedom then than now.
There was less open expression of love, and
more repressed feeling of all kind. Women
were tired and vyorn out, and, in many cases,
scolded. Men were sometimes overbearing.

52

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

sometimes drunken, and occasionally cruel. A
very nice woman living in the early days of
old Trumbull county, when quite young, lost
her husband. She continued to reside for a
little time in her lonesome cabin, but later
was induced to marry a man of the neighbor
hood who had several children. After a time
he became very abusive and she was afraid
he would take her Hfe. Because of supersti
tion, he was afraid to go into a graveyard
after dusk. The only place, therefore, that
she was absolutely safe was in the ceraetery,
and many a night she slept in peace on her
first husband's grave.
Woman's Recreations — None.
Assistant Attorney General of the United
States Frank E. Hutchins, in writing of the
early life, says : "The principal recreations for
men were hunting, fishing and trapping, while
for the women — well, poor souls, they didn't
have any."
Mr. H. K. Morse, of Poland, told the author
that he had a feeling of sadness every time
he thought of the women pioneers. His step
mother, of whom he was very fond, was the
hardest worker they had on the place, and
when he narrated what the men did each day
this is a strong statement. His grandfather
and his father were energetic, resourceful, en
terprising and diligent raen. Mr. Morse said
that their every-day table reached clear across
the roora, twenty-five people sitting down at
the first table, while sometimes it was half
filled the second time.. The raother had help,
of course; but what were two or three pairs
of hands with one head to manage such a party
as this? He says they ate their breakfast
about four o'clock and their supper late. Often
the women were still at work at eleven o'clock
at night.
Another gentleraan, two years younger than
Mr. Morse, in making a speech at a pioneer
reunion, said he never remembered going to
bed as long as he lived at home that his mother
was not working, and no matter how early he
arose she was always at work ahead of him.

A dozen's men's voices shout : Here 1 Here !
Here! , The first comers among women suffered
cold, hunger and loneliness. Their followers
had more comforts, but work was increased.
Even the third generation put in long, labori
ous hours.
One ambitious woman who wanted to make a
rag carpet, and whose duties kept her busy all
day, used to rise at three o'clock and go quietly
onto the porch, where she sewed an hour and
a half before the men of her family (she had
no daughters) bestirred themselves. In the
afternoon she again had about an hour and
a half on three days in the week, and at this
time in summer she sat in an entryway, but
near by she kept a camphor bottle which she
was obliged to smell now and then to keep.
herself awake. As she sewed great balls of
cherry-colored rags which were to be striped
with darker red and black, she would say
.gently, "I must be getting old ; I'm so sleepy."
Eighteen hours of work and six hours of
sleep day after day might have explained it.
As finished, the carpet was beautiful, and when
the men of the family walked thereon with
muddy boots, she would upbraid them. The
husband would say, "Well, it beats things all
hollow the way mother jaws about that car
pet. A person might think it cost something."
Cost something !
The Housewife's Early Troubles.
Among the early troubles of the housewife
was the getting of the raaterial for bread-
making. Mills were far distant; at first in
Pennsylvania, then Youngstown, Warren and
Cleveland. Many families utilized a hollowed
stump with a long pole from which a stone
was suspended for grinding corn and grain.
The hand raills which carae later required two
hours' grinding to supply one person with food
for one day. Sometimes wheat would get wet,
or was not properly harvested, and bread
would run despite the greatest efforts of the
housewife. Baking powder was unknown, and
sour railk and saleratus was used for light-

HISTORY OF THE, WESTERN RESERVE

53

breads ; the latter was made by the housewife
herself from ashes. The bread was that known
as "salt-rising" or "milk-rising," and required
no hop yeast. If this fermented too long it
would spoil, and the emptins would have to
be made again. As cows became more nu
merous, the churning and cheese-making grew
heavier. There was no ice in summer, and
churning would sometimes occupy half a day.
Cheese was made in huge tubs or hollowed
logs' on the floor, and we wonder how women
ever could stoop over and stir curd by the
hour, as they were obliged to do. They dried
the wild berries, and later the apples, peaches
and other fruits; they rendered their lard,
dried and corned their beef, put in pickle their
pork, and when winter closed down, after

1800, almost every cabin had provisions
enough to keep the family from want, and
most of this had been prepared by the house
wife. Wild Beasts.
Wolves were everywhere. Few were the
settlers who did not encounter them and hear
their threatening howls. No one on the West
ern Reserve today thinks of wolves, but in the
present northwest last year they destroyed $13,-
000,000 worth of property. Bears were very
plenty in this country up to 1815. After that
their numbers lessened. They were probably
the least ferocious of any of the wild animals
here, and yet so long have we thought 6f
bears as devouring people that bear stories in

PIONEER PEYING PAN.

BED WAEMING PAN AND TIN LANTEEN.

(Courtesy of S. P. Orth.)

FOOT WAEMEE.

OLD-TIME HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS.

1. Shaving Horse and Dra^wing Knife. 2. Sugar Trough. 3. Pack
Saddle. . 4. Flair. 5. Lard Lamp. 6. Candle Moulds. 7. Tallo-w Candle
and Stick. 8. Snuffe.rs. 9. Flax Hatchel. 10. Hand Wool Cards. 11. Splint
Broom.

54

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

connection with the pioneer settler are told
by their descendants in great numbers. These
animals, loving berries and honey, occasionally
carried off pigs, but as a rule ran away from
men, women and children. Children were al
ways afraid of them, but some women were
not. Margaret Cohen Walker, of Champion,
seeing a bear near the house, chased it to a
nearby tree, when it jumped into the hollow.
Quickly she returned to the house, got a
shovel of coal, built a fire, and burned both
bear and tree. A woman in Braceville, work
ing in her kitchen, was greatly startled by
seeing a bear jump into her room and run
under the bed. It was being chased by some
farraers from Nelson.
The Question of Drink.
The free use of liquor was more or less
distasteful to all early women and to some
men. We know of some. early belles who de
plored the fact that some men were so drunk
at balls that they could not dance. In iso
lated spots the women took a stand against
whiskey and wine as early as 1805. A raan,
at the solicitation of his wife, determined to
do away with whiskey at a barn raising. When
the husband gave out the word, the men who
were ready for work declared they would do
nothing vvithout liquor. The wife promised
them coffee and an extra raeal, but it was no
use. The husband was just about to relent,
when the wife said : "Just as you like, gen
tlemen ; you can go without whiskey or we
can go without the barn." They went away.
A few days later part of them, with others,
raised the barn without whiskey, and conse
quently without a fight or accident. Wine was
always served at weddings. The first women
who refused it on those occasions were con
sidered to be insulting to the hostess, and they
"were treated rather coldly by their convivial
friends." Soon a few raen realized how harm
ful the habit was becoraing, and refused to
serve it. One of these men was Mr. Morse,
of Poland ; another, Ephraira Brown, of
Bloomfield; and James Heaton, of Niles.

These men had to endure much harsh criti
cism. The Better Times of Today.
Eventually the shacks of bark became the
log hut; the hut became the cabin; the
cabin had two stories, and later was covered
with clapboards and painted red or white.
The chestnut stump was supplanted by open
fire inside; the fireplace then had a crane,
later came the brick oven, followed by the
stove with the elevated oven, and then the
range. The laundry was moved from the
creek to the porch or the back room, and now
the windmill pumps the water, and the wind
mill or electricity runs the washing machine.
The raen went to the woods for meat, while
now the meat man takes it to the most isolated
farm, while in the towns it is brought to the
kitchen, ready for the coals.
Then, people, after weary miles of travel,
camped alone in the wilderness, or at hamlets,
while now farraers can ride their bicycles over
fine roads to nearby railway stations, go to
the county seat and pay their taxes, sell a crop
and be back for dinner. Then, women longed
for a few hours of visiting; now, they can
have conversations over their own wire with
out having to exert themselves at all. And
who knows how much of the prosperity of our
time is due to these frugal, courageous fore
fathers and . foremothers who sowed so care
fully?
Early Settlements in the Reserve.

Early settleraents were raade as follows :

Township. County.

Year.

Conneaut  Ashtabula  1796
Cleveland  Cuyahoga  1796
Youngstown  IMahoning  1796
Harpersfield  Ashtabula  1798
Warren  Trumbull  1798
Burton  Geauga  1798
Conneaut .\shtabula  1799
Austinburg  Ashtabula  1799
Ashtabula  1799 Vernon 

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE 55
Ashtabula  1799 Monroe  Lake  1799 Willoughby 
Ashtabula  1799 Windsor  Portage  i79gRavenna 
Mahoning  i799Poland  Portage  i799Deerfield 
Lake  i799Mentor  TrumbuH . . spring of 1800 Gustavu.6 

CHAPTER VI.

ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES.

The first court of quarter sessions of the Then follow these names :
Western Reserve was held between two corn
cribs near the Ouinby place (site of Erie Enoch Leavitt, Jr. ( ?)  $ 5.00
depot), in Warren. James Scott built a log Phmeha Leffingwell  5.00
house which stood on the corner of Mahoning ^zekal Hawn (?)  20.OD
avenue and High street, and when finished, in William Anderson  10.00
1805, it was used as a court house. Later, Samuel Leavitt  10.00
court was held in the third floor of a house (Mutilated) .^  5.00
buih by Wniiam W. Cotgreave, and familiariy Seymour Austin  26.00
known at that time as "Castle WiUiam." ^^^^^ ^^^d  5.00
We are fortunate in being able to publish James Orr  5.00
for the first tirae the subscription list to the ^Adam.son Bentley  26.00
first court house buih in the Reserve. The *Samuel Pew  5.00
original paper is yellow and in some places ' *'*^"i- VVoodrow  0.00
not quite legible. The owner, Miss Olive Thos. Costley  ,  5.00
Smith, whose maternal grandfather, Jaraes Leonard Croranger  . 4.00
Scott, and paternal grandmother, Charlotte Abram Lane, Jr  3.00
Smith, figure prominently in this early his- ^^^ Lane  3.00
tory, prizes it highly and has it between two John Draper  6.00
pieces of glass bound with cloth so that both  IS-^O
sides can be seen. It is as follows : Isaac Baldwin (?)  3.00
Christopher Cook  2.00
"We, the subscribers, do each one severally John S. Edwards and Calvin Pease
for himself promise to pay to Richard Flayes, ^°^' ^Siraon Perkins  200.00
Eli Baldwin and William McCombs, com- Thomas A. Tyler (?)  20,00
missioners of the County of Trumbull, and Abraham Lever  5.00
their successors in said office, or to their order, James B  2.00
sums respectively annexed to our names to Thomas 
be appropriated to the erection of a court house Jereraiah Brooks, by Z. ^\'eatherbee. . 60.00
in Warren for the use of the County of Trum- B. P. Harraon  5.00
bull, to be paid one-third when the foundation A\'illiam Morrow  20.00
of the building is laid, one-third when the -P,eiij'n Lane  2500
waHs are up, and the remaining, third when *john Ewalt coo
the buHding is completed, provided the walls " ^^^^^ ;,^^ ^^'^^ ¦^yp^;.j; 
of said court house shall be of brick. ,,^,j^^^. ^^^_^^^^  ^^^^
"Warren, August 25, 1809." W Bell (paid)  27.00
56

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

57

*James Heaton 
two hundred lbs. of Iron.
Noah Brockway . . . . ,  18.00
Ebenezer Benedict  5.00
*E. Ouinby  200.00
Zebina Weatherbee  100.00
*Calvin Pease  100.00
*George Parsons  50.00
William Andrews  50.00
*James Scott  50.00
Reuben S. Clark  48.75
John Leavitt & Son  100.00
Ashbel King  40.00
Wm. W. Morrison  20.00
Alexander Grant (?)  5.00
David Bell  50.00
James Quigley  30.00
John S. Edward  100.00
Elisha Burnett  30.00
Royal Pease  100.00
Lerauel Reeves  20.00
Mark Westcoat  5.00
Francis Freeman  20.00
Henry Lane  30.00
Samuel Bacon  30.00
Isaac Fithian (?)  50.00
William Hall  12.00
Charles Dailey  20.00
Joseph Reeves  10.00
*Sam'l Chesney  10.00
James Harsh   5.00
Moses Carl . . ,  , 5.00
^Leonard Case  lo.oo'
Robert Freeman  5.00
Ralph Freeman  5.00
"We, the subscribers, do hereby assign over
to James Scott of Warren in the County of
Trum.bull, the within subscription and we do
hereby engage to and with the said James
Scott that on the written  subscription and
on this day assigned by us to the said Jaraes,
there is nineteen hundred and ninety-eight

"¦''Have descendants now living in Trumbull
countv.

dollars which by law is collectible according ¦
to the tenor and effect of the same.
"Warren, July 6, 1810.
"John S. Edwards,
"Sam. Leavitt,
"Zebina Weatherbee,
"James Quigley."
The commissioners set aside a bond of
$1,000 which Ephraim Quinby had given the
treasurer of the county. This was all the
officials were willing to contribute toward the
erection of its first court house. The remain
der was raised by subscription, as seen above.
The bricks for this court house were made
from clay procured on the land of James
Scott, the exact spot being where the present
Elm Street school house in Warren now
stands. A large excavation was here which
eventually filled with water. This was known
by the children of i860 as "the brick pond."
In winter it afforded a skating place for the
little folks and such older children as were not
allowed to go onto the river.
Isaac Ladd, the father of Irvin Ladd, who
now lives on Mason street, was a fine carpen
ter and did the woodwork for this building.
The doorway is remerabered by nearly a hun
dred .persons living today in Trumbull county.
It was a double door, with panes of glass,
8 X 9, in a sash on either side, and the frame
over the door was part of a circle with glass
cut in pieces of such shape as to fill in — that
is, each pane was cut smaller at the bottom
and flared like a fan. Mr. Ladd was the first
man in Warren to own a diamond for glass
cutting. Although the subscription list was circu
lated in 1809, assigning to Scott in 1810, the
building was not completed until 1815. It
was a plain affair, but answered the purpose.
When, in 1852, a new court house was
begun, the old one was sold to Isaac Van
Gorder ; the home-made bricks were cleaned
by him and his sons and used in erecting a
block on South Park avenue, now owned and
occupied by Louis Rentfle.

58

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The Town Crier.
Forty years ago, maybe later, the town crier
was a necessary adjunct to court proceedings.
His voice, calhng for lawyers, witnesses or
court officials, could be heard for blocks. A
man who was at the bar in the 6o's and 70's
says that one of the young lawyers, wishing
to be advertised, would always go out of the
court roora just before his case was to be
called, in order that his name might be loudly
shouted from the upper window.
First County Jail.
The first county jail in the Reserve was one
of the rooms in Ephraim Quinby's house,
which stood near the site of the present Erie
station on South Main street. Although many
jail rules were made at the time of its estab
lishment, such as fixing the yard limits be
tween the present Market and Williaras
streets. Main street and Park avenue, with a
few rods west of the jail, the room was used
but little. Only one prisoner was taken from
there received a court sentence — that, Daniel
Shehy, of Youngstown, who threatened the
life of Judge Young, and paid twenty-five dol
lars fine.
In 1801 the court approved of specifications
for the building of a jail, and the following
year it was begun. It stood on the ground
now used as Monumental Park. It was nearly
corapleted in 1804, when it burned clear to
the ground. This building was of logs, 32
feet by 22 feet. It had a room for debtors
and for criminals. The debtors' roora was the
larger, having two windows, while the crira-
inals' room had only one. There were iron
gratings before all windows. However, no
debtor in Warren was ever confined therein.
The prisoners for a time after the burning
were incarcerated in the old quarters at "Cas
tle WiHiam."
Youngstown, Warren's Rival.
As among early settlers, after farms were
actually divided, troubles arose in regard to
the line fence, so the interesting "War of

Counties" centered in county seats. As we
have seen, Warren was the county seat of
early Trumbull county. The settlement grew
slowly along the lake and faster toward the
41st parallel. The present spirit of Youngs
town seems to have been in the first settlers.
They determined to have the county seat in
the beginning, and, rather than yield, kept up
a constant warfare, battles occurring at longer
and shorter intervals, soraetiraes strong and
sometimes weak. When the jail, situated on
Monumental Park, was burned in 1804,
Youngstown was determined to have the
county-seat matter settled in its favor. How
ever, there were other voices in the county,
and other people who had choices for loca
tion. Many people thought the townships of
Windsor, Orwell, Colebrook, etc., were about
midway for location, and that the county seat
should be established there; while people in
the northern part of Trumbull county thought
it should be established near the Pennsylvania
line. Judge Frederick Kinsman, of Warren,
said his father, John Kinsman, a very influen
tial man, greatly favored Girard.
In 1805, by the setting off of Geauga
county, which included the northern part of
old Trumbull county, Youngstown received an
advantage because that village was not so far
frora the center of the county as it had been
before. However, county and township lines
were not absolutely certain, and the towns of
Windsor, Orwell, etc., raentioned above, after
the counties of Ashtabula and Portage were
erected, were given back and forth to the dis
gust of the inhabitants. Warren, however, for
many years continued to be the political and
judicial center of the Reserve.
Creation of We.stern Reserve Counties.
Here is given a list of the counties, with the
dates of their forraation and organization :
Ashtabula county, erected February 10,
1807; organized January 22, 181 1.
Ashland county, erected February 24, 1846;
organized February 24, 1846.
Cuyahoga county, erected January 16, 18 10.
Erie county, erected March 15, 1838; or-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

59

ganized March i6, 1838.
Geauga county, erected December 31, 1805;
organized December 31, 1805.
Huron county, erected February 7, 1809;
organized January 31, 181 5.
Lake county, erected March 6, 1840; organ
ized March 20, 1840.
Lorain county, erected December 26, 1822 ;
organized January 21, 1824.
Mahoning county, erected February 16,
1846; organized February 16, 1846.
Medina county, erected February 12, 1812;
organized January 14, 1818.
Por.tage county, erected January 10, 1807;
organized January 10, 1807.
Summit county, erected March 3, 1840 ; or
ganized March 13, 1840.
Trumbull county, erected July 10, 1800;
organized July 10, 1800.

Origin of County Names.
In this connection it is interesting to know
why these counties were so called.
Ashland county; named for Ashland, Ken
tucky. Ashtabula county ; meaning many fish.
Cuyahoga county; Indian narae.
Erie county ; Indian tribe.
Geauga county ; Indian narae.
Huron county; Huron Indians.
Lake county ; Lake Erie.
Lorain county ; province Lorraine, France.
Mahoning; an Indian name.
Medina; not known.
Portage county ; for portage between rivers.
Summit county ; its elevation.
TrumbuH county ; Governor TrumbuH.

CHAPTER VII.

MAIL ROUTES AND POSTOFFICES.

After the Connecticut surveyors were really
hard at work in 1796, the general tone of
their diaries and notes is that of indifference
or seriousness. They show the greatest joy
at the appearance of raail brought by pros
pectors or sorae member of their party.
Sorae of these early letters, stiH preserved,
are folded without stamp or envelope, dark
with age, and fairly worn out from the hand-
dling in re-reading at that time. The very
first settlers for months at a time had no way
of getting any word frora their family and
friends left back home.
As soon as a village or hamlet appeared, the
thing raost wanted, despite the fact that they
had to send away for most of their luxuries,
was the establishment of mail service.
First Mail Route.
In AprH, 1801, Elijah Wadsworth, of Can-
field, applied to Gideon Granger, postmaster-
general, for the establishraent of a mail route
between Pittsburg and Warren. The reply
was sent to "Captain Elijah Wadsworth, War
ren, in the Connecticut Reserve, near Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania. If Captain Wadsworth
should not be in Pittsburg, Doct. Scott is re
quested to forward this by private hand."
Although this request of Captain Wadsworth's
was granted, the first dehvery of mail in War
ren was October 30th, that same year.
General Simo-n Perkins, Postmaster.
General Simon Perkins, of Warren, was
appointed postmaster in 1801. He held the
place twenty-eight years, when he was suc

ceeded by Mathew Birchard. In 1807 Mr.
Perkins, at the request of Postmaster-General
Granger, explored the mail '; route between
Detroit and Cleveland. In a letter to Hon.
Elisha Whittlesey, he says: "On the tour I
was obliged to go out of the way to find a
mail carrier, and I do not now recoHect how
long I was in getting to Cleveland ; but from
there to Detroit it was six days, aU good
weather and no delay.- There were no roads
or bridges or ferry-boats. I do not recollect
how I crossed the Cuyahoga, but at Black
River, Huron, Sandusky and Maumee, at any
time of high water, the horse swam alongside
of a canoe. In the Black Swamp the water
raust have been from two to six inches deep
for many miles. The settlements were a house
at Black River, perhaps two at Huron, two
at Sandusky, ten or fifteen at Warren, and
a very good settleraent at River Raisin." Mr.
Perkins had a consultation with the Indians,
in which he asked perraission to make a road,
repair it, sell land for that ptirpose, and
wanted the land a raile wide on each side of
it for the government. The Indians granted
hi's request. General Perkins's exacting busi
ness made it irapossible for him to attend per
sonally to the detaH of postoffice work. Araong
the Warren men who served as his deputies
were John Leavitt, who kept a boarding-house
at the corner of Main and Market streets;
George Phelps, who lived where the Henry
Smith homestead now is; George Parsorjs,
Samuel Quinby and Samuel Chesney. Samuel
Chesney probably held the position the long-

60

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

6i

est of any of the men. The mail route when
first estabhshed ran from Pittsburg to Beaver,
Georgetown, Canfield, Youngstown and War
ren. The distance was eighty-six miles. Cal
vin Pease was postmaster at Youngstown and
Elijah Wadsworth at Canfield.
One John Perkins came to America with
Roger Williams in 1661. His descendant.
General Simon, belonging to this old and re
spected family, was born in 1771, at' Norwich,
Connecticut. In 1798 he came to Warren as
agent for the Connecticut Land Company
and spent several summers here. His work
was so satisfactory that much business was

National Bank of Warren being its successor.
A sentence in an old letter reads : "General
Perkins' whisper could be heard all over
town." General Perkins took up land in the heart
of Warren and here his home was opened to
new comers, travellers and people in need. In ¦
1804 he had married Nancy Bishop and they
were twenty-two days on their way to War
ren, where there were but sixteen houses.
The old letters and manuscripts, which the
author has examined, show Mrs. Perkins to
have been a strong character. One old letter
written by a pioneer says : "Mrs. Perkins

SIMON PEEKINS' HOME. LAND OPPICE.

intrusted, and in 1815 he paid in taxes one-
seventh of the entire revenue of the state.
General Perkins' father was a captain in the
Revolutionary War and his mother, Olive
Douglas, was a woman of strong character.
He was postmaster, as stated, twenty-eight
years. General in the War of 1812, he estab
lished expresses throughout the Indiana coun
try to Detroit. President Madison offered
him a com.mission of colonel in the regular
army, which he refused for business and per
sonal reasons. He was a member of the
Board of Canal Fund Commissioners, and or
ganized the Western Reserve Bank, the Union

was a superior woman. She stood on an
equal footing with her husband. She left
her impress on such of her family as sur
vived her. She was a great lover of fruits
and flowers, and her garden was among the
finest of her tirae."
Mrs. Simon Perkins.
General Perkins died in 1844, but Mrs.
Perkins lived till 1862. In Barr's manuscripts
we read : "She was a mother in Israel." She
outlived six of her nine children. She was a
member of the Presbyterian church of War
ren fifty-two years, and during the last few

62

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

years of her life was seen every Sunday morn
ing, walking to church, by her son Henry's
side. She continued to occupy her own home
all her life and to enjoy her children and
grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law, now
nearing her eightieth year, lives in a house
on the site of her home and her grand
daughter, the only one of her generation
living in Warren, Mary Perkins Lawton,
manages the large estate left her by her father,
Henry B. Perkins.
Henry B. Perkins.
The latter was one of the foremost men of
the Reserve, taking his father's place in every
way. He was public spirited, served in many
public offices, was state senator, and president
of the Western Reserve Bank for years, and
raeraber of the Board of Education and of the
Hospital for the Insane at Newburg.
First Mail Contract.
Eleazor Gilson was awarded the first con
tract to carry the mail on the Reserve. He
was paid three dollars and fifty cents a mile,
by the year, counting the distance one way.
His son Samuel was, however, the real mail
carrier, and walked the entire route often.
The mail was not then heavy, and was some
times carried in a bit of cotton cloth. Warren
was for two years the terminus of this mail
route. It was then extended to Cleveland.
Joseph Burke, of Euclid, had the contract and
his two sons did most of the work, alternately.
Their route was Cleveland, Hudson, Ravenna,
Deerfield, Warren, Mesopotamia, Windsor,
Jefferson, Austinburg, Harpersfield, Paines
ville, Cleveland. They often walked, some
times rode, crossed small streams on logs
when possible, but sometimes swam their
horses or plunged into the streams them
selves. Up to the time of the stage coach the ex
periences of the letter carriers differed Httle.
To be sure, towards the end the roads were
better, the houses nearer together, there was
less danger from wild aniraals and from In

dians, but, on the other hand, the mails were
heavier, the stops oftener, and the time con
sumed, consequently, as long.
Asael Adams, Jr., Mail Carrier.
Mr. Whittlesey Adams, the son of Asael
Adams, Jr., who is conversant with the early
history of the Western Reserve, has prepared
the following at the request of the editor in
regard to his father's mail-carrying days.
Asael Adams, Jr., of Warren, who taught
school in Cleveland in 1805, carried the United
States mail on horseback during the war of
1812 and 1813, two years, from Cleveland to
Pittsburg. He left Pittsburg every Friday at
6:00 a. m., arrived at Greersburg, Pennsyl
vania, by 5 :oo p. m., left at 5 :30 p. m., arrived
at Canfield on Saturday by 6:00 p. m., and
arrived at Cleveland on Monday by 10:00
a. m. Then, returning, he left Cleveland every
Monday at 2 :oo p. m., arrived at Canfield on
Wednesday by 6:00 a. m., left at 7:00 a. m.,
arrived at Greersburg the same day by 6:00
p. m., left at 7 :oo p. m. ; arrived at Pittsburg
on Thursday by 6:00 p. m.
On his loop route from Pittsburg to Cleve
land, he stopped at the only postoffices at that
time on the route, which were, first Beaver
Town, New Lisbon, Canfield, Deerfield, Hart-
land, Ravenna, Hudson and Gallatin to Cleve
land, and then returning by a loop route to
Pittsburg by the way of Aurora, Mantua, Pal
myra, Canfield, New Lisbon, Greersburg and
Beaver Town to Pittsburg, once a week. He
received a salary of $186 per quarter of a
year during the continuance of his contract, to
be paid in drafts on postmasters on the route,
as above mentioned, or in money, at the option
of the postmaster-general, Gideon Granger.
He was also authorized to carry newspapers,
other than those conveyed in the mail, for his
own emolument.
Asael Adams, Jr., of Warren, had another
mail contract frora Gideon Granger, postmas
ter-general, dated October 18, 1811, to carry
the mail from Greersburg, Pennsylvania, by

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

63

the way of Poland and Youngstown to War
ren, Ohio, and return with the maH by the
same route once a week, at the rate of $50
for every quarter of a year, for the term of
three years and three months. He was to
leave Greersburg every Saturday at 4:00
o'clock a. m., stopping at Poland and Youngs
town, and arriving at Warren at 6:00 o'clock
p. m. The only postoffices on the route be
tween Greersburg and Warren were Poland
and Youngstown. The said Asael Adams, Jr.,
was allowed for his own emolument to carry
newspapers out of the raail if a printing press
should be established on the route. The raail
route between Greersburg and Warren was
run in connection with the above raentioned
route from Pittsburg to Cleveland. The post
master at Warren at that time was General
Simon Perkins, and the postmaster at Can-
field was Comfort S. Mygatt.
Asael Adams, Jr., the mail carrier, often
while riding one horse with the mail would
lead another, loaded with merchandise and
articles from Pittsburg for th& pioneers in
Ohio. Dense woods skirted both sides of the
bad roads almost the whole of the way frora
Pittsburg to Cleveland. Wolves, bears and
other wild animals roamed through these
great forests, and often in the dark nights
made the lonesome journey of the belated mail
carrier exceedingly unpleasant. There were
no bridges over rivers and streams, which were
often very high. He would fasten the mail bag
about his shoulders and swim his horse over
the swoHen rivers, often wet to the skin, and
not a house within several miles' distance.
The pioneers at Warren and Youngstown and
other places along the route would often order
Asael Adams to purchase goods and merchan
dise for them in Pittsburg, which he would
do, charging them for the money expended and
' for bringing the goods to the pioneers.
Asael Adams, Jr., while mail carrier, has in
his account book No. 2 the following items
charged, to-wit :
Thomas D. Webb (Editor of the Tru-mp of
Fame), Dr.

To buy at Pittsburg a keg of printer's
ink and bringing it to Warren, $2.75.
To putting up newspapers one night,
37/^ cents.
To one loaf sugar, $2.25.
To paid J. W. Snowden for printer's
ink, $12.00.
Leonard Case.
To leading horse from Pittsburg, $1.50.
To carriage of saddle from Pittsburg,
.50.
To balance for saddle, $4.75.
To 2 boxes of wafers, 12 cents.
To I circingle, $1.00.
George Todd.
To Duane's Dictionary, $6.75.
To carriage of boots, 50 cents.
To map of Canada, $1.00.
Camden Cleaveland.
To one large grammar, $1.00.
One lb. tobacco and one almanac, ZVV^
cents.
Tobacco and powder, 37 cents.
James Scott, July 18, 1812.
To leading horse frorn Pittsburg, $1.50.
To three oz. indigo, 75 cents.
To martingale hooks and buckle, $1.25.
To 2 lbs. tea, $2.00.
Corafort Mygatt, July 18, 1812.
To one sword, $13.00.
To one watch key, $1.00.
To powder and shot, $1.50.
The foregoing are only a few of the entries
raade in account book No. 2 of Asael Adams,
the mail carrier.
Mail Carriers During the War of 1812.
During September, 1812, -war was being
waged with the British and Indians on the
frontier, and most of our able-bodied men
were away from home in the brigade under
the command of General Siraon Perkins, in
the defense of the Mauraee valley. General
Perkins sent word to Warren that his sol
diers were without bullets, and to send a sup
ply of bullets immediately. The ladies of
Warren proraptly moulded the lead into bul-

64

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

lets, and Asael Adams, Jr., who had just re
turned from an all day's ride from Pittsburg,
carrying the mail, but who was capable and
wiHing to undertake the journey, started at
once, without waiting for sleep, to carry on
horseback a bushel of leaden bullets through
the dense forests to the aid of General Per
kins' brigade.
Asael Adams, Jr., was born in Canterbury,
Connecticut, in July, 1786, and came with his
father, Asael Adams, Sr., to Liberty town
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1800, with
his brother - in - law, Caraden Cleaveland, a
brother of Moses Cleaveland.
As the population grew and new roads were
opened up, new postoffices were established
throughout the county. In 1828 Alexander
Sutherland was postraaster at Newton.
Erastus Lane, of Braceville, a letter car
rier between Warren and Cleveland, brought
the news of Hull's surrender.
John Dover, of Deerfield, so far as can be
ascertained, was longest in the employment
of the government as raail carrier. His route
was frora Lisbon to Mansfield, via Canton
and Wooster. He made this trip for more
than forty years.
Just before the coming of the stage coach,
in some places in the county, mail was carried
by oxen.
Why Their Letters Were Advertised.
With the mail facHities of today, it is aston
ishing to see the list of advertised letters ap
pearing in the early newspapers. Letters for
the most prominent people in the county were
advertised over and over again. It is still
more astonishing that the reason for this was
that each letter cost twenty-five cents, and the
owner of the letters sometimes had not money
with which to pay postage.
Then, as now, there was dissatisfaction with
postal service; then there was reason. Under
the date of March i6th, the editor of the
Western Reserve Chronicle complains of the
wretched condition of the mails, saying:

"Papers mailed in Washington on the 4th of
March were not received here until the 13th."
On January 2, 1844, this same paper decided
to estabh.sh a post route for distribution of
the Chronicle in Vienna, Brookfield, Hartford,
Vernon, Kinsman, Gustavus, Green, Mesopo
tamia, Farmington and Bristol.
Western Reserve Postoffices.
In 1830 the postoffices in the Reserve were
as follows :
Abbey ville (Medina county) ; Akron (Port
age courity) ; Amherst (Lorain county) ; An
dover (Ashtabula county) ; Arcole (Geauga
county) ; Ashtabula (Ashtabula county) ; At
water (Portage county) ; Auburn (Geauga
county) ; Aurora (Portage county) ; Austin
burg (Ashtabula county) ; Avon (Lorain
county) .
Barry (Cuyahoga county) ; Bath (Medina
county) ; Bazetta (Trumbull county) ; Bed
ford (Cuyahoga county) ; Berea (Cuyahoga
county) ; Berlin Center (Trumbull county) ;
Berlinville (Huron county) ; Bermingham
(Huron county) ; Bissells (Geauga county) ;
Black River (Lorain county) ; Blooraing-
ville (Lorain county) ; Boardman (TrumbuH
county) ; Brandywine Mills (Portage county) ;
BreckvHle (Cuyahoga county) ; Brighton (Lo
rain county) ; Brunsfield (Portage county) ;
BristolviHe (TrumbuH county) ; Bronson
(Huron county) ; Brownhelm (Lorain coun
ty) ; Brunswick (Medina county) ; Bundys-
burg (Geauga county) ; Burnetts Corner
(Cuyahoga county) ; Burton (Geauga coun-
ty). Canfield (TrumbuH county) ; Chardon
(Geauga county) ; Charleston (Portage coun
ty) ; Cherry Valley (Ashtabula county) ; Ches
ter Cross Roads (Geauga county) ; ChurchiH
(Trumbull county) ; Claridon (Geauga coun
ty) ; Cleveland (Cuyahoga county) ; Cobb's
Corners (Portage county) ; Cortsville (Trum
buH county); Concord (Geauga county);
Conneaut (Ashtabula county) ; Copely Cen
ter (Medina county) ; Copopa (Lorain coun-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

65

ty) ; Cork (Ashtabula county) ; Cornersburg
(Trumbull county) ; Cuyahoga Falls (Port
age county).
Deerfield (Portage county) ; Denmark
(Ashtabula county); Dover (Cuyahoga
county) .
Eagleville (Ashtabula county) ; East Clari-
den (Geauga county) ; East Euclid (Cuya
hoga county) ; East Townsend (Huron
county) ; Eden (Trumbull county) ; Edin
burg (Portage county) ; Eldridge (Huron
county) ; Ellsworth (Trumbull county) ; Ely
ria (Lorain county) ; Euclid (Cuyahoga
county) .
Fitchville (Huron county) ; Florence (Hu
ron county) ; Fowler (Trumbull county) ;
Fowler Mills (Geauga county) ; Franklin
MiHs (Portage county) ; Freedom (Portage
county) ; Furnace (Huron county).
Garrettsville (Portage county) ; Gates Mills
(Cuyahoga county) ; Geneva (Ashtabula
county) ; Grand River (Ashtabula county) ;
Granger (Medina county; Greenburg (Trum
bull county) ; Greenwich (Huron county) ;
GuHford (Medina county) ; Gustavus (Trum
bull county).
Hambden (Geauga county) ; Harpersfield
(Ashtabula county) ; Hartford (Trumbull
county) ; Hartford (Huron county) ; Harts
grove (Ashtabula county) ; Henrietta (Lo
rain county) ; Hillhouse (Geauga county) ;
Hinckley (Medina county) ; Hiram (Portage
county) ; Hudson (Portage county) ; Hunt
ington (Lorain county) ; Huntsburg (Geauga
county) ; Huron (Huron county) .
Independence (Cuyahoga county).
Jefferson (Ashtabula county) ; Johnsonville
(TrumbuH county).
KelloggsviHe (Ashtabula county) ; Kings
ville (Ashtabula county) ; Kinsman (Trum
buH county).
Lagrange (Lorain county) ; Lenox (Ash
tabula county) ; Leon (Ashtabula county) ;
Liverpool (Medina county) ; Lyme (Huron
county) .
Mayfield (Cuyahoga county) ; Mecca (Trum
bull county) ; Medina (Medina county) ; Men-
voi. 1—5

tor (Geauga county) ; Mesopotamia (Trum
bull county) ; Middleburg (Portage county) ;
Middlefield (Geauga county) ; Middlesex
(Ashtabula county) ; Milan (Huron county) ;
Mills (Geauga county) ; MiHsford (Ashtabula
county) ; Milton (Trumbull county) ; Mon-
roevHle (Huron county) ; Montville (Geauga
county) ; Morgan (Ashtabula county) ; Mun
son (Geauga county) ; Murraysville (Lorain
county) ; Madison (Geauga county) ; Man
tua (Portage county).
North Perry (Geauga county) ; North
RidgeviHe (Lorain county) ; North Royal-
ton (Cuyahoga county) ; North Springfield,
Portage county) ; Norwalk (Huron county) ;
Nelson (Portage county) ; Newberry (Geauga
county) ; New London (Huron county) ; New
Lyme (Ashtabula county) ; New Portage
(Medina county).; Newton FaHs (Trumbull
county) ; Niles (Trumbull county) ; North
Bloomfield (TrumbuH county) ; North Dover
("Cuyahoga county) ; North Eaton (Lorain
county) ; Northfield and North Fitchfield
(Huron county) ; North Norwich (Huron
county) ; North Perry (Geauga county) ;
North Ridgefield (Lorain county) .
Oberlin (Lorain county) ; Ohio City (Cuya
hoga county) ; Old Portage (Portage coun
ty) ; Orange (Trumbull county) ; Orwell
(Ashtabula county).
Painesville (Lake county) ; Palmyra (Port
age county) ; Paradise (Lorain county) ; Park-
man (Geauga county) ; Penfield (Lorain
county) ; Perry (Geauga county) ; Peru
(Huron county) ; Pierpont (Ashtabula coun
ty) ; Pittsfield (Lorain county) ; Plato (Lo
rain county) ; Poland, (Trumbull county) .
Randolph (Portage county) ; Ravenna
(Portage county) ; Richfield (Medina coun
ty) ; Richmond City (Geauga county) ; Rip-
leyvHle (Huron county) ; River Styx (Medina
county) ; Rockport (Cuyahoga county) ; Rome
(Ashtabula county) ; Rootstown (Portage
county) ; Ruggles (Huron county) ; Russell
(Geauga county).
Sandusky City (Huron county) ; Saybrook
(Ashtabula county) ; ShaHersviHe (Portage

66

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

county) ; Sharon Center (Medina county) ;
Sheffield (Lorain county) ; Sherman ( Huron :
county) ; Solon (Cuyahoga county) ; South
ington (Trumbull county) ; Spencer (Lorain
county) ; Steuben (Huron county) ; Streets-
borough (Portage county) ; Sullivan (Lorain
county); Sutherland (Medina county).
Talmadge (Portage county) ; Thorapson
(Geauga county) ; TrurabuU (Ashtabula coun
ty) ; TrumbuH MiHs (Geauga county) ; Twins
burg (Portage county).
Unionville (Geauga county).
Venice (Huron county) ; Vermillion (Hu
ron county) ; Vernon, Vienna (TrumbuH
county) .
Wadsworth (Medina county) ; Wakeman
(Huron county) ; Warren (Trumbull coun
ty) ; Warrensville (Cuyahoga county) ; Wayne
(Ashtabula county) ; Wellington (Lorain
county) ; Western Star (Medina county) ;
West Vermillion (Huron county) ; Wethers
field (TrumbuH county) ; Wayraouth (Medina
county) ; WiHiamsfield (Ashtabula county) ;
Willoughby (Cuyahoga county) ; Windham
(Portage county); Windsor (Ashtabula
county) .
Yellow Creek (Medina county) ; Youngs
town (Trumbull county).
Postoffices and Postmasters, 1850-52.
This list is furnished by Whittlesey "Adams,
who was assistant postmaster while his brother.
Comfort A. Adams, was postmaster at War
ren, from AprH, 1849, to March, 1853:

Trumbull County.

Postoffice.
Bazetta,Braceville,BristolviHe, Brookfield,Champion,Churchill,Duck Creek,
Eden,Farmington,Fowler, Girard,

Postraaster. ¦Ezra Marvin
Garry C. Reed
Jaraes Caldwell
E. D. King
Jacob H. Baldwin
R. H. Walker
Jesse Fenton
J. L. Pierce
Levi C. Brown
Darius D. Andrews
William Johnson

Greensburg,
Gustavus, Hartford,
Hubbard,
Johnsonville, Kinsman,Mecca, Mesopotamia,
Newton Falls,
Niles, North Bloomfield,
Ohlstown, Orangeville, Southington,State Line,
Vernon,Vienna,Warren,

D. G. Andrews
James T. Horner
C. Silliman S. Hine
J. W. Jackson
John Kinsman
Jacob D. Powers
O. P. Neweomb
John Campbell
H. H. Mason
Wm. C. Savage
Jesse Day
N. E. Austin
E. D. Crosby
N. Kinne
D. J. Mattocks
Jacob Barnhisel
Comfort A. Adams

Portage County.

Postoffice.
Atwater,Aurora, Brimfield, CarapbeH's Port,
Charlestown,
Deerfield, Edinburgh,Franklin Mills,
Freedom, Garrettsville,
Palmyra, Parisville,
Randolph, Rapids,Ravenna, Rootstown,Shalersville, Streetsboro,Suffield,
Windham,

Postmaster. J. M. Alden
John Bradshaw
H. L. Canter
Francis D. Parmelee
Leverett Norton
Ralph Dory
Joab Godard
J. Holden
Lyman Bryant
Wm. Boyd
Francis Lewis
Brainard Selby, Jr.
James CoHins
James Wilson
B. S. Hopkins
Otis Reed
Adam V. Horr
Edward F. Abel
Eldridge Harmon
Wm. C. Adams

Ashtabula County.

Postoffice.
Amboy,Andover,Ashtabula,

Postmaster.
Cyrus S. Loomis
R. Norton
J. Booth

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

67

Austinsburg, Cherry Valley,
Conneaut,
Cork,Denmark, Dorset,
Eagleville,
East Plymouth,
Geneva, Harpersfield,Hartsgrove,
Jefferson, KelloggsviHe,Kingsville,
Lenox,
Lindenville, Morgan,New Lyme,
North Sheffield,
OrweH,Phelps,
Pierpont,
Richmond Centre,
Rome, Saybrook,
South Ridge,
Trumbull,
West KelloggsviHe,
West WiHiamsfield,
WiHiamsfield,
Windsor,

Chancey G. Hawley
Wm. A. Clark
David Matson
G. H. Secheverell
Eben Williams
MarshaH W. Wright
Mark Hawes
Wm. W. Mann
Wm. CroweH, Jr.
Oscar F. Gibbs
Wm. Jarvis
Benj. B. Gaylord
E. W. Huntley
H. G. Thurber
James D. Ray
Calvin C. Wick
Wm. C. St. John
Calvin Dodge
J. R. Gage
Chas. A. B. Pratt
Alva R. Beckwith
Wm. D. Jennings
Wm. H. Heath
Richard Tinon
Rodney Viets
Hiram Judson
George W. Rice
, , Samuel Moffitt
IJerman Tickner
A. B. Leonard
Wm. Barnard

Summit County.

Postoffice.
Akron,Bath,Boston,
Clinton,Copley,Cuyahoga Falls,
Hudson,
Inland,
Johnson's Corners,
Middlebury, Mogadore,
Montrose,New Portage,

Postmaster.
Frank Adams
P. Vorris
F. Jackson
A. M. Russel
Herman Oviatt
C. W. Wetmore
W. M. Beebe
John Hunsberger
WiUiam Hays
E. Mason
B. Green
R. Walker
E. Conner

Nimisilla,
Northfield,
North Springfield,
Norton Center,
Peninsula,
Richfield, Stow,Summit,
Tallmadge,Twinsburg,Western Star,

H. Sisler
J. H. Woodman
J. Thompson
R. G. MarshaH
C. Curtiss
T. W. HaH
J. Nickerson
J. W. Marsh
H. S. Carter
G. H. AHing
H. G. Dodge

Lorain County.

Postoffice.
Amherst,Avon,
Avon Lake,
Black River,
Brighton,Brownhelm,
Cariisle,Copopa, Elyria,
Grafton,
Henrietta,
Huntington,
La Grange,
La Porte,
North Camden,
North Eaton,
North RidgevHle,
North Rochester,
Oberlin,
Penfield,

Postmaster.
Alex. H. Redington
Jame^ D. Williams
Isaac L. Case
C. H. Livingston
Samuel P. Jones
George Bacon
Ransom Gibbs
W. W. Stranahan O. Long
C. R. Baldwin
Edward Durand
Chancey Baker
Calvin Wilcox
Abijah Sheldon
Charles Downing
Ransom Tyler
Joseph Humphrey
Horatio Bacon
David McBride
Trum Penfield

Medina County.

Postoffice.
Abbeyville,Brunswick,
Chatham Centre,
CoddingviHe,
Guilford,
Hinckley,Homersville,
Le Roy,
Litchfield, Liverpool,

Postmaster.
Asa Brownell
N. D. Meacham
Joel Brigham
Geo. W. Codding
Isaac S. Powers
Josiah Piper
Joseph Mantz
Benj. D. Austin
John Kellogg
Asahel S. Parmelee

68

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Lodi, MaHet Creek,
Medina C. H.,
River Styx,
Sharon Centre,
Spencer,
Wadsworth,Weymouth, Cuyahoga
Postoffice.
Barry,Bedford, Berea,
Brecksville,Brooklyn,Chagrin Falls,
Cleveland,Coe Ridge,
CoHamer,
Dover, East Cleveland,
Euclid,Gates MiHs,
Independence,

J. Higbee
Peter Bowen
Gaylor B. Hamilton
John Montgomery
AHen Howes
Chester C. Ambler
Sherman Blocher
John A. Popper
County. Postmaster.
Abraham Tibbitts
Leverett Tarbell
Jos. L. Speer
Chauncey L. Young
Charles H. Babcock
John W. WilHams
Daniel M. Haskell
Asher M. Coe
H. Foote
Marius Moore
Daniel R. Hildreth
Levi L. Sawtell
Harv. J. Humphrey
John Needham

Huron County.

Erie County.

Pcstoffice.
Berlinville,Birmingham,Bloomingville, Castalia,Cook's Corners,
Florence,
Furnace,Groton,
Huron, Milan,Sandusky,
Venice,Verraillion,West Vermillion,

Postmaster.
Henry Walker
Charles Russel
Andrew Prout
Jas. F. Chapman
Elihu Parker
J. B. Baker
Lewis Wells
John P. Deyo
Lewis B. Johnson
Philip R. Hopkins
D. Powers
Wra. Shepard
Chittenden L. Barton
Charles Ruggles

Postoffice.
BeHevue,
Bronson, Centerton,Clarksfield,
East Clarksfield,
East Townsend,
Fitchville,Four Corners,
Greenwich,Hartland,
Lyrae, Monroeville,
New Haven,
New London,
North Norwich,
North Fairfield,
Norwalk, Olena,Peru,
Pontiac,Sherraan,Steuben,

Postmaster.
Henry H. Brown
Ezekiel Morse
John Idler
Smith Starr
H. W. Cunningham
James Arnold
J. C. Curtiss, Jr.
Israel Cooke
Arioch Lapham
Daniel Miner
John Seymour
A. Prentiss
Elisha Steward
Henry King
Abraham De Graff
Thomas Smith
Daniel MaUary
Jos. S. Smith
Samuel W. Bolt
Ira Hallaway
Almon Hunt
Robert K. McIntyre

Lake County.

Postoffice.
Arcole, Concord,
Fairport,
Hillhouse, Kirtland, Madison,Mentor,
North Perry,
Painesville,Perry,South Kirtland,
Unionville,Wickliffe,Willoughby,

Postmaster.
J. W. McGenniss
RosweH Burr
Dexter Knights
William McMillen
Isaac Sherman
John Kellogg
William S. Kerr
Nancy Cook
Daniel Kerr
Jotham C. Judd
AVilliam E. Peck
J. House
Thomas Lloyd
Joseph H. Boyce

CHAPTER VIII.

ROADWAYS AND WATERWAYS.

When the Western Reserve Land Company
sent its surveyors to northern Ohio, there was
not a roadway in that whole region. There
were numbers of Indian paths which led from
one Indian village to another, or from river
to river, and one or two general paths from
Pittsburg to Cuyahoga or Sandusky.
The "Girdled" Road.
A path on the lake shore had been used by
traders, missionaries and soldiers, and along
this route the first road was built. When it
entered the timber, trees were girdled thirty-
three feet each side, and for this reason old
letters and papers always refer to it as "the
girdled road."
The Indians used the creeks and streams
for transportation sometimes, but as their
courses were winding and consequently longer,
most of their travel was done on foot. Hecke-
welder's map, drawn in 1796, shows numer
ous Indian paths ; the one running from Pitts
burg to the Salt Spring district is the same
as given in aH early letters and documents
mentioning roads and paths. This path lies
at an angle of about forty-five degrees ; north
of Salt Springs it turns directly west, and
assumes a northwestern direction until it
reaches the Moravian village which in 1780
stood on the east side of the Cuyahoga, not
far from the mouth.
In many ways this map is inaccurate, but,
since the Moravians were vitally interested in
and devoted to the Indians, and knew so much

of their lives and habits, we believe that these
Indian paths are correctly depicted.
The State Road.
So far as is known, the second road of any
distance in old Trumbull county was laid out
by Turhand Kirtland. It started in Poland,
followed rather closely the Indian path to
Salt Springs, thence into Warren, and north
on what is now Mahoning avenue. In Cham
pion it turned off to the west above the Poor
Farra, led through Southington, Nelson, Park-
man, Grand River. Over this road the Indians
walked, the early settlers walked or rode horse
back, and the fi_rst stage coaches rattled over
the stones, through the dust or plowed the
mud, as the case might be. It was at different
periods known as the plank road, the turnpike,
the state road. Today part of it is covered
with macadara, and automobiles fly over it
in the races between Pittsburg and Cleveland.
Every mile of this road surveyed by Kirt
land is not positively known. For instance,
on Mahoning avenue, in Warren, it ran fur
ther to the west than it does now, and this
deviation of course was true in many other
places. Makers of roads in those days were
apt to follow streams, partly because the tim
ber was less heavy, partly because the Indians
and traders foHowed streams and had made
paths, partly because such route was less
lonely than the heart of the woods, and partly
because roads skirting bodies of water were
drier than those wholly shaded. However, in

69

70

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

all early diaries, mention js made of going by
road to Young's, then to Salt Springs, stop
ping at Quinby's in number 4 (Warren), and
very often at Mill's, in Nelson.
The Indian Trail so often referred to be
tween the Cuyahoga river and the Tuscarawas
river, passing near the present site of Huron,
was the dividing line between certain tribes
of Indians, as early as 1726, and this line was
recognized when the white men first took pos
session as the dividing line between the east
ern and Western Reserve.
As the common highways have become
"good roads" because of the agitation of the
bicycle rider and automobile owner, so did
the old Indian paths, because of the settlers,
because of the mail carrier, and because of the
necessity of commerce, grow better and better.
The ox-cart was after a time replaced by
a stout wagon. In the beginning these wagons
had boards laid across for seats, and canvas
tops for covers, and people rode between Pitts
burg and Cleveland in these uncomfortable
conveyances. Better Coaches and Longer Lines.
A little later the coaches, rather small and
uncomfortable, put on between points where
travel was heaviest, were drawn by two horses.
In pleasant weather they appeared on time,
but in a greater part of the year they were
irregular. An early advertisement in the old
papers is to the effect that "four horses will
be used on coaches to insure punctuality." A
little later the big stage coach, with the swing
ing springs and upholstered interior, with
place for the baggage on the back, came into
use. These conveyances were very comforta
ble in pleasant weather, and many a pleasant
hour has been passed among friends, and many
good acquaintances made during stage-coach
trips. When the weather was bad the cir
cumstances were different. The men passen
gers (women traveled little in those days)
were often obliged not only to get out and
walk, but to assist in prying the wheels from
out the half-frozen mud.
All through the Western Reserve may be

seen at this day old weatherbeaten buildings,
sometimes which show by the wide porch, the
tall pillars, that they were taverns where the
stage coach stopped either for change of
horses, for passengers, or for meals. The
coming of the stage coach, announced by the
blowing of a horn, was the event of the day
in many communities. The drivers were often
men of strong and peculiar characters, about
raany of whom strange and humorous tales
are told. A mile before a town was reached,
the tooting of the horn was begun, and men
would leave their business, children their play
or study, and sometimes the women their
horaes, to gather around the coach when it
drove to the tavern, that they might see who
had arrived, who was to depart, and to learn
the news from the outside world.
In the beginning the coach lines were short
(about twenty-five miles), but grew in length
as the territory settled. The route was often
circuitous, to take in the villages of impor
tance. People going from Pittsburg to Cleve
land came to Warren, then Ravenna, etc. To
go five miles or more out of the direct Hne
was not noticed. It was passengers they were
after, and they must be gotten from hamlet
and town. Under the most favorable cir
cumstances the coach between Warren and
Ravenna could be run in three hours. There
are, however, people living in Warren today
who have left Ravenna at eight or nine o'clock
in the morning and not reached Warren till
after the darkness had settled down.
As the coach lines became more numerous,
people traveled by horseback or wagon from
one line to another, or from their town to a
line many railes distant, if they wanted to take
an unusual trip.
The Warren Turnpike.
The following people petitioned th^ legis
lature in 181 5 to incorporate a company to
make a turnpike road from Warren to points
along the fourth range of townships to Lake
Erie: Benj. Lane, Seymour Austin, James
Quigley, Isaac Heaton, John Hayes, Jeremiah

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

71

Brooks, Mark Westcott, John Dennison, E.
Quinby, Wm. Anderson, Geo. Parsons, Fran
cis Freeman, Barber King, A. McKinney, Cal
vin Pease, EHhu Spenser, Hezekiah Knapp,
E. B. Clark, Daniel Bell, Samuel Quinby,
Linus Tracy, Mark Leavitt, EHhu Whitney,
Leonard Case, Simon Perkins, Zalraon Fitch,
Adamson Bentley, John Leavitt and Thomas
Webb. This request was granted, and the action of
this company is on record. Francis Freeman,
of Trumbull county, was the treasurer. Those
having it in charge were exceedingly pains
taking in their work, held meetings often,
sometimes in Warren, sometimes at the home
of Ephraim Brown, in North Bloomfield, and
sometimes farther up the Hne. This long, al
raost straight road from Lake Erie south
through Bloomfield, Bristol, Champion, War
ren, was one of the best roads the Reserye
had. Later this was planked at least part
of the way. Between Warren and Bloomfield
(fifteen miles) there were ten miles of plank
road. Toll gates were established; one of
them was just north of Warren, in the neigh
borhood of the present "Poor Farm"; an
other one was in Bristol. The writer remera-
bers to have ridden by the gate in Champion
when a child, in the late sixties, but whether
they were exacting toll at that time or not,
she can not remember. In 1818 the legisla
ture was asked to aHow a road to be made
from Kinsman to Cleveland via Bloomfield.
First Supervisor of Highways.
The first supervisor of highways in old
Trumbull county was Thomas Packard. It
seems strange that William D. and J. W.
Packard, who were among those responsible,
because of their automobile factory, for the
good roads of Trumbull county, should be the
great-nephews of this great supervisor.
In 1848, when Seabury Ford was nominated
for governor at Columbus, some of the dele
gates going to that meeting had the hardest
coaching trip of their lives. The two young
est members of that convention were Jacob
B. Perkins, of Warren, and Ezra B. Taylor,

of Ravenna. They went part of the way by
coach, part of the way by wagon. It was
February. Many times they got out and
walked, and, finally, when within eleven miles
of Colurabus, plastered with frozen mud and
dirt, they abandoned the coach and walked
into the capital city.
The first stage coach running between Erie
and Cleveland was in 1818.
On Septeraber 27, 1827, an advertisement
appeared in the Western Reserve Chronicle
showing that the stages, which had been run
ning from Warren to Youngstown, via Brook
field and Salem, to Erie, were then extended
to Dunkirk.
In 1828 the fare on the stage coach from
Warren to Youngstown was 50 cents, and
from Warren to Fairport was $1.75. "Now
and Then," in the Chronicle, says that when
Paltzgroff, Shoenberger, Fulk kept the hotel
which then stood on the corner of Main and
South streets, there were as many as eight
coaches a day running from Ashtabula to
Wellsville, and they stopped at this hotel for
meals. If any reader does not sympathize with the
movement to save the Araerican forests, he
has only to study the history of a small portion
of the United States to see how the cutting
of the tiraber affects the size of rivers, conse
quently transportation, and prosperity gen
erally. River Improvements.
In 1806 the legislature declared the Mahon
ing river navigable to Newton Falls ; in 1829,
navigable to Warren. "Flat boats were pad
dled from Pittsburg as far as Warren in all
seasons easily, except at two or three shoals,
where light lifting was needed."
Because streams were larger then than now,
and because there were no bridges people prop
erly Hcensed ferried across for pay. One of
the first persons who plied such a trade was
Mrs. Beckwith, of Ashtabula.
The early settlers soon learned that because
of the nature of the soil and the heavy timber.

72

HISTORY OF THE V/ESTERN RESERVE

roads were impassable in some places even in
the summer time, and the easiest way to travel
was found to be by stream where it was pos
sible. Therefore in 1807 they decided to take
some action for improving waterways or con
structing new ones.
Great NjVvigation Lottery.
They determined to improve the Cuyahoga
and Tuscarawas rivers, thus forraing a means
of communication between Lake Erie and the
Ohio. They were to dredge, clear and deepen
the rivers, raake a road so good between the
two that loaded wagons could be driven over
it. The estiraated cost for this was $12,000,
and the le,gislature sanctioned it, but did not
provide for taxation, allowing instead the run
ning of a lottery by which the funds could be
raised. There did not seera to be any ques
tion about this being the proper thing to do,
and the raen who had charge of it were araong '
the most influential citizens. They were Sam
uel Huntington, Araos Spafford, John Wal
worth, Lorenzo Carter, Jaraes Kingsbury,
Turhand Kirtland, Tiraothy Doan, Bezaleel
Wells, Jonathan Cass, Seth Adaras, Zachias
A. Beatty and John Shorb. H. K. Morse,
of Poland, has one of these original tickets
of this lottery. It reads :
"Cuyahoga & Muskegon Navigation Lot
tery. THIS Ticket entitles the bearer to such
prize as shall be drawn against its number (if
called for within twelve months after the draw
ing is corapleted), subject to the deduction of
i^Vo per cent. No. 4472.
(Signed) "J. AValworth, Agent
Board of Coraraissioners."
There were 12,800 tickets, price $5 each.
The first prize was for $5,000; two prizes of
$2,500: five prizes of $1,000; ten prizes of
$500; fifty prizes of $100; 100 prizes of $50;
3,400 prizes of $10. The Comraissioners had
great faith in this lottery, and tickets were ex
pected to be sold in Massachusetts, New York
and in local Ohio towns. However, the public
did not take much interest in this matter, and

after putting off the drawing from time to
time, the scherae was finally abandoned and
the raoney returned to those who had paid it.
Lake Erie and Ohio Canal.
As early as January, 1817, a resolution on
the construction of the Lake Erie and Ohio
Canal was introduced into the legislature. In
1819 the question was again up. In 1820 a
survey was authorized, and in 1822 the legis
lature provided for the survey of four routes;
one was to run from Sandusky Bay to the
Ohio river; one from Maumee river to the
Ohio river ; one from Cuyahoga, or Black
river, by way of the Muskingum, to the Ohio,
and one frora the raouth of the Grand river, via
the Mahoning, to the Ohio. The comraission
ers into whose hands this work was given, at
the following session of the legislature, re
ported that any of these routes could be used,
but asked for more time to consider which
was the raost practical. At the session of
1823-24 they chose the one for the Scioto Val
ley, the Licking and upper Muskingura. In
the suramer of 1824 two routes were deter
mined upon, one from the Maumee river to
Cincinnati, and one starting at the mouth of
the Scioto, to Coshocton, and then up to the
lake by three different routes. In 1825 the
canal commissioners were ordered to proceed
on these two routes. When completed the
western one was called the Miami Canal, and
the eastern the Ohio. Frora Coshocton the
Ohio Canal followed the Tuscarawas, cut the
old portage and followed the Cuyahoga to
Cleveland. Great preparations were raade for
the opening of this canal. General Lafayette
was in this country, and it was expected that
the first shovel of earth would be lifted by
him at the portage summit. This was the
very spot over which the men of 1799 came,
which the earlier settlers had attempted to
raake a good road for the carrying of bag
gage. Two counties received their names
frora this spot — Portage and Summit. Un
fortunately, General Lafayette had proraised
to be in Boston on July 4, 1825, and the whole

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

73

plan was changed. The first ground was
broken July 4, 1825, at Licking Summit. Gov.
DeWitt Clinton, of New York, who had been
so interested in all canal projects, raised the
first shovelfvil of earth, and ex-Governor Mor
row, of Ohio, the second. Hon. Thomas Ew
ing, of Lancaster, Ohio, was the orator of the
occasion. The canal was completed from
Cleveland to Akron in 1827, and in 1830 boats
were running from Cleveland to the Ohio
river.

lature in 1827, and was to be effective when
the state of Pennsylvania would pass a like
one. The date of Ohio's act was January 10;
of Pennsylvania's, April. Notwithstanding
this good start, nothing was done until 1833,
when meetings were again held and the char
ter of 1827 was renewed and granted Decem
ber 31, 1835. Pennsylvania had also renewed
its old charter. The city of Philadelphia was
allowed to have $780,000 of the stock, and
in less than an hour from the time tbe books

MAP OF 'WESTEEN EESEEVE, 1829.
Pirst reproduction from the original by the courtesy of the "Western
Eeserve Historical Society.

The Mahoning Canal.
The Mahoning Canal was a branch of the
Ohio, running from Akron to Beaver. From
that point the river was used to Pittsburg.
The residents of Portage and TrumbuH coun
ties worked long and faithfully to secure this
canal. Conventions were held in Warren and
Ravenna, and in 1826 a bill for the incorpo
ration of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal
was prepared. This was passed by the legis-

were opened this was all taken. The whole
amount of stock was to be a million dollars,
and the remainder, $220,000, in a few weeks
was taken by people in Portage and TrurabuU
counties. The stockholders raet May 31, 1835,
at New Castle. The survey was begun in
June of 1835, near Ravenna. The whole
length of the canal from its intersection with
the Pennsylvania Canal below New Castle to
its intersection with the Ohio Canal at Akron
covered eighty-two miles. Ditches led from

74

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

some of the sraaller lakes in western Portage
county to the canal. These were known as
"feed.ers." It was hard work to finance this as the
work went on, and the governor of Ohio had
to come to the assistance of the company, but
in 1 840 1 it was opened for business clear
through. For twelve years this was a success, and
then the buHding of the Cleveland & Pitts
burg Railroad, running through Ravenna took
much of its freight and passenger trade, and
the construction of the Cleveland & Mahoning
Road, running down the Mahoning Valley to
Youngstown brought about its destruction.
People would neither ride nor ship goods on
a slow Hne when there was a faster one, and
in 1863 the state sold the stock which it had
in the Mahoning branch of the canal to the
Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad Corapany.
A few boats ran occasionally after that to
pick up a little business which was off these
railroads, but eventually the canal' was aban
doned. It was completed as far as Warren,
in 1839. This event was properly celebrated.
When the canal was completed to Akron
there was another gala day for Warren. Gov
ernor Porter, of Pennsylvania, carae with the
party, and there was hardly standing room
on the packet. The visitors landed, walked
in the deep raud up to the courthouse, where
Gen. Simon Perkins read an address of wel
come and Governor Porter and others replied.
The party returned to the canal boat and pro

ceeded to Akron. General Seely, who had
been so much interested in the canal from the
beginning, died at Akron on that day.
After the canal was abandoned there was
for years more or less water in the bed. This
stagnant water, covered with thick green scum,
bred mosquitoes and spread malaria. Old citi
zens declare these mosquitoes little by little
traveled down from the Cuyahoga river, where
they were a pest. After the canals were
drained, or dried up, there was Httle "shak
ing ague."
The canoes, the horses and saddle, the stage
coaches and the canal were not sufficient to
take care of the traffic and travel of northern
Ohio and the railroad naturally followed. The
histories of these are given in the several coun
ties. Highest Points in thp Reserve.
Wm. Stowell Mills gives the following ta
ble: Highest point on the Reserve, Silver Creek,
Sumrait county, 1392 feet above sea level.
Claridon, Geauga county, 1,366 feet.
Wadsworth Run, Medina county, 1,349 feet.
Little Mountain, Lake county, 1,323 feet.
Hirara, Portage county, 1,300 feet.
Royalton, Cuyahoga county, 1,272 feet.
Liraestdne Ridge, Portage county, 1,248
feet. Andover, Ashtabula county, 1,191 feet.
Mesopotamia,' Trumbull county, 1,172 feet.

CHAPTER IX.

FAMOUS MEN OF THE RESERVE.

We often see different dates given as to
when Ohio became a state. Ohio was unlike
most other states admitted into the Union. It
never was a territory of itself. It was a part
of the Northwest territory, and in 1801 the
people living in that part which is now the
state, called a convention to frame a consti
tution for this district which had set up
claim to statehood under the pro'vision of the
fifth article of the Ordinance of 1787. On
the first day of November, 1802, this conven
tion met in Chillicothe, and in twenty-nine
days had completed its work. This constitu
tion was not submitted to the people, but was
unanimously ratified by the members of the
convention. In February, 1803, congress
passed an act admitting Ohio, and this act
went into operation upon the assembhng of
the first state legislature of ChiHicothe,i Tues
day, March i, 1803. It wiH be seen then
why some people say that Ohio became a
state November 29, 1802, when the constitu
tion was finished and ratified; others, Febru
ary 17, 1803, when the act of congress ad
mitting it as a state was passed; and others
March i, 1803, when the legislature assem
bled and organized..
Civil Jurisdiction Established.
Hon. F. E. Hutchins, assistant attorney-
general of the United States, in a speech de
livered at the Warren Opera House some
years since, said :
"When Connecticut sold to the Land Com
pany, she parted, so far as she could, with aH
her rights, jurisdictional as well as to the

soil, but whether a state could transfer its
jurisdiction over half its territory to a party
of private land speculators and confer upon
them governmental jurisdiction, was a serious
question. "Certainly the purchasers never attempted
to exercise any such governmental jurisdic
tion or to enact any laws. They made fre
quent applications to Connecticut to extend
her jurisdiction and laws over the territory,
and to the United States to accept jurisdiction,
but all were refused. The purchasers and
settlers repudiated the Ordinance of 1787 as
extending to this territory because to accept
it would be to admit a superior title in the
United States, which would be fatal to that
of Connecticut and therefore fatal to that of
the Land Company, and the settlers.
"Subsequently, in 1800, acts of congress and
the Connecticut legislature confirmed the title
of Connecticut to the soil on the Reserve on
the one hand, and relieved the United States
of all jurisdiction over it on the other. And
then, for the first time in its history, the West
ern Reserve came within any civil jurisdiction,
and its people were protected and governed
by law. But from the time of this sale by
Connecticut to the Connecticut Land Company
in 1795, to this acceptance of jurisdiction, in
1800, the Western Reserve was absolutely
without law or government of any kind. There
were no courts, no laws, no records, no magis
trates or police, and no modes of enforcing
or protecting land titles, contracts or per
sonal rights. It was a veritable 'no-man's
land' so far as government and law was con-

75

76

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

cerned. This was a poor place for lawyers,
as it always is where the people wiH behave
themselves without them. It was not even a
pure deraocracy, for there the people meet to
enact laws and enforce rights. Here they did
not and could not. Some seventy miles of
unbroken wilderness of forest, lakes and
swamps, separated the two settlements at
Cleveland and Youngstown. And yet, so
trained in civil government and obedience
to law were the settlers that they felt no need
of either. Lands were bought and sold, per
sonal contracts y/ere made, marriages sol
eranized, and personal rights respected as in
the best governed societies, and aH without
governraent and without law. In the sarae
year (1800) that the Reserve came within
civil jurisdiction, the whole was organized into
one county, with the county seat at Warren.
There has never been a case of lynching on
the Reserve."
First Judges Northwest Territory.
The first judges of the Northwest terri
tory appointed by the president of the United
States were Sarauel Holden Parsons, James
Mitchell \''arnum, and John Cleves Symmes.
Of these three. Judge Syraraes is the best re
merabered because of his claira of a hollow
earth, and because of his connection with the
famous Harrison family. He was born in New
Jersey, but early emigrated to this country,
where he became a valiant soldier. After
army service he devoted himself to a theory,
his own invention, which declared the earth
to be hoHow, open at the poles, and inhab
itable within. His followers were raore in
number than it is possible for us of today
to believe, and he even asked congress to make
an appropriation to test out his theory. It
does not seem possible that a man who could
believe in so foolish a theory, could have been
a college graduate, a delegate to the Provin
cial Congress, active in framing the consti
tution of his own state (New Jersey), dele
gate to the Continental Congress in Philadel
phia, and judge of the Northwest territory.

Marriage of Anna Symmes.
Gen. Lew WaHace, in his life^of President
Benjamin Harrison, says : "The wooing and
winning of Anna Symmes by William Henry
Harrison is not without romantic coloring.
When Fort Washington was established at
Cincinnati, Harrison was stationed there. Duty
called the gallant captain to North Bend, and
he became a guest at the Symmes residence.
It was not long until he succumbed to the
black eyes of Miss Anna. She was at the
time twenty years of age, small, graceful, in-
teHigent and by general agreement beautiful.
He was twenty-two years of age, with a rep
utation well established as a gallant soldier.
The two were mutually pleased with each
other, and an engagement followed, which
could hardly fail to be satisfactory to the fa
ther. The judge, in fact, consented to the
marriage; but, hearing some slanderous re
ports of the captain, he afterwards withdrew
his consent. The lovers were in nowise daunt
ed. They resolved to proceed with their en
gagement. November 29, 1795, the day ap
pointed for the wedding, arrived. Judge
Symmes, thinking the affair off or declining
to be present, rode to Cincinnati, leaving the
coast clear.
"In the presence of the young lady's step
mother and many guests the ceremony was
performed by Dr. Stephen Wood, a justice of
the peace.
"Undoubtedly the father of the bride was
a person of great importance at that time.
He was a high dignitary of the United States
government and proprietor of a tract of land
ducal in proportions. The lady was beauti
ful, young, charming, of Eastern education
and manners. The bridegroom on his side
had fought his way to a captaincy, which was
a much more influential argument in that day
than this, especially in social circles. With
these points in mind, it would not be strange
if a reader, giving rein to his fancy, should
picture the wedding as of exceeding splendor
of circumstance. It was the very reverse.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

77

To arrive at the facts the time and the con
dition of the people of the region must be
considered. The west was in its densest
wilderness. There were no luxuries. To be
comfortable was to be rich. There was no
aristocracy. Store goods were scarce and at
prices out of reach. Weeks of travel were
required to get to and from the mills. For
summer wear the settlers depended in great
part upon the fibre of thistle, a certain species
of which, growing spontaneously in the woods,
fell down and rotted in the winter and was
gathered in the spring and cleaned and woven
by the women. Indeed, the probabilities are
that the company assembled to witness the
marriage of Captain Harrison and Miss Anna
Symmes would astonish polite circles of today.
They arrived on horseback, each man carry
ing a rifle, a powder-horn and a pouch lined
with patching and bullets. Traveling by nar
row paths cut through thickets of blackberry
and alder bushes and undergrowth of every
variety, each step taken might be into an
ambush of Indians. They moved in the mood
and ready for instant combat. A wife, com
ing with her husband, rode behind him. They
dismounted at the door, as it was winter;
ten to one he wore buckskin for coat and
breeches, and a coonskin cap, while she was
gay with plaided linsey-woolsey of her own
weaving, cutting and sewing. Her head was
protected from the wind by a cotton hand
kerchief. Coarse shoes supplied the place of
slippers. The wedding cake was of New Eng
land doughnuts. On the sideboard there were
jugs of cider, very hard at that, and whiskey
none the worse for its home brewing, and they
were there to be drank. The dancing, with
which the fete was most likely rounded off
in the evening, was to a fiddle in the hand
of a colored artist who knew the plantation
jigs as a mocking bird knows his whistle. The
pigeon-wing with which the best dancers cele
brated the balance aH was cut with feet yel
low with moccasins. Such was in probabil
ity the general ensemble of the wedding.

"The bride may have had an outfit of bet
ter material. So recently from the east, she
may have had a veil, a silk frock and French
slippers. The bridegroom, of course, wore his
captain's uniform, glittering with bullet-but
tons of burnished brass, and high boots be
coming an aide in favor with his chief, the
redoubtable Anthony Wayne, whom the In
dians were accustomed to describe as 'the
warrior who never slept.' Taken altogether,
the wedding celebrated at Judge Symmes'
house that November day, 1795, cannot be
cited in proof of a charge of artisocratic pre
tension on the part of the high contracting
parties. "Sometime afterwards Judge Symmes met
his son-in-law. The occasion was a dinner
party given by General Wilkinson to General
Wayne. " 'Well, sir,' the judge said, in bad humor,
'I understand you have married Anna.'
" 'Yes, sir,' Harrison answered.
" 'How do you expect to support her ?'
" 'By my- sword and my own right arm,'
was the reply.
"The judge was pleased, became reconciled,
and in true romantic form happily concluded
the affair by giving the couple his blessing."
First Court of Common Law.
Judges Parsons, Varnum and Symmes, or
any two of them, constituted a court of com
mon law jurisdiction. Their commission ex
tended during good behavior. The next lower
court was the county court of common pleas
and the general quarter sessions of the peace.
The court of common pleas must consist of
three judges, not more than seven, and their
jurisdiction was concurrent in the respective
counties with that of the supreme court. The
general quarter sessions of the peace was
obliged to hold three terms each year, was lim
ited in criminal jurisdiction, and the number
in each county was determined by the govern
ment. "Single judges of the common pleas
and single justices of quarter sessions were
also clothed with certain civil and criminal

78

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

powers, to be exercised outside of court. The
probate court of each county had the juris
diction ordinarily granted to it."
Judge Henry Clay White, in "Bench and
Bar of Ohio," says :
"The expenses of the system were defrayed
in part by the national government and in part
by assessraent upon counties, but principally
by fees which were payable to every officer
concerned in the administration of justice,
from the judges of the general court down
ward." The quorura which is often noted in the
early accounts of the history of the WesternRe-
serve consisted of five justices of the peace
chosen from the county justices who were ap
pointed by the territorial government. This
quorum was required to raeet three times a
year (that is, every four months) and was
called the "Court of Quarter Sessions of the
Peace." It is often called "The Primitive
Court of the North-West Territory." Most
of the diaries and books of the early surveyors
and first settlers contain lively descriptions
of the first court of quarter sessions for Trum
bull county. It was held between two corn
cribs on Main street, near the spot where
the Erie station now stands, in 1800. August
25 chanced to be a pleasant day, so there was
no need of shelter. Some of the diaries call
this spot the "PubHc Square" or "Common."
As many men attending this session had to
come on horseback, or on foot, court was not
called until four o'clock in the afternoon. It
lasted five days, and Calvin Pease, one of the
most capable and briHiant men of that early
time, reference to .whom occurs in several
places in this history, writes as follows :
"Court of general quarter sessions of the
peace, begun and holden at Warren, within
and for said county of Trumbull, on the fourth
Monday of August, in the year of our Lord
1800, and of the independence of the United
States the twenty-fifth. Present, John Young,
Turhand Kirtland, Camden Cleveland, James
Kingsbury, and Eliphalet Austin, esquires, jus

tices of the quorum, and others, their asso
ciates, justices of the peace, holding said court.
The following persons were returned, and ap
peared on the grand jury and were empaneled
and sworn, namely : Simon Persons, foreman
(undoubtedly misprint for Perkins) ; Benja
min Stowe, Samuel Menough, Hawley Tan
ner, Charles Day, Ebenezer King, William Ce
cil, John Hart Adgate, Henry Lane, Jonathan
Church, Jeremiah Wilcox, John Partridge Bis
sell, Isaac Palmer, George Phelps, Samuel
Quinby and Moses Parks. The court appoint
ed George Tod, esquire, to prosecute the pleas
of United States for the present session, who
took the oath of office. The court ordered
that the private seal of the clerk shall be con
sidered the seal of the county, and be affixed
and recognized as such tHl a public seal shaU
be procured. The court appointed Amos Spaf
ford, Esq., David Hudson, Esq., Simon Per
kins, Esq., John Miner, Esq., Aaron Wheeler,
Esq., Esward [certainly Edward] Paine, Esq.,
and Benjamin Davis, Esq., a committee to
divide the county of Trumbull into townships,
to describe the limits and boundaries of each
township, and to make report to the court
thereof." First Practicing Lawyer.
Although Judge Parsons was, so far as we
know, the first lawyer to take up land in New
Connecticut and to discharge his duties as a
judge, John S. Edwards was the first to really
practice his profession. He was a graduate
of Yale CoHege, and was admitted to prac--
tice in 1799, being twenty-two years old. His
father had obtained the township of Mesopo
tamia in the distribution of the land by the
Connecticut Land Company, and young Ed
wards came into that unbroken district to pre
pare a settlement. His granddaughter, Louisa
Edwards, of Youngstown, still owns a farm
in Mesopotamia. His son says :
"What other persons preceded him or went
with him, or how long he stayed, or what he
accomplished, I am not informed, but I have
understood he was especially glad when he got

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

79

a few trees cut down and let in the sun. I
know of no incident but only of his first night
in Warren, to which he refers in after time
with amusement. The place was the floor of
a cabin, crowded with emigrants, and some
what promiscuous."
He returned to Connecticut that fall, but
came back in the spring and practiced law,
which, of course, must have' been such law as
would pertain to drawing of papers necessary in
the buying and selling of land, the making
of land contracts, etc., since there were no
courts. When the county seat was estab
lished. Governor St. Clair appointed him re
corder of Trumbull county, and this office he
held untH the time of his death in 1813. He
lived in Mesopotamia until he moved to War
ren. The following is a quotation fr5m his
journal, dated February 4, 1804:
"We have been, as it were, for about six
weeks shut out from the world, during a
greater part of which time the snow has been
frora two to three feet deep and the creeks
and rivers almost impassable. Our mails have
been very irregular. I live as formerly, but,
having a stiller house and my business bet
ter arranged, am able to pay more attention
to my books and have, for the last six months,
spent all my leisure time at them, and shall
continue so to do. Law business is generally
very much increasing, and my share of it in
particular. Though I live very much out of
the way of business, I commenced for the
coming court as many suits as either of my
brethren. [Probably means Tappan and Tod.]
I have not as yet moved to Warren, but still
have it in contemplation. Our country is rap
idly improving. The prospects of the settle
ment about me seem to brighten. Next spring
we elect our militia officers from a brigadier
general down. The public mind begins to be
considerably awakened at its near approach, and
there will be a vast deal of heart-burning. As
I shall seek for no promotion in that line,
and of course shall not receive any, I shall
remain an idle spectator of the scene."
On June 15, 1809, he says: "The business

of my profession alone is sufficient to support
me handsomely, independent of my recorder-
ship, and I have the satisfaction to believe
that mine is the best of any of my brethren."
On October 17, 1808, he writes : "The mul
tiplicity of my employment and the constant
attention which I am under the necessity of
giving to my business leaves me but Httle lei
sure. * * * In my profession am very
successful, having miich the largest share of
the business within the circuit."
January 22, 1810: "I have every success
in my profession which I have a right to ex
pect. I am able to do considerably more than
support my family, and the style of my living
is equal to that of any'of the people about me.
I am not in the way of receiving any of the
honors of office; and whether I could gain
them if I wished I do not know, having never
made the experiment."
In this Mr. Edwards was mistaken. In
1812 he was elected a member of congress to
represent the sixth district. This was the first
cohgressional election after the division of
the state into districts. At that time the dis
trict was composed of the counties of Trum
bull, Ashtabula, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Portage,
Columbiana, Stark, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Knox
and Richmond. He did not live to take his
seat. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were both strong
and unusual characters, and were so closely
identified with all the early life of this district
that those interested will find much which is
of interest in regard to them in the Trumbull
county chapter.
Hon. Benjamin Tappan.
A few months after Mr. Edwards arrived
in New Connecticut Hon. Benjamin Tappan
appeared. En route he had many vicissitudes
and misfortunes, under which most men would
have succumbed; some boats belonging to his
party were thrown upon the lake shore in a
storm, his first load of goods put in camp was
stolen while he was transporting a load to the
present site of Ravenna, one of his oxen was

8o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

killed by being bitten by insects, and he found
himself in a new country without food or
money. He was born in Massachusetts, had
a good education, was admitted to the bar. In
1800 he returned to Connecticut and married
Miss Nancy Wright, a member of a distin
guished family and herself a strong charac
ter. He was attorney in many important cases
of the early times, and was admitted to the
Ohio bar at the same time that Huntington,
Edwards and Tod were. He traveled back
and forth from Ravenna to Warren, attend
ing court, and was one of the lawyers in the
McMahon case. In 1803 he was chosen to
rep.resent TrumbuH district in the Ohio sen
ate, and served one year. Portage county was
formed from TrumbuH in 1807, and the act
erecting this county designated his house as
the place' of holding the first court. It is a
tradition, not wholly verified, that when the
proper officers proceeded to his house on the
morning court was to open they found
it burned to the ground. So the court of
this county, like that of its mother, Trumbull,
was first held with the trees and the skies as
a cover. Mr. Tappan's Hfe from beginning
to end was eventful, but after the year 1808
its narrative does not belong in Trumbull
county history. He was, however, aide-de
camp to General Wadsworth in the war of
1812, judge of the fifth Ohio circuit. United
States judge for Ohio, and United States sen
ator from 1839-45. He was a good Hnguist
and compiled "Tappan's Reports."
George Tod.
George Tod came to New Connecticut in
1800, about the time of Mr. Edward's arri'^al.
He was born in Suffield, Connecticut, in 1773 ;
graduated from Yale in 1797; he taught
school, read law, and was admitted to the bar
in Connecticut. He married Miss Sallie Isaacs
in 1797. She was a sister of Mrs. Ingersoll,
whose husband was governor. Two of his
children, Charlotte and Jonathan, were born
in Connecticut. He was appointed prosecut
ing attorney at the first term of court held in

Warren, Trumbull county, in 1800. He was
identified with almost every important act con
nected with the settlement of the new coun
try. He was township clerk in 1802-03-04;
senator from Trumbull county for 1804 and
1805; again in 1810 and 181 1. In 1806 he
was appointed judge of the supreme court
of the state to fill a vacancy, and the next
year was elected by the legislature to the same
place. He was lieutenant-colonel in the war
of 1812. He held the office of judge of the
court of common pleas from 181 5 to 1829,
and a few years later held the office of prose
cuting attorney for one term. He was sixty-
eight years old when he died in 1841. He
was prosecuting attorney at the time of the
indictment of Joseph McMahon for murder.
The Western Reserve had not yet been or
ganized under the name of Trumbull when
a tragedy occurred which is always recorded
in any detail account of the doings of the
people in diis part of the country.
Killing of "Captain George.'''
Joseph McMahon, a trader and somewhat
of a wanderer, with his wife and chHdren,
lived in several different places in and ad
joining Warren. At that time the Indians
were very nuraerous in this part of the coun
try, but gave the settlers little real trouble
unless they were under the influence of "fire
water." McMahon was not of the same moral
standing as were most of the other settlers
in Warren. He was here in 1797, possibly
earlier. In 1800 he lived at Salt Springs, and
in July he, with two other white men, was
engaged in raaking salt. The old Indian trail
and the traders' path from Youngstown to
Sandusky led by this spring. Indians, having
been in Youngstown, became intoxicated
enough to be quarrelsome, and on their return
stopped at Salt Springs with their squaws and
papooses. A carousal was begun in which
McMahon and the two white men joined.
Bad blood was soon evident, and the Indians
drove the white men away. After the men
had gone the Indians began to tease McMa-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

hon's wife, and threatened to kill her and her
children. The matter was talked over with
the Indians who were encamped near them,
and apparently a satisfactory agreement ar
rived at. McMahon returned to work at Mr.
Storer's. However, the Indians again became
abusive and struck one of the McMahon chil
dren with the handle of his tomahawk. As
this had been going on for four or five days,
Mrs. McMahon again became alarmed, and
started out to meet her husband. Again they
stayed all night at the Storer's, and the mat
ter was talked over. On Sunday McMahon
came into Warren for consultation with the
settlers, and about thirteen men and two boys
returned with him to Salt Springs. Mr.
Quinby led the party, and, when a little dis
tance from the Springs, halted, expecting to
leave the rest of the party while he went on
to see the Indians. This he did. He talked
with Captain George, a Tuscarawa, and Spot
ted John, a Seneca, who was partly white.
They laughed off the matter, saying that the white
men drank up all the Indians' whiskey and then
would not let them have any of theirs, but
agreed to do them no further harm. They
agreed that McMahon and his family could
return and would not be molested. McMahon
had not obeyed orders, had not halted, and
when Mr. Quinby saw him coraing and tried
to stop him, he would not heed. Going on
to Captain George, he asked him, "Are you
for peace or war? Yesterday you had your
men; now I've got mine." A tomahawk was
sticking in the tree and Captain George raised
himself from his position, seized it, apparently
to sink it in McMahon's head. McMahon was
too near to shoot, but, jumping back, fired,
hitting the Indian in the breast and killing
him. McMahon, greatly excited, seeing the
Indians spring for their weapons, called on
the whites to shoot, and Storer, seeing that
Spotted John was aiming at him from be
hind a tree where he, his squaw and papooses
were hiding, fired. "Storer's ball passed
through Spotted John's hip, broke a boy's
arra, passed under the cords in the neck of

his girl and grazed the throat of his squaw."
All was immediate confusion. The whites
beat a hasty retreat, the two boys who had
come with McMahon ran a distance of nearly
three m.iles without stopping. The Indians
buried the bodies — or, rather, half buried them
— and departed, leaving the wounded squaw
and her chHdren. They locating their camp
near Newton Falls. The wounded woman im
mediately set out for the residence of Hill
man, who seemed to be the friend of all in
distress, and covered the nine miles in an hour
and a half. Both Indians and white men were
greatly astonished over what had happened.
None of thera expected it, unless it was Mc
Mahon. The white raen had gone with him
believing he had been badly treated and found
that he was an aggressor. He was arrested,
and taken to Pittsburg for safety. A little
later, as the rendezvous had been on the Storer
place, there was sorae talk of arresting Storer.
Having learned of this, he disappeared. In
talking with Leonard Case, Sr., whose mind
was very fair and judicial, Storer said he had
gone to Salt Springs with the intention only
of settling the difficulty. "He had suddenly
found himself in imminent and instant danger
of being shot, without any possible means of
escape. He had shot to save his own life."
Storer, like many other citizens of this re
gion, did not know that the United States had
assumed legal jurisdiction over this territory,
and not knowing by whom he would be tried,
feared to stay. He was a gentleman, and never
ceased to regret he had been drawn into this
affair. He left Warren, after a few years'
stay. "On Monday, Mrs. Storer mounted her
two horses with her three children and what
goods and clothing she could carry and started
for her former home in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, alone, except that Mr. Mills of
Nelson, overtook her on his way to Bea
ver, and* accompanied her as far as the lat
ter place. The rest of her property was left
to such care as a few friendly neighbors could
give it."
James Hillman, who knew and understood

Vol. 1—6

82

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the Indians as well as he did the whites, acted
as peace maker, and finally persuaded the In
dians to take up their hunting, and the whites
who had gathered at Quinby's to go back to
their homes, and there was no further trou
ble. In September these men were tried at
Youngstown before Justice Huntington. Re
turn J. Meigs and Governor St. Clair attended.
George Tod acted as prosecutor, while McMa
hon was defended by John S. Edwards, Ben
jamin Tappan, Ravenna, and Mr. Sample, of
Pittsburg. McMahon was found not guilty.
The stories told by diaries, letters and word of
raouth differ soraewhat. We have rather been
taught to think that McMahon should have
been hung. Leonard Case says:
"The writer has heard that (McMahon's)
verdict severely criticised, but he has no doubt
that it was in accordance with the law as
generally applied to murders — the evidence be
ing as there given. Moreover, those jurors
would have compared favorably with the ju
rors selected to try like cases at the present
day. Joseph and John Filles, two young men,
who were at the Salt Springs during the fracas,
some three days afterwards stayed at the house
of the father of the writer. They both made
a statement to us, which was never given in
evidence, which would have been material to
show George's motive. It was this : During
the drunken scrape George several times said
that he had killed nineteen white men and
wanted to kill one more to raake an even
nuraber. But the Filles left for the Ohia and
were not at the McMahon trial."
Storer was acquitted. Thus the first ira
portant trial on the Western Reserve, like the
last one, created differences of opi"nion araong
the residents of the coraraunity, and judges
were accused of unfairness.
Governor Samuel Huntington.
Among the early lawyers most familiar with
the Western Reserve was Samuel Hunting
ton. He was the nephew and adopted son of
Gov. Samuel Huntington, a signer of the

Declaration of Independence. Like most of
the first lawyers of the new country, he wa.=
a graduate of Yale, and had been admitted
to the practice of law in his native state. Tn
1800 he came to Ohio and lived at different
times in Youngstown, Cleveland and Paine.->-
ville. He held numerous offices, was a state
senator from Trumbull county, .judge of the
supreme court and governor of the state. In
1 80 1 he reraoved from Youngstown to Cleve
land, although he was obliged to corae to War
ren through the woods to attend court. He
was perhaps the raost fortunate in a finan
cial way of any of the lawyers of his time.
His house, built at Cleveland, was the most
spacious and comfortable of any of the homes
on the Reserve. He kept servants and had
a governess for his children. He was finely
educated in other directions than law, speak
ing French fluently. He had had advantage
of travel and foreign study. He was a mem
ber of the convention which formed the state
constitution, and for nearly half the session
he was the only representative that Trumbull
county had in that body. In spite of aU these
advantages, he stHl had to endure the hard
ships of the ordinary frontiersman. He rode
his horse through swamp^s, swimming streams,
carrying his law books with hira. When these
early lawyers went in some directions they
were obliged to take an extra horse upon which
they packed not only their books, their cloth
ing, but provisions for themselves and their
horses as well, because the Indians could not
be depended upon to provide even horse feed.
As there were no bridges, and as the streams
were much fuller in those days than now, all
early ministers and lawyers, in buying horses,
had to be assured that the animals were good
swimmers. Many of these early professional
men ran great danger from flood, Indians and
wild aniraals. Judge Huntington once fought
a pack of wolves within what is now the resi
dence portion of Cleveland with an umbrella,
and owed his deliverance to this implement
and to the fleetness of his horse. A great por
tion of his life was spent in Trumbull countv.

GOVEENOE POED.

DAVID TOD.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON.

JOHN BEOUGH. GEOEGE HOADLEY. EEUBEN "WOOD.
EAELY OHIO GOVEENOES PEOM THE EESEEVE.

84

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Astronomer Seth Pease.
It will be remembered that next to Augustus
Porter, the ranking surve\'or and the only as
tronomer who accompanied Moses Cleave-
iand's party was Seth Pease. His reports are
in the possession of the Western Reserve His
torical Society, and much of the valuable in
formation which we have carae from him.
He did not settle permanently in New Con
necticut. Judge Calvin .Pease.
The brother Calvin Pease, who was born in
1776 and carae west in 1800, was one of the
best beloved and able attorneys of that time.
There is no record that he received a college
education, as did raost of his associates, but
Gideon Granger, who was postmaster-general
under Jefferson, married his sister, and he was
a student in Granger's office. Although he
was not admitted to the bar untH October, he
was appointed first clerk of the court of quar-
' ter sessions held in August in Warren. ITe
was elected president- judge of the court of
comraon pleas of the third circuit, which in
cluded Washington, Belmont, Jefferson, Co
lumbiana and Trumbull counties. He was not
quite twenty-seven when he was elected, yet
judiciously discharged the duties of his of
fice. In 1816 he entered upon his duty as a
judge of the supreme court. At one time the
legislature passed an act proyiding that "jus
tices of the peace should have jurisdiction in
civil cases to the araount of $50, without the
right of trial by jury." The supreme court
held that this was in conflict with the con
stitution of the United States, which declared
"in suits of common law when the value in
controversy shaH exceed $20, the right of trial
by jury shall be preserved," and also of the
state constitution, which declares "the right
of trial by jury shall be inviolate." This de
cision created a great deal of discussion, and
so incensed were the members of the legisla
ture that charges for impeachment were
brought against Pease and Tod. There were

three counts against Pease. The trial was
had in the senate chamber of the capitol, emi
nent attorneys serving, and the judges were
acquitted. From that day the right of
the supreme court to pass on the consti
tutionality of laws has seldom been even
questioned. Judge Pease was a senator in 1812.
He was full of wit and humor, and when at
tending court, as well as at home, v^as play
ing pranks on his fellow lawyers. It is said
that he used to take the crutch of Thomas
D. Webb, when the lawyers were away from
home at court, and in the night hobble into
the rooms of the other attorneys, play pranks
of all sorts in such a way that the persons
teased believed Webb to be the aggressor.
In spite of this vein of humor, he was exceed
ingly dignified on the bench. Judge Thurman
says of hira :
"One of the finest speciraens of manhood
I ever saw was Calvin Pease, then chief judge
of the suprerae court, dressed in a way' that
would raake a dude faint, the most perfect
dress I ever saw on a man, and the nicest
ruffles on his shirt bosom, looking the very
beau-ideal of a gentleman of the olden times.
By his side sat Peter Hitchcock. Now what
a team was that! Woe unto that man who
had a bad cause and tried to palm it off onto
them. What great raen they were ! Hitch
cock was on the bench much longer than
Pease, though Pease achieved a wonderful
reputation and a deserved one, so much so
that Thomas Ewing once said to me, that of
all the judges he had ever appeared before,
in his opinion Calvin Pease was the greatest."
"When Gen. Simon Perkins was wanting
a name for his new town, which was set upon
a hiH, he appealed to Mr. Olcott for one that
should be significant, but upon which Judge
Pease could not pun. 'CaH-it Akron, since
it is on a summit,' said Mr. Olcott, and the sug
gestion was accepted. Later General Perkins
laughingly boasted to Judge Pease that his
town had a name that could not be punned
upon, naraely, Akron. 'Akron, Akron,' sale!

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Judge Pease. ,'Oh, Acheron 1' Now, Acheron
in heathen mythology is the name of a river
in heU." Elisha Whittlesey.
Miss Virginia Reid, a great-granddaughter
of Elisha Whittlesey, prepared the following
at the request of the author :
Elisha Whittlesey was born October 19,
1783, in Washington, Connecticut. His father
was a descendant of John Whittlesey, who
came to this country from England about
1630. In Elisha's early boyhood he worked on his
father's farm and attended the district school.
One of his earl}'' teachers was the Rev. Jere
miah Day, who was afterward president of
Yale College.
In 1792 the father of Elisha sold his farm
and bought another in Salisbury, distant about
thirty miles. This was a long journey in those
days, and the thought of such a separation
was so painful to both the Whittleseys and
their friends that special services were held
in the church, and on the day of their depart-
vire the "Farewell Anthem" was sung by a
weeping crowd, as the wagons were about to
start. While Elisha was stiH quite a young boy
he was sent to Danbury to stay in the family
of his older brother Matthew and go to school.
The day he reached Danbury was wet and
gloomy, and, wet with the rain and spattered
with mud, he says he was homesick for the
first and only time in his life.
At this time Mr. Comfort Mygatt lived in
Danbury and was the father of a very charm
ing little daughter, Polly. One day Polly was
coming home from school in her father's sleigh
when she saw Elisha struggling along through
the snow. She persuaded the man who was
driving to stop and take him in. Mr. Whittle
sey said to the end of his life that he fell in
love with Polly at that moment, and it is cer
tain that the boy and girl friendship thus
formed ripened in after years into a very
happy marriage.

In 1803 Elisha commenced the study of law,
and in the March term of 1805 he was admit
ted to the bar. His first practice was in New
Milford, and was of short duration, for at
that period he met two gentlemen from Can-
field, Ohio, and' upon conversation with them
the young lawyer decided to cross the Alle
ghanies and estabhsh himself upon the borders
of the great west. This at that time meant
a long and difficult journey, and before he left
he persuaded Polly Mygatt that this would
make a new and unusual wedding trip. They
were married on the 5th of January, 1806, al
though Polly's father had some doubts as to
the wisdom of trusting his daughter to Elisha
Whittlesey, who, he felt sure, would never
amount to much.
They set out on their journey the 3rd of
June, 1807, and reached Canfield, Ohio, the
27th of the same month. The record of the
trip, written afterward by Mr. Whittlesey,
presents a raost natural and life-like picture
of the country and the manner and custom
of the people. He concludes with this sen
tence: "The journey was ended on the 27th
of June, in a clear day, and the sun set as
regularly in the west as at Danbury."
Miss Jessie Bostwick accompanied them,
and when they were within a short distance
of Canfield she and Mrs. Whittlesey insisted
on stopping for a little while that they might
arrange their hair and put on their new bon
nets, brought with them from Connecticut
for that purpose. They wished to enter the
town in state, and were much surprised to
find that it consisted only of a little group of
log houses, with but very few people to wit
ness their impressive entry.
For the first year the young couple lived in
the same house with Mr. and Mrs. Cook Fitch,
and so limited were their suppHes that they
had only four chairs for the two households,
so that it required sorae raanagement to seat
guests. On one occasion, after the birth of Mrs.
Whittlesey's first child, she and Mrs. Fitch
were alone in the house, each with her baby

86

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

in her arms, when a party of drunken Indians
came and demanded food. Neither woraan
dared to be left alone with the Indians, nor
to lay down her child, so they went back and
forth together, carrying the babies and bring
ing food until their disagreeable guests were
satisfied. After the Indians left Mrs. Whittle
sey was still raore anxious, for they took the
road toward Warren, and she knew her hus
band raust be returning home that way. For
tunately, however, they did not meet, and he
reached Canfield in safety.
Mr. Whittlesey was admitted to the bar of
Ohio by the supreme court, then sitting at
Warren, in what was called the Graeter House.
He practiced his profession with great en
ergy from that date until he went to Wash
ington in 1 84 1. He attended to his farm
also, taught the district school for several
years and at a later period received a number
of law students into his office, some of whom
have since been araong the most distinguished
of our public men.
In 1810 General Elijah Wadsworth ap
pointed hira his aide-de-camp, and in 1812 he
entered into the service of the United States
in the war with Great Britain. He was later
appointed brigade major and inspector under
General Perkins, and remained in this position
until the troops were discharged in 181 3.
The first civil office held by Mr. Whittle
sey was that of district or prosecuting attor
ney for the county of TrurabuU. IJe had
many amusing experiences in his rides about
the country, and that those were not the days
of race suicide is proven by the fact that one
morning when he stopped at a farm home
he was greeted by the news that the mistress
of the house had just presented her husband
with her twenty-first child. Mr. Whittlesey
hiraself becarae the father of ten chHdren, all
but one of whom survived him.
In 1820 and 1821 he was elected representa
tive in the state legislature.
He was first elected to the congress of the
United States in 1822, and was seven tiraes
thereafter returned to his seat by his constit

uents, until in 1837 he resigned. During a
great part of this time he was chairman of
the coramittee on claims. This committee
was one of the most important of all the com
mittees of the house, requiring a clear head, a
deep sense of equity, the strictest probity and
the most patient industry.
In 1822 he formed a law partnership with
Eben Newton, which continued untH he was
appointed by President Harrison auditor of
the treasury for the postoffice department. He
did much good work in this office, which he
held until 1843.
In 1847 he was appointed general agent of
the Washington Monument Association, which
office he resigned in 1849, when he was ap
pointed by President Taylor first comptroller
of the treasury. He held this office through
the Taylor and Fillraore adrainistrations, but
resigned when President Pierce was elected,
as they were of opposing political parties;
but the president was so strongly irapressed
with the value of his services that he insisted
on his remaining in office. Upon the election
of President Buchanan he again presented his
resignation, which was accepted.
In May 1861, he was again appointed comp
troller by President Lincoln, and on this occa
sion raany commendations were issued by the
public press, in one of which the writer says :
"The president of the United States has
recalled to the office of comptroller of the
treasury the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, of Ohio,
and that distinguished scholar and statesman
has accepted the post of honor and respon
sibility assigned to him. He is a remarkable
and most wonderful man. It was he who re-
deeraed the postoffice department from abso
lute chaos. He is endowed with talents which
most admirably fit hira for the office of comp
troller, through whose hands every claim
against the government of the United States,
real or unfounded, must pass. No just claim
was ever rejected by him and no unjust one
ever succeeded in obtaining access to the na
tional treasury. Even the famous Gardiner
claim was not allowed by him, and only sue-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

87

ceeded for a time because of the interference
of a congressional commission. If he had re
mained in his place during the last administra
tion he would have unquestionably have saved
the country many millions of dollars which
were stolen by the desperadoes who had found
their way into the cabinet."
"And the very highest compliment," says
another writer, "was paid to him in the fact
that those of more lax and careless political
and financial ethics long- derisively styled him
the 'watch dog of the treasury.' "
In 1855 ^^- Whittlesey suffeiied a great
loss in the death of his beloved wife, who had
been his constant and devoted companion, so
during his later years he was a lonely man.
On January 7, 1863, he attended to business
as usual, had an interview with the president,
went to Georgetown to attend to some af
fairs^ there, and returned feeling somewhat
fati,gued, as he had not been in his usual health
for a few days. As was his custorn, he wrote
in his diary before retiring for the night, and
as he laid aside the pen he was seized with an
attack of apoplexy. A servant, hearing a
slight sound in his room, went to his assist
ance, but he was past mortal help. His son
reached hira in a few raoments, but so brief
was the time of his passing that the ink was
not yet dry on the last words he had written
when all was over.
In the patriotic devotion of his life, no
man of his generation surpassed him. He
loved the church, he loved his country and
glorified as a Christian statesraan in all the
triumphs of one and in all the prosperity of
the other. His name shall not be altogether
forgotten. "The memory of the just is blessed,
and the righteous shall be held in everlasting
remembrance."
Famous Men of the Reserve.
The following table showing who have been
governors of the 'state from the Western Re
serve, how long they served, etc., is properly
inserted here :

Name. County. El'ted. Served.
Samuel Huntington . .Trumbull 1808 1808-10
Seabury Ford  Geauga 1848 1849-50
Reuben Wood  Cuyahoga 1850 1850-52
Reuben Wood  Cuyahoga 1851 1852-53
David Tod  Mahoning 1861 1862-64
John Brough  Cuyahoga 1863 1864-65
Jacob D. Cox...  Hamilton 1865 1866-68
William McKinley  Stark 1891 1892-94
WilHam McKinley  Stark 1893 1894-96
Myron T. Herrick. . .Cuyahoga 1903 1904-05
Although McKinley was elected from Stark
county and Cox from Harailton, they both
spent a greater part of their lives in Trum
bull county, and are always accredited to the
Western Reserve.
Three of the presidents of the United States
resided on the Reserve: James Abram Gar
field, of Mentor, Lake county; Rutherford B.
Hayes received a part of his education at the
Norwalk Academy, Huron county ; and Will
iam McKinley lived at NHes, TrumbuH county,
up to the age of nineteen. And Joshua R.
Giddings and Benjamin F. Wade, of Ashta
bula county, were among the intellectual giants
of the Western Reserve.
Incident in Judge Hutchins' Life.
Hon. Francis E. Hutchins, now assistant at
torney-general of the United States, was a
delegate to the Republican convention which,
in 1896, nominated WiHiam McKinley for
president. He had known Mr. McKinley well from the
tirae the latter entered the academy at Poland,
before he went into the army. They were
very warra personal friends. He examined
McKinley on his adraission to the bar at War
ren, and was very highly esteemed by him,
personally and as a lawyer.
A warra friendship and mutual admiration
existed between Judge Hutchins and Hon.
Luther Day, the father of Associate Justice
William R. Day, of the United States Su
preme Court. Judge Luther Day was on the

fi «

HON. JOSHUA E. GIDDINGS.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

89

bench in his district when Mr. Hutchins came
to th^ bar ; and he practiced before him sev
eral years in the supreme court and lower
' courts. In February, 1898, Mr. Hutchins was in
Washington and called on his old friend. Pres
ident McKinley. The great topic then was the
war with Spain for the benefit of Cuba. Con
gress and the people wanted it, but the presi
dent held back, first because we were not
ready for war, and, second, no justification
for our hostile interference in the government
of her own colonies by a friendly nation which
would be held sufficient by other nations had
been formulated. , On being asked by the presi
dent, Mr. Hutchins gave his views, which so
impressed the president that he asked him to
state them, to Acting Secretary of State Day,
and that was done. _
Upon calling later to take leave of the sec
retary, he requested Mr. Hutchius to forrau
late his views upon that subject in a letter
to him. This was done in a letter of Febru
ary 13, 1898.
Early in April the president requested each
raember of his cabinet to subrait his individual
views of the causes which would justify our
hostile interference with Spain with refer
ence to Cuba. This was done. Secretary Day
presenting the letter of Mr. Hutchins, as ex
pressing his views. In his war raessage to
Congress of April nth the president, in stat
ing the causes which in his opinion justified
our hostile interference with Spain, copied al
most verbatim from this letter of Mr. Hutch
ins. This has since becorae a part of the inter
national law, as expounded by writers ; and is
copied as Mr. Hutchins wrote it, in Taylor on
International Law, pages 421 and 422.
Part of President McKinley's message sent
to Congress April 11, 1898, founded upon
Mr. Hutchins' memorandum given to the
president at the latter's request, reads :
"First. In the cause of humanity and to
put an end to the barbarities, starvation and

horrible miseries now existing there, and
which the parties to the conflict are either un
able or unwilling to stop or mitigate. It is
no answer to say this is all in another country,
belonging to another nation, and is therefore
none of our business. It is the business of
every civilized nation, and is especially ours,
for it is right at our door.
"Second. We owe it to our citizens in Cuba
to afford them that protection and indemnity
for life and property which no government
there can or will afford, and to that end to
put an end to the conditions that deprive them
of legal protection.
"Third. The right to intervene is justified
by the very serious injury to the commerce,
trade and business of our people, and by wan
ton destruction and devastation of the island.
"Fourth — and which is of the utmost impor
tance — the present condition of affairs in
Cuba is a constant menace to our peace, and
entails upon this government an enormous ex
pense. With such a conflict waged for years
in an island right at our door, and with which
our people have such trade and business rela
tions — when the lives and liberty of our citi
zens are in constant danger and their property
destroyed and themselves ruined — where our
trading vessels are liable to seizure and are
seized at our very door by ships of a foreign
nation, the expeditions of filibustering that we
are powerless altogether to prevent, and the
irritating questions and entanglements thus
arising — all these, and others that I need not
raention, with the resulting strained relations,
are a constant menace to our peace and com
pel us to keep on a semi-war footing with a
nation with which we are at peace."
"The grounds for such intervention raay be
briefly summarized as follows: i. In the
cause of humanity, and to put an end tO' the
barbarities, bloodshed, starvation and horrible
miseries now existing there, and which the
parties to the conflict are either unable or un
willing to stop or mitigate. It is no answer
to say this is aH in another country, belonging

90

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

to another nation, and is therefore none of our
business. It is especially our duty, for it is
right at our door.
"2. We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to
afford them that protection and indemnity for
life and property which no government there
can or will afford, and to that end to terminate
the conditions that deprive them of legal pro
tection. "3. The right to intervene may be justified
by the very serious injury to the comraerce,
trade and business of our people and by the
wanton destruction of property and devasta
tion of the island.
"4. And which is of the utmost importance.
The present condition of affairs in Cuba is a
constant menace to our peace and entails upon

this government an enormous expense. With
such a conflict waged for years in an island so
near us and with which our people have such
trade and business relations — when the lives
and liberty of our citizens are in constant dan
ger and their property destroyed and them
selves ruined — where our trading vessels are
liable to seizure and are seized at our very
door by warships of a foreign nation, the; ex
peditions of filibustering that we are power
less to prevent altogether, and the irritating
questions and entanglements thus arising — all
these and others that I need not mention, with
the resulting strained relations, are a constant
menace to our peace and compel us to keep on
a semi-war footing with a nation with whicb
we are at peace." ¦,

CHAPTER X.

JUDICIAL AND LEGISLATIVE.

Under the first state constitution (1802)
there were thirty judges of the supreme court,
nine of whorh were from the Reserve :

Matthew Birchard,

Trumbull county

Peter Hitchcock,

Geauga county

Samuel Huntington,

Cuyahoga county

Ebenezer Lane,

Huron county

Calvin Pease,

Trumbull county

Rufus P. Ranny,

Trumbull county

Rufus P. Spalding,

Summit county

George Tod,

Trumbull county

Reuben Wood,

Cuyahoga county

Under the second constitution (1851) there
have been thirty-eight judges, of whora nine
have been from the Reserve :

W. W. Boynton,
Luther Day,
Franklin Dickman,
Rufus P. Ranny,
William T. Spear,
Walter F. Stone,
Mihon Sutliff,
WilHam H. Upson,
Horace Wilder,

Lorain
Portage
Cuyahoga Trumbull
Trumbull Erie
Trumbull Summit
Ashtabula

county county
countycountycountycountycounty
county county

Judges of the court of comraon pleas who
have served the counties of the Western Re

serve are:

John Woolworth, Trumbull county,
Calvin Austin, Trumbull county,
Aaron Wheeler, TrurabuH county.

(1802)(1802) (1802)

Aaron Wheeler, Geauga county, (1806)
Jesse Phelps, Geauga county, (1806)
John Walworth, Geauga county, (1806)
John Kinsraan, Trumbull county, (1806)
Turhand Kirtland, Trumbull county, (1806)
Aaron Norton, Portage county, (1808)
Amzi Atwater, Portage county, (1808)
William Whetraore, Portage county, ¦ (1808)
Nehemiah King, Geauga county, (1809)
William Smith, Cuyahoga county, (1810)
Nathan Perry, Cuyahoga county, (1810)
Timothy Doane, Cuyahoga county, (1810)
Ebenezer Merry, Geauga county, (1810)
Samuel Fordward, Portage county, (1810)
Ephraim Quinby, Trumbull county, (1810)
Robert Hughes, Trumbull county, (1810)
Aaron Wheeler, Ashtabula county, (1811)
Solomon Griswold, Ashtabula county, (1811)
Ebenezer Hewing, Ashtabula county, (1811)
Abraham Tappan, Geauga county, (1811)
Vene Stone, Geauga county, (1811)
Orris Clapp, Geauga county, (1812)
Elias Lee, Cuyahoga county, (1814)
Erastus Miles, Cuyahoga county, (1814)
Ebenezer Merry, Huron county, (1815)
Almon Ruggles, Huron county, (1815)
Jabez Wright, Huron county, (181 5)
Alva Day, Portage county, (1815)
Samuel King, Portage county, (181 5)
Elias Harraon, Portage county, (1815)
Stephen Meeker, Huron county, (1816)
John H. Strong, Cuyahoga county, (1817)

91

92

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Herraan Canfield, Trumbull county,
Ephraim Quinby, Trumbull county,
Robert Hughes, Trumbull county,
Solomon Griswold, Ashtabula county,
Eliphalet Austin, Ashtabula county,
Joseph Harris, Medina county,
Frederick Brown, Medina county,
Isaac Welton, Medina county,
Robert B. Parkman, Geauga county,
Reuben S. Clark, Trumbull county,
John W. Scott, Geauga county,
Vene Stone, Geauga county,
Solomon Kingsbury, Geauga county,
Sarauel Williarason, Cuyahoga county,
Tiraothy Baker, Huron county,
William Rayen, Trumbull county,
Elias Harraon, Portage county,
Alva Day, Portage county,
Noah M. Bronson, Medina county,
Araos Kelley, Ashtabula county,
Isaac M. Morgan, Cuyahoga county,
Ezra Sprague, Huron county,
Moses Eldred, Lorain county,
Fred K. Hamlin, Lorain county,
Titus Hays, Ashtabula county,
Thomas Smith, Ashtabula county,
Nehemiah Allen, Cuyahoga county,
Frederick Brown, Medina county,
John French, Medina county,
Jonathan Gregory, Ashtabula county,
Lester King, TrurabuU county,
John Huggard, Geauga county,
Asa Cowles, Geauga county,
Elkanah Richardson, Portage county,
Sarauel Williamson, Cuyahoga county,
Timothy Baker, Huron county,
Eli Baldwin, TrumbuH county,
George P. Depeyster, Portage county,
Elias Harmon, Portage county,
Frederick N. Fowler, Huron county,
Robert Sraith, Medina county,
Watrous Usher, Cuyahoga county,
Flenry Wilcoxen, Huron county,
Heman Ely, Lorain county,
Josiah Harris, Lorain county,
Eber W. Hubbard, Lorain county,
Richard Hayes, Trumbull county.

181718171817 181818181818 18181818 181918191820 18201820 182 1
1821182118221822 18231824 1824182418241824 1825
1825 182518251825 18261826 18271827 18271828 18281828 1829 18291830 1830 18311831 183 1
18311831 1831

Luther Spelman, Ashtabula county, (1832)
Simeon FuHer, Cuyahoga county, (1832)
John Turk, Huron county, (1832)
John Newton, Medina county, (1832)
John Linn, Medina county, (1832)
AHen Pardee, Medina county, (1832)
Ashbel Dart, Ashtabula county, (1833)
Robert Price, TrumbuH county, (1833)
Francis WeHs, Lorain county, (-1834)
Charles Summer, Portage county, (1834)
Josiah Barber, Cuyahoga county, (1835)
Timothy Baker, Huron county, (1835)
Moses FarweH, Huron county, (1835)
Robert C. Strothers, Huron county, (1835)
Ozias Lang, Lorain county, (1835)
Orson M. Oviatt, Medina county, (1835)
Ira Selbey, Portage county, (1835)
Jacob Lewis, Portage county, (1835)
Constitutional Convention of 1850.
The first constitution of the state of Ohio
was a law of that state from its adoption in
1803 to 1850. The general assembly in the
winter of 1849-50 listened to the appeal of
the people for a new constitution and ordered
delegates to that constitutional convention
elected, to the number of no, which ¦was done
in 1850. This convention was held in the
house of representatives, beginning May 6th.
The delegates from the Western Reserve who
helped to frame this constitution were : John
J. Hartman, Ashland; E. B. Woodbury and
B. B. Hunter, of Ashtabula; S. J. Andrews
and Reuben Hitchcock, Cuyahoga county;
Jaraes W. Taylor, Erie county ; Peter Hitch
cock, Geauga county; H. C. Gray, Lake
county; Norton S. Townshend and H. D.
Clark, Lorain county; Robert Forbes, Ma
honing county; S. Humphrey ville, Medina
county ; Friend Cook, Portage county ; W. S.
C. Otis and L. Swift, Summit county; Jacob
Perkins and R. P. Ranney, Trumbull county;
Joseph M. Farr, Huron county ; John J. Hoot-
man, Ashland county. Eighteen of the total
number of no delegates. The constitution
was adopted at Cincinnati, March 10, 1851.
Of course, laws have been amended and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

93

changed, but this is the constitution under
which we now live. It is surprising and star
tling to read . the amendments which were
asked for at that time and rejected. Two
years previous to this constitution, in 1848,
the women of the United States had called a
convention at Seneca Falls to consider the
rights of women, among these political rights,
and Ohio women, or, rather, some of them.,
asked this constitutional convention to make
provision for the voting of women. The dis
cussion on this question was so indecent that
it was not considered fit to be printed, and it
was voted to strike it from the records.
Women on the School Board.
From that time the agitation of this ques
tion kept up and it took forty-five years be
fore the first bit of suffrage was granted to
women. A law allowing them to vote for, and
to be voted for, in school elections, passed in
1896. Although this school law is more lib
eral in some of its provisions than the school
laws in some other states, it does not allow
women to vote on the question of issuing
bonds for building or repairing school houses,
nor does it allow a woman , to vote for state
superintendent of schools, or to hold that
office. It is well to observe that this officer
is the only elective school officer who gets a
salary. The following women are at this writing-
serving -on the school boards of the Western
Reserve :
Ashtabula County.
Ashtabula township: Mrs. Lois Griggs,
Ashtabula, R. D. No. i ; Mrs. Louise Wood
ruff, Ashtabula, R. D. No. i.
Wayne township: Mrs. C. F. Fitch, WiH
iamsfield, R. D.; Mrs. N. B. Hart, Kins
man. Conneaut township : Editha M. Grant, Con
neaut. Geneva township: Mrs. Ella S. Cowdery,
Geneva. North KingsviHe township : Mrs. Emma G.
Galbraith, North Kingsville.

Cuyahoga County.
Warrensville township: Eliza Holtz, War-
rensviHe. Bedford township : Margaret Ennis, Bed
ford; Mrs. Emma Arnold, Bedford; Mrs.
EHa F. Senter, Bedford.
Bay Village township: Rose Osborn, North
Dover; Carrie E. Sadler, North Dover.
Brooklyn Heights township : Gertrude Wal
ter, Brooklyn Station, Cleveland; Helen E.
Chester, Brooklyn Heights, R. D. No. 3,
Cleveland. Chagrin Falls township : Loa E. Scott, Cha
grin Falls ; Mary A. Kent, Chagrin Falls.
Cleveland township : Sarah E. Hyre, Cleve
land, 3325 Archwood avenue.
Gates MiHs township: Carrie T. Harris,
Gates MiHs; Mrs. Ora Huncher, Gates MiHs.
Nottingham township : Mrs. Amanda
Busche, Nottingham; Mrs. Carrie E. Dills,
Nottingham. Erie County.
Perkins township : Mrs. Mary Wright, San
dusky, R. D. No. 3.
Geauga County.
Burton township: Mrs. F. H. Crittenden,
Burton; NeHie Neweomb, Burton.
Newbury township : Mrs. C. H. Yethmayr,
Novelty, R. D. ; Josie Allshouse, Burton, R. D.
Chardon township: Mrs. J. H. Cheney,
Chardon. Claridon township, No. 3: Mrs. W. E.
Buell, E. Claridon, R. D.
Munson township: Mrs. E. A. Summers,
Chardon ; Mrs. L. B. Nichols, Chardon.
Huron County.
FitchviHe township: Mrs. Pearl Hunter,
Fitchville. Chicago township: Adah H. Brown, Chi
cago.
Lake County.
Wnioughby township : Mrs. Mary E. King,
Willoughby; NeHie F. Sherman, WiHoughby.

94

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Lorain County.
Grafton township : Mrs. L. J. Mohler, Graf
ton; Mrs. J. D. Mennell, Grafton, R. D. No.
3 ; Mrs. C. H. Spieth, Grafton, R. D. No. 3.
Lorain township : Mrs. Anna K. Storck,
Lorain. AIahoning County.
Poland township : Margaret J. Arvell, Low-
ellville. Smith township : Mrs. EHzabeth Ward, Be-
loit. Beloit township : Mrs. EHzabeth Ward, Be-
loit. Youngstown township: Louise E. Guess,
Youngstown.
Portage County.
Garrettsville township: Mrs. A. M. Ryder,
GarrettsviHe. Mantua township : Bina Coit, Mantua.
Summit County.
Bath township : Mrs. Freeman, Ghent ; Mrs.
Waltz, Ghent.
Twinsburg township: Mrs. W. L. Sister,
Twinsburg. Clinton township: Elsie E. Sraith, Clinton.
West Richfield township : Mrs. M. E. An
derson, West Richfield; Mrs. Frances Payne,
West Richfield.
Trumbull County.
Farraington township : Mrs. B. E. Stevens,
West Farmington; Mrs. George Hoffman,
West Farraington.
Newton township: Mrs. Mary Beck, New
ton FaHs, R. D. No. 2; Mrs. Mattie Sinn,
Newton Falls, R. D. No. i.
Southington township : Mrs. Mary Hurd,
Phalanx. Bloorafield township : Mrs. Lena Ferry,
Lockwood ; Mrs. Mary Matson, North Bloora
field. Bristol township : Mrs. N. A. Gilbert, Bris
tolviHe. Farmington township: Mrs. G. E. Minich,

West Farmington; Mrs. B. E. Stevens, West
Farmington. .
Warren township : Harriet Taylor Upton,
Warren; Carrie P. Harrington, Warren.
[We are unable to find any such officers in
Medina county, but it hardly seems possible
that this county could be an exception.]
Third Constitutional Convention.
In 1872 the general assembly, by proper act,
provided for a third constitutional convention.
Delegates were elected in October of that
year, and the convention met in the house of
representatives, in May, 1873. Members of
that constitutional convention from the West
ern Reserve were : George W. Hill, Ashland
county; H. B. Woodbury, Ashtabula county;
Sherlock J. Andrews, Jacob Mueller, Amos
Townsend, Martin A. Foran and Seneca 0.
Griswold, Cuyahoga county; Joseph M. Root,
Erie county ; Peter Hitchcock, Geauga county ;
Cooper K. Watson, Huron county; Perry
Bosworth, Lake county; John C. Hale, Lo
rain county; Davis M. Wilson, Mahoning
county ; Samuel Humphreyville, Medina coun
ty ; Joseph D. Horton, Portage county ; Alvin
C. Voris, Sumrait county; George M. Tuttle,
Trumbull county.
This was a body of thoughtful, earnest men,
and after the convention had adjourned, as
individuals they went before their constituency,
explaining the meaning of this new constitu
tion. Much disappointment was manifested
because it was not ratified at the convention.
Voters showed rauch indifference in regard to
it, and many of the same were afterward
sorry.
U. S. Senators from the Reserve.
Among the men who have served in the
United States Senate from the Western Re
serve are: 1809, Stanley Griswold, Cuyahoga
county; 1851-1855, Benjamin F. Wade, Ash
tabula county; 1885-1891, Henry B. Payne,
Cuyahoga county; 1897-1904, Marcus A.
Hanna, Cuyahoga county; 1 904-11, Charles
Dick, Summitt county.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

95

Congressmen from the Reserve.
As the Nineteenth congressional district has
at certain times been made up of the counties
of the Reserve east of the Cuyahoga river,
it seems admissible to give here a list of the
national representatives for that district :
Peter Hitchcock, Geauga county, 15th Con
gress, 1817-1818.
John S. Edwards, Trumbull county.
David Clendenen, Trumbull county, 13th
Congress, 1813-1814.
EHsha Whittlesey, Trumbull county, i8th to
24th Congresses, 1823-1837.
WiHiam D. Lindsey, Erie county, 33rd Con
gress, 1853-1855.
Samuel T. Worcester, Huron county, 37th
Congress, 1861-1863.
Elentheros Cook, Huron county, 22nd Con
gress, 1831-1833.
William H. Hunter, Huron county, 25th
Congress, 1837-1839.
Philiraon Bliss, Lorain county, 34th and
35th Congresses, 1855-1859.
Harrison G. Blake, Medina county, 36th
and 37th Congresses, 1859-1863.
George BHss, Portage county, 33rd,. 38th
and 39th Congresses, 1853-55, 1863-1867.
James Monroe, Lorain county, 42nd to 46th
Congresses, 1871-1879.
Charles P. Wickham, Huron county, 50th
and 51st Congresses, 1 887-1 891.
Jonathan Sloane, Portage county, 23rd and
24th Congresses, 1833-1837.
John W. Allen, Cuyahoga county, 25th and
26th Congresses, 1837-1841.
Sherlock J. Andrews, Cuyahoga county,
27th Congress, 1841-1843.
Joshua R. Giddings, Ashtabula county, 25th
to 36th Congresses, 1837-1859.
Laurin^ D. Woodworth, Mahoning county,
43rd and 44th Congresses, 1873-1877.
Sidney Edgerton, Summit county, 36th and
37th Congresses, 1859-1863.
Rufus P. Spalding, Cuyahoga county, 38th,
39th and 40th Congresses, i863-i<

William H. Upson, Summit county, 41st
and 42nd Congresses, 1869-1873.
Daniel R. Tilden, Portage county, 28th and
29th Congresses, 1843-1847.
John Crowell, Trumbull county, 30th and
31st Congresses, 1847-1851.
Eben Newton, Mahoning county, 32nd Con
gress, 1851-1853.
Edward Wade, Cuyahoga county, 32nd to
37th Congresses, 1853-1861.
Albert 'G. Riddle, Cuyahoga county, 37th
Congress, 1861-1863.
James A. Garfield, Portage county, 38th and
46^5^ Congresses, 1863-1880.
Ezra B. Taylor, Trumbull county, 47th to
53rd Congresses, 1880-1893.
Stephen A. Northway, Ashtabula county,
53rd to 56th Congresses, 1893-1899,
Charles Dick, Summit county, 56th to 60th
Congresses, 1899-1904.
W. Aubry Thomas, Trumbull county, 60th
Congress, 1904.
John Hutchins, Trumbull county, 36th to
44th- Congresses, 1859-1875.
Henry B. Payne, Cuyahoga county, 44th
Congress, 1875-1877.
Amos Townsend, Cuyahoga county, 45th to
48th Congresses, 1877-1883.
David R. Page, Summit county, 48th Con
gress, 1883-1885.
George W. Krauss, Summit county, 50th
Congress, 1887-1889.
Vincent A. Taylor, Cuyahoga county, 52nd
Congress, 1891-1893.
WilHam J. White, Cuyahoga county, 53rd
Congress, 1893-1895.
Clifton B. Beach, Cuyahoga county, 54th
and 55th Congresses, 1895-1899.
Freeman O. Phillips, Medina county, 56th
Congress, 1899-1901.
Jacob A. Beidler, Cuyahoga county, 57th
Congress, 1901-1903.
Henry R. Brinkerhoff, Huron county, 28th
Congress, 1843-1845.
Edward S. HamHn, Lorain county, 28th
Congress, 1843-1845.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Joseph M. Root, Huron county, 29th to 32nd
Congresses, 1845-1851.
Norton S. Townsend, Lorain county, 32nd
Congress, 1851-1853.
Martin A. Foran, Cuyahoga county, 48th
to 51st Congresses, 1883-1889.
Theodore E. Burton, Cuyahoga county, 51st
Congress, 1899-1891.
Tom L. Johnson, Cuyahoga county, 54th to
6ist Congresses, 1891-1909. '
 Cassidy, Cuyahoga county, 52nd and
53rd Congresses, 1891-1895.

Population for a Century.
In 1802 the enumeration of Warren, as
the records of Trumbull county — that is, the
Western Reserve exclusive of the Firelands
^show, was 89 voters and 42 heads of fami
lies. Working on these figures, Warren's
population at the rate of five persons for
every voter, would have been 444 persons;
Cleveland, 304; Youngstown, 1,600. Cleve-'
land had but 76 voters, Youngstown 395,
Painesville 83, Middlefield 65 and Vernon 64.
From this small beginning the Western Re
serve has grown, according to the foHowing
tables :

County. 1810 1820
Ashtabula. 7,375
Cuyahoga 1,459 6,328
Erie Geauga 2,917 7,791
Huron 6,675
Lake Mahoning Medina 3,082
Portage 2,905 10,095
Summit TrumbuH , 8,671 15,542
Lorain Ashland '

1830

1840

1850

i860

1870

1880

1890

1900

14,584

23.724

28,767

31.814

32,517

37.139

43.655

51,448

10,373

26,506

48,099

78,033

132,010

196,943

309,970 439.120

12,599

18,568

24,474

28,188

32,640

35,462

37,650

15,813

16,297

17,827

15.817

14,190

14,251

13,489

14,744

13,341

23.933

26,203

29,616

28,532

31,609

31,949

32,330

t3.7i9

14,654

15,576

15,935

16,326

18,235

21,680

23,73s
25,894
31,001
42,871
55,979
70,134
7,560
18,352
24,441
22,517
20,092
21,453
21,742
21,958
18,826
22,965
24,419
24,208
24,584
27,500
27,868
29,246
22,560
27.485
' 27,344
34,674
43.788
54,089
71,715
26,153
38,107
30,490
30,656
38,659
44,880
42,373
46.591
5.696
18,467
26,086
29,744
30.308
35.526
40,295
54,857
23.813
22,951
21.933
23.383
22,223
21,184
CHAPTER XI.

DEFENSE OF THE RESERVE.

It is positively known that the tribe occupy
ing the land on the south shore of Lake Erie,
known as the Eries, were the Indians living
here prior to the occupation of the five na
tions. The word Erie means "cat," and it is
quite likely they adopted this name because
of the great number of wildcats in this terri
tory. The animal's nature was not unlike that
of the red man — stealthy, quick, sneaking de
structive and powerful.
The Jealous Eries.
It has been said that it took fifty miles of
land to keep one Indian, and these Eries
roamed from the region of the present Buf
falo, west. Their eastern neighbors were the
Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas and
the Mohawks, in this order. These five tribes
united under the name of Iroquois, and are
more generally known now as the Five Na
tions. They were powerful and, for Indians,
prosperous. The Eries were wildly jealous
of thera and determined to extinguish them.
There is not space here to tell how they set
about to do it ; neither are the traditions sub
stantiated sufficiently to be repeated in this
history.
The Hunter Slain.
True it is, however, that the Eries went
forth to conquer, but were instead conquered
themselves. There is an oft-repeated tale of
a Seneca woman who had been captured, mar
ried to an Erie warrior, and who, as a child
less widow, at the time of the uprising of the
Vol. 1—7

Eries, had escaped by night and traveled to
her own, apprising thera of the approach of
the eneray. Thus were the Senecas prepared
for the Eries, who had expected to annihilate
them before they knew of their plans. Thus
did the Senecas arouse the other tribes who
assisted in this warfare. Whether this be
true or not, it matters Httle, for the Five Na
tions were stronger than the Eries in num
bers, and eventually would have laid them low.
The warfare thus begun was continued until
only a few were left, and these went on into
the western wilderness. Of course, the ha
tred of the father descended to the sons, and,
after rankling of heart, these sons from be
yond the Mississippi came back and attacked
the enemies of their fathers, and "were slain
to a man. Their bones He bleaching in the
sun to the present day."
Nature of the Indian.
The story of the red man js a sad one.
Civilization, like nature, is cruel. When in
ferior tribes and nations yield to superiors,
they modify their lives and become a part of
the new civilization. When they refuse to be
a part of the whole, they eventually cease
to be.
The Indians who proudly reigned in the
Western Reserve before the coming of the
Connecticut Land Company deteriorated be
fore they disappeared. They walked instead
of run. At first they were curious and gentle,
and then morose and sullen. Many of those
who remained to the last hung their heads
slightly and bowed their backs. They were

97

98

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

a vanquished people, and showed it in their
looks and acts.
The Indian was a bad enemy. He was
treacherous, making contracts which he never
thought to keep, and as the white man con
tinued to despoil his hunting ground, he
added hatred to his treachery. He did not
come into the open, but crept upon the carap
quietly at night and massacred the sleepers.
He shot from behind trees and bushes, on
traveler and farmer. Because of his life in
.the open air, he was strong, and he always
carried his arms with him in his ordinary
occupation. He knew how to gef food from
the forests with little trouble, and how to pro
tect himself against cold and rain.
Prepared for the Red Man.
The early settler of old Trumbull county
soon learned to follow the red man's ways.
He carried his gun to mHl and to raeeting,
and, no matter how rauch Indians might pre
tend friendship, he understood their nature
and dealt accordingly.
Before Ohio was a state, railitia organiza
tions were established, but the time between
the coming of the first pioneer and the organ
ization of Ohio as a state was so short that
there was no general militia organization. The
Ohio constitution divided the state into four
raihtary districts, and specific laws were passed
in regard to thera. Elijah J. Wadsworth, of
Canfield, was elected raajor-general of the
fourth division, which included the Reserve.
General Wadsworth issued his first division
orders in April, 1804. In this order he di
vided the fourth division of militia into
five regiments. The First Brigade, including
Trumbull county, was divided into two regi
ments. Benjamin Tappan and Jonathan Sloan
were appointed aides -de - camp to General
Wadsworth. Preparing for Old England.
The New England people who, early in the
nineteenth century, had gone to Canada to

take advantage of the homestead law, as they
saw a war with England approaching, came
into the northern portion of Ohio, and their
numbers increased each year until 1812. For
that reason the fourth division was divided
into four brigades. The commanders were
Generals MiHer, Beall, MiHer and Paine. The
Third brigade, which the readers of this his
tory will be most interested in, was com
manded by General Simon Perkins. He was
an efficient, brave officer. This Third bri
gade, under General Perkins, consisted of
three regiments, of which Wm. Rayen, J. S.
Edwards and Richard Hayes were lieutenant-
colonels. When Congress increased the United
States army, in 1812, George Tod was ap
pointed major of the Seventeenth United
States Regiraent. Governor Tod seemed to
be a very versatile man. He was a scholar,
a lawraaker, a judge, and a soldier, always
holding high rank.
General Perkins issued an order in April,
1812, to his lieutenant-colonels, telHng them
to secure, by enlistment, twenty-three men to
serve in the United States army as a detach
ment from the railitia of the state. "If they
cannot be secured by enlistment, thirteen are
to be secured by draft."
In reading the history of the war of 1812
it is strange to see how the delays and the
jealousies and the intrigues and the politics
entered in exactly as they entered in at the
time of the war of 1861, and as they will
always enter in till men learn that the greatest
thing in the world is love for one's feUow
man. The first raen on the Reserve who saw the
necessity of armed forces drilled, and after
the militia was formed they had regular ap
pointed "training." These days of training
were often made sort of holidays, and the
whole comraunity gathered in some spot to
see their men, sometimes in uniforms colored
by home dyes and made by women of the
family, go through the manoeuvre of arms.
Some years later the sons of wealthy men of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

99

Ohio had select companies with real uniforms,
brass buttons, and like things, which stirred
the envy of homespun soldiers.
The first company in the war of 1812, or
ganized under ^he government through Gen
eral Siraon Perkins, had for captain, John W.
Seely; ensign, James Kerr.
Home Results of Hull's Surrender.
Historians tell us that President Madison,
although a statesman, was not a war presi
dent, and his secretary of war was no better.
We are inclined to believe the latter, at least,
is true, since he trusted a war message to the
mails of that time, instead of sending it by
messenger. The consequence was that the
British on the southern shore of Canada knew
¦of the declaration of war three days before
¦General Hull had been notified. History also
tells us that HuH did not advance on Maiden,
as he was supposed to do, and as it is believed
he ought to have done, at the time when his
men were ambitious and anxious to fight.
Historians are not at all reticent in regard to
him, but say that he was not a traitor nor A
•coward, but "an imbecile caused by drunken
ness." Anyway, he surrendered at a tira(
when there was no need for surrender, gave
to the .British the stores, the whole of Michi
¦gan, and left the western frontier of jiortheri '
Ohio the prey to the bloodthirsty Indians and
•their allies. He himself was captured, but
-exchanged for thirty British prisoners. He
¦was court-martialed and sentenced to be shot
for cowardice, but was pardoned by President
Madison. The terror which spread over the
Reserve at the news of this defeat can be
imagined. However, it did not take long for
the hard-headed General Wadsworth to act.
He waited for no orders, but issued a com
mand for men to rendezvous at Cleveland.
Colonel Whittlesey says:' "The orders were
received in the Third and Fourth brigades like
the call of the Scottish chiefs to the high
lands." As soon as the Trump of Fame had con-
•firmed the surrender of Hull, the men who

were physically able shouldered their guns,
ready to fight. They did not wait for any/
distinct orders. Exaggerated stories cama
from the mouth of the Cuyahoga by messen/
ger. Woraen and children who had been m
Cleveland and that vicinity, frightened to
death, went hurrying into the southern sec-*
tion for safety, and bore witness to the truth.*
It happened to be Sunday when the messen
gers bearing the sad news reached Warren,
which because of its size and because of its
being the home of' General Perkins was
greatly excited. Meetings which were in ses
sion dispersed, guns were cleaned, knives were
sharpened, and like preparations . were made.
Colonel Hayes' regiment raustered at Kins-
raan's store. This included men from the east
side of old Trumbull county, and before
August 26th the other regiments, under Colo
nel Rayen and Colonel Edwards, were on
their way. In fact, so raany raen rushed to
the defense of their country that General
Wadsworth sent part of them back, to their
disgust. He said they were needed to pro
tect the horae property and home people.
General Perkins was given coramand of the
army at the front, and reached Camp Huron
on September 6th. It is possible that the newly
organized troops were in their places ready to
defend before anything was known of condi
tions at the war department in Washington.
These troops were in the neighborhood of
the malarious country, and suffered terribly
frora sickness. If the enemy had attacked
them at that time they would have been easily
overcome. The men who lent their aid in establishing
the civil government of old Trumbull county
were the men who defended the frontier and
helped to carry to successful termination the
war. Among these was Elijah Wadsworth,
who suffered greatly from personal debt,
which he contracted for the government in
raising the troops. It is shameful that we
have to record this. General Perkins, Judge
Tod, Calvin Pease, whose history we have
read, gave their splendid talents to the gov-

lOO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ernment service. Rev. Joseph Badger was
postmaster, chaplain and nurse. He manufac
tured one of the old-time hand grinding miHs,
and, from the meal he made, prepared mush
which filled the stomachs of the half-sick sol
diers. He was very popular among his men
for like actions. Effects of the War.
Although the war of 1812 maimed and
killed many, destroyed families and wrought
great hardships, it brought the people to the
idea that there must be general railitary or
ganizations and that each man must be will
ing to do his duty as a soldier. From that
time on the militia was more popular, train
ings were had often, and aramunition was
always on hand.
Not a county or a township in northern
Ohio existed which did not feel in sorae way
the effects of that war, and many refer with
pride to "our grandfathers who were gen
erals." Giddings' Account of Sandusky Battle.
At the Giddings home, in Jefferson, is a
yeHow letter, the ink very much faded, which
was written by Joshua R. Giddings when, at
sixteen, he served his country as a soldier.
This letter was carefully copied for this work
by his granddaughter. Miss Clara Giddings,
and is as follows :
Thursday, October i, 1812.
Honored Parents: Having got a little re
freshed I take pen in hand to inform you of
the first battle that has taken place in our
troops, in which some of our countrymen have
lost their lives in attempting to maintain the
freedom of our country. One week ago to
day about 150 of our men volunteered to go
to Sandusky to fetch away some property from
there. They accordingly arrived there on Fri
day. On Saturday four boats set sail frora
there, loaded with salt fish and apples. On
Sunday night they landed on Bull's island,
near the mouth of Sandusky bay. On Mon
day raorning they raoved out one boat to go
on to the peninsula. The others then moved
on to East Point, at the mouth of the bay. The

sky boat returned in a few hours and had
made a discovery of a party of Indians of
about fifty, and before sunset an express
reached headquarters. We beat up for volun
teers and about sixty men marched before
nine o'clock. Men being few, J stood on guard
six hours the night before, but being in good
spirits I turned out with them and we reached
East Point — which is sixteen miles from nere
¦ — at four o'clock the next morning. We were
there joined by twenty men and sailed for the
peninsula and landed at six o'clock. Captain
Cotton ordered eight men of us to stay with
the boats as guard. They then marched with
sixty-two men into the woods in pursuit of the
Indians. We, with the boats, moved off out
about fifty rods from shore. We then sent
a boat and five men on shore to get apples.
In fifteen or twenty minutes they returned in
haste; told us to flee for our lives, for there
were four  of Indians partly around
Bull's island. We then put what pack we had
on board into two of our boats and, setting
the others at liberty, we ran on the opposite
side of the island from the enemy and then
stood for East Point, when we saw four ca
noes standing for the east shore as much as
six miles above us. We landed on East Point
in about twenty minutes. The Indians came
and took the boats that we left, and cut thera
in pieces, and landed where we did in the
morning and lay in ambush within 100 rods
from there. Our men marched seven miles
without seeing any Indians, and turned about
and were marching for West Point, but had
not advanced more than 100 rods before the
advanced guard under Corporal Root was
fired upon and two men kiHed and one
wounded. The advanced guard was immedi
ately reinforced by the left wing under the
coramand of Sergeant Price, who behaved with
great bravery. The whole action — a consid
erable of a skirraish — took place, in which
three men were killed and two wounded, but
the number of Indians killed is not known—
although our men took the ground.
Our men then came on within 100 rods of
where they landed in the raorning, when they
were again fired upon and another battle en
sued in which four men were killed and two
wounded. About forty men took shelter in
a house, among which were Chester Allen and
James Hill. Thirty-three of our men, bring
ing four wounded with them, came on to West
Point. In the meantime we (the guard in the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

lOI

two boats we had come off in) lay off against
West Point waiting for them. We immedi
ately went on shore and brought them off and
landed at the mouth of Huron at one o'clock
that night. The men in the house stayed until
Wednesday, when Chester AHen and T 
Bailey came across the bay in a canoe and
came to Huron. We then manned out two
boats and went and brought them all off safe.
The wounded were left at the mouth of Huron
and the rest have all arrived safe in camp.
Mr. Aaron Price, not having any paper,
sends his corapliments to all his neighbors and
friends, and wishes his wife, if she be at horae,
to write to hira what the situation of her and
her family is. If she is not at home, he wishes
Mr. Tuttle to write to him.
Mr. Coleman, having so much business that
he could not write, wishes rae to inform you
that he is well and expects to be at home in
two or three weeks. Gideon Goodrich wishes
you to inform Mr. Tuttle that he is well. All
the raen who carae from WiHiamsfield are
alive and well, except Hutchins King, who has
a little of the ague.
I can't tell when I shall be at home,, but I
expect I shall in the course of two or three
weeks. I have been as hearty as ever I was
in my life since I came from home. Give my
respects to all inquiring friends. I shall now
conclude by subscribing rayself.
Your dutiful son,
Joshua R. Giddings.
Dated at Camp Avery, October ist, 1812.
The Battle of Lake Erie.
Strictly speaking, the great naval engage
raent which history records as the Battle of
Lake Erie was fought in the waters of Put
in-Bay, just west of the line which bounded
the Western Reserve. But the booraing of
its cannon, on that clear midday of Septem
ber 16, 1813, echoed along the shores of Lake
Erie far beyond Cleveland, and inland for
many miles beyond the bounds of the Reserve.
Not only near-by Sandusky, but Cleveland and
aH the other cities and towns of northern
Ohio listened, breathless and awed; for they
knew that the nation's safety largely de
pended on the outcome of that long-expected
battle. They knew that for months the brave

and determined American comraander had
been building a fleet at Gibraltar island, which
fits so nicely into a nick in Put-in-Bay and so
completely coraraands its waters. The people
of the Reserve had heard how shipbuilders,
sailors, stores, guns and ammunition had been
transported for hundred of miles by land to
Sandusky, from points as far away as Phila
delphia and Albany. The stoi-y had got
abroad how, when the American fleet, was
ready to sail, Commodore Perry found that
he could not float two of his largest ships
over the sandbars off Gibraltar island, and
how he had buoyed them up by lashing large
scows to their sides, thus bringing them into
the deep waters which were to become famous
by the first victory of an American over a
British fleet.
From 11:15 A. M., for three long hours,
America stood on the shores of Lake Erie
and listened to the cannonading which boomed
over her waters. The peopte of Sandusky and
vicinity were aware that the engageraent had
been fought west of Bass islands, but they
were soon to learn all the awful details, so
creditable to the bravery of both Araericans
and British.
It is now known that the scene of the raost
'desperate fighting between "the brave Perry
and the heroic Barclay was about three railes
west of North Bass Island, and four miles
north of Rattlesnake, within the limits of the
present county of Ottawa. Innumerable ac
counts have been written of the engagement,
but none more graphic or authentic than that
contributed by Dr. Usher Parsons, surgeon of
Perrys' ill-fated flagship "Lawrence," in an
address made by him (then a resident of
Providence, Rhode Island, at the time when
the corner-stone of the Perry Victory Monu
ment was laid at Gibraltar Island, September
10, 1858. Dr. Parsons' vivid story was pre
served through the care of Dr. and Mrs.
R. R. McMeens, of Sandusky, and printed,
in 1887, in the "Annals of the Early Settlers'
Association of Cuyahoga County."
"Forty-five years ago," said Dr. Parsons,

I02

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

"we were here as spectators and participators
in the battle, and now, in advanced years, we
are invited to join a vast number of patriotic
citizens gathered from the beautiful and flour
ishing cities bordering the lake to celebrate
the victory then gained by our squadron.
That victory derives a general interest frora
the fact that it was the first encounter of our
infant navy in fleet or squadron. In combats
with single ships we had hurabled the pride of
Great Britian. The Guerriere, Java and Mace-

gates of Maiden to General Harrison's army,
that enabled it to pursue and capture the
only array that was captured during the war,
and in restoring to us Detroit and the free
navigation of the upper lakes. I shall not de
tain you with a history of the construction
and equipment of the squadron, and of the
many difficulties encountered, but commence
with our arrival here twenty-five days before
the action, and our cruising between Maiden
and Sandusky, and receiving, near the latter

THE PEEEY MONUMENT, CLEVELAND.

donia had surrendered to our stars and stripes.
But here, on yonder waves, that nation was
taught the unexpected lesson that we could
conquer them in squadron. But this battle
derives a particular interest from its bearing
on the war of 1812, and from the relief it
brought to your shores — in wresting the toraa-
hawk and scalping knife from savage hands ;
shielding a frontier of three hundred railes
from assaults and conflagrations of a com
bined British and savage foe; opening the

place, a visit from General Harrison and suite,
preparatory to an attack on Maiden. Early
in the morning of the loth of September,
1813, while we lay at anchor in the bay, a
cry came from the masthead: 'Sail, ho!' All
hands leaped from their berths, and in a few
minutes the cry Avas repeated, until six sails
were announced. Signal was made to the
squadron: 'Enemy in sight ! get under way!'
and soon the hoarse sound of trumpets
and shrill pipe of the boatswains resounded

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

103

through our squadron with 'All hands up
anchor ahoy!' In passing out of this bay it
was desirable to go to the left of yonder islet,
but on being notified by Sailing Master Tyler
that adverse winds would prevent, the Com
modore replied: 'Go, then, sir, to the right;
for this day I am determined to meet and fight
the enemy.'
"There were nine American vessels, carry-
'"§¦ 54 guns, and 400 men, and six British ves
sels, carrying 63 guns, and 511 men. At the
head of our line were the Scorpion, Captain
Champlin, and Ariel, Lieutenant Packett ; next
the flagship Lawrence, of 20 guns, to engage
the flagship Detroit ; the Caledonia, to' fight
the Hunter; the Niagara, of 20 guns, to en
gage the Queen Charlotte; and lastly three
small vessels to fight the Lady Provost, of
13 guns, and the Little BeH, of three guns.
Our fleet moved on to attack the enemy, dis
tant, at 10 o'clock, about five miles. The Cora-
modore now produced the burgee, or fighting
flag, hitherto concealed in the ship. It was
inscribed with large white letters on a blue
background, legible throughout the squadron:
'Don't give up the ship !' the last words of the
expiring Lawrence, and now to be hoisted at
the masthead of the vessel bearing his name.
A spirited appeal was made to the crew, and
up went the flag to the fore-royal, amid hearty
cheers, repeated throughout the squadron —
and the drums and fifes struck up the thrHl-
ing sound — all hands to quarters. The hatches
or passageway to the deck were now closed,
excepting a small aperture ten inches square,
through which light was admitted into the
surgeon's room for receiving the wounded,
the floor of which was on a level with the sur
face of the lake, and exposing them to cannon
balls as much as if they were on deck.
"Every preparation being made, and every
man at his station, a profound silence reigned
for more than an hour — the most trying part
of the scene. It was like the stillness that
precedes the hurricane. The fleet moved on
steadily, till a quarter before 12, when the

awful suspense was relieved by a shot aimed
at us by the Detroit, about one. mile distant.
Perry made more sail and, coming within
canister distance, opened a rapid and de
structive fire upon the Detroit. The Caledonia,
Captain Turner, foHowed the Lawrence in gal
lant style, and the Ariel, Lieutenant Packett,
and the Scorpion, Captain Champlin, fought
nobly and effectively.
"The Niagara failing to grapple with the
Queen, the latter vessel shot ahead to fire
upon the Lawrence, and with the Detroit,
aimed their broadsides exclusively upon her,
hoping and intending to sink her. At last
they made her a complete wreck, but fortu
nately the Commodore escaped without injury,
and, stepping into the boat with his fighting
flag thrown over his shoulder, he pushed off
for the Niagara amid a shower of cannon and
musket baHs, and reached that vessel un
scathed. He found her a fresh vessel, with
only two or at most three, persons injured,
and immediately sent her commander to hasten
up the small vessels. Perry boarded the
Niagara when she was abreast of the Law
rence and farther from her than the Detroit
was on her right. The Lawrence now dropped
astern and hauled down her flag. Perry
turned the Niagara toward the enemy and,
crossing the bows of the Lawrence, bore down
headforemost to the enemy's line, determined
to break through it and take a raking posi
tion. The Detroit attempted to turn so as to
keep her broadside ,to the Niagara, and avoid
being raked, but in doing this she fell against
the Queen and got entangled in her rigging,
which left the enemy no alternative but to
strike both ships. Perry now shot further
ahead, near the Lady Provost, which, from
being crippled in her rudder, had drifted out
of her place to the leeward, and was pressing
forward toward the head of the British line,
to support the two ships. One broadside from
the Niagara silenced her battery. The Hunter
next struck, and the two smaller vessels, in
attempting, to escape, were overhauled by

I04

HISTOSY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the Scorpion, Mr. Champlin, and Trip, Mr.
Holdup, and thus ended the action, after 3
o'clock. "Let us now advert for a moment to the
scene exhibited in the flagship Lawrence, of
which I can speak as an eye-witness. The
wounded began to come down before she
opened her battery, and, for one, I felt impa
tient at the delay. In proper time, however,
as it proved, the dogs of war were let loose
frora their leash, and it seeraed as though
heaven and earth were at loggerheads. For
more than two hours little could be heard but
the deafening thunder of our broadsides, the
crash of balls dashing through our timbers,
and the shrieks of the wounded. These were
brought down faster than I could attend to
them, further than to stay the bleeding, or
support a shattered limb with .splints, and pass
them forward upon the berth deck.
"When the battle had raged an hour and a
half, I heard a call for me at the small sky
light, and, stepping toward it, I saw the Com
modore, whose countenance was as calm and
as placid as if on ordinary duty. 'Doctor,'
said he, 'send me one of your men,' meaning
one of the six stationed with me to assist in
moving the wounded. In five rainutes the call
was repeated and obeyed, and at the seventh
call, I told him he had all my raen. He asked if
there were any sick or wounded raen who
could pull a rope, when two or three crawled
upon the deck to lend a feeble hand in puHing
at the last guns.
"The hard fighting terminated about 3
o'clock. As the smoke cleared away the two
fleets were found raingled together, the small
vessels having come up to the others. The
shattered Lawrence, lying to the windward,
was once more able to hoist her flag, which
was cheered by a few feeble voices on board,
making a nielancholy sound compared to the
boisterous cheers that preceded the battle.
"The proud though painful duty of taking
possession of the conquered ships was now
perforraed. The Detroit was nearly disraan-
tled, and the destruction and carnage had been

dreadful. The Queen was in a condition little
better — every comraander and second in com
mand, says Barclay in his official report, was
either killed or wounded. The whole number
killed in the British fleet was forty-one, and
of wounded ninety-four. In the American
fleet, twenty - seven killed and ninety - six
wounded. Of the twenty-seven killed, two
were on board the Lawrence, and of the
ninety-six wounded, sixty-one were on the same
ship, making eighty-three killed and wounded
out of the one hundred and one reported fit
for duty in the Lawrence on the morning of
the battle. On board the Niagara were two
killed and twenty - three wounded, making
twenty-five, and of these, twenty-two were
killed or wounded after Perry took coramand
of her.
"And now the British officers arrived, one
from each vessel, to tender their submission,
and with it their swords. When they ap
proached, picking their way among the wreck
and carnage of the deck, with their hilts to
wards Perry, they tendered them to his ac
ceptance. With a dignified and solemn air,
and with low tone of voice, he requested them
to retain their side arms, inquired with
deep concern for Commodore Barclay and the
wounded officers, tendering to thera every
comfort his ship afforded, and expressing his
regret that he had not a spare raedical officer
to send thera ; that he only had one on duty
for the fleet, and that one had his hands full.
"Among the ninety-six wounded there oc
curred three deaths ; a result so favorable
was attributable to the plentiful supply of pro
visions sent off to us from the Ohio shore;
to fresh air — the wounded being ranged under
an awning on the deck until we arrived at
Erie, ten days after the action, and also to the
devoted attention of Commodore Perry to
every want.
"Those who were kiHed in the battle were
that evening committed to the deep, and over
them was read the impressive Episcopal serv
ice. On the following morning the two fleets
sailed into this bay, where the slain officers of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

105

both were buried in an appropriate and affect
ing manner. They consisted of three Americans
—Lieutenant Brooks and Midshipmen Laub
and Clarke — and three British officers — Cap
tain Finnis and Lieutenant Stokoe of the
Queen, and Lieutenant Garland of the De
troit. Equal respect was paid to the slain of
both nations, and the crews of both fleets
united in the ceremony. The procession of
boats, with two bands of music, the slow and
regular motion of the oars striking in exact
time with the notes of the solemn dirge, the
mournful waving of flags and sound of minute
guns from the ships, presented a striking con
trast to the scene presented two days before,
when both the living and the dead, now form
ing in this solemn and fraternal train, were
engaged in fierce and bloody strife, hurling
at each other the thunderbolts of war.
"Commodore Perry served two years as
commander of the Java, taking with him most
of the survivers of the Lawrence. He after
this comraanded a squadron in the West In
dies, where he died in 1819.
"Possessed of high-toned raorals, he was
above the low dissipation and sensuality too
prevalent with some officers of his day, and
in his domestic character was a model of every
domestic virtue and grace. His literary
acquirements were respectable, and his tastes
refined. He united the graces of a manly
beauty to a lion heart, a sound mind, a safe
judgraent and a firraness of purpose which
nothing could shake."

The author notices that Dr. Parsons credits
the recovery of so large a number of the
wounded to the fresh air of the lake, good
food from shore and the devotion of Com
modore Perry. These may have assisted
recovery, but that men maimed in that bat
tle recovered was largelj' due to a skillful
surgeon. The people in Connecticut waited with great
anxiety the result of the battle of Lake Erie.
People then who knew the way the mother
of Oliver Hazard had cared for her boy, how
she had supervised his education and taught
him "right and wrong," caHed this battle
"Mrs. Perry's victory."
A few days after the surrender of Bar
clay's fleet a vessel appeared on the scene
loaded with supplies for the American squad
ron. The master of this ship landed and visit
ed the spot where the bodies of the slain
officers of both sides were buried. Theresa
Thorndale, who wrote sketches of the islands
of Lake Erie, said that this man carried a
green willow stick in his hand and the earth
being freshly turned he stuck in this shoot
and it grew. Some years ago the govern
ment presented to the citizens of the islands
several large cannon no longer fit for use.
They lay upon the beach for years and in 1899
the old willow was cut down. A monument
of cannon balls raarks its place. The cannon
resting on stone were placed in a line in
front of the graves.

JAMES A. GAEPIELD.

CHAPTER XII.

MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CIVIL WAR.

In a review of the strong personal forces
which were arrayed in support of the Union,
during the war of the Rebellion, and the lives
which in various ways, were knitted into the
history of the Western Reserve, probably
.none would criticize the placing in the front
ranks, of those sturdy state executives and
martial spirits, David Tod and John. Brough,
and that ardent, giant champion of aH that
was free and manly, Benjamin F. Wade,
Joshua R. Giddings, sixty-six at the outbreak
of the war, was to die before its conclusion,
a.s his country's representative in Canada. And
there, was a man, moulded in godlike pro
portions, too — the elder brother of Wade, in
all but blood! In the dispensation of Prov
idence, nothing could be more fitting than that
their dear homesteads and their hallowed
graves should have been fixed within the same
neighborhood. Great souls bound together on
this earth, with mutual attraction working
toward coraraon ends, with the faith of true
men looking steadily into each other's eyes,
and firmly clasping each other's hands, it is
beyond belief that they have ever been parted !
In the eyes of men. Wade's greater good for
tune was to have, lived upon earth to fight in
the halls of Congress for those principles which
were being upheld by the arraies of the battle
field. Both Wade and Giddings are claimed
specifically, by Ashtabula county.
How CooKE Helped Save the Union.

son of an educated and able father of public
note, the financier was named Jay, after the
great chief justice, but despite his parentage
and his christening his inclinations and talents
drew him surely toward business, commerce,
finances and great practical affairs. While
yet a youth, he left Sandusky and the Western
Reserve, but he retained large interests in and
about Sandusky, and long maintained that
grand castle on the island of Gibraltar in the
outer harbor. The story of how Jay Cooke
financed the war is an oft-told tale ; of how at
the coraraenceraent of the fiery ordeal, when it
was a matter of serious conjecture as to which
would be the stronger, the North or the South,
this intrepid financier bravely assumed the
responsibility of raising five hundred million
dollars to carry on a warfare, in whose justice
he and his able father so firmly beheved. With
out binding the governraent, refusing abso
lutely to place it in jeopardy in any particular.
Jay Cooke eventually collected these mHlions
and poured them into the treasure house of
the nation. In view of such a risk, in the
face of rendering such inestimable services to
the Union, he was justly entitled to whatever
profits came to him, and when after the war —
the house of Jay Cooke & Company went
down in ruins, deep regret was mixed with the
widespread suffering and bitter criticism
caused by his financial speculations.
Garfield and McKinley.

In a far different way Jay Cooke was an- The raajor generals whom the Western Re-
other Titan who almost alone upheld the finan- serve sent to the front were James A. Gar-
cial pillar of the Union. Born in Sandusky, field, James B. McPherson, Quincy A. Gill-
107

¦WILLIAM MoKINLEY.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

109

more, Jacob D. Cox, WiHiam B. Hazen and
Mortimer D. Leggett. President Garfield was
a native of Orange, Cuyahoga county; as a
boy worked on the Ohio canal; studied law
with David Tod, whom he had met at Youngs
town while driving boats from his Brier Hill
mines to Cleveland ; entered Geauga Seminary,
at Chester, and taught at Hiram College, Port
age county; finally read law with Albert G.
Riddle, of Cleveland, and after his admission
to the bar in 1858 and his election to the
state senate in the following year, entered
the Civil war as lieutenant colonel of the
Forty-^second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He
fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga and
other battles, and in December, 1863, resigned
his commission as major general to take his
seat- in congress. From that time, until his
assassination in 1881, he belonged to the
nation, rather than to any county of the
Western Reserve.
William McKinley, the other military char
acter of the Reserve who became president
of the United States, was Garfield's junior by
thirteen years when the war opened, and ad
vanced from a private in the ranks of the
Twenty-third Regiment to the colonelcy. He
was born in Niles, Trumbull county, and after
the war studied law and settled in Canton,
Stark county, from which he was sent to
congress.
Major General James B. McPherson.
Major General James B. McPherson was one
of the idols of the Civil war, and perhaps no offi
cer was more popular in the Western Reserve.
He was a native of Sandusky, Erie county,
born November 14, 1828, and was killed in
action July 22, 1864, while at the head of the
Seventeenth army corps on the eve of the fall
of Atlanta. His Hfe had been a brave and
faithful fight from boyhood, when, by the
death of his father, the support of mother and
younger children devolved on him. After
attending Norwalk Academy, Fluron county,
for two years, he entered West Point, in
1853, graduated at the head of his class.

taught in the academy, and until the outbreak
of the war served as a military engineer on
both th'e Atlantic and Pacific coasts. He
entered the war as lieutenant of engineers and
was on Grant's staff at Forts Henry and Donel-
son. General McPherson was in the front of
the fiercest and grimmest fighting at Shiloh,
Corinth and luka, and commanded a corps
at Vicksburg and before Atlanta. It was
during the reorganization of Grant's army in
1863 that he was appointed to the command
of the Seventeenth corps, which 'held the cen
ter of the Union army at the siege of Vicks
burg, and at the surrender of that city, so con
spicuous had been his part that he was ap
pointed one of the commissioners to arrange
terms with the eneray. He was now brigadier
general — from captain to brigadier general
within a year and a half! When Grant turned
over his command in the West to General
Sherman, McPherson succeeded the latter as
the head of the army of the Tennessee ; and
when General Sherraan set out on his Atlanta
campaign, McPherson followed him in person
with about 25,000 of the 60,000 comprising the
comraand. A graphic picture of the circum
stances attending the death of this great and
dashing officer is given in Whitelaw Reid's
"Ohio in the War." Sherraan's army was be
fore Atlanta and he was extending his left
flank, commanded by McPherson, to envelop
the city. In the meantirae the Confederate
general Hood had passed completely around
this division of the Union forces, and on the
morning of July 21 the unexpected storm
broke while Sherraan and McPherson were
conferring as to the advisability of occupying
Atlanta. What followed is told in these
words : "With the first scattering shots in the
direction of his rear, McPherson was off —
riding with his soldierly instinct toward the
sound of battle. He found the Sixteenth corps
in position, struggling manfully against an
assault of unprecedented fierceness ; the Seven
teenth still holding its ground firmly, but dan
ger threatened at the point where the distance
between the position of the corps, lately in

IIO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

reserve and that on the front, had left a gap
not yet closed in the sudden formation of a
new line facing to the left flank and rear.
Hither afid thither his staff were sent flying
with various orders for the sudden emergency.
Finally the position of the Sixteenth army
corps seemed assured and, accompanied by a
single orderly, he galloped off toward the
Seventeenth, the troops as he passed saluting
hira with ringing cheers.
"The road he followed was almost a pro
longation of the line of the Sixteenth; it led
a little behind where the gap between the two
corps was, of which we have seen that he was
apprised. The road itself, however, had been
in our hands — troops had passed over it but
a few rainutes before. As he entered the
woods that stretched between the two corps
he was raet by a staff officer with the word that
the left of the Seventeenth — the part of the
line to which he was hastening — was being
pressed back by an immensely superior force
of the enemy. He stood for a moment or
two closely examining the configuration of the
ground, then ordered the staff officer to hurry
to General Logan for a brigade to close the
gap, and showed him how to dispose it on
its arrival. And with this he drove the spurs
into his horse and dashed on up the road
toward the Seventeenth corps.
"He had scarcely galloped a hundred and
fifty yards into the woods when there rose be
fore hira a skirmish Hne in gray! The enemy
was crowding down into the gap. 'Halt!'
rang out sternly from the line, as the officer
in general's uniform, accompanied by an or
derly, carae in sight. He stopped for an
instant, raised his hat, then, with a quick
wrench on the reins, dashed into the woods
on his right. But the horse was a thought too
slow in doing his raaster's bidding. In that
instant the skirmish line sent its crashing
voHey after the escaping officer. He seems
to have clung convulsively to the saddle a
moraent, while the noble horse bore him fur
ther into the woods — then to have fallen, un
conscious. The orderly was captured.

"In a few minutes an advancing column
met a riderless horse coming out of the woods,
wounded in two places and with the marks of
three bullets on the saddle and equipments.
All recognized it as the horse of the much-
beloved general commanding; and the news
spread electrically through the army that he
was captured or killed. Then went up that
wild cry, 'McPherson and revenge.' The tre
mendous assault was beaten back; the army
charged over the ground it> had lost, drove
the enemy at fearful cost from its conquests,
and rested at nightfall in the works it had
held in the morning."
The body of the dead general was found
about an hour after he had disappeared in the
woods, and the official announcement of his
death by General Sherman was a paper of
mingled tenderness and eulogy. "History
tells us," he says, "of but few who so blended
the grace and gentleness of the friend with
the dignity, courage, faith and manliness of
the soldier,"
Major General Quincy A. Gillmore.
Major General Quincy A. Gillmore was
born in Black River (now Lorain), Lorain
county, February 25, 1825 ; was a West Point
graduate and earned an international reputa
tion as an organizer of siege operations and
a revolutionizer of naval gunnery. His great
est achievements were at the siege of Charles
ton and Fort Pulaski. At the final operations
in Virginia he was in command of the Tenth
army corps. General Gillmore died at Brook
lyn, New York, AprH 11, li

Major General Jacob D. Cox.
Major General Jacob D. Cox was a native
of Montreal, Canada, born of American par
ents in 1828. The following year the family
removed to New York. The young' man
graduated from Oberlin College in 1851; in
1852 removed to Warren, Trumbull county,
as superintendent of the high school, and in
1854 began the practice of the law at that
place. In 1859 he was elected to the lower

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

III

house of the state legislature, Mr. Garfield, at
that time, representing Portage county in the
senate. They were both young men and-
intimate friends; both close students and fine
speakers, and acknowledged leaders in politics,
as they were soon to be in railitary matters.
General Cox assisted in the organization of
the Ohio state milita; at the coraraenceraent
of the war was commissioned brigadier gen
eral and comraanded Carap Denison until July
6, 1861, when he was assigned to the coraraand
of the Brigade of the Kanawha in West Vir
ginia. After clearing the state of Confed
erates he was assigned to the Army of Vir
ginia under Pope, serving in the Ninth corps,
to whose comraand he succeeded when Gen
eral Reno was killed at South Mountain. He
led the corps at Antietam, and in April, 1863,
was placed in coraraand of the district of Ohio,
as weH as of a division of the Twenty-third
corps. He fought bravely under Thoraas
around Franklin and NashviHe ; was dominant
at the battle of Kingston, North Carolina,

GENEEAL WM. B. HAZEN 'S HOUSE.
(Mrs. Hazen, now -wife of AdmiTal Dewey.)
and in March, 1865, united his troops with
Sherman's army for the final campaign of the
war. General Cox was elected governor of
Ohio in 1865 ; was appointed secretary of the
interior in 1869, but resigned a few months
afterward and returned to Cincinnati to re
sume his law practice. He was sent to con
gress in 1876 and died in 1900.

Major General William B. Hazen.
Major General WilHam B. Hazen was a
native of the Green Mountain state, born in
1830, whose parents moved to Huron, Portage
county, when he was three years old. He
went from that county to West Point, from
which he graduated in 1855. Soon afterward
he was raade a brevet second lieutenant in the
Fourth Infantry and joined his regiment at
Fort Reading, on the Pacific coast. He
served throughout the Indian troubles in Ore
gon, and in 1856 built Fort YamhiH. As
second Heutenant in the Eighth Infantry, he
next served for four years in Texas and New
Mexico, earning a fine name for bravery and
ability during the Indian campaigns of that
period. In i860 he was brevetted a first lieu
tenant for gallant conduct in that department ;
was later promoted to a full lieutenancy, but
was not allowed to enter active service in the
Civil war until January, 1862, as he had not
recovered frora severe gunshot wounds re
ceived in a hand-to-hand encounter with a
Comanche, brave in Texas. At the time
named. General Hazen took comraand of the
Nineteenth brigade. Army of the Ohio, and in
the succeeding April, while leading his com
mand at Pittsburg Landing, captured two
Confederate batteries and a large number of
prisoners. Later, he participated in the siege
of Corinth, and his brigade especially dis
tinguished itself at Murfreesboro, which led
to his rise to the rank of brigadier general.
At Chickamauga his brigade was the last of
the Union troops to leave the field. Trans
ferred to the Army of the Cumberland in 1864,
by his capture of Fort McAlHster, while in
command of the Second division. Fifteenth
army corps, he became major general, and
was acknowledged to be among the ahlest
of Sherman's commanders. After the war
General Hazen continued for many years in
the active railitary service of the government,-
holding the rank of brigadier general in the
regular army.

112

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Major General Mortimer D. Leggett.
Mortimer D. Leggett, identified with both
Geauga and Trumbull counties before he
entered the army to start on his upward path
toward the stars of a raajor general, has the
honor of being one of the creators of the
Akron School law, under which Ohio's pres
ent system of popular education was estab
lished. When sixteen years of age he carae
from his horae at Ithaca, New York, and with
others members of the family settled on a farm
at Montville, Geauga county. He was a stu
dent in the Teacher's Seminary at Kirtland,
Lake county, and was adraitted to the bar in
1844, but did not commence to practice for
1 six years thereafter. During this period he
labored unceasingly in all parts of the state,
with such men as Dr. A. D. Lord, Lorin
Andrews and M. F. Cowdry for the estab
lishraent of a broad and practical system of
public education. With the earnest coopera
tion of such legislators as Harvey Rice, of
Cleveland, Mr. Leggett saw his brightest
hopes realized in the Akron School law. When
twenty-eight years of age he commenced prac
tice at Warren, TrumbuH county, but in the
fall of 1857 moved to Zanesville, where he
not only practiced but served as city super
intendent of schools until the fall of 1861. In
the foHowing December he was appointed
lieutenant colonel of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio
Infantry, and arrived with his regiraent dur
ing the hard fighting at Fort Donelson of
February 1862. Upon the surrender of the
fort he was appointed provost marshal, and
earned Grant's warra adrairation and friend
ship for his services in that capacity. He was
wounded at Pittsburgh Landing; participated
at the siege of Corinth, and after the evacu
ation of that place was placed in comraand
of a brigade, which effected an important cap
ture of th'e enemy's troops and stores at Jack
son, Tennessee. At Bolivar, that state, he is
said to have defeated seven thousand Con
federates with his eight hundred men, so
skilfully had he chosen his position and so

unflinchingly did he defend it. As brigadier
general, to which he was promoted in Novem
ber, 1862, he fought his command at the siege
of Vicksburg and at the battle of Champion
HiHs, being wounded at both engagements.
On July 4 he was honored with the advance in
entering the city. General Leggett com
manded the Third division of the Seventeenth
army corps from the siege of Vicksburg to
the close of the war, except when he was
at the head of the corps itself, which was not
infrequent. The battle of July 22, before
Atlanta, was fought principally by his divi
sion. General Leggett was on Sherman's
march to the sea; was brevetted major gen
eral July 22, 1864; appointed full major gen
eral January 15, 1865, and resigned from the
service July .22nd of that 3'ear.
Brigadier General Joel A. Dewey.
The full brigadier generals furnished by
the Western Reserve to the Union armies
were Joel A. Dewey, Andrew Hickenlooper,
Emerson Opdyke, J. W. Reilly, John S.
Sprague, and Erastus B. Tyler. Before the
war Joel A. Dewey was a resident of Ashta
bula county, and in October, 1861, the month
after he was of age, entered the service of
the Union army as second lieutenant of the
Fifty-eighth Ohio Regiment. His advance
ment was by the following rapid steps: In
1862 raustered into the Forty-third Ohio as
captain ; in 1864 transferred to the One Hun
dred and Eleventh United States colored In
fantry as lieutenant colonel, and April, 1865,
becarae its colonel, and in November of the
same year was promoted to be brigadier gen
eral of volunteers — one of the youngest (twen
ty-five years of age) to ever attain that rank
in the military service of the United States.
He thus served until his honorable discharge
January 31, 1866, when he settled at Dan-
drige, Tennessee.
Brigadier General Andrew Hickenlooper.
Andrew Hickenlooper, who was born at
Hudson, Summit county, moved when a boy

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

"3

to Cincinnati, where he was holding the office
of city . surveyer at the outbreak of the Civil
war. Hickenlooper's battery, which he raised,
became famous. He gradually advanced to
the rank of brigadier general, by his bravery
and his remarkable ability as an engineer, his
operations before Vicksburg being, especially
brilliant. His life, both before and after the
war, was raostly. identified with the business
and public interests of Cincinnati, where he
died in 1904. Surarait county and the Re
serve, however, always feel a proprietary in
terest in the high character and achievements
of General Hickenlooper.
Brigadier General Emerson Opdyke.
Trumbull county followed ;the career of
Emerson Opdyke throughout the Civil war,
as he was one of her native sons. He was in
his thirty-second year when he enlisted as a
private in the Forty-first Ohio Infantry, but
rapidly acquired a knowledge of railitary tac
tics, and had reached a captaincy in January,
1862. He was acting major of his regiment
at Pittsburgh Landing, and, seizing the colors,
which had fallen frora the dead bearer's hands,
led one of the most gallant charges of that
thrilling conflict. He was in command of
twelve hundred "squirrel hunters," when
Kirby Sraith's cavalry threatened Cincinnati;
served bravely under Thomas at Chickaraauga,
and commanded five regiments at Mission
Ridge, at which two of his horses were dis
abled. At Reseca, Kenesaw Mountain and
Atlanta he was always to the front, being then
assigned to the command of the first brigade.
Second division, fourth corps. At Franklin,
the conflict was at such close quarters, that
Colonel Opdyke was obliged to dismount and
fight in the ranks. His gallantry at that bat
tle brought hira the full brigadiership and
brevet major. After his rauster-ou't he be
came a resident of New York.
Brigadier General J. W. Reilly.
Brigadier General J. W. ReHly was born
at Akron, Sumrait county, in 1828; was ad

mitted to the bar and elected a member of
the legislature from Columbiana county be
fore entering the Union army as colonel of One
Hundred and Fourth Ohio Infantry. He was
tendered this command by the military com
mittee of the district comprising Summit, Port
age, Stark and Columbiana counties, so that
he represented at least two counties of the
Western Reserve. The regiraent under him
first saw active service at Cumberland Gap
and the siege of KnoxvHle in 1863. In the
pursuit of Longstreet he coramanded a bri
gade, and participated with his regiment in
all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign.
Upon the recommendation of Generals Cox
and Schofi.eld, Colonel Reilly was promoted
to the rank of a full brigadier, July 30, 1864,
afterward joining Thomas' army in Tennessee
and comraanding a division at Franklin. His
next service was in the last fighting around
NashviHe, and he concluded his firite service
by leading a division through the North Caro
lina campaigns. At the end of the war he
returned to Columbiana county and resumed
his interrupted practice.
Brigadier General John W. Sprague.
General John W. Sprague was born in New
York and lived in the state until he was twen
ty-eight years of age. Then, in 1845, he came
to Huron, Erie county, and until the cora
raenceraent of the war was engaged in lake
coramerce and railroad enterprises. Under the
first call for troops, he raised a company and
reported at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, and
on May 19, 1861, the command was assigned
to the Seventh Ohio Infantry and ordered
to Camp Dennison. Here the regiment was
reorganized for the three years' service and
sent to West Virginia. While proceeding to
Clarksville, under orders, with a small detach-
ra'ent. Captain Sprague was captured by the
enemy and kept prisoner at various points for
about five months, finally being exchanged
and reaching Washington January 10, 1862.
While in Virginia, about to rejoin his regi
ment. Captain Sprague received his commis-

voi. 1—8

114

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

sion as colonel of the Sixty-third Ohio In
fantry. Under General Pope, Colonel Sprague
participated in the operations at New Madrid
and Island Nuraber Ten, and then joined the
array at Pittsburgh Landing. Over one-half
of his raen were killed or wounded at Corinth,
October 3 and 4, 1862, and in the later part
of 1863 the regiment re-enlisted. The sixty-
third was noted as the Deraocratic, anti-Val-
landigham regiment. In January, 1864, Colo
nel Sprague was assigned to a brigade, which
was attached to the Array of the Tennessee
under the gaHant McPherson and forraed a
part of Sherman's grand army. Throughout
the Atlanta campaign and at Resaca and De
catur, Colonel Sprague earned his brightest
laurels, his defense of the army's supply train
at Decatur gaining hira especial coramendation
both for his heroic spirit and skilful general
ship. On July 29, 1864, he was appointed
brigadier general, moved with Sherman's
army through the Carolinas and was a marked
figure in the grand review at the national
capital. His brevet as major general dated
from March 13, 1864. For some months after
being relieved of his coraraand in the army,
General Sprague was in the civil service of
the government at St. Louis, Missouri, and
Little Rock, Arkansas, after which he moved
to Minnesota to take charge of the Winona
and St. Peter Railroad.
Brigadier General Erastus B. Tyler.
Erastus B. Tyler was another able brigadier
general (brevet major) to be entered both
in the credit and debtor columns of the West
ern Reserve ; for he was a raost splendid credit
to it, and the Western Reserve is also in
debted to him, who so added to her patriotic
luster. Soon after his birth in Ontario county.
New York, he was brought by his parents
to Ravenna, Portage county, and was educated
at GranviHe. At an early age he entered busi
ness as a traveling salesman, which took him
largely into the southern states, and at the
tirae that Sumter defiantly received its first

Confederate shell he was in the mountains of
Virginia, as a representative and a partner in
the American Fur Corapany. At that crisis
he was also a brigadier general of the Ohio
railitia, in command of the division including
the counties of Portage, Trumbull and Mahon
ing. Promptly discarding all business and
personal considerations, he returned to his
home at Ravenna, opened a recruiting office
dnd on April 22, 1861, brought two corapanies
to Carap Taylor, near Cleveland. Here the
thirty officers of the Seventh Ohio Infantry
elected him their colonel by a majority of
twenty-nine and the rank and file, with equal
unanimity, confirraed the selection. Originally
organized for the three months' service, Colo
nel Tyler's efforts in drilling and persuading
resulted, within two months, in bringing most
of the regiment over to the three-years stand
ard. Its practical coraraander was one of those
who knew the South and their tremendous
resources in martial spirit and vitality, and was
of the few who foresaw the long and terrific
struggle. As he was especially familiar with
West Virginia, he spent eight days with Gen
eral McClellan before he led his regiment into
the field, giving him precise information as
to the mountain passes, fords and other topo
graphical features^ of the country. In June,
Colonel Tyler proceeded with his regiment
from Grafton to Clarksburg and thence to
Weston, where he saved $40,000 in gold
from threatened capture, and turned it over
to the officers of the new state of West
Virginia. Upon leaving that section General
McCellan placed General Tyler in command
of the Seventh, Tenth, Thirteenth and Seven
teenth Ohio regiments. First Virginia Infantry,
with supports of artillery, cavalry and sharp
shooters. The fortunes of war ordained that
his own regiraent should suffer defeat during
his operations in the Great Kanawha Valley,
but, as a whole, the carapaign was most suc
cessfully conducted. In the following Decem
ber he assumed command of the Third bri
gade of Lander's division, and at the death

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

115

of his superior joined General Shields in the
Shenandoah Valley, being appointed brigadier
general for bravery at the battle of Win
chester. In that engagement, with 3,000
troops he held Stonewall Jackson and his
8,000 men, for five hours, and finaHy re
tired in good order when the Confederate
leader received a re-enforcement of 6,000.
At the battle of Antietam, General Tyler
commanded a brigade of Pennsylvania
troops, but led his old brigade at Fredericks
burg and Chancellorsville, the latter being
mustered out of the three-years service soon
after the last engageraent. His organization
of Baltimore's defenses in anticipation of Lee's
Maryland invasion, and his general admin
istration of the perplexing affairs within the
divided city, earned him widespread gratitude.
His next momentous work was the defense of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the
shores of Chesapeake bay from Confederate
raids, and his final participation in the battle
of Monocacy, which effectually repelled the
•enemy from the national capital. In fact. Pres
ident Lincoln is reported to have used these
words to a friend : "The country is more in
debted to General Tyler than to any other man
for the Salvation of Washington."
The brevet brigadier generals, the colonels,
captains and minor officers, who so highly hon
ored themselves and the Western Reserve dur
ing the Civil war, have been given due credit
in the government records and in war and
•county histories ; but it is obvious in a work
of this scope that only a general eulogy and
memorial can be offered — to them, as well as
to the thousands of brave privates, whose very
names are buried in the long arrays which
stretched through the reports of nation and
state. Among those, however, whom it would
be inexcusable for any historian of the West
ern Reserve not to raention by name in a
general review of the Civil war leaders, are
General James Barnett, of Cleveland, Cuya
hoga county, and the late General John S.
Casement, of Painesville, Lake county.

General James Barnett.
General Barnett, now in his eightieth year,
is still a leading business man of the city to
which he came, frora his New York birth
place, when a little boy of four. From his
youth until the outbreak of the war he was
identified with the artillery service of his
home city, and at the coraraenceraent of hos
tilities was dispatched to West Virginia as
colonel of the Cleveland Light Artillery, or
raore officiaHy speaking, the First Regiment
of Light Artillery, Ohio Volunteer Militia. It
was one of his men who served the first piece
of artillery which spoke for the Union dur
ing the Civil war — in the affair at Philippi,
West Virginia — and after doing as much as
any one raan to save the new state to that
Union he returned to Ohio, under orders of
Governor Dennison, and raised a new regi
raent of artillery, which was virtually under
his comraand for three years in the great bat
tles and campaigns of the southwest. At
different times, he was at the head of the
artHlery reserve of the Army of Ohio and
chief of artiHery under Generals McCook and
Rosecrans. In the latter capacity he served
as chief of artillery of the. Array of the Cum
berland. At Perryville, Stone River, Chicka
mauga, Mission Ridge and Chattanooga, both
under Rosecrans and Thomas, he was looked
up to by the ablest military leaders as a
master of the artillery branch of the service,
and his bravery and skill went hand in hand.
General Barnett was honorably discharged in
October, 1864, but not before he had grandly
fought his batteries at the battle of Nashville.
He is a brevet brigadier general, a creator of
the Loyal Legion; has always been eager to
help his old comrades in arms, and none have
succeeded in this aim better than he.
The Late General John S. Casement.
General John S. Caseraent, one of the most
honored pioneers of Lake county, died at his
home in Painesville, December 13, 1909, nearly

ii6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

eighty-one years of age. On May 7, 1861, he
entered the three-months' service as major of
the Seventh Ohio Infantry, and in August,
1862, was commissioned Colonel of the One
Hundred and Third Ohio Infantry, in which
he served until his resignation April 30, 1865.
He was brevetted a brigadier general Janu
ary 25, 1865.
Lieutenant Colonel Moses F. Wooster.
Of the officers from the Western Reserve,
who died on the field of battle. Lieutenant
Colonel Moses F. Wooster, of Norwalk, Huron
county, was among the most conspicuous. In
1832, then in his eighth year, he was brought
to Ohio frora his native state of Massachusetts,
and in 1848 engaged in the drug trade at
Norwalk. At the outbreak of the war he
was one of the two second-lieutenants of the
Norwalk Light Guards,, and when the com
pany was called into service it was determined,
by lot, that Lieutenant Wooster should stay
at home and his associate officer should go to
the front. But this by no means decided the
raatter, for Lieutenant Wooster raised another
Corapany, of which he was raade first lieuten
ant and afterward adjutant. This was as
signed to the Twenty-fourth Ohio Regiraent,
and was engaged at Pittsburgh Landing, Cor
inth and the lesser battles, prior to the pro
motion of Lieutenant Wooster to a captaincy.
Upon the organization of the One Hundred
and First Ohio Infantry he was successively
raade raajor and lieutenant colonel. At Perry
ville he was conspicuous for the bravery and
ability with which he handled his men, and
on December 31, 1862, while doing all in his
power to stem the tide of defeat at Stone
River, he fell mortally wounded in front of
his regjment. He died on the following day.
The Relief Work for the Union.
The greatest bulk of the relief work accom
plished for the soldiers in the field ; the inspir
ation and sustaining influences which radiated
from the homes of the north to the ranks of
its soldiery, carae largely through that splen

did, practical heart of the Union known as the
United States Sanitary Commission. Many
of the vast and complicated labors of that or
ganization and their management, to a large
extent, were accomplished through the self-
sacrifice, the love and the 'ability of women,
and of no section of the country is this state
ment more applicable than to the Western
Reserve. Professor John S. Newberry.
But before entering into that phase of the
subject. Professor John S. Newberry must
first be introduced, as he was the western agent
of the national commission during the entire
war, having under his general supervision the
branches at Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus,
Buffalo, Pittsburg, Detroit, Chicago and Louis
ville.' It is particularly fitting that this should
be done, as he had been a resident of the
Western Reserve during almost his entire life,
and therein received his education which so
well prepared him for his heavy responsi
bilities in connection with the relief work of
the North. In his third year he was brought
by his father to Cuyahoga Falls, near Akron,
Summit county. Henry Newberry, the father,
was a director of the Connecticut Land Com
pany, and the faraily had acquired large landed
interests in that part of the Reserve. In
1846,. when twenty-four years of ¦ag'e, the
scholarly son graduated from the AVestern Re
serve College, then located at Hudson, and two
years afterward corapleted his course at the
Cleveland Medical College. He then went
abroad to take post-graduate courses, prac
ticed in Cleveland for a number of years, and
from 1855 to July, 1861, was connected with
the United State Geological surveys in Colo
rado, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico,
during that period exploring many sections
of the country which were unknown to civi
lization. While thus engaged he was, to his
own great surprise, appointed a member of
the United States Sanitary Commission and
called to Washington. His thorough medical
education and wide practice, with his scientific

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

117

abiHties, his executive force and his sym
pathetic nature, made him a great force in the
work of the commission. After the war he
was appointed to the chair of geology in the
Columbia School of Mines, became geologist
of Ohio and was again identified with the
United States Geological Survey, receiving
the highest honors both at home and abroad
for his scientific attainments. But after all
has been said, the work by which he will be
best remembered was that accomplished as
western agent of the United States Sanitary
Commission.

1861. The Cleveland association was organ
ized on April 20, 1861, five days earlier than
that in New York, and only five days after
the first call for troops. For the quick charity
of her generous women let Cleveland bear the
palm she fairly raerits, and, Ohio — proud in
so many great achievements — be proud also
of this."
First Work of Cleveland Women.
On April 20, 1861, then, five days after
President Lincoln's first call for troops, the
Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio was

BENJAMIN EOUSE.

EEBECCA E. EOUSE.

Women, the Pioneers in Relief Work.
To the everlasting glory of the women of
Western Reserve was the work of the Soldiers'
Aid Society of Northern Ohio, afterward
designated as the Cleveland Branch of the
United States Sanitary Commission. This
was the first general organization in the
United States for the relief of soldiers in the
war. The statement is made on the authority
of Whitelaw Reid, the great journalist and
^diplomat, who, although a loyal New Yorker,
generously adds, in his "Ohio in the War"
(1868) : "The Woman's Central Association
of New York, which has been generally re
garded the first, was organized on April 25,

organized in Cleveland, with th^ following
officers: Mrs. B. Rouse, president; Mrs. John
Shelley and Mrs. William Melhinch, vice-presi
dents ; Miss Mary Clay Brayton, secretary ;
and Miss Ellen F. Terry, treasurer. Two
hundred and seventy-nine Cleveland ladies en-
' rolled theraselves to ¦ "work while the war
should last," and grandly did they keep their
pledge. No material changes in the organiza
tion occurred during the years of its work,
griefs, suspenses and blessings, with the ex
ception of Mrs. Shelley's resignation, in 1863,
made necessary by her removal from the city.
When Professor Newberry was appointed by
the United States Sanitary Coraraission west-

ii8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ern agent of that body, in the summer of
1861, the Cleveland society became one of its
branches, but never lost its identity, or its
charm, as a woman's organization. The work
went on, guided by her nimble hands and
brain, her warm heart and faithful soul, from
the echo of Sumter's guns to Lee's surrender.
Two days after the Cleveland society was or
ganized, its merabers were called to face the
reahties of the war, and this is the way in
which they "came to the front,'' in the words
of their secretary, Miss Brayton : "Two days
later (April 23, 1861), while busy but unskil-

seized. Two ladies hastened to engage car
riages; others rapidly districted the city. In
a few rainutes eight hacks were at the door,
two young ladies in each, their course marked
out, and they dispatched to represent to the
matrons of the towns their desperate case. At
three o'clock this novel expedition set off;
all the afternoon the carriages rolled rapidly
through the streets; bright faces glowed with
excitement; grave eyes gave back an answer
ing gleam of generous sympathy. A word of
explanation sufficed to bring out delicate rose
blankets, chintz quilts and thick counterpanes.

PLOEAL HALL, CLEVELAND SANITAEY PAIE.

ful hands were plying the sad task of bandage-
rolling, a gentleman from the camp of instruc
tion just opened near the city begged to inter
rupt. Mounting the platform, he announced
that one thousand men from towns adjoining
were at that moraent raarching into carap, and
that, expecting (with the pardonable igno
rance of our citizen-soldiery at that early day),
to' be fully equipped on reaching this rendez
vous, many had brought no blankets, and had
now the prospect of passing a sharp April
night uncovered on the ground. This unex
pected occasion for benevolence was eagerly

and by nightfall seven hundred and twenty-
nine blankets were carried inty camp. Next
morning the work was resumed, and before
another night every volunteer in Camp Taylor
had been provided for.
"While yet this blanket raid was going on,
the ladies at this meeting, startled by the sound
of fife and drum, hurried to the door just in
time to see a corapany of recruits, mostly
farmer lads, march down the street toward
the new camp. These had left the plow in
the furrow and, imagining that the enlistment
roH would transform them at once into Uncle

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

119

Sam's blue-coated soldier boys, had marched
away in the clothes they were wearing when
the call first reached them. Before they
turned the corner, motherly watchfulness had
discovered that some had no coats ; that others
wore their linen blouses, and that the clothing
of aH was insufficient for the exposure of the
scarcely inclosed camp. On this discovery the
bandage meeting- broke up, and the ladies hur
ried home to gather up the clothing of their
own boys for the comfort of these young patri
ots. Two carriages heaped with half-worn
clothing drove into camp at sundown." Thus
for four years the women of the Western Re
serve, Ohio, and the North used their utmost
strength and ingenuity to reheve and comfort
the boys in blue; otherwise, God only knows,
with their waiting and suffering for those in
the thick of actual battle, whether the victims
among the mothers, wives, sisters and sweet
hearts left at home would not have equaled
those on the field of battle.
The estimate of the distribution of the Cleve
land society is one million doHars in stores,
with a cash disbursement of some one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars.
Relief Work Throughout the Reserve.
No clearer, or more satisfactory, conclusion
to this chapter can be given than in the fol
lowing summary by one of the members of the
Cleveland society : "The society was the out
growth of an earnest purpose to do with'^ a
might whatsoever woman's hand should find
to do. In the eagerness for work, no form
of constitution or by-laws was even thought
or .spoken of. Beyond a membership fee of
twenty-five cents monthly, and a verbal pledge
to work while the war should last, no form of
association was ever adopted ; no written word
held the society together even to its latest
day." "The entire business of influencing, receiv
ing and disbursing money and stores — the
practical details of invoicing, shipping and

purchasing — were done by the officers of the
society. There vvas no finance, advisory, or
auditing comraittee of gentlemen, as was usual
elsewhere in such institutions. The services
of officers and managers were entirely gratui
tous. No salary was ever asked or received
by any one of them. Several of the officers
raade repeated trips to the front; to head
quarters Sanitary Commission at Louisville
and Washington; to hospitals of Wheeling,
LouisvHle, Nashville and minor points ; to the
battlefields of Pittsburgh Landing, Perryville,
Stone River and Chattanooga. These trips
were undertaken with a view to stimulate the
benevolence of the people of northern Ohio
by informing them of the real needs of the
sick and wounded. The officers were happily
able to bear their own charges, and not one
cent was ever drawn from the treasury of the
society for traveling or other expenses.
"The territory from which supplies were
drawn was extremely Hmited, being embraced
in eighteen counties in northeastern Ohio. A
few towns in southern Michigan and north
western Pennsylvania were, during the first
years, tributary to the Cleveland society, but
later they were naturally withdrawn and asso
ciated with the agencies established at Detroit
and Pittsburg. Meadville, Pennsylvania, was
the only considerable town outside of the state
of Ohio which remained to the end a branch
of the Cleveland commission. The northwest
ern part of Ohio, having more direct railroad
communication with Cincinnati, sent its gifts
generally to that supply center. Columbus ha'd
its own agency. The geographical position of
Cleveland limited the territory influenced by
its society, since it could not be expected that
towns in the central part of the state would
send their stores northward, knowing that they
would be at once reshipped south toward the
army. But the small field was carefully and
thoroughly cultivated, and from it a constitu
ency of branch societies was built up number
ing, at the close of the war, five hundred and
twenty-five."

EUTHEEPOED B. HAYES.

CHAPTER XIII.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

When the Connecticut, fathers loaded their
wagons for their new homes in Ohio they
brought with thera their crowns and scepters,
for each was monarch of his faraily, but, be
it to their credit, they left the whipping post
and ducking stool behind. After a time they
wore the crown less often and the scepter was
seldora seen.
Those of us who have lived the New Eng
land life in Ohio know that most of our great
grandfathers never smiled, that few of our
grandfathers caressed their wives or kissed
their children, but we rejoice that the real
change came before our time, for to be snug
gled to sleep in our raother's arms, or kissed
awake by our father's lips, is worth all else in
the world.
The children of our Connecticut ancestry
had desire for religious liberty, as had the Pil
grim fathers and mothers, as had the Connecti
cut pioneer or the first inhabitant of the West
ern Reserve. They kept quiet on Sunday be
cause it was more comfortable than being
beaten ; they committed chapters of the Bible
to heart for the same reason. But when the
father and mother, with such of the grown
people and children whose turn it was, had
driven off to church and were safely out of
sight, pandemonium continued to reign until
the child stationed at the upper window as sen
tinel sighted the returning carriage on the fur
ther hill. Then was the house tidied, then did
the children take up their Bibles, and received
the look of approval . for their supposed good
conduct. Some good carae out of these Sunday dis-

obeyances, for several men, who afterwards be
came orators and trial lawyers, first learned to
speak before these home audiences, while one
woraan, a noted advocate in the temperance
cause, dates her ability to talk with ease to
the days when she played church on Sunday
morning, and insisted on preaching a sermon
standing on the haircloth chair, which she
was never allowed to sit in except when there
was company. Both raen and women have
said that these meetings were always ended by
riot, but the furniture of those days was made
by hand, of seasoned wood, with the best of
glue and varnish, and could stand any kind of
use. The Old-Time Sabbath.
Old raen and women Hving today in Trum
bull county, who have endured all kinds of
hardships and seen grievous sorrows, look back
upon the Sundays of their childhood with hor
ror. The Sabbath began Saturday at sun
down and closed Sunday at sundown. With
the twilight a gloom settled upon the children
(the older folks enjoyed a few hours of rest)
which seemed intolerable. Bible reading by
one of the family was had, and long, mean
ingless, audible prayers were made. As the
children knelt either on the bare floor or thin
carpet, their knees ached, and it was impossible
to be still. As a recreation they were allowed
to read the Bible by the tallow dip or the flam
ing log, or go to bed.
A man who at this writing is aged eighty-
seven as a child had a number of brothers,
and he says that, when lads, so forlorn and

121

122

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

depressed were they all on Sunday that they
used to say they wished they were dead. In
order that they might surely know just when
the day was really done, they clirabed onto
the huge woodpile, which was in their door-
yard, to watch the setting sun, and when at
last it disappeared the shout which went up
frora the stack of logs and sticks was never
surpassed by the whoop of the Indians who
forraeriy occupied the territory. They jumped
or rolled from the pile, chasing each other,
fought and played, outside in suraraer, by the
huge logs in winter, till the parents, exhausted
with the terapest, sent thera early to bed. Yes,
the desire for religious Hberty in the heart
of the Puritan is finally realized by us, not
throu.gh the Puritan, but through our fathers
and mothers, who rebelled even more strongly
than they did.
Public Moneys for Religion.
In October, 1793, the general asserably of
Connecticut, as we have seen, authorized the
sale of the land in what is northeastern Ohio,
and at the sarae tirae enacted "that the moneys
arising frora the sale * * * ]-|g established
a perpetual fund, the interest whereof is
granted and shall be appropriated to the use
and benefit of several ecclesiastical societies,
churches or congregations in all denorainations
in the state, to be by thera applied to the sup
port of their respective ministers, or preachers
of the gospel, and schools of education, under
such rules and regulations as shall be adopted
by this or some future session of the general
asserably." As this provision really araounted
to the establishment of a fund for the sup
porting of the church, it created a great deal
of discussion and hard feeling. As is always
the case, people saw great dangers ahead in
attaching the church to the state. In sorae
localities public meetings were held, and for
two 5-ears a great deal of anxious thought was
given to the matter, all for naught, since the
lands were not sold. When, in 1795, the as
sembly passed a new act in regard to this
western land, the provision for the ministers

was left out, and when, a few months later,
this land was bought by the Connecticut Land
Company, the money which was to be apphed
to the rainisters, as well as to the schools, was ,
applied to the schools only.
Who the first raissionary to New Con
necticut was, or where the first sermon was
preached, will probably never be known, be
cause traveling priests' early visited the In
dians and traders, while the Moravians devoted
their energies to the Indians in particular.
The Moravian Missionaries.
The influence of Christianity had been felt
on the Reserve before the Connecticut settlers
came here. A Moravian mission was estab
lished in Tuscarawas county as early as 1762.
In 1786 a company of Moravians left Detroit
— whither they had been driven by the Indians
in a terrible massacre four years before — with
the purpose of returning to 'their old field.
They reached the Cuyahoga, and had gone as
far south as the township of Independence,
when they were warned against going further.
They remained there a year, then raoved to the
mouth of the Black river, intending to settle
there. Their labors at that time resulted in
little that was of permanent value, and they
were soon compelled to leave, crossing the lake
into Canada; so that the Reserve, as a mis
sion field, was without laborers at the time of
the survey. These missionaries tried to teach
Indian raen and women how to work, as weH
as Christ's religion. The Indians often stayed
in the villages some time, but suddenly wan
dered off to their hunting grounds to their
freedora. They usually came back, saying that
the cooking of the Moravian women was bet
ter than anything they found in barbarism.
No one knows what would have been the result
of this civilizing influence, had not white men
began war.
Little or no mention is made by the sur
veyors of any religious services, except those
of burial. The Connecticut Land Company,
as we have seen, offered land to the first "gos
pel minister" who should take up residence in
the county.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

123

We always think of Massachusetts in the
olden time as religious because of the .Puri
tans, and of Connecticut the sarae, because of
the Blue Laws.
The Real Religious Emigrants.
Dr. B. A. Hinsdale, in the Magazine of
Western History, says:
"The settleraent of the Reserve was opened
at a tirae when New England was at a low
ebb. Old Connecticut did not at first send, as
a rule, what she considered her best eleraents
to New Connecticut. At a later day, the char
acter of the emigration improved in respect to
religion and morals, but the first emigration
was largely made up of raen who desired to
throw off the heavy trararaels of an old
and strongly conservative coraraunity, where
church and state were closeljy connected and
where society was dorainated by pohtical and
rehgious castes. Still further, the east was
at this tirae swept by an epidemic of land
speculation, while the laxative moral influence
of a reraoval from an old and well-ordered
society to the woods produced its usual effect."
The author at first thought this statement of
Mr. Hinsdale somewhat of an exaggeration,
but, as the history was further studied, we find
that it was not the' first emigrants who were
devoted to the religion of their fathers, but
those who came later — our grandfathers, not
our great-grandfathers.
The Early Preachers.
So far as we actually know, Williara C.
Wick preached the first sermon on the Re
serve; this was at Youngstown, in Septem
ber, 1799. He came from Washington, Penn
sylvania. Records show he was ordained to
preach in August. It may be he thought it
wise to practice on the frontiersmen. Any
way, they gathered to hear him, and later,
when he came to Youngstown and established
a church, he had the support of the people.
Youngstown has always been a church-going
place.

Rev. Joseph Badger.
The best known of the early preachers was
Rev. Joseph Badger. He was born in Massa
chusetts, was in the Revolutionary war when
only eighteen years old, and was in the battle
of Bunker HiH. He was a college graduate,
having earned the necessary money by teach
ing- school and by giving singing lessons, and
was Hcensed to preach in 1786. He occupied
a pulpit in Massachusetts, and accepted a call
to the missionary field of the Western Re
serve in 1800. He had married Lois Noble,
who greatly aided him in his work. The cold
weather set in before he crossed the Penn
sylvania mountains. He carae slowly from
Pittsburg and reached Youngstown December
14th. The following day, Sunday, he preached
to the inhabitants, who were glad to vary the
monotony of their hard lives by any sort of
service. He soon visited other townships on
the Reserve, and Harvey Rice is the authority
for saying that in the following year (1801)
he visited every settlement and nearly every
family then living on the Reserve. He
was greatly discouraged at the ungodli
ness of the settlers. He became so zeal
ous in his work, and the country was so
poor, that sometimes he had hardly enough
to subsist upon. He kept a journal, which
throws a great light on the tiraes. Apparently
the Connecticut Missionary Society did not ap
preciate his work as they ought to have done,
and reduced his salary to six dollars a week.
Knowing his family could not subsist upon
this, he resigned. He later became an employee
of the Massachusetts Missionary Society, and
went to work among the Indians of San
dusky. He took his family with him, but in
1808 decided it was best for them to live in
Austinburg, and they returned. He still con
tinued his work, and was exceedingly success
ful. At this time his Austinburg home was
burned, and after he had returned and erected
another cabin, he found he had hardly any
thing in the world to put in it. He moved to
Ashtabula in 1810, preaching and doing mis-

124

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

sionary work. He estabhshed a book store
which was not successful. Because of his as
sociation with the Indians, his service was
sought for in the war of 1812.
Mrs. Badger died in 1818, to the great sor
row of her husband, although he married
again the following year. After that he had
churches in Kirtland, Chester, Austinburg and
Gustavus. He laid down his pastoral work in
1835, when seventy-five years old, and was
probably the best known man on the Western
Reserve at that time. It is rather sad to think
that after all the work he did, he was very
poor in his last days.
The following letter, written to Joshua R.
Giddings, heretofore unpublished, is touching:
"October 4, 1844.
"I hope the Ashtabula County Historical So
ciety will not forget the fifteen dollars remain
ing due to me. I am in want of it to assist
in procuring means of daily support. I am an
old, worn-out man, not able to do anything
to help myself. I hope the society will not
wrong rae out of this sum.* * * I am sure
if they could see my helpless condition, unable
to get out of ray chair without help, they
would not withhold that little sum. It's hon
estly my due. Rev. Joseph Badger."
Mr. Badger died at Perrysburg in 1846,
aged eighty-nine years.
What records the early missionaries left
agree with Prof. Hinsdale's statement that the
first people who came to this Reserve were
not so rehgious, so service-loving, as we have
always supposed them to have been.
First Sermon Preached at Warren.
Leonard Case is authority for the statement
that Rev. Henry SpeerS, from Washington
county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1800, preached
the first serraon at the county seat of the Re
serye, Warren. This service was held below
the Lane homestead, on what is now South
Main street. About fifty persons were pres
ent, and Lewis Morris Iddings says : "Proba
bly at no time since has so large a proportion
of the inhabitants of Warren attended church

on any one Sunday." Mr. Speers belonged to
the Baptist denomination.
First Churches of the Reserve.
The first church built on the Reserve was
at Austinburg. There is a tale oft told that
this church was dedicated by breaking a bottle
of whiskey over its spire, but if this was done,
it was not done with the consent of the church
people, but by a wag of a sailor, who climbed
the steeple to do it for a joke. This church
association was organized October 21, 1801,
and the building was of logs. There were six
teen charter members.
It was thought that the second church was
organized in Hudson in 1802. It is known
that in Mr. Badger's riding in 1801, when
he noted the irreligious tendency of the people,
he said Hudson was the only spot where he
found any deep, hearty religion. Here he or
ganized a church of ten men and six women.
It is strange that these two first churches had
the same number of charter members. It is
stated that the second missionary sent to the
Reserve was Rev. Thomas Robbins.
The exact date of the organization of the
third church is not known. Most writers state
it was the Warren church, but, after careful
investigation, the author of this work thinks
the third church was in Youngstown, organ
ized in 1 801, with Rev. WHliam Wick as
pastor. The fourth church (Baptist) was established
in Warren in 1803. The Baptists were very
strong in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio at
this time.
Dr. John F. King, of Burg HiH, writes the
author as follows : "To Trumbull county, and
to Vernon township especially belongs the dis
tinction of having had organized within its bor
ders the first Methodist Episcopal church class
upon the Western Reserve. In fact, this. was
the first class in all that part of the state
of Ohio, north of a line drawn west from
Marietta. In 1800 Rev. Obed Crosby came
from Hartland, Connecticut, to town 6, range

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

125

I, first called Smithfield, then Vernon. The
next year, having spent the winter in the
east, he returned with his family and occupied
a cabin standing about where Hotel Dilley,
in the village of Burg HHl, now (1910) stands.
The location of ithis cabin is of much interest,
because here was organized the pioneer class
of Methodism in the northern part of Ohio.
When Mr. Crosby moved into his second
cabin, one of hewn logs, preaching was held

county. EpiscopaHans point with pride to these
facts. The Religious "Jerks."
The religious revival referred to in several
places in this work was accompanied, or fol
lowed, by a peculiar phenomenon, which had
been ex;plained to the satisfaction of spirituals,
mesmerists and some branches of medical stu
dents, but never fully to the ordinary lay-

OLD METHODIST CHUECH AT "WAEEEN.
From a painting by John "W. Bell, no-sv in the possession of his -tvife,
Ella M. Bell.

there, and later in a log barn in the extrerae
northern part of Harford township.
The first Episcopal parish organized in Ohio
was St. Peter's, at Ashtabula, the date 1816.
St. Peter's was the first church of that de
nomination west of the Alleghany mountains
to maintain a weekly celebration of the Holy
Communion. The first diocesan convention of
the state was held at Windsor, Ashtabula

man. It started in Tennessee, spread to Ken
tucky, into Ohio, and reached the very north
ern part of that state. The phenomenon was
commonly known as "the jerks. '^ Some authors
speak of it as the "falling exercise, the rolling
exercise and the dancing exercise." Sometimes
we see it raentioned as "visions and transits."
It is all the same thing. It occurred most
often at religious meetings and affected adults.

I2'6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Sometimes members of the body jerked in a
frightful manner ; other times people would
fall on the church floor and lie there for hours,
unconscious. Again, people would talk in un
known tongues, and sometimes the most diffi
dent people, who could not raise their voices
in public meetings, would preach sermons.
When these raanifestations occurred in
churches, at revivals, we can readily agree
that it carae frora exciteraent brought on by
religious fervor ; but often people who had
not been at church and were not interested
would fall lifeless in the road or woods, wher
ever they happened to be, when, to their
knowledge, they were not thinking either of
religion or the "jerks." It is recorded, on
good authority, that children in the Shakers'
school, near Cleveland, were suddenly all thus
affected — dancing, raarching and singing — and
that the elders were not physically able to re
strain them, either by word of mouth or their
strong right arms. Travelers going through
the country, scoffing at the idea, would sud
denly be seized. Sometimes their bodies in
voluntarily went over logs and hills, jerking
and twisting as they went. Cases are recorded
of young girls and boys having such violent
contortions that their friends feared bones
would be broken. So far as we know, no one
lost a life or received serious injury. At a
much later day, and even now, occasionally
people have "the power" ; but this is such a
mild form of "the jerks" as to hardly be
classed with the latter.
Ann Lee, the Shaker.
Of the thousands of people who each day
see the Shaker Heights car in Cleveland, few
know what the name indicates.
In 1736 Ann Lee was born at Manchester,
England. Her father was a blacksmith and
her mother a sympathetic, spiritual woihan, to
whom Ann confided all her experiences. Eld
ress Anna White and Eldress Lula S. Taylor,
two lovely woraen, now living in the Mt. Leb
anon (New York) comraunity of Shakers, in

their book, "Shakerism," published in 1904,
dwell at length upon the experience of this
mother and daughter.
Ann had no education, as a child became a
factory worker, and early raarried a black
smith. The Quakers were a rather silent sect,
waiting for the spirit to move them; but a
branch of them showed physical trembHng
at times and danced and sang. These were
termed Shaking Quakers, and then Shakers,
both terms being used in derision. Ann be
came a Shaker in 1758. She had, or thought
she had, a revelation from God, or, rather, a
communication with him, and, as a result,
began preaching the doctrine of celibacy. She
was arrested for this, and because she posed
as a wonder-worker and the recipient of the
Gift of Tongues, in 1770, she was imprisoned
and horribly abused by the mob.
Like other people of the old world who had
been persecuted for their behefs, Ann Lee
carae to America in 1774, with a company of
eight followers, who were obliged to separate
in order to earn a living. Ann herself did
laundry work in New York City. When her
husband fell sick, she nursed him tenderly and
he, upon his recovery, brutally treated and
deserted her and married another woman. In
1776 we find her, with her followers and re
cruits from England, established on land near
Albany, where Watervliet now is, and there
they simply existed for a time. Finally a re
ligious excitement occurred at New Lebanon,
and, although the people were greatly stirred,
they were not satisfied; but on going to
Mother Ann and relating their experiences,
they became comforted and adopted her doc
trine. They drew others to them and the sect
continued to grow until her death, in 1784.
Ft was she who laid out the faraily plan of
Hving — the community idea — and her ideas
were followed. Joseph Meacham, who had
been a Baptist preacher, and lived in her set
tlement, gathered Ann's adherents and estab
lished a settlement at New Lebanon, which
has continued to grow and is now in a pros
perous condition.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

127

The "New Lights."
A rehgious revival started in Kentucky in
1800, and by 1805 there were regular societies
of "New Lights," as they were caHed by out
siders (while they called themselves Chris
tians), in seven hamlets in Ohio. The excite
ment attending this revival was frightful "be
yond description — the falling, frightful crying
out, praying, exhorting, singing, shouting, etc.,
exhibiting such new and striking evidences of
supernatural power that few, if any, could
escape without being affected. Such as tried
to run from it were frequently struck on the
way or impelled by some alarraing signal to
return." It was this revival which attracted
the Shakers of New York to Ohio. Three
brothers set out on foot with a horse to carry
the baggage, and walked largely through the
wilderness and at the end of several weeks ar
rived at Union Village. This was a com
munity where the New Lights had drawn
largely from the old established churches and
obtained converts f^-om them. Now history
tells us that the justice-loving, noncombatant,
gentle Quakers did not exercise brotherly love
towards the Shakers, and it tells us that
the Presbyterians considered the New Lights
abominable ; and now the New Lights, the
latest to be fiHed with the spirit of love of
God, were ready to annihilate the Shakers for
fishing among them with a new doctrine. Not
so much for fishing as for catching. Through
all these stages has man developed spiritually,
and the question often occurs to the writer if
the followers of Christ had loved everybody,
instead of fighting for nonresistant doctrines,
what would have happened?
The Shakers' doctrine, as written, was broad
and fair, and maybe it was lived up to; it
was unlike most doctrines if it were. They
emphasized the mother-side of God in a way
to gratify the most radical woman suffragist
of today. They provided for the aged, and
none of them were to suffer. Those of their
first degree were celebates. Those who raar
ried were of a distinct class, and were known

as the children of the world. Even these were
supposed to cohabit only for the production of
offspring. Shaker Heights, Near Cleveland.
The comraunity in which we are interested,
as students of history of the Western Reserve,
is the one which for many years existed in
the present Shaker Heights, called North
Union. For over sixty years these raembers
of "The Millennium Church of United Be
lievers" existed eight miles southeast of Cleve
land. The Shakers are the oldest of communistic
societies of the United States, and, although
they are not supposed to be nuraerous or
flourishing now, Eldress Anna White states
that raany of them exist, but under other
names, and are not recognized. That this is
true, we do not doubt. One such group, for
a long time, existed at Washington, District of
Columbia, under the direction of Martha Mc-
Whirter. The Cleveland community was organized by
Ralph Russell, who owned a farm on section
22 (WarrensviHe), Cuyahoga county. It is
presumed he had known something of the doc
trine before he visited Union Village, but, at
any rate, he journeyed thither in 1821, joined
the society and returned home, expecting to
return with his family. Instead of doing that,
he established a community which long flour
ished and of which nothing but good is re
corded. He had a large family of brothers
and sisters, who were scattered about New
York and Pennsylvania, and some of these
joined hira and helped to build up the com
munity. There were two elders and two eldresses
who were leaders, and as their number grew
the first house overfiowed and several family
houses were the result. They had a mill at
which many early settlers had their corn and
wheat ground. They were honest in trade,
sold farm products and handmade goods, and
were the best of citizens. They were opposed

128

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

to war, took no part in government, had their
own schools, and, because of abstemious habits,
lived to a good old age.
Strange to say, Ralph RusseH, the founder,
retired from the community late in life and
spent his declining years on a nearby farm.
This is not so strange as it seeras, for with
age often the beliefs of chHdhood return and
through non-desire and inability to continue a
fight many reformers become conservative or
indifferent. The rehgious services of the Shakers were
most interesting to outsiders, and many who
went to scoff learned truths. Their singing
was particularly fine and impressive. While
the Puritan discarded all the outward show of
the English church, eschewing the festival of
Christmas, the Shaker did not, and raost beau
tiful and impressive were their celebrations of
Christ's birth.
J. P. Machan, Ph. D., of Cleveland, has
made a study of the Shakers of North Union,
and any reader particularly interested in the
subject will find an excellent article from his
pen in the ninth volurae of the publication of
the "Archaeological and Historical Publica
tions." The Latter-Day Saints in the Reserve.
The following was written February 23,
1910, by Inez Smith, of Lamoni, Iowa, and
approved by her father, Heraan C. Smith,
Church Historian :
The Latter-Day Saints, erroneously called
Mormons, a people whose history and doc
trine have caused much comment in the his
torical world, were more or less prominent in
northern Ohio during the early thirties.
These people organized their church on the
6th day of AprH, 1830, at Fayette, Seneca
county. New York. The merabership at first
included just six members, but the new faith
gained converts at a surprising rate, and, al
though opposition was heavy, there was soon
quite a number who beheved the story of the
Book of Mormon, and, braving the opposition
and danger they must meet, becarae raembers.

In Septeraber, at a conference, the matter of
preaching to the Indians came up, and Oliver
Cowdery was chosen to go west, for the pur
pose of carrying the gospel to the people
whose forefathers, as the Latter-Day Saints be
lieved, had written the record known to the
world as the Book of Mormon. Cowdery was
accompanied on this mission by Peter Whit-
raer, Jr., Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson.
Pratt had previously belonged to the church
founded by Alexander Campbell, which had a
stronghold in and around the village of Kirt
land, in northern Ohio, and when he had be
come a meraber of the Latter-Day Saints
church had left many friends in that vicinity,
whom he determined to visit on his way west.
The missionaries started out in October, on
foot, and after a time arrived in Kirtland,
in Lake (then Geauga) county, then a pros
perous little town of about two thousand
inhabitants. Among those prominent in Camp
bell's movement was one Sydney Rigdon, one
of their preachers, and a peculiarly gifted
speaker. Pratt had formerly known this man
as a teacher, and was anxious to talk to him
about the strange new religion. Rigdon was
extremely skeptical as to the message at first,
but, as was his custom, gave it consideration
and study, and finally asked for baptism. Many
of his congregation foHowed. The interest in
these strange new missionaries, and the still
stranger message they carried, spread rapidly
through the country. The elders were kept
preaching night and day, till in two weeks
after their arrival one hundred and twenty-
seven souls had been baptized. This number
soon increased to one thousand.
Before leaving to continue their mission, the
elders ordained Sydney Rigdon, Isaac Morley,
John Murdock, Lyman Wight and many others
to rainister in the ordinances of the church and
care for the still increasing church in Ohio.
One of the new converts, Frederick Granger
Williams, accompanied them on their journey.
The mission to the west was pecuHarly sig
nificant to the Saints, as it not only won to its
ranks raany men later prominently involved in

HISTORY OF THE WEST.ERN RESERVE

129

its history, but it was also partially the means
of locating the church at Kirtland, in Ohio,
where many of the most thrHling events of the
history of the church were enacted.
It was late in the year 1830 — the same year
in which the church was organized — ^that the
Saints were instructed to gather to the Ohio.
They were also promised a rich spiritual en
dowment in that place, which promise, if we
believe the testimony of aged members, was
abundantly fulfilled. It was her§ that the or
ganization into quorums took place, and many
important doctrines of the church were re
ceived. Toward the later part of the month of Janu
ary the migration began, and by June of the
same year (1831) the body of the church was
settled in and around Kirtland.
In Kirtland at this time there was a Com
mon Stock Company, the members of which
mostly joined the church. They gave up the
community life and, instead of this, a law was
introduced which was called "The United
Order," or the Law of Consecration. This
law was instituted to regulate the world-old
problem of equality in the temporal affairs of
raen, but its economic value was never appre
ciated by the Saints, and is now only beginning
to be understood. The plan provides that
every man shall hand in to the bishop of the
church all over and above the necessities of
his family for the general fund, by which
those who need help can be aided by the church
in their support. Out of this, too, has grown
the "Order of Enoch," an order forraed for
benevolent purposes, The narae of this order
is significant of its work, when we remember
that it grew out of the fact that it was mod
eled after the "City of Enoch," "Zion" ; "and
the Lord caHed his people Zion because they
were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in
righteousness, and there were no poor among
them." The first movement toward the establish
ment of the financial law was the organization
of the Bishopric, the presidency of the Aaronic
priesthood, which has "authority to minister

in temporal things." The Bishopric has charge
of the financial concerns of the church. The
first bishop chosen was Edward Partridge.
Having established themselves at Kirtland
for a time, the elders were sent out from there
to preach the faith they had in so short a
time learned to love. The efforts of these men
were very successful, and converts continued
to flock to the Ohio.
On the 6th day of June, 183 1, at the fourth
conference of the church, which was held at
Kirtland, the high priests were ordained and
the Melchizedek priesthood was fully received.
The Melchizedek Priesthood has to do more
particularly with the spiritual affairs in the
church. About July of this year the spot was chosen
for the ultimate location of the Saints. This
place was in Jackson county, Missouri, at the
town of Independence, and frora this tirae on
there was a gradual migration to Missouri,
until the general exodus to that place, which
occurred in 1838. In the meantime Joseph
Smith, assisted by Sydney Rigdon, turned his
attention to a revision of the Scriptures, which
work had been commenced the previous De
cember. For this purpose he retired with his
wife, and adopted twin babies, to the quiet
little town of Hiram, in Portage county, Ohio.
Persecution had not abated, and was not
lacking even in this quiet Httle place. On
the night of March 25, 1832, while watching
with one of the twins, who was sick with the
measles, a mob entered the home of Joseph
Smith and dragged him away, where both he
and Sydney Rigdon were terribly maltreated
by a mob. They were stripped, tarred, and
brutally beaten by these men. Sydney Rigdon
was sick and delirious for some days after this
outrage, but Joseph Smith showed the courage
that always characterized • him, and the next
morning found him preaching to a crowd in
which many of those who attacked him during
the previous night were numbered.
A few days later one of the children died, as
a result of the exposure on the night of the
mob. This tiny victim was a first martyr to

Vol. I — 9

MOEMON TEMPLE AT KIETLAND.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

131

the new religion, but unfortunately not the
iast. We mention this mobbing merely because
some historians have incorrectly stated that
this incident occurred after the failure of the
Kirtland Bank, and was attributable directly
±0 that. But as the mobbing occurred in 1832,
while the "bank" was not organized until 1837,
the fallacy is very apparent.
On the 25th of January, 1832, Joseph Smith
was formally ordained president of the church,
at Amherst, Ohio.
On the 6th day of November, 1832, the son
of Joseph Smith, who is now president of the
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
Day Saints, was born at Kirtland, Ohio. He
also was given the name of Joseph Smith.
The church continued to prosper, branches
heing. formed in other parts of the United
States and Canada. In 1832-33 the School
of the Prophets was established. This institu
tion was for the purpose of educating the
•elders to better efficiency.
The long-dreamed-of Temple was- started in
1833 and its corner-stone laid on July 23, 1833.
One of the important doctrines of the church
was about this time promulgated in Kirtland,
which is known as the "Word of Wisdom."
This is a document relating largely to the
physical well-being of the individuals in the
church, and, considering the limited personal
knowledge of Joseph Smith, at the time, on
these subjects, is truly wonderful. This doc
trine condemns the use of Hquors, tobacco, tea
and coffee, and meat except in times of cold,
famine and excessive hunger.
On the 1 8th day of Mafch, 1833, the First
Presidency of the church was organized. This
is, as the name implies; the presiding quorum
of the church, and consists of the president of
the church and his two counselors. At this
time Sydney Rigdon and Frederick Granger
Williams were chosen as counselors to Presi
dent Joseph Smith.
About this tirae the church was suffering
from the persecutions of one Doctor Hurl
burt, an expelled member of the church. He

had been excomraunicated for immoral con
duct, and, after trying in every way possible
to reverse the decision against him, he turned
his attention to opposing the church in every
possible way. He originated the Spaulding
theory, which was without question accepted
for a time by some writers anxious to dispose
of the question of the origin of the Book of
Mormon, but has later been proven false by
authorities outside of the church, who have
taken the trouble to compare the Book of Mor
mon with the original of the Spaulding ro
mance, now in the possession of Oberlin Col
lege. On the 17th of February, 1834, the High
Council of the church was organized. It was
composed of High Priests, and its office was
and is raainly judiciary. It forms the highest
court of appeal in the church.
On the 14th of February the Quorum of the
Twelve were chosen; also two quorums of
seventy organized. The office of these two
quorums is the active ministry. The twelve
acted under the direction and .appointment of
the presidency. The seventy acted under the
direction of the twelve. A reference to New
Testament history will reveal the origin of
these names, as well as help explain their office
work. There was an institution known as the Kirt
land Bank, which has been by some writers
mixed up with the, history of this people. The
Kirtland Bank was not a bank at all, but
merely an association, known as the "Kirtland
Safety Society," and was entered into by pri
vate individuals. It was in no sense a church
institution. However, many of the members
were "Mormons," and Joseph Smith was for
a short time interested in the enterprise. When
the bank failed, as many older and better es
tablished institutions did at the same time, the
church was held responsible by some. Some
of the members were unable to pay their cred
itors and did leave Kirtland without paying
them, but they sent back agents from Missouri
and IlHnois to settle with their creditors, and
this with no action in law to compel them to

132

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

do so; which shows they were honest in their
intentions, if not wise in their purpose. These
settlements are attested by signed certificates
from Kirtland and PainesviHe business men.
Persecution became so violent in the latter
part of the year 1837 that there was a general
exodus to Missouri, where the church had
been gathering gradually for some time.
Probably the most permanent reminder of
the "Mormon" occupancy in Ohio is the Tem
ple, which still stands in Lake county, Ohio.
From the hour of its beginning, in 1833, the
people labored incessantly to complete it. The
ra.embers were poor, but zealous and devoted,
and in that laid the secret of their success.
They gave all they had — raoney, time, and
labor — to the cause, without recompense, ex
cept the fulfilment of the dreams they had
cheri.shed. Joseph Smith was foreman, and
no man was too rich or too great to labor
with his own hands upon the Temple walls.
The women spun, wove, dressed the cloth, and
made garments for the laborer. It was a
vast undertaking for so humble and poor a
people, and it was only by the uncomplaining
sacrifice on the part of each man, woman and
child that it was corapleted.
It was a joyful day when the Teraple was
finally dedicated, on Sunday, March 27, 1836,
with imposing ceremonies, and raany are
the wonderful things that are said to have
happened at that Temple service, as our grand
fathers remembered it.
The Kirtland Teraple stands on elevated
ground, south of the east fork of the Chagrin
river, about three miles southeast of Wil
loughby, Ohio, and six railes in direct Hne
from Lake Erie. The building is three stories
high, exclusive of basement. The first and
second stories are auditoriums, each fifty-five
by sixty-five feet on the inside, exclusive of
the vestibule and stairways. In each room
there were eight pulpits — four in each end.
The lot belonged to WilHam Marks, but was
deeded by him and his wife, Rosannah, by
warranty deed conveyed to Joseph Sraith, as
sole trustee, in trust for the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in 1841.
Joseph Smith was murdered in Carthage,
Illinois, June 27, 1844, and the church dis
organized, about one-tenth of the member
ship following Brigham Young to Utah, where
they drifted deeper and deeper into apostacy,
and introduced the pernicious doctrine of po
lygamy, which was never promulgated by
Joseph Smith.
In i860 Joseph Smith, the son of the prophet
Joseph Smith, came to Amboy, IHinois, and
presented himself to a small band of those
who clung to the old faith. This body of people
held to the original tenets of the church, and,
believing that Joseph Smith had appointed his
oldest son to succeed hira, waited until he
should corae into his heritage. This band of
people, known as the Reorganized Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, lay claim
to being the original church. This claim is
supported by the findings of two courts, in
suits brought for title to property.
This church found, in 1876, when they
sta-ted to look after the Kirtland Temple, that
the property had been levied upon by Henry
Holcomb, as the administrator of the Joseph
Smith estate, and sold as his individual prop
erty, finally passing into the hands of one
Russell Huntley, who deeded it to Joseph
Sraith, president of the Reorganized Church,
and Mark H. Forscutt, secretary of the same
church. There was a cloud on the title, by reason .of
the transfer being made as the individual prop
erty of Joseph Smith, and legal steps were
taken to have this cloud removed. Suit was
brought in the Court of Common Pleas of
Lake county, Ohio, against all parties having
color of title to the property. The findings of
the court were as follows :
"In Court of Common Pleas, Lake County,
Ohio, February 23d, 1880. Present : Hon. L
S. Sherman, Judge; F. Paine, Jr., Clerk; and
C. F. Moriey, Sheriff.
Journal Entry, February Term, 1880.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints: Plaintiff. Against
Lucien Williams, Joseph Smith, Sarah F.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

133

Videon, Mark H. Forscutt, the Church in
Utah of which John Taylor is President and
commonly known as the Mormon Church,
and John Taylor, President of said Utah
Church. Defendants.
Now at this term of the Court came the
Plaintiff by its attorneys, E. L. Kelley, and
Burrows and Bosworth, and the Defendants
came not, but made default; and thereupon,
with the assent of the Court, and on motion
and by the consent of the Plaintiff a trial by
jufy is waived and this cause is submitted
to the Court for trial, and the cause came on
for trial to the Court upon the pleadings and
evidence, and was argued by counsel; on
consideration whereof, the Court do find as
matters of fact :
(ist). That notice was given to the De
fendants in this action by publication of
notice as required by the statutes of the
state of Ohio; except as to the Defendant,
Sarah F. Videon, who was personally served
with process.
(2d). That there was organized on the 6th
day of April, 1830, at Palmyra [Fayette],
in the state of New York, by Joseph Smith,
a Religious Society, under the name of "The
Church of Jesus Christ df Latter Day
Saints," which in the same year removed in
a body and located in Kirtland, Lake
County, Ohio ; which said Church held and
believed, and was founded upon certain well
defined doctrines, which were set forth in
the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Book of
Doctrine and Covenants.
(3d). That on the uth day of February,
A. D. 1841, one William Marks and his wife,
Rosannah, by Warranty Deed, of that date,
conveyed to said Joseph Srnith as sole Trus-
tee-in-Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, being the same Church
organized as aforesaid, the lands and tene
ments described in the petition, and which
are described as follows :
[The description of the land is omitted.]
And upon said lands said Church had
erected a church edifice known as The Tem
ple, and were then in the possession and oc
cupancy thereof for religious purposes, and
so continued until the disorganization of
said Church, which occurred about 1844.
That the main body of said Religious Society
had removed from Kirtland aforesaid, and
were located at Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844,
when said Joseph Smith died, and said

Church was disorganized and the member
ship (then being estimated at about 100,000)
scattered in smaller fragments, each claim
ing to be the original and true Church be
fore named, and located in different states
and places.
That one of said fragments, estimated at
ten thousand, removed to the Territory of
Utah under the leadership of Brigham
Young, and located there, and with acces
sions since, now constitute the Church in
Utah, under the leadership and Presidency
of John Taylor, and is named as one of the
defendants in this action.
That after the departure of said fragment
of said church for 'Utah, a large number of
the officials and membership of the original
church which was disorganized at Nauvoo,
reorganized under the name of the Reorgan
ized- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, and on the 5th day of February,
1873, became incorporated under the laws of
the state of Illinois, and since that time all
other fragments of said original Church
(except the one in Utah) have dissolved,
and the membership has largely become in
corporated with said Reorganized Church
which is the Plaintiff in this action.
That the said Plaintiff, the Reorganized
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
is a Religious Society, founded and organ
ized upon the same doctrines and tenets,
and having the same church organization, as
the original Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter Day Saints, organized in 1830, by Joseph
Smith, and was organized pursuant to the
constitution, laws and usages of said orig
inal Church, and has branches located in
Illinois, Ohio, and other States.
That the church in Utah, the Defendant
of which John Taylor is President, has
materially and largely departed from the
faith, doctrines, laws, ordinances and usages
of said original Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, and has incorporated
into its system of faith the doctrines of
Celestial Marriage and a plurality of wives,
and the doctrine of Adam-God worship, con
trary to the laws and constitution of said
original Church.
And the Court do further find that the
Plaintiff, the Reorganized Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the True and
Lawful continuation of, and Successor to
the said original Church of Jesus Christ of

134

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Latter Day Saints, organized in 1830, and is
entitled in law to all its rights and property.
And the Court do further find that said
Defendants, Joseph Smith, Sarah F. Videon
and Mark H. Forscutt, are in possession of
said property under a pretended title, de
rived from a pretended sale thereof, made
by order of the Probate Court of Lake
County, on the petition of Henry Holcomb,
as the administrator of said Joseph Smith,
as the individual property of said Smith;
and the Court finds that said Smith had no
title to said property, except as the Trustee
of said Church, and that no title thereto
passed to the purchasers at said sale, and
that said parties in possession have no legal
title to said property.

And the Court further finds that the legal
title to said property is vested in the heirs of
said Joseph Smith, in trust for the legal suc
cessor of said original Church, and that the
Plaintiffs are not in possession thereof."
Under the direction of the Reorganized
Church, the Temple has been restored, and
ever since the restoration of the Temple to its
original owners they have maintained a branch
of the church there, generally keeping a repre
sentative in charge of the Temple.
The membership of the church in Ohio, as
shown by the General Church Records, num
bers at present (in 1910) one thousand seven
hundred and six.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE OLD WESTERN RESERVE BANK.

The first bank chartered on the Western
Reserve was the Western Reserve Bank, in
Warren, Ohio, and it existed frora 1811 to
1863. It was a private institution. There were
then no laws for national banks, as we have

iam Rayen, and John Kinsman. General
Simon Perkins was the first president, Zalmon
Fitch the second, George Parsons the third
and last. At the beginning of the organiza
tion this bank did business in a store situated

now, nor for state banks, as we have had. It on Main street, between South and Franklin

(Loaned by the Tribune.)
OLD -WESTEEN EESEEVE BANK BUILDING, "WAEEEN.

had a long and honorable history. Although
it was the first bank organized and the fourth
to be incorporated within the state of Ohio,
it was also the only one to remain solvent to
the end of the state bank organization. The
incorporators. were Simon Perkins, Robert B.
Parkman, Turhand Kirtland, George Tod,
John Ford, S. C. Mygatt, Calvin Austin, Will-

streets, on the east side. In 1816 and 1817
the old Western Reserve Bank was erected on
the lot where the Union National Bank now
stands. This lot was purchased of Mrs. Char
lotte Sraith. The capitaHzation of the bank
in the beginning was $100,000. Twice 'this
organization was forced to suspend payment
until the New York banks were able to resume

135

136

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

business. In 1816 its charter was extended to
1843. It then went into liquidation, but in
1845 it was reconstructed under the Independ
ent Ba!nking Law, its charter running to 1866.
Original Stockholders.
The names of the people connected with this
early bank are of special interest to the readers
of this history. We are therefore giving the
list of the subscribers to the original stock,
which sold at twenty-five dollars per share :

Name.
Calvin Austin,
David Clendenin,
John Ford,
Turhand Kirtland,
Polly Kirtland,
John Kinsraan, Sr.,
Simon Perkins, Sr.,
William Rayen,
Asael Adams, Sr.,
Seymour Austin,
John Andrews,
John Brainard,
William BeH, Jr.,
Adamson Bentley,
Mary Bentley,
David Bell,
Oliver Brooks,
Richard Brooks,
David Bell,
Benjamin Bentley, Jr.,
John Leavitt,
Lydia Dunlap,
John Doud,
Charles Dutton,
Anne Jane Dutton,
Edward Draa,
Daniel Heaton,
Francis Freeman,
Otis Guild,
Lois Guild,
Jerusha Guild,
Pet^r Hitchcock,
John B. Harmon,
Ira Hudson,

Shares. Amount. $ 5,000

200 200300 300 20
800300300 202020 4
50
20 10
2020 1012 2
25 8
2075-25 4
2025 20 5
1010
20
20

5,000
7>Soo7,500 500
20,000 7,500
7,500 500500500 100
1,250 500
250 500 500
250 300 50
650 200 500
1,875 625 100
500
625 500125
250 250 500SOO

Benjamin J. Jones,
Thomas G. Jones,
Jared Kirtland,
Abram Kline,
Samuel King,
Charles King,
Samuel Leavitt,
Henry Lane,
Wheeler Lewis,
Lambert W. Lewis,
Corafort S. Mygatt,
Calvin Pease,
Laura G. Pease,
George Parsons,
Francis M. Parsons,
Ephraim Quinby,
Jaraes Quigley,
Samuel Quinby,
Plumb SutHff,
Samuel Tyler,
Trial Tanner,
Mary Tanner,
John E. Woodbridge,
Elisha Whittlesey,
Fannie Witherby,
Josiah Wetmore,
Henry Wick,
David Webb,
Jaraes Hezlep,
E. T. Boughton,
Robert Montgomery,
Nancy Quinby,
It will be seen that ten
were woraen.

10 250
10 250
20 500
30 750
40 1,000
20 500
40 1,000
20 500
20 500
20 500
100 2,500
20 500
10 250
20 500
5 125
100 2,sod
20 500
20 500
20 500
50 1,250
8 200
2 50
20 500
10 250
5 125
4 100
60 1,500
4 100
20 500
12 300
50 1,250
20 500
of these stockholders

First Directors Numbered Thirteen.
The first board of directors consisted of the
following persons: Simon Perkins, Turhand
Kirtland, Francis Freeman, John Ford, Will
iam Rayen, Calvin Austin, Comfort S. My
gatt, Calvin Pease, Henry Wick, Leonard
Case, David Clendenin, William Bell, Jr., and
Richard Hayes. Zalmon Fitch was the first
cashier, Ralph Hickox the second, and George
Tayler the third. Apparently these financiers
believed not in thirteen as an unlucky number.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

137

Its "Open and Shut" Sign.
The only sign the Western Reserve Bank
had was one twenty-two inches long and seven
inches wide; one side read, "Bank Shut," the
other side, "Bank Open." The sign was hung
on hinges so when the bank was open it hung
down, and when it was closed it shut up.
"Zalmon Fitch was the cashier. Just at the
tick of the clock his cleanly shaven face and
brown wig came to the door and turned the
sign up or down, as it was nine or three. The
men who managed this institution were not
only men of capital, but men of brains also."
General Organization of the Bank.
Albion Morris Dyer, in writing of this pio
neer institution, says :
"A general meeting of the stockholders
could be summoned at any time by a call pub
lished five weeks in advance in the newspapers
of Warren and Steubenville, which was the
nearest seat of a newspaper in that day. There
are no copies of this old Steubenville news
paper known to exist.
^ s|! ,}c :{: i!s Ji: ^
"The State of Ohio reserved the right, under
certain conditions to subscribe shares in the
bank, not exceeding a fifth part of the whole
number subscribed for, and was entitled to a

year's credit, without interest, on the subscrip
tion. The state could name two directors to
represent its subscription. The bank was re
quired to pay dividends from its earnings semi
annually and to distribute its surplus at stated
periods. Its stock was subject to taxation and
it was limited to six per centum per annum
interest in advance on loans and discounts.
"The Western Reserve Bank enjoyed the
same privilege as any body corporate of issu
ing bills obligatory, or of credit, promising pay
ment of money, and these bills or notes were
assignable on proper endorsement for circula
tion in like manner and with the like effect as
foreign bills of exchange.
"The total amount of debt which the bank
could at any time owe, whether of bond, bill,
note or other contract, over and above the
moneys then actually deposited in the bank
could not exceed three times the sum of the
capital stock subscribed and actually paid into
the bank. In case of such excess, the directors
under whose administration it happened were
liable for the excess in their natural and pri
vate capacities. But a director not actually
present at the bank when this limit of debt was
passed could discharge himself from responsi
bility by notifying the stockholders immedi
ately on discovery."

CHAPTER XV.

PRESS OF THE WESTERN RESERVE.

The first newspaper published on the West
ern Reserve, the Trump of Fame, was issued
on Tuesday, June i6, 1812, in Warren. Its
offices were at the corner of Market street and
Liberty street (Park avenue). This building
was burned in the fire of 1867. Thomas D.
Webb, often referred to in other parts of this
history, was the editor, and David Fleming
the printer. The latter owned the type.
Why "Trump of Fame."
Miss Elizabeth Iddings, the granddaughter
of Mr. Webb, says it was the intention to call
this publication "A Voice from the Wilder
ness." When they got ready to set the head,
they found the letters V and W lacking araong
the type of proper size. Therefore they had
to abandon the narae, and substituted the
Trump of Fame. A-Ir. William Ritezel, in an
article ¦ which he wrote for the Chronicle, on
"The Pioneer Paper of the Western Reserve,"
said : "In those days it was coraraon to have
a cut of sorae kind at the head of the editorial
coluran, and the printer being at a loss for a
pealed to Judge Pease to suggest soraething
proper emblem to grace that department, ap-
suitable. His Flonor proraptly responded that
he thought an 'Owl would be the right thing
in the right place, with the legend immediately
under it, "The voice of one crying in the
wilderness." ' "
It is not clear, therefore, whether Judge
Pease suggested the name of "The Voice from
the Wilderness,'' or just the emblem. Proba

bly it was the latter, and the firm members
them.selves chose the former.
Western Reserve Chronicle.
The name the Trump of Fame was neither
suggestive nor appropriate, and it was changed
by Mr. Fitch BisseH, who owned the pubhca
tion in 1816. Benjarain Stevens suggested to
Mr. Bissell that it would suit the people of
this coraraunity if his paper bore a less high-
sounding name, and, when asked to make a
suggestion, replied. Western Reserve Chron
icle or Gazette. We are told that Mr. Bissell
did not like either of these names, but in a
few weeks accepted the forraer, and on the
4th of October, 1816, Volume i, Nuraber i, of
the JVestern Reserve Chronicle was issued.
First j^sTumber of First Newspaper.
Frora the first nuraber of the Trump of
Fame we quote the following:
"Trump of Fame, printed in Warren, County
of TrurabuH, Ohio, by David Fleraing, for
Thomas D. Webb. The Trump of Fame is
printed every Tuesday, and forwarded as early
as possible to subscribers.
"Price to subscribers whose papers are con
veyed through the postoffice, two dollars per
annum, to be paid in advance, or two dollars
and fifty cents, payable at the expiration of
the year. Terms to companies who take the
paper at the office and pay for them in money
on their delivery or half-yearly in advance,
one doHar and three-quarters.
"Post riders supplied on reasonable terms—

^38

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

139

and it is an indispensable condition that pay
ment be made at the expiration of every quar
ter. Advertisements inserted three weeks, one
dollar for every square, and twenty-five cents
for each additional insertion.
"Many kinds of productions of the county
wHl be taken in payment if delivered at the
office, or at such places as may be designed by
the editor.
"All letters to the editor coming through
the postoflSce must be postpaid or they wiH not
lie attended to."
The first editorial reaas :
"It may, perhaps, be expected that the editor
will make some declaration of his political
creed; he would be very sorry to disappoint
the public expectation, but he has ever viewed
tljose protestations of friendship or enmity
made with an intention of courting the favor of
any class of people, of doubtful authority. He
will assure the public that he is no monarchist
nor aristocrat.
"His paper shall be open to the decent cora
munication of any political faith, with liberty
to himself of commenting upon anything that
shall be offered for publication. As he is
the nominal editor, he has determined to be
the real editor. Men frequently involve them
selves in private feuds, and to vent their spleen
arid malignity against each other make a news
paper the vehicle of their slanderous tales.
News of this kind can never be interesting to
the community and they may be assured that
no consideration, either of favor or of pecu
niary kind, shall ever induce the editor to per
mit its insertion."
Quaint Extracts from "Trump of Fame."
July 8th, under the head, "Hymeneal," are
the marriages, and they note those of England
and Connecticut in particular. One reads:
"In Lincolnshire (England), Corporal
Dupre to Miss N. Trollope, with a fortune of
12,000 pounds. Miss Trollope fell in love with
him when he was oU; parade with the soldiers.
The next morning she communicated her senti
ments to him, which he joyfully accepted, and

on the following day he led her to the altar of
Hymen." The number of July Sth has the declaration
of war drawn by Congress, and signed by
Henry Clay, speaker of the house of repre
sentatives ; William H. Crawford, president
of senate, pro tem. ; approved by James Madi
son, dated June 18, 1812. The message of
Madison is also given and signed by James
Monroe, as secretary of state, also.
July '8, 1812, Adamson Bentley occupies a
full half-column of the Trump of Fame, tell
ing of one John North, who in March came
through this country posing as a Baptist min
ister. He also posed as a single man. Bentley
took great pains to find out about him, and
declares him a fraud.
In a raarriage notice of July 15 we find the
following verse :
"Hail, wedlock! Hail, inviolable tye!
Perpetual fountain of domestic joy.
Love, friendship, honor, truth, and pure de
light, ¦
Harmonious, raingle in the nuptial rite.''
In the sarae number is announced a camp-
raeeting, under the patronage of the Methodist
Episcopal church, to commence the 28th of
August, in Smithfield, on Mr. Marry's land,
Trumbull county, Ohio, Jacob Young, Thomas
J. Crockwill, managers.
August 19, 1812, Trump of Fame: "Generali
Perkins has ordered a muster of the commis-
¦ sioned and staff officers of the Third Brigade,
Fourth Division, Ohio Militia, to be held at
the house of Asael Adams, in Liberty, on the
2nd and 3rd day of September. Also, that the
field officers appear with their side arms and
the captains and subalterns and staff ofiicers,
with muskets, and that they perform carap
duty that night."
The following advertiseraents are of in
terest :
Nathan L. Reeves, Taylor, and Ladies Habit
Maker, calls his place of business The Red
House. '

I40

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

John Mann, jun., "Informs his friends and the
publick generally that he continues to carry
on the hatting business, in all its various
branches at the 'sign of the hat,' at the south
east corner of the publick square in this
town." Ephraim Quinby and Wm. W. Morsman ad
vertise a new carding machine, which is "highly
recoraraended."Adamson Bentley, the Baptist minister, had to
piece out his salary by engaging in business.
June 1 6th he and Jeremiah Brooks give notice
of dissolution of partnership.
Many of the advertisements were for stray
animals ; many for giving notice of debt.
"LOST. Between Leavittsburg and War
ren, a large pitching fork, marked on the fer
rule, I. L. A favor will be conferred by
leaving it at the sign of the Cross Keys in
Warren." "Davis Fuller, Saddler. Informs his friends
and the publick in general that he still con
tinues the, saddling business in the town of
Hartford, Number 5, in the first range, etc."
Hats, furr and wool hats are made by Fred
erick Kirtland at Parkman.
$20 Reward will be given by the subscriber
to any person who wHl give such information
respecting the person who cut the bridle of the
subscriber in the evening following the 30th
day of last month, as that he may be convicted,
in a court of law.

unbecoming manner which is a disgrace to
her sex, and still persists in the constant and
willful neglect of her duty as a wife, I there
fore forbid, all persons harboring or trusting
her on my account and I will pay no debts
of her contracting after this date. '"Azel Tracy.
"Hartford, Septeraber 18, 1827."
Under the date of October 11, 1827, Phebe
replies by saying she often has asked for a
trial among impartial men and "I am stiH in
full communion with the Presbyterian church
and enjoy the confidence of its members. The
opinion of my neighbors, also, I am happy to
present as testimony of my general character."
Neighbors say, "We have been well acquainted
with Mrs. Tracy from her youth to the present
time and we believe her to be shamefulb
abused, and thus publicly slandered without
any just cause."
In the Septeraber 27, 1827, number of Chron
icle a reward of six and one-fourth cents
is offered for the return of a runaway appren
tice. The notice is by Richard Iddings.
Under the headline, "Beware of a Villain":
"Says the things stolen were a Castor hat man
ufactured in Salem, N. Y., by Jno. Adams;
two handkerchiefs and a pair of stockings.
The name of the thief is Wm. Briggs, who
lodged with the subscriber and before daylight
he decamped. Said Briggs is about seven
teen, with long and remarkably slim legs,
walks lame, has a down look when spoken to,
is very impudent and talkative when encour
aged. $5 is offered for him. A. B. F. Ormsby,
Cleveland."

Thoraas D. Webb advertises for a lost book,
"Crown — Circuit Companion," with the narae
of Samuel Huntington written therein.
"Whereas, ray wife, Phebe, has frequently
wandered frora the path of duty which that
infallible criterion; the Word of God, plainly
points out, and has conducted herself in that

In 1828 we find that Hapgood & Quinby,
proprietors of the Trump of Fame, advertise
that a boy ran away from them named Orin
Cook. Although this boy was eighteen years
old, he was bound out to them. "AH persons
are cautioned against harboring or employing
said runaway. Twenty-five cents reward will
be given to anyone who will bring him back.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

141

but no expenses paid." They then ask ex
changes to copy.
The full history of this remarkable old
paper is given in the Trumbull county chapter,
and information in regard to important news
papers of the entire Western Reserve is given
in each of the county chapters.
Western Reserve Press, 1850-52.
Mr. Whittlesey Adams, who is so thorough
ly interested in and conversant with the early

excepting . two in Sandusky. Now there are
twenty-six outside of Cleveland, and thirty-two
including Cleveland. Then there was not a
newspaper published in Trumbull county, out
side of Warren, and now there are seven well
established, and doing good business.
Akron : — Summit County Beacon; Whig ;
weekly; — J. Toesdale. Free Democratic
Standard; Democratic; weekly; — H. Canfield.
Ashtabula; — Telegraph; Whig; weekly; —
N. W. Thayer. Sentinel; Free Soil ; weekly :

MAIN STEEET, "WAEEEN, ABOUT 1848.
Sho-wing old "Democrat" office and homestead of Mrs. Charlotte Smith.
This from a painting by Ea-wdon and no-w owned by Miss
Prane Potter, of "Warren.

History of the Western Reserve, has prepared
for this volume the following complete list of
the newspapers published in the Western Re
serve in 1850-52.
The political parties then in active operation
were the Democratic, the Whig and the Free
Soil. There was not a daily paper published
on the Western Reserve outside of Cleveland,

 Fassett. Western Reserve Farmer and
Dairyman; agricultural; semi-monthly; 
Miller. Chardon : — Free Democrat; Free Soil ;
weekly; — J. F. Asper. Republic; Whig;
weekly; — E. & W. Bruce.
Cleveland: — True Democrat; Free Soil;
daily, tri-weekly and weekly ; — Thomas Brown

142

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and J. C. Vaughan. Plain Dealer; Democrat ;
daily, tri-weekly and weekly; — J. W. Gray,
editor and publisher. Herald; Whig; daily,
tri-weekly and weekly; — Harris, Fairbanks
& Corapany ; J. A. Harris, W. J. May, editors.
Ohio Farmer; agricultural; weekly; — T.
Brown, E. R. ElHott, L. S. Everett. Com
mercial; neutral ; weekly ; — L. Hine.
Conneaut: — Reporter; Whig; weekly; — D.
C. Allen.
Elyria : — Courier; Whig ; weekly ; 
Argus; Democrat; weekly;  .
Hudson : — Ohio Observer; faraily and relig
ious; weekly; — Sawyer, IngersoH & Company;
Professors Barrows and Day, editors. Family
Visitor; faraily and scientific; weekly; — Pro
fessors Bartlett and St. John.
Medina : — Whig; weekly ;  . Democrat ;
weekly ;  .
Milan: — Free Press; Independent; weekly;
— W. H. Lapham and C. W. Stebbins.
Norwalk : — Experiment ; Democrat ; weekly ;
 . Reflector; Whig; weekly;  .

Oberlin: — Evangelist; religious; weekly; —
'Rev. H. Cowles.
Painesville : — Telegraph; Free Soil; weekly;
— H. C. Gray. Lake County Advertiser;
united with Ashtabula Telegraph, and pub
lished simultaneously at both places. Whig;
weekly; — ^A. M. Wright.
Ravenna: — Portage County Whig; weekly;
— J. S. Herrick. Portage Sentinel; Democrat;
weekly; — S. D. Harris. Ohio Star; Free
Sod; weekly;— L.W.HalL
Sandusky City: — Register; Whig; daily,
tri-weekly and weekly;  Wagoner. Mir
ror; Democrat ; daily, tri-weekly and weekly ;

Warren : — Western Reserve Transcript;
Whig; weekly; — J. Dumars. Western Re
serve Chronicle; Free Soil; weekly; — A. W.
Parker. Trumbull Democrat; -v/eekly; — ^J. B.
Buttles and E. B. Eshleman.
Youngstown: — Republican; weekly Demo
cratic in politics and edited by Asael W.
Medbury and John M. Webb.

CHAPTER XVI.

FIRST CEMETERIES OF THE RESERVE.

The' first emigrants laid away their dead in
the clearings near their own homes. A Httle
later families of a neighborhood united and
purchased, or contributed, a 'burial ground.
Still later, townships set apart, or land owners
presented, sufficient land for cemetery pur
poses. First Cemetery on the Reserve.
The first cemetery on the Western Reserve
of which there is now any record is situated
on Mahoning avenue (Warren) at the rear
of the present residence of J. E. Beebe. As
stated elsewhere, the turnpike, now known as
JMahoning avenue, ran farther to the west
and undoubtedly the cemetery was located on
the street. The land was given by Henry
Lane, Jr., to be used only for cemetery pur
poses. A strip for an entrance, about eigh
teen feet wide, was bought later of Joseph
Crail, who occupied -the present Beebe home.
A few years ago the fence separating this
from Mr. Beebe's land decayed and another one
has never been erected. At different times
efforts have been made to have this ceraetery
abandoned, without success.
In May, 1846, the town council appointed
Joseph Perkins and George Hapgood to super
intend the erection of a suitable fence around
the grounds of the ceraetery. About sixty-
five rods of fence was required, of oak boards
and sawed oak posts, of suitable height.
The body of Mrs. John Hart Adgate was
the first interred in that ceraetery (1804), and
the last was Mrs. Eunice Woodrow, wife of
WiHiam S. Woodrow. Zephaniah Swift, 143

chief justice of Connecticut and the author
of Swift's Digest, who died while visiting
some members of his family here, was first
interred in this old burying ground, later re
moved to Oakwood Cemetery, and has within
a year been moved to a second resting place
there. He was the great-grandfather of Miss
Olive Harraon.
Distinguished Dead in Warren.
Whittlesey Adams says : "Many soldiers of
the war of 1812-14 were buried here whose
graves were originally marked by wooden
headstones, but are now wholly unmarked.
We mention herewith only a few of these
having an historical interest remaining yet
in the old cemetery. Many of these graves
are marked by substantial, weH preserved
head-stones and monuments with inscriptions.
General John Stark Edwards was the first
county recorder, in 1800, of TrurabuH county,
which then included the entire Western Re
serve. He was elected to Congress from this
district in October, 1812, and died February
22, 18 13. A monument such as deep affection
would suggest was placed over his grave.
Daniel Dana, died in 1839. A Revolu
tionary soldier and the grandfather of Charles
A. Dana, the noted editor of the New York
Sun, and also the assistant secretary of war
under Abraham Lincoln during the Civil war.
Calvin Austin, associate judge of the com
raon pleas court, 1802 to 1807.
Samuel Leavitt, state representative, 1813-
1814. General Roswell Stone, a brillant young

144

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

lawyer and state representative in 1826, died
in 1833.
WiHiam Cotgreve, state representative in
1815-1816. Elihu Spencer, died in 1819, editor of the
Western Reserve Chronicle in 1817 and 1818.
Thoraas D. Webb, editor of the Trump of
Fame in 1812 to 181 5, the first newspaper
pubhshed in the Western Reserve. He was
also state senator in 1828-9.
Sarauel Chesney, assistant postmaster of
Warren from 1812 to 1833.
John Tait, a fearless and enthusiastic dis
ciple of Alexander Campbell during the twen
ties and thirties.
William L. Knight, prosecuting attorney of
Trumbull county, 1835-1839.
John Supple, an educated expert accountant
and bookkeeper of General Simon Perkins,
1 830- 1 844.
H. Rutan; J. Adgate; Cornelia Crowell,
daughter 'of General John Crowell; Dr. Syl
vanus Seely ; WiHiam McFarland ; Robert Mc
Farland ; Isaac Ladd ; William Woodrow ;
Williara Smith Woodrow; Robert Gordon;
Horace Rawdon; Johnathan Rawdon; Charles
Stevens ; Henry Harsh ; Jacob Harsh ; Susan
nah Canfield, an aunt of George and M. B.
Tayler, and David Bell.
Williara Sraith Woodrow lived in a house
which stood on the lot Dr. Sherwood now
owns. He was a carpenter and cabinet raaker.

He had a shop on that place, and his son,
Arthur Woodrow, says : "Many a night have
I held the candle while father made and stained
a black walnut coffin. At that time a sohd
black walnut coffin could be bought for $5.50,
and when covered with black it cost from $8.50
to $12.50." Biers and Hearses.
Mr. Adams further says : "Previous to about
1 841 a bier instead of a hearse was used at
the funerals in Warren. A bier was a frame
work on which the coffin or casket containing
the corpse was laid before burial, also on
which it was carried on the shoulders of four
men frora the house- to the grave. The bier
when not in use was kept in the conference
room of the basement of the frame church
building of the Presbyterians on Mahoning
avenue. The bier ceased to be used about
1841, when Peter Fulk, a liveryman, brought
out a very plain, solemn appearing vehicle on
four wheels and two side curtains and called
it a hearse. Its cost was not exceeding $75.
This was used until about 1867, when John
O. Hart and Nathan Folsom, who had a
livery stable located on the southeast corner
of South Park avenue and Franklin street,
brought out a carriage of better appearance,
with glass sides and of more modern style.
This hearse cost about $600."

CHAPTER XVII.

SCHOOLS OF THE RESERVE.

When Connecticut passed laws in regard to
the seUing of its western lands it provided that
in every township 500 acres of land' should be
set apart for the support of schools. This act,
however, was never effective, because only the
Salt Spring tract was disposed of by Connecti
cut itself. When the state later authorized the
sale of the land, it provided that the money
arising from that sale should be held in the
perpetual fund which should b? used for the
payment of ministers' salaries, the erection of
churches of all denominations, and for school
purposes. This action was disapproved of
strongly, and finally, when the land actually
was sold, the entire sum, as we have seen, was
kept for the use of Connecticut schools. This
was invested in such a way that the $1,200,-
000 became $2,000,000. So large a sum was
this for those days that all teachers and most
text books pointed out this act to their pupils
and readers as one of a most conscientious
and progressive people. The generosity in
regard to schools, however, applied only to
the mother state. Either accidentally or
purposely (no matter how hard she has
tried, the wooden nutmeg, appears before the
author time after time as she writes) Con
necticut sold the Western Reserve without
providing any kind of school fund, whijch was
a drawback to colonization. Many old resi
dents today testify that their mothers who
came into this wilderness nearly broke their
hearts, not at the thought of leaving comforts
and friends behind, but because there was no
chance of educating their children, no chance

for themselves to continue any study. The
state of Ohio had made proper provision for
its schools, but this provision did not apply to
three reservations, the Western Reserve, the
Virginia Military district and United States
military bounty lands. It is easily seen, then,
that these important reservations were at a
disadvantage. In 1807 Congress appropriated eighty-seven
and one-half square miles in Tuscarawas and
Holmes counties for schools of the three above
mentioned districts, and fifty-nine square miles
raore in 1834. This last appropriation came
from the northwestern part of the state.
The Western Reserve therefore had 93,760
acres of land, the proceeds of which could
apply to the maintenance of schools. It was
found very hard to lease these lands, and con
sequently the legislature sold them in 1852.
The result brought a quarter of a million of
dollars for the support of schools in the West
ern Reserve. Hence "The Irreducible School
Fund," which is stiH used for the purpose for
which it was intended. All school treasurers
report each year this sum, insignificant, to be
sure, in comparison with the general fund,
but still a contribution.
Twice Dedicated to Education.
B. A. Hinsdale, Ph. D., LL. D., said in
1896: "Nothing is more honorable to the Re
serve than the prominence of education in its
history. Nothing has given more character
to its people than their educational intelli
gence, zeal and activity. In nothing can they

Vol. I— 10

14s

146

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

more confidently challenge comparison with
other communities than in their devotion to
schools and learning. In fact, the Reserve
was twice dedicated to education — once by the
general assembly of Connecticut and once by
the people that have made its history."
First Ohio School Laws.
The laws passed by the Ohio Constitutional
convention, 1802, were really voluntary laws.
If corporations wished to have schools they
were aHowed to do so; if children wished to
go to school, they were allowed to do so. In
one case the community provided the land and
built the school house, and in the other, the
parents or guardian paid the teacher. The
law protected the property and persons. It
provided that "the poor" should not be pre
vented from participation in school. This
included the academies, colleges, etc. There
was no more then of our splendid school sys
tem than there was of wireless telegraphy.
Laws of 1821 and 1825.
The school law of 1821 was a little stronger
than the original. It, however, was not at all
mandatory. It said "raay," not "must." It
authorized taxation to the amount of one-half
of that levied for state and county, but this tax
did not provide for the furnishing of fuel,
furniture or incidental expenses. This tax
was to pay for children of the poor and for
school house. A greater part of the expense
of the school was borne by the patrons and,
as we will see in the several county histories,
teachers were paid in produce — small wages
at that — and were obhged "to board around"
to piece out salary.
Under this law some pupils, through strug
gle, received good common education, but,
alas ! many had only a few months of "school
ing," and some none at all. The struggle of
making a living was great and the services of
children were invaluable.
The law of 1825 was a great improvement
over that of 1821. There was a spirit of com

raand in it. The levy was placed at one-half
mill on a dollar; teachers were obliged to be
examined by a board of examiners provided
for, and only those receiving certificates could
pass. We have seen in the earlier parts of this
history how the legislation for schools and
canal was carried on, and how they won out
together when neither could win alone.
School Legislation of the Fifties.
When the constitutional convention of 185 1
came to the question of education, it consid
ered it carefully ; it was no longer a secondary
matter. Then came what always comes when
sentiment grows — provision for general or
ganization, or rather provision which leads to
general organization. The legislature of 1853
provided a central "education office" at Co
lumbus, and there was thereafter a general
oversight of local schools.
B. A. Hinsdale, who is the authority for
facts here given, says that in 1854 there were
456,191 pupils enroHed in the schools; in 1895,
817,490. In high schools there were 4,611, in
1854; in 1895, 48,390. In 1854, in round
numbers, was expended two million doHars;
in 1895, twelve; and, of course, the amount
has increased in greater proportion during the
last fifteen years.
Yankee Idea of Schooling.
The Coramercial Yankee brought with hira
two things, which showed themselves in the
early schools. His penuriousness, or fru
gality, as you may choose to call it, and his idea
of self-denial. He wanted schools, but he
wanted them to cost little, and he wanted the
pupils to be under discipline of a moral kind.
He had no thought of setting his school house
in a beautiful grove, or near a running stream,
or at the top of a hill, where the scenery was
beautiful. He did not know that to encourage
the love of the beautiful in children was as
necessary as the raising of a nuniber to the
nth power. He put the school windows so

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

147

high that nothing but the blue sky could be
seen ; so that no passing bird or animal might
detract a child's attention. He put the door
at the rear, usually so that the occasional
traveler could not be seen. He believed this
privation helped pupils to self control and
led to industry. Maybe it did, but the author
believes it took much joy out of life, and was
a part of the same spirit which allowed these
same children not to play on Sunday, but al
lowed them to walk in the cemetery if "they
•did so decorously."
Then and Now.
The early log school was aided by the
academy, the seminary. Then in time came
the certified teacher, a little public money;
then a general Union school ; then the graded.
Once our little men and women trudged
through the woods where bears abounded,
carrying a testament and a meager luncheon,
and now rural children ride at public expense
to school houses, well warmed, well venti

lated, and are taught by capable teachers. In
these schools they are taught to think, not to
tell what some one else has thought. While
in the cities the most ordinary child has a
chance at kindergarten, at manual training,
at classical studies, which a chHd of the West
ern Reserve in its first days could not have
gotten even had he journeyed back to New
England. Joseph Jefferson, in his later years, became
interested in the cultivation of fruits and
fiowers in Florida. He said that when one
gxew old and realized there was really no more
growth in him, he should cultivate the ground
because then he saw things developing. To
those who do not care to follow Jefferson's ad
vice, or who care more for animals than vege
tables, the author advises those who need a
stimulant to life to study the school system;
visit the schools; encourage the teacher and
the pupil, and see what a power for good the
great system of schools on this Western Re
serve is.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

The Western Reserve has produced remark
able raen in medicine and surgery. It is im
practical here to mention names, but many of
them are referred to in the different chapters
which follow.
The Unsung Hero.
What surgery is doing for mankind none
of us appreciate. What the doctor in the
laboratory is accomplishing is not realized.
What the specialist is contributing to the
world is unrecognized, and the great good the
general practitioner, the family physician, is
not dreamed of. He not only ministers to the
physical, but to the moral. He helps to adjust
famHy matters and aids the municipality as
well. He answers the call of the vicious, as
well as the virtuous, and gives a greater
amount of money to charity than any other
citizen in proportion to his means. He enjoys
the loyalty of his patients, but he suffers un
justly more criticism than any other profes
sional man.
The fame of the successful surgeon grows
fast and great. The name of the discoverer
of a microbe, or of something which will de
stroy one, is telegraphed round the world ; but
the everyday "doctor" is a hero who lives and
dies, except in his community, unknown.
There were "medicine men" among the
Indian tribes of this vicinity, and it is barely
possible that physicians from Pennsylvania
were through New Connecticut before the

Connecticut Land Company came. But accom
panying the first party of surveyors was Theo
dore Shepard, registered as "physician." Dr.
Shepard was also here the second summer,
1797. Early Diseases and Medicines.
The diaries of the surveyors scarcely men
tion this physician or the work he did. All
seemed to have been very Well in the begin
ning of the survey, but after living, for weeks
outdoors, sleeping through a wet season when
they were tired and hungry, they developed
malaria — not our gentle kind, with lassitude,
weakness, cold and heat, but violent shaking
accompanied by high fever. Then, too, instead
of occurring every other day, as they did with
later sufferers, there were sometimes three,
usually two chills each day. The early records
state that, being short of medicine, the people
with headquarters at Cleveland used bark of
trees and roots, hoping to relieve themselves
of this disagreeable affliction. At the time of
the death of a member of the party, one of the
surveyors writes : "He turned purple after he
died, and Dr. Shepard thinks he must have
had putrid fever." When the surveyors de
parted in the falf of 1796, this doctor went
with them, and those who were left depended
upon home remedies. A child was born to
Mrs. Kingsbury during the winter, with no
attending physician, and some authorities say
that Mrs. Gun, of Cleveland, had a child, with
only a squaw as nurse.
148

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

149

Mysterious Cures.
Stories are recounted in manuscripts and
by word of mouth of the curing of people in
mysterious ways in our early days. Students
of metaphysics today explain these as being
rational and natural methods of cure. Then it
was mysterious, miraculous. Now the mental
healer teaches that the real person is soul, that
soul is part of God, that God cannot be seen,
and that through the action of mind the body
may be controlled exactly as the clothes are
controlled. Whether this be true or not twen
ty years from now will tell. In the meantime
we will believe it when we are well and make
haste to the doctor when we are ill.
Frightened Well.
An honorable non-sensational resident of
the Western Reserve vouches for the follow
ing: In the early days of Warren there was a
man who had rheumatisra. He was bed-rid
den. The citizens were then like persons of
one family. They cared for each other when
sick, when in trouble and distress. For a long
time Warren people had waited upon this man,
giving him food, lifting him in bed, and doing
all they possibly could for him. Occasionally
the Indians would get ugly from too much
"fire-water," and upon one such occasion,
when they began to have fighting symptoms
in the neighborhood, a courier ran into town
to tell the people that the Indians were about
to descend upon them to massacre them.

Whether this word reached aH the inhabitants
or only a certain proportion is not known, but
the neighbors of the bed-ridden rheumatic
were informed. They ran for their lives.
When they were some distance out of town
one of them remembered that they had left the
patient to suffer torture alone. As they
stopped to discuss whether it was wise for
them to go back for him, they heard a most
terrible howling and yelling in the woods be
hind them. Thinking, the first of the angry
redmen were about to descend upon them,
they were appaHed, but soon saw the bed-fast
man leaping over logs, swinging his hands in
the air, and yelling at the top of his lungs. •
We read in the history of Mecca, prepared
by Amoretta Reynolds and a committee, that
Mrs. William Pettis, of Mecca, was an invalid
for years. After a time her physician de
cided that if she only so thought she could
leave her bed. He, however, could not per
suade her of this belief. He therefore brought
with him one day when he paid his visit a
goodly sized snake which he placed between
the sheets. "It had the desired effect of bring
ing her to her feet and keeping her there."
Mrs. Walter King, whose father, Mr. Hol-
liday, kept a hotel, and whose husband owned
the King Block, was a terrible sufferer from
asthma. She was having an unusual attack
when a great fire in town occurred. They car
ried her from her home thinking, to save her
life, and in a certain sense they did, for she
never had another attack of asthma.

CHAPTER XIX.

TRUMBULL COUNTY.

Trumbull county was the first county or
ganized on the Reserve, and the seventh in the
state. Its area was reduced from an orginal
of two-hundred and eighteen townships to
its twenty-five. It is a perfect square. Its
eastern boundary is Pennsylvania, its southern,
Mahoning county; its western. Portage and
Geauga, and its northern Ashtabula.
In the beginning, Trumbull comprised all
the territory of the Western Reserve, and its
early history is found largely in the first
chapters of this work. At its county seat are
all the early records of the Western Reserve,
and interesting documents they are.
Quinby and Storer "Have a Look."
In 1798 Ephraim Quinby (his grandson,
George Quinby, now resides in Warren) and
Richard Storer, residents of Washington
county, Pennsylvania, having heard of the new
territory opened up to purchasers, came on
horseback to "have a look." It was fall, the
creeks were swollen, and the trip a hard one.
They speak of Yellow Creek in Poland, the
woods beyond Salt Springs, more dense woods,
and then number four. As we have seen,
people had been at Salt Springs, traders had
passed back and forth through number four,
Indians had cleared spots of land there, but
no white settlers were yet established, although
in 1798 the Connecticut Land Company had
voted some $300 for erecting works at the
Springs. A hale old fellow of about sixty
years, known as old Merriman, lived in close

companionship with the Indians, but he was
in no sense a resident. James McMahon was
a "squatter." He had a wife, two or three
children, and lived in a sort of a shack. Early
settlers do not seem to have respected him
very highly. As related, John Young had
built a cabin back of the present Wanamaker
residence at the south end of the present Main
street bridge, and here Quinby and Storer
took up their residence. They were not the
first to occupy this place during Mr. Young's
absence. Men who were trading with- the
Indians and the whites at Detroit, planned to
stay all night, or several nights in this build
ing, on their journey to and from Pittsburg.
There were several clearings round about, one
covering about twenty acres where the lower
part of the present "Flats" is, and some sixty
acres on the land so long known as the Fussel
man farm. Quinby and Storer "Settle."
Although this was not a very pleasant sea
son of the year, the two men seemed to be well
satisfied and each decided on the purchase of
property. Mr. Quinby selected 441 acres of
land in lots 28 and 35. This reaHy included
a goodly part of what is now Warren, running
south and west. For this he paid $3.69 per
acre, so that the present court-house yard cost
him about $16.00. Mr. Quinby and Mr. Storer
went home for the winter, and returned about
the middle of April, 1799. This is the real
date of the settlement of Warren.

150

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

151

Other Early Settlers.
Aside from Mr. Quinby and Mr. Storer,
WiHiam Fenton, wife and child, Francis Carl
ton and his chHdren, John William, Margaret
and Peter, came with them. We presume
Mrs. Carlton accompanied Francis, since it
is not at all likely that he would bring his
children into the wilderness without a mother.
Her name is not mentioned. WiHiam Fenton
and his family lived in the cabin where Mc
Mahon had lived, the latter moving into the
southwest corner of Howland. As no streets
were laid out, as the whole level of the land
has been changed, it is not absolutely certain
whether this cabin stood where the Second
National Bank now stands, or on the river
bank back of the present Byard & Voit store.
At any rate, it is not far distant from either.
Wherever it stood, it was the first buHding
erected in wha'c is now the business portion
of the town. Mr. Storer put up a cabin on
the old Fusselman ground, and Mr. Quinby
erected a log building about where the Main
Street Erie Station stands. This dwelling had
two rooms, bedroom and kitchen. A third
room was raised during this first summer but
it was not furnished until the next year and
was used as a jail.
Ephraim Quinby.
Ephraim Quinby was born in New Jersey
in 1766; married Amrai Blackraore of Browns-
viHe in 1795 ; settled in Washington county
and founded Warren in 1799 as above stated.
He was a man of great integrity, interested
in the prosperity of the new country and con
nected with all of the early history of Warren.
That this founder and philanthropist should
have been forgotten by the descendants of his
companions is almost inexcusable. He gave
land upon which the court house stands, upon
which the first jail and the first city building
were built, the whole tract that skirts the
river from the west side of the Market street
bridge to the Quinby homestead land, and yet
not one monument, park, bronze tablet, or

street, except a smaH, unimportant one, bears
his name. The present Tod avenue ran
through his farm and should have been called
Quinby street. Some time ago an effort was
made to change Parkman street to Quinby.
People residing on that street objected. They
were new people and had not been taught by
the press and the older citizens who Mr. Quin
by was or how much all residents was indebted
to him. For many years the land west of
the river, in the neighborhood of West Market
street, was known as Quinby Hill, but even
that term has been obliterated by "the West
Side." It would seem exceedingly appropriate
to call the land between the river and Main
street, upon which the city hall and the monu
ment stands, Quinby Park.
After Mr. Quinby took up his residence in
Warren he had eight children, Elizabeth, Will
iam, Mary G., James, Warren, Ephraim,
Charles A., and George. Amrai Quinby died
in 1833. Nancy, the oldest daughter, raar
ried Joseph LarweH, of Wooster, and lived to
be more than a hundred years old. Mary mar
ried Mr. Spellman and lived at Wooster. She
was the second child born in Warren town
ship. Elizabeth, who married Dr. Heaton,
lived and died in Warren. William, at one
time recorder of Trumbull county as well as
a merchant Hved all his life in Warren. James
a merchant, lived in New Lisbon. George
lived in Wooster and acquired a great for
tune. Warren and Samuel lived in Warren,
as did also Charles. Ephraim Quinby was
not only a real estate dealer and a farmer,
but an associate judge. He was one of the
original stockholders in the Western Reserve
Bank. He and his family were members of
the early Baptist church, and but for his in
fluence and that of his family connections this
church raight have gone out of existence.
Ephraira Quinby's children and his grand
children raarried into some of the oldest fam
ihes in the county, and he has today a large
number of collateral descendants. His son
Samuel was a very prosperous man and oc
cupied the same place in the comrnunity as

152

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

his father had before him. He was a member
of several of the early business houses, was
publisher of the Trump of Fame, was the re
ceiver of moneys derived from the sale of
public lands, and when the land office for this
district was at Wooster, Ohio, he lived there.
He returned to Warren in 1840. He was
secretary and treasurer of the Ohio and Penn
sylvania Canal and was director of the West
ern Reserve Bank in 1817. He was always
interested in politics, was state senator in '44
and '45 and again in '62 and '63. In 1 819 he
married Lucy Potter of Steubenville, Ohio. He
had two daughters, Elizabeth (who married
William Stiles, Lucy Stiles Cobb being her
daughter, and Elizabeth Cobb, her grand
daughter) and Abagail Haymaker, who is
StiH living at Wooster. Mrs. Lucy Quinby
died and Mr. Quinby in 1847 raarried Erama
Bennett Brown, a widow, and a sister of
Mrs. C. W. Tyler, and Mrs. Emily Bennett
Hutchins the forraer being the widow of Cal
vin Sutliff.
George H. Quinby was a son by the second
marriage and has lived all his life in Warren,
and untH within a few years in the old Quinby
home. The mother of Ephraim Quinby was Miss
Rittenhouse. Her people built and operated
¦ the first printing press west of the Alleghany
mountains. They made telescopes, light
houses, etc. She was interred in the Oak-
wood cemetery among the first who were laid
away there. Second Party of Settlers.
The second party to come to Warren was
also from Washington county. It consisted
of Henry Lane Sr., two of his grandchildren,
the children of Benjamin (Benjamin Lane and
Lina Lane Greiner Hve in Warren now),
John Lane, Edward Jones, stepson of John
Lane, and Meshack Case (the Misses Mary
and Harriet Stevens, the granddaughters of'
Mr. Case, have resided in Warren all their
lives). Of these two parties, Mr. Quinby, Mr.
Lane and Mr. Case, afterwards, by themselves

and their descendants, figured prominently in
the developraent of Warren. Henry Lane, Sr.,
who died in 1844 at the age of 78, bought land
in the lower part of town, a portion of which
has been in the family ever since. The son,
John Lane, and Edward Jones, planted corn
and lived in the Young cabin. Mr. Case
raade no selection of land at the time he
came. His decisions and those of his son
and grandson were usually judicious and were
not arrived at without careful thought. He
returned to Washington county but came back
again in August, when he bought 198 acres
of Richard Storer. He cleared two acres
and put up a cabin, went back to Washington
county in September for his family.
First Settlers from Connecticut.
Ebenezer King, Jr., John Leavitt, and Will
iam Crooks and wife, all of Connecticut, the
two former owning land in this new country,
came during the summer of 1799. King and
Leavitt raade only a short stay. These were
the first settlers from Connecticut. Crooks
raised a cabin, made a clearing, in the western
part of the present Warren township, and
sowed wheat. This is supposed to have been
the first wheat raised in the township, probably
within the present limits of Trumbull county. In
the fall, Mr. Henry Lane Sr. brought with him
his son, Benjamin, a boy of fourteen. On the
horse which the lad rode were one hundred
little apple trees, which were iraraediately set
out. These bore apples for many years, and
sorae are still standing, one in the yard of
Mr. Charles Wanamaker on South Main street.
Mr. Lane and both his sons went home for
the winter. The Young cabin, which was.
now occupied more or less most of the time,
was taken possession of in the fall by Edward
Jones, whose wife had joined him. Up to
this time all the settlers had been from Wash
ington county, Pennsylvania. In September,
Benjamin Davison (the great-grandfather of
Mr. S. C. Iddings) of Huntingdon, Hunting
don county, Pennsylvania, bought land below
the Fusselman farm next to Mr. Case. He

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

153

put up a cabin and went home when the
weather became cold.
Sometime during this year, range number
four began to be called Warren in honor of
Moses Warren, the surveyor who ran the
third range line.
Quinby and Storer in the autumn went to
Washington county for their families and as
soon as the ground was thoroughly frozen,
returned with them. During the last days of
the year of 1799 people living in Warren were,
Ephraim Quinby, his wife Amrai, children
Nancy, Samuel and William (William six
months old, rode with raother) ; Richard
Storer, his wife and three children ; Francis
Carolton, John, WiHiam, Margaret and Peter,
his children; William Fenton, wife and two
chHdren; Edward Jones and wife; WiHiam
Crooks and wife ; Jonathan and Josiah Church.
There were two or three workmen who are
mentioned as "hands," but when counting aH,
there were not more than thirty people.
Howland Township Settled.
Warren is situated so far east in the town
ship that people on the west edge of Howland
have been associated from the beginning with
Warren people. In 1799 John H. Adgate
settled in the southwest corner of Howland
township, and from that day to this some of
his descendants have lived in that neighbor
hood. His grandson John is associated with
his son Frank in the greenhouse business. The
early Adgates had, large families and these
descendants married into old families, so that
there have been at times over fifty people
living in Trumbull county who were connected
with the early Adgate family.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jones bought land
on the west side of the river where some
of the Dallys lived for many years. Here
was born the first child in the township, pos
sibly in the county. Her name was Hannah,
and her grandmother was Mrs. Henry Lane,
who was a widow when Mr. Lane married
her. Some writers say that a son of Mr.

Jones was the first white child born in this
territory, but this is an error. Hannah mar
ried William Dutchin and died early, 1820.
Henry Lane and Family.
In the springtime of 1800 came Henry Lane
Sr., his wife, and their children, John, Ben
jarain, Asa, Catherine, Annie, arid Henry Jr.,
who was one of the oldest of the chHdren and
who was raarried. At this time came also
Charles Dally, Jennie, his wife, and several
children ; Isaac Dally, Effie, his wife,, and sev
eral children; John Dally, wife and child;
Meshack Case, Magdalen, his wife, Elizabeth ;
Leonard, Catherine, Mary, Sarah.
Henry Lane was a remarkable man for his
tirae. He had the respect of his associates,
was elected to the legislature, and materially
aided in the development of Warren. He was
a man of remarkable physical strength. It
was said he could whip any man in the county,
and that whenever anybody got a little too
full of whiskey and offered to "clean out" the
crowd, he always excluded Henry Lane. He
was present at the Salt Springs tragedy but
took no part in it. On several occasions when
the Indians were disturbing, he was in the
party resenting the attack.
At one time Mr. Lane had been after the
Indians and learning that they were in a very
bad mood, he returned to his house (which
was nearer to the Salt Spring trail than those
of some other settlers) to look after his family.
Gathering them together they all started for
a place of safety when the wife remembered
that one of the children had been in the
garden. She therefore ran, found her asleep,
picked her up, and they all proceeded. A
little way from the house was a cornfield, and
here the family hid. Suddenly they realized
that one of the little girls was missing. The
mother felt sure that she too was in the gar
den, so the father left the family in the field
and went back for the girl. Sure enough she
had been sleeping in the garden, but the In
dians as soon as Mr. and Mrs. Lane were out

154

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of reach, had scalped her. It does not seem
possible to us of today, as we drive on the old
state road over the shallow Mahoning, that
the time ever was when a gentle little girl, in
her father's garden on the bank of that river,
could have lost her life at the hands of a
red man with his tomahawk. Mr. Lane had
to leave the body lying there in order to pro
tect his family and, huddling them together,
he bid them march to the fort (just where this
was the writer does not know nor do the mem
bers of the family who tell this tale) between
two and three miles distant while he, with his
gun in hand, walked backwards in order to
keep his eye on the enemy which was follow
ing. It is pleasant to record no harm came
to the rest of the party.
Of Henry Lane's chHdren, Henry was con
nected with the early business life of Warren.
Facts in regard to him will be found in the
chapter on old horaes.
Asa returned to Pennsylvania in 1820 and
died there.
Catherine married John Tait, of Lordstown ;
Annie married Samuel PhilHps, of Austin-
town. John married Mary Caldwell of Mans
field, living there a short time and coming
back to Weathersfield where he engaged in
farming. He spent the last days in Warren.
Benjamin, who came on horseback bearing
the apple trees, was not married until he was
fifty-six, that is, in 1841. His wife was Han
nah Cook, an English woman. They had
three children, Henry J., who lived on the old
farm, was always interested in family tradi
tions and now lives in Kansas; Benjamin F.,
who married Mary Ackley of Bloomfield and
has three daughters and a son ; and Lina, who
married Samuel Greiner and resides in War
ren. She has no children. Mrs. Lane died
when Lina was a baby and Miss Tait, of Lords-
town, gave her a mother's attention and a
mother's love.
Mr. Lane built an additon to the Young
cabin. This was standing within the remem
brance of people born as late as 1850.

The Case Family.
As the family of Meshack Case preserve
their records, writers of the history of Trum
bull county, from the beginning have been able
to quote from the manuscript of Leonard
Case as follows : "The usual incidents attended
the trip until crossing the south line of the
Reserve, at 41st north latitude. From there
to Yellow Creek, in Poland, was a very muddy
road, called the swamp. At Poland the set
tlement had been begun. Judge Turhand
Kirtland and family were living on the east
side, and Jonathan Fowler and his wife, who
was a sister of the judge, kept tavern on the
west side. Thence our way was through the
woods to the dwelling of a family named
Stevens, who had been there three years or
more. At their house we stayed over night.
The wife's name was Hannah, and with her
our family had been previously acquainted.
She said that during those two years she had
not seen the face of a white woman. Two
children had been born in this family at the
crossing of the river near Youngstown, before
AprH, 1800. Next morning we passed up
the west side of the river (for want of means
to cross it) to the place where James
Hillman lived on the high ground over
against Youngstown ; thence through the
woods over the road made by the Connecticut
Land Company, to the Salt Springs. At that
place some settlers, Joseph McMahon among
the rest, were engaged in making salt. From
there we passed (through woods) to the cabin
and clearing which Benjamin Davison had
made on the north one-half of Lot 42; then
on, one quarter of a mile, to a path that
turned east to the Fusselman place, on the
south one-half of Lot 35, and thence to the
residence of Richard Storer, arriving there at
4:00 p. m. on April 14. After our passage
through the woods and mud, the leeks on the
Indian field made a most beautiful appear
ance." The Case family was of HoHand extraction,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

155

mixed with Irish blood. Of the family, Eli
zabeth married James Ellis, removed to Ken
tucky and when a widow returned here, where
she passed the rest of her days. Catherine
married Daniel Kerr of Painesville, where
they were identified with the early history of
that town. Mary married Benjamin Stevens,
spent her whole life in Warren, was a teacher,
a musician, an excellent mother and citizen.
Sarah married Cyrus Bosworth and spent all
her life in Warren near the spot which her
father chose for the family home. Jane died
in childhood ; Zophar resided in Cleveland ;
Leonard was the best known of the family,
probably because, of a misfortune which over
took him shortly after he came to Trumbull
county. It was indeed a misfortune, because
at that time it was necessary for men to be
able to perform hard physical labor. Leonard
Case was lame and soon made up his mind
that if he was going to take a place in the
world he would have to make unusual effort.
He became a clerk in the land office, was as
sociated with General Simon Perkins as clerk,
read and studied constantly, prepared himself
for surveying. The work which he did was
so exact that John S. Edwards, the first county
recorder, induced him to study law. This he
did in addition to his regular work. He soon
acquired much knowledge concerning the
Connecticut Land Company, the Western Re
serve, and when he became coHector of taxes
of non-residents he added to his knowledge.
In 1816 when the Commercial Bank of Lake
Erie was formed, Mr. Case was elected cashier.
James Kingsbury, of whom we read in the
first chapters of this history, recommended Mr.
Case to this position because he wrote a good
hand and was a good accountant. Cleveland
was then a small town and his business did
not occupy all his attention. He never was
a trial lawyer, but he used his knowledge in
adjusting business differences, particularly as
to land, was frugal, and bought land so that
at his death he was one of the rich raen
of Cleveland. He was at one time mayor of
Cleveland, and later an alderman. In 1820 the

bank failed, but was afterwards reorganized
and Leonard Case was its president. Among
the first frame warehouses that were put up
on the river front was one erected by Mr.
Case. He had two sons, William, who was a
student and somewhat of a recluse, and who
died without marrying, and Leonard Jr., who
inherited the property of his father and dis
played such business qualities as to add largely
to it. Leonard, Jr., was a genial man, popular
with a few friends. He left a large amount of
money to his relatives, besides endowing the
Case School of Applied Sciences, Case Library,
and contributing generously to philanthropic
work in Cleveland. He never lived in Warren
and is therefore not identified with Trumbull
county history except through family con
nections. In the spring of 1800 Benjamin Davison,
with his wife Annie, and a large family, set
tled in Warren. The names of these children
were George Liberty, Mary, Prudence, Ann,
Sarauel, William, Walter, James, Betsey, and
Benjamin. Mary, the eldest daughter, married
Samuel Chesney and they have three grand
children and two great-grandchildren now liv
ing in Warren. John Leavitt and Family.
About the same time John Leavitt, with his
famHy settled in Warren, building a house
on the west side of Main street, which after
wards was a tavern. One of his daughters
became Mrs. Robert Irwin, an early Warren
merchant, and another married Wheeler Lewis.
Humphrey, afterwards a lawyer, located in
SteubenviHe, and later became United States
district judge. Albert, the youngest, lived in
Warren, while John, the second son, in 1805,
bought a farm about the center of Warren
township. He was known as "squire John,"
and was one of the early county treasurers.
He died in 1815. Samuel Leavitt, who was
the second of his generation to settle in War
ren, came here to investigate in 1800, and pur
chased land near the farm of his nephew,
John, Jr. Two years later Samuel brought his

156

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

wife, who had been a widow, Abigail Kent
Austin. The Leavitt family, the Austin fam
ily, the Parsons faraily and the Freeman fam
ily were connected through this marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Leavitt had one child,
Lynda, who married Judge Francis Freeman.
Their son, Samuel, who was long a banker
and business man in Warren, took his second
name, Leavitt, frora his niother. The v ife cf
Samuel Leavitt died in 1817, and he raarried
Margaret Kibbee Parsons, the widowed mother
of George Parsons, Sr. Samuel Leavitt died
in 1830, his first wife in 1816, and his second
wife in 1861.
On the Leavitt farm was the first race track
in Trumbull county. It was on the south side
of the road opposite the present home of Nellie
Austin Pendleton. The grandstand stood at
the head of the Lovers Lane road and the
judges could see down that lane for a long
way. A great deal of rare sport was had on
this course, Messrs. Harmon, Leavitt and Col
lins being the most interested. The building
of the canal spoiled this course since the bed
ran through it. The judge's stand was left
standing, and decaying dropped to pieces lit
tle by little. Many of the residents of Warren
remember the lower part of this building in
its last stages, not knowing what it was.
Later, race tracks were located in other parts
of the county, but the races were for trotting
horses, and not for running. These tracks
were a good way from town, and after a while
the racing was done on Mahoning avenue.
The horses started at a point in the neighbor
hood of the old toll gate and stopped about
where the city hall now stands. This was a
mile accurately measured. Because of the
bend in Mahoning avenue in front of the pres
ent Fitch property it was necessary to station
a man there so that the time keeper at the
lower end could know when the start was
made. When, therefore, the flag was dropped
at the start, the man at the bend dropped a
flag also, and the timer at the city hall thus
knew the race was on. The first horse making
a mile in three minutes was one owned by

Mr. CoHins, and the race took place on this
track. The enlistment of the young men in
the army of i860 put an end to these sports.
After a tinie the Agricultural Society had a
track in connection with the fairs.
Enoch Leavitt was the third of the Leavitts
who brought his family to Ohio, and he set
tled in Leavittsburg. He was buried there in
181 5, and Enoch Leavitt Jr. was a substantial
citizen of Trumbull county. He accumulated
about a thousand acres of land in Warren
township. He had six children and died when
only fifty-two years old.
John S. Edwards.
John Stark Edwards, the first recorder of
Trumbull, was one of the most brilliant men
of that day. A sketch of his life is given in
"Bench and Bar," since he was among the
most successful, if not the most successful of
the early attorneys. The following refers to
his domestic life and is given here :
There has come into possession of the writer
a little book printed for private distribution
only— "Sketch of the life of Louisa Maria
Montgomery," by her granddaughter, Louisa
Maria Edwards. It contains letters from the
family of John S. Edwards, some of his own
letters, letters of his wife and her family, and
is one of the most entertaining and interesting
voluraes we have ever read. Mrs. Edwards
spent a lifetime and a long one at that in the
Mahoning Valley, was a woman of very strong
character, and her association with Mrs. Per
kins, Mrs. Tod, Mrs. Kinsman and other val
iant pioneers showed how well she was thought
of in the community. It seems after John
Stark Edwards had spent the summer in Mes
opotamia, cutting down a few trees "to let
the sun in," he returned to Connecticut for
the winter. In 1800, as we have seen, he was
commissioned recorder of Trumbull county,
holding the office until 1830.
June I, 1801. "While writing this I am
seated in a log house on an old bench and be
side of a white oak table, all, fortunately, clean.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

157

* * * I found my settlement in a pros
perous condition. Another year it will be able
to support itself."
August, 1 80 1. "My settlement is doing finely,
We have this day had a lecture, delivered by
a clergyman. There were about forty pres
ent." This is the first record we have of a
lecture on the Western Reserve.
July 7, 1802. "I have a large cross-leg table
and chairs enough for all the family to sit on
and one for a stranger who chances to visit
me. We cook, eat and drink in the same
apartment. Food tastes as well, and sleep is as
sweet, in a log as in a frame house."
July 14, 1803. "I was in Warren on the
4th of July where I attended a ball. You may
judge of my surprise at meeting a very con
siderable company, all of whom were well
dressed with neatness and fashion, some of
them elegantly. The ladies generally dressed
well; some of them would have been admired
for their ease and grace in a New Haven
ball room. It was held on the same spot of
ground where four years since there was
scarcely a trace of human hand, or anything
within fifteen miles of it. We improved well
the occasion ; began at two o'clock in the after
noon on Monday and left the room a little
before sunrise on Tuesday morning. We
dance but seldom, which is our apology."
~'I am heartily tired of living alone. I
must and am determined I will be married.
Things are likely to take such a course as will
give us a tolerable society in this place, where
I must eventually settle down."
"I am heartily tired of Hving alone and am
determined to marry as soon as I can find a
woman who will have me that will answer."
Editor's Note. — Mr. Edwards seemed to be
an exception to the men of his time, and in fact
to some men of this time, since they are more
apt to say, "I am heartily tired of living alone
and am determined to marry as soon as I can
find a woman that suits me."
His brother in writing to him in 1802 says:
"The resolution which you have entered into to

take a wife I highly approve, but I fear you
win find it diificult to suit yourself. I cannot
say that I know a girl whom I should ser
iously -wish you to connect yourself with.
There are hundreds and thousands of pretty,
smirk-faced girls to be found, but they are far
from being calculated to make you happy.
Men of less refined notions who would not
be shocked at trifling variations from the ex
treme delicacy and high sense of dignity which
appertain to a fine woman of character might
render themselves happy by such connection.
But your ideas of women are such that would
lead you to wish for a wife who would not
only amuse or please you but who would make
a dignified and highly enchanting companion."
This portion of the letter is quoted here to
show how stilted was the style of letter-writing
more than a hundred years ago, as well as
how useless is the advice of brother or family
in love affairs. It seems this same brother
was looking for a wife in this wilderness, and
his descriptions of the different women are
very arausing. The family at home were
really wishing, to find just the proper person
for their brother, and there are long de
scriptions of the young women of the vicinity,
most of them spoken of in the highest terms;
but John Stark seems to stay in his Mesopo
tamia horae. Finally, in desperation, his sister
Henrietta writes, "I advise you, my dear
brother, to get you a wife where you are,
for there is hardly anybody left here worth
having." Again the family advice was not
good. Mr. Edwards and Miss Morris were
married on the 28th of February, 1807. Tliey
went by stage to Philadelphia, then most of the
way on horseback. Their married life was
happily spent, and people who saw them as
they stopped at the "taverr\" of Jared Kirt
land said they never saw a handsomer couple.
When they came to Warren they went to live
with General and Mrs. Perkins until their own
home was finished. This house is now stand
ing, is in good condition, and answers the de
scription which Mr. Edwards wrote of it at

158

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the time. Upon Mr. Edwards' death it was
purchased by Mr. Thomas D. Webb, and his
grandchildren now occupy it. In this house
Mr. Edwards' three children were born, one,
William, only growing to manhood. His
daughter Louisa Maria Edwards, a student of
the early history of this county, lives in
Youngstown. "Reading matter was scarce, and for want
of lighter food, Mrs. Edwards perused her
husband's law library, not a book here and
there, but all it contained. She also assisted
her husband in the Recorder's office, and it is
said the best written records of TrurabuH coun
ty are by her pen."
Miss Dwight visited Mrs. Edwards, prob
ably in 1810, and raarried William Bell, then
a Warren merchant. Winston Churchill, the
author, is a great-grandson of this couple.
In October, 1812, Mr. Edwards was elected
to represent this district in Congress. The
following January he started with Mr. George
Parsons and Mr. Williara Bell for Put-in-Bay,
where he had business interests. They got
as far as Sandusky when a thaw came on and
they had to return horae. In fording the
streams Mr. Edwards got wet, and became
very sick. They took refuge in a cabin, but
the water was so high in all directions that it
was hardly safe for them- to proceed. Mr.
Bell left Mr. Edwards with Mr. Parsons and
came into Warren^ and it was thought best to
have Dr. Seely go to him. Mrs. Edwards
was greatly distressed at the news brought her,
but "commending her little sleeping ones to
their Maker, she set forth, hoping to nurse,
comfort and restore her husband." They left
Warren about eight o'clock. The night was
dark, the floods had been excessive, the travel
ing bad, and many places dangerous. They,
however, proceeded about nine miles. Setting
out again before daybreak, they had gone
about forty-five miles from Warren when they
met the sleigh bearing the body of Mr. Ed
wards. Mr. Parsons alone was with him.
Mrs. Edwards wrote her sister, "We were

then fourteen miles from a house, just before
sundown, in a snow storm, and we were
obliged to return that distance to get even the
shelter of a cabin. For hours after dark I
followed that coffin. My dear sister, do you
not wonder that I lived to write you this?"
Does not the reader wonder? In fact, the
hardest trials which the early pioneers had
were those of sickness and death. Mr. Ed
wards was buried in the old ceraetery, still ex
isting, on Mahoning avenue. Almost broken
hearted, Mrs. Edwards found consolation in
her religion and in the kindness demonstrated
by her friends. She attempted to fiH the place
of both father and mother to her children, and
expected to return to New England, as her
family wished her to do. The unsettled con
dition of the country made the settling of es
tates tedious, and before she really could get
away, a year and a half, she married Mr.
Montgomery, and spent the rest of her life
in the neighborhood of Youngstown. Miss
Edwards, the granddaughter, is authority for
the following, and no man or woman was ever
more truthful than is she. In writing of her
grandfather's death, she says : "He died Jan
uary 29, 18 1 3. His sisters, Mrs. Johnson,
whose home was at Stratford, Connecticut,
and Henrietta Edwards, who was either at
New Haven or Bridgeport, both dreamed that
their brother was dead, one of them that his
death was caused by drowning. Mrs. Johnson
was so frightened by her dream that she waked
her husband to tell him. Then fell asleep and
had the same dream again. The next word
received from Ohio was of his death. The
dream of each sister, it was found occurred
at the time of his death, though whether the
night before or the night after cannot now be
remembered with certainty."
Gray, the Inventor.
Few people know that Elisha Gray, the
inventor, lived for some time on the Western
Reserve. He was exceedingly poor, and one
}'ear he asked Mr. David Gilbert, of Gustavus,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

159

Trumbull county, the father of Judge D. R.
Gilbert, of Warren, to allow him to live in
a little house, one story, fifteen by twenty,
which stood on Mr. Gilbert's place. This was
not plastered, but Mr. Gray put boards on the
inside, and papered it so that it looked com
fortable. However, it was exceedingly cold.
One springtime, tiring of his poverty. Gray
rented a sugar camp in the vicinity and urged
Mr. Gilbert to allow his second son, D. R., then
a lad about eighteen, to assist him in the
sugar camp. The arrangement was made and
Gray and young Gilbert went to work, and
work they did, for the camp was not well
equipped. They were several miles from home
and they would boil as late as they possibly
could and often had not time to go home
at night. Being particularly tired one night
young Gilbert suggested that they crawl into
the schoolhouse, which was not far away, and
sleep on the floor. This they did. A few
nights later, instead of going to the school-
house they crawled onto the hay in a near-by
barn. In the night they awakened, each shak
ing with a chill. When they were sufficiently
aroused they found that a snow-storm had
come up, that the roof was so full of holes
they were covered with snow. They therefore
decided to walk home. Taking their lantern
they started across lots. They soon entered a
piece of woods. Here young Gilbett had
played, here he had hunted for squirrels and
birds and he knew every bit of it. Someone
had had a fire in the woods that day and there
was a little of it left, not enough for warmth
but so it could be seen. They started to cross
the woods near this fire and in half an hour
they found themselves back at the fire, al
though they had supposed themselves to be
going straight ahead. This happened two or
three times. Finally young Gilbert suggested
putting out the lantern which they were carry
ing, thinking possibly the first of the morning
light might soon be there. They walked this
way to the edge of the woods where they
found the camp, and then got their bearing.

Although they did not reach home until three
o'clock in the morning, they went to work as
usual. They "sugared off" and had enough
cakes to fill the bottom of a wagon. With
great joy they started home with their load.
Before they were half way there a rain came
up, and hurry as they might, the melted sugar
was running from the wagon.
Apparently Mr. Gray was raore success
ful with electrical appliances than with farm
ing. All the while he was wintering in this
cabin he was working on inventions, and
sometimes as he boHed sap he would sit and
dream in front of the fire to the consternation
of young GHbert, who had to constantly watch
lest the fire go out or the sugar burn. A
churn, which at this time he patented, proved
unsuccessful. When he was working on the
telephone his wife really became alarmed
about him. He was then in Oberlin. Days
and weeks at times he sat upstairs like a man
in a dream. She thought he was losing his
raind. One day he came running down the
stairs calling, "Eureka, Delia, Eureka."
His early friends who knew him well be
lieved he invented the telephone which now
bears Bell's name. Gray cared nothing for
fame, but did care for the invention itself.
It wHl be remembered that a lawsuit was
begun by Gray against Bell for the infringe
ment of patents, and that it never came to
trial. Although Gray was very poor before
that, afterwards he had much money, and be
fore he was through this amounted to a mil
lion dollars. It was supposed that he allowed
Bell to have the name for a certain sum of
money or interest in the business.
Benajah Austin.
In order to keep the information in regard
to these early famihes clear, we mention here
Benajah Austin, who was the son of Abigail
Kent Austin before her marriage to Samuel
Leavitt, and a half-brother to Mrs. Judge
Francis Freeman. He married Olive Har
mon, and after living in the neighborhood of

i6o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Leavittsburg he moved into the hiuse now
occupied by Mrs. Nellie Austin Pendleton.
Benajah Austin was identified with much of
the early history of Trumbull county. Twelve
years he was commissioner. He was deputy
sheriff' one year, and sheriff two years. He
had six children, Hiram, who died at Chardon,
Julius, who lived in Braceville, Enos, who lived
at Youngstown, Amelia, who married S. A.

interested in poHtics, in the welfare of the
comraunity, a leader in the Disciple church,
a prosperous business man, and probably at
his home have been entertained more public
visitors than at any house in town save the
Kinsman homestead. Mrs. Austin was a beau
tiful character. She had the love and respect
of everyone who knew her. Her children and
intimate friends adored her. She was cour-

(Loaned by the Chronicle.) OLD AUSTIN HOUSE, -WAEEEN.
Showing small portion of the old part in use during stage-eoaeh days.

Potter, Benajah, and Harraon. Benajah was
one of the early doctors, but practiced only a
little time because of HI health. Harmon was
the most widely known of all the family. He
was born at the old homestead in 1817, lived
there until 1870, moved to Warren, where
he died a few years ago. He married Min
erva Sackett (January 11, 1842). He was

ageous, conscientious, and capable. She had
three children, Nellie, Harmon, and Mary.
The two younger live in Cleveland, and Nellie,
with her husband, W. C. Pendleton, her son
Austin with his wife and chHdren, now occupy
the house built by Benajah and lately re
modeled. Phineas Leffingwell and his family, who

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

i6i

came to Warren in 1800, were identified with
the early history. There are, however, none
of his descendants here at this writing.
Previous to 1800, Trumbull county, or the
Western Reserve, had been settled at Con
neaut, Cleveland, Youngstown, Harpersfield,
Warren, Burton, Austinburg, Vernon, Monroe,
Windsor, Poland, Mentor, Willoughby, Ra
venna and Deerfield.
Warren Taxpayers in 1804.
The taxpayers of Warren for the year 1804
were: John Adgate  Meunaga, Cal
vin Austin,. Samuel Burnett, Cornelius Bar
ker, Jesse PoweH, Joshua Brown, Steven Bald
win, Noah Brockway, William Crooks, Robert
Caldwell, Jonathan Church, Meshack Case,
WilHam Haniday, Topher Carnes, Charles
Dailey, James Deimscumb, Isaac Dailey, Sam
uel Donalds, Nathan Dunn, Benjamin Davis,
Jacob Earle, John Ewalt, Jesse Ellis, John
Earle, William Fenton, Robert Freeman,
James Grimes, WHliam Galbreath, William
Hand, Henry Harsh, Reuben Harmon, Ezekial
Hover, James Eaton, Jesse Holiday, Thomas
Jefferson, John Kinney, George Loveless, Asa
Lane, Henry Lane Sr., Henry Lane Jr.,
Samuel Leavitt, Enoch Leavitt Sr., John Leav
itt, Esq., Phencia Leffingwell, Asehel Mills,
Delaun Mills, Isaac Mills, WiHiam Morman,
William McWiHiams, George McGat, William
Netterfield, Joshua Ott, George Phelps, Sam
uel Pew, Thomas Pricer, Ephraim and Sam
uel Quinby, Joshua Quigley, John Reeves,
James Stanford, B. Stowe, Nathaniel Stanley,
WiHiam Vance, James Ward, Mr. Wetherby,
Benjamin WilHams, Urial WiHiams, James
Wilson, Francis Windall, Simon Perkins, John
S. Edwards, David Robertson, Robert Irwin,
Thomas Ross, Henry Wright, Samuel Ches
ney, James Scott, Francis Carlton, Walter
Brewster, Ebenezer Sheldon. Ephraim Quin
by's tax was the heaviest, 7.40 ; Walter Brew
ster's the lightest, seven cents.
In the year named (1804), the tax dupli
cate was divided as follows : Canfield, $85,953^ ;
Cleveland, $27.65 >^ ; Franklin, $37.10; Hud

son, $27.75; Middlefield, $38.65; PainesviHe,
$33.72; Vernon, $49.80; Ritchfield, $33-72;
Warren, $74.95 J^ ; Youngstown, $221,895^.
Without Laws, But Law-Abiding.
From the time the first tract of land was
bought by Parsons to 1800, a most unusual
condition had existed in Old Trumbull county.
In the beginning it belonged to -Connecticut
and Connecticut had jurisdiction over it. After
a time Connecticut sold it to a company, but
naturally as that Company was not a govern
ment, it could not transfer its legal jurisdic
tion. The United States was asked to assume
this jurisdiction, but it refused for obvious
reasons. So, for nearly five years the people
of Old Trumbull county were without law,
or law-makers. This fact was not so strange
as was the fact that the settlers proceeded in
exactly the same way they would have done
had they had a law. They bought land, made
contracts, got married, and collected moneys
due them, without any sort of officer to author
ize the proceedings. Once a tax collector came
into this region, but he was laughed at and
advised to leave, which he gladly did. So
much irregularity and uncertainty had there
been that finally, in April, 1800, the United
States released all its claim to the land of the
Western Reserve, provided Connecticut would
release all her claim of jurisdiction. The mat
ter was finally settled on May 30, 1800. The
niceties of the law question contained in this
early history are apparent, and all lovers of
law would do well to examine them.
It is a temptation to note them here.
Warren Selected as County Seat.
On July 10, 1800, the whole tract of the
Western Reserve was erected into a county,
named Trumbull for the governor of Con
necticut. At the time of the erection of Trum
bull county. Judge Samuel H. Parsons, Judge
James M. Varnum and Judge John Cleves
Symmes were the judges, and these men, to
gether with the governor, St. Clair, and the
secretary, Winthrop Sargent, decided upon
Warren as the county seat, and the governor

Vol. I— 11

1 62

appointed the necessary oificials. The selec
tion of Warren was not made for any other
reason than those which prevail in like selec
tions today, namely, that more men of influ
ence lived in Warren than in Youngstown.
Judge Young, to be sure, was a strong char
acter, but in things so large as great politics
he stood alone. John Leavitt, Ebenezer King,
Judge Calvin Pease, and sorae others, who had
land interests in the vicinity of Warren, were
not only men of strength, but they came from
Suffield, Connecticut, the home of Hon. Gid-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE .
Mr. and Mrs. James Scott.

James Scott married Elizabeth Quigley and
together they came to Warren in 1802. He
paid one hundred dollars for the land extend
ing from the lot now owned by Miss Olive
Harmon, on High street, to the home of the
Misses Stevens, on Mahoning avenue. He
erected a log house about where the Packard
homestead stands at the head of Main street,
which, as we have seen, was used as a court
house. Elisha Whittlesey said he was admitted

[i,  ^.yr;5,5»*i..- •¦¦*_ ^

(Loaned -oy the Tribune.) OLD JAMES SCOTT HOUSE.

eon Granger, then postmaster general of the
United States. The same sort of strings were
pulled in those days as now, and because of
the help of Gideon Granger at this time and
because of his family relation (he was a
brother-in-law of Calvin Pease), the people of
Trumbull county, in the vicinity of Warren,
have always thankfully remembered hira.
There were no telegraphs, no regular mails,
and Trumbull county had been established
some days before the people knew the fact,
or Warren people knew that they were living
at the county seat.

to practice in the upper room of this house.
This he sold in P815 to Mrs. Charlotte Smith
for $700. Mr. Scott then erected a residence
on High street where the home of Eliza and
Olive Smith stands. This Scott homestead
stood in front of the present dwelling, the
well being about where the present steps are.
The original building was of logs, but later
a frarae part was attached. In those days
there was no paint in the home market, and
no lime for white-washing. Mr. Scott, how
ever, used the clay found in this soil, and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

163

washed the outside of his house, making it a
very soft whitish color.
Mrs. Scott was very much interested in, and
very kind to, the Indians. She always fed
them when they asked for food, and they felt
perfectly free to go to her house at all times.
People who visited the Scott home were often
startled at seeing two or three Indians stand
ing in the room. The only intimation they had
had of their coming was that sometimes their
shadows were seen on the windows or in the
doorway. Although they were powerful men,
they were gentle, and as Mrs. Scott had very
dark eyes, fair skin and high color, they ad
mired her very much. Once she had a severe
iHness which the doctors pronounced fatal,
which one of these Indians, . learning of her
condition, told her that if she would send away
the .white doctors and the white people, he
would cure her. Since she had no hope in
any other direction, she complied. The Indian
went into the woods, obtained herbs from the
roots of which he made a tea. This he gave
to her, burning the leaves and the remainder
of the root and scattering the ashes in a cere
monial way. She recovered, and afterwards
asked him to tell her what the medicine was.
He knew no name for it which she would
know, but promised when the spring came, he
would take her into the woods and point it
¦out to her. He, however, died before the
spring came and the information was never
obtained. Mr. and Mrs. Scott built the brick house
-which stood where the Trumbull Block now
stands. In architecture it was much like the
Harsh residence. It had two chimneys on
¦either end. When the house was old the swal
lows, at twilight, used to sail around and
around these chimneys and then drop in.
Children congregated in the neighbofhood "to
see the birds go to bed." When the youngest
Scott child, Miss Margaret, died, Mr. and
Mrs. Aaron Wentz occupied this house for
years. It was torn down in 1898. James
Scott died in January, 1846, aged seventy-one.

Mrs. Whittlesey Adams, Misses Eliza and
Olive Smith are the grandchildren of Mr. and
Mrs. James Scott, while Norman and Dean
Adaras Whittlesey are their great-great-grand
sons. Mr. James Scott once killed a bear in one
of the trees which stood in front of the First
Baptist church.
Lavinia Deane (Mrs. Delamater).
Lavinia Deane was born in 1757 in New
York. Her father, when he had completed
his theological studies, was obliged to go to
England to be ordained. He was lost at sea.
His wife died shortly after, and Lavinia was
brought up in the family of her uncle, Silas
Deane, who was a member of the first Conti
nental Congress. Miss Deane had the advan
tage of the best education of the time and
knew the prominent politicians, or rather,
statesmen, among whom was George Wash
ington. She married Peter Delamater, who
settled in New York. He was- a Huguenot,
and through persecution fled from France.
When Mr. and Mrs. Delamater were living in
Kingston, 1777, that town was burned and
their house was the only one left standing.
Mr. Delamater went as a special emissary to
France during the Revolutionary war, and was
instruraental in securing certain measures
which were favorable to the Americans. He
died in France. Lavinia, his widow, later
married Captain Rowe, who lived but a short
time. When her only daughter, Charlotte, mar
ried Justus Smith, Mrs. Rowe became a mem
ber of that family. In the early days of War
ren Mahoning avenue ran west of the present
street, and on that road, back of Dr. Sher
wood's home, Mrs. Rowe lived in a log house.
Mr. and Mrs. Justus Smith.
Mr. Smith, having heard the wonderful tales
of fertility of the soil of New Connecticut,
journeyed westward, went to Cleveland, ex
pecting to locate. He found the mouth of the
Cuyahoga river a dreary place even at that

164

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

date, 181 1, and pushed on to Warren. He
bought of James L. VanGorder the mHl
erected by Henry Lane, Jr. and Charles Dally,
Imown later as the upper mill. This stciod
where the present water works station is, on
the east side of the river. Mr. Smith was a
large owner of land and mills in Glens FaHs,
New York, and he paid $4,000 for this prop
erty, which was a large sum of money for
that time. In 1812 Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. Smith
and her children, joined Mr. Sraith. He did
not live very long. ' His widow purchased of

strong character and were their equal in every
way. Mrs. Henry W. Smith, nee Stone, was one
of the finest and strongest characters of her
day. Her physical strength, coupled with her
determined, consecrated character, made her
a power in her home, her church, and society.
Although her family were men and women of
high standing, none of them surpassed her in
character. Mrs. Charles Smith, nee Scott, was devot
edly loved by her children. She was gentle.

(Loaned by the Tribune.)

OLD GEAETEE HOUSE.

James Scott the house he built on the Packard
lot, and here she made her home. She was a
woman of exceptional character, and business
sense and integrity. She carried on, as pro
prietor, the business which her husband had
left her, besides raising and caring for her
family. She sold the land which stHl belongs
to the First Presbyterian church for $500.
Her sons, Henry W. and Charles, were two of
the leading citizens of Warren's early days.
Not Only did they occupy a respected place
in the community, but each had a wife of

an exceptional housekeeper, an interesting
companion, and a true friend to those whora
she trusted and admired. She lived to great
age and was tenderly cared for by her daugh
ters, Eliza and Olive.
Jane SiT}ith, the sister of Henry W. and
Charles, married Mr. Shaler and moved to
New York, while Maria became Mrs. David
Tod. These chHdren all lived to old age, Mrs.
Tod dying only a few years since. The grand
children of Justus and Charlotte Smith, now
residing in Warren, are, Jane (Smith) Lyttle,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

•165

Maria T. Smith, Helen R. Smith — the children
of Henry W.; Margaret (Smith) Adams,
Eliza and Olive Smith — the children of
Charles. There are also six great-grandchil
dren and three great-great-grandchildren liv
ing here.
The second house above the Presbyterian
church was owned by Charles White from
1835 to i860. It was once occupied by Eliza
and Mary Wick, the latter being the mother
of Henrietta Crosman. In this house Stephen
Foster visited and here he wrote some of his
famous songs. Here, too, was Mr. White's
cabinet shop where Edward Spear, the father
of Judge William T. Spear, did business. The
descendants of Edward Spear living in the
city are Misses Abbie and Annie Hoyt.
Immediately north of this building was the
printing house of George Hapgood, who ed
ited the Chronicle from 1825 to 1841, when he
became postmaster.
The next house was once the home of Gov
ernor Tod, later occupied by Hon. John
Hutchins, and now owned by George and
Harriet Jones.
The Old "Graeter House."
In 1835 Augustus Graeter purchased frorn
Mrs. Charles Smith for $2,000 (note the ad
vance in value in property), the land lying
between Dr. Harmon's property and the Pres
byterian church. Using the old log house,
erected by Mr. Scott, he constructed a tavern
of goodly proportions. The old part of the
house which was used as a court house be
came the dining room. This hostelry was
known as the "Graeter House" and stood until
1870, when it was purchased by Warren
Packard, who erected his fine three-story
home. Augustus Graeter and Family.
Augustus Graeter was a highly educated
man who brought some money with him from
his home in Germany. His wife, Sarah, who
lived at Allentown, Pennsylvania, was a suc

cessful milliner and dressmaker and her busi
ness ability afterwards served her a good pur
pose. Mr. Graeter used fine German, but Airs.
Graeter was Pennsylvania Dutch. The piano
which she brought with her was the first one
brought over the mountains to Warren. Mr.
and Mrs. Graeter had a large faraily of chil
dren. Louise, Augustus and Adolphus were
all musicians. Louise had special talent and
Adolphus for many years kept a music store
in Warren. The two youngest children still
reside in this city, Fredericka, who married
the youngest son of Rev. N. P. Bailey, and
Isabella, the wife of Frank M. Ritezel, editor
of the Chronicle. Mrs. Bailey is the money
order clerk in the postoffice. Some pictures
have been drawn and painted of the old Grae
ter House which are incorrect. In them a
wing at the east of the house is represented
as having two stories, whereas this building
had no windows in the second story in front.
This part of the house was not in the original
buHding, and one of the daughters of Mr.
Graeter thinks it was one of the buildings
erected at Mecca at the time of the oil craze,
and was bought by her father at the time the
buildings were moved here.
The Old Parsons House.
The old Parsons house, which was long a
land-mark, was built in 1816, and stood where
the opera house now stands. It was consid
ered a very beautiful residence and cost $2,500,
a goodly araount for those times. Mr. George
Parsons lived in it until i860, when he died.
It had an attractive stone wall, with a little
iron railing, and stone steps. There was an
aristocratic air about this building. Additions
were made to the original house in 1830 and
again in 1835. Mr. Heman Harmon married
a daughter of Mr. Parsons and lived here until
1859. They had a large family of attractive
children, all of whom married. The widow
of one, Heman, Cornelia Fuller Harmon, with
her daughter, Ella, are the only representa
tives of the family living now in Trumbull

i66

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

county. Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Bradshaw and
Mrs. Hawkins, aH live in Indianapolis, while
the widow of Calvin still lives in Youngstown.
Under the date of October 3, i860, the West
ern Reserve Chronicle says: "Mrs. Van R.
Humphrey, of Hudson, daughter of Judge
Calvin Pease, attended the wedding of Miss
Maggie Harmon and John Edwards. She was
present at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs.
Heman Harmon," father and mother of the
bride, and also of George Parsons and his wife
(when it gets back to the grandfather they do
not even mention the wife's name). She, Laura
Pease, was only ten months old at the time and
mud was so deep that women could not walk.
Therefore, Mr. Parsons drove the horse, car
ried the baby, while Mrs. Pease sat behind hira
on the horse. Most of the woraen were thus
conveyed to the wedding."
Alraost every settler was a hotel-keeper in
that he lodged and fed all the needy, and most
of the strangers who came his way. The law
required that if pay was received for such
guests, the host must have a license for a pub
lic house. For this reason the early court
records shqw that Ephraim Quinby was recora
mended to Governor St. Clair by John S. Ed
wards "as a suitable person to keep a house of
public entertainment." Mr. Quinby paid four
dollars to the county treasurer for this license.
About the sarae tirae James Scott also received
a license. Neither of these men really kept
public house. Pioneer Hotels in Warren.
The corner where the Second National Bank
now stands was for many years the site of a
hotel. In 1801 John Leavitt, who lived here,
took boarders, and opened a regular hotel in
1803. This was the first hotel in town. Others
who have kept hotel on this spot were Jesse
Holliday, John Reeves, Andrew McKinney,
and Horace Rawdon. Horace Rawdon was
the father of Calvin, Horace and Richard. The
three sons lived all their lives in Warren. Two
of them were much interested in military or

ganizations and played the snare drum. They
are aH dead and lie buried in Oakwood.
Horace, the father, kept one of the most popu
lar hotels in the early days. He was the last
landlord to occupy the site of the present Sec
ond National Bank. In 1836 this property was
purchased by Henry W. and Charles Smith,
who erected a two-story buHding thereon. This
store was destroyed by fire and when rebuilt
a third story was added. It was long occupied
by Smith & McCombs.
Dances and Invitations.
When Horace Rawdon kept the hotel, which
was made of logs and weather-boarded, it was
painted red and had the first brick chimney in
the village. It also had a very creaky sign
which could be heard at a great distance as it
swung on a windy night. In this building danc
ing school was had, usually in the afternoon,
attended by both men and women. Evelyn
Rawdon, who married Mr. Hammond and
lived in Bristol until a few years since, said
that there was a dancing school in this hotel
in 1824-25. Her sisters, Louisa Rawdon Dun
lap and Lucy Rawdon Crane, with herself, at
tended. The girls went in the afternoon; the
boys in the evening. Sometimes both classes
went together, on special occasions, carriages
being sent for the girls, the boys walking. They
were sent home the same way. The boys es
corted the girls to supper ; the dancing master
assigning the girl to the boy. Invitation to
these dances were sometimes written in verse.
The following are copied from a large num
ber of invitations of Mrs. Goodline, the mother
of John S. McAdoo, of Bloomfield:
Independence B.all.
The Company of Miss Goodhue is respect
fully solicited at VanGorder's Assembly room
on Monday, the Fourth of July, next, at Four
o'clock P. M. Signed, L. Potter,
C. Pease,
T. R. Butler,
Committee.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

167

Another :
Bring the flask, the musick bring.
And joy shall quickly find us.
Let us gaily dance and sing.
And leave dull care behind us.
This was dated 1827.
A New Year's Ball.
I shake with free importance. Care ;
The good, the youthful, and the fair.
From lodge and court and house and hall.
And hurry to the New Year's ball.
This stanza heads a ball invitation to be held
at J. L. Van Gorder's Assembly room, at 5
o'clock, December 29, 1829: '
Managers.
D. Tod, J. Scott and C. Pease.
These three men were the leaders of society •
in their day.
Castle William or the Pavilion.
The Pavilion was built about 1807. William
W. Cotgreave wais its proprietor and it was
commonly known as "Castle WiHiam." The
first story was built of logs and was designed
and used for a jail until the county provided
one. It was a queer-looking house, the east
end being three stories high, built of brick, the
west end, two stories, was frame. Pictures
sometimes now reproduced in papers are taken
from an old cut and are not correct. People
who were chHdren in the early days of the
Pavilion say these pictures give no idea at all
of the ancient building. Court was held here
and the upper story was used for church, meet
ings, schools, shows, concerts, political meet
ings, literary entertainments, etc.
It was bought in 1828 by James L. Van
Gorder, and from that time was called the Pa-
vHion. Mr. VanGorder was one of the early
business men in Warren, having owned and
built several miHs, and much other property.
When the canal was being built, he secured the
contract for making the five locks in this vi
cinity and this paid him so much better than

the hotel did, that he gave little personal at
tention to the tavern. It therefore was not as
prosperous in its latter days and was destroyed
in the fire of 1846. It stood upon the ground
now occupied by the stores of D. W. Hull,
Hart, Kinnaman & Wolf, Fuller, Gunlefinger,
and Greenwalt & Peck. Just previous to the
burning of the building Cyrus VanGorder, a
son of James L., while in New York purchased
some paper for the decorating of one room of
this hotel. He paid one hundred and twenty-
five dollars for it. It was hand made, and done
in water colors. Before it was put on the wall
the hotel burned, and it has been in the pos
session of the family ever since. A few years
ago Mrs. John Kinsman, a granddaughter of
James L. VanGorder, used it to paper her par
lor. Apparently it is in as good condition as
when it was new.
The Towne Hotel.
For about a century a hotel has stood on or
near the ground occupied by the Park Hotel.
Here, very early, Cyrus Bosworth built a tav
ern which was kept by Benjamin Towne, com
monly called "Uncle Ben." This was one of
the yery best taverns of the county. Mrs.
Towne was a woman of great executive ability
and business judgment and of much assistance
to her husband. Her daughters, who helped
in this hotel home, added to the popularity of
the place. Provision -was bountifully served,
horses well cared for, and even when trade
was slack with other landlords, this tavern was
full. One of the early newspapers says,
"Towne's Hotel had a ball roora, and whenever
there was a ball it never broke up until morn
ing. Liquor was free those days everywhere
and often the sons of wealthier people were
too drunk to dance." Mrs. Towne died in 1849
and Mr. Towne gave up the business a little
later. Mr. Towne kept pigs, cows, and geese.
These animals (as did the animals of other
people) lived largely in the "Court House
Yard." His geese were his special pets. They

-^uifi I9»7

Jot '-'<;

(This is taljen from a painting of J. W. Bell, now in the possession of his wife,
Ella M. Ben.)
JOHN LO-WEEY'S SALOON, LONG ABANDONED, ON PAEK AVENUE,
BUHiT IN 1807.
Tho figure is that of Jefferson Palm. The amall building on the left, part of
which only is shown, is the blacksmith shop of Hardy & Strong.

HISTORY OF.THE WESTERN RESERVE

169

paddled all over the park and scrambled into
the river when they wished to swira. They had
a troublesome way of laying their eggs so far
under the barn as to be out of reach of men.
Mr. Irwin Ladd, who, as a boy, must have been
a "Johnnie on the spot,'' says Mr. Towne used
to ask him to crawl under the barn after these
eggs and now and then gave him an egg as a
reward. Mr. William Williams, coraraonly
called "Billy," had a cabinet shop north of the
Towne Hotel. Billy would put a grain of corn
on a pin-hook, swing the string out of his win
dow, and capture one of the Towne geese.
"Now and Then" in the Chronicle says, "It
would rile the old gentleman a good deal but
whether Billy owned up or not I never knew,
but I expect he was led into the mischief by
Ben Kiefer and David B. Gilm,ore, who were
his apprentices at this tirae." Those of us who
remember genial "Billy Williams'' walking
dignifiedly to church on Sunday with his wife,
or, strictly speaking, a little ahead of her, or
who knew by sight quiet, gentle Mr. Gilmore,
never would accuse them of fishing for geese
with a pin-hook. Certainly young blood runs
riot. When Mr. Towne retired from the hotel Mr.
and Mrs. Almon Chapman took charge and
continued in the business many years. They
were excellent hotel people, both of them, and
when they retired they had a competency. They
bought the house just west of the Episcopal
church, and this property was left by will to
Mrs. Chapman's niece, Mrs. Fred Adams.
Phineas Chase and his son-in-law, George
Parks, were the next landlords and they too
made a business success of it. After many
years Mr. Chase retired and Mr. Parks went
into the grocery business. The latter resides
on High street.
The National House, having become dilapi
dated, a company was formed to construct a
new one and upon its com,pletion Clark and
Garrett became proprietors. After a time Mr.
Clark retired and Mr. Garrett managed it
alone. ]\Ir. C. C. Chryst was the next landlord

and he was followed by Mr. John A. Fuller,
the present proprietor. The building is now
owned by Mr. Orris R. Grimmesey.
' A Popular Stage House.
One of the most popular of the stage houses
in Warren was that which stood on the corner
of Main and South streets, where the Austin
House now stands. It was built of wood and
had an upper and lower porch. In the early
days Mr. Paltzgroff kept this and later Mr.
Shoenberger. In the height of the coaching
days as many as eight coaches a day stopped
there. At this time when business looked well
for Warren, Morgan Gaskill, a successful busi
ness man of Bellevernon, Pennsylvania, came
here. He was the father of Mrs. Albert
Wheeler and the grandfather of Mrs. Late
Abell and Mrs. Howard Ingersoll. He had a
boat yard near the canal where he repaired
boats iand did other business. He finally bought
a farm in Champion, intending to settle down
quietly for the rest of his life. Some Warren
citizens, thinking that a new hotel was needed
urged hira to put his money into such a build
ing and to encourage hira they offered to fur
nish it if he should not have money enough
to do so. The old hotel was therefore divided
in two parts, one-half moved to the east on
South street and the other south on Main
street and a brick building known as the Gas
kill House erected. The old building on South
was removed a few years ago, but the par-t on
Main street still stands and is occupied by a
second-hand store. It is in a very dilapidated
condition.
The Gaskill House.
The Gaskill House was opened by a grand
ball on December 23, 1853, which the papers
of that tirae describe as being "a splendid
affair." For a time a number of farailies of
importance either lived or took their meals at
this hotel and it was a gay place. It happened
that Mr. Gaskill had made his investment at
the wrong time. His friends who were so free

170

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

to advise him to put his money into it did no
more than they agreed and creditors crowded
him and he lost the savings of years. The
buHding of the Mahoning railroad detracted
from the value of the property instead of add
ing to it as was expected. In the early sixties
Mr. Shoenberger was the proprietor and dur
ing his time, as well as before and after the
third story was used for balls and dances. Sorae
of the other proprietors were Stephen Hoff
man, J. Knous, Peter Fulk and Samuel Derr.
The Absent-Minded Landlord.
Mr. Harmon Austin and Mr. Warren Pack
ard bought the building in the seventies and
Enos Austin was the landlord. Mr. Austin
was an exemplary raan and a good landlord,
but he is remembered as the most forgetful
man of the town. The stories told of hira would
fill this volurae. He has brought his wife to
church when he lived on the farra and gone
home without her. He has taken her to Har
mon Austin's in Leavittsburg, gone home to
Newton Falls, been obliged to make a return
trip for her. Once when sent to the store for
nutmegs he took a wheelbarrow to take thera
home. One day as he was preparing the meats
for dinner and had blood on his white apron,
he happened to think of something he wanted
up town. Without taking, off his apron nor
laying down his knife he ran through the
street, as he was in a hurry to obtain the ar
ticle. A stranger going to the train met him
and seeing his bloody knife and apron ran hard
to get out of his way, thinking him to be a
crazy man. The Austin House was last used
as a hotel by the Park Hotel proprietors when
their building was being erected. The old
hostelry still bears the name of the Austin
House. It is owned by W. W. Dunnavant and
is a tenement house. It is supposed to be a bet
ter paying investment now than in the days of
its glory.
Few people living in Warren remember the
Hope House. It stood where the garage on
East Market now is. It was the headquarters

for teamsters during the building of the canal,
as well as during war times. Liquor was sold
here as at all other hotels, and people who
loved quarrels and fights had plenty of amuse
ment. The teamsters, who often had to sleep
in their wagons or in their blankets on the floor,
quarreled among themselves t<x) often to please
the peace-loving citizens.
At the time of the building of the canal two
Texans, brothers, David and George Law, had
the contract for the digging of the canal near
Warren. George was a very peaceful man
but David was a fighter. The latter rode a big
dun-colored m.ule and people who knew him
at the tirae said that he could get off that mule
and whip any Irishman who was working on
his line. He was six feet in height and of
powerful build and a Warren citizen says
"Nothing nor nobody could head off George
Law." In the late sixties and seventies this hotel
was known as the Eagle House and it had not
a very good reputation as a hostelry. Few
people were seen there except on circus and
"other big days," when accommodations were
hard to obtain. Just when it disappeared from
view nor where it went no one seems to know.
"American House" Love Story.
No matter how. old, how decrepit, how in
different men or women may be, a love story
attracts all. For this reason the tale of the
building of the old American House has been
given over and over again in newspapers and
magazines. James Scott had a large faraily
of children, the daughters were all attractive,
one especially being spirited. In 1826 a young
cabinet maker, named Lowe, who came to
Warren to work, had a modest little shop on
the northwest corner of Park and High streets.
He soon fell in love with Miss Scott. She did
not fancy him, and gave him to understand she
did not care to have him call upon her. Stories
told of this young girl make her say that she
was the daughter of a rich man and could look

(Loaned by the Tribune.) DAN^ MUSICAL INSTITUTE.
First a store, then a hotel.

172

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

down on his little shop from her window. This
statement is so unlike any Scott descendant
that the author discredits it. Since this was
true it hurt Lowe's feelings very rauch. He
then retorted by saying that he would put up
'a building so high that he could sit in his room
and look down on her. He borrowed the money
and began the work, but when half done he
died of smallpox. As Mr. Leicester King had
loaned him the money for the enterprise, he
was obliged to finish it in order to save hira
self. Mr. Isaac Ladd, one of the best carpenters
of that time, had the contract for the wood
work above the first story, which had already
been completed. Mr. King rented this buHd
ing as a store until 1840, when it became a
tavern and was known as the "American
House." There was considerable rivalry be
tween the American House and the Gaskill
House in the '60s. The location of the former
was in its favor, but the good cooking of the
German housewives connected with the latter
balanced the location.
Proprietors of the American House at differ
ent times have been WHHam H. Newhard,
Henry Lowe, Mr. McDermont, Edwin Reeves,
James Ensign and Benjarain Gilbert. Of these
men Mr. Reeves is the only one living. This
hotel had a ball room and for many years peo
ple met here for dances and entertainments.
At the tirae of the building of the Atlantic &
Great Western railroad the American House
was the headquarters of the engineers. Dur
ing war times large bodies of soldiers were
fed there.
In 1869 or '70, Junius Dana purchased the
building and it has been used as a Musical In
stitute ever since. It is now in poor repair and
will, undoubtedly, before long be removed.
Its huge pillars running full length make it an
imposing looking building.
A wooden hotel built by Asael Adams stand
ing at the corner of Market street and Park
avenue for many years accomraodated not only
travelers but boarders as well. It had a great

sign of four boards made in a square and
fastened to a huge post upon which were large
letters, "Franklin House." A long cord run
ning from the front of the house to the stable
connected with a bell which brought the hostler
to the front of the house to take charge of the
horses. The stable stood where the Lamb &
Strong BuHding is now. Among the landlords
best remerabered were "Billy" WiHiams and
Daniel Thompson, the father of Mrs. Dr. Sher
wood. After the grading for the sewerage was
done, the building was reached by a long flight
of wooden stairs. This structure was removed
to raake way for the present Franklin Block.
Alanson Camp kept a hotel on Market street
for many years. D. B. Gilmore and Jesse Pan- f f
coast, John Hoyt, and the Elliott brothers were
among, the landlords there. Very recently this
building has been reconstructed and is the
property of E. A. Voit, and Mr. Christianar;
the proprietor is Frank McConnell.
Oldest Business Building.
The oldest building erected for mercantile
purposes in the business part of Warren and
now standing well preserved and unchanged
in its appearance at the front, is the two-story
brick building with stone front at No. 7 North
Park avenue. It was erected by Asael Adams
in 1836 for general mercantile purposes and
was at that time the most complete mercantile
building in northern Ohio outside of Cleve
land. In the '60s the lower part was used for
a postoffice ; the upper part as a residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Morgan. For a few
years the McFarland Brothers had their under
taking establishment here. It is now owned
by W. W. Dunnavant, who has a moving pic
ture show, called "Dreamland." At this writ
ing he is making a one-story addition to the
rear, to accommodate his growing business.
Henry Lane and Lane Street.
One of the oldest houses in town was that
which stands on the river bank, on the site now

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

173

occupied by William H. Baldwin. Henry Lane,
Jr.; who gave the land for the first cemetery
now on Mahoning avenue, lived here. The
house was of logs, and Mrs. Lane, a lovely
woman, who was very fond of flowers, had
a beautiful garden there. When working with
her flowers she destroyed the sight of one of
her eyes. When the town began to name its
streets the street running directly east from
the Lane home was called Lane street. What
influence was brought to bear to blot out the
name of this good old ^itizen is not known, but,
within the recollection of the writer, Lane street
became Belmont. This house was for many
years the home of Mrs. James VanGorder, and
her daughter, Ann Mary, who late in life mar
ried Rev. Joseph Marvin. The wing of the
house was the old log. house which Henry Lane
first put up. It is a common belief that part of
this log structure is in the present building, but
Mr. Baldwin, who repaired it some years ago,
says that there is no part of the log house left.
In 1807 Mrs. Lane went to Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, and Mary Reeves, her
niece, who had been left motherless, returned
with her. Miss Reeves was a cousin of the late
John Reeves, of Howland. She married Henry
Stiles and lived, all her married life, a few rods
from her aunt's home. She was the grand
mother of Mrs. Rolla Cobb, Mr. Henry Quinby
Stiles, Miss Harriet Jones, and Mr. George
Jones, of Warren. Henry and Mary StHes had
a goodly sized family, all of whom were genial
and friendly. The Stiles homestead, with its
long, low porch, which all adult residents of
that day well remember, was the rendezvous of
the young people of this city. Mrs. Albert Wat
son, of Cleveland, who, as Lucy Morgan, used
to be a guest of the Stiles family, says that in
no house in Warren did the young people ever
have a merrier time.
Horace Stevens and Family.
Horace Stevens, the brother of Benjamin
and Augustus Stevens, was a hatter by trade.

Miss Aurelia Pier, who lived in Vermont, was
betrothed to him. She came west with Judge
Leicester King and family. They came by
water to Fairport, and Mr. Stevens, with
George Parsons, went to meet them. Mr.
Stevens and Miss Pier were married at the
home of Judge King. Mr. Stevens built the
house which stood on the lot now owned by the
Misses Hall on Mahoning avenue. Here their
oldest child, Mary, was born. Mr. Stevens
afterwards branched out in business, sold his
property to General Crowell, and moved to
Newton Falls. At that time, because of the
water power, Newton Falls was a thriving
hamlet. Mr. Stevens owned the grist mill and
the saw mill, which property has been pur
chased by the Hydro Electric Company since
the writing, of this history was begun.
Mary Stevens married Ira Fuller at Newton
Falls and came to Warren to live. She had a
large faraily of chHdren; aH of those who
reached adult age married. Six are now living
and all are prosperous people. Her daughter
and granddaughter, Mrs. Cornelia Harmon
and Miss Ella, are residents of Warren. Mr.
and Mrs. FuHer lived in Warren all their mar
ried life, most of the time on the northeast
corner of Vine and Market streets. The ofiice
of Mr. Fuller, which stood on Vine street, is
now on Atlantic street and is very old. It is
used as a dwelling. When Mr. Stevens retired
from business, he returned to Warren and
made his home with Mrs. Fuller. The Stevens
home stood on a lot on Mahoning avenue above
referred to, which runs east almost to Harmon
street. This property was offered for sale by
John CroweH to WilHam Woodrow for $325,
twenty-five dollars to be paid outright and the
rest when convenient. Mr. Woodrow did not
purchase it, but Mr. James Dunlap bought and
occupied it for many years. At the time he
erected the present brick house the old one was
moved on to South street, next to the corner
of Elm street, where it now stands. It is one
of our oldest houses and is still doing good
service.

174

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The Old Edwards Dwelling House.
The oldest dwelling house in the city which
is in good repair is that occupied by Elizabeth,
William and Frank Iddings, on the north side
of South street, between Vine and Pine streets.
It was built fcy John S. Edwards in 1807 and
stands on the spot it originally occupied. It
was purchased by Hon. Thoraas D. Webb, and
he, his children, and grandchildren have lived
there ever since. He had three daughters,
Laura, Elizabeth and AdaHne. Laura married
Dr. Warren Iddings in 1846 ; the others never
raarried. It was the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Ed
wards to use the house as two wings, erecting
a main house between thera. Mr. Edwards'
early death prevented this. The house is a little
larger than the original, Mr. Webb having
added a kitchen at the rear. It is in good con
dition. Miss Iddings has a number of pieces
of fine old furniture which have withstood the
wear of time. In 1844 or '45 Mr. White de
signed and made a sofa in the shop which
stood north of the Presbyterian church. It
was covered with brocade haircloth purchased
by him in New York City. It has stood in the
parlor of Mr. Webb and the Iddings family
ever since, and the wood, the haircloth, nor the
springs show wear.
The Calvin Pease House.
Another old house which has withstood the
ravages of time is now owned by Timothy
Case and stands just east of Edward Smith's
house on Market street. This was built by
Judge Calvin Pease before 1816. His office
stood on the same lot, but it was not of brick,
as was the house, and was moved early to the
lot next the corner of Vine street and made
into the house where Frederick Shaler so long
lived. Two men who have always been much
interested in the history of Trumbull county
were born in this house, one, Irwin Ladd, born
in 1828, and the other, Arthur Woodrow, born
many years later.

The Pease house stood on a hill almost di
rectly north of the Webb house. A sharp em
bankment led down to a small creek which ran
through Harmon Austin's place on High street
diagonally through the lots between, on to
John Campbell's place on Market, and then
into what was then Mr. Pease's land. It event
ually crossed South street and emptied into the
canal. This house was situated on the land
known as the "Pease Addition" and was kept
in the family until a very few years ago. It
was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Mor
gan for a number of years. Mr. Pease had
planted trees and bushes, and these bore fruit
within the recoHection of the , children of the
late '60s. However,- none of these children
ever had the faculty of passing the watchful
eye of Mrs. Morgan and never enjoyed the
pleasure of eating stolen fruit.
Richard Iddings and Family Homestead.
The home of Hon. Richard Iddings, one of
the stanchest of the early settlers, is in good
repair today and stands east of the home of
Miss Mary Iddings on Market street. After
Mr. Iddings ceased to occupy it, it was sold to
W. O. Forrest and passed through the hands
of several others. It now belongs to L. 'W.
Sanford. Richard Iddings came to Warren in
1806. He was a tailor, and had his business
over the store of Henry & Charles Smith. He
was elected to the legislature in 1830, together
with Rufus P. Spaulding. His children were
Lewis J., Morris, Warren, Hiram and Eliza
beth. Richard Iddings died in 1872. He mar
ried Justina Lewis, of Reading, Pennsylvania,
a woman of sweet character, and at first they
lived in a house where the Park Hotel now
stands. Later they erected a house on the west
side of the lot and in 1829 built the house
which their children occupy. This is one of the
oldest houses in •the city. Mrs. Iddings be
longed to a substantial family of Reading, and
in 1821 her sister Betsey came to live with her.
The Iddings home was one of the most hospit
able in the city. It was constantly full of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

175

guests and Mrs. Iddings and her sister made
all feel welcome. Pioneer Woman Suffragist.
Betsey Lewis was one of the strongest char
acters Warren has ever had. So far as we
know she was the first woman suffragist in the
town or county. She was a constant reader,
perfectly familiar with aH phases of political
questions, and although gentle like her sister,
was sprightly and active both in body and
mind. She was greatly interested in the ques
tions which preceded the war, and died just as
the war was breaking out. It is hard for us
to realize it, but so muddy was Market street
in the days of the early thirties that when Mrs.
Iddings and her sister wished to call on the
neighbors across the street they went on horse
back.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chesney.
Samuel Chesney, who was born in Juniata
county, Pennsylvania, in 1778, came to War
ren in 1803. He had taught school in Pitts
burg before settling here and held the office of
deputy postmaster for a long time, and was
justice of the peace. Araong the men who
came late in the fall of 1799 was Benjamin
Davison. He put up a cabin below the Fussel
man farm, near Mr. Case, and went east,
bringing his family the next May. There were
ten children. It was at this house that the boys
who went to Salt Springs with the party at the
time the Indians were killed, stopped at the
end of their three-mile run. Samuel Chesney
married Mary Davison and their first home
was on Market street, where Albert Guarnieri
now has his fruit store. This block is stiH
owned by the family of Lewis Iddings and was
built on the land of Mr. Chesney. For raany
years it was called the "Empire Block." Mr.
Lewis Iddings married Jane Chesney. Their
chHdren are Miss Mary Iddings, Mrs. H. C.
Baldwin, Mr. S. C. Iddings, and Louis M. Id
dings, consular agent to Egypt. When Jane
Chesney was a Httle girl she lived in this house

and used to attend the Academy. The court
house yard was dreadfully muddy and the
streets almost impassable. When she got her
first rubbers and was able to keep her shoes
clean, it made such an irapression upoa her
that she never forgot it.
When Jane Chesney married Louis Iddings
they moved into the house which the family
now occupy, so that Mrs. Iddings' entire life
was spent on Market street in this city. Mr.
Samuel Chesney built a house on Chestnut
street which is still standing. . It was between
Market and South streets on the east side, but
some years since was moved back to make
room for a new buHding. Here Samuel Ches
ney died.
At one time the fashionable part of town
centered around the corner of Main and South
streets. Here lived Judge Francis Freeman,
Samuel L. Freeman, John McCombs, Henry
Smith, Charles Smith and Mathew Birchard
and their wives and chHdren of course.
The Birchard Homestead.
The Birchard homestead was very near the
river, and was very attractive in its early days.
Judge Birchard was a man of large acquaint
ance araong public raen. In 1841 he married
Jane Elizabeth Weaver, daughter of Captain
Williara A. Weaver. She was a gentle woman
of education and pleasing raanners. Their
daughter, Jane, was the leader among the girls
of her time. She married Frank Mason, now
consul general to Paris. Mr. Mason was a
son of Edson Mason, of Niles. Frank and his
wife, Jane, have spent the greater part of their
married life abroad, he going into the consular
service in 1877. Mrs. Birchard died in Paris
since this work was begun. The people of to
day, when they pass the Birchard homestead,
now owned by Jacob Knofsky, and see the
yard piled high with junk, cannot imagine how
attractive this place was in the early days.
Main Street in the Old Days.
A sidewalk as wide as the general sidewalk
on Main street followed down the west side of

176

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the Main street nearly to the canal bed. On
the edge of this walk was a row of locust trees.
The first house below the railroad track be
longed to Mr. Bullard; the second house was
the property of Henry W. Smith. Here he
and his large and attractive family lived for
many years. After a time they moved out onto
the farm now owned by the estate on the
Youngstown road, and Mr. Goldstein, long a
successful merchant in Warren, occupied this
house. Later it was owned by Mrs. Nancy
Dawson and upon Mayor Dawson's death it
became the property of the B. & O. railroad.
In the original, it stood high, had basement
rooms, a wide hall leading through it and was
a very attractive place. The children of the
late '60s remember this place because of the
apricot tree which stood in the back yard.
When the railroad people secured it, they set it
on the ground, turned it quarter about and no
semblance of the old building is left.
The next house to the south was that owned
by David Tod and later became the homestead
of M. B. Tayler, whose large and kindly fam
ily made the house seem more like a boarding
school than a horae. Nine girls in one house,
with two boys thrown in, is something to make
the horaes in apartments today seem like play
houses. The next and last house was the horae of
Charles Smith. He, too, had a goodly family,
and being of a very sociable nature, had much
company aside from the relations. So, in this
row lived the three children of Charlotte Smith,
one of the stanchest and best of Warren's early
citizens. Leicester King House.
Mr. Leicester King built, about 1828, the
house which is now occupied by the children
of Henry W. Smith, fronting Monument Park,
on Mahoning avenue. At the time this buHd
ing was constructed it was thought to occupy
the finest location in the city and opinion in
regard to it has not changed. Its colonial hall,
high ceilings, natural wood, are as acceptable

now as then. It has been occupied only by
three families in all these years, those of Mr.
King, Mr. H. C. Belden and Mr. Smith.
Thomas and Charles Kinsman Home.
The home of Thomas and Charles Kins
man, standing between the Smith and the
Perkins home, is one of the old buddings, and
by many architects considered to be the finest
of any horae in the city. Certainly the south
ern exposure with its wide porch, its high pil
lars, is raost attractive to persons driving up
Mahoning avenue. This house remains about
as it was built, in 1835, having been repaired
somewhat but not changed except the hall,
which was extended clear through the house.
Frederick Kinsraan married Laura Pease, the'
brilliant daughter of Calvin Pease. His first
wife, Olive Perkins, sister of Hon. Henry B.
Perkins, whose children died in infancy, lived
but a Httle tirae. Frederick and Cornelia Kins
man had five sons, and at their home have been
entertaining more people of note, more old
residents coraing back for visiting, and more
of the town people, than in any other one
house. Mr. Kinsman was a man very much
interested in the early welfare of the city, was
one of the associate judges, gave his advice
and his opinion to all who asked for it and
was most practical in that advice. He and his
faraily were interested in the raising of fruits,
vegetables and fiowers, so that his place had a
special attraction for friends and visitors. Mrs.
Kinsman was a genial, capable, loving woman,
and was one of the most popular persons 'War
ren has ever had. Her sons adored her and she
was for many years the leading worker in the
Episcopal church and in town philanthropy in
general. Mr. Kinsman long survived his wife,
and four sons, John, Frederick, Thomas and
Charles, are living, Henry, the youngest, dying
before the father.
Another old house is the one at the end of
Pine street where the river turns. It was
owned at one time by Mr. Charles Smith, and
was known among the children as the haunted

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

177

house. The date of its erection is not exactly
known.
The Perkins Homestead.
One of the early houses stHl in existence is
that of General Simon Perkins. Its site was
about the same as that of the present Perkins
homestead on Mahoning avenue. It Was a
frame house, of good lines and of medium size.
Standing in the same yard, east of the present
office, stood General Perkins' office. Here is

front is substantially the same now as then,
but it has an addition. It is in fine repair.
One of the other early houses still standing
is that known as the Southworth house, stand
ing on the corner of Chestnut and South
streets. This was built prior to 1816, was oc
cupied by Mr. and Mrs. Silas Southworth.
Their nephew, Silas Davis, still lives in Trum
bull county.
The Quinby Residences.
Ephraim Quinby's first house stood on the

(Loaned by tbe Tribune.)
HOMESTEAD OF THOMAS AND OHAELES KINSMAN.

where he did so much of the business for the
Connecticut Land Company. After he had
lived in his home some years a Boston architect
was employed to make some changes. At that
time this architect built the house now occupied
by J. P. Gilbert, at the corner of Mahoning
avenue and Monroe street. After Mrs. Perkins'
death, the homestead was closed for a nuraber
of years and about 1870 it was moved onto the
farm now owned by the Perkins estate, in
Howland, just outside the city limits. The

site of the Erie depot, and was of logs ; the
second house was a frame one, or at least par
tially frame, and stood on the lot occupied by
Mrs. Gifford on Highland avenue, while the
Quinby horae farailiar to the people of today
was erected by Sarauel Quinby at rather early
date and stands on the high point of land at the
head of Highland avenue, known until recently
as "Quinby HHl." It is now the property of
John Long, who has lived all his life in War
ren, and whose father Hved here before him.

Vol. 1—12

178

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Old Freeman Home.
Another old house is that standing, on the
northeast corner of Main and South streets.
This was known as the old Freeman home. It
was built by Judge Francis Freeman, occupied
later by his daughter, Olive Freeman Ratliff,
by his son, Samuel L. Freeman, was a board
ing house for years and is now the waiting sta
tion of the Mahoning Valley Street Car Com
pany. The brick house standing at the east
of the Freeman house was built, about 1848,
for Samuel L. Freeman and occupied by hira
before moving into the house on the corner.
All of these homesteads in this part of the city
depreciated in value and were sold by the own
ers after the Mahoning railroad was estab
hshed, the noise and the dirt making this sec
tion of the town undesirable as a residence sec
tion. Three of the old one-story wooden school-
houses are still standing. That known as the
north school is on the rear of Mrs. Eunice
Hawkins' lot next to the Prospect street school-
house. The one on East High street was moved
to the rear of General Ratliff's lot at the time
he erected his brick dwelling and became part
of the stable. The Fulton street building now
stands on Clinton street, is used as a dwelling
and is owned by Mrs. Beahr.
The house on the southeast corner of Park
and High streets, formerly the homestead of
John Harsh, was erected in the neighborhood
of 1820. Its architecture was the common one
for brick houses of that day. The lot on which
it stands is one of the most desirable in the
city. The home of Lewis Hoyt, on South street,
now owned by his daughters, Annie and Abbie,
was built in 1820. Oliver Brooks' house stood
within a block of the Hoyt house, on the north
side of the same street. This was one of the
early hospitable homes. A few years since it
was moved to the rear of the lot, and now
stands where it can be seen from Park avenue.

and back of the house which the Seelys early
occupied. Iddings Map of 1816.
Mr. Lowis M. Iddings in contributing
"Sketch of the Early Days of Warren" to the
"Mahoning Valley Ohio Historical CoHection,"
raade a map which is so interesting and so ac
curate that we are reproducing it here. Mr.
Iddings is consular agent (practically minis
ter) to Egypt, and is so far distant that we
cannot ask his permission. He is greatly in
terested in the old-time history because of his
family connection, and we feel sure will be
glad to have the readers of this history in pos
session of this information, especially as the
volume above referred to is out of print and
this inforraation should be preserved.
In the following explanations, which corre
spond with the numbers on the map, the streets
are called by names, familiar to us now, al
though they were originally numbered — Main
street being No. i. High street No. 2, Market
street No. 3, South street No. 4, Liberty street
(Park avenue) No. 5. Mahoning avenue was
considered to be only a continuation of No. i.
But neither numbers nor names were often
used for many years. As is the case in smaller
places today, in familiar conversation, locali
ties were known by the names of the persons
living in the neighborhood.
I. Mill and dam, but by Lane and Dally in
1802, owned in 1816 by Mr. James
L. VanGorder.
2. The Henry Lane house, now owned and
occupied by William H. Baldwin.
3. The house of Mrs. Rowe.
4. House of Mr. Jacob Harsh.
5. House in which, at one time, Hved a Mr.
McFarland.
6. House of General Simon Perkins (the
home of Eliza B. Perkins now is
here).
7. House built by George Phelps.

lAAP Op

DEAWN AMD COMPILED
By
APPROXIMATE aCAI.K. NINE CHAINS TO TIIR INCH.

.« ns M Xi :t2

>¦"

"Ti

i;w

:»l

¦40142

?,.

JIEFEREKCES.
fl. Location of first house
b. Com-crib In wblch first
Court was beld.
o. I.ocmtIi>B ofilrvl Behool'taon

i8o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

8. House and blacksmith-shop of Mr.
Reeves.
9. Log house built by Mr. Jaraes Scott, and
torn down a short tirae since. For
many years it was, covered up in the
Graeter House.
10. House of Dr. John B. Harmon, now
occupied by Dr. JuHan Harmon.
II. House of Mr. George Parsons; a new
house in 1816, or built so soon
thereafter that it is with propriety
placed on the raap.
12. The jail.
13. House of Mr. James Scott.
14. House of Mr. David Bell.
15. Cabin of "John Jerrodell."
16. House and office of Judge Pease ; house
still stands.
17. House of Mr. Richard Iddings.
18. House of George MuH ( ?).
19. House of Mark Wescott.
20. Foundations of the old Western Reserve
Bank building.
21. House and store of Asael Adams, where
the Franklin Block now is.
22. The "Shook" house.
23. House of Mrs. M'WilHams.
24. A shop kept by  , occupied by Mr.
Uhl.
25. House of Captain Oliver Brooks ; still
stands.
26. House of Mr. Thoraas D. Webb ; in good
repair ; occupied by Elizabeth, Will
iam and Frank Iddings. This house
was built in 1807 by Mr. John
S. Edwards, and is probably the
oldest buHding in Warren, unless
forty-six is older.
27. House of Mr. Hake ; still stands.
28. House of Jonathan Rankin.
29. House and tannery (in the rear) of Mr.
James Quigley.
30. House of Elihu Spencer.
31. House of Mr. Zebina Weatherbee.
32. House of Mr. Samuel Chesney.

33. A store occupied at one time by Mr.
William Bell and Mr. James Quig
ley.
34. "Castle William," or the Cotgreave
house.
35. For many years the site of the first hotel
in the place.
36. In 1816 probably a hatter's shop; after
ward a store kept by Judge King.
¦^J. Four stores in which Wheeler Lewis,
the Quinbys and the Austins were
in business.
38. House of Judge Calvin Austin.
39. House of Tony Carter.
40. House of Mr. Jeduthen Rawdon.
41. The Western Reserve Bank. (Union
National Bank now.)
42. Little log house, in which George Love
less probably opened the first store
in Warren.
43. The Leavitt House, for many years a
hotel and later known as the Walter
King place.
44. Building, probably erected by Mr.
Adamson Bentley, and iri which he
engaged in mercantile business.
From this building the first number
of the Trump of Fame, now the
Western Reserve Chronicle, was
issued in 1812.
45. House jn which, in 1816, lived Mr. Jere- .
miah Brooks (great-uncle of Mr.
Jaraes Brooks). It was built by
Mr. Ephraim Quinby during the
first; summer he was here, in 1799.
Attached to it was the first jaH in
Trumbull county. In front of it
(b) were the corncribs between
which the first court was held.
46. House of Judge Francis Freeman, now
the eastern end of the Austin
House.
47. Mill and carding machine. This last had
just been erected by Levi Hadley,
and was sold in this year to Mn
Benjamin Stevens.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

i«i

^ 48. House of one Morrow.
49. House of James Ellis.
50. House of Mr. Burnett.
51. House of Mr. Quinby.
52. The "old court-house," then in an un
finished state.
a, b and c are explained on the map.
First Sermon Preached in Warren.
The> first sermon preached in Warren, Trum
bull county, was June 8, 1800. In 1803 ten
men and women organized the Concord Baptist
church, with the "Philadelphia confession of
faith." The members of this movement were
the members of the Dally family, and the chil
dren of Isaac Ewalt, now residing in Howland,
are descendants. A few months later, five
members joined the church by baptism and the
laying on of hands, and among these was John
Reeves. John Reeves. '
William J. Kerr, in "One Hundred Years of
Baptist History in Warren, Ohio," says : "John
Reeves, at whose home in Howland many
church meetings and .preaching services were
held in the year to follow, proved to be one of
the most valuable members the church eyer
had. He was a member until his death, 185 1.
He was one of the six who refused to leave the
church and faith in the schism of 1828. In
the year 1805 he represented the Concord Bap
tist church as a delegate to the Mahoning Bap
tist Association, held in Mill Creek (Youngs
town). He presented the letter and the cre
dentials of the church, upon which the Concord
church was received into the Mahoning Asso
ciation." Concord or First Baptist Church.
In 1810 Adamson Bentley became the regu
lar pastor, and the congregation grew under
his teachings so that in i82i-'22 a church was
buHt on High street where the Christian
church now stands. The land upon which this
church stood was deeded "by Ephraim Quinby

to the trustees of the Baptist church, called
Concord, their heirs and assigns, to be used for
Baptist church purposes only." (Kerr.) At
this time there were twenty-six members, four
teen of whom were men. "A portion of the
church membership was in Youngstown and
vicinity, and for three or four years the church
met half the time at that place."
The two families which clung to the Baptist
church were those of Ephraira Quinby and
John Reeves, six people in all. In 1834 seven
people rejuvenated the Baptist church, and the
next year passed a resolution withdrawing the
hand of fellowship from all who had departed
from the faith of the regular Baptist church.
The same year the church was re-incorporated
and in 1836 it joined with the Beaver Baptist
Association and later the TrurabuH Baptist As
sociation, at the time of its formation. Among
the members of this Baptist church were some
of the hardiest and raost enthusiastic raen and
women of the community. Among the min
isters who have served that church were Rev.
William Winters, Lewis Ranstead, E. T.
Brown, AHen O. Fuller, John T. WHson, Rev.
J. P. Stevenson, Rev. J. S. Hutson, Rev. J. S.
Rightnour, Rev. WiHiam CodvHle, Chester F.
Ralston, Rev. F. G. Bouton and Rev. W. E.
Barker. The first church building of this re
suscitated organization was erected on lands
given by John Reeves, on Pine street, between
High and Market, and is still standing. It is in
a very dilapidated condition and has been used
as a shop, laundry and second-hand store.
In 1893 the name was changed from Con
cord to First Baptist. In 1894 the fine new
church now standing on High street was com
pleted. It cost $23,000.
The Presbyterian Church.
The Presbyterian, organized on the plan of
the Union, was the second church in Trum
bull county. There were occasional preach
ings from 1803 to 1808, and in 1820 they had
their first regular pastor. In 1830 the lot on
which the church stood was bought and the

l82

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

building erected. It was dedicated in 1832.
In 1849 it was repaired and served until 1855,
when it was torn down to make room for the
present one. The Presbyterian bell is the old
est in the city. It was bought in 1832. It
used to be rung to announce to the citizens the
joys and sorrows of the people of the com
munity and to call out folks in case of danger,
or to call them together for important meet
ings. The church has had twelve regularly in
stalled rainisters, and six rainisters who have
served as pulpit supplies for periods of from
six to eighteen months each :
1803- Rev. Joseph Badger, Organizer.
1803-05 Rev. Thomas Robbins, Supply.
1805-08 Rev. Jonathan Leslie, Supply.
1808-13 I^sv. Jaraes Boyd.
1813-16 Rev. Jaraes Duncan, Supply.
1817-31 Rev. Joseph W. Curtis.
1831-32 Rev. George W. Hulin, Supply.
1832-34 Rev. J. A. Woodruff", Supply.
1834-39 Rev. Josiah Towne.
1839-48 Rev. Nathan B. Purinton.
1848-63 Rev. WiHiam C. Clark.
1863-67 Rev. Henry R. Hoisington.
1867-68 Rev. Benj. St. John Page, Supply.
1869-79 Rev. Nathaniel P. Bailey, D. D.
1879-84 Rev. Alexander Jackson, Ph. D.
1885-88 Rev. Jaraes D. Williamson, D. D.
1888-98 Rev. WHliam L. Swan.
1899-03 Rev. Samuel W. McFadden, D. D.
1904- Rev. Franklin P. Rheinhold.
Mr. Whittlesey Adams is the oldest living.
member of the church, having joined in 1841.
In the early churches the question of sell
ing pews was one which called forth much
discussion. Church goers always felt and still
feel that it is hardly right to own pews and
yet it is trying for people who are really inter
ested in church work not to have a seat on the
very occasions, unusual services, when it is
most wanted. The Chronicle of 1844 contains
the foHowing:

"Notice is hereby given to all who may wish
to attend divine services at the Presbyterian
church in Warren, having no seats of their
own, that they are invited and requested to
take seats wherever they may find one vacant,
and it is hoped that those who have been de
tained from the House of God by the afore- '
mentioned cause, will banish those feelings and
accept the invitation so cordially given.
"By request of the stockholders at their
yearly meeting, January i, 1844."
The following item shows humor on the part
of an editor : "A baby was found on the Pres
byterian church steps the ist of December,
1861, and the editor of the Chronicle says
"whoever lost such an article can call at the
County Infirraary and prove the property."
Christ Church (Episcopal).
The first service held by the EpiscopaHans
in Warren was in 1813. The Rev. Mr. Serle
conducted it and preached the sermon in the
court house. Bishop Chase also held service
in the court house at a little later date. At
that tirae there were two communicants in
Warren, Mrs. Lavinia Rowe, and her daugh
ter Mrs. Chariotte Sraith. Mr. Justus Smith
came to Warren in 18 12 with his family, and
Mrs. Rowe accompanied them. She lived in
a sraall house back of the present residence of
Dr. Sherwood. Her father was an Episcopal
rainister and was lost at sea when going to
England to be ordained. At that time the
Anglican church had no bishop in America.
Mrs. Rowe, in pleasant weather, often rode her
horse to Canfield, fifteen miles distance, to at
tend services. The early bishops and clergy
men who visited Warren were entertained in
the homes of Mrs. Rowe and Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Rowe was the grandmother of Henry
W. and Charles Smith. Her grandchildren
were brought up in the faith and were affili
ated with her church, assisting in its support
both in Youngstown, v/here her granddaugh-

«u

^XM^^^ntmvM..

(Loaned by The Tribune.)

KINSMAN CHUECH.

HISTORY OF TPIE WESTERN RESERVE

ter, Maria Tod, Hved, and in Warren. Charles
Sraith was a vestryman of Christ church for
raany years. Her great-grandchildren, with
one or two exceptions, were coraraunicants,
and part of them, very active as workers today.
The first rector was Rev. William Harrison,
who was followed by Rev. C. C. Townsend.
For sorae time lay services were held in
Colonel Harris' paint shop and in Mr. Dailey's
school room in the King block.
Rev. George Washington Du Bois was pas
tor of Christ church from 1848 to 1853. He
was dearly beloved by the early residents of
Warren and his home, on the west side of the
river, was a social center. His wife was the
daughter of Bishop Mcllvaine, who often vis
ited his daughter and was well known to the
people of Warren. He was an unusual man.
President Lincoln sent him to England, dur
ing the war, to influence the Church of Eng
land in behalf of our governraent.
The following is a list of the rectors since
Christ church was organized : Rev. J. L. Har
rison, Rev. C. C. Towne, Rev. Geo. W. Du
bois, Rev. Joseph E. Ryan, Rev. C. S. Abbott,
Rev. Chas. T. Speck, Rev. Henry L. Badger,
Rev. Thos. J. Taylor, Rev. A. R. Keifer, Rev.
J. A. Mathews, Rev. C. W. Hollister, Rev.
Herbert D. Cone, Rev. A. A. Abbott, at pres
ent arch-deacon of the diocese, and Rev.
Henry E. Cooke, who has recently resigned his
position to devote his time to the raising of
the William A. Leonard Bishop's fund. Rev.
James S. Sherin has at this writing just begun
his work as pastor.
In 1846 a lot was purchased on the corner
of Liberty street and Franklin alley, now Park
avenue and Franklin street, and the corner
stone of the church was laid. The first serv
ices were held in 1848. This building was
used until 1862, when the present lot on High
street was purchased. The corner stone was
laid in 1863 and the church consecrated in
1865. In 1892 a new rectory was built on
High street, a parish house had already been
added to the church, and a few years ago the

la!dies of the church erected a janitor's house
on the southeast corner of the lot. Edward
A. Smith is the oldest raeraber connected with
the church. He has been a member since 1846
and is now serving as senior warden.
The present bishop of this diocese is Will
iara A. Leonard, who was so long rector of
St. John's church in Washington, at which
raore presidents of the United States have wor
shiped than in any other church in Washing
ton. Central Christian Church.
The Central Christian church was organized
in a dramatic way. In 1828 Walter Scott and
J. C. Mitchell, "devout followers of Alexander
Campbell, came to Warren 'to besiege and take
the place.' " At first they were rather coldly
received, but soon the Rev. Mr. Bentley, of
the Baptist church, aHowed them the use of
his edifice, and the congregation soon taxed
the capacity of the church. Among the con
verts made were almost the entire raembership
of the Bapti.st church. In fact, this first War
ren church, the Baptist, was taken possession
of by the new congregation.
At this time there was a great controversy
among church people as to the right form of
baptism, and different matters of doctrine. So
rauch so that soraetiraes ill feeling was engen
dered between members of the same family
and between neighbors and former friends.
This Avas true in regard to the Baptists and
the Disciples, although no raore so in these
two churches of Warren than in all churches
of that time.
After the coraing of Scott, Mr. Bentley
worked with great power and zeal, and the
next year he was chosen, with Scott, Hayden
and Bosworth, to travel about in the interests
of the church. In 1820 a church was erected,
but it was three years before services were
held in it. It was a square building, with no
tower or ornamentation. In 1852 it was re
modeled ai:id a spire was put on.
.•Mter Mr. Bentley moved a\vay, for four

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

185

years there was no regular pastor. Marcus
Bosworth and John Henry labored with a good
deal of zeal and preached occasionally. In
1834 John Hartzell was associate elder with
Cyrus Bosworth. During this time of the
church history such men as Zeb. Rudolph, J.
H. Jones, Moss, Perky, Brockett and Allerton
were occasional speakers. John Smith had
direct charge for about two years. J. E. Gas
ton served from 1847 until 185 1, when Isaac
Errett became pastor. The Rev. Mr. Errett
' was one of the strongest men the church has
ever had. At the end of his four years min
istry Joseph King, a graduate of Bethany Col
lege, served for one year. During this time
Calvin Smith and James A. Garfield frequently
addressed the congregation. J. W. Errett was
also a pastor, resigning in 1859. The next
year Edwin Wakefield gave a portion of the
year to the congregation. In 1861 J. W
Laraphear became pastor of the church, serv
ing seven years, not in succession, however,
since he was absent two years of that time.
Some of the strongest men in the Christian
church preached here occasionally, such as
President Pendleton and B. A. Hinsdale. In
1870 J. L. Darsie becarae pastor ; 1874, I. A.
Thayer; 1881, George T. Smith. The last four
pastors were E. B. Wakefield, J. M. VanHorn,
M. L. Bates and J. E. Lynn.
During the pastorate of E. B. Wakefield, in
1889, the present church at a cost of $30,000
was erected. From the very beginning the
congregation taxed the capacity of this build
ing. Mr. Wakefield resigned to take a pro
fessorship at Hiram CoHege, which he still
holds. He was followed by Mr. VanHorn,
during whose service the church grew and the
parsonage was erected. The raembership was
' doubled and a debt of $9,000 paid off.
M. L. Bates was possibly the most emo
tional and brilliant pastor the church has had
of late years. Although he only served two
years he added many members, 212 at one
time. He also organized on a more active
basis the missionary work.

Rev. J. E. Lynn, a very eamest raan, is at
this writing pastor of the church.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
John Bridle, one of the early settlers of
Warren and an ardent Methodist, regretted
exceedingly that no Methodist church was es
tablished in Warren. One day he said to his
wife, "Mother, I cannot stand it here without
ray Methodist meetings." On the following
Sunday he harnessed his horse to his dearborn
and drove to Youngstown. The roads were
so bad that it took him all day to get there.
He stabled his horse and went to quarterly
meeting in the evening. He brought before
the presiding elder the necessity and desira
bility of organizing a church at Warren. The
elder, after talking the matter over with him,
said that he disliked to make the atterapt, since
the last man he sent to Warren to preach was
run out of town over Webb's HiH by some
ungracious citizens. Mr. Bridle told hira that
the house in which he lived (standing where
the Warren dry goods store is) had a roora
in the second story large enough for a raeet
ing place, and he would assure any minister
sent there perfect protection. The elder prom
ised to send a minister in four weeks. At that
time he came himself, Mr. Bridle kept his
word, a meeting was had and a class organized.
Some of the early raeetings of the Meth
odist church were held at the residence of
Lewis Reeves. In 1821 Benjamin Stephens
was elected leader and held that office for
forty-two years. Preaching was had irregu
larly in the court house until 1824, when the
raeetings becarae regular and the place was the
Acaderay where the public library now stands.
In 1836 protracted raeetings were held and
many converts were added to the membership.
Soon after a little church was erected on the
river bank, and when excavations were made
for this building an old ceraetery was found.
At first this was thought to be the resting
place of Indians, but later it was believed to
be that of earlv white raen. The church was

1 86

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

erected in 1837. It was remodeled somewhat
and used until 1878, when the new church was
built on High street, costing $55,000.
Because of the itinerary of the early Meth
odist ministers few records are preserved.
Roman Catpiolic Church.
The first services of the Roman Catholic
church were held by Rev. Patrick O. Dwyer,
in 1837. In 1849 Rev. John Conlon visited
this as a station. In 1858 Rev. W. O'Connor
bought a lot on Quinby Hill for the erection
of the church. When the canal was laid out
it ran through this lot, and of course plans
were abandoned. In 1864 this parish bought
the old Episcopal church and remodeled it,
suitable for its services. Araong the priests
who served this parish, in addition to Father O.
Dwyer and Father O'Connor, are: Rev. E. J.
Conway ; E. J. Murphy ; A. Paganini ; J. Paga-
nini; B. B. Kelley; M. J. Murphy; W. J. Man
ning; F. N. Scollen; D. O'Brien; Ambrose A.
Weber and P. C. N. Dwyer.
Rev. P. C. N. Dwyer succeeded Father
Weber as pastor of the church. He began his
services in July, 1901, and it is largely due to
him that St. Mary's has such a commodious
and substantial building. In March, 1902, this
new church on High street was begun. The
corner-stone was laid on July 20, 1902, the
church was enclosed the sarae year, and in
1903 the first mass was said in the basement
at Christmas time. The dedication of the
church was held on July 20, 1907. The total
cost of the church property, including church
building, lot and parsonage, with all furniture
and fixtures, was $60,000.
Among the smaller and newer churches at
Warren are the Zion Reform, Tod Avenue
Methodist, Grace United Evangelical, Second
Christian and the Christian Science.
George Parsons, Pioneer Teacher.
So far as known, George Parsons was the
first teacher in the first school held in Trum

bull county. Among the other early teachers
were Mr. John Leavitt, Miss Mary Case, the
mother of the Misses Mary and Harriet Ste
vens, and Miss Nancy Bostwick. Her school
was known as the "Young Ladies' Seminary."
There is nothing of special interest to record
of these early schools.
Warren School Association.
About 1818 the Warren School Association
was forraed. The original trustees were James
Quigley, Richard Iddings, Sarauel Leavitt,
Francis Freeman and George Parsons. These
trustees erected the academy about 1820.
There were four departments, two primary
departraents, one for girls and boys, and two
high schools, one for girls and boys. How
ever, the boys and girls did not long stay sep
arated, although the schools — the primary and
high schools — were separate.
Warren Academy.
An advertisement for the Warren Academy,
April 22, 1828, says that the summer term
will begin on the 12th day of May, and the
department for boys will be about as it was
before. "In addition to this, arrangements
have been made whereby an apartment in the
building will be appropriated exclusively for
the accoraraodation of girls, in which will be
taught all the useful and many of the orna
mental branches of education."
Development of Present School System.
In 1844-45 three small frame school houses
for district schools were built. One stood on
the corner of School and Prospect sheets,
where the present brick school house is; an
other on East High street, where the Ratliff
home was located ; and the third was on the
east side of Park avenue. This building was
moved to Clinton street and is stiH used as a
residence. In 1849 the present public school system of
the city was established and the schools opened

(Loaned by tbe Tribune.)

OLD COUET HOUSE.

(Loaned by tbe Tribune.)
PEESENT COUET HOUSE.

1 88

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

in Septeraber, 1849. M. D. Leggett was the
superintendent, and he was followed by J. D.
Cox. In 1859 there were nine teachers era
ployed in the public schools and 552 children
in attendance. Rev. Thomas Marvin, in 1854,
became superintendent.
The lot where the present high school stands
was bought in 1854 from Joseph Perkins for
$1,400. The Tod avenue school lot was bought
of Anna J. Gordon for $500. In 1855 a brick
high school costing $8,000 was erected. In
1864 a brick, school house was erected on the
Tod avenue lot, at a cost of $3,500. Pros
pect Street school was erected in 1869 and cost
$8,000. In 1870 the High street lot was sold
and a brick building erected. In March, 1872,
the Prospect Street building was begun. In
1874 $3,000 was expended on the high school
building, making the third floor an interraedi
ate departraent. In 1875 the First street lot
was purchased for $800, and the next year
the present building begun.
During 1882 and 1883 the new high school
building was erected on Monroe street at a
cost of nearly $40,000. The Elra Street school
house was erected in 1885, at a cost of $12,000.
In 1892 more land was added to the high
school grounds and the Central Grammar
erected, af a total cost of $30,000. In 1897
the Tod Avenue school was erected at a cost
of $20,000. In 1899 a new building was
erected on the Market street lot, at a cost of
$30,000. In 1902 a bond issue of $30,000 was
given, to raake addition to the High school
building.
Women ok the School Board.
Ohio granted school suffrage to woraen in
1894, and a few years later Carrie P. Har
rington and Harriet T. Upton were norainated
for the board of education, having, the larg
est .votes of six candidates. They were elected
and have served ever since.
Although the men serving on the board at
the tirae of their candidacy were opposed to
women serving in that capacity, they have al

ways been treated courteously and fairly. This
cannot be said of some boards in other parts
of the state, but it is true of the Warren board.
When the Market Street school was con
structed the comraittee consisted of two men
and two women. This was the first time that
women had been connected with the construc
tion of any large public buHding in Trumbull
county. In 1902 bonds for $30,000 were issued for
repairing the high school building.
Leads in School Attendance.
In proportion to the population, more chil
dren attend' the Warren schools than attend
the schools of other cities in the state. War
ren is unlike many other county seats in that
it is not a school center. The larger towns,
Newton FaHs, Niles, Cortland, Girard, have
good schools, and a large number of the town
ships have centralized schools. The Warren
Tribune is the authority for the statement that
in recent years 52 per cent of the high school
graduates have entered universities, colleges,
or other institutions of learning. Of the forty-
four graduates in 1906, nineteen began courses
in these institutions ; of the thirty-eight in
1907, twenty-four ; of the thirty-four in 1908,
sixteen. There are about 3,000 children of school
age in the town of Warren. Charles E. Carey
is the superintendent of schools.
Farmington Normal School.
One of the earl)- effective academies in
Trumbull county was that of West Famiing-
ton. It was established in 183 1 and was known
as the Farmington Academy until 1849. Later
it became known as the Farmington Normal
school. In the beginning- it was under the con
trol of the Congregationalists, but in 1854 the
management was transferred to the Metho
dists. In this institution many men and women
of Trumbull county have gained their reputa
tions, such as General Asa W. Jones, Hon.
John Stull and Junius Dana.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

189

Vienna Academy.
Mr. Whittlesey Adams, from whom we have
quoted often in this history, says : "Rev. Ches
ter Birge, pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Vienna, was the principal of the Vienna
Academy for several years. The academy was
quite popular and well patronized during the
'30S and '40S, and boys were sent from War
ren to board in his family and attend his
school. Among the Warren boys were Leices
ter and David King, George Adaras, George
J. Seeley, James VanGorder and Hiram
Iddings. "Mr. Birge was a strict disciplinarian and
because he made each Sunday last from Satur
day evening at sunset until sunrise on Monday
morning, the boys would often desire to spend
the Sabbath at home, and would often, when
the mud was not too deep, walk and run and
play on Saturday from Vienna eight miles to
Warren, and early Monday morning the boys
would trot and trudge back.
"Half way between Vienna and Warren was
Howland Corners, where was located on the
southeast corner a country tavern, at one time
kept by John CoHins and afterwards by John
Sourers, and here the Birge Academy boys
would stop to rest a few minutes and refresh
thejr insides with some ¦ ginger cookies and
candy and a tin cup full of sweet cider.
"The academy building is now used as a
town hall." Early Physicians.
The early physician, like the physician of
today, was an important factor in the com
munity. He rode the county over in all kinds
of weather, healed the sick, comforted the
broken hearted and settled many a vexed ques
tion in the family. To be sure he needed more
Hght ; so do we today.
Women Physicians.
Few women have been in the profession in
Trumbull county. The first, as far as we

know, was Dr. Helen Betts, a native of Vienna,
who studied with Dr. Daniel Wood, practiced
a little while in Warren, removed to Youngs
town, where she had a large practice, and
later to Boston, where she made a name for
herself. She still is in active practice. Dr.
Melvina Abel ; Dr. L. Caroline Jones, who
practiced with her husband. Dr. Allen Jones,
of Kinsman ; Dr. Rose Ralston Ackley, and
Dr. Sarah P. Gaston-Frack, of Niles, are the
women practicing, longest in the county.
Among the early settlers women acted often
in the place of physicians, instances of the
same being given in different parts of this
history. Almost every township had such
nurse or midwife. Some of their recorded
deeds are heroic enough to deserve some of
the' raedals so graciously bestowed today.
They did not get them, nor did anyone else ;
money was too scarce to waste it in rewards,
and tirae too full to think of aught save pres
ent duty. Old-Time Remedies.
We are disraayed when, we read how dis
eases were treated in the pioneer time of the
county. For typhoid fever there was calomel,
bleeding, closed windows. Poultices were used
where now boracic acid and a clean cloth are
the remedies. Victiras of tuberculosis were
advised to avoid cool air and were allowed to
sleep in a roora with raany other raembers of
the family. This country was supposed to be
a place where consumptives got well, and raany
did. It was, as a rule, the people who had the
least money and the fewest comforts who re
covered. The reason for this is easily seen.
The cabins through which the wind blew, and
into which the snow fell, and whose logs held
not the fatal germs, were favorable places for
tuberculosis patients. Twenty years frora now,
when someone writes the history of Trumbull
county, he will point to the errors of medicine
of this time. But not to medicine alone wiH
his finger point, but to theology, to politics, to
philanthropy, and even philosophy. One has

190

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

only to read the pages of history to find that
many an old doctor was in his cups. Today
the author does not know one drunken doctor
in all Trumbull county.
The following notes were found in news
papers of the early day: "Doct. J. Lloyd of
Liberty, TrumbuH county, Ohio, proposes to
cure the foHowing, diseases : hydrophobia, epi
lepsy. No cure, no pay." (1844.)
Daniel Wannemaker, writing from Albert
Lea, Minnesota, July 31, 1885, to the Chron
icle, says : "He (old Dr. J. B. Harmon) more
than fifty years ago pulled a tooth for me, in
the suramer of 1834. I found him at the old
court house. Then he took an old dull jack-
knife and cut around the tooth. That hurt
some, but I was a boy then and had not learned
to chew tobacco, but I could take a pretty stiff
horn of whisky, a common article in every
family.'' In i860 Dr. Warren Iddings allowed patent
for improvement on embalming of dead bodies.
The Chronicle "wishes him to reap a rich har
vest from his invention."
Physicians of Trumbull County.
Below are given the names of some of the
men who have served and are still serving peo
ple of Trumbull county as physicians: Dr.
John B. Harmon, John W. Seeley, Dr. Far
rell, Enoch B. Kuhn, D. W. Jameson, Dr.
Nicholas, William Paine, John R. Woods,
Daniel B. Woods, Julian Harmon, L. G.
Moore, C. M. Metcalf, Rose Ralston Ackley,
J. S. Brown, Thomas H. Stewart, D. E.
Hoover, J. O. Button, J. O. Lattimer, D. E.
Hoover, C. C. Williams, Sarah Gaston Frack,
H. A. Fiester, D. G. Sirapson, C. C. Tidd, L.
G. Leland, Clarence S. Ward, John J. King,
John McCartney, Henry McQuiston, Charles
W. Thomas, Martin S. Mayhew, J. Ward, E.
E. Brinkerhoff, Archibald F. Swaney, Charles
T. Swaney, Fred Smith, T. M. Sabin, C. L.
Moore, C. W. Lain, W. A. Werner, J. H.
Learning, George E. Minick, Jessie E. Thomp
son, Albert W. Thompson, George J. Smith,

D. R. Williams, Andrew J. Rathbury, L. M.
Wright, John C. Hanshaw, L. S. Moore, Jr.,
J. R. Claypole, G. B. McCurley, S. C. Clisbey,'
Hubert L. Root, W. F. Horton, C. M. Rice'
Thomas McMurry, W. S. Thompson, G. A.
Huntley, W. S. Bond, O. A. Huntley, H. M.
Paige, Albert L. Albertson, Warren Iddings,
David S. Lillibridge, H. S. Brown, F. J. Rit-
terspach, Henry V. Ormerod, Thomas O. Clin-
gan, H. McA. Mealy, Charles A. Martin, C. S.
Fenton, W. C. Holbrook, E. M. Bancroft, E.
L. Wrentmore, Wesley P. Arner, John F.
Keene, Charles W. Banks, John M. Elder, C.
A. Archer, M. I. Hatfield, J. M. Scoville, G.
N. Simpson, W. D. Cunningham, F. C. Hunt
and G. R. Stevenson.
Although Dr. Dudly Allen, of Cleveland, is
not a Trumbull county man, his parents were,
while Dr. Benjamin Millikin, the weH known
eye and ear specialist of Cleveland, was a War
ren boy, a graduate of the Warren high school.
The Bar of Trumbull County.
The early history of the Trumbull county
bar belongs so exclusively to the general his
tory of the Western Reserve that it is given
here. From 1850 to 1870 Trumbull had an un
usual set of men as lawyers. Witty, able,
learned, they made an impress on the history
of northern Ohio. There were some forceful
orators among them, and when important
cases were to be tried people would come from
far distant places to hear the pleas. The writer
has seen twelve jurors with whitened faces
and tears on their cheeks listening to an attor
ney in the seventies pleading for the life of
his client. The client was guilty but the jury
found him innocent. Justice is not always a
quality of man's nature and emotional senti
ment of woman's.
Among the lawyers who have in Trumbull
county's one hundred and ten years practiced
law are: John S. Edwards, George Tod,
Thomas D. Webb, Calvin Pease, Elisha Whit
tlesey, Mathew Birchard, Milton Sutliff, Cal-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

191

vin Sutliff, Levi Sutliff, John CroweH, Charles
W. Smith, Whittlesey Adams, Rufus P. Ran
ney, Rufus P. Spaulding, Ira L. Fuller, John
F. Beaver, Jonathan Ingersoll, John Flutchins,
R. W. Ratliff, M. D. Leggett, J. D. Cox, Will
iam T. Spear, Selden Haines, B. F. Hoffman,
L. V. Bierce, J. W. Tyler, Charles E. GHdden,
RosweH Stone, Albert Yeomans, F. E.
Hutchins, John M. Stull, E. B. Taylor, Homer
E. Stewart, Charles A. Harrington, Asa W.
Jones, Julius N. Cowdrey, S. B. Creng,
George M. Tuttle, L. C. Jones, E. E. Roberts,
T. I. GHlmer, T. H. Gillmer, George W.
Upton, Charles FilHus, Leslie Mackey Weiss,
Charles M. Wilkins, E. O. DiHey, William B.
Kilpatrick, F. S. Chryst, F. R. Cowdrey, Jo
seph Smith, R. K. Hulse, G. P. Gillmer, War
ren Thomas, Jay Buchwaller, R. I. Gillmer, D.
M. Hine, A. E. Wonders, A. L. Phelphs,
George J. Hecklinger, William E. Tuttle,
George W. Snyder, WHliam B. Moran, M. J.
Sloan, Washington Hyde, J. L. Herzog, La
Fayette Hunter, Robert T. Izant, A. A.
Drown, D. R. Gilbert' E. B. Leonard, M. B.
Leslie, W. G. Baldwin, Wade R. Deemer and
Clare Caldwell. At this writing, E. B. Taylor
is the oldest member of the bar and Clare
Caldwell the youngest.
Judge Mathew Birchard.
Although Judge Mathew Birchard was born
in Massachusetts, his father settled in Wind
ham when he was only eight years old. He
had academical advantages, and studied with
Roswell Stone. He was admitted to the bar
in 1817, and formed a partnership with David
Tod. He was appointed postmaster in 1829,
was president-judge of the court of common
pleas, resigjiing in 1836. He served three
years as solicitor in the general land office at
Washington, having been appointed by Jack
son. Van Buren pronioted him to the office
of solicitor of the treasury, which place he held
untH 1 841. He was elected to the supreme
bench in 1842, two years of which time he was
chief justice. In 1853 he was elected by the

Democrats as a representative to the general
assembly. A contemporary says that his
knowledge of law was yery clear, that he pre
pared his cases with great care, and seeraed
to have the qualities which particularly adapted
him for judicial Hfe. As he lived in a strong
Whig community, he had to overcome some
prejudice, and labored under some disadvan
tages. Judge Milton Sutliff.
Hon. Milton Sutliff was the first man elected
to the supreme bench who was born in Trum
bull county. Vernon was his home, and he
was born in the year 1806. He, too, was con
nected with Gideon Granger, his mother being
a cousin. She was a woman of strong sense,
resolution, and had a remarkable memory.
She was a great reader, as was also his father. .
Milton completed the college course at West
ern Reserve in two years. He had a mag
nificent constitution. As a young man he
taught in the south and became very much
impressed with the slavery question. He was
admitted to the bar in 1824, and immediately
began practicing. He was elected to the Ohio
senate in 1850. Here he had a chance to do
much good work for the anti-slavery commit
tee. In 1857 he was elected to the supreme
bench of this state. He was a life-long stu
dent, a man of extraordinary oratorical
powers, and a good citizen. At the close of
his judicial life he began practicing his profes
sion in Warren, and continued this until his
death. In his will he left a sum of money to
the youth of Warren, to be used for a place
of amusement. The wording of this clause of
his will showed clearly that he intended this
to benefit both girls and boys. For many years
this money was not used, because it did not
seem possible to estabhsh a social-hall such as
the wHl called for. It was not understood ex
actly what was meant. Finally it was com
bined with the Carnegie fund and used in
erecting a library. The lower room in this
library is known as Sutliff Hall, and as this

192

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

is being written, is used by the young raen of
the city as a gymnasium. So, thirty-one years
after the wiH of Milton Sutliff, conditions are
such as to make it possible to carry out in part
the provisions of the will.
General John Crowell.
One of the raost picturesque personalities of
the TrurabuH bar was General John Crowell.
He was born in 1801 and, like raost of the at
torneys who began practice in the '20s and
'30s, he was poor and self-educated. His
father was a carpenter living in Ashtabula
county. He worked on the farra raost of the
year, attending, school a little while each win
ter. When he was twenty-two he walked to
Warren frora Rome to attend the acaderay at
Warren, of which E. R. Thorapson was
teacher. Here he studied irregularly until
1825, when he read law in the office of Hon.
T. D. Webb. During this tirae he was a
teacher in this same acaderay. He began the
practice of his profession iraraediately upon his
adraittance, 1827. He also went into partner
ship with George Hapgood in the Western Re
serve Chronicle, and wrote most of the edito
rials and like articles. He was a successful
debater, and greatly enjoyed it. He was
elected to the senate in 1840, and to congress
in 1846-48. In 1852 he removed to Cleveland,
and the rest of his life, which was very suc
cessful, was passed in Cuyahoga county. Al
though General Crowell saw hard times in his
youth, as he grew older and more successful,
he was somewhat pompous. He had the old-
fashioned oratory, and one tirae in addressing
a jury he quoted Latin as follows : "Procul,
procul, esto profani.'' General Lucius V.
Bierce, who was an attorney on the other side
of the case, taking a piece of paper, wrote the
following :
"Procul, procul, esto profani,"
Cried Gen. John Crowell, with uplifted mani;
"Procul, procul, esto profani !
If I'm not a damn fool, pray tell me what
am I ?"

This was passed around among the lawyers
and when the general turned from the jury to
address the judge, he was greatly confused to
see the entire bar in laughter. We do not
know whether he ever knew the cause of this
merriment. General L. V. Bierce.
General L. V. Bierce was born in' 1801. His
father, a Connecticut farmer, moved to Nel
son, Ohio, in 1816. Earned his living at Ohio
University where he obtained his education.
He was examined by Elisha Whittlesey, John
C. Wright and Thoraas Webb. Judge George
Tod becarae interested in him and appointed
hira prosecuting attorney in 1836. He moved
to Ravenna and lived there- until 1837, when
he went to Akron. Although he was sixty
years old when the war broke out, he raised
two companies of marines. He boarded them
for two days and partially clothed them, and
delivered thera at the Washington Navy Yard.
Returning horae he raised a company of one
hundred men for the artillery service. He was
too old to go himself. He was elected to Ohio
senate by 3,000 majority. Being appointed
assistant adjutant general of the United States
in 1863, he disbursed over a raillion dollars.
In 1875 he gave his entire property of $30,000
to Akron for public buildings.
John M. Stull.
John M. Stull was one of the most generous
lawyers of Warren, had many friends, and
was devoted and loved by the people of his
own church, the Methodist. He was of Ger
man and Scotch-Irish blood. His father died
when he was twelve years old. At nineteen he
went to Hampden, Ohio, to learn the black
smith trade, and later opened a shop in Farm
ington. As Mr. Stull Was always a delicate
man, and lived man}' -years beyond the time
his friends expected him to, it has always been
a wonder why he chose for his occupation one
so hard as blacksmithing. He had a limited
education, and if he had not received injuries

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

193

which made it impossible for him to continue
at his trade he would not have become a law
yer. Overcoming many obstacles, he finally
acquired an academic education. He went
south to teach, and studied law when he was
twenty-seven years old, in Kentucky. He was
not admitted to the bar until he was thirty.
He married FloriHa W. Woleott, whose tender
care and business sense helped him in the early
years of hi-s profession. His marriage was
an exceedingly happy one, and the loss of his
wife in 1878 was a terrible blow to him. He
had for partners at law at different times.
Judge Tuttle, Milton Sutliff, F. E. Hutchins
and Judge Glidden. He served as prosecuting
attorney of the county, as mayor, and as state
senator. He died in 1907 in Florida, where
he had gone to escape the rigors of the winter.
He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. A. F.
Harris, who resembles him in appearance and
has much of his business ability.
Thomas D. Webb.
Thomas D. Webb was a native of Wind
ham, Connecticut, born in 1784. Mr. Webb,
like most of the early Connecticut men who
were lawyers and leaders, in early TrumbuH
county, was a college man, graduating from
Brown in 1805. He studied law with Hon.
Zephaniah Swift, who afterwards became chief
justice. Mr. Webb was admitted to the bar
in Connecticut, and came to Trumbull county
in 1807, settling in Warren. Here he prac
ticed law for fifty years. His practice was
largely in connection with land claims. He
established the first newspaper of Trumbull
county. The Trump of Fame. Hon. Asa
Jones, of Hartford, TrumbuH county, has a
bound copy of this paper. In 1813 he bought
the house from the widow of John Edwards,
situated on South street and supposed to be
the oldest house in the city, and there he spent
the remainder of his life. His office was, as
were most of the offices of the lawyers of that
time, on his place. In 1813 he was appointed
collector of internal duties for the eighth dis

trict of Ohio. The taxes displeased the resi
dents, and one night the citizens gathered
about his house, demanding his appearance,
saying if he did not come out they would tear
down the residence. Being convinced he was
not at home, they departed without doing any
damage. He was twice elected to the state
senate. He served, however, only two years,
refusing to take the other terra. He ran for
congress against Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, and
was defeated only by a small majority. In
181 1, whHe helping to raise a building in How
land, he injured his leg, and it was amputated
above the knee. He died in 1865.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb lived all their married
fives in their horae on South street, and there
celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Webb
was quite an astronomer, and being, very fond
of mathematics he pursued the study of higher
mathernatics as far as Fluxions, a copy of
which he owned. This was the only copy in
town, and a rare book anywhere. In Mr.
Webb's later years Judge George M. Tuttle
occasionally studied this book with Mr. Webb.
It is not now in the possession of the family.
It is feared it must have been sold with some
of Mr. Webb's books at the time of his death.
Hon. John Hutchins.
Hon. John Hutchins, although he lived in
Cleveland in the last years of his life, was
really identified with the history of Trumbull
county. His ancestors came from Connecticut
in 1800, making the journey with ox teams,
and settling in Vienna. He had all the ad
vantage of the men of his time in education,
for, aside from common schools, he attended
Western Reserve College. He studied law
with David Tod, and was admitted in 1838
in New Lisbon. Later he was clerk of the
Trumbull county court for five years. - He had
at different times as his partners, David Tod,
B. F. Hoffman, J. D. Cox, Milton Sutliff and
others. He succeeded Joshua R. Giddings in
congress in 1858, serving two terms. He re
moved to Cleveland in 1868.

Vol. 1—13

194

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Charles A. Harrington.
Charles A. Harrington was born in Greene
in 1824. Attended Grand River Institute and
Oberlin College. Taught district school and
established a select school in Gi;eene township
which was very successful. This was in 1846.
At this time he began the study of law, and
was admitted in 1849. In i860 he was elected
clerk of the court of comraon pleas. He was
internal revenue assessor frora 1867 to 1873.
He was a partner of Williara T. Spear, later
supreme judge, from 1873 to 1879. Iu 1877
he retired from active practice. Although
eighty-five years old, he is a great reader and
a student, and a dehglitful conversationalist.
Asa W. Jones.
Asa W. Jones was born in Johnsonville in
1838. He was educated in the schools of his
neighborhood and attended the seminary at
West Farmington. He studied. law with Cur
tis & Smith at Warren, Ohio, and when twen
ty-one years old, 1859, was admitted. He
was appointed to fill an unexpired term as
prosecuting attorney of Mahoning county, and
later was elected to that office. In 1896 he
was elected lieutenant governor and served
until 1900. He spent most of his professional
life in Youngstown, Ohio, where he had a
large and lucrative practice. He has lately re
tired, and lives on a farm in Hartford, near
Burghill. George M. Tuttle.
George M. Tuttle, who died in 1907 at the
age of ninety-two years, was one of the most
interesting characters at the Trumbull county
bar. He was born in 181 5, in Connecticut,
and was a self-educated man. When young he
worked on his father's farm. All his life he
was much interested in mechanics. He made
clocks and studied as he worked, whether at
field work or shop work. He began the study
of law in 1837, in Connecticut. During this
tirae he clerked in the postoffice as weH, but
this double duty told on his health, and he

had to ' cease aH kinds of labor. When his
father's family moved to New York state he
taught school. They did not remain long in
New York, but came to Colebrook, Ashtabula.
Here he continued his old habits of working
and studying. He studied law with Wade &
Ranney, of Jefferson. He was admitted to the
bar in 1841, the next winter taught school and
practiced law. In 1844 he removed to War
ren, where he spent the rest of his life. After
he began active practice, he never ceased until
1902. He was long associated in business with
Hon. Milton Sutliff. The latter made him his
executor, and bequeathed to him a portion of
his estate. His other partners were Judge
Humphrey, Alexander McConnel. William
Whittlesey, John M. Stull, F. E. Hutchins and
his son-in-law, Charles Fillius. He was elected
comraon pleas judge in 1866, and served until
1872. He was a member of the constitutional
convention of 187 1. He was a great reader
from his early childhood. He was one of four
raen possessed of the largest libraries in town,
those of Mr. H. B. Perkins and Judge Taylor
being the others.
L. C. Jones.
L. C. Jones came to the bar later than most
of his contemporaries, but was successful after
he began practice. He was born in Hartford
township in 1822, on Christmas day, and his
parents were of Puritan blood, having corae
from ConViecticut. Middle-aged people re
raeraber his mother, who lived to extreme age.
She belonged to a family of longevity. Of
her brothers and sisters, one died when over
ninety, and one at one hundred and two, the
others between these two ages. Mr. Jones
attended the Western Reserve College at Hud
son. Part of the time he supported himself
when he was getting his education, and learned
the trade of painting chairs. Determining to
be a doctor, he attended medical lectures at
Colurabia College in Washington, D. C, and
returned to Hartford, where he practiced medi
cine for nearly two years. Although he had

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

195

liked the study of medicine, he did not like
the practice. He therefore engaged in mercan
tile business, but this, too, for various reasons,
was as unsatisfactory to him as was medicine.
Judge John Crowell urged hira to study law,
and this he did, being admitted in 1854. He
practiced in his home town until 1862, when
he formed a partnership with Ezra B. Taylor,
which partnership continued for fourteen
years. This was one of the most successful
firms in the valley, and the records show Tay
lor & Jones to be the attorneys of most of the
important cases of that time. He was a state
senator for two terms, was registrar in bank
ruptcy for many years, was the first city so
licitor of Warren, and accumulated a goodly
property. Judge William T. Spear.
Judge WiHiam T. Spear has served almost
continuously for a quarter of a century as
judge of the supreme court of the state of
Ohio. He was born in Warren, his father
being Edward Spear, Sr., and his raother Ann
(Adgate) Spear. Mr. Spear followed the
printing business, working in Pittsburg and
two years in New York City. He finally con
cluded that the law opened a wider field, and
began studying with Jacob D. Cox, afterwards
general and governor. He graduated from the
Harvard Law School in 1859, and was ad
mitted to the bar the same year. He was first
associated with J. D. Cox and Robert Ratliff;
later with John C. Hutchins and C. A. Har
rington. He spent three years in Louisiana
practicing his profession in connection with
the management of a cotton plantation. In
1864 he married Frances E. York, of Lima,
New York. Mrs. Spear is a woman of fine
education, taught in the Warren high school,
and was a great addition to the society in
which Judge Spear moved. She has been truly
a helpmeet and a companion. They have four
sons. Judge Spear was elected to the com
mon pleas bench in 1878, re-elected in 1883;
elected supreme judge in 1885, and has served

continuously since. Judge and Mrs. Spear
reside in Colurabus. John F. Beaver.
John F. Beaver is never to be forgotten
by the younger people of today who saw him,
and by the people who did business with him.
He was a unique figure, — strong of body and
mind, wholly indifferent to his appearance in
dress, and rather brusque of manner. He was
born in Pennsylvania, and like so many of
the men of his age who came from that state,
he ohtained his education under the greatest
difficulties. It is tradition that he was at one
time a law partner of Hon. Edgar Cohen, a
United States senator frora Pennsylvania.
This is not wholly verified. He lived in Pitts
burg, for a time, where, by great industry, he
made and saved money, but, not liking the city,
he purchased a farra and raill property in New
ton Falls in 1844, and for a time abandoned the
actual practice of law. His ability was recog
nized in his new home. He becarae state sen
ator, serving three terras. His late life was
exceedingly happy, because he had the respect
of. his fellow men, had plenty of raeans, had
land of his own upon which he could hunt,
and because he was an oranivorous reader and
an unusual conversationaHst. He was often
spoken of as "Old John Beaver," and the
raention of his narae alraost always caused
good feeling. He died when he was TJ years
old. Judge Ezra B. Taylor.
The father and grandfather of Ezra B. Tay
lor, both bearing the narae of EHsha, settled
in Nelson in 1814. They had intended locating
near the mouth of the Cuyahoga, but when
they came to view their land the sand seemed
so uninviting and the wind so fierce that they
worked back onto the Nelson hHls, and chose
a lovely spot midway between the center of
Nelson and the center of Hiram. Elisha mar
ried Amanda Couch, of Connecticut, who died
leaving one son, Samuel. He then married

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the younger sister, Thyrza. Mrs. Taylor was
a woman of strong character, fine physique
and a wonderful helpmeet for a pioneer. She
had four boys and one girl.
Ezra Booth Taylor, named for his uncle, the
Methodist preacher, his family intending he
should be a preacher, was born July 9, 1823.
He worked on the farm, attended the schools
in winter, sometimes in summer, and his
mother made many sacrifices in order that he
might have the education he desired. He read
by the log fire and walked raany miles to
borrow a book which he would hear was in
the neighborhood. At an early age he taught
school at the center of Nelson in the academy.
He studied law with Robert F. Paine, of Gar
rettsville, afterwards judge. He passed the
examination in 1845, ''•ud was admitted to the
bar at Chardon. He was then twenty-two
years old. He practiced one year in Garretts
ville, and moved to the county seat, Ravenna,
in 1847. Married Harriet M. Frazer, daugh
ter of Colonel William A. Frazer, in 1849.
She died in 1876. They had two children,
Harriet and Hal K.
Mr. Taylor entered into partnership with
General Lucius V. Bierce after he had prac
ticed a year alone, and as General Bierce was
a strong man with a good practice, this was a
great advantage to Mr. Taylor, and he ira
proved it. He later had for his partners John
L. Ranney and Judge Luther Day, the father
of Judge William Day, of the Supreme Court
of the United States. In 1849 he was elected
prosecuting attorney of Portage county.
He came to Warren in 1861 and formed a
partnership with L. C. Jones, which continued
until 1876. He was one of the "squirrel
hunters," and was a private in the One Hun
dred and Seventy-first Ohio National Guard.
When he returned home he was elected colonel
of the regiment. He was appointed judge in
1877 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Frank
Servis. In 1880 he was elected to congress
to succeed James A. Garfield, who had been
elected to the senate. General Garfield never

took his seat in the senate, because he was
nominated and elected to the presidency that
same year. Judge Taylor, therefore, filled
General Garfield's unexpired term, going to
Washington in December, 1880. Major Mc
Kinley had been a member of the judiciary
committee of the house, and took Garfield's
place on the ways and means committee when
Garfield left that body. Judge Taylor was
appointed a member of the judiciary commit
tee in McKinley's place, and he served on this
comraittee as chairman when the Republican
party was in power, always at other times as
a member. He was a meraber of other com
raittees of the house — commerce, claims, etc.
He was a meraber of the conference commit
tee, and was equally responsible with Senator
Sherraan for the passage of the law known as
the Sherraan Anti-Trust BHl. He was the
author of the bankruptcy bill ; assisted Speaker
Reed in making the rules which have been so
severely criticised during- this present year.
He gave, as chairman of this coramittee, the
only majority report on the question of woman
suffrage which has ever been given by any
coraraittee in the national house of representa
tives. Speaker Reed once made a minority
report which Judge Taylor signed. The con
gressional speech which attracted the most at
tention was that on the Chinese question.
After thirteen years' service he retired, for
personal reasons. He entered into a partner
ship in 1884 with his son-in-law, George W.
Upton, which existed until 1905, when a stroke
of apoplexy caused the former to retire from
active practice.
In early life Mr. Taylor belonged to de
bating societies, and was much interested in
public affairs, such as libraries, agricultural
societies, etc. Once, when dining with Gen
eral Hazen in Washington, the latter showed
him a premium card which he received when
living on his farm near Garrettsville for rais
ing broom corn. This was signed by Ezra B.
Taylor as secretary. Both at that time were
young men. These two men had many stories

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

197

to tell that evening of their boyhood life on
the farm (they lived within a few miles of
each other), to the amusement of the other
guests. Judge Taylor is by nature optimistic. Al
though cut off from his business associates by
his illness, he declares that these last five years
of his life have been his happiest ones. "Every
body is so good to me," he says. His vigor
of mind continues, and his life-long philosophy
is his strength.
Common Pleas Judges.
Here is given a list of the men who have
served Trumbull county as common pleas
judges :
1808 — Calvin Pease.
1810 — Benjamin Ruggles.
1815 — George Tod.
1830 — Reuben Wood.
1833 — Mathew Birchard.
1837 — ^Van R. Plumphrey.
1844 — Eben Newton.
1847 — Benjarain F. Wade.
1851 — George Bliss.
The above were elected by the legislators.
The constitution of- 185 1 abolished associate
judgeships, and judges were elected by men
of the subdivisions of the district. Trumbull,
with Mahoning and Portage, made the second
subdivision of the ninth judicial district.
The common pleas judges elected are :
i852-'57 — Luther Day.
i857-'62 — Benjamin F. Hoffman.
i862-'67 — Charles E. GHdden.
i867-'72— George M. Tuttle.
i868-'78— Philo B. Conant.
i87i-'72 — Charles E. GHdden.
1877 — Francis C. Servis.
i877-'8o— Ezra B. Taylor.
1 878-'86— William T. Spear.
i88o-'87— George F. Arrell.
1886 — T. I. Gillmer.
1886 —Albert A. Theyes (vice Spear).

i887-'97 — Joseph R. Johnston.
1888 to date — George F. Robinson.
1893 — George F. Robinson.
i897-'99 — James B. Kennedy.
1899 to date — Disney Rogers.
i903-'o8 — E. E. Roberts.
1908 to date — Charles M. Wilkins.
1909 to date — W. B. Barnum.
State Senators Since 1874.
The following have served Trumbull county
as state senators since 1874:
Lucian O. Jones, Sixty-first assembly, 1874.
J. R. Johnson, Sixty-second and Sixty-third
assembhes, 1876, 1878.
H. B. Perkins, Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth
assemblies, 1880, 1882.
A. D. Fassett, Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seventh
assemblies, 1884, 1886.
John M. Stull, Sixty-eighth assembly, 1888.
E. A. Reed, Sixty-ninth assembly, .1890.
L. C. Ohl, Seventieth and Seventy-first as
semblies, 1892, 1894.
John J. Sullivan, Seventy-second and Sev
enty-third assemblies, 1896, 1898.
B. F. Wirt, Seventy-fourth and Seventy-
fifth assemblies, 1900, 1902.
Thomas Kinsraan, Seventy-sixth and Sev
enty-seventh assemblies, 1904, 1906.
David Tod, Seventy-eighth assembly, 1908.
Trumbull County's Only Hanging.
There has never been but one person suffer
the death penalty in Trumbull county. That
was Ira West Gardner, of Gustavus. He raar
ried Anna Buell, a widow, who had a beautiful
daughter of sixteen, Frances Maria. Gardner
in 1832 tried to seduce this girl, and was re
pulsed. Fearing him, she went to the home of
a nearby neighbor, staying there for some lit
tle tirae. At last Gardner sent word to her
that if she would return home she would be
safe. Needing some clothing, she took ad
vantage of this offer, and Gardner, meeting
her at the gap of the fence, plunged a butcher
knife into her heart.

198

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

He was tried and convicted. Roswell Stone
was the prosecuting attorney and Corafort
Mygatt sheriff. He was escorted to the place
of hanging by a great procession and band,
Selden Haines being in coramand of the sol
diers. People who had children away at school
brought them horae to witness the execution.
We now wonder how these parents reasoned,
but one of the young raen who was thus
brought many miles remembers that his father
said he might never, have another chance to
see another hanging, and he was right. The
children of the sixties were not like those of
the thirties, for the forraer always shivered
as they passed the corner of South and Chest
nut streets on the way to the ceraetery, and
dare not look towards the tree from which
Gardner is supposed to have swung. Whether
the tree was still standing at that time is not
certain. Possibly children are like men and
horses, less afraid where many people are con
gregated. Sheriff Mygatt said that he did not believe
he was going to be able to discharge his duty
in the case of Gardner, but that he did work
himself up to the point. He took the prisoner
in his own carriage, led by Warren's first
band, which played a dirge. The military or
ganization forraed a hollow square around the
scaffold. Elder Mack, a Methodist minister,
walked with Mr. Mygatt and the prisoner to
the scaffold. A hymn was sung, in which the
prisoner joined, and he was then swung to a
great overhanging limb where he breathed his
last. The '49-ERs From Warren.
Mrs. Reeves of Ravenna, daughter of John
Reeves, furnishes the following: "On April
26, 1849, John Reeves Jr., Joseph Parke Hall,
Daniel G. Jaggur, Sarauel Sutliffe, George K.
Soul, Jaraes Scott Abel and Robert Quigley
started to cross the plains to California. They
took a canal boat at Tayler's warehouse. .This
building stood where Gillen's livery and auto
mobile station now stands on Main street. So

much excitement had been caused from the
finding of gold in California and so promi
nently connected were these men in Warren
that the Canal bridge and the wharf were
crowded by townspeople to bid them farewell.
At Beaver, Pennsylvania, they took a packet
and in ten days had reached St. Louis. There
they took the steamer "Mary Blaine," coming
from New Orleans, which made a short stop
because it had been delayed, burying passen
gers who had died of the, cholera. They had
started with six hundred, and three hundred
died by the time they had reached St. Louis.
"Mr. Abner Reeves had bargained with a
Mr. Courtney to supply the emigrants with
mules. Because arrangements had been dis
turbed, Joseph P. Hall and John Reeves Jr.
landed at Miamastown, Missouri, hired a pri
vate conveyance to take thera to the stage
route and thus reach Independence on time
to secure their mules frora a pack of sixty.
Robert Quigley, after twelve hours of suffer
ing, died of cholera. It was strange that he
was the only one in the party that had insured
his life. His body was buried two miles from
the Fort. Daniel G. Jaggur and John Reeves
secured the legal papers in connection with
this insurance and thus Mrs. Quigley and her
four children were placed above want. While
waiting for the coffin to be made, seven more
were ordered and a general stampede of the
inhabitants followed the arrival of the "Mary
Blaine." On the i6th of J\iay the company
started and met the hardships of the journey
with courage, camping, early in the day;
securing water and forage for the mules;
a bath and a rest ; observing good nature and
hopeful anticipations. In one hundred days
Sacramento City, the objective point, was
reached. The government teams were passed
when half way out, and up to this date this was
the quickest trip of which any record has been
kept. "Disposing of the outfit to the highest bid
der, John Reeves, Jr., each man agreed to
shift for himself. Mr. Schoolcraft, the agent

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

199

for Col. John A. Sutter's son, purchased the
team and wagon and on Sunday, September
2nd, a general day of fasting was observed,
the first since leaving their homes in Ohio.
"The only one to secure life insurance was
Robert Quigley, who had a policy for one
thousand dollars, but their number increased,
from six at the start, to forty, as many would
disagree and join others upon the way. The
company from Warren was singularly united
and harmonius.
"Daniel G. Jaggur was a student who could

and his sister Abigail returned to California
and died there. Joseph Parke HaH made the
journey twice and lived to be a very old man.
His home was on North Park avenue in War
ren and a street in that vicinity bears his
name. He was a brother of Mrs. John Harsh.
John Reeves Jr. lived to be seventy-nine years
old, and was the last of the party to pass away.
So it was that none of the early Trumbull
county men found gold in California, but they
did display a good deal of bravery in their
trip."

(I/oaned by tbe Tribune.)
OLD ENGINE HOUSE, -WHEEE CITY PAEK NOW IS.

interest an audience upon art or science. Every
member was more than ordinarily intelligent,
and it is safe to say, the emigrant to California
at the time was not the shiftless specimen from
the states, as it required an unusual degree of
perseverance and endurance to make the jour
ney. "None of this company stayed in California.
Retracing their steps by way of the Isthmus
of Panama, they went by boat up the Missis
sippi, by steam cars to Sandusky, steamer to
Cleveland and stage to Warren. Mr. Jaggur

Destructive Fires.
Until within a few years the citizens of War
ren becarae greatly alarmed at the ringing of
the fire bell. Even as late as 1880 a day-time
fire brought forth an enormous crowd, while
an alarm rung in the night called men from
their beds and caused women to anxiously
await the result at home. This unnecessary
fear was present because of the terrible con
flagrations which in the past had visited the
city. The tale had been so often told that

200

HISTORY OF TPIE WESTERN RESERVE

although people were too young to have seen
the destruction, stHl it was firmly fixed in their
rainds. The first destructive fire was in 1846; the
others in 1849, 1855, i860, 1866 and 1867.
In 1838 a rotary engine costing two hun
dred and ninety-five dollars was purchased.
At the tirae of the purchase of this engine a
fire company was formed and its duty was not
only to manage the fire but to do police service
as well. The citizens of the town were re
quested to take their place in the bucket bri
gade. This corapany had to practice once a
month, and after the novelty wore off", the
filling of the tub was a laborious task, dis
tasteful to all.
The Dreadful Fire of 1846.
Notwithstanding the preparation, this com
pany had no chance to serve in the first fire,
of 1846, because the buildings were largely of
wood and the fire was under such headway
that nothing as sraall and as inefficient could
have much effect upon the burning raass. The
fire departraent did the best it could, but citi
zens became very much excited and often ran
throwing water on the fire from the individual
buckets instead of keeping the tub filled, and
finally the truck broke and the engine was
placed on boxes, where it was worked, but to
little purpose. This fire started about eleven
o'clock on Monday night, June- 1,. the alarra
being given by the Presbyterian bell, now
rather worse for its years of work, but still
hanging in the Presbyterian steeple. It origi
nated in the grocery store of Fred Bolerayer,
which stood where the Warren Hardware
Corapany now is, on Market street, went down
Main street nearly to Franklin, and east on
Market to Park (Liberty) and down Park a
short distance. Twenty-four buildings were
burned, and among them sorae of the best
firms in town lost heavily. A man lost his life
in the store of B. P. Jameson. The park was
filled with all sorts of merchandise and furni
ture. The stores of Henry Stiles and Asael

Adams, standing just north of Market, on the
east side of Park, were saved, although the
goods were carried out and more or less dam
aged. Many ladies were in the rank of the
bucket brigade and did heroic work in helping
to save these buildings as well as the bank.
Little insurance was carried in those days and
the financial loss was very great.
Warren now knew that one thing it must
have was an efficient fire department. In July
of this same year, 1846, Jaraes Hoyt and
Oliver H. Patch, upon request of the citizens,
went to Cleveland, purchased a Button at the
cost of $600. This was the type of hand en
gine with which we are all famiHar. It was
a great improvement on the old one.
A second-hand engine, bearing the name of
"Saratoga," was purchased in 185 1 and a com
pany organized. Whether this was an entirely
new company, or a reorganization of the old,
we do not know. In 1855 another engine was
purchased. The Great Fire of i860.
Although the fire of 1846 was a dreadful
one, that of i860 was worse, and is always
known as "the great fire." Almost the entire
business part of .the town was destroyed. This
fire started in Truesdell & Townsend's furni
ture factory, located on the south side of Ful
ton street near Main. A strong wind prevailed
and the burning embers were easily carried to
the livery stable of Peter Foulk on Franklin
street. This time both sides of Main street
burned, and several acres were laid in waste.
The covered bridge was destroyed and feU
into the river. Many houses on Mahoning
avenue had the shingle roofs ablaze, the Meth
odist church was on fire in several places, and
Professor James Marvin, then superintendent
of the public schools, got onto the roof and
saved it by the help of the bucket brigade.
Almon D. Webb, the father of Peter L. Webb,
did the same thing for the Presbyterian church.
Edward A. Smith is the only man now en
gaged in business who was in business at that

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

201

time. There were two fire companies, Ma
honing No. I and Neptune No. 2. The former
was located on South Park avenue and the
second in a brick building located in the small
park between city hall and West Market street.
Members belonging to the Mahoning No. i,
now living, are John Buchsteiner, James
Finn and Michael Goeltz, while of Neptune
No. 2 — Whittlesey Adair^s, Judge William
T. Spear, Homer C. Reid and Williara J.
Kerr are still living.
This fire brought financial distress, but in
the long run was good for the town, for, al
though more than $300,000 worth of prop
erty was destroyed, buildings were all re
built. Before this. Main street was below
grade, and now this was brought up to the
right level and a good foundation made. Be
fore two years had passed, all blocks were
rebuilt, all occupied.
Fire of 1867 and Others.
The fire of 1867 swept away the buildings
from the corner of Park, to the building now
occupied by Mrs. Kopp. The store on the
corner, where the Warren dry goods store
now stands, was used by Charles Boughton
as a crockery store, and over this the Misses
Foreman had a millinery establishment.
These two women carried on a successful
business in Warren for a great many years.
They escaped from this fire with their lives.
They lost their stock of goods, all their cloth
ing and furniture. The women of the town
gladly and generously gathered together,
made garments for them, and they were soon
able, either frora their own savings or by a
loan, to secure a new line of goods and re
sume business. They were the leading mil
liners of the town for many years and dur
ing the latter part of their lives occupied
rooms at the southern end of the present
Union National Bank building.
Since that time a number of business places
have been destroyed by fire, and now, and then
a residence or two, but on the whole fires

have been few and the department very effi
cient. First Steamer.

In 1868 the first steamer was purchased.
Including a goodly bit of hose, it cost $9,000.
It was named for the mayor, I. N. Dawson,
and the fire department bore also the same
name. In 1881 a new stearaer was purchased,
costing $4,000. There was no change in the
fire company as to name.
City Hall Built.
In 1874 the city hall was built at the cost
of $46,000. The lower part of this building
was arranged for the fire department, and
horses were used for the first time to draw
the engines, when the company was installed
in this building. The erection of the city hall
caused a good deal of coraraent on the part
of the older citizens. These men realized the
value of the land given by Mr. Quinby to the
city, and as most of them had traveled, were
well educated, and knew the possibility of this
public park, they had guarded the Quinby gift
and regretted greatly the sale of the land be
tween the river and Quinby Hill, particularly
the part opposite the city hall, and they also
objected to the construction of the city hall,
first because it obstructed the view of the
river, but principally because they believed
a stable in the lower part of the city building
would finally make the building unfit for use.
The town has lived to see the wisdom of the
early fathers, and has partially rectified its
mistake by taking the fire department out of
the building.
Present Building and DspARTiiENT.
In 1896 the present fire departraent building
was erected on South Park avenue. It cost
about $20,000. In 1899 the Volunteer Fire
Corapany ceased to exist, the present fire com
pany was organized, and the office of chief of
fire department created. D. K. Moser was
elected chief, and has held that ofiice ever

202

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

since. He has been a very efficient raan. The
firemen, at this writing, on duty in this build
ing are Chief Moser, Grant Drennen, William
Griffith, Dennis Gates and Milton Poulton.
As raany manufactories have sprung up in
the northern part of the city, for several years
pressure has been brought to bear for the
establishment of a fire department in that sec
tion, and in 1908 a building was erected and
equipped. The captain in this station is Harry
]\IiHs, John Graham and Stanley Johnson
being the men on duty.
Warren Public Library.
In 1814 or 181 5 the first library in old
TrumbuH county was established in Warren.
It contained about 1,000 volumes, mostly of
biography and history. It was located in the
cabinet. shop of Mr. White, which stood north
of the Presbyterian church. There was littie,
aside from church and .social gatherings, to
entertain people, and so this library was a
popular institution. Mr. White served as
librarian for more than thirty years, and there
are many men and woraen living in Warren
today who read those books which were under
his care.
In the early '40s W. N. Porter and Mr. lde
had a circulating library. Deceraber 20, 1842,
we find in the Western Reserve Chronicle the-
following : "Wheat, corn, hay, oats, wood,
butter, tallow, and raost kinds of produce ¦\^ill
be received for subscriptions to Porter & Ide's
circulating library. Mr. Porter was a cul
tured gentleman, who had a large and well
regulated book store in the room now occu
pied by the Masters Brothers Grocery Com
pany. In 1848 Jacob Perkins, Dr. Julian Harmon,
Judge George M. Tuttle and Orlando Mor
gan, with some others, originated the "War
ren Library Association." The books of the
first library were transferred to this company
and the trustees and patrons desiring to ex
tend the work of the library, opened a reading
roora in connection with it. George VanGor

der was the librarian for three years, and the
library was in his father's block, which was
afterwards destroyed by fire. Some persons
who had contributed books and money to the
first association did not exactly approve of
this library on the larger scale. However,
it flourished for a time. It was sustained by
private subscription, and entertainments, es
pecially lectures, were given for its benefit.
Among those who gave the lectures were
Jacob Perkins, Judge Milton Sutliff, George
M. Tuttle, Dr. D. B. Woods, and Dr. JuHan
Harraon. Later the Library Association' de
cided that it could not keep open both reading
roora and library, and decided to close the
reading room and stop periodicals ; to remove
the library to the office of IM. D. Leggett; to
keep it open for the drawing and changing
of books on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur
days of every week ; that the stockholders be
taxed the sum of fifty cents and those not
stockholders one dollar per year for the use
of the library. In 1854 the library suspended
and the books were sold at public auction and
to private individuals. There were about two
thousand volumes and many of them are now
to be found in the libraries of the older resi
dents. The people who had objected to the
formation of this second library had occasion
to say "I told you so," and those who had
given books to the first library had reason to
feel rebellious when they were sold to the
highest bidder.
In 1877 some books were gathered to-
' gether and the nucleus of a new library was
established. From the beginning Dr. JuUan
Harraon had been interested in the library
question, and this thi'rd Hbrary was entrusted
to his care in his office on Harmon street.
Professor E. F. Moulton was president, Dr.
Harraon was secretary, and the library was
maintained by dollar memberships.
For eleven years this organization was in
existence, then President Moulton called a
raeeting at Dr. Harmon's office, on July 10,
1888, to consider seriously the question of a

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

203

library for Warren. The meeting was ad
journed a week and twelve or fifteen persons
perfected the plans at the office of P. L.
Webb. George T. Townsend was chairman
of that meeting and P. L. Webb secretary.
MarshaH Woodford was elected president,
P. L. Webb secretary and treasurer; execu
tive committee. Dr. T. M. Sabin, Judge D. R.
Gilbert, and Mrs. S. W. Parks. So far as we
know this was the first tirae a woman had
acted in official capacity in connection with the
library association. More women than men
were present at this meeting, among them, the
Misses Mary Iddings, Maria Heaton, Ella
Estabrook, Fanny Hall, Helen Bierce, Mrs.
S. W. Park, Mrs. Woodford, and Mrs. W. T.
Brown. The name of the Warren Library
Association was retained. The two cases of
books which had been in Dr. Harmon's office,
were transferred to Mr. Webb's office and he
served as librarian for two years.
On September 22, 1888, the library opened
with two hundred and ninety-four volumes.
Ten years later they had 4,000 volumes. This
library was opened two afternoons and even
ings in the week. No one in connection with
this association received any salary, but there
were expenses to be met, particularly that of
the purchase of new books. The associa
tion therefore arranged for a course of
lectures, and the committee having this
in charge secured a list of responsible
persons who agreed to make good, individ
ually, any deficit and to give to the Library
Association any profits. The first course was
given in 1888 and '89 and the lecture course
was continued five years. Eight hundred dol
lars was realized in this way, and that sum
really made it possible to continue the work.
In 1890 the association was incorporated, by
Henry B. Perkins, Marshall Woodford, B. J.
Taylor, P. L. Webb, S. W. Parks, W. C.
Stiles, and W. S. Kernohan. Marshall Wood
ford was president, B. J. Taylor, vice presi
dent; O. L. Woleott, treasurer; T. D. Oviatt,
secretary and librarian. From this time on

the success of the library was apparent. Mr.
Woodford gave a great deal of thought and
time to the management of affairs, and when
he was suddenly taken away, Mrs. Woodford
took his place, acting as librarian.
The law of the state of Ohio allowed a tax
to be levied for library purposes, and super
vision to be had either by the city council or
the board of education. The association chose
to put itself in the hands of the board of edu
cation rather than the council. This body
therefore made the levy and for the first time
in its existence, the board of education divided
on the lines of men and women, the women
voting for the higher levy and the men for the
lower. On April i, 1898, the Warren Free Library
became a reality. The first books were drawn
that day, and the library was opened to all citi
zens and residents of school district. During
the suraraer the evening hours were length
ened, the room being open frora 6 :30 to 8 :oo.
The officers of this first Free Library were ¦
President, B. J. Taylor; vice president, W. C.
Stiles; treasurer, P. L. Webb; librarian and
secretary, Mrs. Woodford. In 1896 One hun
dred and ninety-eight people drew books ; in
1898, one thousand and twenty-five. In 1899,
the high school library, of two hundred books,
was transferred to the Free Library. In 1899
the library had become such an attractive
place that people who went there for books,
stayed and visited until the trustees voted
that no talking above a whisper should be al
lowed. So well was this law enforced, as long
as the library was in the building, that to this
day when towns-people open the door of the
National American Woraen Suffrage Asso
ciation, they begin conv^sation in a whisper.
In 1898 an endowment gift of $3,500 was
made the library and the interest from this has
served a goodly purpose.
In 1878 Judge Mihon Sutliff left by will
$10,000 to provide the youth of Warren with
a place for entertainment and enjoyment. The
phrase relating to this was obscure and for

204

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

that reason, nothing was done with it until, by
rautual agreeraent, George M. Tuttle, the
trustee, with the consent of all persons inter
ested under the wiH, agreed that this amount
might be turned over to the Library Associa
tion. The old building which had been used
as an academy and which had been occupied
by Mr. Sutliff as an office, was turned over
to the library, and the rents accruing there
from were used for its maintenance. This
had to be done through the city authorities
and all were pleased when it was thus settled.
When the court house was building, pro
vision was made on the first floor, west wing,
for the library, and here the association estab
lished itself in 1897. Mrs. Woodford was
Hbrarian at the munificent salary of $300 and
her assistants gave their time gratuitously. It
thus being determined that the Library Asso
ciation was a fixture in the community, dona
tions were made to it of money and of books
and those donations have heen continued.
Mrs. Woodford resigned to accept a position
in Oberlin where she would be with her
mother and her sister, and Miss Elizabeth
Smith, of Cleveland, succeeded her. Miss
Sraith served two or three years, and upon her
return to Cleveland, Miss Cornelia Smith was
elected librarian and has served ever since.
Too rauch praise cannot be given to Miss
Sraith for her devotion and her interest. Un
der her management, the library has becorae
a place where young and old cannot only re
ceive books, but can be guided to aH sorts of
references and helpful articles.
About 1904 the Library Association decided
to accept the offer of Andrew Carnegie to
give $28,000 to the library and building was
begun in the fall of that year. It was finished
in February, 1906. As Mr. Carnegie always
requires that the city obligate itself in the ex
pense of maintaining his libraries, the city
levied a proper tax. The bill providing for
this free library placed the control in the
hands of the city authorities. The city now
levies .7 miH and last year this amounted to

$3,200. As the library was built on the Sut
liff land, and as a provision of the Sutliff will
must be carried out, the first floor was made
into a hall and naraed "Sutliff HaU," and the
library proper is on the second floor, although
part of the rooms on the first floor are used
by the library for storage. Within the last
year this hall has been used as a gymnasium
for boys. The will of Mr. Sutliff provided
for both boys and girls.
The library now contains over 15,000 books.
The officers are: President of the board.
Homer E. Stewart; vice president, T. I. Gill
mer ; treasurer, P. L. Webb ; members, S. W.
Parks, Horaer E. Stewart, Charles Fillius,
Mary Perkins Lawton.
Newspapers of tpie County.
The first paper in Trumbull county was
known as the Trump of Fame. It was issued
in 1812 and has continued under various
names until the present time. In 1816 its
name was changed to the Western Reseroe
Chronicle. Sketches of the Trump of Fame
and early papers are given in one of the chap
ters comprising the general history. In 1848
the Trumbull County Whig was established,
which later became the Western Transcript.
In 1853 the Chronicle and Western Transcript
joined in the name of the Western Reserve
Chronicle and Transcript. Mr. Ritezel was
editor and publisher of the Trumbull Comity
Democrat. That paper was consolidated with
the Chronicle, Mr. Ritezel being a junior
member of the firm. This was in 1861. In
a short time Mr. Ritezel became editor and
proprietor of the weekly Weste-rn Reserve
Chronicle and continued in this capacity until
1877, when a stock company was formed.
He served in the capacity of editor for forty-
one years and died in 1882. A daily issue of
this paper was started in 1883. The Chronicle
now occupies the first floor of the Masonic
block. The News Letter was a paper established
in 1830 by Thomas J. McLain, Sr., and his

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

205

brother, J. G. In 1839 this paper became the
Trumbull Democrat and had several note
worthy editors. The questions raised by the
war however shattered the spirit lines of the
pubhc parties and William Ritezel, who was
then editor of the Democrat, as we have seen,
became a Republican.
Jefferson Palm was connected with the
News Letter and the Olive Branch and when
the Democrat united with the Chronicle the
Democrats were without an organ. In 1862
Jeft'erson Palm founded the Constitution,
which suspended publication in the eighties.
In 1866 the Warren Record came into exist
ence. It was also founded by Jefferson Palm.
It was the forerunner of the present Demo
crat. The Democrat is a vigorous paper, un
der the editorship of Horace Holbrook.
In 1876 the Warren Tribune was founded,
particularly to break into the Garfield popu
larity in the district. W. S. Peterson was the
owner and his two sons were later associated
with him. In 1834 William H. Smiley bought
the paper and it was a lively sheet as long as
he was editor. In 1891 he sold it to Mr.
Lampson, who established the daily Tribune.
In 1892 it became the property of C. H.
NeweH and H. F. Harrison. Three years
later W. C. Deming and F. E. Russell
bought the paper and the Tribune Company
was formed. The stock is owned by Mr. and
Mrs. W. C. Deming, T. H. Deming and C. B.
Rigg. T. H. Deming is editor. This paper
is located in the Opera House block.
An early paper which did not live very long
was the Liberty Herald. The Courtland Ga
zette was estabhshed in the early seventies,
but the plant was destroyed in 1888. The
Courtland Herald was established and edited
by H. D. Holcomb from 1888 to '94. H. C.
Freeman owned the property for five years,
when it suspended. This was in 1899. In,
1900 Card C. HadseH purchased it and is stiH
its editor.
The Niles Register was established in 1866

and in 1868 it was changed to the Niles Inde
pendent. In 1876 was bought by McCor
mick and Williams. In 1883 McCormick
owned it all and since then his wife, Mrs. Ella
McCormick, has assuraed the editorship and
proprietorship. The Niles News was founded in 1890 as an
independent paper, but later became Repub
lican. It has the largest circulation of any
paper in NHes.
Newton Falls has the Tri-County News,
which has a goodly circulation and reputation.
The Masons and Odd Fellows.
The Ancient Free and Accepted York
Masons deterrained, in 1803, to establish a
lodge in Trumbull county. This was accom
plished the next year, with Samuel Tylee as
grand master, under the name of Old Erie
Lodge No. 3. The raen who were leaders in
the community at that time were members of
this lodge and it prospered greatly for a time.
It became weaker under the growing excite
ment of the anti-Mason strife and suspended
between 1829 and 1833. The charter of this
lodge was consumed by fire when the house
of Edward Spear, father of WHliam T. Spear,
was burned in 1835. In 1854 a party of
Masons, who were connected with Old Erie
Lodge No. 3, met at the home of one of the
merabers as they had done raore or less during
the interval, and raade application for the
charter. Unfortunately, the name of Erie
Lodge No. 3 had been taken by some other
lodge, and they were obliged to take a new
narae, but later the old one was restored to
them. This order has always' prospered and
now occupies a beautiful building of its own
on the corner of Pine and Market streets, op
posite the City Hall.
A lodge of Odd Fellows was organized in
1844, but in 1846 most of their paraphernalia
was burned in the fire ; but the order was rein
stated at the old American House, now Dana's
Institute. The shattered belongings of this

206

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

lodge were gathered together arid with the
help of lodges from dozens of cities, the body
was put upon its feet again. The war, of
course, had an effect upon this organization,
as upon all others, but it has always had a
good standing in this comraunity. Mr. Will
iam H. StHes, either by will or by instructions
to his trustees, planned for the erection of a
block, provided the Odd Fellows would oc
cupy the second story. This they gladly did
and moved into their new spacious quarters
May I, 1906. This building is, opposite the
court house on Park avenue.
Trumbull County Artists.
A number of Trumbull county citizens have
made their mark in the artistic world. Fore
most in Kenyon Cox, the son of J. D. Cox,
who is mentioned in connection with the War
ren schools. This artist now lives in New
York City, and enjoys an enviable reputation
among artists and art schools. His wife is
likewise an artist.
John W. Bell, the son of Reuben BeH. had
decided talent in painting, and some beautiful
productions of his are in Trumbull county
homes. Mr. Cox studied abroad and had
every advantage, but Mr. Bell was not so
fortunate, and developed his talent largely in
New York and eastern cities. His specialty
was autumn landscapes. He did some very
good work in water color. He married Ella;
the daughter of Dr. Metcalf, who likewise had
artistic tastes and who was successful in mar
keting his pictures. He had the truly artistic
temperament and cared little for the financial
part of picture painting.
A. T. Millar, a resident of Cortland, a stu
dent of Mr. Bell, afterwards studied in New
York and Europe, and now does very credit
able work. He fives in New York.
John Crawford was the first of Warren's
artists, and had good ideas of colors. He died
when very young, giving great promise.
WilHam F. Porter had decided artistic
tastes, but did not make this his profession.

Niles.
The early history of Weathersfield and
Niles, in a certain sense, is identical. Al
though Niles is but five miles away from the
county seat, the two towns are as rauch unlike
as Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine.
The difference will not be noted here for want
Of space, but it raight be well to say that there
has always been more or less contention anci
jealousy between the two towns, just as there
has always been between individuals or poli
ticians (seldom are there two United States
senators of the same political faith from the
same state, who do not manifest this spirit)
but, strange to say, although the Niles poli
tician has discredited the Warren politician,
and the Warren newspaper has passed un
noticed the Niles newspaper, and so on, the
women of Warren and Niles, from the earliest
time to the present, have been friendly, sym
pathetic and sociable.
The first iron made west of the Alleghanies
was smelted in a little furnace constructed at
the mouth of the Yellow creek, in Poland,
about 1802. Theophilus Eaton was a deputy
governor cf the British East India Company.
He possessed both wealth and influence and
in 1637 he brought a Puritan colony to Bos
ton. He had had the advantage of travel, and
although the rest of the company were think
ing about religious liberty, his mind was
largely on founding a coramercial community.
John Davenport was the spiritual leader of
this company, and Mr. Eaton convinced the
reverend gentleman that it would be as much
of a spiritual advantage as a commercial ad
vantage to move on to some fertile spot where
there was a good harbor. Both these men felt
they would not like to get under the control
of the government of Massachusetts, and so
they settled on Long Island Sound, and named
their town New Haven. Of course, they soon
saw they would have to have a civil govern
ment, and Mr. Eaton was elected governor for
many years.
The descendants of Theophilus Eaton were

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

207

possessed of his spirit and eventually crossed
the AHeghanies. There were four brothers
who remained in TrurabuH county, James,
Daniel, Reese and Isaac. Another brother,
Bowen, although he came here, did not stay.
Kidney ore was found on the surface along
Yello-\v creek; wood was plenty with which to
make charcoal, and die creek was sometimes
navigable for rafts, so that the astute Eaton
brothers, James and Daniel, built a crude fur
nace and began the manufacture of iron.
There is still standing, in Struthers, the lowci
part of this brick foundation. Since men have
piled up riches, millions upon millions, in the
Mahoning valley, through the manufacture of
iron, it seems as if this first spot upon which
it was made should be marked with an appro
priate monument of some kind. However,
this sort of sentiment the transplanted Yankee
does not seem to have, although his New
England cousins have it in a great degree.
James and Daniel Heaton.
James Heaton, who began the manufacture
of iron in Mahoning county, early sold his in
terest in this Struthers furnace to his brother,
Daniel, and with his brother Isaac settled in
Howland in 1805. Isaac spent all his life in
Howland. He was identified with its inter
ests. He liked its people. He had two chil
dren, Maria, and a son, who afterwards prac
ticed medicine in Warren. He was justice of
the peace for many years and was known as
"Squire Eaton."
It was the intention of the Heatons to estab
lish a commercial town in the wilderness of
Trumbull county, and after a time James built
a small furnace at the mouth of Mosquito
creek in 1809. Isaac helped in this enterprise,
but continued his residence in Howland.
James built a cabin on Robbins avenue, just
beyond the bridge, in a spot which is caHed by
the old residents, "Circleville," and it is still
standing. After a time, James sold his inter
est in the first furnace to some men of the
neighborhood, and from that time on, al

though there were several sales made before
much financial gain was had, that neighbor
hood has been the life of the iron raanufacture
of Ohio.
Daniel Eaton was in a certain sense the best
known f>i the brothers. People of his time
said he was "as odd as Dick's hatband" ; his
descendants say the sarae thing of him. He
was a liberal in belief, and yet he called his
friends "brother" and "sister." He attended
no church, and yet entertained ministers and
missionaries. He sympathized with the Mor
mon leaders and entertained them at his house,
not because he believed in Mormonism, but be
cause he disbelieved in oppression. He was
a student of political affairs so far as they
touched the financial, and in the latter part of
his life, espoused an original and peculiar
theory of issuing paper money. He despised
shams, was a good hater, and a believer in
temperance in those intemperate days. Each
township seemed to have had a man or a
woman who made the stand for temperance
early, and Daniel Eaton was that man in
Weathersfield. He was about to raise a build
ing, and when the men found out he was not
to give them whiskey or alcohol of any kind,
they left the premises. This happened over
and over again in all the counties of the Re
serye, but usually the building was raised by
old men of the family and boys of the neigh
borhood. In this case, Mr. Eaton called to
himself the woraen of his family and neigh
borhood and with their assistance got up the
frame. This was, so far as we know, the first
building in Trumbull county raised by women.
Josiah Robbins and his wife. Electa, dis
pensed hospitality to all travelers and visitors
of the vicinity. Mr. Robbins was a temper
ance man, as was Dan Eaton. They were the
exceptions of their times. Wine was served
ordinarily at all sorts of dinners, and every
household had whiskey on the sideboard or
mantlepiece where people were allowed to help
themselves. Maria Robbins Ingraham says :
"My father signed a temperance pledge soon

208

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

after his first marriage." Dan Eaton drew
up a pledge in 1813, which obligated all the
signers to entire abstinence from all intoxicat
ing liquors. Laura A. Luce says : "This pledge
remained in my grandfather's family until
1842 or '43 when a traveling lecturer begged
that it might be given to him as it was rauch
the earliest pledge of the kind that he had
ever seen. The pioneer woraen who signed
this pledge were Phebe Blachly, Naomi Eaton,
Sarah Drake, Katie Barnes, and Margaret
Eaton. I have heard my grandmother say
that liquor was served at all huskings and
quiltings, and her cheeks would burn and her
hand trerable when she passed the social glass
without partaking."
At one time Mr. Eaton ran for office. His
name was Daniel Heaton. The tickets were
printed "Dan Eaton." One of his descend
ants says that for this reason he was counted
out. Later he had the legislature change his
name to Dan Eaton, so, although the other
brothers retained the name of Heaton, he was.
Known as Eaton. Someone at the tirae play
fully said, that as Mr. Eaton wished to have
his name sound like his brothers', he dropped
the "h" in order that the English in the valley
might call him by the proper name, that is,
put on the "h" when it was not there. He
was senator from Trumbull county in 1813,
and a member of the lower house in 1820.
Bowen Heaton settled on the Luce farm in
Weathersfield and moved to IHinois in 1836.
James Heaton was as strong a raan as
Daniel, but not so radical. He was powerful
physically, and employed all spare moraents
in reading. People wondered that he should
be a Whig when he was interested in the iron
business. He acquired rights on the Mos
quito creek, built a dara, a grist mill, cabin for
his workmen, and a saw mill. In 1807 he had
a forge in operation about where the B. & O.
railroad crosses the creek. For a time he got
his pig iron for his blooms at the Yellow creek
furnace, but about 181 2 he built a blast fur
nace, a little east of the present high school

building. This was owned by his chHdren and
his grandchildren and went out of blast in the
'50s. His son, Warren Heaton, was early as
sociated with him. Before this, however, Mc
Kinley, Dempsey & CarapbeH rented the fur
nace, and in 1842 McKinley and Reep rented
it again. McKinley moved to Poland in 1842.
He was the father of WiHiam McKinley, the
president. He went to Poland partly to secure
educational advantages for his children. Had
he remained in Niles, in the iron business, his
son probably would have been one of the rich
and prosperous men of the vicinage. How
ever, he would not have been president, but
it is better to be alive than to be president.
First Wi-iite Child Born in Niles.
The daughter of James Heaton, Maria, was
the first white child born in Niles. When she
was a little thing, about 1809, "foHowing an
old English custom, her father carried her to
light the first fire in his new charcoal, blast
furnace, and to give it her name. It was
known as the 'Maria Furnace' until it went
out of blast fifty years later." This Maria was
the pet of the family, although pets of those
days would not consider theraselves pets were
they living now. She went to school in How
land township, then in Warren, then in Kins
raan, and finaHy, at Little Washington, Penn
sylvania. In 1818 her father built the house
now standing on the south side of Robbins
avenue at the head of the hHl, owned by W.
B. Mason. It was built after the colonial style
so much in vogue in Virginia and was among
the attractive homes of the county. Here
many years later, Frank Mason, who has
made a reputation in the diplomatic service of
the United States, lived, and here his brother
and his genial wife reside. Maria Heaton,
when she returned from school, gave a Hal
loween party, which was attended by the
young people of the neighborhood, among
them Charles and Henry Smith, of Warren,
John Crowell of the same place, and Jc»siah
Robbins of Youngstown. Among the things
to eat was a turkey, and Mr. Robbins, al-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

209

though quite young, was asked to carve it.
This he did in such a way as to meet the ap^
proval of James Heaton, and after the refresh
ments were served, and the dancing begun,
people noticed what a beautiful couple Josiah
Robbins and Maria Heaton were, and wJien
he was leaving the house Mr. and Mrs.
Heaton asked him to call again, which he did.
In the foHowing March, they were married,
and this home became their home until it was
sold to Ambrose Mason. Maria Heaton, as
Mrs. Robbins, lived in this house all her mar
ried life. She died in 1835, and her husband
later married Electa Mason, the sister of
Henry, Hiram, Harriet (Mrs. Reeves). So
much affection for and connection with the
early families was there, that when Electa
Mason's eldest daughter was born, she was
named Maria, after her father's first wife,
Maria Heaton.
"Niles" Named.
After a time the little manufacturers started
near the mouth of the Mosquito creek grew
and became a hamlet. It stood east of Mos
quito creek and north of the Mahoning river,
including the main part of the business portion
now. It was laid out in 1834 by James Heaton
and his son, Warren. The former gave it the
name "Niles" from the Niles Register, pub
lished in Baltimore, Maryland. This Register
was Mr. Heaton's standby. Warren in 1832
built a house in this town, and a few other
dweHings existed. In 1844 the establishment
of the Ward Rolling Mill brought a number
of workmen, so that in 1850 there were about
a thousand persons there. It is said that the
bar iron manufactured by James Heaton in
1809 was the first of the hammered bar pro
duced in the state of Ohio.
Manufactories of Niles.
Niles has always continued to be a manu
facturing place, and below is given a Hst of
the present principal industries:
The Thomas Steel Company, manufacturers

of sheet steel ; W. A. Thomas, president and
manager. The Empire Iron and Steel Corapany, man
ufacturers of sheet steel ; George D. Wick,
president. The DeForest Sheet and Tin Plate Com
pany, manufacturers of sheet steel; Wade A.
Taylor, president and manager.
The Standard Boiler and Plate Iron Com
pany, manufacturers of oil tanks and struc
tural iron; E. A. Gilbert, president and man
ager. The Niles Car and Manufacturing Cora
pany, manufacturers of electric cars ; Frank
C. Robbins, president and manager?
The Ohio Galvanizing and Manufacturing
Company, manufacturers of ice and garbage
cans ; F. F. Bentley, president.
The Stanley Works, manufacturers of door
bolts, butts and hinges ; John H. Fellows, resi
dent manager.
The Harris Automatic Press Works, man
ufacturers of high speed automatic presses;
G. D. Kirkham, president.
The Fostoria Glass Specialty Company,
manufacturers of electric bulbs ; E. A. Cross,
president. The Refilled Lamp Works, manufacturers
of electric lamps ; A. E. Mace, superintendent.
The Carnegie Steel Company, manufac
turers of pig iron; M. J. Scammell, superin
tendent. The Bostwick Metal Lath Company, manu
facturers of metal lath ; W. G. Hurlbert, presi
dent and treasurer.
The Niles Iron and Steel Roofing Company,
manufacturers of metal roofing; G. B. & F. C.
Robbins. The Sykes Metal Lath and Roofing Cora
pany, manufacturers of metal lath; R. G.
Sykes, president.
The Niles Forge and Manufacturing Com
pany, manufacturers of forgings; H. J. Rob
bins, president.
The Niles Fire Brick Company, manufac
turers of fire brick ; T. E. Thomas, manager.

Vol. 1—14

2IO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The town of Niles became incorporated
about 1865, and H. H. Mason was elected
mayor in January, 1866.
Schools of Niles.
There were several private schools in Niles
in the early '40s. Dr. and Mrs. Blachley
founded a school which was attended by non
resident pupils. Amy Eaton had a select school
which accommodated boarders. She was well
equipped for teaching. Under her tuition
Josiah Robbins, John Heaton, and David Mc
Kinley prepared to enter Allegheny College.
We find the following interesting document
in connection with the public schools of Niles :
Friday, Septeraber 16,1842.
Pursuant to previous notice the house hold
ers in District No. 8 in Weathersfield town
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, met for the pur
pose of electing three school directors, the
meeting being called to order by appointing
William McKinley, Jacob Robinson and James
Dempsey to the chairs.
They then proceeded to the election of of
ficers. After canceling the votes given it was
found that WiHiam McKinley was elected
school director for the term of three years ;
Jacob Robinson for the terra of two years and
Dr. Miller Blachly for the terra of one year.
'l"he said directors then proceeded to select one
of their nuraber for district clerk and treas
urer which ended in the appointraent of Will
iam McKinley to that office. This done the
oath of office was administered by James
Dempsey, Esq. Meeting adjourned.
William McKinley,
District Clerk.
In 1869 the Union school district was
formed and the board consisted of six mem
bers. They were Josiah Robbins, T. Calvin
Stewart, WiHiam Campbell, S. D. Young,
WiHiam Davis, and William C. Mann. Josiah
Robbins was elected president. The Central
high school building was finished in 1871, and
the first graduation was in 1875. There was

but one graduate, Frank Robbins, who entered
JTiram College.
The following needs no explanation; "The
good-will of the authorities and the commu
nity is shown in the reappointment of Miss
Hyde at an advance in salary amounting to
$.50 per month, and perhaps, also, in that the
lady was not paid even a part of her salary in
bar iron."
Number of pupils enrolled, 1,410.
McKinley's Boyhood.
Trumbull county is proud of the fact that
William McKinley, Jr., was born within its
limits. Niles is greatly gratified 'that this
martyred president first saw the light there.
During the McKinley campaign a New York
paper asked the author of this work to write
an article on McKinley's boyhood. Knowing
the family well, she thought it would be wise
to consult the mother and sisters about the
pranks of the son and brother upon whom the
eyes of the world were then turned. She
learned that he was always kind to the family,
that he never quarreled as did other children,
that he did not dislike church, that he liked
to go to Sunday school, that he never fished
on Sunday, that he liked to study, felt bad
when school was out, did not care for the
rough garaes of boys or the coarse talk of
older raen, preferred to stay in the house and
read or play with his sisters to the more ener
getic life of boys. Fix it as she could, the
author could make nothing out of this gentle
life that could not be misconstrued by the
opposing political press men. She knew the
other side would caH him "goo-goo" and she
never sent the article. The fact that he liked
books and quietude, made him a good student
and consequently a favorite with his teachers.
McKinley's Teacher, "Santa Anna."
One of the first of these teachers was Albe
Sanford. J. G. Butler, Jr., says he was lo
cally known as Santa Anna. He came to
Niles soon after the Mexican war and had
charge of the little white" schoolhouse for a

\ \ \ \

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

211

number of years. He was called "Santa
Anna" from some supposed resemblance to
the great Mexican general, possibly because
of his peaceful nature. He was a character
and his methods of discipline were unique,
running entirely to fidicule. It was his de
light to make a girl sit between two boys, or
a boy between two girls, as punishment. This
sometimes happened to young McKinley. He

Mrs. Kyle, now lives in Niles and remembers
with pleasure when William was one of her
pupils in the old frame schoolhouse at the
corner of Main and Church streets. His sis
ter, Annie, lived in Niles the first twenty years
of her life, except for a brief period and
taught school in Canton for thirty years.
The following memorandum shows how
full was the life of Ohio's gentle president :

liked it. The more girls, the better. It is
related by all McKinley's people that he was
genial, bright, got his lessons, recited them
well, and behaved himself generally. The
only mannish sport he seemed to care for was
playing soldier, and then his cap was of paper,
and his sword of wood. The family moved
to Poland when he was about ten years old
and there he spent the rest of his school days.
One of his early teachers, Maria Bolin, now

Born at Niles, 1843. Educated, public
schools, Poland Academy, Allegheny CoHege.
Taught school. Enlisted as a private, 1861.
Was commissary-sergeant, second lieutenant,
first lieutenant, captain; served on the staffs
of Hayes, Crook, Hancock; brevetted major
by Lincoln, 1865; acting adjutant general;
studied la-w at Warren; went to Albany law
school; admitted 1867; settled at Canton;
prosecuting attorney 1869; congressman 1876;

212

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

chairman of the ways and means committee.
In favor of Sherman for president in 1888
convention; Blaine in 1884; Harrison in 1892;
nominated for president in 1896; assassinated
at the Pan-American Exposition in 1898.
When years have passed and the times of
today wiH be to the people then as Jefferson's
administration is to us, two facts will always
be told of President McKinley ; — one the con
stant devotion to his invalid wife, to whom
he wrote, telegraphed or sent flowers every
day he was absent from her, and whose first
word when he realized he was wounded was
for her; and his act in regard to the Spanish-
American war. He had been in a war and
knew what it meant. He was determined
there should be none in his administration.
However, the politicians at the other end of
Pennsylvania avenue screamed for war and
got it. Undoubtedly, their descendants po
litical will declare McKinley weak because
he did riot prevent it. How easy it is to de
clare others weak ; how hard it is to be strong
ourselves !
A picture of the house in which McKinley
was born is given here. It has been moved
twice, at least, and now stands midway be
tween Girard and Niles, on property owned
by Lulu Mackay Wers. This property has
just been put upon the market and bears the
name McKinley Heights.
ILLUS' seven churches
Churches of Niles.
In 1814 a Methodist class was formed in
Niles. In 1870 a church was erected which
was used until 1908, when the present beauti
ful commodious structure was built. In 1838
an attempt was made to organize Weathers
field Presbyterian church, and it was accom
plished in 1839.
Niles was one of the townships which was
not stirred by the revival of 1820 and 1828.
It was not until 1840 that the Christian
church was organized. The first church was
built in 1843 and the building improved forty

years later. In 1894 the present church was
constructed at a cost of $16,000.
A Baptist church was organized in 1868.
St. Stephens' Roman Catholic church has
always been a strong one — so raany residents
of Niles have been and are Romanists. There
have been parochial schools for years and aU
orders of the church are in good condition.
The Welsh Presbyterians erected a church'
in 1872 at the cost of $6,000. Before this so
ciety had a church of its own it met in the
house belonging to the Cumberland Presby
terians. It, like several of the other churches,
has a small m.embership.
The Episcopalians have a pretty little
church on Robbins avenue above Vienna
street. In the early history of Trumbull county
there was a party of Mennonites in Bristol.
They were strong, substantial people, but with
the passing of the older generation, they weak
ened and then ceased to exist.
There was also a society of Dunkards in
Bristol. This, too, was short-lived.
Snakes and a Tornado.
No history could be written without men
tion of two occurrences in Braceville which
every writer has noticed, the tornado, and the
battle of the snakes. Howe, the historian,
gives an account of the latter in which he
says that Mr. Oviatt, an old gentleman, hav
ing been informed that a number of rattle
snakes were in a certain tract of the wilder
ness, after asking a number of questions as
to whether there was a ledge and a spring in
the vicinity, planned to go to the spot about
the last of May and "have some sport." Armed
with sticks, forked and straight, they proceed
ed to the ground. In a few moments they
were surrounded by rattlesnakes. The fight
began, the snakes beat a retreat, and when
they reached the top of the hill, the ledge was
fairly covered with them. The same were
collected in heaps and they were found to
number 486. Some of them were as large as

(Loaned by the Chronicle.)

SEVEN GHUECHES OE NILES.

214

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

a man's leg below the calf, and five feet in
length. They were rattlesnakes and black
snakes. After this adventure men from ad
joining townships visited these grounds until
eventually the .snakes were ajl made away
with. The tornado is usually written up from
papers left by Franklin E. Stowe. This de
structive wind storm, occurred on July 23,
i860. Two clouds were noticed, one going
south and the other east. When they came
together, a dark body seemed to fall, which
swept over a certain territory as far as Pitts
burg. The wind twisted off great trees, lifted
barns, destroyed houses, killed people and ani
mals. The railroad station, and a grocery
store of Lucius Wood, the station agent, were
raised several hundred feet high, revolved to
gether and went all to pieces. The station
had freight in it, one being a box of hard
ware, containing bolts, buckles, etc. One bolt
was found stuck in a tree to the depth of an
inch a mile and a half from the starting place.
A handsaw was carried a mile. A freight
car already loaded, standing on the track, was
totally demolished: another car was carried
500 feet and spHntered all to pieces. Seven
hundred dollars, which was in the express
office, was blown away and never found. In
some houses, WiHiam Benedict's, for instance,
the roof was blown off, rails and boards were
fastened into the siding, while the clothing
in drawers was carried completely away and
never found. The line of the storm went
down the Mahoning, struck the corner of
Lordstown and Warren. When it reached
the lower part of Trumbull county it began
to rise, and as it rose all sorts of debris were
dropped. The number of killed and injured
was never known.
Early Debates at Warren.
One* of the interesting associations early in
1800 in Warren was the Young Men's De
bating Society. Men who afterward distin
guished themselves in professions, politics

and science were members of this pioneer so
ciety. Of course, all of thera have long since
passed away, but it is amusing to see some of
the subjects which they debated upon, for in
stance : "Does sound policy demand that there
should be a greater amount of attention turned
to manufacturing in the United States of
America?" "Has precept a greater influence
over raen than example ?" "Is self-interest the
ruling principle in all nations of men?" "Has
beauty in women raore influence over men
than virtue?" "Is a drunkard a greater injury
to a community than a slanderer ?" "Is a doc
tor of more benefit to a community than a
lawyer ?"
Ephraim Brown and Family.
The old log house which Ephraim Brown,
of Bloomfield, built in 1815 was five years
later made into a handsorae home, and it now
stands as it was then. The bricks used in it
were brought from 'Warren. The window
frames are in good condition and hold the
glass, with few exceptions which was put in
them in the beginning. The stone steps, some
what worn, are stiH in use. At one time it
was thought to change them, but Mr. Fayette
Brown said too raany good friends had come
and gone over those steps to make any change
now. The house is beautifully kept. The
walls of the guest charaber are covered with
blue and white paper, which looks as if it
raight have been put on a year or two ago.
In reality it has been on the walls eighty-two
years. The color is a delft blue and white.
It was made before paper Was manufactured
in rolls, and it was put on in squares. The
hangings are the same color and equally clean,
although they are not quite so old as the paper.
The muslin curtains and bed canopy have been
replaced, but they are exactly the same in
style, shape and material as the original. In
this roora are some engravings of Leicester
and Mrs. King (Charles Brown married Julia
King), and some Japanese etchings. In one
of the other chambers is a stove, one of the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

215

first brought into the county. It has been
used since 1840 and shows no signs of giving
out. Of the nine children of Ephraim and Mrs.
Brown, but one, Anne F., is living, and a
charming woman she is. Miss Brown says
she never remembers getting tired of having
her mother read to her, and that she and her
brothers and sisters often got up at four
o'clock in the morning in order to have her
raother read until breakfast time.
The Brown children had an advantage of a
peculiar kind of education, since most of the
cultivated visitors to this part of the country
stayed with them when passing through.
Joshua R. Giddings was often in their home,
and stopped there on his return to Washing
ton after his resignation. Mr. Brown was
a member of the Ohio house of representa
tives and the senate. This house was one of
the stations on the underground railway, and
abolition and politics were talked here. Meet
ings of many kinds were held in this house.
Reeves Family, of Howland.
Mrs. WHliam Beebe (Ella Reeves) writes
so entertainingly of her family in the How
land chapter of the "Memorial to Pioneer
Women," that we quote liberally from it. The
Reeves family was an important one in Trum
bull county, and any glimpse of any. home life
depicts the really history of the time better
than general statements :
"Sarah Quinby, daughter of Samuel and
Achsa Park Quinby, came to Howland in
1803, riding her Narragansett mare across the
country from Westmoreland county, Pennsyl
vania, where her home had been since her
marriage with John Reeves in 1799. Their
first chHd, Arthur Tappan, bore a distin
guished narae. The cabin upon the present
Reeves place had been put up the previous
year on the two hundred and fifty acres of
land, but one acre of which was cleared of
the virgin forest. The linen chest was fitted
with wooden legs for a table, and the furni

ture consisted of loom, wheels, reels and a
dresser to contain pewter plates. With these
all in place in one room, Mrs. Reeves was
well supplied. The next spring two orchards
of small trees were set (yet standing), one on
the present Kinsman place and the other oppo
site the location of the cabin where on
March 10, 1804, the first white chHd was born
in Howland, and named Samuel Quinby, and
rocked in a sugar trough. Apprenticed to
learn carding and spinning, his active bram
carried him to New York city, where in April,
1845, he died, leaving a daughter, Eugenia.
In 1806 the birth of Abner Reeves was the
occasion for buying a cradle, in payment of
which a ten-hundred-thread linen shirt was
made, the flax grown, spun, woven, and the
shirt made by Mrs. Reeves. Spring work
prevented delivery of the desired article. So
she insisted upon her husband carrying the
baby whHe she managed to convey the cradle
home on horseback, a distance of sixteen
miles through the four-mile swamp and along
a bridle path. There was no wagon road at
that tirae. The cradle yet rocks the babies in
the family. 'Tis made of polished walnut,
dove-tailed together, four feet long, and fit
ted with a top. Mrs. Reeves was raarried
when she was fifteen, had twelve children, and
lived to be ninety-four years old. Many of
her children lived to old age, and her home
was the home of her son John. Most of her
children and grandchildren became successful
and useful citizens."
Her husband was in the war of 1812. He
left in such a hurry that she had to haul in
the oats. She hid her copper kettle under a
stack, "buried her spoons and waited two days
in hourly expectation of being murdered by
the Indians."
John Reeves, Jr., married Harriet 'Mason,
whose brothers Henry and Hiram and sister
Mrs. Josiah Robbins were among the most
substantial citizens of Niles. Mr. Reeves was
identified with the history of Trumbull county
in the '40s, '50s and '60s, holding the office

2l6

^ HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of treasurer, and he died on his seventy-ninth
birthday. He is buried in the ceraetery across
frora the old Reeves horae, where his parents
and some of his chHdren lie. Mrs. Reeves
was a woman of education, refinement and
with a lovable nature. Only two children of
this large family survive, Ella, Mrs. William
Beebe, who probably knows more about the
history and the personnel of Trumbull county
than any other person, and the youngest child,
John, above referred to. Sarah, the third
child, who married Jaraes R. Lamb, and died
a year or so ago, was one of the loveliest
characters of the Reeves and Mason farailies.
Her mother called her the "peacemaker."
She was ever ready to do her duty in the
home of her childhood, of her sisters or in
her own. She was a mother to her niece,
Mary, and withal had such excellent business
judgment as to make a business success of
her life. The grandson John now lives on the
homestead farm, and he has a son, John, who
at this writing is a meraber of the senior class
of the high school. She has great-grandchil
dren living in Warren and Cleveland.
Hartford's best known citizen was Fanny
Dana Gage, who wrote under the pen-name
of "Aunt Fanny " and who was one of the
leaders in the Woman Suffrage cause. She
was a fine talker, and wielded a forceful pen.
There are preserved in this county addresses
which she made to Congress, and letters which
she wrote to prorainent senators and legisla
tors. When the century has rolled around,
and the question of woraan's advanceraent has
been studied, it will be found that Mrs. Gage
played a part in the solution of that question
greater than any of her townsmen could
imagine, and greater than her contemporaries
realized. Probably no raore brilliant party of men
ever left the east for New Connecticut than
the party of which John Kinsman was a mera
ber. Among tiiese were Simon Perkins, of
whora we have read so rauch in different parts
of the history; George Tod, one of the ablest

jurists and citizens Trumbull county had; Jo
siah Pelton, the pioneer of Gustavus ; Turhand
and Jared Kirtland, who were among the
most industrious and public-spirited of our
citizens; John Stark Edwards, Trumbull
county's first recorder and an able lawyer, and
Calvin Pease, who, as judge, citizen and com
panion, had Igo superior. His sons, Calvin and
Charles, afterwards conducted a store in War
ren where the present Colonial hotel stands.
This party organized itself into a society.
When they stopped for the night they held
mock trials, and amused themselves in that
way. Any one familiar with Judge Calvin
Pease's career can see his spirit pervading
this party. The party was on horseback, ex
cept the Kirtland brothers, who had a wagon
and horses.
Ebenezer Reeve was also of this party. He
had been induced by Mr. Kinsraan to come
out here, and as he was weak-kneed about
the venture, Mr. Kinsraan proposed that he be
paid twenty dollars a raonth during his
absence, and forty dollars in case he did not
like the countrj^. In case, however, he did
like the country, he was to exchange his
land in Connecticut for land in Kinsman.
Newton Falls.
In the early history of Trumbull county,
"Newton Falls" bid fair to rival Warren.
Because of the water power, raany residents
of TrurabuH count}- took their business there,
although a goodl}- number of them later
returned to Warren. In 1802 Alexander
Sutherland, frora Pennsylvania, settled on
Duck Creek, at the place later known as
''Duck Creek Corners." His son James car
ried the raail from ^Varren to Canton when
there was no house between his father's and
Warren. Many a night has this lad trudged
through the woods until almost morning, car-
i-ying in a handkerchief the little raail for the
settlers of Newton township.
Jesse Halliday, the father of Mrs. King and
Mrs. D. B. Woods, in 1803, paddled a canoe

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

217

from Warren up the south line of Newton.
He went aground in the rapids near Newton,
and decided that if there was that much force
in the water, it was a good place to stop and
build a mill. He therefore put up a little
shanty and the next year his mill was going.
A few months later a road was opened to
U'arren by way of the Ledge.
Newton Falls of today is a thriving village.

ily for several generations, is much interested
in the educational facilities of his home town,
which never had a good high school. He
therefore erected the building, a sketch of
which is here given, the lower room being
used for the high school and the upper for
the public library and auditorium. The town
ship of Southington then erected on the same
lot another school building for the children

(Loaned by the Tribune.) ^
CHALKEE HIGH SCHOOL, SOUTHINGTON.

Just now it is attracting much attention
because the Hydro-Electric and Gas Company
has bought the mill sites and erected thereon
plants from which power will be used to gen
erate electricity, which will be sold to cities,
*dllages and individuals down the valley.
Southington.
Mr. Newton Chalker, now of Akron, for
merly of Southington, the home of his fam-

of the lower grades. These were completed
in 1907. They stand at the center of South
ington and are the pride of the inhabitants.
As this is being written a soldiers' monument,
a present to the town, is being dedicated.
Ruth (Granger) Sutliff, Vernon.
The most remarkable woman who founded
a home in Vernon in 1804 was Ruth Granger,
wife of Deacon Samuel Sutliff, who came

2l8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

from Hartland, whence came so raany of those
hardy pioneer mothers. Deacon Sutliff
assisted Rev. Badger to organize many of the
early Congregational churches of the West
ern Reserve, and held the office of deacon in
the church until his death. Mrs. Sutliff was a
relative of Gideon Granger, postraaster gen
eral during the adrainistration of Thomas Jef
ferson, and was descended from a family dis
tinguished for patriotism and intellect. With
no means of obtaining an education, she did
what but few of those busy women thought
of doing — taught herself, and assisted her
sons when they commenced their studies. Her
six sons honored her and the place of their
birth by their lives. From their mother these
boys inherited strong intellectual qualities, and
four of thera became lawyers. Milton gradu
ated at Western Reserve College ; he was
state senator and chief judge of the suprerae
court of Ohio. Levi was admitted to prac
tice in all the courts of this state. Calvin G.
was a partner of Milton, and later of Hon.
John Hutchins, now of Cleveland. These three
located in Warren, Ohio. Flavel died young.
Hon. A. G. Riddle made him one of the char
acters of his story of northern Ohio,' but with
a slightly altered narae. Mrs. SutHff's attain
ments were varied, and Judge King, who was
acquainted with her, said she was the strong
est-minded woman he ever knew. Her knowl
edge of history was extensive, and she was a
woman of great piety, the Bible, Milton's
poems and Pilgrim's Progress being among
her favorite books. Owing to her strict
observance of the Sabbath, a bear escaped
being killed. Thoraas Giddings saw one near
the east of where Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff lived,
and went to the house to get a gun. Mr. Sut
liff was at church and his wife would not
loan it because it was Sunday. She entered
the higher life in 1844.
Mecca-Dixie — Exploded Oil Boom.
In the '60s no township in Trumbull county
was as well known in the United States as

Mecca. The Yankee pronunciation stiH pre
vailed to a goodly degree, and more people
called this township "Meccy" than "Mecca."
The early settlers knew that oil existed in this
vicinity, because it was often present in wells
and springs. The early inhabitants used it
sometimes for burning, and a few of them
collected enough for the market and sold now
and then a few gallons. The early farmers
of Mecca were always raore or less chagrined
when evidences of oil were seen, because it
really hurt at that time the value of land.
The first oil was pumped on the land of
WHliam H. Jeffries, in West Mecca. The
product obtained was a very thick oil, valuable
for medicinal purposes and for refining. In
consistency it was between a light weight of
vaseline and glycerine. As soon as the Jef
fries well was proved, speculators' came in
from all parts of the country. Property was
sold at fabulous prices. Wells were sunk,
houses in great numbers were put up. War
ren hotels were filled with speculators who
visited Mecca for investigation. All the con
ditions of an ordinary western mining camp
were present in this township. Men seemed
to lose their heads and deterrained on making
raoney in one way or another. Selling liquor
in violation of the law was comraon, and at
least one or two raen, who in their old age
have been respected citizens, at that time paid
fines for this violation, and two of them served
sentence in our county jail. The jaHer was,
of course, lenient with these men and they
were allowed to go about town in the evening,
provided they occupied themselves in the day
tirae. There was nothing for the speculators
to do in the evenings in so rural a region as
Mecca, so all sorts of gambling was indulged
in. It looked as if "Dixie," the name given
to the oil vicinity, would be the city of Trum
bull county. Flowever, the oil was not pres
ent in sufficient quantities to pay for extract
ing it, and soon "Dixie" became a deserted
village. Most of the houses were sold for
small sums to people in Warren, who trans-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

219

ported them to the latter place on runners
in winter, and some of them were left to go to
decay. Old-Fash:ioned "Tramps."
In Mesopotamia township the land in one
portion is 1,172 feet above the sea level. This
makes this township the highest in the county.
It has the best water of any township in the
county. One of the early settlers of this
township was the grandfather of A. S. Smith.
The son of this pioneer, Edmond, lived to a
great age and before his death wrote a his
tory of Mesopotamia. He arrived there when
a small boy and lived and died on the farm
which his father had purchased. He knew all
of the settlers as they came and went, and his
tale, primitive as it is, is exceedingly inter
esting. Although written many years ago, the
ink is still bright and the writing plain. We
quote from this interesting old manuscript,
not because it contains anything extraordi
nary, but because it gives us insight into the
ordinary life of the ordinary people of that
time. Mr. Smith says : "Well do I recollect in
June, 1806, when I was at school, the day of
the total eclipse, what was said concerning
the darkness. Some thought the end of time
had come. The fowls and birds went to roost
for the night and no one could tell what the
cause was, as there were no astronomers
among us and almanacs were not to be had.
When the darkness began to pass off, the
fowls began to crow and in a short time all
was right, and it looked like early in the
morning." Never was there anything more thrilling
than the account which this young Smith
gives of his fights with wild. animals in Meso
potamia. Reading imaginary bear stories and
real ones is quite different. After young
Smith had a little "schooling" he knew that
he must try to support himself. He says :
"While I worked at jobbing I did anything
I could get to do. In 1819 I worked for

Chambers and Whitcomb. They had taken
a job to make the turnpike frora Warren to
Champion, six mHes. I hired out to them for
ten doHars per month in grubbing and clear
ing out the timber and brush, so they could
plow and scrape the dirt in good shape to
travel on ; and while there I was taken with
a pain in my side by grubbing and chopping,
and I had to quit work, and carae horae.
When I got horae father had a man, a Mr.
Cook, that was a shoemaker. My brother
had a little girl, and I told Mr. Cook that
if he would cut out the leather and show me,
I would try to make her a pa,ir of shoes. He
did, and I made thera, and Mr. Cook told rae;
that if I would go with him I would soon
learn to make good- shoes. I did so and
worked for him till he had finished the work
he had engaged for the winter. At that time
every raan that had a family had to buy
leather to shoe up the family and then get a
shoemaker to come to his house and make the
shoes. This was called 'whipping the cat.'
At that time we could not get shoes any
where. "The next winter I went with Mr. Cook,
and worked as long as he had work. I
had improved so that I could make coarse
shoes. At this time, when we went around
'whipping the cat,' we got 37^ cents for
thick shoes and thick boots and a dollar a
pair for thin ones. In this way I worked
in the winter at shoemaking ; ray father was a
carpenter and joiner, and I got the use of his
tools and used to work with a carpenter in
the suramer. I got so I could lay out a
frame building. After several years I had
saved sixteen dollars in cash, and I shouldered
my pack and went back to Whitestown, New
York, where I was born. I expected to get-
work, but there was none to be had, so I
walked all the way back — that is eight hun
dred miles. Today a young raan who walks
ten railes, talks about it forever."
This little taste of travel raade young Smith
long for more and it is probable that no one in

220

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Trumbull county at that time covered as many
miles, and few white men walked as many
miles as he. In 1824 he helped to drive cattle
over the Pennsylvania raountains to PhHadel-
phia. For this he got twenty dollars and had
to pay his own expenses coming back, but as
he walked it was not a very expensive trip.
He had only been here a little while when he
decided to go to Massachusetts. "We went
to Fairport on a stearaboat called 'Superior,' "
continues the narrative, "'the second boat built
on Lake Erie. The first boat was called
'Walk on the Water,' but did not run very
long before she diit the shore. We went out
to the boat in a skiff because she could not
eet in over a bar in the raouth of the river;
took us twenty hours to go to Buffalo. I then
shouldered my pack and started on foot. Got
a stage part of the way and canal boat part
of the way. I worked with my uncle repair
ing woolen mills at seyent3'-fiye cents a day
for a few weeks, but as there was not any
carpenter business and shoemaking to do, I
took my pack and stick and started 'for Ohio."
After numerous trips of this, kind Mr. Smith
says: "The next thing for rae to do was to
stop tramping, settle down and lay up some
thing for a rainy day, and so I married Polly
Lee, of Farmington, and brought her to my
father's house, as I was the only child then
living, and here we have lived all our lives."
One of the County's Oldest Women.
One of the oldest women in Trumbull
county is Charlotte Ursula Cleaveland, of
Braceville. She is in her ninetieth year. She
was a niece of Closes Cleaveland and is con
nected with raany important families of New
England, such as John Adams. Her father
was Caraden Cleaveland, who married Eliza
beth Adams, an aunt of the present Whittle
sey Adams, so that she was not only connected
with the families of New England, but of
New Connecticut as well. Her sister, Plar-
riet, married Auren Taft, of Braceville, who is

conn

cumiected with the family of President Taft
and Frederick L. Taft, the able attorney of
Cleveland, who was a delegate to the conven
tion which nominated his kinsman in 1908.
Charlotte Cleaveland' s Recollections.
Charlotte Cleaveland lives with her niece,
Olive C. Taft, and in a recent letter to the
author says : "My first recollections of school
life were going with an older sister to a log
schoolhouse in Youngstown township. There
was a large fireplace in one corner of the
house with benches around it for the small
scholars to sit on. These benches were made
of split logs, had holes bored into them, into
which smaH poles were put for legs. The
benches were so high that my sister had to
lift rae upon them. There was a row of simi
lar benches around the sides of the house
for the larger scholars. When we wanted
a drink we had to go to the spring for it
There were several of these springs along
the bank near the schoolhouse. The teacher
had one, the boys one and the girls one. I
do not remember how the teacher got the
water he drank, possibly he had a gourd.
These were used in those days. The boys
' laid flat down on their stomachs and drank
out of the spring and the girls made cups
of folded leaves from which they drank."
John Brown, Jr.
Another Trumbull county man known
throughout the L'nited States at the time was
John Brown, Jr. He married Weltha Hotch
kiss, of Gustavus. Later he moved to Ver
non, went to Kansas, and finally died at Put
in-Bay. When his father went to Harper's
Ferry, the son was suspected of being in con
spiracy with him and the authorities sought to
arrest him. When the United States marshal
reached Jeft'erson, Brown's friends told him
that at least a thousand men would resist his
arrest, as he was in no way guilty, whereupon
the marshal withdrew.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

221

A Warm Whig Party.
Mention has been made several times in this
chapter of Mr. Irwin Ladd, who resides in
Warren and who probably knows more about
the history of that city than any other person,
excepting Mr. Whittlesey Adams. Mr. Ladd
was a wide-awake boy and took interest in
and remembered the doings of his boyhood.
He has in his possession a badge of white
silk on which is printed an eagle and under
it the words : "Clay and Barclay. Old Trum
bull ; she's calm in her slumbers, but terrible in
her waking moments." This badge was worn
by the Whig residents of Trumbull county,
who attended a mask convention held by that
party in Cleveland in 1844. Mr. Ladd was
then a boy and he says that on the morning of
the 14th the party left Warren in two-horse
wagons, stopping at Garrettsville for their din
ner and at Bedford for their lodging. Mr.
Ladd was a printer's boy. Of course, they
had the usual exciting time of a trip of this
kind and left Cleveland in the evening. When
they reached Bedford they found no place to
stay; a great rain came up and they hur
ried their wagons into a barn, only to find
there was no roof over it. They were a wet
and bedraggled lot when they reached their
home town, but the enthusiasm of the raeet
ing was not as damp as their clothes. Clay
was presidential nominee and Barclay the
gubernatorial. Mary Darrow Olson.
Mary Darrow Olson, who recently died in
Chicago, was one of the strongest women
Trumbull county ever had. Her family lived
in Kinsman and her father, who was a man
of much education and great thought, was
part of the time her tutor. She studied dili
gently in the schools of her vicinity and later
went to Ann Arbor and Allegheny, gradu
ating from the latter. She was one of the

founders of the O. S. I. L. O. society of that
coHege. She early began life as a teacher in
the schools of Kinsman, Vernon and Wayne
and, later, in Youngstown and Charapaign.
In 1884 she began teaching in the Chicago
schools ; was principal at one time of James
McCosh school and continued in that service
twenty-five years. Ella Flagg Young, super
intendent of the Chicago schools, says that
she was one of the most competent teachers
Chicago ever had. She was married late in
life to O. C. Olson.
' Greene.
One of the interesting places in Greene is -
the old cemetery. A man named Isaac Sirrine
went up to Ashtabula county and brought
back his own tombstone, marked, except the
date of his death. Fie said he composed the
following original epitaph, but this is too
famHiar to the readers of this history for them
not to know where it came from: "Here at
last the old raan lies ; Nobody laughs and
nobody cries. Where he's gone and how he
feres, Nobody knows and nobody cares."
A.fter he died his brother James, on reading
this, felt rather sorry, and ordered the fol
lowing cut beneath the verse: "But his
brother James and his wife, Emmaline, they
were his friends all of the time." This same
Isaac Sirrine had three daughters who died
of consumption. This is their epitaph:
¦'Strange as it seems, but stHl 'tis so. Here
lies three daughters all in a row ; All cut down
right in their prime. The daughters of I. and
M. Sirrine." There was a very nice old man
living in Greene who had an enormous wen
on his head. It was so noticeable that none
could see him without remembering him. This
is the epitaph upon his gravestone: "Our
father lies beneath the sod, His soul has gone
up to his God; We never more shall hear
his tread. Nor see the wen upon his head."

LOEAIN COUNTY COUET HOUSE, ELYEIA.

CHAPTER XX.

LORAIN COUNTY.

Lorain county has within its borders not
only some of the most widely known indus
tries but one of the most widely known edu
cational institutions in the United States.
Although Oberlin College is ostensibly under
the control of the Congregational church, its
influence has becorae so strong and wide
spread that it is ranked with the best of the
universities of the country, irrespective of the
auspices under which they are conducted.
First Settlement in County.
The first actual settlement made in Lorain
county, was in 1786, when the Moravian Mis
sionaries on their way from Detroit to their
old home on the Tuscarawas, located at the
mouth of the Black river. After a few days
the chief of the Delawares sent them warning
to depart, and they thereupon settled on the
Huron river, two miles north of Milan. They
remained at that point five or six years, when
they were driven away and found permanent
asylum in Canada. In 1807 a trading post
was established at the mouth of the Black
river by Nathan Perry, and about three years
afterward a nuraber of settlers from Verraont
made a clearing at this point and established
themselves there. In 1808 Columbia's first
settlers arrived, and those of RidgeviHe, Am
herst and Eaton, mostly from Waterbury, Con
necticut, came in 1810.
Among the early settlements made in Lo
rain county was that of Jacob Schupe. He
came to the Black river in 1811, and a little
later moved to a point on Beaver creek about
two miles north of the present village of

Amherst. In the fall of 1816 WilHam Inger
soll and family from Berkshire county, Mas
sachusetts, made the first settlement upon the
present site of Grafton. The first settlers
where Wellington now stands were Ephraim
Wilcox and Charles Sweet, employees of
Frederick Hamlin, who had purchased his
land of one of the original proprietors of the
township, Ephraim Root. The town of Avon
received as its first settler Noah Davis, in
1812. The original proprietor of Huntington
was John Laborse, a native of the town by
that narae in Connecticut, and its first settler
located in 1818.
Henry Champion and Lemuel Storrs were
the original owners of LaGrange township,
and the former conveyed his share of the two-
thirds, in 1825, to Eleazer Goodrich, of Hart
ford, Connecticut. Nathan Clarke, one of the
first to obtain land of Goodrich, settled at
the village of LaGrange on November 14,
1825, and Mr. Baker and his two sons
first located on the present site of Pittsfield.
The above mentioned pioneers comprise the
earliest settlers who came to make their home
in Lorain county outside of the larger cen
ters of population, such as Lorain, Elyria and
Oberlin.
Heman Ely and Elyria.
The war of 1812 interrupted settlement in
this county as it did in all the counties of
this territory, and it was not until 1816 that
the nucleus of the village of Elyria was
formed by the arrival of a Mr. Beach, who set
tled with his family in the western por-

22'3

224

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

tion of what is now the town site. The
place cannot be said to have been found
ed, however, until the coming of Heman Ely
from West Springfield, Massachusetts. He
had purchased of the Connecticut Land Com
pany about 12,000 acres of land lying around
the falls of the Black river, and in March,
1817, arrived to take possession of his pur
chase and prepare for its iraproveraent. Build
ing a dam and erecting a grist and saw miH
on the east branch of that river, he set about
energetically to lay out the village, which, in
his honor, assuraed the name Elyria. It
should be stated that the first persons to ar
rive on the scene of the Ely improvements
were three men whom the judge had sent
ahead in January, 181 7. They were Roderick
Ashley, Edwin Bush and Jaraes Porter. They
walked the entire distance frora Massachu
setts to the Western Reserve, carrying axes
on their shoulders. When Mr. Ely arrived in
March they had raade quite a clearing in the
forest for the building of the town. James
Porter, the Irishman of the party, remained
in Elyria, acquired property, built houses, and
died there ; his associates, however, returned
to their homes in New England. The viHage
of Elyria was soon laid out, and sorae time
in the succeeding year, 1818, Mr. Ely moved
into his residence, which he occupied for years
afterward — the first frame house erected in
the village. This residence has been de
scribed as a building "forty-five by forty feet,
two stories, with cellar under the main part;
kitchen in the rear ; fireplace in every roora,
and brick oven in the kitchen. No stoves were
known at that time. The siding of the house
was made frora a single whitewood tree cut
on the place near a bend in the road. A
large barn was built at the time. Invitations
were sent to RidgeviHe, which was settled be
fore Elyria, and both frames were raised on
the same day."
In the fall of 1818 Mr. Ely returned to his
home in West Springfield, being a passen
ger on "Walk-on-the-Water," the first steam

boat which ever plied Lake Erie to Buffalo.
On October 10 he married Miss Celia Belden
who returned with him to the new viHage of
Elyria. As the Ely home was not then' com
pleted, for some time the young couple occu
pied a log house. Mrs. Ely was a woman of
lovable disposition and it was to the deep
grief of her many friends that she did not
long enjoy the home which she helped to
make; she died m 1827, leaving two sons. He-
man and Albert.
Elyria, the -County Seat.
Lorain county was formed December 26,
1822, from portions of Huron, Cuyahoga and
Medina counties. During the same session of
the legislature which passed the creative act
a committee was appointed to locate the county
seat. In February, 1823, after having visited
Sheffield and Black River, Elyria was decided
upon, and stakes were driven for the location
of the courthouse on the 14th of that month.
Mr. Ely agreed to furnish a suitable build
ing for county purposes until a permanent one
could be provided, and bound himself to pay
$2,000 toward the erection of the courthouse.
A one-story frame building was erected on
the corner of Cheapside and Main streets,
which served as a temporary courthouse.
The Different Courthouses.
The first court in Elyria was held on May
24, 1824. In 1828 a permanent county buUding
was erected in the center of the public square.
It was a two-story red brick buildiiig, with
four large pillars in front and surmounted by
a cupola. The courtroom was on the second
floor and the county offices on the first. This
old courthouse remained in use from the time
of its completion in 1828, until it was re
placed by the present elegant stone building,
completed in 1 880-1.
The County Historical Society.
In the basement of the present building are
the rooms and the museum of the Lorain

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

225

County Historical Society. The Indian and
old-time relics, as well as publications, which
comprise the collections, are of such value that
the society has well-grounded hopes of secur
ing more suitable quarters for their preserva
tion in the near future. It is entirely fitting
that the officers of this society should all be
women, as it was called into existence, in
1888, by the intellectual and enterprising la
dies of the town, who formed a temporary
organization that year to represent their sex
at the Centennial Exposition held in Colum
bus, Ohio.
It was in the old courthouse that Mr. Ely
served for a number of years as associate
judge, and obtained the title by which he was
generally known, "Judge" Ely. He died in
1852, and up to the very last took the deep
est interest and the greatest pride in the im
provement of the town of which he was one
of the recognized founders.
County Infirmary.
The County Infirmary is located in Carhsle
township. In 1866 the site of 161 acres was
selected, and the original building completed
two years afterward. Bonds to the amount
of $5,000 were issued by the county, in 1905,
for the erection of a modern addition. It was
completed in the following year, at a total
cost of $8,500.
Artemas Beebe's Family Life.
Of the party who accompanied Judge Ely
to this locaHty in February, 1817, was Arte
mas Beebe, an expert carpenter and builder.
The second house to arise on the site of Elyria,
after Mr. Ely's residence, was built by, Mr.
Beebe on the first lot purchased in the viHage,
opposite what afterward became known as the
Ely Homestead. It was a large two-story
frame building, with an ell, and was used for
many years as a tavern and stage office. In
the early times Beebe's Tavern was the ac
knowledged center of social life for the en
tire village of Elyria, as it was the genera!

stopping place for travelers seeking western
homes and for lawyers and judges, as well
as the lounging place of the villagers them
selves. Beebe's Tavern was long what may
be called the general "news exchange," and,
in a way, became the political headquarters
of the county. During the first year of busi
ness Mr. Beebe had a partner in his tavern
venture, but from 1819 to 1835 actively con
ducted it himself. In 1820 he returned to his
home in West Springfield, Massachusetts,
where he married an old acquaintance. Miss
Pamelia Morgan, of that place. One of their
daughters (the late Mrs. Mary Beebe HaH),
who afterward b.ecame widely known in the
community as a woman of literary ability and
social distinction, not long before her death
issued an interesting booklet entitled "Remi
niscences of Elyria," wherein she described
the journey of the young couple to their Ely
ria home, as weH as the appearance of the
primitive house in which they commenced
their married life.
"On October 4, 1820," she says, "Mr. Beebe
was married to Pamelia Morgan, of West
Springfield, Massachusetts, and started for
their western horae with a span of horses,
and covered wagon filled with all possible
articles required for housekeeping (necessities
largely)— a big brass kettle to use over the
fire for all doraestic purposes ; brass andirons,
candlesticks, warming pan to heat the beds ;
foot stove to use in riding, or sitting in cold
rooms; bed linen and wardrobe. For four
long weeks this young couple journeyed on
through mud and various mishaps of over
turned wagon and contents, and landed in
Elyria to begin their home-making in a large
and unplastered house. They were welcomed
by Captain Cooley and family, who had occu
pied the house, after it was finished, up to
Mr. Beebe's home-coming with his wife. This
home contained large fireplaces in all the liv
ing rooms and a larger one in the kitchen,
with oven and crane; a big stone hearth and
plenty of wood to burn, and great back logs

Vol. 1—15

226

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

for foundation, for fires were always buried
at night, as matches were not known.
"The arrangeraent of this home was typ
ical of many others of the early times, with
fireplaces and ovens. Occasionally the ovens
were built outside under a shed, with a big
sturap used for foundation. This big fireplace
deserves a passing notice, and I always feel
sorry for people who never have known how
rauch pleasure is associated with it, as it,
with the oven, were the only cooking arrange
ments. A large iron bake kettle, with a lid,
would be utilized at times in the corner of
the big hearth. What a delight for a child
to sit and watch the process. With live coals
from the fireplace under and over, biscuits,
gingerbread and johnnycake were done to a
turn. Once a week the oven would be heated
and filled with bread, pies, and cake. What
anticipations of coming good things ! Beef
steak on gridiron in front of the fire, with
live coals to broil it (never such stedk) ;
spare ribs or turkey on a cord in front of the
fire, turned and basted until fit for a king!
How pretty a row of apples looked roasting ;
how nice corn popped, and what fun to crack
hickory nuts on the stone hearth (for it did
not crack it), and eaten in the evenings. Bas-
ketsful were gathered and spread on the gar
ret floor, making a winter's supply for fairi-
ily and friends. Sweet cider, too. Stomachs
were not recognized ; one never heard of ap
pendicitis. There were rhubarb and castor
oil in the house, and peppermint in the lot,
if one needed remedies in emergencies.
"In 1835, having built a house on the cor
ner of Broad street and East avenue, Mr.
Beebe rented the tavern to George Prior,
brother-in-law of Mr. Ely's, and removed to
this home, which has been the homestead
and is still occupied by the youngest daugh
ter. In 1847 Mr. Beebe completed the Beebe
House, at the corner of Park and Main
streets. At the time of its building, no town
of the size of Elyria could boast of such a
fine substantial hotel ; an ornament to the town

and a credit to the builder, who wished to
furnish suitable accommodations for the in
creasing population of town and country. It
was built and kept as a temperance house
so long as owned by the family. Gatherings
from town and country were entertained in
the large parlors and dining room; also sleigh
rides and banquets. The fourth floor was the
Odd FeUows' Lodge for years. The dancing
hall for private parties made this hotel the
center for social life."
These two families — the Beebes and the
Elys — have the joint honor of being the cen
tral forces around which the infant village
of Elyria marshalled its forces and became
fairly established as a growing community.
Early Post Routes.
In 1818 the post route was established be
tween Cleveland and lower Sandusky, and
Elyria became one of its stations, with j\lr.
Ely as postraaster. These official duties were
not especially wearing upon his vigorous phy
sique, as the mail for the first year was car
ried but once a week, and after that, for some
tirae, twice weekly ; but e\-en these accommo
dations were considered something- unusual
before the year 1820. Judge Ely continued
to be Elyria's postmaster for fifteen years, and
in 1833 was succeeded by John Alatson. The
postmastership was not lucrative enough to
warrant any political fight over it, but the
mail route itself was considered by the pioneer
business man as something- quite desirable. In
1826 Mr. Beebe and Ezra Adams became pro
prietors of the route, and in 1827 the former
went to Washington and, through the influ
ence of Mr. Ely and Elisha Whittlesey, se
cured the contract for carrying the mail from
Cleveland to Freemont. He also established
a stage line between these two points, and as
his six-passenger coach was the first to ap
pear in this section of the Western Reserve
it created fully as much excitement as did
the first railroad train which ran through the
same country a quarter of a century later.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

227

Artemas Beebe and Family.
Artemas Beebe died March 29, 1880, in his
' eight}'-seventh year. He was essentially a
shrewd business man, with such hearty ways
and unaffected sociability that any enterprise
in which he participated was bound to move.
He was one of the original stockholders and
directors of the Lorain Bank, in 1847, ^^^
was one of the chief promoters of the insti
tution during his many years of active busi
ness life in Elyria. Mr. Beebe was not only a
successful business man, but an honest citi
zen and a man of strict integrity, and, during
the latter years of his life, a firm supporter
and liberal contributor to the cause of Con
gregationalism. At one tirae he gave a cora
plete library to the church, and local relig
ious and moral movements owe much to his
good will and hearty assi-stance. His wife,
who was a constant and lively assistant in
aH his good works, died in 1878 in her eighti
eth year. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe left five chil
dren:. Henry, then a resident of Put-in-Bay;
Artemas, who died at Elyria; Mary, eldest
daughter; Sarah Turner, of Chicago; and
Pamelia N., who still lives on the old horae
stead. Miss Beebe is president of the Lo
rain County Historical Society, and widely
known in the community, both for and what
she is herself and as the only local representa-
<'ive of this fine pioneer family.
Elyria's Pioneer Events and Institutions.
As the commencement of any institution
or movement is the most interesting period
of its history, there is here presented a list
of Elyria's pioneer events and institutions,
with little regard to time or classification.
The first birth in the township was that of
Henry Beach, who was born in a little hut,
two miles west of the village, on September
10, 1817.
Soon after the birth of Henry Beach, a
¦son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Enos Mann,
which was the first child born within the lim
its of Elyria. The father was a manufac

turer of wooden bowls in the village and a
friend of Judge Ely. The proud mother pro
posed to Mr. Ely that he stand as Godfather
to her infant and allow him to be christened
Ely Mann. It was generally understood that'
any native son who received the name of Ely
would bring into the family fifty acres of
land, as a gift from the judge; but Mr. Ely
declined the honor upon this occasion, as he
feared to establish a precedent and become
land poor. It is of record that Mrs. Mann
died on March 9, 1823, and was the first
person buried in Elyria cemetery.
First Churches.
The first church erected in the village was
that of the Presbyterian society, and the edi
fice was dedicated on February 11, 1834. The
society itself, however, had been organized in
the log schoolhouse November 25, 1824, raore
than ten years previous. Rev. Daniel W.
Lathrop becarae its first pastor.
In 1824 the Methodists of the viHage formed
their first society and in 183 1 built the 'first
parsonage in town. At first merabers of this
denoraination met in private houses, but after
ward rented the "yellow schoolhouse" and
erected a frame building on Second street.
They occupied the latter until 1850, when they
built a sraall brick church, which was replaced
in 1881 by the fine structure now occupied.
The Baptists formed an early society and
erected their first brick church in 1839, on
the corner of Second street and the Park. In
1833 the old church was torn down to give
place to the present one of raodern construc
tion and arrangements.
The Congre,gationalists were also early in
the religious field and in 1848 erected a Gothic
stone church on the corner of Second street
and the Park, which at the time was the most
beautiful religious structure m Elyria. This
has since given place to an even more elabo
rate edifice on the corner of Court and Sec
ond streets. St. Andrews Episcopal church

228

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

vsras organized in 1837 and the Disciples, in
1832. The Roman Catholics established them
selves in Elyria during 1852, through the la
bors and ministrations of Father Healy. They
first purchased property on the corner of
Fourth street and Middle avenue and built
thereon a large frame building and parsonage.
These old structures have since been replaced
by a fine modern church, a parochial school
building, and a substantial parsonage. The
W. C. T. U. of Elyria originated in the tem
perance movement, which reached Elyria in
its full force during the early seventies. This
community witnessed some of the most strik
ing episodes in the widely known crusade,
which swept over the west at that time. Lo
cally it resulted, as stated, in the organiza
tion of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, which has accoraplished much direct
good and has also introduced temperance lit
erature into the public school curriculum of
the place.
In 1888-9 rooms were fitted up in the vil
lage for the accommodation and entertain
ment of young raen, who would otherwise
airalessly roam the streets. This project was
absorbed by the Young Men's Christian As
sociation, v.'hich is still strong and progressive.
The first school in Elyria was organized
during 1819 in a log house on the hill, on
the east side. In 1827 the well-known Yellow
School House was built on the site of the
present opera house. The land upon which
it stood was donated by Judge Ely, who also
erected the Elyria high school building in
1 83 1 and leased it to the trustees for a term
of years. Schools, Newspapers and Banks.
The first newspaper published in the vH-
lage was the Lorain Gazette, issued in 1829
by A. S. Park, who came for that purpose
from Ashtabula, Ohio. The office was a one-
story frame building on Main street, and Fred

erick Whittlesey, a leading lawyer, was its
first editor. Mr. Park acquired control as
publisher, in 1834, and Mr. Whittlesey con
tinued in practice at Elyria until 1854, when
he became a resident of Cleveland. The old
est living editor in the village is now F. S.
Reefy, editor and pubHsher of the Democrat.
The Reporter was established in 1841, and was
succeeded by the Telegram, which is an even
ing daily. The latter, with the Republican,
is now published by the Republican Publish
ing Company. The Elyria Chronicle, the last
of the local newspapers to be established, was
founded in 1901.
The Lorain Bank, already mentioned, was
established in 1847, in Beebe block, and was
the first institution of the kind in Lorain
county. From this small beginning, through
a long and complex series of changes, a con
solidation has developed as what is now
known as the National Bank of Elyria, with
a capital of $25o,0(X), of which George H.
Ely is president. The Savings Deposit Bank
was organized in 1871. The present corpo
ration known as the Savings Deposit Bank
and Trust .Company has a capital of $200,-
000. The fourth existing bank in Elyria, con
trolled by the Lorain County Banking Com
pany, was organized in 1896 and has a capital
of $50,000. Public Library.
Elyria is indebted for its fine public library
to Charles A. Ely, a son of the judge, who
was born May 2, 1829. His early life was
spent in the village and he became a well-
known business man, whose talents as a me
chanic and manufacturer were especially no
ticeable. In 1850 Mr. Ely married Loui.sa
C. Foot, of Cleveland, who was deeply in
terested in the library project and materially
assisted her husband in its furtherance. Iht
library was established in the Ely block dur
ing 1870, but its first collection was almost
entirely destroyed by fire, and the present li
brary was opened to the public in May, i874-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

229

The Elyria of Today.
The present city of Elyria is a substantially
built and attractive city of 12,000 people,
containing prosperous business houses and
numerous manufactories, both of early and
recent establishment. The origin of its in
dustries has already been noted in the early
portion of this article and described — the erec
tion of Judge Ely's old saw and grist mills
of Main street. Elyria''s Industries.
The Lorain Iron Company, established in
1832, is one of the oldest and largest of Ely
ria's industries, and among othere of long and
substantial growth may be mentioned the fol
lowing: The Automatic Machine Screw
Company, Topliff and Ely Company, Crafton
Stone Company, and the Federal Manufactur
ing Company, the latter turning out chiefly
bicycle saddles and tool bags. That Elyria is
truly a growing industrial center is evident
from the new industries which have been
started since 1900. The most important of
these are the Dean Electric Company, which
was established in 1904, and has a payroll of
$30,000 monthly, including nearly 600 em
ployees; the Garford Company, founded in
1906, with a monthly pay roll of $35,000, and
over 600 employees, and the Lorain Iron &
Steel Company, founded in 1902, employing
410 hands, who receive $20,000 monthly in
wages. The plant of the Garford Company is in the
heart of the new factory district of Elyria
on the east side. It occupies 120,000 square
feet of floor space and is one of the best
equipped factories in the country for the
building of high-grade automobile chassis.
The famous Studebaker-Garford cars are
thus equipped, and several of the individual
members of the Studebaker Company of South
Bend are large stockholders in the Elyria
concern. The Columbia Steel Company turn
out cold rolled steel straps and sheets for au
tomobiles, and the Weston Automatic Ma

chine Screw Company manufactures various
products used in the construction of automo
biles, bicycles and gasoline engines; so that,
altogether, Elyria is a very important point
in the business of manufacturing the most
modern machines in the classes mentioned. In
fact, there are few specialties in metal work
or machinery which are not turned out by her
factories. To make this statement even more
evident, additional mention may be made of
the plants of the American Lace Company
(transferred to Elyria after the fall of Zion
City, and managed by Dowie's former super
intendent, Mr. Stephenson), and the Liquid
Force Company, organized in 1908, with a
capital of $250,000 and engaged in the manu
facture of a tonic by that name.
Altogether, within the last decade nearly
twenty distinct industries have been estab
lished in Elyria. These plants employ over
2,500 hands, and disburse more than $1,600,-
000 annually. The shipping facilities of Ely
ria are remarkably complete. It is claimed,
and not denied, that it stands fourth in the
quantity of freight handled on the Lake Shore
road between Buffalo and Chicago. Thirty
passenger trains run daily over this line and
the Baltimore and Ohio, while direct commu
nication, through its well-equipped electric
lines, is maintained with Cleveland, Lorain,
Norwalk, Oberlin and other important points
throughout the Reserve. Moreover, it is a
city of substantial and attractive residences,
and in every way gives outward assurance
that it is the dwelling place of citizens who
have come to stay and assist in building up
the community. In fact, there are few cities
of its size in the middle west which have so
small a proportion of that very undesirable
element known as the "floating" population.
To summarize the attractions of Elyria and
its strength as a city, it may be stated that
its forty manufacturing plants have a monthly
pay roll of $200,000, and its four banks a total
capital of $500,000, with deposits of more
than $5,500,000. It has an ample police force,

230

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

well , organized fire department, with three
stations, and a public school system patronized
by nearly 2,500 pupils. Elyria has twelve
miles of paved streets, with more in process
of construction, and its thirty-five mHes of
sewers compose the first complete sanitary
system under the new statute. Natural gas
is furnished its citizens, as well as electric
lighting by both incandescent and arc sys
tems. Its pure and abundant water is drawn
from a large municipal pumping station on
Lake Erie, eight railes to the north, where

SOLDIEES' MONUMENT, ELYEIA.
the supply is both filtered and softened. Much
of the credit for Elyria's present status as a
municipality should be given to its progressive
Chamber of Commerce, which has reached a
membership of 400. Like most of the other
patriotic cities of the Western Reserve, Elyria

has also a beautiful Soldiers' memorial in its
public square.
Elyria's Fine Public School System.
Its twelve churches and nine public schools
should also be placed in this class of general
benefactors, and its large and splendidly or
ganized high school is worthy of special com
ment. The 280 students attending this insti
tution are under the training of sixteen regu
lar and three special teachers. Its curriculum
includes not only the regular studies common
to all high schools, but a thorough course in
manual training, and its chemical and physical
laboratories are especially well equipped.
Upon the spacious high school grounds there
are really three distinct buildings. The larg
est structure is of stone, massive and attractive
in appearance; this is connected by a covered
bridge with the newly constructed building
of brick. This, although less imposing in ap
pearance, is considered by experts as one of
the raost complete and modern iHustratioris
of school architecture and convenience in
Ohio. Beyond these connected buildings is a brick
structure, devoted entirely to the manual
training classes, and still beyond is what is
known as the Franklin, one of the primary
public schools of the city. Besides Franklin,
are the Hamilton, McKinley, Lake Avenue,
Jefferson and Ridge schools, in other sec
tions of Elyria. Outside of the high school,
the enrollment of pupils amounts to over
1,900. Perhaps the finest building in Elyria is the
Masonic Temple block, which was erected in
1906 at a cost, with site, of $100,000.
Elyria has one of the finest municipal wa
ter plants in the Western Reserve, and this
fact adds another element to her strength as
a favored industrial center, as weH as a home
city. AH through the great drought of 1908,
when many factories were closed on account
of lack of water, not one of the Elyria plants
ever shut down from the want of that supply-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

231

Transportation facilities of the place are
also adequate, through the service afforded by
the Lake Shore and the B. & O. railroads.
Not only do they afford convenient transporta
tion for her factory products, but they tap
the coal regions of the south, thus making
the fuel for manufacturing purposes abundant
and cheap. Oberlin College.
Probably there is no municipality in the
United States which is more distinctively and
completely a college town than Oberlin. Two
sides of the large and splendid public square
of the place are occupied by stately and beau
tiful college buildings. This is also the campus
of Oberlin coHege. The other two sidts of
the square or campus are given up mostly
to business houses. As the college has an at
tendance of 2,000 students, and the entire
population of the city does not exceed 6,000,
it is plain to be seen that the trade and pros
perity of the entire community largely de
pends upon the students of the university.
The merchants of the place are therefore
deeply interested in the college catalogues and
note with pleasure or disappointment the in
crease or decrease of the collegiate attend
ance. The past year has been especially en
couraging, both to the management of Ober
lin coHege and the business men of the city,
as there has been an increase of nearly 400
in the enrollment of students.
College and City Founded Together.
In view of the fact that the progress of
Oberlin city and Oberlin coHege is so inti
mately associated, a narrative describing the
origin of this splendid school of higher learn
ing wiH also describe the founding of the city
itself. The plan of both originated with Rev.
John J. Shipherd, who was serving in 1832
as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Elyria.
His associate in the educational enterprise was
PhHo P. Stewart, a former missionary among
the Cherokee Indians of Mississippi, but at
that time residing with Mr. Shipherd's family.
Although Mr. Stewart became the strong busi

ness force which eventually resulted in found
ing Oberlin college, the majority of pioneer
residents of the Western Reserve stiH persist
in chiefly remembering hira as the inventor
of the old fashioned Stewart stove. Messrs.
Shipherd and Stewart so laid their enterprise
before Messrs. Street and Hughes, of New
Haven, Connecticut, that the eastern capital
ists made a pledge of 500 acres of forest land
in Russia township, Lorain county, to estab
lish a foundation fund for the proposed col
lege. In November, 1832, the two enthusi
astic young men from Elyria — such close
friends, yet so different in habits and tempera
ment — set forth from that place to select a
site for the university campus. In addition to
fixing upon the 500 acres now covered by the
beautiful campus and magnificent buildings of
Oberlin coHege, they purchased a section of
land in Russia township at $1.50 an acre,
which was resold at $2'.50, thus providing the
first fund for the foundation of their school.
The origin of its name is thus described:
"There had recently been published in this
country an account of the self-sacrificing life
of John Frederick Oberlin, a German pastor
among the French and German population of
a valley on the borders of Alsace and Lor
raine. His spirit and achievements seemed
so like those which were desired for the new
colony that his name was given to it by the
founders." The spirit of altruism which was with Ship-
herd and Stewart in the beginning has con
tinued to this day. People who joined the
early colony were asked to sign a covenant
which provided first for the removal to Ober
lin for the express purpose of glorifying God
and doing good to men; secondly, to hold
their property personally; but to pledge its
use to comraunity interest ; thirdly, to hold no
more property than they believed they could
profitably manage, as God's faithful stewards ;
fourthly, that they would gain as much as pos
sible and aH above that used for necessities
should be appropriated for the spread of the

232

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

gospel; fifthly, that they would eat only plain
food, renounce bad habits, in which were in
cluded the drinking of liquor, tea or coffee
and using tobacco; sixthly, pledge to dress
plainly, to refrain from wearing tight clothes
and aU ornaments; seventhly, that they would
build simple homes and have simple furniture
and carriages; eighthly, that from Christian
principle would provide for widows, orphans,
sick and needy; ninthly, that they would edu
cate their children ; tenthly, do all possible for
Oberlin Institute ; eleventhly, that they would
sustain the gospel at home and among neigh
bors ; twelfthly, "We will strive to maintain
deep-loved and elevated personal piety, to pro
voke each other to love and good works, to
live together in all 'things as brethren, and to
glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which
are his." Woraen, as well as men, signed
these articles, and Mrs. Shipherd and Mrs.
Stewart were equally anxious for and inter
ested in the success of Oberlin, as were
their husbands. The Historic Elm.
The founders of Oberlin did not leave their
matters in the hands of land agents, but
mounted their own good horses, at Elyria,
and were soon picking their way carefully
through the thick forests which then covered
the site of the future college and town. Finally
they reached an especially quiet and peaceful
portion of the thick woods, tied their horses
to a beautiful elm tree, and, with unaffected
piety, fell upon their knees and prayed
for the Divine blessing upon their project.
Arising, they were about to stake out the 500
acres comprising their purchase, when a hunter
pushed his way through the forest and in
formed thera that he had just seen a black
bear and her two cubs approach the tree to
which they had tied their horses, but that
after curiously sniffing around them for a few
moments the raother had left their steeds un
molested. Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart con
sidered this a good omen for the success of

their educational enterprise, and the elm tree
beneath which they prayed stHl stands on the
southeast corner of the coHege campus. It
is carefully fenced, and guarded as almost a
sacred object, and is known to everyone far
and wide as the Historic Elm.
The radical difference in mental makeup
of these two noble Christian men never in
terfered with their lasting friendship, or the
unity of their work in the establishment of
Oberlin college. The reason for this harmony
in all their labors and relations was that each
thoroughly understood the other. The follow
ing extract of a letter from Mr. Stewart to
Mr. Shipherd, written when Oberlin College
was in its infantile stage, is illustrative of this
stateraent :

HISTOEIC ELM, OBEELIN.
"You acknowledge that you are constantly
inclined to go too fast, and I acknowledge that
I am disposed, from the same cause, to go
too slow. If this be true, a word of admoni
tion now and then from each other may be
salutary. But after all, I would not have
you like me in your temperament, if I could.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

233

I think we may balance each other and become
mutual helps." First Oberlin Colonist.
In the spring of 1833, the first Oberlin colo
nist arrived upon the site of the future col
lege and village. The locality at the time
was covered with heavy beech and maple
and such other trees of northern Ohio as the
oak, elm, ash and hickory. The people who
took possession of this wild tract, under the
leadership of Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart,
were a number of Christian families gathered
chiefly from the New England states, with a

First College Building.
The college as an institution opened on De
cember 3, with thirty-four students, and until
the completion of its first building, Oberlin
Hall, a short time afterward, the students were
distributed in the homes of the colonists. Its
first college structure was a plain two-story
frame building, thirty-five by forty feet, lo
cated on the south side of CoHege street,
nearly opposite the Historic Elm. This pio
neer building passed from college ownership
about i860, was afterward used as a carpen
ter shop and burned in 1886. The first school

FIEST CONGEEGATIONAL CHUECH, OBEELIN.

few from New York and northern Ohio. They
came with the double purpose of establishing
a colony devoted to the promotion of Chris
tian education and to make desirable homes
for themselves and children. The first colo
nist to arrive upon the ground, who was al
ready a resident of Lorain county, was Peter
P. Pease. On April 19, 1833, he pitched his
tent on what is now the southeast corner of
Oberlin campus, and a few days afterward
erected a log cabin a short distance away.

term covered the winter of 1833-4, ending
with an attendance of Ijweny-nine men and
fifteen woraen. The first Ladies' Hall was
completed in 1835, and used for thirty years,
or untH the erection of the second hall, in 1865.
The old building was then divided into five
dweHing houses, some of which are still occu
pied.
First Congregational Church.
The First Congregational church was
founded April 2, 1834, by Oberlin colonists

234

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and Oberlin college, the first . regular class
from the collegiate department which joined
the society being organized in the following
October. The church building, which still
stands, was completed in August, 1844, and
the fact that at that tirae it was the largest
religious edifice west of the Allegheny raoun
tains will give the visitor of today some idea
of the magnificence of those old churches, as
compared with those of the present. Of
course, the church has undergone raany inte
rior changes and iraprovements, and is very
dear to both those who knew the Oberlin of
the old days and those who have become con
nected with it by later ties. The first Con
gregational church is still considered peculiarly
the home society for Oberlin college and Ober
lin people. It is of a plain style of archi
tecture, the plans upon which it was built
being suggested by the beloved President Fin
ney, who had in mind the faraous Broadway
Tabernacle of New York. Until i860 its
audience room was the scene not only of re
ligious gatherings, but of college and town
meetings. In that year, when the congrega
tion was divided to form the Second church,
its membership was 1,540.
The Big Tent and Cincinnati Hall.
Another widely known and popular struc
ture connected with Oberlin CoHege was the
so-called Big Tent, 100 feet in diameter, which
was erected on the campus principally for the
holding of religious raeetings, and for tlie
gathering of larger college assemblies than
could be accommodated by Oberlin Hall. The
tent had a seating capacity of 3,000 and among
the raany gatherings which filled it to over
flowing was that of 1841, when three young
woraen received the degree of A. B. — the first
time that such an honor had been conferred
upon women in the United States. The Big
Tent afterward passed into the ownership
of the Anti-Slavery Society, and was the scene
of many tumultous gatherings wiien Oberlin
was such a noted abolitionist center.

At an early period, attendance at the college
had reached such proportions that it became
necessary to provide students with other
boarding accommodations than those they
could secure from the already crowded homes
of Oberlin citizens. For this purpose the col
lege management erected Cincinnati Hall, a
rough one-story building 144 by 24 feet, and
because of the material from which it was
mostly constructed it was popularly known
as Slab Hall. This was occupied by as many
male students as could be crowded into it un
til about 1840, when more suitable boarding
accommodations had been supphed.
The home for the president, known as Fin
ney House, was completed in 1835. From
1891 to 1904 it was used for laboratory pur
poses and torn down in 1905 to make way
for that magnificent structure, the Finney Me
morial Chapel. What was known as Mahan-
Morgan House was also completed in 1835
and stood on the site of Warner Hall'. Wal
ton Hall, also a men's dormitory, was finished
during that year, and was destroyed by fire in
1864. Thus mention has been made of the
earliest buildings which formed the nucleus
of the present splendid array of college build
ings. President jMahan.
Taking up the general historical thread, it
should be stated that the first president of
Oberlin College was Rev. Asa Mahan, who
was elected January i, 1835. He assumed his
official duties on May i, being a graduate of
the theological seminary at Andover, and
coming directly from western New York. He
remained at the head of its affairs untU
August 28, 1850. The month after President
Mahan's election the trustees of Oberlin Uni
versity incorporated what was then a very
radical provision to its constitution, providing
for the admission of students irrespective of
color. Since that tirae, in the face of many
years of bitter criticism and opposition, this

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

23s

provision permanently stood. The liberal spirit
evinced at this early date has permeated not
only the college, but the entire community, and
it is one of the interesting features of the
town, so noticeable today, that representatives
of the colored race are everywhere treated
with the utmost courtesy and consideration.
The natural result has been mutual respect
and politeness, and the teaching of a forcible
object lesson to those who still insist that the
two races cannot live peaceably in the same
community. In May, 1835, the month that President
Mahan came to the college, was organized
the theological department. This was in full
working order by December of that year, with
an attendance of thirty-five students. The
strength of the other departments was as fol
lows: CoHegiate, thirty-seven; women's de
partment, seventy-three, artd preparatory, one
hundred and thirty-one.
The important part to be played by the
women of Oberlin College became early evi
dent. In July, 1835, they formed what was
known as the Young Ladies' Association of
Oberlin Collegiate Institution, afterwards
merged into the Ladies' Literary Society, and
in February, 1836, the college authorities
founded a woman board of managers. Other
events which marked distinct steps in the
progress of Oberlin College during the presi
dency of Professor Mahan may be mentioned
as follows: The first issue of Oberlin Evan
gelist in January, 1839, and the organization
of the Dialetic Society (later the Young Men's
Lyceum and the Phi Kappa Psi) ; in October
of that year the formation of..the Philomathe-
sian Society, now Phi Delta, and the organiza
tion of the Oberlin Musical Association, in
1847. The latter was changed to the Oberlin
Musical Union in May, i860, and during the
sixty-three years of its existence has given
one hundred and forty-eight public concerts.
During this period (on February 17, 1846),
the village of Oberlin was also incorporated.

Lucy Stone and Antoinette Brown.
Lucy Stone, of Massachusetts, one of the
earliest and most eloquent of the pioneers in
the equal rights movement, graduated from
Oberlin in 1847. During her four years'^
course, she supported herself, partly by teach
ing in the long vacations and partly by doing
housework in the Ladies' Boarding Hall at
three cents an hour. She was an active prop
agandist of antislavery and woman's rights
doctrine among the students, and was regarded
as a dangerous character by the more con
servative professors, although, as one of them
said to her many years after, "You know we
always Hked you, Lucy !" Antoinette Brown
of New York, who afterwards became the
first ordained woraan minister, was also an
Oberlin student, and she and Lucy Stone or-
ganiz'ed there the first debating club ever
formed among college woraen.
The young, men had to hold debates, as part
of their work in rhetoric. The young women
were required to be present, in order to help
form an audience for the young men, but they
were not allowed to take part. Lucy Stone
was intending to lecture and Antoinette Brown
to preach. They wanted the practice in pubhc
speaking. They and some others petitioned
that the girls should be allowed to share in the
debates. With many misgivings, the authori
ties allowed them to take part in one. It proved
an unusually brilliant one, but the faculty de
cided that it was contrary to St. Paul for
woraen to speak, and that it must not happen
again. An old colored woraan who owned a
small house, and whom Lucy Stone had taught
to read, consented to let them meet in her par
lor. Coming by one and two at a time, so as
not to attract notice, the debating club used to
asserable there and discuss all sorts of high
subjects. In suraraer they sometimes met
secretly in the woods.
When Lucy Stone graduated, she was in
vited to write an essay to be read at commence-

2'36

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ment, but she was told that one of the pro
fessors would have to read it for her, as it was
not proper for a woman's voice to be heard
in public. Rather than consent to this, she
declined to write it. Many years after, when
Oberlin celebrated its serai-centennial, she was
invited to be one of the speakers on that great
occasion. President Finney.
Professor Mahan was succeeded in the pres
idency by Professor Charles Grandison Fin-

husband's success, both in his educational and
political life. She was a brilliant woman.
Finney Memorial Chapel,
President Finney left an enduring mark on
the poHcies and broad usefulness of Oberlin
College; and his prominence as one of its
buHders is also proclaimed in the massive and
beautiful memorial chapel which stands on the
southwest corner of Lorain and Professor
streets, on the site of his former official resi
dence. It was erected by his son, Frederick

EINNEY MEMOEIAL CHAPEL, OBEELIN COLLEGE.

ney, on the 25th- of August, 1851. President
Finney commenced his connection with Ober
lin CoHege as its first professor of theology in
June, 1835, and was identified with its faculty
alraost continuously until his resignation as
president, August 19, 1865. His most note
worthy absence was in 1849, when he went
to England as ah Evangelist. He resigned
his well-performed duties at the age of seven
ty-three, and died in 1875. His daughter mar
ried Hon. J. D. Cox and added greatly to her

Norton Finney, of Milwaukee, and dedicated
June 21, 1908, on the seventy-fifth anniversary
of the founding of the college. It is built
of gray Amherst sand-stone, cost $135,000, and
has a seating capacity of two thousand.
There was a marked increase in the attend
ance during the first few years of Professor
Finney's administration, and by 1853 the
enrollment had reached 1,305, of which num
ber 716 were men. In 1851 the scholarship
fund was formed, amounting to $85,0(X>, while

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

237

1854 was an active year in the formation of
men's literary societies, and also marked the
establishment of the Library Association. In
1856 the second women's Hterary society (the
Aelioian) came into existence, and in 1859
the ladies formed both literary and library
associations. The literary and library associa
tions of both men and women were eventually
consoHdated (in October, 1874), resulting in
the formation of the Union Library Associa
tion. At that time the number of volumes
at the disposal of the association was 3,058.
This number had increased to nearly 10,000
in 1898, and in March, 1908, when the Union
Library Association formally passed over its
coUection to the college, the library amounted
to nearly 15,000 bound volumes.
The Carnegie Library.
In January, 1905, Andrew J. Carnegie had
made an offer of $125,000 for a library endow
ment fund, providing the coHege secured
$100,000 to add to his donation. The amount
was raised in June, 1906, and in March, 1907,
Mr. Carnegie promised $25,000 additional for
a building, -upon the condition that the college
secured $20,000 as a further endowment. Not
to trace the steps more in detail which led
to the founding ' of the Carnegie Library of
Oberlin College and the erection of its mag
nificent home, it may be stated that the dedi
cation of the structure occurred on the 23rd
of June, 1908. The building, which is of Am
herst sand-stone, is on the northeast corner
of Professor and 'Lorain streets, is one hun
dred and thirty-five by one hundred and ten
feet, and cost $155,000, of which Mr. Carnegie
gave all but $5,000. On the first floor are
special rooms for readers and wardrobe accom
modations; on the second floor, spacious and
convenient reading rooms and the librarian's
offices; on the third and fourth floors, the
library proper, with various departments con
nected with the college and seminary; and on
the fifth and sixth floors is temporarily stored
the magnificent Olney art collection.

Oberlin in the Civil War.
President Finney's administration included
the Civil war period, during which the splen
did spirit and patriotism exhibited by the stu
dent body materially interfered with the
growth of the college. On April 20, i860, not
long after the firing on Ft. Sumter, more than
four hundred and thirty students applied for
admission to Company C, Seventh Regiment
Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Only eighty-one,
the maximum of the company, were received.
A second company was promptly organized
and filled to its maximum, and a few months
after Company C enlisted Oberlin College
and vicinity sent another company to the For
ty-first Regiment. In the second year of the
war still another company was raised in the
college and viHage to join the One Hundred
and Third Regiraent, and not long afterward,
when Cincinnati appeared to be threatened
by the Confederate cavalry, every student in
the college able to bear arras raarched tp the
defense of that city. Although the service
of these so-called "Squirrel Hunters" were not
required, their prorapt action showed their
manly spirit and they returned home with
honor ; but hundreds of Oberlin students there
were who saw actual service on the battle
field, and many cheerfully sacrificed their lives
to the Union. An inadequate testiraony to
this patriotism is the soldiers' monument which
stands opposite the campus.
Victims of the Boxer Uprising.
More eloquent even than the soldiers' monu
ment and even more illustrative of the spirit
and purposes of Oberlin College, is the Memo
rial Arch at the main entrance of the campus
from the west, which was dedicated on March
14, 1903, in honor of certain missionaries,
many of whom were Oberlin graduates, who
suffered martyrdom in 1900 during the Boxer
uprising in China. In this horrible massacre
by eastern fanatics, thirteen adult missionaries
and five chHdren were kHled, and aH but four

238

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of those who suffered martyrdom were former
students of Oberlin, or members of their fam
ilies. The arch was the gift of D. Willis
Jaraes, assisted by the students and friends
•of the college. President Faircpiild.
Succeeding President Finney was Professor
James Hains Fairchild, who became head of
Oberlin College June 26, 1866, and resigned
his office June 24, 1889. In raany respects he
exerted the strongest and raost continuous
influence upon the welfare of the university of

educations. She realized, to study well, that
they must be well nourished. At that time the
Grahamites were plenty and she did not believe
in such meager fare. She was induced to take
charge of a boarding hall, so that others might
have advantage of her table. She accomphshed
her desires. Three of her boys became col
lege presidents — one at Oberlin, one at Berea
Kentucky, and one at the State Industrial
College of Kansas. She lived to a good old
\ge, and died at her Brownhelm home. At
the age of twelve young Fairchild entered a
classical school, beginning the study of Latin

PETEES HALL, OBEELIN COLLEGE.

any one personalit)-, as his connection began
almost from the first term and continued until
his death, March 19, 1902, or a period of over
sixty-seven years.
President Fairchild was a native of Stock-
bridge, Massachusetts, having been born No
vember 25, 1817. In 1818 his parents moved
to Brownhelm, Lorain county, and he early
began his studies. The family took up a resi
dence in Oberlin in 1840. Nancy Hains
Fairchild was bound her boys should have

in the following year. In July, 1832, he grad
uated from the Elyria high school, then under
the presidency of Rev. John Montejth, and
there becarae interested in the project which
resulted in the establishment of Oberlin .Col
lege. In May, 1834, he was enroUed as a
member of its first Freshmen class, consisting
of four students — himself, his brother Henry,
and two others. Professor Fairchild com
pleted the entire four years course, and at the
age of twenty graduated in the first class ever

HISTORY OF' THE WESTERN RESERVE

239

sent out from Oberlin College. He then com
pleted a theological course in 1841, and taught
for several months near his old home in
Brownhelm and in Chautauqua county. New
York. A short experience as a preacher in
southern Michigan preceded his return to
Oberlin College. While still an undergradu
ate he had become connected with its faculty,
teaching Latin, Greek and theology, and upon
his permanent return to his Alma Mater he
became a tutor both of theology and Hebrew.
In 1842 the Languages were added to his
other branches, and in 1844 he assuraed the
chair of raatheraatics. He continued as pro
fessor of the latter until 1858, and in the
following year was appointed associate pro
fessor of Theology and Moral Philosophy, at
a later date assuming the full professorship.
For some years before President Finney's res
ignation, in 1865, Professor Fairchild had
assuraed most of the burdens connected with
the presidency of the college, although his
official title was Chairraan. In June, 1866,
he was formally elected to the presidency,
being at that time in his forty-ninth year. No
man could have been more thoroughly
equipped for his official duties, as he had been
identified with every department of the col
lege excepting that of chemistry. He con
tinued as president of the coHege until 1889,
when advanced age and failing strength
forced him to resign, although he retained the
chair . of Theology and Ethics until the day
of his death.
The growth of the college was necessarily
slow for a number of years after the CivH
war, so that by 1873 its enrollment had only
reached 1,371, or slightly greater than that of
1853. There was little change in the actual
attendance up to the time of President Fair-
child's death, and a few facts remain to be
stated which fall within the period covered
by his presidency.
In July, 1870, the trustees of Oberlin Col
lege voted in favor of an alumni representa
tion in their board, and, in pursuance of this

decision, one member was selected from the
Seminary and two frora the College depart
ments. They have since been recognized as
corresponding members of the board of trus
tees, although denied the right to vote. In the
following year, November 15th, at the third
meeting of the National Congregational Coun
cil at Oberlin, the cornerstone of Council Hall
was laid, and since has been occupied by the
department of Theology.
Oberlin College Review Founded.
The first issue of the Oberlin College
Review is dated April i, 1874. The publica
tion was originally a semi-monthly, but became
a weekly in 1889, and has since been the
only accredited organ of the college. The
first article of the first issue, by President Fair-
child, was entitled "A Visit to Waldbach, the
Home of Pastor Oberlin."
The other events connected with the devel
opment of Oberlin, which faH within the pres
idency of Professor Fairchild, raay be raen
tioned as follows : The organization of the
College Glee Club and the Y. M. C. A., in
November, 1881 ; the establishraent of a philo
sophical course in the curriculum in 1886,
which carries with it the degree of Bachelor
of Philosophy; the founding of the Slavic
course in Theology during 1887, and the com
pletion of Peters and Talcott Halls during the
same year. President Ballantine.
Prof. William Gay Ballantine succeeded to
the presidency in January, 1891, having for
the preceding thirty years filled the chair
of Hebrew of the college faculty. He resigned
in June, 1893.
During this period the Anti-Saloon element
of Oberlin assumed organized form, through
the meeting of the Oberlin Temperance Alli
ance in May, 1893. Upon that date its mem
bers gathered in the Spear Hbrary of the col
lege and organized the Anti-Saloon League,

240

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

whose first public meeting was held in the
First Congregational Church on Sunday, June
4, of that year. President Barrows.
Rev. John Henry Barrows assumed the
presidency in November, 1898, and continued
at the head of the college affairs until his
death, June 3, 1902. He was the first presi
dent of that institution to die in office, his
decease occurring about two months after
the passing away of his predecessor, Presi-

scholar and college executive he had few
equals in the United States.
President King.
In November, 1902, Prof. Henry Churchill
King succeeded Dr. Barrows, being inaugu
rated May 13, 1903. He first became con
nected with Oberlin College, as a tutor, hav
ing served as Professor of Philosophy for
six years previous. He was already widely
known as an author, and since becoming the
head of Oberlin College has been honored

TALCOTT HALL, OBEELIN COLLEGE.

dent Fairchild. It is probable that no presi
dent of Oberlin College enjoyed so cosmopoli
tan a reputation as Dr. Barrows, his name be
ing honored by scholars and religionists of two
hemispheres. He first came into world notice
as president of the great Congress of Relig
ions at the Columbian Exposition, and after
wards extended his fame by the profound
lectures in the promotion of religion which
he delivered from Calcutta, India, to San
Francisco, California. As a preacher, orator,

with the presidency of the Religious Educa
tional Association. New Deans Created.
Araong the innovations introduced during
the administration of the present incumbent
is the creation of the offices, Dean of the Sem
inary (in 1903) and Dean of the CoUege of
Women (in 1904) ; and deans have also been
established for the Conservatory of Women
and the Academy of Women, who are person-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

241

ally responsible to the college management
for the administration of its rules. In 1904
was created the office known as Assistant to
the President, the special duties of which are
to increase and conserve the material equip
ment of the college.
Great Endowment Fund.
More important than anything which has
been mentioned, however, in the establishment
of Oberlin College on a broad and liberal
educational basis, is the founding of a great

$200,000 offered by Mr. Rockefeller, upon the
condition that the coHege raised $300,000. The
completion of the second half raiHion endow
ment fund was announced in June, 1906. To
be more exact, the total was $501,608, and
included the following items: Andrew Car
negie, for the library building, $125,000; fifty-
six donors, in behalf of the library endow
ment, $100,000; an anonymous Boston friend,
for increase of teachers' salaries in college and
seminary, $100,000; Miss Anne Walworth,
for the establishment of the Slavic department

WAENEE HALL, OBEELIN COLLEGE.

endowment fund, which was begun in June,
1900. At that time, during the reunion of the
college alumni, pledges were received for the
raising of a general endowment fund amount
ing to $72,000, as well as for the founding of
a $10,000 scholarship. Not long afterwards
the Oberlin College Living Endowment Union
was organized as a medium through which
to receive all such contributions. The re
ceipts from friends of the college were so
generous that by December, 1901, the fund
amounted to $500,000. This sum included
Vol. 1—16

of the Theological Seminary, $75,000.
Another munificent gift which has fallen to
the good fortune of Oberlin College within
the last few years, is the bequest made by
Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Olney, of Cleve
land. This is known as the Olney Art Collec
tion, and is valued at $150,000, being tempo
rarily installed on the third floor of the Car
negie Library building..
The period from 1900 to 1909, in the gen
eral progress of the college, was mainly
marked by its great growth in the College of

242

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Arts and Sciences, the attendance in this
department having more than doubled dur
ing this time. The total attendance of the
college is now about 2,000, the women out
numbering the men two to one.
Warner Hall.
Several magnificent buildings which go to
make up what is known as Oberlin College,
deserve more special mention than they have
received. Warner Hall was originally con
structed through the generosity of Dr. and
Mrs. Lucien C. Warner, of New York, for a
conservatory of music. Three years after
ward a large wing to the north was added,
and in 1903-4 the building was entirely
remodeled. A fine organ is the most striking
feature of its musical equipment, which was
installed in 1902 and is the gift of Harold
Kimball, the well-known raanufacturer of
instruments at Rochester, New York.
Sturges HaH, erected in 1884, was designed
to provide accoraraodations for the woraen's
literary societies in the college, and is named
for Miss Susan M. Sturges, who is the prin
cipal donor. Since 1907 this has been used
for recitation purposes by the College of Arts
and Sciences.
The Spear Laboratory, erected in 1885, was
the gift of Rev. Charles V. Spear, of Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, and for many years was used
for college laboratory purposes. Since the
completion of the Carnegie Laboratory, in
1908, it has been utilized for the Zoological
department. In its raain entrance hall is a
bronze raeraorial tablet erected to the mem
ory of Prof. Albert A. Wright, who for thirty-
one years held the professorship of geology
and natural history.
Peters Hall.
Peters HaH, one of the finest buildings in
the coHege group, was completed in 1887,
mainly through a donation of $50,000 from
Hon. Richard G. Peters, of Manistee, Michi
gan. It is a massive two-story building and

contains the recitation rooms of the College
of Arts and Sciences. The most striking archi
tectural feature is a grand central court
extending two stories into the interior of the
building and surrounded by the lecture and
recitation rooms. It also contains several
beautiful class gifts, such as an ornate fire
place, casts taken from the Parthenon frieze,
and a strikingly life-like portrait of Professor
Barrows. In 1887 the two largest dormitories for
women were erected, which are known as
Baldwin Cottage and Talcott Hall. In the
forraer is also the home of the dean of the
College of Women, and the latter contains
the headquarters of the deans of the Acaderay
of Women and College of Woraen. There are
otlier minor dormitories, some of which face
the college campus and others are scattered
throughout the resident portion of the city.
Two other large and beautiful college build
ings were corapleted in 1901, namely — the Sev
erance Chemical Laboratory, founded by Louis
H. Severance, of New York City, and the
Warner Gymnasium, which is for the special
physical training of men.
Another institution, which comes within the
radius of the college's broad activities, is
the Oberlin Contagious Hospital. Toward
the support of this institution, whose opera
tions, fortunately, are not continuous, the col
lege makes an annual appropriation of $750'
The Village of Oberlin.
Within the narrative descriptive of the
establishment and development of Oberlin Col
lege has been briefly noted the founding of the
colony which eventually expanded into the
village of Oberlin. Mention has been made
of the first settler on the site of the town,
Peter Pinder Pease, who cut the first tree
March 15, 1833.
Schools and Churches.
Four years after Oberlin College was char
tered by the state Legislature, the first pubhc

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244

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

school house was buHt on the cornor of Main
and Lorain streets, on the site of the First
Congregational church. In 1851-2 the pioneer
brick building donated to school purposes was
erected on Professor street, opposite the col
lege campus. It originally contained four
rooms, later two rooms were added, and even
tually it was purchased by the college and
became known as Cabinet Hall. In 1873 the
corner-stone of the present high school build
ing was laid, and the structure was dedicated
in the following year. It contained fifteen
rooras, and the present enrollraent of the
school is three hundred and fifty. There are
three other public schools in the viHage, with
a total enrollraent of one thousand, namely
— the Centennial, North Pleasant street and
Prospect street schools. The Oberlin public
school system is naturally of the highest
grade, and embraces not only the commonly
taught branches, but a kindergarten, especially
equipped for the training of teachers.
Although not included in Oberlin's public
system of education, mention must be made of
the Oberlin Business CoHege and the Ober
lin Telegraph school, as institutions which
have brought great credit to their originators
and to the comraunity at large. They are
both araong the oldest and most successful
institutions of this character in the Western
Reserve, the school of telegraphy being one of
the oldest of the kind in the United States.
It was established in 1861 by S. S. Calkins, and
its first raanager was Chester H. Pond, inven
tor of the automatic fire alarm which is now
a feature of the fire service as found in every
progressive city of the country.
Considered as a religious community, Ober
lin is preeminently a Congregational town,
the establishment of the First and Second
Congregational churches having already been
briefly noted. From the establishment of the
First church in 1834, for a period of nearly
forty years, its pulpit was filled by Revs. John
J. Shipherd and Charles G. Finney, presidents
of Oberlin college, assisted by Professors Asa

Mahan and John Morgan. In the autumn of
1873 Rev. James Brand became the successor
of President Finney, and for the first time
the church enjoyed the services of a pastor
who gave his entire time to its interests. Dr.
Brand continued as pastor for nearly twenty-
six years, or until his death, in 1899, and the
present pastor, Rev. J. W. Bradshaw, com
menced his labors in the auturan of 1900. The
Second Congregational church organized in
May, i860, and the building which it now
occupies was dedicated in October, 1865. Its
pastors have been Rev. N. W. Fairchild, Rev.
William Kincaid, Rev. Robert G. Hutchins,
and Rev. H. M. Tenney. From the first this
church has been closely identified with the
conservatory of music of Oberlin coUege, Pro
fessor Rice, so long a director of the con
servatory, serving for many years as its cho
rister. Both the Baptists and Methodists are
also strongly organized in Oberlin, the first
church of the former denomination being
founded in 1874. The Catholics established
themselves at an early day, and it is recorded
that in 1863 Father Thomas Halley occasion
ally said mass in the home of Philip Colgan,
a section hand on the Lake Shore Railroad,
Later Father Louis Molan looked after the
spiritual welfare of the Oberlin Catholics,
his regular church being at Elyria. He was
succeeded by other faithful priests, but a regu
lar chapel for the accommodation of the wor
shipers was not dedicated until 1900. The
local church is now known as the Sacred
Heart parish. The colored Baptists of Ober
lin have quite a strong society known as Mt.
Zion church. Besides the religious organiza
tions already raentioned there are the Rust
Methodist and the Christ Protestant Episcopal
churches. Oberlin Cemetery Association.
Oberlin has eight tracts of public grounds
including golf links, tennis courts and West-
wood Cemetery. The first tract set aside for
a cemetery consisted of about two acres ot

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

245

Morgan street between Main and Professor
streets, and was leased by the college to a soci
ety formed to take charge of the cemetery
not long after the school was founded. These
grounds, however, were always considered
but temporary, and in July, 1861, the citizens
of Oberlin held a meeting to consider the
subject of a new cemetery. This resulted
in the formation of the Oberlin Cemetery
Association and the purchase of a beautiful
wooded tract of nearly twenty-eight acres
lying about a mile southwest of the village.
It was not until July, 1864, that the grounds
were sufficiently improved to be solemnly
dedicated as a burial place for the dead.
Clubs and Societies.
For many years Oberlin has supported
numerous lodges ' identified with aH the weU
established secret and benevolent orders, and
has always been remarkably prolific in the
organization of clubs and societies founded
and promoted by women. The first of the
latter was known as the Oberlin Sorosis,
organized in October, 1897. In planning its
line of work and arranging its constitution the
New York Sorosis, mother of aH such
women's literary clubs, gave most valuable
assistance. Mrs. W. C. Bunce was the first
president of the local club, which is limited
in membership to twenty-five. The Oberlin
Women's Club was organized in 1901, and
includes in its activities, as a somewhat un
usual feature, the encouragement of all move
ments calculated to better the village in a pub
lic way, as well as a cooking school which has
become incorporated into the public school
system. The Associated Charities of Oberlin
was organized more than twenty years ago,
and, although its work has been conducted by
both men and women, the latter have alwavs
formed the dominant element.
The Grand Army of the Reoublic at Ober
lin is represented by Henry Lincoln Post, No.
364, and has received its name in honor of one
of the bravest and most popular members of

Corapany C, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infan
try. He was present in all the battles of his
regiment ttp to December, 1862, when he was
obliged to resign his commission as first lieu
tenant and return to his home in Oberlin,
where he died July i, 1863. Of the one hun
dred members of Company C, thirty-one lost
their lives in battle, seven by disease, and one
by accident; so that Henry Lincoln Post may
be said to have been established in special
honor of the self-sacrifice manifested by this
splendid company of Oberlin soldiers. Both
students of the coHege and citizens of the
village entered its ranks, and gave up their
lives in the service of the Union Army.
The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case.
The reputation of Oberlin as a radical anti-
slavery coinmunity was greatly enhanced in
1858 by its connection with what has gone
into national history as the Oberlin-Wellington
Rescue Case. This constituted nearly the last
attempt to recover a negro fugitive in North
ern Ohio, under the law of 1850. John Price,
a fugitive slave from Kentucky, had been
some time in Oberlin, when by a ruse he was
seized by the United States marshal and
his deputy, accompanied by two Kentuckians,
and driven over to Wellington, eight miles
away, where he was made a prisoner at Wads
worth's hotel, the design being to take him
south by the first train and re-introduce him
into slavery. It happened that at the time
there was a large crowd at Wellington,
attracted by the occurrence of a fire, and as
soon as they received word of the state of
affairs at Wadsworth's hotel, with reinforce
ments from OberHn, they surrounded the tem
porary prison and rescued the fugitive. The
grand jury of the United States district court
thereupon indicted thirteen persons in Welling
ton and twenty-four in Oberlin — all leading
citizens — for aiding in the rescue, their cases
being called at Cleveland on April 5th. The
Wellington defendants, who were considered
more as assistants than principals in the rescue

246

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of the slave, were each fined twenty dollars
and costs and sent to jail for twenty- four
hours. Simeon Bushnell, of OberHn, and
Charles H. Langston, a colored man of the
same place, were convicted and sentenced —
the former, to sixty days in prison and a fine
of $600, and the latter to a $100 fine and
twenty-days' sentence. Twelve of the Oberlin
men remained in jail at Cleveland, but all of
the prisoners, it is said, had a rather enjoyable
time. The result of these convictions was to arouse
the people throughout northern Ohio who
were opposed to the institution of slavery, and
on the 24th of May an immense mass meet
ing was held at Cleveland to give public
expression to this sentiment. Hon. Joshua
R. Giddings, Governor Chase and others
addressed the meeting and the feelings of the
community were aroused to a high pitch of
excitement. Visitors came in throngs from
all parts of the city to see the prisoners, sym
pathize with them, and raake their imprison
ment comfortable. One of the raost remark
able demonstrations was in favor of Mr. Fitch
of Oberlin, who had been superintendent of
the Congregational Sunday-school there for
sixteen years. The children, numbering four
hundred, came to Cleveland in a body, filling
the jail and the corridors during their visit
to their beloved superintendent. On the 6th
of July the last of the Oberlin prisoners were
released from the Cleveland jail, and, on their
arrival at their home town on the same day,
were escorted to the First Congregational
church, where until midnight the people of the
village gave way to their pent up enthusiasm
in the form of song and prayer. Although
they thus suffered martyrdom to the cause,
they had the satisfaction of receiving the
plaudits of the public in general.
Albeit that Oberlin has acquired her chief
distinction as an educational, moral and relig
ious center, it is to be noted that she was the
first municipality in Lorain county to organize
a Board of Comraerce; now there is scarcely

a community of a thousand people and none
which pretends to support a name for enter
prise or progress which has not organized
among its citizens a board of this nature. The
Oberlin Board of Commerce was founded in
February, 1895, and its object is, of course,
to interest its citizens in the improvement and
permanent betterment of the town, and to
spread about its needs, as well as its strong
points. Outside the Board of Commerce,
Oberlin's chief mouthpiece as a village are
its two newspapers — the News, established in
i860, and the Tribune, which was founded
in 1894.
Oberlin has two well conducted financial
institutions under the control of the State
Savings Bank and the People's Banking Com
pany. The former was organized in 1904 and
the latter in 1906.
Oberlin as a Corporation.
Oberlin was incorporated as a viUage Feb
ruary 17, 1846, and all of its departments,
especially that of public education, are now
thoroughly organized, although its fire depart
ment and water works system were not estab
lished on a raodern basis untH 1887. It is said
that Oberlin's first hand engine was brought
to the village about 1845. In 1869 appeared
the first steam fire engine, which, with the
old hand machine, did service for a number
of years. Up to the year 1887 the only means
of water supply for fire purposes were several
large cisterns dug in various sections of the
town, and the last of these remains of the old
days was filled in only two years ago, upon
the occasion of the paving of Lorain street. In
September, 1887, the pumps for the present
waterworks system were tested and pronounced
good, from which time dates the founding of
Oberlin's present system. The fire department
and the water works system progressed hand
in hand, and at the present time they are
all that is necessary for public protection and
a pure water supply. For the construction
of the water works the town of Oberlin raised

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

247

$55,000 and the college donated more than
$5,000, the balance^of the $120,000 which rep
resents the total investment being raised mostly
from water assessments. The source of the
supply is the east branch of the Vermillion
river, the water being taken from a point about
six miles southwest of town and distributed to
users by natural gravity.
Like all the waters in the middle west
derived either from the surface or wells, the
supply is hard and not adapted to either
domestic or boiler use. In 1905 the depart
ment installed a plant for softening the water,
using as reagents lime and soda ash. This
is one of the first municipal supplies in the
world to be softened by this process, although
there are hundreds of industrial plants in
this country and thousands in Europe using it.
During 1908 two very large municipal plants
introduced the process — one at McKeesport,
Pennsylvania, and the other at Columbus,
Ohio. The Oberlin plant has been able to
reduce the total hardness of the water to
three or four grains per gallon, or the same
as rain water stored in a brick cistern, and the
supply can be used with entire success in water
tube boHers. Founding of Lorain.
Mention has been made of the temporary
residence of the Moravian Missionaries at the
mouth of the Black river and of their pre
cipitate departure from that locality because
of the warning which they received from the
Delaware Qiief. So far as known, this was
the first time that the white man lived within
the limits of Lorain county and upon the site
of the present city of Lorain. Twenty years
afterward, Nathan Perry built his trading
post at the mouth of the river, and a few
years later he was joined by several Vermont
ers. Not until 1817 did Heman Ely found his
colony around the falls of the Black river, and
start the future settlement of Lorain on its
upward course. In his early manhood. Judge
Ely had spent some time in the province of

Lorraine, France, and his pleasant recollec
tions of his residence in that charming and
romantic country induced hira to suggest the
name for the new county which was organized
in 1822. It will be noted, however, that the
French spelling has been contracted and Angli
cized into its present form, Lorain.
Early Ship Building at Lorain.
The settlement at the mouth of the Black
river, which also took that name, assumed
early importance as a point favorable both
to the expansion of industries and transpor
tation facilities. In 1836 various vessel owners
in this locality formed what is known as the
Black River Steam Boat Association, and in
the sarae year the settlement incorporated itself
as the village of Charleston. Not long after,
the place reached the height of its early pros
perity, its standing being based both upon its
importance as a port of entry, as well as a
ship-building center. Its progress in the latter
industry is evident from the fact that in 1837
there had been launched from the J. N. Jones
shipping yard, east of the river mouth, its
first steamship, the "Bunker Hill.'' When this
craft started for Cleveland to be fitted with
machinery, it was accompanied by any amount
of local pride.
Ship-building had commenced at the mouth
of the Black river, or upon the present site
of Lorain, as early as 18 19, when the schooner
"General Huntington" was built and launched
by F. Church. Other ship yards were estab
lished in the village, so that by the early thir
ties the industry was well founded.
Among the families who became best known
in this line were the Joneses — Captain A. and
his sons, William and B. B., and F. N. Jones.
The same year which witnessed the launching
of the "Bunker HiH" marked the completion
of the steamer "Constellation," which was
turned out frora the ship yard owned by A.
GHmore. The boilers for this boat, which
were installed at Lorain, were hauled from
Pittsburg by six yoke of oxen. Preceding

248

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and during the Civil war, the leading ship-
buHders of Lorain were W. S. Lyons and Will
iam Jones, whose yard was upon the east
branch of the Black river, nearly opposite the
present immense plant of the Araerican Ship
Building Company. During the advent of the
railroads to Lorain, in the early seventies, the
ship yards of the place were busy, almost
night and day, turning out the style of marine
craft which were used in those days. During
the later years of this period they were mostly
vessels of from three to four thousand tons,
and built at a cost of from one hundred
and fifty to two hundred thousand doHars. In
1873 the stearaer "Egyptian" was built at

south. These lines also made connection with
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Road
at Elyria, thus insuring cheap transportation
for the iron ore of the northern Peninsula of
Michigan, as well as the products of the Penn
sylvania steel miHs.
The great lumbermen of Michigan and
Wisconsin also soon discovered that Lorain's
new railroad facilities would enable them to
get their products to the eastern markets much
raore expeditiously than via the Great Lakes,
and the Big Four, Northern Ohio, Pittsburgh,
Fort Wayne & Chicago, Wheeling & Lake
Erie and other lines secured connections with
the rising city, with the result that its ship-

AMERICAN SHIP B'UILDING COMPANY'S DOCKS, LOEAIN.

Lorain. It was a craft of seventeen hundred
tons burden, and at the time was considered
a "wonder" of the Great Lakes.
The Railroads Come.
Notwithstanding Lorain's importance as a
commercial and shipping port, the actual pop
ulation of the place was less than five hun
dred in 1872, when the Cleveland, Tuscarawas
Valley and Wheeling Railroads (now the Bal
timore and Ohio) first brought it into con
nection with the productive coal regions of the

building- and its marine commerce first seri
ously declined, and then, for a number of
years, were almost at a standstiU. The revival
came with the era of modern steel ships,
resulting finally in the establishment at Lorain
of the great American Ship Building Com
pany, in 1898.
American Ship Building Company.
South Lorain, which is a city by itself,
although it has no existence as a corporation,
has as its nucleus and virtual supporter the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

249

great works of the Lorain Steel Company.
These two industries have been the leading
forces in the present-day upbuHding of that
city, and together they employ 12,000 of the
14,000 employees connected with the various
industrial plants of the city. This immense
industrial population is rather more than one-
fourth of the entire city.
The first boat completed by the American
Ship Building Company was the steel steamer,
"Superior City," which was launched April
3, 1898, and at that time was the largest
vessel ever built on fresh water. This mam
moth boat was 450 feet long, with 28 feet
depth of hold, would cajrry 7,000 tons, and was
especially designed for the ore trade. It was
but the beginning of the construction of a
great fleet of steel freight carriers which were
launched from the ship yards of the American
Company, and whose modern facilities enable
it to turn out within fifty days a vessel exceed
ing in size and capacity the then famous
"Superior City."
The company's plant, which covers twenty
acres, one-half mile from the harbor's mouth
on the east shore of the Black river, now^
turns out an average of a dozen ships every
year, costing from $260,000 to $300,000 each.
This immense business is capitalized at
$15,000,000 and employs over 2,000 men,
disbursing more than one and one-half million
dollars annually in wages.
Although the "Superior City" was a
freighter of immense proportions and capacity,
it would not be considered in this day a really
modern exhibition of lake marine architecture.
It is generally considered by lake men that
the first modern freighter equipped with up-to-
date steam machinery was the "Augustus B.
Wolvin," which was launched frora the Lorain
Yards, April 9, 1904. An idea of the effi
ciency of modern machinery in handling
freight may be gained from the stateraent that
10,000 tons of ore have been handled in sev
enty minutes. The total capacity of the yards
of the American Ship Building Company at

Lorain is sixty-four boats, ranging in tonnage
from 2,500 to 12,000.
The Lorain dry docks are among the largest
in the United States, covering an area of
724x125 feet. The sloping sides of the docks
are composed of four-inch oak planks, and
5,000 piles form their foundations. The gate
which forms the river end of the dock is built
of steel and is 82 feet wide. On each side of
the dry docks are huge berths, which admit of
the construction of vessels over seven hundred
feet long and which are also used as slips in
which to launch them.
It should be added that this corapany's oper
ations erabrace not only the plant at Lorain,
but also two large ship yards in Chicago, as
well as two in Cleveland and one each in Buf
falo, Detroit, Boston, Superior, Wyandot and
Milwaukee.
The Great Lorain Steel Works.
The Lorain Steel Works operates what is
known as the National Tube Corapany, origi
nating in the great plant forraeriy located at
Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The historical
flood of 1889 almost completely destroyed the
plant in Pennsylvania, but several years after
ward it was rebuilt on an even larger scale.
The management, however, decided that
Lorain was a raore favorable point for the
manufacture of steel, chiefly on account of its
superior transportation facilities, and secondly
because it was nearer the source of ore sup
plies. The steel works were therefore moved
to this point in 1894, and were originally
devoted to the manufacture of steel rails. The
specialty now is steel tubing of all kinds. The
great bulk of the piping used by the Standard
Oil Corapany is manufactured by the South
Lorain works. The National Tube Company
employs nearly 10,000 hands, who receive
$5,600,000 annually in wages, which of itself
is sufficient explanation of the remarkable
expansion of South Lorain.
The greatest improveraents in that section
of the city are mostly promoted and accom-

250

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

pHshed by the Sheffield Land and Improve
ment Company, which has expended large
sums of money in street paving and in the
extension of water, sewerage and gas systems.
South Lorain includes not only the great plant
of the National Tube Corapany, with hun
dreds of residences occupied by its employees,
but a large and handsome residence section,
which is also largely occupied by the officers
of the steel works and others identified with
it in some leading capacity. The streets in
this portion of South Lorain are frora 80 to
100 feet wide, are thoroughly graded, curbed
and macadaraized, and present a horaelike and
metropolitan appearance.

Other Lorain Industries.
In the employment of labor the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad is the third agency in
importance established at Lorain, about 1,100
men being identified with the operation of its
car shops and docks. This corporation thus
locally disburses between $300,000 and $400,-
000 yearly.
The Automatic Shovel Company employs
400 hands, who are paid $200,000 in wages
annually. It chiefly manufactures steam shov
els for ore and fuel docks, blast furnaces, steel
works and' placer mines, and for general con
tracting work.

SOUTH LOEAIN STEEL WOEKS.

It is of interest to learn that one of the
first industries in Lorain, and which raay be
caUed the father of its large steel and iron
manufactures, was established by the father of
WiHiam McKinley in the early thirties in a lit
tle shop near the river, at the foot of what
is now Second avenue, which he opened as an
iron foundry and continued it in a small way
for many years. Upon its site afterward stood
the plant of the Lorain Foundry Company,
which turned out ponderous iron castings and
had .a melting capacity of over forty tons
daily.

Another important plant is that of the
National Stove Works, which occupies be
tween two and three acres of ground and
chiefly manufactures gas, oil and gasoline
stoves, its annual output having reached a total
of 75,000 pieces, valued at half a mUlion
dollars. The pay roll of its 250 employees
amounts to about $250,000 annually.
Among the strongest business concerns of
Lorain is the Wood Lumber Company, of
which H. O. Wood has always been the pro
gressive and controlling spirit. That gentle
man came from Medina in the early nineties

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

251

and organized the company named. In 1900
he purchased aH the holdings of the B. H.
Wood Company, incorporating his business at
$100,000, and at the present time controls the
largest planing mill and lumber yard in Lorain.
The above large concerns, with minor indus
tries of the place, employ altogether about
15,000 men, this number being largely com
posed of foreigners, as the great bulk of the
laborers connected with the American Ship
BuHding Company and the National Tube
Works are of this unskilled element.
Fish Industry.
The harbor of Lorain has had a reputation
for many years of being not only the most
secure of any of the Great Lakes, but also one
of the most thoroughly improved. It was this
feature of the port more than any other which
determined the location of the plant of the
American Ship Building Company and the
Johnson Steel Company. It also decided the
Cleveland, Lorain and Wheeling railroad to
make Lorain its terminus, with the establish
ment of its immense docks for the handling
of ore, coal and lumber. Further, the harbor
of Lorain protected and encouraged the fish
ing industry, which had been early established
at the mouth of the Black river. In the busy
season this industry employes 200 to 300 men
at Lorain, and calls into service numerous
gasoline and steam tugs, as well as sailing
vessels. The catch is now mostly sent to
Cleveland as a distributing point and the total
annual shipments will not exceed two and one-
half million pounds, valued at $150,000.
The Banks.
Lorain's great business and commerce are
handled by a number of well-conducted banks.
Within the past few years there have been
several consolidations and absorptions, but its
financial institutions have a high reputation
for stability and business-like management. Its
first bank, the First National, was established
in 1878, and was absorbed by the Citizens'

Savings Bank Company in 1882. The Lorain
Savings and Banking Company was organ
ized in 1 89 1 and the Penfield avenue Savings
Banking Company in 1895. The strongest
of the home institutions are the National Bank
of Commerce, founded in 1900, and the
Lorain Savings and Trust Company, estab
lished in 1905, each with a capital of $100,000.
The Harbor at Lorain.
The so-called harbor of Lorain embraces not
only the gigantic outer breakwater which
offers protection for marine craft at the river
mouth, but three and one-half miles of dock
age along the Black river. Altogether these
facilities represent 37,000 lineal feet, or over
seven miles of dockage. In these improve
ments, as well as in the maintenance of deep
water at the mouth, the Federal Government
has already appropriated about $800,000, to
which the city itself has added nearly $600,-
000; and there is now available, both from
the national and municipal funds, fully $900,-
000 for harbor and river improvements. The
principal improvement now in progress is the
work of widening the channel between the
government piers, which run out into the lake
for 2,000 feet, to the lighthouse. In order to
maintain an adequate channel, the city of
Lorain has acquired the land necessary to
secure a minimum river width of 400 feet.
This step has been taken to forestall encroach
ments upon the river by the growing industrial
plants established along its course.
An important harbor improvement in the
near future is the construction of a lateral
breakwater 2,400 yards ip length and located
about one-quarter of a mile from the ends of
the lake piers, thus greatly adding to the
capacity and security of the outer harbor. In
a word, the harbor and the railroads have been
the prime forces in making Lorain what it is
as a commercial and industrial city. The fol
lowing is an interesting analysis of the pres
ent industrial status of Lorain, as evidenced
by the wage distribution among the 15,000

252

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN 'RESERVE

employes connected with its various plants,
taken from the Nezvs Democrat booklet, to
which the writer is much indebted for infor
mation -used in this sketch :
"A strong feature, presaging the continued
growth and prosperity of Lorain, is the diver
sified character of its industries. When it
is considered that the present actuality is the
result of but seven or eight years of impetus
and activity, the showing is certainly marvel
ous. While possessing proper local pride and
confidence in the city's future, the people of
Lorain have probably not realized fully what
they already can lay proud claim to, in the
resources of their splendid, rich municipality.
"A common saying is that figures will not
lie. They will not lie, unless made to lie.
In the case of Lorain it is unnecessary to
coach them. A close study, analysis and com
parison of the statistical facts herein presented
will only strengthen the truth which forces
its own acceptance, and at the same time
discloses the moderateness of the totals quoted
in every instance. The wage figures and the
number employed in the principal industries
give the low average annual salary of about
$717, which is too conservative, if anything.
The wages paid annually in the industries of
Lorain undoubtedly considerably exceed
$6,000,000. According to the census of 1900,
the average salary paid in Lorain was $964.
At this rate the wages now paid annually in
Lorain would amount to $7, 823,104 instead of
$5,833,609, as totaled herewith, and if the claim
were made it would be as incorrect and untrue
as the census figures were. According to this
reraarkable census, the output of manufac
tured products in Lorain was in value $9,514,-
952. The latter figures were more than as
much too low as the wage rate was too high,
but entirely in keeping with the reckless cen
sus in other respects. The estimate would
better apply to 1898. While the increase
shown in three years is great, it is only in
proportion with the general advancement of
Lorain."

Having described the development of Lorain
as to its comraercial and industrial advan
tages, it is natural that the reader should wish
to know something about its history as a
municipality and as a social and religious
community.
General Growth of Lorain.
In 1874, not long after the coming of the
first railroad, it was incorporated as a viUage
under the narae of Lodi, and in 1894 assumed
the dignity of a city. The decade from 1880
to 1890 saw her population increase from
1)595 fo 4)863, but her greatest growth
occurred aft^r the estabhshement of the
Lorain Steel Works and the American Ship
Building Company. With its great influx of
employes, in 1895, the population of the place
was nearly 11,000; in 1900, more than 16,000;
1905, 3.0,000, and today these figures will
probably reach 40,000.
Lorain's Electric Service.
Besides the steam railway service, the citi
zens of Lorain number among its abundant
raeans of communication a complete system
of electric transit and telephone lines. There
is probably no section of the United States
which is more thoroughly provided with elec
tric roads than northern Ohio, and Lorain is
one of their most important centers.
The Lake Shore, of which it has one of the
largest stations, runs from Toledo to Cleve
land, a distance of 125 miles, constituting
the longest traction line in the United States
under one management ; the Cleveland, South
western & Columbus connecting Lorain with
Oberlin, Elyria, Wellington and Grafton. A
more local line is known as the Lorain Street
Railway, specially connecting Lorain and Ely
ria, and is chiefly patronized by the hundreds
of workmen connected with the great steel
plant in South Lorain.
Those who have made a careful examina
tion of the practical advantages of the elec
tric roads in the growth of the city claim that

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

253

every electric road having twenty-five miles
of track, connecting corporate ' territory with
the surrounding country, is worth at least ten
thousand inhabitants to the merchants and
business men; in other words, that its opera
tion is so great a stimulus to the community
that it is equivalent to the establishment of
a new factory of ten thousand men in any
given locality. The building and extension
of Lorain's prosperous electric lines seem to
fuHy sustain this claim, as the greatest growth
of the city has occurred within the period
marked by the establishment and expansion of
its electric transportation systems. The Black
River Telephone Company, whose plant was
installed at Lorain in 1894, is also a home
corporation, organized and developed with
local capital. Property Valuation of Lorain.
Aside from the increase of population of a
city, perhaps the most conclusive manifesta
tion of its material progress is found in its
property valuation. In 1880 the assessed val
uation of the real and personal property within
the corporate limits of Lorain was only $870,-
000. Within a decade this has increased to
$2,627,000, which had nearly doubled five
years later, and in 1910 had reached $10,183,-
000. It must be remembered that these fig
ures are based on a forty per cent valuation.
Upon this basis the entire valuation of the
property of the county is placed at $33,000,000.
Legislation is now pending in the State Legis
lature to raise the assessment to one hundred
per cent, or the full valuation, and should the
act go into effect it is evident the figures given
above would be increased sixty per cent. Out
side of its newspapers, and especially the
Daily News-Democrat, there is no medium
through which Lorain's advantages as a busi
ness, industrial and resident center has been
so fully and faithfully exploited as through
the local Chamber of Commerce. This body
is composed of earnest and representative citi
zens and was organized as early as 1883. It

aH but died out, however, in 1891, its vigor
and broad usefulness dating from its revival
of that year.
There have been established at Lorain sev
eral of its largest industrial plants through
this medium and it is also the agency through
which the citizens of Lorain have laid before
Congress their harbor needs, and influenced
legislation which has resulted in generous ap
propriations therefor. In August, 1907. the
old Charaber of Commerce was reorganized as ,
the Board of Trade, and of the raany good
works for the city which it has since inaugu-
. rated and promoted the renaming and re-num
bering of the streets may be cited.
The Newspapers.
The press of Lorain has its strongest rep
resentative in the Daily News-Democrat, which
was established as the Lorain Daily Democrat
in September, 1900, and afterward consoli
dated with the Lorain Daily News, since which
time it has been issued under its present name.
The Post, a German weekly, as well as the
News-Democrat, is issued by the Democrat
Publishing Corapany, of which Hon. F. J.
King, the mayor of the city, is president, and
Jacob Meyer, vice-president and general raan
ager. The Times-Herald, which was founded
in 1894, is edited and published by Harry H.
Hoffman. In this connection should be men
tioned the Lorain County Press Club, con
sisting of fifty members, which was organized
in the faH of 1904. It holds quarterly meet
ings, at which topics of current interest are
discussed, and also has the honor of enter
taining distinguished visitors to Lorain. The
president of the club is Percy Boynton of the
Elyria Telegram; its secretary, H. H. Menes,
of the News-Democrat. Lorain's Water Works.
About four mHes west of Lorain is its fine
water works plant, which was completed in
1907 at a cost of $550,000, and has a total
pumping capacity of 10,000,000 gallons daily.

254

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

although the average consumption is a trifle
under 3,500,000. Its equipment consists of
one Holly pump, with a capacity of 5,000,000
gallons ; one Gordon, capacity 2,000,000 gal
lons, and a second Holly pump with a capacity
of 3,000,000 gaUons — these being aH known
as "high service" pumps. Besides these there
are two De La Val turbine pumps, used to
force the raw water to the filters, both of
which are placed in the "low service" class.
Owing to the high-pressure water system
noted, there is no necessity, as yet, for the
existence of a paid fire department in Lorain.
The volunteer companies have been organized
for about twenty years and are coraposed of
expert fire fighters. The force is divided into
four companies, each of which has a separate
hose house. The apparatus also consists of
one steam fire engine and two chemical tanks
attached to each hose wagon. With the great
advantage of always haying high pressure
available, the proprietors of the large raanu
factories feel that they are amply protected.
The modern water system of Lorain dates
from the buHding of its first works in 1891
and the installation of the Jewell Filtration
plant, which gives the city a copious supply
of pure water. Repeated examinations made
by experts demonstrate that this filtering proc
ess eliminates all the raw water of the lake
and 97 per cent of its organic matter, render
ing the supply as pure as any water which
ordinarily may be drawn from an unpolluted
stream. The process is known as the iron
coagulant system, and provides for the pass
ing of the water through an immense tank
which contains a mixture of sulphur, brim
stone and iron, as well as a clear so
lution of lime water. After this treat
ment, it .enters an auxHiary basin, where,
by an ingenious arrangement of piping, cur
rents are created which give the water a slow
rotary motion. Afterward the water is con
ducted to the filter proper, thereby complet
ing the purifying process. The filters named
are immense tubes seventeen feet in diameter.

which contain four feet of pure sand, obtained
mostly from Red Wing, Minnesota. The wa
ter is then collected and forced through nu
merous strainers, passing through a system
of pipes to the great city reservoir below the
filters. Prior to the installation of this com
plete system of filtration, Lorain had suffered
a number of serious typhoid fever epidemics,
which seem to have been entirely warded
off through her abundant supply of pure
water. The Lorain Gas Company was organized
October 11, 1899, with a capital of $300,000,
and not only manufactures gas, but owns and
operates a complete electric lighting plant. It
is in operation within the city limits of Lo
rain, has twenty miles of gas mains and thirty-
five miles of electric lines. It is purely a
home institution and one of the most im
portant of those which may be called public
in its nature. Education in Lorain.
The growth of the city may be traced in
raany different ways, one of these being to
analyze the progress of its public schools and
the growth of attendance therein. It seems
almost impossible that in 1871, or less than
forty years ago, there were but seventy-five
pupils in the public schools of Lorain; and
they were all crowded together in one room
in the building now known as Fire Station
No. I, the school being presided over by but
one teacher. In 1874, when the town had
commenced to feel the impetus brought by
railroad connections, a four-story brick school-
house was erected, which is now a portion
of the Washington Street buHding, and dur
ing that year two teachers were added to the
force. The City High School was established
in 1875, and its first graduating class in 1879
consisted of two boys and one girl. Frora
these modest beginnings has developed the
present public school system, which includes
in its personnel more than 100 teachers, with
a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 pupils, dis-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

255

tributed among six modern school buildings —
Washington Street (which includes the High
School), the Fairhome, Bond Street, Bank
Street, Garden Avenue and Thirteenth Ave
nue. This property is now valued at over
$700,000. The juvenile population of Lorain is also
favored with educational advantages through
five parochial schools, the only one under
Protestant auspices being attached to the Zion
Lutheran church. The four Catholic parochial
schools have an enrollment of nearly 700 pu
pils. It took great courage to obtain an educa
tion in the early days of Lorain. Mary Ann
Adams, who graduated from Oberlin college
in 1839 and was afterwards assistant princi
pal of that institution, often went back and
forth from Wellington to Oberlin "when the
mud and water were up to the stirrups."
Public Library.
The Lorain public library must also be
mentioned as among its most effective educa
tional agencies of a public nature. It was
founded in 1900, m October of that year, a
few volumes being collected and instaUed in
a small rented room. In 1902 Mr. Carnegie
donated $30,000 for the establishment of a
public library, on condition that the citizens
contributed ten per cent toward its mainte
nance. In October pf that year Mr. Carnegie
was formally notified by the Library Associa
tion that his terms had been accepted. A tax
was therefore levied for library purposes,
which produced about $35,000 a year, and in
1903 the present convenient and tasteful build
ing was erected on the northeast quarter of
Streator Park, which was municipal property.
The library has now over 6,500 voluraes, and
it is a credit to the city.
As a Catholic Community.
The most prominent feature in connection
with Lorain as a religious community is the

overpowering strength of the Catholics. This
is fully accounted for by the fact that the
great majority of the workmen employed in
the industries of Lorain are foreigners at
tached to Catholicism. It may be that it is a
somewhat liberal estimate, but it is not far
outside the bounds to say that the Polish
Catholics of Lorain number 6,000 ; the Hun
garians, 2;ooo; the Slavs, 1,000; the Italians,

ST. MAEY'S CHUECH, LOEAIN.
1,000, and the Greeks about 500. In other
words, that nearly 14,000 of the entire 40,000
composing the population of Lorain are within
the fold of th'e Catholic church.
Prior to 1870 there were no CathoHcs in
Black River township, and but few as late as
1873, after the entry of the first railroad to
the city. It was that time that Father Mul-
lin, who occupied the pastorate in Elyria, in-

256

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

stituted Catholic service in the private resi
dence of Peter Miller on Franklin street. In
the spring of 1878 St. Mary's parish was or
ganized, and for its accommodation a small
one-story building was erected upon the site
of the present stately edifice. The second
parish building was burned in 1895, in which
year was erected the church now occupied.
Not long afterward, St. Mary's school was
also built. From this mother parish have
sprung three other Roman Catholic churches
in Lorain: St. Joseph, organized in 18917;
the Polish Church of the Nativity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, in 1900; and the Church
of St. John the Baptist in South Lorain,
whose cornerstone was laid on Septeraber 8
of the sarae year. The four parochial schools
attached to these churches have a ,total enroll
ment of about 700 pupils, with a staff of about
twenty teachers. St. Joseph's Hospital.
St. Joseph's Hospital, which is located near
the center of the corporation of Lorain, is un
der the management of the Sisters of St.
Francis, and is the only institution of the
kind, of even a semi-public nature, in the city.
The original building of the institution was
used as a private sanitarium or health re
sort, but in 1892 Rev. Joseph L. Bihn pur
chased the property, which was afterward
placed by the church under the management
of the Sisters of St. Francis. St. Joseph's
Hospital is an offshoot of the large Orphan
Asylum and Home for the Aged at Tiffin,
Ohio, which was also founded by Father
Bihn. In 1907 a large and imposing addi
tion was made to the original wooden build
ing at Lorain. The latter is completely over
shadowed by the new structure, so that it has
the appearance of a modest wing attached to
the main edifice. The hospital has now ac
commodations for about eighty patients. It
has a coraplete staff of physicians and sur
geons, as well as a training school for nurses
which was established in 1903.

Protestant Churches of Lorain.
The first of the denominations to establish
itself in Lorain was the Methodist church.
Members of this faith formed a congregation
as early as 1840. The Second Methodist
church was organized in 1883, and is known
as the Kent Street Society, while South Lo
rain gave birth to a church of this creed in
1900. The Second Protestant denomination to en
ter the local religious field was the Emanuel
Evangelical church, composed entirely of Ger
mans and founded in 1851. The First Con
gregational church was organized in 1872 and
the South Lorain church in 1899. The Church
of Christ preceded the first Catholics by a
few years ; St. John's Evangelical church fol
lowed them, in 1880. In 1882 the First Bap
tist church was organized; the EpiscopaHans
formed their pioneer society in 1895 ; the Pres
byterians and Christian Scientists in 1900, and
at various times since, and before, the other
denominations which stand for the religious
faith of Lorain formed societies of more or
less strength.
Y. M. C. A. FOR Steel Workers.
Lorain is distinguished for having the first
Young Men's "Christian Association, with a
fully equipped building, primarily for the use
of steel workers. Not long after the estab
lishraent of the steel plant at South Lorain
by the Johnson Company, the question of pro
viding a clubhouse for its employes was agi
tated. This movement resulted in the forma
tion of a Young Men's Christian Association
in the fall of 1897, with the raising of $15."
000 from leading citizens of Lorain and Ely
ria and the donation of two lots for a buUd
ing site by the Sheffield Land Company. In
the following year the large and convenient
building which is now the home of the as
sociation was completed, at a cost of $20,000.
At this day it is useless to describe in detail
the accommodations -prqvided for the enter
tainment and moral education of the steel

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

257

workers of South Lorain, since this Y. M.
C. A. building is constructed and arranged
along the well-known lines followed in all
similar structures, embracing, as it does, read
ing rooms, a gymnasium, swimming pool and
other familiar features. The only special point
to be noted in connection with this Y. M.
C. A. is its Mechanics' Institute, which of
fers to workmen evening instruction in all
the comraon branches, as well as in penraan-
ship, business courses and mechanical draw
ing. Tuition for these courses has been re
duced to a minimum rate, about two dollars
for a six months' course. Bible classes and
other religious meetings are held for the men
in the association building, ^as well as in the
shops. These latter gatherings include noi
only weekly meetings in the Lorain foundries,
but in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shops.
An average of more than 200 men attend
these meetings each week. The total mem
bership of the association is now nearly 400,
and of this number about seventy-five are boys
who range in age from twelve to sixteen
years.
The Village of Wellington.
Historically, the village of Wellington is
best known throughout the Western Reserve
for the part its citizens played in the famous
slave rescue case of 1858. In later years it
became prominent, in a business sense, as
one of the leading cheese centers of the coun
try, its supremacy in this line being shared,
for many years, only by Little Falls, New
York. At the present time it is a substan
tial, but not a bustHng, place of over 2,000
people. For the first celebration of the Fourth of
July, or Independence Day, as it was then
called, in Wellington, settlers were obliged
to use a woman's red shawl decorated "with
the stars and stripes and a neatly executed
spread eagle."
Its oldest industry is conducted by the
Wellington Machine Company. The J. H.

Shelley Flouring Mill Company also operates
a good plant, and the Western Cold Storage
Company is a substantial concern, which is
largely devoted to the care and preservation
of farm products, especially onions, which are
largely raised in the surrounding country.
George W. Hoffman has a factory for the
manufacture of banana baskets, while a new
enterprise, of which much is expected, is
known as the Sterhng Starap Works, which
plant is engaged in the manufacture of gas
generators and other automobUe parts.
Wellington has a fine town hall, erected in
1885, a large schoolhouse and a number of
flourishing churches, among which are the
Congregationalist, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic
and Church of. Christ. The edifice of the last
named denomination has the distinction of
having been dedicated by President James
A. Garfield, who, up to the very last, was
an earnest member of that denomination.
The Masons, Odd FeHows, G. A. R., Tribe
of Ben Hur and K. O. T. M. are well repre
sented at Wellington, their importance being
generally indicated by the order in which they
are named.
The village has one of the old and well-
known newspapers of the county, the Welling
ton Enterprise, established in 1866. It was
founded by Jaraes Guthrie in that year, and
since 1902 its editor and. proprietor has been
H. O. Fifield, a widely known veteran both
of the Civil war and of journalism. v
Home of the Horrs.
Wellington was the "home of Roswell P.
Horr and his twin brother, Roland A. Horr,
the forraer congressman from the Saginaw
district, Michigan, and the latter, at one time,
a meraber of the Ohio state senate. Both
were men of sterling worth and abHity. They
closely resembled each other in a wonderful
manner. When Roswell was a member of the
national house of representatives his brother
visited him one day after the morning session
had begun. Roswell passing the doorkeeper
said "Good morning" — greeting the doorkeeper

Vol. 1—17

258

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

by narae. In a few moments the brother ap
peared repeating the same words. The door
keeper was perplexed. A little later the broth
ers appeared side by side and started to en
ter. The doorkeeper stopped them. It was
against the rules to allow any one but raem
bers on the floor.
"Only one of you can go in." "Which
one?" asked one of the men.
"D — n if I know," replied the doorkeeper,
and so both passed.
RosweH Horr was a student of raen and
things. He said one reasoh why he thought
women were trivial was because they never
talked sense to them. He always treated

gressman on the shoulder and when the two
were in the hall said: "Now look here,  !
Stop this thing right here. We won't stand
for it. If you do not, I'H lick you. You
act like a lovesick schoolboy, instead of a con
gressman and a father." That ended it.
After Mr. Horr left congress he was a spe
cial writer on the New York Tribune. He
covered the political situation, particularly the
tariff.
Town of Amherst.
The town of Amherst has 2,000 inhabitants'
and is known everywhere for the sandstone
which bears the township name. The town- ¦

"GEAY CANYON" QUAEEY, AMHEEST.

women with the greatest respect, real respect,
not gallantry, and said he learned rauch from
ters, and had no use for men who were trifling
and unfaithful. At one time the boarding
them. He was devoted to his wife and daugh-
house where he lived in Washington was a
handsome congressman who annoyed his wife
by flirting. At one tirae he was attentive to
a foolish young woman. The latter occupied
a place at the table with the congressman
and his family, and the wife was very un
happy. This condition finally was noticed by
Mr. Horr. When he was leaving the dining
room he passed the table, touched the con-

ship received its name from Amherst, New
Hampshire, the home of Jonas Stratton, an
early settler. The sandstone beds lie paral
lel with the lake and from three to six mUes
south of it.
The Great "Gray Canyon."
Not far east of the viHage is a quarry
long known as the Gray Canyon, which repre
sents the largest worked deposit of limestone
m the world. Amherst is administrative head
quarters of one of the most important terrh
tories controlled by the great Cleveland Stone
Company. This territory includes besides the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

259

Gray Canyon near Amherst two quarries at
Wakeman, one at Kipton, one at Elyria, one
(known as the Nickel Plate) between Oberlin
and LaGrange, and two (Nos. 8 and 6) west
and southwest of Amherst. ,
The chief clerk or superintendent of these
quarries is F. E. Kaser, residing at Amherst,
and no citizen of the place is better known or
more respected.
From very early time, the country around
Amherst embraced many limestone quarries,
but the Cleveland Stone Company did not se
riously commence operations in this territory
until about 1888. Mr. Kaser estimates that
the daily capacity of these quarries is seventy-
five carloads of stone, and the actual output
during the business season from April i to
December i, from thirty-five to forty carloads.
During this period the material is quarried
in blocks for building purposes. The remain
ing 'four months of the year are occupied
chiefly in getting out what is known as rubble
stone, or what would commonly be known as
refuse. This is used chiefly in filling in low
lands, or in the construction of railroad beds
and harbor works. This industry, as con
ducted by the Cleveland Stone Company,
therefore employs a large number of workmen
the entire year. The material thus quarried
comes under the general name of the Am
herst building stone, and is regarded as among
the best building stone known to the trade.
The supply is practically inexhaustible. Es
timating the thickness of the stone at an aver
age of fifty feet — and good authority says it
must be nearer 100 — the number of cubic feet
in an acre would be over 2,000,000, which to
quarry out would take 100 men ten years.
The stone lies almost entirely above the ground
and the drainage level, and the huge blocks
sent to all parts of the United States and
Canada, and even South America, are quar
ried without any of the obstructions found
in other parts of the country. The close prox
imity of the great railroads gives another great
advantage, that of easy transportation.

The Famous Amherst Sandstone.
The texture of the stone is fine and homo
geneous, usually without iron and with very
few flaws or breaks. Its strength is equal to
10,000 pounds to the square inch, four times
that of the best brick, and much stronger
than the best marble or granite, and, as was
illustrated in the great Chicago fire, it will
resist the action of fire where limestone, mar
ble and granite are entirely destroyed. Its
durability is greater than any other sedi
mentary rock; being nearly pure silex, it re
sists the erosive action of the atmosphere to a
wonderful degree, equaling the very best
Scotch granite.
The foregoing facts are from Williams'
"County History," and Orton's "Geological
Report." Besides the great stone industry controHed
by the Cleveland Corapany, Amherst has a
lumber yard, a cold storage concern employ
ing forty men, and a manufacturing plant es
tablished in 1908, conducted by the Uthe-
Schiebley Auto Company.
St. Peter's Evangelical German church is
the strongest in the community, which has also
German Methodist, Lutheran (St. John),
Catholic, Methodist, Congregational and
Baptist societies.
Postmaster General Hitchcock.
Perhaps the only man of national fame
whose life is identified with the history of
Amherst is the Hon. Frank H. Hitchcock,
postma.ster-general of the United States, and
for years one of the leading Republicans of
the country. He was born in this little village
October 5, 1867, his father. Rev. Henry C.
Hitchcock, being a Congregational minister
of long service and high standing in this part
of the Reserve. The elder Mr. Hitchcock
married Mary L. Harris, daughter of a judge
and a widely known pioneer of the county.
The widow of Judge Harris' son is still liv
ing on the old homestead near Amherst, but

26o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the house where Frank H. Hitchcock was
born was burned down about thirty-seven
years ago, and its site is now occupied by a
two-story frame store. The future postmas
ter-general lived in Amherst until he was
about twelve years of age, wiien he moved
tO' Boston, where he was to receive the most
liberal education. He has been a government
official since 1891 and his pohtical record in
cludes the secretaryship of the Republican Na
tional Committee. There are no persons in
the United States who are at all conversant
with the workings' and developraent of the
postoffice department who do not know and
admire Frank H. Hitchcock.
It was in the town of Amherst that Mrs.
Nettleton, wife of General A. B. Nettleton, of
Washington, D. C, was born.
Grafton Village.
Some years ago Grafton was a very ira
portant center of the stone industry, but the
growth of the ceraent business, and the use
of artificial material in the construction of
bridges and buildings, so seriously interfered
with the quarrying of stone that only one
live quarry remains at that point. This is a
branch of the Cleveland Stone Company, op
erating under the name of the Grafton Stone
Companyj and its output consists chiefly of
grindstones. The only other considerable
business concern of the place is the Grafton
Lumber & Construction Company.
Although the village of Grafton claims a
population of some 1,500 people, it has the
appearance of a much smaller place. It was
incorporated in 1882, and has the distinction
of being unburdened with an indebtedness of
any kind.
The Catholics are quite strong in this vi
cinity and have two churches, a Polish and
an Irish Catholic. The Methodist and Con
gregationalists also have societies. The fra
ternities are fairly represented by lodges of
the Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F. and Mac
cabees, and the schools include a well-con

ducted Union institution and the Polish paro
chial school.
Cheese, and a Story.
So far as is known, the first cheese, made
in Lorain county was made at RidgevUle by
Mrs. Belinda Beebe in 1813. She pressed it
with a fence rail, one end of which was stuck
between the logs of the cabin, while on the
other end was hung a basket fiUed with stones.
The basket consisted of a bark hoop made
from the bark of a tree.
Speaking of cheese, rem.inds the author of
five maiden ladies of Grafton — Catherine,
Nancy, Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah Stock-
bridge. None of them raarried, but they cared
for a number of orphan children, who, in
tirae, loved them dearly. There was hardly
any kind of work they could not do. "They
would provide a full wardrobe for a woman
from raw products of the field. They braided
very fine bonnets from wild rice, which grew
plentifully around them.'' One of them taught
school, and later they kept a dairy. They
made excellent cheese. In those days no one
ate green cheese, and they kept one of theirs
twenty years ; "and it was prime when it was
cut." Apparently, work agreed with them,
for two of them lived to be over seventy and
three over eighty. Carlisle.
It is told that when the first corn was
planted in Carlisle, this county, the roots of
trees were so thick that they were cut with
an axe before the corn was obtained. The
corn produced was very large, pumpkins were
enormous ; sometimes one raan could not lift
them. For this reason the name of "Pump
kin Ridge" was applied.
The strenuous life does not belong en
tirely to this day. Mrs. EHen Mathews, of
Eaton, often walked to Elyria, a distance of
nine miles. She was a widow with a brood
of children. One morning she carried a pail
of butter to that town to exchange it for

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

261

groceries, and she "was a little hurried, as
she must get back in time to get the noonday
meal." However, these feats had to be
"worked up to." When Mr. Gambol brought
his wife to Eaton and she saw how sprightly
her neighbors were, she determined to keep
up with them. She, too, wanted to walk to
Elyria, but she did not start early and on
her return, 'vveary and worn, she walked or
fell in a muddy hole. She was rescued by a
passing traveler and carried to a nearby house,
where she staid three weeks before she could
recover strength to go home.
Famous Soldiers.
Among the famous sons of Lorain county
of whom mention has not already been made
were Generals Quincy A. Gillmore and Charles
C. Parsons, and it happened that both achieved
their greatest fame in the artiHery service
of the Union Army during the Civil war.
Quincy Adams Gillmore was born at Black
River, Lorain county, in 1825. He attended
Norwalk Academy and Elyria High School.
He began to study medicine and wrote for
publication. There was a vacancy at West
Point and the boys appointed failed to pass.
Finally, in attempting to find a suitable per
son, Gillmore was recommended because of
his integrity and scholarship. He was not in
the neighborhood at the time and so missed
seeing the gentleman looking for him. Hear
ing of it later, he mounted his horse and rode
to an adjoining town, where he overtook him
just in time to secure the appointment, which
was going to another. He acquitted himself
with credit as a cadet, graduating in 1849 at
the head of his class, and entered the service.
General Gillmore's fame as an artHlery of
ficer was established during the siege and cap
ture of Fort Pulaski, Georgia, in 1862. At
this historical siege and bombardment he
planted his batteries at distances which pre
vious to this time were thought to be suicidal,
but in less than two days he reduced the fort

ress which had been pronounced by eminent
engineers as impregnable.
It has been well said that General Gillmore's
cannonade and capture of Fort Pulaski revo
lutionized the naval gunnery of the world and
extended his fame throughout Europe, as well
as America. For this service he received the
brevet of lieutenant-colonel, and was made
brigadier-general of volunteers, April 28, 1862.
His n*ct notable success was with the noted
"Swamp Angel," a gun used in the siege of
Charleston. The gun was apparently planted
in the edge of the sea, but really in the shal
low marsh between Morris and James islands.
There a firm foundation was laid, a low breast
work put up in a circle around the gun, and
100-pound shells were "dropped" into Charles
ton. But it was only fired thirty-six- times,
exploding at the last discharge. Other guns
soon after did as effective work, but the
"Swarripi Angel" is remembered because -it
first proved the practicability ot the method.
Later, with his (Tenth) Corps, he took part
in the final operations of the army of the
James river. He received brevets of briga
dier-general and major-general for services
before Charleston, resigning his volunteer
commission as raajor-general in December,
1865. After the war he was engaged upon im
portant engineering works, and his name is
raost intimately associated with the improve
raents of the harbor at Charleston and Savan
nah, with other like works along the Atlantic
coast, and, as president of the Mississippi
River Commission, with the great works which
have been projected for the rectification of
that important waterway. His treatise on
road making and paving are regarded as the
highest aiithority. He was breveted four
tiraes for meritorious conduct,- the last time
as major-general United States army "for gal
lant and meritorious conduct in capturing
Forts Wagner and Gregg and for the demol
ishing of Fort Sumter." After the war was
over he bought back the old farm at Black

262

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

River, converted it into a vineyard and occa
sionally visited it. He died in Brooklyn, New
York, in 1888.
General Parsons was born in Elyria in 1838,
graduated from West Point in 1861 and soon
afterward was placed in command of a bat
tery, which became famous both in the Union

and Confederate armies. After the war he
became chief of artillery in General Hancock's
Indian expeditions, but later took orders in
the Protestant Episcopal church. His death
occurred at Memphis, September 7, 1879, and
was directly traceable to overwork during the
terrible yellow fever epidemic of that year.

LAKE COUNTY'S MAGNIFICENT COUET HOUSE.

CHAPTER XXI.

LAKE COUNTY.

Lake county was one of the latest to assume
^ts present form and its area is 215 square
-jHiiles, which, in territory makes it the pigmy
of the Buckeye state, and Perry, one of its
1:ownships, is the smallest on the Reserve. On
March 6, 1840, seven townships were taken
from Geauga and one (Willoughby) from
<Cuyahoga county and welded together into a

the order of their naming being from north
east to southwest.
Brisk Centers and Wonderful Harbor.
Not only is Lake county the sraallest in area
within the state, but Painesville, its beautiful
county seat, is the smallest municipality in
Ohio. The county contains, also, five incor-

OLD COUET HOUSE (Eemocleled for City Hall).

-narrow band lying along Lake Erie. The sig
nificance of the name is obvious. The eight
'townships thus organized into Lake county
were Madison (said to be the largest town-
:ship on the lake). Perry, Leroy, PainesviHe,
tCbncord, Mentor, Kirtland and Willoughby,

porated villages and three thriving centers,
all but two of which are reached by electric
trolley. More than this, its Fairport has been
pronounced by competent judges the finest nat
ural harbor on the south shore of Lake Erie,
and that its improvements have been great

265

266

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

will be evident in succeeding pages devoted
to its description. Even as it is today, the
great ore freighters of the Superior region
head for its sheltering- waters with a feeling
of perfect security when everything in the
outer lake is tempestuous and uncertain.
Natural Fe.\tures — Wealth — Schools.
Lake county is watered by the Chagrin and
Grand rivers, the former flowing north and
south through Willoughby township and the
latter, south and east, cutting off a large
northeastern slice of territory. It is the mouth
of Grand river which is the nucleus of the
fine harbor of Fairport.
The source of this tortuous and noble
stream is only about thirty railes from its
mouth, its entire course being twice that dis
tance. In the township of Aladison the bed
of the river is about ninety feet above Lake
Erie, while its rugged bluffs rise nearly 200
feet higher, forming a sort of Grand Can
yon. The early name of the river was the
Geauga, from which that county derives its
name. It was used largely by the pioneers
as a means of transportation, and as early as
1800 Seth Tracy ascended the streara in boats
as far as ^Mesopotamia, Trumbull county.
Lake county presents a rolling surface and
a good soil — a clayey loam, interspersed with
ridges of sand and gravel. It is specially
adapted to fruit culture and the raising of
vegetables. It stands first of the Ohio coun
ties in the production of pears, which araounts
to sorae 10,000 bushels annually, and is fourth
in the raising of grapes — nearly 2,000,000
pounds per annura. Lake county is a wonder
ful onion producer, being exceeded only by
Hancock. The latest figures credit the for
mer with a production of more than 400,000
bushels annually. Lake is also well to the
front in the raising of Irish potatoes and
buckwheat, and as a dairy county, especially
in her output of butter and railk. Her maple
products, both sugar and syrup, are also so

large as to make the other counties "take-
notice." Altogether, she is a beautiful, rich,.
industrious and intelligent representative of
Ohio's counties. So attractive are the phys
ical features, with the lake and the highlands,
that people of Cleveland, liking semi-country
life have taken up their homes in the neigh
borhood of the lake. Some of these homes.
are magnificent.
In point of population Lake county has
steadily increased. Her inhabitants numbered'
13,717 in 1840; 15,576 in i860; 16,326 in
1880; 18,235 ii^ 1890, and 21,680 in 1900.
Of the last named, 5,840 are of school age,.
there being only a difference of ten between-
the sexes.
The actual attendance at the sixty-four
schoolhouses in Lake county is 3,656. The-
nuniber of teachers employed is 167, and the-
total value of public school property, $271,500..
Prehistoric Fort and Little Mountain.
Archaeologists — the late Colonel Charles.
AVhittlesey being one — who have examined the
prehistoric earth works of the Ohio vaUey and'
the lake region, have been impressed with the-
comparative insignificance of the latter. They
have also noted that most of the mounds, em
bankments and ditches scattered along the-
southern shores of Lake Erie and Ontario.
as well as those found in New York, were-
evidently militaiw fortifications, whHe the-
Eries occupied natural positions of unusual
strength. More than forty vears ago Colonel
Whittlesey wrote of the picturesqueness of
the fort near Painesville, as follows: "On the-
west bank of Grand river, about three miles
east of Painesville, is a narrow peninsula of
soapstone and flags, which has been fortified'
by the ancients, A tall growth of hemlock-
furnishes a refreshing shade to which the citi--
zens resort for ;\Ia)- day picnics, and Fourth?
of July celebrations. A smaH creek runs out
side the point, which is about 200 feet wide-
by 600 in length, entering the river at the-
apex. The elevation is from forty to sixty
feet above water level. At the extremity of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

267

the point is a lower bench, across which is a
low bank and ditch.
"About 400 feet farther back from this are
two paraHels across the peninsula, which are
eighty-six feet apart. In most places it is
nine feet from the bottom of the ditches to
the summit of the walls. All the ditches
are on the outside and are well preserved.
There are very few places where a party could
climb up the soapstone cliffs, without the aid
of trees or ropes. The course of this project
ing point is east and west, joining the main
land on the west. In this direction there is
higher land within 300 feet of the outer paral
lel." There is a wide belt of country through
central Ohio which is nearly destitute of an
cient works, seeraing to indicate that the pre
historic warriors had agreed upon a neutral
belt, as did their Indian successors, in many
sections of the United States. It is further'
evident that the forts which have been found
on the waters running northerly into Lake
works discovered further south had obvious
reference to religious ceremonies and sacri
fices. It is evident, from the many strange relics
and Indian burial grounds which northeastern
sections of Lake county have yielded to the
student and curio seekers, that these localities
were favorite resorts of America's primitive
man, probably containing not a few of his sa
cred shrines dedicated to the Great Spirit and
the lesser gods. By common consent, Little
mountain, situated about seven miles south of
Painesville, near the Geauga county line, has
been designated, both by tradition and nature,
as a specially sanctified altar. Standing in the
midst of a level country, this cone of sand
stone, a mile through at its base, rises more
than 1,000 feet, seamed with layers of white
pebbles and pierced with deep fissures, or
caverns. It bears every evidence of having
been at some time subject to intense heat.
The summit of Little mountain is a table
land of about fifty acres covered with a pine

forest. To one spectator its general appear
ance suggested that nature "must have mixed
water, clay and pebbles into a loaf of dough,
housewifelike, and baked it in an oven of
subterranean fires, when its explosive yeast
lifted it to its present height."
Little mountain, however, has been far from
a state of nature these many years. Hotels
and cottages, filled with hundreds of summer
visitors, lie in the shadow of its pines, and the
white man is drawing health, enjoyment and
inspiration from the same sources which sup
plied his dusky brother of the long ago.
The Last of the Indians.
When the whites first entered the lands of
the Western Reserve they found that the re
gion around the mouth of the Cuyahoga river
was a popular gathering place of the Senecas,
Ottawas, Delawares and Chippewas, and when
the traders established theraselves in that lo
cality it was the custora of the Indians to
resort thither in the fall, procure what arti
cles they could (tobacco and whiskey espe
cially), and then start for their winter's hunt
along the Cuyahoga, Grand, Mahoning, Black,
Tuscarawas and other rivers. In the spring
they returned with their furs and game, and
after trafficking away their stock, launched
their bark canoes to repair to the Sandusky
plains and the Miami prairies for the sum
mer. All the Indians who formerly occupied lands
in the Western Reserve relinquished their
territory west of the Cuyahoga river to the
general government in July, 1805, at the fa
raous treaty concluded at Fort Industry near
Sandusky, on the fourth of that month. The
principal commissioners who appeared as in
terested parties in the conclusion of the treaty
were Colonel Jewett, on the part of the gen
eral government, I. Mills, representing the
Fire Lands Company, and General Henry
Charapion, for the Connecticut Land Com
pany. The last naraed gentleman during this
year also made the original survey of what

268

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

afterwards became the city of Painesville.
William Dean, one of the largest purchasers of
the lands thus thrown upon the market, in writ
ing to Judge Samuel Huntington (who is often
mentioned in the pages of this volume, and
who was one of the founders of Painesville)
has the following to say regarding the details-
of this treaty:
"Dear Sir: On the 4th instant, we closed
a treaty with the Indians for the unextin
guished part of the Connecticut Reserve, and
on account of the United States, for all the
lands south of it, to the west line. Mr. Phelps
and myself pay about $7,000 in cash, and about
$12,000 in six yearly payments of $2,000 each.
The government pays $13,760, that is, the
annual interest, to the Wyandots, Delawares,
Munsees, and to those Senecas on the land,
forever. The expense of the treaty will be
about $5,000, including rum, tobacco, bread,
meat, presents, expenses of the seraglio, the
commissioners, agents and contractors, I write
in haste, being extremely sorry I have not
time to send you a copy of the treaty. You
will see General Champion, who wHl be able
to give you further inforraation.
"Having sorae intention of making a pur
chase of considerable tracts of land, in dif
ferent parts of the Reserve, araounting to
about 30,000 acres, I beg of you to inforra
me what I should allow per acre, payments
equal to cash, and address me at Easton, Penn
sylvania. Frora thence, if I raake a contract,
I expect, with all speed, to send fifteen or
twenty famHies of prancing Dutchmen."
Baptism of Christian by Pagan.
Only a few Indians remained east of the
Cuyahoga river as early as 1797. Among the
most famous of the chiefs and distinguished
for their friendliness with the whites, were
Seneca and Wanberraong. A touching story
is told of the latter, which has for its lead
ing feature the love of the old chief for a
baby daughter of David Abbott, a lawyer from
Massachusetts, who had located on the east

side of the Chagrin river opposite the pres
ent village of Willoughby. "In 1797," as re
lated by Harvey Rice in his "Pioneers of the
Western Reserve," "Mr. Abbott's wife pre
sented him with a beautiful daughter — a child
which the Indians greatly admired, especially
the old chief Wanbermong. He was highly
gratified with being allowed to take the in
fant in his arms, caress it, and sometimes carry
it to his wigwam, where it was equally ad
mired by the squaws. He always returned
the infant unharmed to its mother in due
time, and often decorated it in a fantastical
manner with wild flowers and trinkets. The
mother was a pious lady, and desired to have
her darling baptized, but at that time therfe
was no clergyman to be found within the lim
its of the Western Reserve. The question
was, what could she do, feeling as she did
that the sacred rite must be performed? The
old chief Wanbermong sympathized with the
mother in her dilemraa, and kindly offered,
as high priest of his tribe, to baptize the
child. She consulted her husband, who ad
vised her to accept the proposition. The old
chief appeared at the hour appointed, clad
in his priestly robes, dipped his fingers in wa
ter, touched the brow of the child, and then,
gesticulating in a mysterious manner, lifted
his eyes to heaven, and reverently announced
the name in the Indian tongue which he had
selected for the child, and which signified in
that language 'Flower of the Forest' This
complimentary name so pleased the parents
that they adopted it without hesitation. The
child grew to womanhood and was in fact as
beautiful as the flower from which she de
rived her baptismal name. She married a
worthy gentleman by the name of Frank D.
Parish. "They settled at Sandusky, and lived to
enjoy a long and happy Hfe. She was the
first white child, born of Christian parents,
ever known to have been christened by a pa
gan priest on this continent. If the priest and
parents were sincere in the administration of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

269

this sacred rite, as they undoubtedly were,
why was it not sufficient compliance with the
divine command, and therefore orthodox?"
Good and Dignified Seneca.
Among the Indians who remained at Paines
ville and in that locality after the date of its
first settlement prior to 18 10, was the aged
and friendly Seneca, who was thus named by
the early settlers on account of his manifest
wisdom and sagacity. His native name was
Stigwanish. Fie is said to have possessed
the dignity of a Roman senator and the hon
esty and philanthropy of a William Penn.
He was too proud to directly ask a gift, but
when conferred with, would accept it with
becoming grace and dignity ; neither would he
allow the matter to rest there, but was sure
at some time afterward to make an appro
priate return. Moreover, he was exceedingly
temperate, especially during the latter years
of his residence at Painesville. The extent of
his libations consisted of cider and Malaga
wine. His conversion to temperance was
brought about by a violent act of his earlier
life, when, under the influence of strong spir
its, he aimed a blow with his tomahawk at
his wife, which split the head of the papoose
on her back. Perhaps a still more remarkable
trait, remembering that he was a full blooded
and typical Indian, was his disinclination to
accept credit in any of his trading transac
tions. Whenever he violated this rule he was
sure to make punctual payment in specie.
Seneca was a warm friend of the famous
Ogontz and the two were often together at
and near Sandusky. Both were ardent friends
of the whites and contributed in every way
they could to promote their welfare, especially
during the perilous time of 1812-13. The
last seen of good old Seneca was during the
war of 1812, when he resided in the vicinity'
of Cleveland. It is supposed that he after-
vvard migrated with his people to their lands
farther west; at least from that time aH trace
of him was lost.

The Coming of the First Whites.
It is believed that the earliest event recorded
by history in which a white man entered the
present limits of Lake county to confer with .
its primitive owners regarding the occupancy
of the soil, was in November, 1760, when Ma
jor Robert Rogers with his hardy rangers
camped at the mouth of the Grand river near
the present site of Fairport for the purpose
of interviewing that great Indian chief, Pon
tiac. The permanent settlement of the county,
however, was assured by the survey inaugu
rated by the Connecticut Land Company in
1796. The first dweHing, or cabin, in Lake
county was constructed by Charles Parker,
one of the surveyors, during that year. The
surveyors appraised the townships in this part
of the Western Reserve, and the quality of
the lands in Lake county was brought to fa
vorable notice in the course of this work,
which included the equalizing of the various
land values. The area of the county, which
now embraces seven of these townships (all
but Leroy), was found to possess soil valued
far above the average; in fact, a more favor
able report was made in this regard than upon
any other section of the Reserve. The sig
nificance of this coraparison did not escape
the attention of Edward Paine, who m the
spring of 1800 moved from Cleveland, then a
feeble settlement of seven souls, and began a
settleraent on the rich lands of the Grand
river.
Hon. John Walworth.
The month before Mr. Paine became a resi
dent of Painesville, witnessed the advent of
its first real settler, namely, Hon. John Wal
worth, whose history is mainly connected with
Cleveland as its first coHector of the port.
John Walworth came from Aurora, New
York, to Mentor, Lake county, during the year
1799. He reraained in that locality through
the winter, but returned to New York in the
spring for his faraily, his wife, Julianna, and

270

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

three sons and two daughters. John O'Mic,
who was hung for murder, an account of
which is given in the history of Cuyahoga
county, was a playmate of these children when
a boy. Upon coming again into the Western
Reserve, however, Mr. Walworth decided that
the lands along the Grand river were most
preferable, and the family therefore located.
their new home on the present site of Paines
viHe, April 8, 1800.
This spot was then called Bloomingdale.
This first permanent settler of Lake county
is described as a man of small stature, but
very active, and of a most pleasing cast of
countenance. Not a few of the older settlers
may gtill remember a paper cut profile, which
was in the possession of his family at Cleve
land and which bears out this description with
quite remarkable force. The upper part of
the profile is concealed by the hair, which is
brought down from the forehead according to
the fashion of his times.
Judge Walworth was callea upon to fill
many important offices in the early history of
the Reserve. In 1802 he was commissioned
as justice of the peace for TrumbuH county,
was appointed associate judge in 1803, post
raaster at Painesville in 1804, and inspector
of the hew port of Cuyahoga (Cleveland) in
1805, and coHector of the district of Erie,
associate judge of Geauga county and post
master at Cleveland in 1806. It was about
this time he exchanged land with Sarauel
Huntington and took his faraily to Cleveland.
When the county of Cuyahoga was organized
he becarae county clerk and recorder. He
was still holding the last named office at the
tirae of his death, Septeraber 10, 1812. It is
evident that Judge Walworth was a raan of
fine ability and honesty, or he would not have
been called upon to fill so many offices in those
days, as it is weH known that professional of
fice hunters were effectually "squelched" dur
ing that period. It is also upon record that
Mrs. Walworth was fully worthy of the com- ^
panionship and admiration of such a man.

She was long remembered as a kind, digni
fied, brave and judicious woman. When the
stampede occurred at Cleveland, on the occa
sion of Hull's surrender, she was one of the
three ladies who refused to leave the place.
Like the sturdy women of her day, she rode
a horse, not as a graceful exercise, but in or
der to accompany her husband in his long
journeys necessary in the discharge of his of
ficial duties. In 1810 she crossed the moun
tains in this manner, by way of Pittsburg
and Philadelphia, to the eastern cities. She
survived her husband more than forty years,
passing away at Cleveland, March 2, 1853.
It seems regrettable that Judge Walworth did
not live to realize the brilliant hopes he had
formed for his city and county, as his death
occurred during the darkest days of the war
of 1812, a year before Perry's grand victory
at Put-in bay.
Genera,l Edward Paine.
General Edward Paine, from whom Paines
ville takes her name, was a native of Bolton,
Connecticut, born in 1746. During the Revo
lutionary war he served for seven months
as ensign in a regiment of state militia. He
again entered the service in June, 1776, as
first lieutenant, and served thus untH Decem
ber of that year. In 1777 he continued his
patriotic services as lieutenant and captain,
and at the conclusion of the war moved from
Bolton to New York state. He first located
on the Susquehannah river and afterward
made his home at Aurora. While residing at
that place he served for several sessions as a
representative in the New York state legis
lature. In the fall of 1790, in company with
his oldest son, Edward Paine, Jr., he made
an excursion into the Western Reserve for
the purpose of trading with the Indians. Fa
ther and son reached the mouth of the Cuya
hoga river when there were but two white
persons living there, namely, Mr. and Mrs.
Job Stiles. With this good couple, General
Paine and his son boarded until the following

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

271

spring, when the elder man returned to . the
home in Aurora and in 1798 went to Con
necticut and purchased 1,000 acres of the
Connecticut Land Company — the tract which
afterv/ard included the site of Painesville.. In
the summer after the purchase had been made.
General Paine prepared for the removal of
his family, his wife, Rebecca, and eight chil
dren. A girl, EHza, was the first white child
born in the county. Another daughter, Lydia,
when a child, rode her horse alone alongside
the Indian trail to Harpersfield, and a little
later she rode to Canandaigua, swimming
streams and being alone in the forests.

ing epitome of his character : "The start was
made from Aurora, with sleighs, on March
5, 1800, but it was the first of May before
the families were able to reach here. After
they arrived on Grand river. General Paine
and his little colony' lost no time in getting
to work. He erected his first log cabin about
one mile south of Lake Erie, and two miles
north of PainesviUe, and later, on the same
site, buHt a more pretentious home, nothing
of which now remains but a few foundation
stones opposite the present " shorelands. The
colonists found on their arrival that the In
dians had raade some improvements, so the

CHAETEE OAK PAEK AND PAINE STATUE, PAINESVILLE.

Through his influence and persuasion a num
ber of friends were induced to join the party,
among whom were Eleazar Paine, Jedediah
Beard and Joel Paine, aH heads of families.
The entire party numbered sixty-six.
When the beautiful statue of Edward Paine,
which now stands opposite Lake Erie college,
was unveiled on July" 2, 1901, Dr. William
Stowell Mills delivered an instructive and ap
preciative address on the life and character
of the city's founder. From this are quoted
the following words descriptive of General
Paine's coming to this locality, with a strik-

party, at the earliest seed time, planted these
cleared grounds and in due time reaped an
abundant harvest.
"As has been stated, PainesvHle took its
name from General Paine, but his activity
and his usefulness did not close with the
founding of this village. Twice he was elected
to the territorial legislature of Ohio, and as
long as he lived was one of the enterprising
and influential men of the !;iortheastern part
of the state. He lived in this, his new home,
for a period of forty years. At the advanced
age of ninety-five years and eleven months,

272

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

on August 28, 1841, he closed his life on the
banks of Grand river, revered, respected and
esteemed, not only by his immediate friends
and acquaintances, but by that large circle
of active and influential men of his day, who
laid the foundation of what is now the great
and leading state of Ohio.
"General Paine possessed in an eminent de
gree the traits and characteristics which dis
tinguished that large body of pioneers who
led the tide of immigration into the wilderness.
These raen were of a class by theraselves, and
stand pre-eminent among the pioneers of all
preceding and succeeding times for the special
quahties of hardihood and adventure, united
with intellectual powers and capacities of the
highest order. They not only introduced the
plow-share into the virgin soil of the wilder
ness but they brought with them the Bible
and the speHing book, the artisan, the circuit
preacher and the school master, as co-ordinate
parts of their enterprise. A common man with
¦the ordinary muscular ability, courage and in
herent traits of his race, without possessing
intellectual attainments, cannot be the pioneer
of intellectual and refined social life. Edward
Paine was not merely a pioneer of the pioneer
band, but he was a leader of civilizing and re
fining influences among his own associates,
and hence these first settlers that came into
the town of PainesvHle brought witli thera the
seed of that inteUectual development which
has made its public schools, its colleges and
its seminaries faraous throughout the land."
General Paine's high character was forraally
recognized during the very first year of his
settleraent at PainesviHe. In October an elec
tion was held for county officers and terri
torial representatives. Forty-two votes were
cast in the great territory then coraprising
TrurabuH county for the legislative meraber,
and of this number General Paine received
thirty-eight, taking his seat in the territorial
legislature in 1801. His record there, as in
every other activity, stamped him as a man
of remarkably strong character and, although

Painesville was surveyed by General Cham
pion as stated, in 1805, it eventually was hon
ored with the name of the man who for over
forty years labored to promote its interests, as
well as those of the Reserve at large.
Painesville was originally called Champion,
its surveyor being not only a director of the
Connecticut Land Company, but a brother of
Moses Cleaveland's wife. Both by virtue of
his own ability and this connection with Gen
eral Cleaveland, he was esteemed a man of
great importance. But the survey of Paines
ville was simply an - incident in his official
duties. What has been called the Champion
survey comprises about eighty acres of the
present city, its western limits having been
fixed by local investigators at the junction of
Erie and Mentor streets. In this survey, what
is now State street was the old State road;
what is now Liberty was then Market street,
and what is Erie, was then Lake street. It
should also be stated that the original plat did
not extend to the Grand river.
Hon. Samuel Huntington, Govemor of the
state of Ohio from 1808 td 1810, was one of
the strong men of the Western Reserve, who
assisted in framing the first constitution of the
state, and who during the later years of his
life made his horae in Painesville. The main
public acts of his life are given in the general
history. He also became identified with a
number of pioneer business enterprises of im
portance, erecting in 1803, in connection with,
several other gentlemen, the first warehouse in
Lake county and one of the first on the south
ern shores. It was located at the mouth of
the Grand river within the limits of the pres
ent village of Fairport. It was in this ware
house also that the first court in old Geauga
county was held. In 1812 Governor Hunting
ton also laid out the town of Fairport, on the
east bank of Grand river, and during the suc
ceeding five years of his life contributed much
to the advancement both of Painesville and
the former place.
Governor Huntington is considered one of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Z73

the most polished and scholarly of the pioneers
who so largely contributed to the progress of
the Western Reserve. He had spent several
years of his early life in France and his man
ners were not only affable, but were consid
ered to pattern somewhat after the French
style. In business his habits were correct and
efficient, and as a lawyer and judge he stood
in the highest ranks. His appointment as a
judge of the supreme court on April 3, 1803,
which was signed by Governor Tiffin, was the
first issued under the seal of the state of Ohio.
He was in every way a worthy protege of his
uncle. Governor Samuel Huntington, of Con-

the Grand river as his future home and upon
Fairport as the scene of his business improve
raents. The residence of Samuel Huntington, which
still stands on the shore of the lake just east
of Fairport, is probably the raost unique his
toric dweHing in Lake county. In view of
the accompanying illustration, a word descrip
tive of it is unnecessary. It is here presented
thi;ough the courtesy of Edwin G. Huntington,
a graduate of Buchtel college, formerly cap
tain in the Ohio National Guard, a justice of
the peace, a grandson of Governor Samuel
Huntington, and the only living descendant

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON HOUSE, FAIEPOET.

necticut. It is said that the only tirae when
the latter executive visited the Western Re
serve was at the trial of one McMahon, of
Warren, charged with the~ raurder of an In
dian at the Salt Springs. This was the first
case tried on the Western Reserve.
Judge Huntington was one of those who
felt hiraself obliged to abandon the city of
Cleveland on account of its unhealthy sur
roundings, and about 1805 removed to the
mills he had purchased at the Falls of MiH
creek, or Newburg. At that time the latter
was much the larger settlement. As has been
noted, he eventuaHy fixed upon the banks of

in Lake county of a family that has made hhs-
tory in two states of the Union.
Country Roads and Railroads.
In various portions of the general history
and the sketches of the counties of the West
ern Reserve reference is made to what were
known in the early times as the Girdled, the
State and the Chillicothe roads. At this stage
of the narrative it is appropriate to definitely
connect these hhstoric thoroughfares with the
history of Lake county, and this has already
been done so thoroughly by that well known
writer on pioneer events, A. G. Smith, of

Vol 1—18

274

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Painesville, that no effort wiH be made to im
prove upon his work. The foHowing is there
fore extracted from one of his historic articles
published in the Telegraph-Republican of that
place :
"In new countries having a timber growth
and diversified surface, paths and roads are
likely to follow the course of least resistance.
"That is to say — wherever hills, streams or
other obstacles interfere with a direct course,
they are prone to diverge occasionally, keep
ing- only the same general direction toward
a desired point. This is especially noticeable
in the so-called east and west roads along the
ridges which, though greatly admired today as
thoroughfares of easy travel, are by no meai^s
free from curves and soraewhat abrupt change
of direction and it is therefore reasonable to
infer that raany, but not aH, of oUr early high
ways are the development of cow-paths and
Indian traHs modified by use and recognized
by law. Old State Road.
"This once greatly traveled route to War
ren, Ohio, enters the county at Levin's Hollow
in Concord township, thence northwesterly to
Wilson's Corners and northerly to 'Eaton's
Hill' near the Baltiraore & Ohio viaduct,
thence easterly along the old fair grounds and
Bank street to State street, to Erie as far as
Elm and thence by a circuitous route along
the high land bordering Grand river to 'Skin
ner's Bridge' and to its northern terminus at
Fairport harbor. Old CtiiLLicoTHE Road.
"This ancient highway, whose name is
growing somewhat dim in the general mind,
leads south frora the famous Mormon temple
at Kirtland to one of our early state capitals,
that of Chillicothe, some forty-five miles south
of Columbus.
"It is quite easy to picture the time when
Governor Huntington, then of old Geauga
(now Lake) mounted upon his horse, already

equipped with saddle-bags, and holsters con
taining two heavy brass pistols, all of which
are stiH in safe preservation, took his toilsome
trips along rough and often, muddy roads and
in all sorts of weather, to fulfill the duties and
functions of his honored office in the years
1808 to 1 8 10 — about an even century ago. His
farm residence, located on a pleasant river
bluff about a mile frora the lake, stiU remains,
and the lover of things and places antique
may visit the ancient tenement itself.
The Old Girdled Road.
"This is believed to be the most ancient
highway marked out by the white man within
the limits of the Connecticut Western Reserve.
Under the direction of the Connecticut Land
Corapany it was surveyed frora the Pennsyl
vania line westward probably to the Cuyahoga
as its terminus, by Thomas Sheldon, of En
field, Connecticut, in 1798.
"So far as this immediate locality is con
cerned, the line and location of the road, run
ning over hills and ledges as it does, seems
to have been unfortunately chosen. Crossing
the ledge at Thompson, it runs westward over
Stony Ridge, along the watershed and to the
south of the T-Cnob and directly over LitUe
Mountain, into the lower lands of South Men
tor. A portion of the road is now unused
and indeed, as a whole, it seems never to have
been regarded as a thoroughfare inviting
much travel.
"At the Log Tavern Corners, five miles
south of the county seat, it crosses the Char
don road, and eastward eighty rods, on the
bank of a spring brook, Simon Perkins, sur
veyor, pitched his carap in 1805."
The exact spot where Mr. Perkins pitched
his camp "has been definitely located, being
some four hundred feet above Lake Ei'ie upon
a comraanding and fine view of the adjacent
country for railes to the southward. It is on
the west margin of this first surveyed road of
the Wester,!! Reserve, and it has been pro
posed by several of the pioneers of Lake

'VIE'W OF EIVEE AND THE OLD MILL, PAINESVILLE.

NEW LAKE SHOEE BEIDGE, PAINESVILLE.
One of the longest spans of ' ' re-enf oroed concrete ' ' in the -world.

276

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

county to erect a monument, marking this
spot. The project has been especially sup
ported by the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
Pioneer Railroad — First Fatal Accident.
It is believed (and fully corroborated by
the late General S. Casement, a life-long con
tractor) that the so-called Painesville & War
ren railroad, chartered in 1835, was the first
railroad buHt and operated within the borders
of the state of Ohio. The section from Paines
ville to Fairport was completed in 1837, and
was a crude affair of wooden stringers, pro
tected by scrap iron, which was spiked along
the inner sides of the raHs. It started frora
the very water line of Lake Erie, at Fairport,
and its horse cars were operated for more than
a year from that point to its depot in Paines
ville. The latter was a two-story brick build
ing, which still stands on the west side of
State street, having been used for various mer
cantile purposes since its abandonment by the
railroad company more than seventy years
ago. It was the financial crash of 1837, with
the after depression, which killed this pioneer
and infant enterprise, but not before one of the
saddest and most remarkable accidents had
occurred which ever grieved the people of
Painesville and Lake county. The Painesville
& Warren railroad probably furnished the first
victim of the moving car within the state of
Ohio, the bright and beloved boy of Judge
Benjarain Bissell.
Let A. G. Smith, the Lake county historian,
tell the remarkable circumstances attending his
death in his own words: "In the year 1838
Benjamin Bissell, as presiding judge of the
courts of this district, had a wide circuit to
travel. At an early hour one Sunday morn
ing, in May of that year, he left his home in
PainesviHe that he might hold court at Ra
venna on the following Monday. When well
along his tedious forty-mile journey he felt
depressed in spirits, as though sorae distress
ing calamity was about to descend upon him.

or some member of his. family. He strove to
dissipate his gloomy foreboding, but still the
ominous shadow seemed to hover over him,
and, strive as he would, he could not escape
the impression that something dreadful was
about to take place — haw or where he could
not even guess. But he had now reached his
destination and, although he was strongly in
clined to return at once to his home in Paines
ville, he could do no better than put up at the
tavern for the night. Soon after going to bed
he dreamed of approaching his home, whose
door seemed open, and seeing his neighbor,
David Clayton, standing near the open gate,
as if something unusual and distressing had
occurred. On again lapsing into slumber, the
scene was repeated, and a third dream of simi
lar import followed. Awakening at an early
hour, in a spirit of desperation the judge re
solved to adjourn court and return at once to
his family, which he did with a heavy heart.
"On arriving at his residence, there was
the open door, with his friend Clayton stand
ing by the open gate, just as had been pic
tured in his three dreams, and on passing
through the door he saw the fulfillment of his
nameless fears^— his beloved boy, Algernon
Beight Bissell, lay crushed and dying before
his frantic eyes.
"Beight BisseH, as he was usually called,
was born January 15, 1830, and died May 14,
1838, and therefore was less than nine years
of age. Like many another of his age, he
knew not the danger that travels with the
moving car. He thought to cross the track in
front of one, lost his footing on a stone, fell,
and was so badly injured by the wheels that
he died soon after his father's return. Thus
we may reasonably conclude that he became
the first victim in the state of Ohio of the
deadly moving car."
The above distressing incident was related
to me, in detail, by the late Mrs. Ehzabeth
Casement, daughter of D. B. Clayton, men
tioned in the narrative.

FIRST PIANO BROUGHT INTO PAINESVILLE

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

277

A County of Bridges.
Lake county claims to have more bridging
than any other simHar area in the state — "in
fact," as 'exclaimed by one of her citizens, "it
has spanned every creek, river and bayou
within its borders one or more times, until
the waters of Lake Erie alone remain un-
bridged." Eight bridges afford coraraunica
tion with PainesvHle. The steel bridge had
two wooden predecessors, which were swept
away by floods, the last one in 1893. In 1850
the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula built a

Electric road completes the' list of eight
bridges 'credited to the Painesville locality.
Music and Temperance.
In 1824 Stephen and Caroline Mathews came
to PainesviHe, bringing with them the first
piano of that city. This was given to her by
her father. Dr. Cook, and is now owned by
her daughter, Mrs. Raynolds. Every locality
had its man or woman who early took a stand
for temperance, and Mrs. Mathews did this so
vigorously as to have many enemies.

PAINESVILLE CITY INFIEMAEY.

wooden bridge across the, river, which was
burned about two years afterwards and fol
lowed by two others — one of wood and the
other of stone (1854). The latter, in turn,
gave place to the great concrete structure,
which was completed by the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern railroad in 1908. It car
ries four parallel tracks and its central span is
one hundred and sixty feet from end to end.
This is said to be the giant of its kind in
the world. The great steel and wood viaduct
of the Cleveland, PainesviHe & Ashtabula

The County in 1837.
The following from The Gazetteer of 1837
is most interesting by companson: "Paines
ville, a very flourishing post township of
Geauga county. * * * j^ contains 22
square miles, or 14,000 acres of land, and
1,200 inhabitants; 150 dwelling houses ; 18 dry
good stores and 2 druggist's stores ; i hard
ware store; a banking house for the Bank of
Geauga; 3 meeting houses, i for Methodists,
I for Episcopalians, and i for Presbyterians ;

278

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

a flouring miH; a saw miH; 4 taverns; 4
grocery and provision stores ; 7 physicians ; 9
lawyers; 2 jewelry shops, and other mechan
ics. This place (Richmond) is flourishing to
an unparaHeled degree and is destined to unite
PainesviHe and Fairport into une great com
mercial city. There are three lines of daily
stages passing, two of which carry the mail."
The Painesville of Today.
The city of Painesville is now located on
the raain line of the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern and the New York, Chicago & St.
Lous railroad, being also the terminus of the
Lake division of the Baltimore & Ohio road.
It also enjoys a splendid transportation serv
ice through the electric lines of the Cleveland,
Painesville & Erie Company. Its population
is between 5,000 and 6,000 people, thirty miles
east of Cleveland, and it is one of the most
restful and beautiful places in northern Ohio.
Its main streets are well paved with brick,
and its resident thoroughfares are broad and
lined with pretty houses surrounded by
spacious grounds. Its handsome public square
of several acres contains a striking soldiers'
monument and a music pavilion, and is sur
rounded by substantial buildings.
Lake County Court House.
The magnificent court house, elected in
1907 at a cost of over $350,000, is one of the
most massive and striking public buildings in
the eastern portion of the Reserve. Its dome
like tower is surmounted by the magnificent
figure of an eagle with outstretched wings.
The base of the court house is constructed of
stone and its body of pressed red brick. Its
main portico is supported by great stone pil
lars, while the interior of the building is lined
with beautiful marble. The county offices are
on the first floor and the court room is on the
second. On either side of the main vestibule
is a large bronze tablet presented to the county
by the Daughters of the American Revolu
tion, and bearing inscriptions to the raeraory

of Sarauel Huntington and James A. Garfield.
The inscription on the Huntington tablet is as
follows: "Samuel Huntington, 1765-1817-
resident of Lake county ; member of first Ohio
constitutional convention, 1802 ; first state sen
ator from the Western Reserve, 1803; judge
of the supreme court, 1803-1808; governor
of Ohio, 1808-1810; colonel and paymaster of
Northwest array, 1812-1814."
The tablet in memory of President Garfield
contains the following: "James Abram Gar
field, 1831-1881 ; resident of Lake county!
state senator, 1859-1861 ; major general in
Civil war, 1864; member of congress, 1864-
1880; United States senator, 1880; presidetit
of the United States, 1880-1881."
On the right of the court house and also
facing the public square is the large and pic
turesque edifice occupied by the First Meth
odist church, and near the latter is the buUd
ing of the First National Bank, of PainesviUe,
which, although erected in 1834, is a worthy
exponent of modern architecture as appUed to
banking and other commercial buildings. Its
front is in the impressive colonial style and
the entire building is adorned with clinging
vines and other shrubbery. Opposite one end
of the public square is the old Lake county
court house, built at the organization of the
county in 1840. It was abandoned at the com
pletion of the present one and is now being
remodeled for a city hall. The Congregational
church stands opposite the old court house, and
in the immediate vicinity is the church occu
pied by the Disciples. Painesville is a church
as well as an educational center. The leading
societies are perhaps the Church of Christ and
St. Mary's Roman Catholic, while the Meth
odists, Congregationalists and EpiscopaHans
have also flourishing associations. The colored
people support two churches — the Union Con
gregational and the St. John's Free Baptist.
Aniong Painesville's most worthy charities-
is its city hospital. In the early thirties an
institution of this character was established
and for many years was conducted in a small

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

279

way in various rented buildings. The present
structure was occup-ied about 1900, the large
Stephen Mathews place (built in 183 1) hav
ing been remodeled and adapted to its pres
ent purposes. Rider's Tavern.
Among the old landmarks in and near
PainesvHle are the old Academy building on
Washington street, erected in 1834, and
Rider's Tavern, a mile west of the court house.
This famous hotel was built by Joseph Rider
in 1818. Prior to that year he had kept an
inn on North State street. The original build-

agricultural district, and rests its future
growth and present prosperity largely upon
this fact. The business of the city is trans
acted through both its First National Bank,
already mentioned, and a flourishing branch
of the Cleveland Trust- Company. Its indus
tries are small, its leading plant being that
of the Coe Manufacturing Corapany, devoted
to the turning out of veneer raachinery. Of
this company H. P. Coe is president, and the
products of his factory are distributed to vari
ous points in the United States, South Amer
ica and Europe. One of the late orders to
be filled through his manufactory is one

EIDEE'S TAVEEN, PAINESVILLE.

ing was a story and a half high, being made
full t-wo stories in 1832 and otherwise en
larged. The lat.e Zerah Rider was a life-long
resident of the Mentor avenue home and the
place is still the residence of his son, Z. P.
Rider. The former was wont to state that
when Rider's Tavern was in its prime he had
often stood upon the veranda of the venerable
hostelry and counted a hundred tearas, most of
them going west, and that as many as one
hundred and fifty people at times found shel
ter for the night within its spacious interior.
Industries of Painesville.
PainesvHle is situated in the midst of a rich

amounting to $40,000 which came from Rus
sia. The .Ohio Manufacturing- Company also
does a fair business, turning out sheet metal,
and S. L. Malin & Son conduct a prosperous
planing mill. C. F. Thompson also has a small
brick yard and the Lake Erie Concrete Com
pany is engaged quite largely in the manufac
ture of material for sidewalks and houses. The
Nickel Plate Milling Company operates a sub
stantial plant. These virtually constitute the
extent of PainesviHe's industrial life.
In the raatter of her educational institutions,
however, the story is of a different complex
ion. There is no city of its size in western
Ohio whose reputation stands higher in this

PAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

281

regard. Her public schools are finely organ
ized and housed in buildings which are both
convenient and attractive. The high school,
whose raain building was corapleted in 1898,
is especially massive and pleasing in architec
tural appearance. In 1909 a beautiful audi
torium was added to this structure at a cost
of $22,000, with a seating capacity of nearly
1,000. As the property now stands, it is valued
at over $60,000. The average attendance at
the high school is 255. PainesviUe also has
four buildings devoted to the lower grades.

Painesville has an extended reputation for
its musical talent, both individual and organ
ized. Its Citizens' band is widely known, hay
ing been conducted by Professor A. C. MiHer
and his son, C. A. Miller. The former was
its director from the founding of the band in
1888 until his death in 1895.
Pioneer Iron Plants of the Lake Region.
It is somewhat strange that, although
Painesville now occupies a secondary place as
an industrial center, one of the first iron

PUBLIC SQUAEE, PAINESVILLE (LOOKING WEST).
Music Pavilion Presbyterian Church Old Court House

namely: The Washington street (a purely
grammar school comprising scholars from the
fifth to the eighth grade), with an attendance
of 240 ; St. Clair street school, with an attend
ance pf 135; Jackson street, vvith an attendance
of 200; and State street, with an attendance
of 105. The curriculum of the high school is
one of the usual nature, manual training and
domestic science being taught in the seventh
and eighth grades of the Washington street
school. An arrangement is in force with the
Lake Erie college by which the girls are in
structed for one year in the courses of do
mestic science at that institution.

raanufactories in the Reserve (there were only
two or three earlier) and one of the first
pioneer metal plants in northeastern Ohio,
was established in 1825 at what was then
known as "Pepoon's crossing" of the Grand
river — a locality now recognized as the
Painesville approach to the Erie street, or
Geauga, bridge. The manufactory was orig
inally called the Geauga, jpurnace, Deing
foLinded by Robert Blair and Charles C. and
Eleazer Paine, Mr. Blair being a farmer who
lived near Chardon, the county seat of Geauga
county, and the Paines being brothers and
well-known business men of that place. The

282

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

true story of 'the founding and progress of
these pioneer "iron raills" was narrated, a
nuraber of years ago, by William A. Blair
(son of Robert) to A. G. Smith, of Paines
ville, who has reproduced the narrative sub
stantially as follows :
"In 1824 Charles C. Paine and Eleazer
Paine, brothers, kept a store at Chardon. Rob
ert Blair, then living on a farra six railes west
of Chardon on the Cleveland road, being at the
county seat, saw a wagon standing in front of
the store. Some unusual loading had at
tracted the attention of several raen who were
evidently discussing its uses or value, and, ap
proaching Mr. Blair, found it was iron ore
from Madison, being transported to some
forge in the south, part of the county — per
haps that at Parkman. Mr. Blair remarked
freight should be handled such a distance over
rough and rooty roads to be converted into
iron. Charles Paine, inquiring where the
proper place would be, Mr. Blair replied at
Pepoon's crossing — now known as the Erie
street, or Geauga, bridge. The suggestion of
Mr. Blair seemed to have awakened a fresh
ambition in the mind of Mr. Paine, and at a
subsequent conference held at Hoyt's tavern,
upon the present site of the Chardon House,
Mr. Blair was asked the proba'Dle cost of a
smelting plant at the point ^named. He had no
knowledge of the iron business, but after
some hesitation named $20,000. Some months
afterward Mr. Paine said he had had some
correspondence with eastern furnace raen and
found Mr. Blair's estiraate of the cost of con
struction a fair one, and urged Mr. Blair to
go on at once and erect buildings, a dara, etc.
To this suggestion he plead the labor and care
of his farra and other business, but finally
consented to investigate the supply of ore that
raight be expected from the Madison mines,
and, if the result seemed to warrant, to survey
the fall of the river and find what power
might be expected. Finding- both ore and
water power giving proraise of fair supply,
the Geauga Iron Corapany was organized.

with Robert Blair, Charles C. Paine, Eleazer
Paine, James R. Ford and Benjamin F. Tracy
as incorporators.
"In the spring of 1825 the work of build
ing the Geauga plant was vigorously inau
gurated, and the furnace was soon in opera
tion. The company was dissolved about 1850,
and the right-of-way over and through the
plant was conveyed to what is now the Lake
Shore railroad. A new company was then
organized caUed the Geauga Furnace Com
pany, having for its members Robert Blair,
Samuel Phelps, P. P.' Sanford and Thomas
Greer, and new smelting works were built
just north of the old location. The building
of the new plant — in view of the gradual fail
ure of the ore supply and the increased cost
of charcoal — is believed to have been a mis
calculation, and the smelting department fell
into disuse. About i860 the works received a
new name — the Geauga Stove Company — R.
L. Blair and FI. P. Sanford becoming proprie
tors. Still later, perhaps in the early nineties,
another organization, under the name of the
Geauga Furnace and Manufacturing Com
pany, took charge of the works. The late
General J. S. Casement was the chief owner
of this industry, which was devoted to the
manufacture of stoves.
"The so-caHed Railroad furnace, near the
southeast corner of the county, built by Mr.
Thorndyke and Mr. Dewey in 1825 (soon
after the Geauga Furnace), fell into the hands
of the Geauga company, but, owing to the in
creased cost and scarcity of material, was
abandoned about 1838."
Lake Erie College.
This institution holds a high place among
the women colleges of the country which have
been founded on the famous Holyoke system.
The institution was known as the Lake Erie
Female Seminary from 1834 to 1898. The
scope of the curriculum was then broadened,
the board of trustees voted to change the name
to Lake Erie College and Seminary, and in

MEMOEIAL HALL AND MAIN BUILDING, LAKE EBIE COLLEGE.

284

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

1908 it assumed its present title. Lake Erie
College. Lake Erie Female Seminary.
Lake Erie Female Seminary was an out
growth of the educational work of Mary
Lyon, who in 1837 founded Mt. Holyoke
Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It
is, also, the successor of Willoughby Female
Seminary, founded at Willoughby, Ohio, in
1847, ^^'^ discontinued by the burning of the
seminary building in 1856. The pleasant town
of Willoughby, nineteen railes east of Cleve
land, was early interested in education. In
1834, under the power conferred by its char
ter, the trustees of the Medical college estab
lished there contemplated the addition of
other departments of instruction, including an
that it was never intended that this heavy
extended course of study for young woraen.
A comraittee was appointed to confer with
ladies who were conducting successful schools
for girls, araong them, Mrs. Willard, of Troy.
This moveraent failed of an immediate result,
but, upon the removal of the Medical college
to Cleveland, the attention of the trustees was
directed to the establishraent of a feraale serai-
nary. It was to Mt. Holyoke Seminary, which then
had been in successful operation for ten years,
that the committee now turned ; and Miss
Lyon, whose sympathies had always been
strongly enlisted for the growing west, en
tered into their plans with great interest. She
recoramended as principal of the proposed
school one of her own graduates. Miss Roxena
B. Tenney, who had already declined an invi
tation to becorae a teacher in Mt. Holyoke
Serainary and in other places in New Eng
land, under the strong conviction that she
could be more useful as a teacher in the west.
Miss Tenney being favorably disposed towards
the new enterprise, the college building was
refitted with recitation roorhs and music
rooms, and one large hall which could ac
commodate two hundred pupils. Board and

lodging were provided in private families,
and later a boarding hall was buHt, accortimo-
dating, with the teachers, about forty pupils.
The school opened^ in April, 1847, for a trial
term of twelve weeks, with fourteen pupils.
the number increasing to fifty before the close
of the term. So great was the satisfaction
with the result of the experiraent that the
number reached one hundred the next year,
and there were four graduates. It would be
interesting to trace, in detail, the growth of
this vigorous young seminary during the seven
years of Miss Tenney's efficient principalship.
The number of pupils increased each year,
till applicants were refused for want of room.
Earnest students accepted inconvenient quar
ters, and citizens of Willoughby sacrificed
home comfort and quiet to accommodate the
many who were so eager for an education. It
was thought that the number of students
would reach three or four hundred, if the ac
commodations could be increased. The course
of study, three years long, was nearly the same
as at Mt. Holyoke seminary, including Latin
and the higher mathematics, and, in the last
year, mental and moral philosophy and the
Evidences of Christianity. A preparatory de
partment was a necessity ; more attention was
given to rausic and painting and the modern
languages than at the raother school, but the
standard of scholarship was high, and
Willoughby seminar}- was an acknowledged
power for good in northern Ohio. The teach
ers, usually ten in number, were full of en
thusiasm, and felt themselves supported by a
wise and large-minded board of trustees.
Among the many honored names of those who
thus served, the seminary, that of the Rev.
Alvan Nash, pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Willoughby, deserves special mention.
The number of pupils enroHed in 1853-4
was 226. At this point of prosperity Miss
Tenney _was obliged to resign the principalship
by reason of ill health. Fortunately another
Mt. Holyoke graduate and her associate at
Willoughby, Miss Marilla Houghton, was

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

285

ready and willing to assurae the charge. The
seminary continued to prosper for the next
two years, notwithstanding the necessity for
another change in the fall of 1855, when Miss
Julia Tolman, afterwards associate principal
of Mt. Holyoke Seminary, became principal.
In the winter of 1856, the building, which had
been the home, first, of the medical college
and then of the seminary, was burned. Reci
tation rooms were improvised in the town, so
that the school was not entirely broken up,
and the senior class finished their course and
received their diplomas.
Seminary Removes to Painesville.
Many times during those years the trustees
had considered plans for enlargement and en
dowment, but no one had seen the way to ful
fill thera, for the era of large gifts for the
education of women had not come. Advice
had been sought from New England, and Rev.
Roswell Hawks, who had been an agent in
collecting funds for- Mt. Holyoke Seminary,
had been invited to Ohio to confer with the
trustees. After the building was burned a
question arose as to permanent location. Mr.
Hawks, frora the first, was in favor of a larger
town. He also desired to see such a building
and such arrangements as would make it pos
sible to carry out the Mt. Holyoke plan com
pletely. And so the question became largely
one of raising funds. A number of towns in
the Western Reserve were interested. Wil
loughby could not give up the school of her
love without a struggle; citizens of Paines
vHle bestirred themselves and made liberal of
fers ; and the trustees finally voted, though by
a bare majority of one vote, to locate the
seminary in this town upon a somewhat dif
ferent basis. Father Hawks, as he was fa
miliarly called, was appointed an agent to pre
sent its claims and solicit subscriptions
through northern Ohio. Gentlemen of
Painesville, members of the new board of
trustees, especially Hon. A. Wilcox and Hon.
C. A. Avery, labored with untiring zeal in pro

viding means and in superintending the erec
tion of the building.
The articles of association under which the
Lake Erie Female Seminary was incorporated
in 1856 declare the object proposed to be- the
promotion of thorough and complete female
education, and "for that purpose, the system
of instruction, the principles of government,
and the general plan of management shall be
substantially, after the plan of Mt. Holyoke
Seminary, at South Hadley, in Massachusetts."
The special feature copied in the new serai
nary, which had not been 'possible at Willough
by, was the family life, all the students being-
gathered under one roof and sharing in the
domestic duties to the extent of one hour's
ivork each day. The grounds and premises
of the serainary, half a raile west of the busi
ness part of Painesville, comprised fourteen
acres, including a fine grove of oaks and chest
nuts. The building was situated upon sandy
soil, easily drained and favorable to health,
but, not then, especially attractive. Maple
trees and evergreens were set out, and some
slight attempts made at landscape gardening.
The seminary building, facing the north, with
Lake Erie in sight from its upper windows,
one hundred and eighty feet by sixty feet,
was four stories high above the basement.
The unfinished ends, east and west, were sug
gestive of the wings, which, it was hoped,
would be needed for the growing school. The
main building was planned to accommodate
a family of one hundred and fifty. The furni
ture was largely contributed by the citizens
of PainesviHe, women preparing bedding and
like articles. A festival, conducted by women,
made possible the purchase of a Brussels car
pet and hair-cloth furniture for the parlor,
which then took on the more stately name of
drawing roora.
Again, there were conferences with the prin
cipal of Mt. Holyoke, the successor of Miss
Lyon, who died in 1849. Miss Mary Bronson,
a Holyoke graduate in 1858, came to Paines
ville some months before the completion of

286

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the building to conduct a school for the
special preparation of those who wished to
enter the seminary in the fall. The principal
of Mt. Holyoke, Miss Chapin, spent sorae
weeks in PainesviHe assisting the building
committee in their plans for the internal ar
rangement of the building. In September,
1859, a company of seven teachers, most of
them graduates of Mt. Holyoke, opened the
school. Miss Lydia A. Sessions being princi
pal. There were one hundred and twenty-

raent of the school till September of the same
year, when the trustees appointed as principal
Miss Anna C. Edwards, of Mt. Holyoke. In
1867 another Mt. Flolyoke enterprise at Kala
mazoo, Michigan, called for a colonizing from
PainesviHe, and Miss Fisher, Miss Smead, and
afterward Miss Dorr of the older teachers, left
the seminary for the new work. Miss Fisher
held the position of principal ol the Michio-an
seminary from 1867 till her marriage, in 1879,
to Hon. E. S. Moore, of Three Ri^rers, Michi-

-'f-~ t

MISS MAEY EVANS, LAKE EEIE COLLEGE. MISS LUETTE P. BENTLEY, LAKE EEIB COLLEGE.

seven pupils and two graduates at the close of
the first year. The number of pupils steadily
increased, and, notwithstanding the financial
depression and the excitement of the Civil
war, the history of the seminary was one of
raarked prosperity during the principalship of
Miss Sessions, which continued from 1859 to
1866. Upon her marriage, in the winter of
1866, to Rev. W. W. Woodworth, then pastor
of tbe Congregational church in Painesville,
the teachers who had accompanied Miss Ses
sions from Mt. Holyoke shared the govern-

gan. Miss Edwards returned to Mt. Holyoke
Serainary in the summer of 1868, becoming
associate principal of the mother school in
1872.
Mary Evans and Luette P. Bentley.
Miss Mary Evans, also of Mt. Holyoke, be
came principal of this seminary in September,
1868, and Miss Luette P. Bentley, one of its
own graduates in 1865, was appointed asso
ciate principal in 1878. Miss Evans only re
linquished her connection with the seminary

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

287

(now the Lake Erie College) with the jubilee
celebration of June, 1909, while Miss Bentley,
the honored dean of the faculty, is still active
in its support and advancement. Her con
nection with the faculty is now chiefly con
fined to lectures on physiology.
The forraer president of the coHege, who is
now (1910) absent in Europe, has long since
taken her rank among the leading educators
of women in the country. She was born in
Philadelphia, February 11, 1841, graduating at
the age of nineteen fi-om the Mt. Holyoke
Seminary. In 1877,' after she had been princi-

Respect for Work and Worker.
Regarding the work of the seminary at
PainesviHe, Miss Bentley says : "The students
did the work and the teachers were wonderful
examples of ability to do that which' they
trained the students to do. In those days each
student worked sixty minutes each day. After
a few years we began to have sorae help in the
kitchen and the period of work was shortened
to forty minutes. With the passing of the
years, young women came to us who knew
much less about work, and we have had more

BENTLEY HALL OF SCIENCE, LAKE EEIE COLLEGE.

pal of Lake Erie Seminary for nine years, she
went abroad and attended lectures in art his
tory in London. While at Mt. Holyoke Semi
nary, she was a teacher of Latin and. history,
her special branches at the Lake Erie Seminary
and College being physiology, ethics and
biblical literature. She also acquired a wide
reputation as a lecturer on literary, religious
and educational subjects. Oberlin College con
ferred the degree of A. M. upon her in 1895,
and in 1901 Mt. Holyoke CoHege added that
of Litt. D.

and more help. In the beginning the system of
'domestic work' was introduced, so as to make
it possible for those who had not money to
meet the expense of board and tuition to secure
it ; because the students doing the work made
the money expense very small. There was a
time when the year's board and tuition at
Mount Holyoke was seventy dollars, and in the
beginning, at 'Lake Erie' it was ninety dollars.
"Working, together in this way helps the
student in habits of system, promptness, un
selfishness, respect for work and respect for

288

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the one who does it. Vv^e now expect each stu
dent at 'Lake Erie' to work thirty-five minutes
daily." Faithful Trustees.
Continuing- the history of Lake Erie Semi
nary, it raay be added that Miss Lyon's idea
of beginning, "free of encurabrance," was not
realized at PainesvHle. A heavy debt was in
curred at the outset. By wonderful self-de
nial on the part of teachers, and thorough
oversight of the trustees, the current ex
penses of the seminary were met even through
war-time. But the debt did -not lessen till, by
special subscriptions in 1869, and chiefly by a
Christmas gift of ten thousand dollars, in 1871,
from that noble giver, Hon. Reuben Hitch
cock, it raelted away and has been seen no
raore. Nor was it possible, in the following
years, to meet expenses and also make im
provements. Many a time and oft have a
faithful few stood ready to supply the needed
sum, running to a thousand or several thou
sand dollars. The name of "Hitchcock"
heads the Hst. In 1871 a gas well was sunk,
steam heating installed in the same year, ap
pliances for cooking by steam in 1880, and
the elevator in 1881. -Almost every year saw
"something attempted, soraething done," be
cause Judge Hitchcock would quietly say in
the annual meeting of trustees in June, when
plans were discussed, "I will do thus and so."
These were the years when iraportant trusts
in railroad affairs were bringing to him an
unusually large income, and he chose to use
his surplus for Christian education. He was
seconded in this work by his colleagues in the
board, Hon. Aaron Wilcox and Hon. C. A.
Avery, of Painesville, and younger trustees
were of a willing mind to help as they were
able, even as General J. S. Casement, to sink
a thousand dollars in the ground, seven hun
dred feet, in the hope that gas might be found
for lighting and heating the building. With
an inexhaustible supply at his own beautiful
home over the river it did not seem .too san

guine an undertaking, although the results
failed to raeet the expectation.
The largest improvement during the twenty-
five years prior to 1880 was the erection of an
addition to the main building, seventy by fortv
feet, and three stories high. No agent was
employed to solicit subscriptions. One of the
trustees. Rev. FI. C. Haydn, D. D., pastor of
one of the largest churches in Cleveland, gave
his tirae and strength to the work and raised
the needed sura, ten thousand dollars. The
work of building was begun in the summer
of 1876, and the baseraent and the first floor,
containing a beautiful dining roora with large
bay window at the south end, was ready for
use in January, 1877. The second story,
with rooms for the sick at the south end, was
completed in the following summer, through a
special contribution from Jared Murray, of
Concord, Ohio. The third story was not fin
ished tiH 1881.
The Hitchcock Fund.
In February, 1879, Judge Hitchcock placed
to the account of the seminary the sum of ten
thousand dollars as the nucleus of a permanent
fund of fifty thousands dollars "for the aid of
needy and deserving pupils in the payment
of their term bills, and for the procuring of
lectures, library, cabinets and apparatus." This
gift was conditioned upon raising the remain
ing forty thousand dollars within five years
from that date, with the agreement that the
income of the ten thousand dollars, during the
five years, sJiould belong to the seminary for
the purpose mentioned. This was the first
eff'ort for an endowment. Judge Hitchcock
had also. given, between 1869 and 1879, more
than ten thousand dollars to aid students.
Within the next two years additions of one
thousand dollars from Dr. Dan P. Eells,
Cleveland, and five hundred dollars each from
Hon. William H. Upson and Rev. Hubbard
Laurence, all trustees of the seminary, were
made to the fund. Later, Jared Murray, of
Concord, added another five hundred. Here

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

289

the matter rested till the Christmas of 1880,
when Judge Hitchcock added fifteen thousand
doHars in the name of his wife and children.
Pie also made provision that, in case of his
death before the expiration of the five years,
the sums which he had given should consti
tute the Hitchcock fund of twenty-five thou
sand dollars, the income of which should be
used solely for the aid of students in need
of help in the payment of their bills for board
and tuition.
The Passing of Faithful Trustees.
The five years from 1879 to 1883 were full
of sorrow for the old-time friends of Lake

details as the purchase of supplies and the
iraprovement and oversight of the buildings
all came under the supervision of the execu
tive committee and the trustees residing in
Painesville. The forty years succeeding the incorporation
of Lake Erie Female Seminary developed an
especiaUy vigorous life and high degree of
culture, and a gradually extending course of
study. In 1898 a college standard had been
so nearly reached in requirements for educa
tion and graduation that it seemed unjust to
withhold from its graduates a college degree.
In that year, therefore, the scope of the curri
culum was broadened, which entitled them to

MUEEAY LIBEAEY, 1908.

Erie Seminary, for during that short period
they lost four of the oldest and most faithful
trustees. Silas T. Ladd died in Deceraber,
1879; Judge Wilcox passed away in May,
1881 ; Judge O. H. Fitch in September, 1883,
and Judge Hitchcock on Thanksgiving day of
the same year.
A remarkable fact connected with the
management of the collegiate finances re
dounds to the great honor of its trustees. It
is certainly to the everlasting credit of their
fidelity and ability that, in the management
of such a large institution, from 1868 to 1908
no general superintendent was employed. Such

this recognition in the educational world.
The College As It Is.
Miss Evans was succeeded in the presidency
by Miss Vivian Blanche Small, M. A. She
heads a strong faculty of twenty trained edu
cators and the attendance of the college has
now reached nearly 200.
The standards and equipment of the con
servatory of music are among the best in the
country; the household science 'department is
unusually complete, and the college degrees
in arts ^nd science conform to the require
ments of the Ohio College Association, which

Vol. 1—19

290

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

comprises the leading educational institutions
of the state. The heads of departraents are
woraen of thorough scholarship, as well as
broad culture, and hold their high degrees
from leading colleges and universities.
The entire endowment of the coHege, in
cluding the jubHee fund, is $110,000; the
principal aid to students in the form of
scholarships being known as the Hitchcock
Fund, established between 1856 and 1883 by
Hon. Reuben Hitchcock, of PainesvHle, for
merly president of the board of trustees, and
amounting to $25,000.
In addition to the large main buildings of
the coHege are Memorial Hall, erected in
1891 ; Bentley HaH of Science, built in 1896,
and Murray Library, occupied in 1908. The
entire value of the buildings, apparatus, art
CoUections and grounds (now comprising
thirty acres) is placed at $400,000.
The Morley Library.
It would be inexcusable to omit raention of
the Morley Library as among the real edu
cational institutions of Painesville. It now
consists of 10,000 well selected volumes. The
nucleus of the library was formed in the
early seventies, when the temperance library
and reading room were established by the
W. C. T. U. Miss Mary Dean was librarian
for raore than twenty years, or until her death
in January, 1898. Her numerous friends, how
ever, had organized to carry out her most
ardent wish, namely, the establishment of a
free public library and reading room, and in
the month following her decease a charter
was obtained for this purpose and an appeal
to the public to establish a public library on a
practical basis met with response frora nearly
140 citizens. Finally George T. Steele was
appointed president of the new library asso
ciation, and entered eagerly into his work,
rented the old teraperance rooms and made
them comfortable and attractive. To the col
lections of the W. C. T. U. and the Y. M. C. A.
were, added 1,000 books, donated by C. H.

Moore, of Clinton, IlHnois. Other gifts fol
lowed and a perraanent librarian (Mr. Ashley)
was appointed, and finally J. H. Morley, who
had left Painesville for Cleveland in 1847, but
had retained his business interests and aifec-
tions for his own horae town, agreed to pur
chase a lot and build a Hbrary, whHe the city
of Painesville agreed to support the institution
by public taxation. George P. Steele was
elected permanent president of the association,
and in October, 1899, the library which is now
occupied was formally dedicated, it being a
meraorial to Mr. Morley's parents. The books
of the association were transferred to the
new structure and placed in charge of Mrs,
Julia G. Erwin and upon her resignation, her
assistant. Miss Margaret Kilbourne, suc
ceeded her as librarian. In 1903, shortly after
the death of her husband, Mrs. Morley do
nated a sufficient sum of money for the es
tablishment of a children's corner in the public
library, which now comprises about 1,000
books, besides a number of well selected maga
zines. In 1906 the township trustees made an
appropriation to the library fund, by which
those living outside of PainesviHe and within
the township became entitled to the use of the
library. The continued interest and generosity
of the Morley family were further demon
strated in 1909 by a generous gift, which
enabled the library manageraent to thoroughly
repair the building. The president of the li
brary board is F. H. KendaH, and Miss Mar
garet Kilbourne stiH serves as librarian.
Painesville Newspapers.
The press of Painesville is represented by
the Telegraph-Republican and the Lake Coun
ty Herald. The first nuraber of the Telegraph
was issued in June, 1822, under the editor
ship and proprietorship of Eber D. Howe. The
Painesville Republican was started by Hon.
J. A. Beidler and associates in the faH of 1898,
and was merged into the Telegraph, under its
present name, in 1907. The consolidated jour
nal is published by the Telegraph-Republican

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

291

Company, under the editorship of J. S. Bur
rows. (The author is indebted to the Tele
graph-Republican Company for a majority of
the illustrations used in this chapter.)
Eber D. Howe.
Eber D. Howe, the founder of the Tele
graph, died at the residence of his daughter,
Mrs. Rogers, on the 13th of November, 1885,
being then in his eighty-eighth year. The
fifth of a family of six children, he was born
in Saratoga, New York, June 9, 1798, and
well remembered the burning of the Buffalo
by the British in 1814. He was wont to say
that "by noon of January i, in that year, there
was but one house left standing in the city
and adjacent country. This was a small house
located on Main street, owned and occupied
by widow St. John, the mother of Dr. St.
John, of Willoughby," adding that its defense
was due to the determined resistance made
by the daughters of the patriotic widow. After
the war of 1812 Mr. Howe became an ap
prentice in the office of the Buffalo Gazette,
the first paper started on the shores of Lake
Erie. In 1817 he was sent further west and
in August, 1818, at Black Rock, he was pres
ent at the launching of "Walk-in-the-Water,"
-the first steamboat on Lake Erie. In Septem
ber of the same year he found work on the
Erie Gazette, and in the following spring went
to Cleveland, where he assisted in the distribu
tion of the Herald, one of the pioneer papers
of that city, besides making himself otherwise
generally useful in the office. On the i6th of
July, 1822, he put' forth the first nuraber of
the PainesvHle Telegraph, sorae years after
ward selling the paper and becoming a sue-,
-cessful woolen manufacturer in Concord town
ship, this county. During all his active news
paper career Mr. Howe was a strong aboli
tionist and an ardent champion of Lincoln and
¦all his policies. He was a rnan who used
neither whiskey, tobacco nor profanity, and for
forty-five years an outspoken spiritualist. To
the last he retained his characteristic cheer

fulness. A few days before his death, in re
sponse to the inquiries of a friend as to his
condition, he smilingly said, "Only waiting till
the shadows are a little longer grown."
The Lake County Herald was founded in
December, 1899, by C. F. Overacker. Its
present proprietor, M. L. Harter, assumed
ownership in February, 1900. In 1906 the
Educational Supply Company was incorporated
with a capital of $25,000. Besides the publi
cation of the Herald, this company is engaged
in a large and growing business, erabracing
the printing, embossing and engraving of
school books. It also furnishes a general line
of school supplies.
Y. M. C. A. OF Painesville.
Among the institutions which are indis
pensable to Painesville's progress should be
mentioned its Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation, which dates its organization from De
cember, 1866. At first the organization took
the simple form of a regular weekly prayer
meeting for young men, but in 1867 a reading
room and library were added to its plan. In
the early nineties, through t'ne bequest of Mrs.
Eunice B. Ladd, $6,000 was added to its finan
cial support, this sum, with additional gifts,
being invested in real estate on Main street.
In 1894 a gymnasium was fitted up, and since
then other features have been added to its
work, which brings it up to the modern stand
ard of all such associations. In 1905 it be
came necessary to secure a larger building
than that occupied on Main street, with the
result that the Steele residence on the park
was secured for this purpose. The dwelling
was remodeled to adapt it to the special work
of the association,, and through the generosity
of George Wyman, of South Bend, Indiana,
formerly a resident of PainesviHe, a large and
complete gymnasium was erected in the rear
of the property. Fairport as It Is.
Fairport, with its 2,000 or more people, is
one of the leading ports of entry for the vast

292

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ore productions of the Lake Superior region
and also a large shipping center for the coal
fields of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Yet the vis
itor to this pretty little village and busy har
bor can have little conception of its greater
importance nearly three-quarters of a century
ago, when it was considered one of Cleveland's
strongest rivals. As already stated, the orig
inal village was laid out, in 1812, by Governor
Samuel Huntington and others. By the late
thirties various attempts had been raade to

raent pier, where he soon built up an extended
business. The steamboats on the lake, af that
tirae, aU used wood for fuel, and Mr. Card
was then the principal dealer in steamboat
wood. Honorable Samuel Butler, a man of
very strong character, and more than ordinary
ability, had the greatest faith in the future of
Fairport, and at the time the Lake Shore
railroad was building scouted the idea that
the railroad could ever compete with lake
navigation.

permanently connect it by rail with Painesville,
WellsvHle and other more distant points, but
the panic of 1836-7 was the death blow to these
early efforts. At the tirae raentioned, where
immense ore piles now lie upon the docks,
there stood a line of warehouses occupied by
the following parties, engaged in the storage
and commission business : Dexter, Knight &
Co., M. L. Root & Co., B. O. Wilcox, John
Weaver, Robert McCormick and Samuel But
ler. It was in 1845 that Mr. Card commenced
business in Fairport. He erected a large ware
house on the river near the lake and govern-

Fairport in the Forties.
In 1845 a line of stages -from Wellsville via
Warren to Fairport was placed in operation,
making tri-weekly trips. These stages run
over the Painesville & Warren plank road,
which extended from Fairport to Bloomfield,
Trumbull county, and there connected with the
pike to Warren. For a number of years this
was a busy thoroughfare, but was discontinued
as a toll road in the late fifties.
In 1845 there were four hotels in Fairport—
one, the largest, situated on the south corner

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

293

of Water and Second streets, kept by Phineas
Root; one on the opposite corner, the Fifield
House, a brick building on the hill just east
of the Light House, caHed the Eagle Tavern,
and a brick building just opposite, or on the
southeast corner, called the Clinton House.
The most imposing building was the brick
block situated just in front of the present rail
road office, at the foot of the hill. This build
ing, owing to the decline of business, rapidly
fell to decay and was torn down. In 1847, in
order to recover the trade that Fairport
formerly had with Warren and other towns
south, a plank road was constructed to Wind
sor to connect with fhe turnpike to Warren;
but it did not fulfil the expectation of its pro
jectors, new conditions having turned expected
trade in other directions. The first light house
was placed at the harbor in 1825, the present
coast structure being completed in 1871.
Fairport's Splendid Harbor.
It is Fairport's wonderful harbor which of
late years has again brought it permanently
before the commercial world of the middle
west. The Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the
Pittsburg Steel Company have been the main
factors in improving the dockage of Grand
river from its mouth to Richmond, while for
several years the general government has been
engaged in the building of breakwaters in the
harbor proper. The principal work now be
ing carried on is the completion of the west
arm of the breakwater. An appropriation of
$250,000 has also been made for the extension
of the east arm. The plan of the general gov
ernment is to throw these extensions into the
lake for a distance of some 3,000 feet. In ad
dition to these harbor improvements, now well
under way, Fairport has three first-class har
bor lights and a massive coast light house,
which rises more than 100 feet above lake
level. This coast light has only one possible
rival on the southern shores of Lake Erje.
As Grand river has been thoroughly dredged
for three miles from its mouth to a point be

yond Richmond, it is evident that this grand
waterway affords every facility for floating
the largest freighters which ply the Great
Lakes. In fact, it is no unusual sight, while
a storm is raging on Lake Erie, to see a fleet
of these immense freighters, some of them
carrying- 10,000 tons of iron ore, headed for
the comparatively quiet waters of Fairport.
If they are not destined for its docks, they
anchor and await with security the passing
of the tempest.
Ore and Coal Movements.
During the year 1909 about 350 vessels, en
gaged in the coastwise trade, entered and
cleared from Fairport, representing a tonnage
of nearly 1,000,000 tons. The entrance and
clearance of foreign (mostly Canadian) ves
sels amounted to nearly 41,000 tons. The
docks at Fairport controlled by the Pennsyl
vania and Lake Erie railroad are used for the
unloading of iron ore from the lake freighters,
the annual receipts of which araount to nearly
2,000,000 tons. The Pittsburg Coal Company
owns the docks which are employed for the
shipment of coal, the latter amounting to 150,-
000 tons every year to domestic points, and
85,427 tons to foreign territory.
The Old and the New Richmond.
Only a mHe above Fairport, and about three
mHes west of PainesviHe, is the village of
Richmond, also a most flourishing place dur
ing the late thirties, but now chiefly noted be
cause of the presence of the great elevator and
warehouse of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company. The large shops of that company
are situated nearly opposite, on the eastern
side of Grand river.
Richmond was at the height of its pros
perity about 1835, when it had a population
of 2,000 people or more. The chief causes
for its decline were the hard times of 1837-8
on the building of the "Beaver" or cross-cut
canal into a rival harbor, all of which tended
to increase the growing importance of the

294

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

city of Cleveland. The large trade which had
heretofore been diverted to Richmond from
southern points was thereby absorbed by the
larger city. In a certain fashion, however, its
old-time standing has been revived through
the interests of the Baltimore & Ohio rail
road, which are so largely centered at this
point. Through the immense elevator of this
corporation nearly 200,000 bushels of grain
pass every year, and in its gigantic warehouses
are stored more than 1 10,000 tons of merchan
dise, consisting largely of shipments from
Baltimore and from the ports of the Great
Lakes. Important items in the receipts from
southern territory are sugar, and canned
goods. As stated, this immense amount of
traffic of the south which comes over the
Baltimore & Ohio road has partially replaced
Richmond in its former position of importance
as a comraercial center.
Thomas Richmond.
The village, which is considered a suburb of
PainesviHe, derives its name from its foilnder,
Thomas Richmond, a Vermonter, who in his
early raanhood was engaged in the salt trade
with Canada. He was then located at Syra
cuse, New York. In the spring of 1832, hav
ing occasion to visit northern Ohio on busi
ness connected with this trade, he stopped at
a tavern in the township of Perry, then in
Geauga county, and learning that a likely piece
of property was for sale up the river frora
Fairport, he traveled to Warren and pur
chased it, afterwards returning to investigate
the land which he had bought. He was so
pleased with the location that he decided to
settle at that point and soon afterward estab
lished hiraself in the forwarding and corarais
sion business, dealing largely in country pro
duce. His eastern partner in this enterprise
resided in New York city, and together they
built several vessels to proraote their bu.si-
ne'ss. Among their other investments was a
small interest in the steamer "Rochester,"
which was built at Richmond. The founder

of.the town also owned stock in the bank of
Geauga and was' at one time a director of the
same. The owners of the steamer "Roches
ter" having failed during the financial panic
of 1837, Mr. Richmond was obliged to
shoulder a debt of $35,000, all of which he
paid, with interest, within the succeeding
three years. In the fall of that year he was
elected to the state legislature, was appointed
a member of the committee on banking and
currency, and accomplished much to place the
finances of Ohio upon a firm basis and aUay
the unrest and suffering caused Dy the hard
times. But the general depression in the busi
ness which settled upon the country had the
effect upon the village of Richmond of divert
ing many of its citizens and most of its busi
ness to the village of PainesviHe, or more dis
tant towns in the state. Many wooden houses
were taken down and rebuilt at other points,
some being loaded on schooners and taken to
Wisconsin. The Presbyterian church, which
was raainly built through private funds con
tributed by Mr. Richmond, was removed to
Painesville and occupied by the Methodists
until the building of their brick edifice on the
pubhc park in 1875. This old Richmond
church, which has certainly had its ups and
downs, is. now occupied as a cornmodious flat
on Liberty street.
In 1840 Mr. Richmond himself abandoned
his horae town and removed to the city of
Cleveland, where, with his son, he again em
barked in the vessel and coraraission business.
It is said that the younger Mr. Richmond,
under his father's instructions, took the small
schooner "Swallow," which they- had previ
ously purchased, up the Mississippi river, and
firtally launched her on Lake Superior— the
first modern vessel to appear on the waters
of that region of great copper mines. In 1847
the senior Mr. Richmond engaged in the for
warding and commission business in Chi
cago, afterward serving in the Illinois state
legislature and building that historic vessel,
the "Dean Richraond," which he loaded with

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

29s

wheat in 1856 and dispatched to Liverpool
by way of the Great Lakes and the St. Law
rence river. This was the first voyage ever
made by vessel between Chicago and that
great English port. Mr. Richmond in later
years becoming a close friend and confidential
adviser of President Lincoln and died at an
advanced age during the Civil war, being both
universally respected and beloved.
The Village of Willoughby.
Willoughby, which is situated on the Chag
rin river, eleven miles southwest of Paines
viUe, is a viHage of about 2,000 people, the

a bear with an axe and salted that meat, too.
This resourceful, industrious woman lived to
see this pioneer son an old man. She herself
was over one hundred when she died.
Nancy Hall was another widow who did
double duty. Left with a farm unpaid for,
she met her indebtedness and educated her
family. She was a very strong character, and
early saw from her experience the injustice to
women. Later, when women began the agita
tion which led to change of laws, she said:
"Let them agitate. They will never get any
thing too good for women." Years afterward
Martha H. Elwell, president of the Ohio

UNION SCHOOL, WILLOUGHBY.

second place in importance in Lake county.
It was first called Charlton, then Chagrin for
the river, and then Willoughby for Professor
Willoughby, of New York, who was professor
in Willoughby Medical College.
Two Fine Widows.
Among the early settlers of Willoughby
were John and Catharine Miller, and their
son, Samuel, was the first white chHd of the
town. He was but a few months old when
his father was kiHed., and his mother raised
corn, trapped raccoons and salted the meat,
and kept herself alive. She one day killed

Woman Suffrage Association, was a resident
of this village.
Willoughby is stationed on both the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern and the New
York, Chicago and St. Louis railroads. It
presents the appearance of a prosperous com
munity, with well built stores, school houses
and churches. Its only industry of impor
tance is the American Clay Machinery Com
pany, devoted to the manufacture of all kinds
of machinery employed in the turning out of
pottery and other clay wares. A branch of
the Cleveland Trust Company affords its mer
chants and citizens with good banking facili-

296

FIISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ties. Its five churches are the Methodist, Pres
byterian, Grace Episcopal, Church of Christ
and the Immaculate Conception. The first
named society has a substantial and beautiful
building, which is shown in an accompanying
illustration. It was erected in 1906, chiefly
through the generosity and influence of Mrs.
Julia Boyce, the twin sister of Julius French.
Andre\\'s Institute for Girls.
WiHoughby has a well conducted high
school and grammar school and is the site of
the well known Andrews Institute for Girls.
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace C. Andrews perished
together April 7, 1899, when their beautiful
horae on East Sixty-seventh street. New York
City, was destroyed by fire. At the sarae time
the wife of G. C. St. John and his children lost
their lives. Out of that happy household only
one person survived and that was Mr. St. John,
who was not at home at the time.
Mrs. Margaret M. St. John Andrews and
her three brothers were born at Willoughby at
the old homestead, which is now occupied, tem
porarily, by the Andrews Institute for girls.
Mr. St. John is the only surviving child of this
family and this old house, which was built by
his grandfather, Thomas Card, was inherited
by his mother, then by his sister, Mrs. An
drews, and came to him by will as well as by
inheritance. The house was remodeled in 1872
by Mrs. Andrews' father and Mr. St. John
now owns it and offered its use to the institute
without charge, because he does not think it
wise to put up expensive buildings for the
school until the plan has been tried out. He is
one of the directors of the school, as provided
by will, and is president of the board.
In the litigation in regard to this will a very
delicate question arose as to whether Mr. and
Mrs. Andrews died first. In raany states where
husband and wife die at the sarae tirae in acci
dent, the law provides that the estate belongs
to the husband because raen, being stronger,
would naturedly live longer than women under
the circumstances. This provision of law has
been fought in raany states on the ground that

women have really raore endurance than men,
but most physicians do not believe this to be
true. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews made wiUs dated
November 12, 1891. By his wiH, Mr. An
drews first provided for certain relatives to the
aggregate amount of $520,000. The residue
of his estate he left in trust for his wife to re
ceive the income during her life, and upon her
death he gave the principal to an institution at
Willoughby, Ohio, which he directed his exec
utors to incorporate under the laws of Ohio.
The fifth paragraph of the wiH prescribes the
functions and conditions of this institution, to
wit: —
"I direct ray executor and executrix, as soon
as practicable after my decease and during, the
lives of ray said wife and her said brother or
the life of the longest liver of them, to procure
under the laws of the state of Ohio, an incor
poration to be formed with the proper powers,
for the purpose of establishing an institutipn
on the farra known as the Williams Farm, for
merly owned by rae and now owned by my
wife, fronting on Erie street, in the town of
Willoughby, Lake county, Ohio, or if said
farra be for any cause not available, then on
other suitable preraises in the said town, of
Willoughby, for the free education of girls and
for their support in proper cases during edu
cation, with a special view toward rendering
thera self-supporting,
"Said institution shall contain, among others,
a Sewing Department, Cooking Department,
Designing Departraent and Departments in
Phonography and Typewriting, and other use
ful work that would afford the pupHs employ
ment in life, including such new discoveries
and inventions as may be made from time to
time tending to enlarge the opportunities for
useful and honorable employment for women,
and such as will aid them in obtaining honor
able and independent positions in life. Such
school to be open only to girls between the
ages of ten and sixteen, both inclusive.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

297

"Not exceeding one-tenth of the sum de
voted to the said institution by the fourth para
graph hereof may be used for the erection of
suitable buildings therefor on the said farm, or
in the contingency above specified, for the pur
chase of suitable premises in said town and the
erection of such buildings thereon, and the in
come of the remaining nine-tenths shall be de
voted to the support and maintenance of said
institution. "If, when the said sura shall be received by
the said corporation, the one-tenth thereof
shaU not, in the judgraent of the directors, be
sufiicient for such erection or such purchase
and erection, as the case may be, the whole
sum may, in their discretion, be allowed to ac
cumulate until the one-tenth thereof with its
accumulation shall be so sufficient, when such
one-tenth may be used therefor, while the in
come of the remaining nine-tenths of the said
sum and accumulations shall be devoted to the
support and maintenance of said institution.
"The charter of the said corporation shall
also provide, if and so far as may be consistent
with law and practicable, for the management
of the said corporation by a board of five di
rectors, to consist of the governor for the time
being, of the state of Ohio, the member of con
gress for the time being for the congressional
district embracing the said town of Willough
by, the treasurer for the time being of the said
county of Lake, the mayor for the time being
of Willoughby, and the said Gamaliel C. St.
John, and for the choice of a resident of Wil
loughby by the said governor as successor to
the said St. John, as often as the fifth place
shall become or be vacant."
The eighth clause of the will mentions the
Smithsonian Institution as an alternative re
siduary legatee, under the conditions specified
in the clause, to wit: — "In case my intention
with respect to the said institution for girls
shall because of illegality fail or become im
possible of realization, I then devise and be
queath the sum inte.nded for it to the Smith
sonian Institution at Washington, District of

Columbia, to be devoted to the purposes for
which it was established."
Mrs. Andrews, by her wiH, devised No. 2
East Sixty-seventh street and No. 854 Fifth
avenue in the city of New York, and the so-
caHed Williams Farm in Willoughby, to her
husband and in case he did not survive her, she
directed that they should fall into his residuary
estate for the purposes of the institution which
he directed to be formed, which she in her will
approved. On March 19, 1902, the Ohio legislature
passed an act enabling the incorporation of in
stitutions sirailar to that provided for in the
will of Mr. Andrews, and on May 13, 1902,
Mr. St. John caused The Andrews Institute
for Girls to be incorporated. Certain relatives
whom he had not remerabered in his will, cer
tain other relatives (not including his sisters,
Mrs. Lury Ann Moore and Mrs. Phoebe R.
Moore) and the Smithsonian Institution con
tested the right of The Andrews Institute for
Girls to the residuary estate. The chief claims
of the relatives were : First, that under a
statute of New York (which provides, among
other things, that a man having a wife shall not
will more than half his property after payment
of debts to charitable or educational purposes)
Mr. Andrews at the time of his death had a
wife, and so they were entitled to half its
residuary estate ; and secondly, that as The An
drews Institute for Girls was not incorporated
until more than three years after his death,
they were entitled to the income that accrued
during those three years.
The Smithsonian Institution sustained in
part the first claim of the relatives, but made
the further highly technical claim that because
the zuhole residue could not go to The Andrews
institute for Girls, none of it could; the pri
mary purpose of the testator had become im
possible of realization, and the whole residue
must go to it (Smithsonian Institution).
The courts found that it was impossible to
decide whether Mr. or Mrs. Andrews died
first, but that the New York statute referred to

298 HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
did not apply, being applicable only to a case April, 1879, by J. H. Merrill, who became a
where it was shown that a wife survived the resident of Lake county in 1852, and died
testator. As a final result, the courts held that at Painesville in June, 1900. He was an Eng-
certain of the relatives were entitled to a por- lish printer, who settled at Kirtland -at an
tion of the three years' income ; that The An- early date and there engaged in job printing
drews Institute for Girls was entitled to all for a number of years, afterward entering the
the rest of the residuary estate, and that the newspaper business at Painesville. He re-
Smithsonian Institution had no interest in the mained in the latter city until he located at
estate. , The Smithsonian Institution carried WiHoughby and established the Independent
the case, upon a purely technical claim, from in 1879. In 1895 he formed a partnership
the court of appeals of New York to the with his son, F. H. Merrill. Since- the death
United States supreme court, but the latter of the father another son, G. C. Merrill, has
court dismissed the writ of error as without become associated in the business, which is
merit. now conducted under the name of J. H. Mer^
The decision of the New York court of ap- riH's Sons.
peals was made in February, 1908, and that As has been incidentally mentioned, the first
of the United States supreme court in May, house erected in Willoughby township and
1909. probably in the county, was that built by
As showing the financial status of this re- Charles Parker in 1796, while engaged in the
markable case which promises to result in the survey of this portion of the Western Reserve.
founding of such a noble charity, Mr. St. John Although Parker became a permanent settier
presents the following : in 1802, several had located their homes in
the township during the fall of 1799, among
Net institute assets from both es- these being David Abbott, Peter French, Jacob
*^^^^  $2,054,856 ^gg^^ Ebenezer Smith and Elisha Graham.
Legacies paid  700,000 j^^j._ j^^^^^^ ^^-^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^ ^^-^^ ^jU ^^ ^^e site
of the Willoughby mills, and Mr. Smith is said
Net assets at tirae of Mr. and Mrs. ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^,g„.
Andrews' death  $i,354>856 j^, ^^^^ ^^ his land from the Connecticut
Cash, securities and real estate ^and Company. The viHage and township
turned over to the institute  $3,720,985 ^ere originally called Chagrin, but in 1834
adopted the present name in honor of Profes-
Net gain to institute during St. ^^^ WHloughby, of Herkimer county. New
John adrainistration  $2,366,129 York
This net gain does not take into account the .„ _ „
° J . . ., ,. ^, , Burning of the Steamer Griffith.
expenses of administration, nof attorneys
fees, etc., attending the ten long years of liti- A tragic event which horrified the people
gation. To the $3,720,985 which the school of the Western Reserve was the burning of
has already received, there will probably be the steamer "Griffith" in Lake Erie, off of
added still $50,000 to $60,000 in cash, making what is now known as Willoughbeach. This
a total of about $3,780,985 which the school casualty occurred at four o'clock in the morn-
will have to continue business with. ing of June 17, 1850, and of the 320 pas-
™ -,,r -r sengers aboard, only 87 escaped with their
The Willoughby Independent. ,. ^, ' , a-^fino-
lives. There have been many contlictmg
The Willoughby Independent, the only stories as to the exact location of the fire,
newspaper of the place, was established in many claiming that it occurred off Fairport

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

299

instead of Willoughbeach, but the story told
by one of those who assisted in the rescue of
persons from the ill-fated bark seems to defi
nitely settle the question in favor of Willough-^
beach. With this explanation and introduc
tion, the following letter is given as publi^ned
in the Painesville Telegraph-Republican of
June 9, 1909: "The steamer Griffith was
burned off WHloughbeach (or where Wil
loughbeach is now located) June i^, 1850, at
4 o'clock in the morning. The boat was afire
when it came to Fairport. Two men, a Mr.
Woodin, of Hambden, and Hiram Knapp, of
Munson, were on the boat, and had paid their
fare to Cleveland. Woodin sraelled smoke and
caHed the mate's attention to it. The mate
cursed him and called him all the names he
could lay his tongue to. He told Woodin that
he would run the boat to Cleveland and put
out the fire, or he would run her to h — 11.
I think he came as near running her to the
latter place as he could in this world. Woodin
told me that he could have extinguished the
fire in ten minutes by the scuttling of the
boat. He stated that the mate was drunk or
the disaster would never have happened. The
lake was smooth at the tirae, the wind was
from the south and everyone of the 320 pas
sengers aboard might have ben saved, accord
ing to this Mr. Munson. As it was, only
eighty-seven were saved.
"The first saved was a girl of eighteen.
She swam from the bar with a boom. She
could not stand up when she reached shore
and I ran a pole out to her and pulled her to
safety. She went West, got married, raised
a family and had a daughter that afterwards
married a Newburg man. After her hus
band died she came to live with this daughter.
She died only a few years ago in Newburg,
and I found out afterwards that a few days
before she died she expressed the wish that
she could have seen the man that pulled her
out of the water. If I had known of this at
the time, I would surely have gone to her.

"The second person saved was a boy of
seven. When we brought him ashore we
thought he was dead, but Captain Kennedy
came down the bank and, seeing the boy's
lips move, grabbed him by the heels and shook
him, and the water came out of his stomach
and he revived quickly. Later the boy came
down to the beach and picked out his dead
father and mother. He told Captain Kennedy
that his mother had a lot of money quilted
in her petticoat, and $500 was recovered from
her body. The captain took charge of the
boy and the raoney. When he was twenty-
one the boy was given the raoney and interest,
and I think Mr. Kennedy deserves much
credit. "When the boat turned towards shore the
w-ind was in the south and the flames drove
the people overboard. After the boat had
been burning awhile the covers of the wheels
lopped off each side. We saw two little chH
dren hanging on one of them. I went out
in ray boat and got these children. I had to
unclinch their little hands to get them off. I
saw the captain throw his wife and three chil
dren and his wife's mother overboard and
jump after them. They never came up and
were not seen again until they were washed
ashore later. One young raan had $1,800 in
a bag. He threw the bag overboard and
jumped after it. He did not get the money.
The raate got it and carae ashore with it.
When the owner carae ashore he opened the
bag and gave the raate $100. The raate got
drunk on the $100, and if we had had the
testiraony then of Mr. Munson and Mr. Knapp
he would have been sent up for raanslaughter.
"One man jumped overboard and caught a
big stick. He swam out in the lake and
thought he was coraing to shore. He finally
reached shore. A fleshy raan juraped over
board and went under the rear of the boat
and clirabed up the rudder chains. He perched
there untH the rest were drowned and then he
swam ashore. An Englishman was pulled

300

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

under three times by a drowning man who
had him by the leg, but he finally kicked
him oft'.
"We buried eighty-seven in one grave.
There have been a good many things said
about the grave being opened and robbed, but
Henry M. Mosher says the statement is un
true. The grave was on his father s farra. I
have always thought that when we buried
those bodies we buried a lot of money in the
petticoats of the women.
"There is but one man living who was
there with rae when the boat burned. His
name is D. Carver. He lives near Little
Mountain. I was fishing at the time, and we
were just going to ship the net when the boat
passed us and we saw it afire. I told the men
with rae not to ship the net, as the boat would
turn to shore inside of ten minutes ; and I
was right, for it started inside of ten minutes.
"About 9 o'clock thieves from Cleveland
began to arrive and began to loot. The wreck-
master, Mr. Coleridge, had his house full of
people. We brought out a/ girl who had a
pair of solid gold earrings. A thief stepped
up and tried to pull them out of her ears. Mr.
Coleridge struck him over the head with a
cane and he left soon.
"There has been quite a little said about
the distance from the shore to the bar. It was
just forty rods to where the boat foundered.
I know, because my seine lines were just forty
rods long and just reached the bar. I was
fishing for sturgeon. They used to lay on
the bar. Four years after the boat burned
I was there and saw the huH. It was there
a number of years after that.
"I -will teH you now of the raost heroic
thing that happened at the burning. With
the wheel-house afire, the wheelsraan stood
there undaunted. The mate asked him if he
could hold her until she struck. He said he
could try, and he did, and when the boat
struck the bar the wheel-house flew into a
thousand pieces. The wheelsman juraped
overboard and went to the bottom, never to

rise again. When we brought his body to
shore he was literally cooked. You could
not touch him without the skin sticking to
¦your fingers.
"It is amusing to rae now to see the hun
dreds of people who were there in the after
noon and hear them tell what they would
have done, if they had been on the boat. I
don't think they would have done any better.
In conclusion, I will say that I never saw such
a sight and hope I will never see another.
This is a true story of the burning of the
'Griffith,' as I saw it fifty-eight years ago.
"William Melton."
Stories of Early Mentor.
It is related of Ebenezer Merry, who came
to Mentor in 1798, that, like most pioneers,
he had only one pair of shoes. "He was
very careful of them and covered them with
grease to save them. A wolf liked the grease
and carried off the shoes, and Mr. Merry
was obliged to go barefoot all the summer.
So hard had his soles become by fall that he
could stamp chestnuts out of the burrs with
out feeling any pain. In the fall he sold his
crops, walked to Erie, bought another pair
and went on into New York state to hunt a
wife:. Of course, he was successful in the
chase." One of the pioneer mothers of Mentor, who
had five boys and four girls, became dis
couraged at the way boys wore out their
clothes. She therefore made their trousers of
tanned deerskins. In the chapter of Mentor
in "Pioneer Women" we read : "When these
(the breeches) were wet from rain, it made
them very stiff and in turn the boys sat upon
the grindstone while the others turned the
crank. This process had the effect of soften
ing the leather, although it helped very seri
ously to wear out the garment."
Mentor and "L.awnfield."
Mentor is a pretty hamlet of about 500 or
600 people, six miles west of Painesville, but

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

301

is chiefly noted because not far away is the
beautiful Garfield home, known as Lawnfield.
It is located a short distance from the post-
office of West Mentor, nearly opposite what
is known as "Stop 55" on the electric Hne.
Since the lamented death of President Gar
field, the estate has been several times divided
and all that remains in possession of the widow
is the spacious and beautiful residence and
the immediate grounds. The portion of the
property which was devoted to agricultural
and live stock purposes — about 160 acres north
of the railroad — is now owned by W. P. Mur
ray, of Cleveland, who purchased it in 1908.
To the east of the homestead is the property
in possession of Harry A. Garfield, the eldest
of the sons. This amounts to about seventy-
five acres. James Garfield, another son, re
sides to the west, and at least once yearly
the widow of President Garfield, her children
and grandchildren, meet at Lawnfield for a
general family reunion. Mrs. Garfield's health
failed a few years ago and she took up a home
in Pasadena, where her daughter, Mrs. Stan
ley Brown, lives.
The Lawnfield farm, as it was called, was
purchased by Mr. Garfield about 1877, his idea
being to eventually operate a model stock
farm. The house was originally but one and
one-half stories high, but jn 1880, the year
before his death, a story and a large piazza
were added. In 1885 Mrs. Garfield added
to the modest frame house of her husband
a Queen Anne structure of stone ; but the old
house in which the President lived, and which
he so loved, stHl remains the center of general
interest and affection. There are probably
thirty rooms in both the old and new houses,
and they are aH furnished with considerable
elegance. The main entrance is through the
old house. In the hall facing the door is an
old wall clock, while to the left and right are
what were formerly a smoking room and par
lor. Bibles ,and other books are upon the
tables, and the furniture is much the same as
when the family left for Washington, just

before President Garfield's death. One of the
most modest of the rooms is that once occu
pied by the mother of Garfield, now deceased
and lying with him in that grand mausoleum
in Lake View cemetery, Cleveland. Half a
dozen portraits of the former president hang
upon the walls, 'one of them representing him
as a young man in 1852; another, an oil
painting, was made in 1862 upon his return
from the war. But perhaps the most precious
rehc treasured by Mrs. Garfield and her fam
ily is the letter which the president wrote to
his beloved mother while upon his death bed.
It is worded thus: "Washington, Aug. 11, 1881.
"Dear Mother : Do not be disturbed by con
flicting reports of my condition. It is true I
am still weak, but am gaining every day, and
need only time and patience to bring me
through. Give my love to all the friends and
relatives, and especially Aunt Hetty.
"Your loving son,
"James A. Garfield."
Kirtland's First Settlers.
Joshua Stowe, who had charge of the com
missary department of the Moses Cleaveland
party, owned land in Kirtland, which, by the
way, was naraed for the Kirtland faraily^,
which settled in Poland and was so prorainent
in the early history of the Reserve. In 181 1
Christopher Crary came out to take charge of
the Stowe property. He brought his survey
ing instruments and, incidentally, his wife and
nine children. He settled at a place first
called Crary Corners, and later Peck's Cor
ners. The ChiHicothe road ran by this land.
Mrs. Crary was "a tip top manager." She
must have been to have ' raised her family,
even after some of them were married.
One of her daughters, an early Lake county
school teacher, when coming from her school,
encountered a bear. She saved her Hfe by
frightening him with her umbrella.
Before the author began writing this his-

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HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

303

tory, if she had been going into a bear coun
try, she would have armed herself with aH
sorts of deadly weapons. Now, however, she
would simply carry her umbrella and a box
of berries. Possibly, she would substitute
honey for berries, if the trip in the bear-belt
was to be long.
Kirtland in the early day had more than its
share of children. The same year Christopher
Crary and his brood arrived Mr. and Mrs.
Barzillia Millard brought fourteen. A few
years later came David and Mary Howe, with
eleven. This Mary mother was a regular
church attendant, and rode her horse with one
child in front and usually two behind.
The quiet little hamlet of Kirtland is situ
ated away from all the bustle of railway travel,
being almost midway between West Mentor
and Willoughby, a few miles to the south.
The east branch of the Chagrin river runs
through it. Prior to the general exodus of the
Mormons from this locality in 1837-8, their
famous temple was the center of a popula
tion of the Faithful, numbering about 4,000,
and aH around it clustered substantial dwell
ings and business houses. It was here that
the Saints took their first decided stand, com
mencing the erection of their temple in 1832
and completing it in 1835. The great exodus
of the Mormons occurred in 1837-8, seven
hundred leaving in' one day. For many years
afterward their temple fell into disuse and
decay, but in 1878 the title to the property
was decided^ by judicial authority to rest with
the "Reorganized Cliurch of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints," a powerful branch of the
original organization which has always been
opposed to the institution of polygamy. The
temple is still in possession of this branch of
the church. The local organization of the
present is composed of members whose mo
rality and industry are beyond question, and
they constitute an esteemed and a valuable
element in the community. (For an authentic
and official history of the establishment of the
Church of Latter Day Saints at Kirtland the

reader is referred to the general history.)
The Temple of today is a massive structure
of rough bluestone, plastered over with cement
and marked in imitation of regular courses of
masonry. It covers an area of 60 by 80 feet
and is surmounted by a belfry or cupola.
Over 3,000 small windows admit the light to
the spacious interior. In front, over the
largest window, is a tablet bearing the inscrip
tion, "House of the Lord, built by the Church
of the Latter Day Saints, A. D. 1834." The
temple is practically a three-story structure,
and, being located on a high plateau, can be
seen from sorae directions, several railes away.
The first and second stories are divided into
two grand rooms for public worship, while
the attic is partitioned off into twelve small
apartments. At each end of the lower rooms
is a set of pulpits, four in nuraber, rising
behind each other. Each pulpit i's arranged to
accommodate three persons, so that when they
are full,- twelve persons occupy each seat,
or twenty-four in all — to accommodate Mel-
chesidek and Aaronic priesthoods. These pul
pits were originally designed^ for the officers
of the Priesthood. The temple, from its base
to the top of the spire, is 142 feet. Besides
the temple, Kirtland also has another building
which is of historic interest — that which wit
nessed the birth of Joseph Smith, Jr., on
Noveraber 6, 1832. Since i860 he has been
president of the Reorganized Church, whose
headquarters are at Independence, Missouri.
The house in which he was born at Kirtland,.
for many years has been occupied as a general
store. Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary.
B. A. Hinsdale, an authority on education
in the Reserve, says: "As public schools in
creased in number and improved in quahty,
the academies began to lose ground. Wholly
dependent, as a rule, on tuition charges for
existence, they could not compete with free
schools of equal grade. The law of 1853 gave
them the finishing stroke — some of the build-

304

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ings were sold to the boards of education and
many of the teachers entered the public
schools; some of the old schools struggled
bravely for existence, but in tirae nearly aH,
if not indeed all, of them passed into history.
There are two reasons for mentioning another
celebrated institution which will appear in the
sequel. "The Western- Reserve Teacher's Seminary
opened its doors to the public in September,
1839, being established in the upper stories of
the Temple at Kirtland, which the Mormons
had abandoned a short time before when they

common schools. In this respect it far sur
passed any school on the Reserve that had
gone before it and, relatively speaking, it has
perhaps not been equaled by any school that
has succeeded it. It was founded only two
years after the first normal school in the
United States was established at Lexington
Massachusetts." The Village of Madison.
The village of Madison, eleven miles east
of Painesville, is on the old stage route from
Cleveland to Buffalo and on the present line

*{S *?I^I1%

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SOLDIERS' AND SAILOES' HOME, MADISON.

left the 'First State' for the far West. The
seminary existed about twenty years^ and for
much of the time was a flourishing school. It
drew to itself, as teachers and students, a
nuraber of persons who raade a narae in the
world. Its foundation was raainly due to the
efforts of the Rev. Nelson Slater, who served
as first superintendent or principal. F. W.
Harvey carae frora a printing office, at Paines
ville, and M. D. Leggett frora the farm in
Montville to study at Kirtland. Leggett was
also employed for a tirae as one of the teachers.
The other fact for which the serainary is note
worthy is the great attention it paid to the
preparation of teachers of both sexes for the

of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern.
It is the . largest township on the Western
Reserve. The Gazetteer of 1837 says of
Madison: "Madison, an agricultural post
town, in the northeastern corner of Geauga
county, contains the flourishing village of
Unionville, and also the harbor of Cunning
ham creek. Large quantities of iron are here
manufactured into hollow ware, mHl iron and
other articles, much of which is exported to
the various ports on the lake."
The Madison of today has 700 people and
is of sufficient importance to support a brisk
weekly paper, the Madison Review, which is
now in its twelfth year. The finances of the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

305

place are transacted through the Madison Ex
change Bank, and among its industries are
manufactures of baskets and automobile
wheels. The Madison Seminary.
Not far from North Madison is the well
known institute known as the Soldiers' and
Sailors' Home. This building occupies the
site of the old Madison Seminary, which was
established about 1845, largely through the
efforts and donations of the Genung family.
For nearly forty years the seminary was one
of the best known educational institutes in
this part of the Western Reserve. During
the first ten years of its existence it was under
the control of male teachers, but in 1857 two
ladies. Miss Smith, a graduate of Ingham,
and Miss Chadwick, of Willoughby College,
were duly installed. In 1859 the new semi
nary buildings, including a boarding hall, were
completed, and under the new order of things
C. H. Cavatt became principal, with Miss
Chadwick as assistant. Under the manage
ment of Prof. W. N. Wright the school rap
idly increased in attendance and efficiency,
and at one time had reached an enrollment of
150 pupils, one-half of whom were boarders.
» Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.
The Madison Seminary continued as an in
stitute of learning until about 1884 and in
1888 the buildings and grounds were donated
to the National Woman's Relief Corps. Soon
afterwards it was transferred into a home for
Ohio soldiers and sailors, with their dependent
relatives. Through the efforts of Hon. E. J.
Clapp, a representative in the Ohio Legisla
ture, the state donated $25,000 for its estab
lishment, and a good brick buHding was
erected. This has since been improved and
added to, the home being under the manage
ment of General W. M. Weber. Its purposes
are weH indicated by its description, as given
in the record of recent state appropriations,
viz. : "Home of the Ohio soldiers, sailors, ma

rines ; their wives, mothers, widows and army
nurses." The original school building and
boarding haH of Madison Seminary are now
utilized by C. W. Genung, in the manufacture
and storage of various agricultural imple
ments. Favored Citizens of Lake County.
The pleasant duty remains of mentioning
several residents of Lake county who were
not identified with her material development,
or with public affairs in any phase, but earned
fame in the fields of art and high thought.
The Beard Brothers.
WilHam H. Beard, who died in 1900, was ,
born in Painesville and became famous for
his caricatures of humanity presented through
characteristic animals. At the age of twenty-
one he began his career in this county as a
portrait painter; visited Europe for purposes
of study in 1856, four years afterward settling
in New York city, where he was elected
an active member of the National Academy.
The career of the brother, James H. Beard,
was somewhat similar. He was born at Buf
falo in 1814, and was brought in his infancy
to PainesviHe, where he spent his boyhood
and youth. At sixteen he met in that city a
wandering sign and portrait painter, and con
cluded to try his hand "at the business." For
his first important contract, painting a full-
length portrait of a gentleman from Ravenna
he received ten dollars, his net proceeds being
somewhat reduced by the expenditure of $1.25
per week for board at the city hotel. From
that time until he was eighteen he was also a
wandering artist, with all that name implies.
Pittsburg w.as the first large city which he
ever visited, his journey from that point to
Cincinnati being made as a deck-hand on a
river boat. Thence he wandered to Louisville,
but returned to the Ohio city, where he first
posed as a skiHed chair painter and afterward
made a national reputation as a portrait and
animal painter. In 1870 he settled perma-

Voi. 1—20

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HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

nently in New York, one of his daughters and
several of his sons, natives of Cincinnati, hav
ing since become widely known as Hlustrators
and authors.
Mrs. Beard, the Mother.
The father of these two men, James Beard,
married Harriet Woleott, in 1810, and they
went to Chicago (Fort Dearborn) on their
bridal trip. It is recorded she was the sec
ond white woman to visit that locality. In
1823 Mr. and Mrs. Beard moved to Paines
viHe, and the next year Mr. Beard died and
Mrs. Beard reared and educated her five chil
dren. She was an unusual woman as the
lives of her children testify. She lived to
be nearly ninety years old.
Thomas W. Harvey.
Thomas W. Harvey, a native of New Hamp
shire, came to Lake county in 1833, when
twelve years of age. By persistency, under
most adverse circumstances, he acquired a
thorough education and became a dominant
force in the development of the public school
system of the state. For fourteen years he
was superintendent of schools in Massillon,
served many years in a similar capacity at
PainesviHe, and for three years was state su
perintendent of schools. He also furthered

the cause of education as an able lecturer and
as an author of several valuable text books.
George T. Ladd, D. D.; LL. D.
Dr. George Trumbull Ladd, professor of
philosophy at Yale University since 1881, is
one of the most eloquent speakers and pro
foundest scholars in the county. He is a
native of PainesviHe, born January 19, 1842,
son of SHas T. and EHzabeth (WiUiams)
Ladd. Through his paternal grandmother he
is descended from Elder WHHam Brewster
and Governor William Bradford. Dr. Ladd
graduated from the Western Reserve College
in 1864, and from Andover Theological Semi
nary in 1869, and for the succeeding ten years
occupied the pulpit of Congregational churches
in Edinburg, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wiscon
sin. He was then called to the chair of phi
losophy of Yale University. Dr. Ladd's lec
tures on philosophical subjects have made him
famous in the new and the old worlds. He is
decorated by the emperor of Japan with the
order of the Rising Sun, and is accepted as
great by the most profound scholars of the
Orient, while his publications compose an im
pressive list. Lake county has no native son
in whom she takes greater pride, because of
his Christian character and broad and deep
scholarship, than Rev. George TrumbuU Ladd,
D. D. ; LL. D.

CHAPTER XXII.

GEAUGA COUNTY.

Geauga county, one of the smallest in the
state of Ohio, contains only four hundred
square miles, and, according to the census of
1900, it has only 14,744 inhabitants. Lake
Erie lies on the north, Ashtabula and the
northern part of Trumbull county on the east,
Portage on the south, and Cuyahoga on the
west. It was named from the Grand Geauga
river. In the Indian tongue that stream was
called "Sheanga sepe," or Raccoon river.
Natural Features.
It is a rolling and picturesque country,
watered by the head streams of the Cuyahoga
and Grand rivers and the eastern branches
of the Chagrin river. The stream first named,
which, translated from the Indian tongue,
means "crooked," rises in the northeastern
part of the county, flows southerly and, with
a sluggish current, enters the Portage river,
thence crossing into Summit county, and, in a
northerly direction, emptying into the lake at
Cleveland. In making this tortuous circuit,
the Cuyahoga flows through a course of more
than one hundred miles.
The headwaters of the Chagrin rise in Mun
son and Claridon townships, furnishing fish
ermen with quite an abundance of speckled
brook trout, so uncommon in the state of
Ohio. The county is virtually a succession of high
lands and valleys and in the latter lie many
beautiful little lakes, such as Geauga, in Bain
bridge township. Crystal lake in Newburg

township, Bass lake in Munson, and Aquilla
lake in Claridon township. Around the shores
of several of these pretty little bodies of water
have been built cottages and boathouses, so
that the county as a whole has become quite
a favorite resort for summer tourists from
Cleveland and the adjoining country. The
second highest point of land in the Western
Reserve is at Claridon, this county — 1,366 feet
above sea level — and there are places in almost
every township where the land rises to a height
of over six hundred feet above the level of
the lake. The leading ridge, or table-land,
from which the Cuyahoga, Grand and Chagrin
rivers flow, is generally in the northern part of
the county. On the river bottoms grow large
elms, white maple, black ash, swamp oak and
birch, this being particularly true of the Cuya
hoga and its tributaries. The soil of these
river bottoms is generally rich muck, some
times many feet deep. In the early days of
the county the uplands were timbered with
birch, maple, chestnut, oak, white ash, hickory,
black walnut and wild cherry, and there are
still considerable tracts of land which are
clothed with these varieties of wood..
Maple Sugar and Dairy Products.
Geauga county is most valued for its abun
dant production of maple sugar and all dairy
products. In 1866 there were manufactured
in Geauga 5,112,537 pounds of cheese and
529,099 pounds of butter, which constituted

307

3o8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the greatest dairy product in an equal extent
of territory in the United States.
As from the nature of the country the land
is especially adapted to the support of milch
cows, it has always maintained quite an im
portant position in this regard, although it is
now far behind many sections in southern
Wisconsin and northern IHinois, and has, on
the whole, decreased in its total output of
these products. In 1909 the county produced
815,978 pounds of cheese (manufactured, of
course, in factories) and 77,990 pounds of
butter. It also furnished for family use 1,660.-
908 gallons of milk. It has declined as a
dairy country since 1866.
In 1862 a notable change coraraenced in
the manufacture of cheese, the farmers sending
their railk to factories to be worked up on a
co-operative systera at a given price per pound.
Anson Bartlett, of Munson, was the first to
suggest and the most active to introduce the
change. In that year Mr. Bartlett, with Ar
nold D. Hall, Burton Arrastrong, Elnathan
Chase and several others, visited Rorae in
Oneida county. New York, to study the east
ern process and learn the secrets which had
brought the Oneida dairies into such high
standing. Messrs. Bartlett, Hall, and Parker
soon afterwards built a factory at Chardon,
which was virtually the coraraenceraent of
the present-day system of cheese-making in
Geauga county. In 1876 the first oleoraarga-
rine cheese was raanufactured at that point
by E. G. EHis, agent of the Araerican Dairy
and Comraercial Company of New York,
which Was ever produced in the state.
Manufacture of Sugar and Syrup.
As a maple sugar and syrup producer,
Geauga county retains its old time supremacy,
there being no county of equal area in the
Union which surpasses it in this regard. In
1885 the entire araount of sugar produced
in the United States was 2,000,000 pounds,
of which this county produced 631,000 pounds.
The general condition of the industry and

the methods . of producing both sugar and
syrup in those days is thus described by Henry
C. Taylor, of Burton:
"The undulating and somewhat hiUy char
acter of Geauga county seems especially
adapted to the growth of the sugar-maple
and the production of a large supply of sap.
Not only does it make the largest quantity,
but also the best quality of maple sweet. From
using troughs hollowed out of split logs in
which to catch the sap and boiling it in big
iron kettles iirthe open air to a thick, black
sticky compound of sugar, ashes and miscel
laneous dirt, which had some place in the
household economy, but no market value,
sugarmakers today use buckets with covers
to keep out the rain and dirt, the latest
improved evaporators and raetal storage tanks,
and have good sugar-houses in which the sap
is quickly reduced to syrup. All this has been
done at a large outlay of raoney, but the re
sult proves it to have been a good investment,
as the superior article raade finds a ready mar
ket and brings annually from $80,000 to
$100,000. "The season usually opens early in March,
when the trees are tapped and a metal spout
inserted, from which is suspended the bucket.
When the flow of sap begins, it is collected in
galvanized iron gathering tanks, hauled to the
sugar-house and emptied into the storage vats,
from which it is fed by a pipe fo the evapo
rator. The syrup taken frora the evaporator
is strained, and if .sugar is to be made, goes
at once into the sugar pan, where it is boiled
to the proper degree, and caked in pound and
one-half cakes. If syrup is to be made, it is
allowed to cool, and is then reheated and
cooled again to precipitate the sHica. It is then
drawn off into cans and is ready for market.
"The greatest care and cleanliness is re
quired to make the highest grade of sugar
and syrup, and the fragrant maple flavor is
only preserved by converting the sap into sugar
or syrup as fast as possible. If the sap stands

HISTORY OF TFIE WESTERN RESERVE

309

long in the vats, or is boiled a long time, the
flavor is lost and the color becomes dark.
"The groves or 'bushes' vary from 300 to
3,000 trees each, the total number of trees
tapped in 1886 being 375,000. The industry
is still growing, and there are probably enough
groves not yet worked to make a total of 475,-
000, which, if tapped, would increase the out
put about one-third. The sugar and syrup
is mostly sold at home. The principal market
is Burton, centrally located, and from there it
is shipped to consumers in all parts of the
country, the larger proportion going to the
western states."

mdustry. Its main centers are Burton and
Middlefield, one of the largest producers of
the county being a resident of the latter place
— F. I.. Bartholoraew, who usually receives the
majority of the prime awards at all the Geauga
county fairs.
As intimated, the county has little standing
as an agricultural producer, its total area
devoted to the standard grains being only
14,435 acres and, of this amount, 14,292 acres
are given up to oats. Its status as a live-stock
producer is indicated by the following figures,
taken from the last reports of the county
assessors: Number of cattle in the county.

A GEAUGA COUNTY SUGAE CAMP.

Since the period thus described the raethods
of manufacturing have not materially changed
except in the use of more machinery, but the
production itself seems to. have been more cen
tered in the manufacture of syrups than of
sugar. The figures of 1909 indicate that
296,349 gallons of syrup were produced
throughout the county and only 33,109 pounds
of sugar. To obtain this tremendous mass
of sweets, 657,616 trees were tapped, as against
375,000 in 1886. The latter comparison alone
denotes the decided growth of this branch of

18,741 ; sheep, 15,701 ; horses, 5,623, and hogs,
5,131- Growth in Population.,
The advance of the county considered from
the standpoint of population is indicated by
the following figures, taken from the different
national censuses: 1820, 3,919; 1830, 7,916;
1840, 16,297; 1850, 17,827; i860, 15,817; 1870,
14,168; 1880, 13,251; 1890, 13,489; 1900,
14,744.

3IO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Civic Organization.
Trumbull county was created by a procla
mation of the governor of the Northwest ter
ritory on July io, 1800, and on the 31st of
December, 1805, an act was passed creating
Geauga county from that county. The legisla
tive act noted took effect on the 1st day of
March and the original limits of the county
are thus described : "That all that part of the
county of Trumbull lying north and east of
the line, beginning on the east line of said
county, on the line between townships number
eight and nine, as known by the survey of
said townships, and running west on the same
to the west line of range number five ; thence
south on said west line of range five to the
northwest corner of township nuraber five, to
the middle of the Cuyahoga river, where the
course of the same is northerly ; thence up the
raiddle of said river to the intersection of the
north line of township nuraber four ; thence
west on the said north line of township nura
ber four to the line of range fourteen, where-
ever the same shall run when the county west
of the Cuyahoga river shall be surveyed into
townships, or tracts of five miles square each ;
and thence north to Lake Erie; shall be, and
the sarae is hereby set off and erected into a
new county, by the name of Geauga."
The county was organized as a civil body by
the establishment of its Court of Common
Pleas and the forraation of its Board of
County Coramissioners. These events oc
curred at New Market, a point between the
present towns of Painesville and Fairport.
The court of Common Pleas was held on the
first Tuesday of March, ,1806, the judges pres
ent being Aaron Wheeler, John Walworth and
Jesse Phelps. Robert B. Parkman was ap
pointed prosecutor for the county and Abra
ham Tappan, county surveyor. Joel Paine
was the first sheriff. On the 6th of June fol
lowing occurred the first raeeting of the county
comraissioners. It appears from the records
that the business transacted, after the organi
zation of the board, was the offering of the

following bounties for wolf and panther skins :
For every wolf or panther skin six months
old, $1.25, and under six months, 75 cents.
As an encouragement to would-be setflers
these rates were materially increased within the
next four years, namely : Four dollars for ani
mals over six months and two dollars for the
young ones. As these "varmin" were then
thick in Geauga county, the bounties from
their skins proved quite a source of revenue to
the early settlers, and for several years also
had a good effect in ridding the country of
their presence.
Chardon, the County Seat.
On June 16, 1810, all that part of the county
lying west of the ninth range was organized
into Cuyahoga county, and until the following
year the courts were held at New Market
and Champion (now PainesvHle). In the
fall of 181 1 the county seat was established
at Chardon, then an unbroken forest. The
original town site was owned by Peter Char
don Brooks, of Boston, a raan of wealth, with
an ambition to see his name immortalized in
the geography of the new county. He ap
pointed one Samuel W. Phelps as his agent,
but it was nearly four years before the first
actual settler located on the future site of
the town.
In 181 1, soon after the place was designated
as the county seat. Captain Edwin Paine, then
of Painesville, with the assistance of Mr.
Phelps, cleared most of the dense timber from
the public square, and untH the following
spring this' clearing was devoted to the raising
of grain and a crop of meadow grass. At
that time the son of Captain Paine settled
at Chardon with his family, and erected a
large log house near the residence for many 1
years occupied by D. W. Canfield. This struc
ture was utiHzed both for a court house and
a dwelling house until the fall of 1812. At
that time Norman Canfield and Captain Paine
were the only permanent residents of the
place.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

311

First Court House.
The court house consisted of one room, with
but one door. The floor was laid with wide,
rough boards, and the judges of the court of
common pleas sat upon a large split log sup
ported by blocks, for a seat, while for a desk
the lawyers used a long cross-legged table be
longing to Captain Paine, but kindly loaned
by him to the members of the bar. Of course,
the witnesses and spectators were obhged to
be content with less luxurious accoraraoda
tions. When a case was given to the jury "the
twelve good men and true" retired outside and
sat upon a large log to deliberate.

The building was constructed of blocks of
hewn timber to the top of the first story and
the second story was framed and therefore
considered quite ornamental. The court room
was above and the county jail below. At first
the court room was warmed by a huge Frank
lin stove brought from PainesviHe, which was
considered everything which could be desired.
This court house was regarded at the time
as an ornament and honor to the place, and aH
over northern Ohio was pronounced by bench
and bar, a model building. Many years after
wards a brick court house was constructed
and occupied until it was destroyed by fire

GEAUGA COUNTY COUET HOUSE (1830-1868).

The Second Court House.
Samuel King, who carae to Chardon from
Long Meadow, Massachusetts, in July, 1812,
was the builder of the second court house.
He moved into the old Paine building, before
described, and also occupied it as a residence.
But soon after his arrival in the town he set
about to provide a more convenient place for
the county judges and comraissioners, and
completed this court house in the fall of 1813,
a term df court being held in it soon after
wards.

in 1868. Its appearance is indicated in an ac
companying illustration, the architecture, as
will be seen, being of the pure colonial style.
The County Jails.
The first county jail was a little eight by
ten, low-roofed structure of logs attached to
the west end of Norraan Canfield's tavern. It
had neither stove nor fireplace in it, and was
therefore occupied only during the suramer
of 1812. The second and more pretentious
lockup for the county was the basement of the
King court house.

312

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The County Agricultural Society.
The Geauga County Agricultural Society
was the oldest organization of the kind formed
in the Western Reserve and for many years
has enjoyed the reputation of presenting to
the public one of the best organized fairs
anywhere in the state. Its large and well
arranged grounds are located at Burton and
include commodious and attractive structures
known as the Agricultural and Floral Halls,
as well as a large refectory building. There
is also a good speeding course and race
track, with a grandstand and other necessary
conveniences for the crowds which yearly at
tend these fairs. Besides these features, there
are large barns for cattle, live stock and fancy
poultry. The general appearance of these
attractive buildings are in great contrast to
the conveniences provided in the earlier times
of the society's history, when a few rude and
temporary buildings were pitched in the pub
lic square and spectators came from miles
around and hitched their oxen to convenient
shade trees.
The first organization of the Geauga County
Agricultural Society was effected at Chardon
on the loth of February, 1823, the following
officers being elected at that tirae : Judge
Peter Hitchcock, president; Eleazer Hickox
and Samuel Phelps, vice-presidents; Ralph
Granger, Lemuel G. Storrs and Lewis Hunt,
corresponding secretaries ; Eleazer Paine, re
cording secretary; Edward Paine, Jr., treas
urer ; John Hubbard, Daniel Kerr, Vene Stone,
prudential comraittee ; Warren Corning, Abram
Skinner, John Ford, first awarding comraittee ;
Benjamin F. Tracy, S. H. WiHiams, Augustus
Sissons, third avvarding coramittee ; Solomon
Kingsbury, R. B. Parkman and Asa Cowles,
fourth awarding comraittee.
For raore than twenty years these fairs oc
cupied one day annually, the forenoon for
inspection and the afternoon for reports of
committees and addresses. Araong the best

known orators of these early days were Judge
Hickox, Ralph Granger, James H. Paine and
Lester Taylor.
From 1840 to 1854 the fairs were held aher-
nately at Burton and Chardon, but in the
latter year the association located permanently
at Burton. About tweny acres of land were
appropriated near the town, with a beautiful
grove in the eastern part, and these constituted
grounds which have been iraproved from year
to year until they present the attractive ap
pearance above described.
BoNDSTOvvN Logging Association.
The first co-operative organization in Ge
auga county, howeyer, antedated the agricul
tural association by thirteen years. In the
summer of 1810 they formed what was called
the Bondsto-ivn Logging Association, whose
constitution and by-laws provided that each
member was to complete all his logging within
a period of four years. Although the object
of the association was evidently to prevent
unnecessary destruction to timber, no 'restric
tion was placed upon the activities of any mem
ber of the association, as he had a right to
chop as much as he pleased or could hire
others to do. It appears that aU the fines
imposed were paid in whiskey, the following
being sorae of the provisions of the constitu
tion : "First, no raan had a right to furnish
over a gallon of whiskey for ten men. If a
man called for a bee, before clearing off the
brush in a proper manner, he was to be fined
one gallon of \\-hiskey. If a man failed to
appear on the ground at the proper hour, after
being notified, unless he or some of his family
were sick, he was to be fined one gallon of
whiskey. If he did not get to the place in
proper tirae, he was to be fined two quarts
of whiskey." The Bondstown Logging Asso
ciation endured for but one year, as many
of the raore wealtl^jy merabers of the commu
nity objected to having their operations thus
limited.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

313

Geauga County Historical Society.
The Geauga County Historical Society was
the outgrowth of the social gatherings held
by old settlers during the county, fairs. In
July, 1873, a family gathering was held on
the grounds at Burton of the relatives and
descendants of John and Esther Ford, to the
nuraber of one hundred and seventy-two. At
the suggestion of W, J. Ford, then of New
Castle, Pennsylvania, which was warmly sec
onded by General Garfield, it was resolved
to forra a society for the preservation of
the history of Geauga county. In Septem
ber, 1873, a formal meeting, was called and
General Garfield delivered the address. The
temporary organization resulted in the ap
pointment of Hon. Peter Hitchcock as secre
tary. The constitution was subsequently
adopted and Hon. Lester Taylor, who for
years had been urging the formation of such
an association, was elected its president. The
latter continued in office for many years. The
Geauga County Historical Society was sub
sequently merged into what is known as the
Pioneers' Association.Governor Seabury Ford.
As this narrative has traced the civic organi
zation of Geauga county, and provided accom
modations for the civil courts, for the county
commissioners and for violators of the law,
it may be well to briefly note two of the his
torical characters whose early work was
largely within the limits of this county. It
happens that the two most noted men con
nected with the history of the county were both
born in Cheshire, Connecticut — Seabury Ford,
the eighteenth governor of Ohio, in 1802, and
Peter Hitchcock, in 1781.
Mr. Ford came to Burton when a child,
being brought thither by his parents from his
Connecticut home. He received his early edu
cation at Burton Academy, pursued a law
course at Yale College, and became a public
man of high standing. He was an ardent
Henry Clay Whig and greatly instrumental in

carrying the Buckeye state for his idol. Gov
ernor Ford was a raan remarkable both for
his intellectual and physical strength. While
a student at Yale College he was enthusiastic
ally elected v/hat was then known as the uni
versity "bully," this word carrying with it
no approbrium, but, rather, such honor as is
accorded the present-day champion athlete.
In fact, it was the strongest man physically at
Yale College who was elected to preside at
the class meetings and lead the fights against
the town boys. All through life Mr. Ford
maintained this reputation of college days as a
brave fighter, who was proud to champion
any cause in the open field. He is generally
recognized as one of the most efficient men
known to the legislative history of the state
of Ohio, and seems to have followed the ex
cellent advice which he gave to his son, Sea
bury, in the following words : "Avoid politics
and public life until, by a careful and indus
trious attention to a legitiraate and honorable
calling, you have accumulated a fortune suffi
ciently large to entitle you to the respect and
confidence of your fellow-men as a business
man and a man of integrity, and sufficiently
large to render you thoroughly and entirely
independent of any official salary."
Hon. Peter Hitchcock.
Hon. Peter Hitchcock, the year after Mr.
Ford's entrance to Yale College, completed
his course in that institution ; was admitted
to the bar, and in 1806 raoved to Ohio, where
he engaged in farraing, teaching and the
practice of his profession. Four years later he
was elected to the legislature. In 1814 he
was speaker of the senate, in 1817 a raember
of congress, in 1819 judge of the supreme
court, and, with a slight intermission, held
that position until 1852, a portion of this
period being chief justice. He was elected
a raember of the constitutional convention
of 1850, and so largely was his advice fol
lowed in framing that instrument that he is
often called by scholars and admirers "the

314

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Father of the Constitution of Ohio." In De
cember, 1852, then in his seventy-second year,
he conducted several important cases at Co
lurabus, but upon leaving the state capital in
the following February he found hiraself so
exhausted that he was able to proceed only as
far as his son's horae at Painesville, where he
died March 4, 1853. Like Governor Ford,
the deceased was a raan of irapressive physical
proportions, of profound learning and char
acter. Both personalities were calculated to
arouse both reverence, because of their sub
stantial qualities, and love, because of their
profound and wide syrapathy; although both
were undoubtedly reraarkable men, each
seemed unconscious of the possession of any
unusual attainraents.
Thomas Umberfield and the Beards.
The first settlers of Geauga county were
Thomas Umberfield and Araariah Beard. Mr.
Umberfield, with his faraily, carae from Con
necticut and arrived at Buffalo in the spring
of 1798. With several others, they took boat
from that place, arrived at Conneaut on the
28th of May and reached their destination.
Burton, by ox team on Thursday, the 21st of
June. All around them was a dense forest, but the
loneliness of this first faraily to locate in the
county was broken on the foHowing day by
the arrival of Araariah Beard, accorapanied
by John Morse, of Euclid. On the 23rd of
June Mr. Beard assisted Uraberfield to select
his location for a faraily dwelling. Thus the
household and with it, civilization, was planted
in Geauga county.
In the following raonth David Beard, the
surveyor of the party employed by the Con
necticut Land Company to run the lines
through this part of the Western Reserve,
arrived in the vicinity of the Uraberfield home
and completed his survey of Burton township
east of the river, on Saturday, the 28th of
July. In the fall of 1799 Jedediah Beard, the

brother of Amariah, arrived in Burton town
ship, thus raaterially adding to its population.
Among the early settlers of Bu'rton township
were also Judge Peter Hitchcock and Sea
bury Ford, already mentioned at length.
Pioneer School Houses.
The first school house was erected in 1803,
east of the creek on the north side of the
road. Charity Hopson, afterwards the wife
of Judge Stone, taught the first term in it.
In the winter of 1805 and 1806 Squire Hickox
taught the first vHlage school in his store.
The first frame school house was built in the
raeraorable year of 1813, during the excite
raent of the war, and stood on the northwest
corner of the square at Burton, a little east
of where the Congregational church was after
ward built. The founding and progress of
the Burton Acaderay are elsewhere described
as a very important feature in the educational
history of the county.
Religious Meetings and Churches.
The first religious meetings held in Burton
township were in the log house of Isaac Clark,
east of Beard's Mill. This was in July, 1802.
The first regular church organized was the
Congregational. In August, 1808, Rev Enoch
Burt came as an agent of the jMissionary So
ciety of Connecticut and founded the society
with eight raembers — Andrew Durand and
wife, Marimon Cook and wife, Joseph Noyes,
Esther Ford, Elizabeth Patchin and EHzabeth
Durand. The first raeetings of this pioneer
church were held in the Burton Academy, but
in August, 1836, the CongregationaHsts dedi
cated what was then a large and elegant reUg
ious edifice, it being located in the pubUc
square. About 1850 it was moved to its pres
ent location west of the park.
About the time of.the founding of the Con
gregational society the Methodist organized in
to a body ; also utilizing the academy building
for their meetings. Samuel Burton was the
first leader of this church. In 1838 the Dis-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

315

ciples organized their first' church at Burton,
and erected a house of worship on the east
side of the square in 1843.
The Village of Burton.
Although the oldest Village in Geauga coun
ty, Burton is also the smallest, its populatioh
being not far from 900. As will be indicated
hereafter, its prospects received a decided set
back in the failure of the Ford Brothers bank
several years ago. It is situated, however, in
the midst of a rich dairy and sugar-producing
country and although its revival raay be slow
it undoubtedly will be sure. Its industries are
confined to two small establishments devoted
to the manufacture of plows and handles, but
its general merchants carry complete stocks
of goods and there are several large and sub
stantial business blocks along its main streets.
It has a well edited paper, the Geauga Leader;
a substantial bank, the First National, under
the presidency of Charles A. Paine, and a sub
stantial brick building devoted to the High
school and grammar grades. The leading
church is still the Congregational, the society
occupying a large building of brick and wood
erected in 1892. The Town Hall, built in
1890, is also devoted to arauseraent purposes.
The I. O. O. F. Hall is also a well-buiH
structure for a town of Burton's size.
The Village of Middlefield.
The present village of Middlefield cora
prises about 1,200 inhabitants, and is a bust
Hng industrial community as well as a pretty
resident town. Among its growing factories
may be mentioned several plants devoted to
the manufacture of baskets, tubs and cheese.
The last named is conducted by the Belle-
Vernon-Mapes Dairy Company of Cleveland.
The village has one substantial bank conducted
by the Middlefield Banking Company, a
flourishing newspaper and several well con
structed public buildings. Among the latter
are the Town Hall, erected in 1887, and the
Union school house, built in 1892. The exist

ing religious societies are sustained by the
Methodists and Lutherans, the former having
dedicated a tasteful edifice in February, 1909.
As Middlefield has become quite an indus
trial center, its raHway facilities are of the
utmost importance, and at the present time
they consist of both electric and steara rail
roads which afford thorough transportation
for the products of its factories.
Samuel Peffers was the pioneer merchant
of Thompson's Corners, or Middlefield, and
conducted business at this point about the year
1833. His brother James Peffers, of Burton,
furnished the small stock of goods which the
local merchant placed in a room in the hotel
then run by the widow of Isaac Thompson.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Thompson.
Both Isaac Thompson and Captain James
Thorapson, his son, were among the earliest
hotel keepers of Thompson's Corners — in fact,
operated taverns on opposite sides of the State
road for a number of years after 1818. The
father, who was the pioneer of the township,
was a Pennsylvanian, had served as a lieu
tenant in the Revolutionary war — one of
Washington's body guard; and when he came
to Middlefield in March, 1799, was drawing
a w'tW deserved pension from the governraent.
For a short time prior to his migration yvith
his wife and four children, he had resided in
the Genesee country. New York state, and for
about two years, at Charlestown, West Vir
ginia. James, the oldest son, preceded other
members of the family to Mentor, Ohio, and
about the middle' of March, 1799, the little
party commenced to move throu.gh the forest
for what is now Middlefield. After several
clays of wandering and prospecting Isaac
Thorapson and son selected a site for a horae
stead about twenty-five rods east of the old
Methodist church, and there erected the first
house of any size in the township, the faraily
becoming its first permanent settlors. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Thorapson became greatly
endeared to the community, dying in the years

3i6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

1823 and 1842 respectively. At the time of
their decease Mr. Thompson was seventy-two
and "Grandma" Thompson, seventy-eight
years of age. James Thompson.
In 1818 James Thorapson built the hotel a
few rods south of Thompson's Corners. As
it was the most commodious house on the
state road between Warren and Painesville,
and about midway between them, it was for
years not only a favorite resort for travelers.

a. thickly settled community of thriving farm
ers, and, after a residence in that locality of
almost eighty years, died October 15, 1877,
aged ninety- eight years. He was the father
of fifteen children, eleven of whom survived
him.
Thompson's "Century Inn."
The old Thorapson tavern (somewhat re
modeled, but substantially like the original)
is still in possession of the faraily, being the
property of Henry Thompson, grandson of
Jaraes and a prosperous merchant of Middle-

CENTUEY INN, MIDDLEFIELD.

farraers and merchants, but raost of the town
ship elections, corapany trainings, business
meetings and legal conferences raade Thomp
son's hotel their headquarters. As a proof of
the rushing trade transacted by this hostelry
it is narrated that mine host "often entertained
ten or fifteen travelers and as raany horses,
over night, and frequently six or eight four
or six-horse tearas would put up with him."
Mr. Thompson resided on the old homestead
upon which he and his father first settled
throughout his long and eventful life, outlived
a second wife nearly twenty years ; lived to see
the township converted from a wilderness into

field. Most appropriately, it is known to the
traveling- public of today as the Century Inn,
still retaining its old-time character.
It appears frora the records that the town
ship of Middlefield, when first organized, was
named Batavia, acquiring its present narae in
1841.
Thompson Township.
Thompson was the third township to be set
tled in the county, its pioneer being Dr. Isaac
Palmer, a native of Plainfield, Connecticut.
Flis. active practice was confined mostly to hiA
home town, as he was virtually retired when

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

317

he became a resident of the county. Dr Pal
mer came to this section in 1800, as an agent
for the Connecticut Land Company, but, be
coming dissatisfield with his prospects, re
moved two years later to a farm about two
miles from Painesville, where he died in 1840,
a large land owner and wealthy man.
While residing in Thompson, in 1802, a son
was born to Dr. and Mrs. Palmer, who of
course, was the first native child of the town
ship. Colonel Davenport arrived in the township
from New Haven, Connecticut, about the same

with his son and son-in-law, came from
Charleston, New York, and on the first of
May, 1801, commenced the first clearing and
soon afterward built the first log cabin in the
township. They cut the timber from some
three or four acres in the following June and
then returned to New York, and when they
again returned to Chester township in May
1802, they were accompanied by Mrs. Filo
Miner, who came to preside over the domestic
department of the faraily, as the first white
woman to settle in this section of Geauga
county.

GEAUGA SEMINAEY (EEMODELED), CHESTBELAND (-WHEEE
GAEFIELD ATTENDED SCHOOL).

time as Dr. Palmer, and eventually becarae
the owner of 1,158 acres of land. This large
tract, however, far from making him pros
perous, placed him in the class of the "land
poor," so that he was obliged to return to the
east and sell his real estate at a great sacrifice.
Eventually, however, most of it came into the
possession of his five sons who remained in the
township, becoming prominent as prosperous
citizens. Chester Township.
The first prominent resident of Chester
township was Justus Miner, who, in company

Geauga Seminary.
The first school house erected in Chester
township was begun in the spring of 1810,
and soon after was placed under the care of
Susannah Babcock, of Burton, who was the
first teacher in the township; but this section
of the county did not acquire a decided educa
tional standing until the founding of Geauga
Se,minary in August, 1842. This institution
of higher learning was estabhshed through
the influence of the Free Will Baptist church,
and opened under the supertintendency of
Asahel Nichols of Chester. The Geauga Sem-

3i8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

inary continued operations until 1854, and in
1856 its property was purchased by the Union
Educational Association, the proceeds of the
sale being given to HiHsdale CoHege, Michi
gan. Among the scholars of Geauga Semin
ary who afterwards became famous was Pres
ident Garfield.
Huntsburg Township.
The first person known to have taken up
his abode in the township of Huntsburg was a
man named Finley, a hermit and eccentric
character who settled in a hut near a little
¦stream of water which was afterwards called
Finley's creek. About all that is known of him
is that he came from Maryland, and was an
intelligent and educated raan. He obtained
his living mostly by hunting, but remained on
ly a short time in the township after the
arrival of the first settlers, disappearing in
1814. The township was originally owned by two
men, Eben Hunt and John Breck of North
hampton, Massachusetts, who bought their
land of the Connecticut Land Company in
1803. The origin of the township name is
evident. Soon after making their purchase
Messrs. Hunt and Breck became anxious to
have their land settled, so they offered in
ducements to young men in the vicinity of
their home town, one of whom, Stephen
Pomeroy, became the first permanent settler
of the township in 1808. In the previous
year he secured his land and erected a log
cabin, returning to Massachusetts for his wife
and six smaH children. The family com
menced their pioneer life August 19, 1808,
and two other young men settled on land near
them in the same year. The township of
Chester was not politically organized untH
1821'.
Hambden Township.
The township of Hambden, with other por
tions of the Western Reserve, was purchased
hy Oliver Phelps, of Suffield, Connecticut,

November 8, 1798. Twelve thousand of the
fourteen thousand acres comprising the town
ship were sold by Mr. Phelps in February,
1801, to Dr. Solomon Bond, of Connecticut.
The township was therefore at first called
Bondstown. Its chief proprietor first came to Hambden
in the summer of 1801 to examine his farm
of twelve thousand acres, which, of course,
he had never seen. Arriving upon this great
tract of land, the Doctor built a small shanty
in the southwestern part of the township, about
half a mile east of the present village of Char
don, where he resided alone most of that sea-
on. He did not see a white man once a
week, and according to his own statement,
his household utensils were so limited that he
was obliged to milk his cow in a bottle and
bake his bread on a chip.
The country around commenced to be set
tled in 1802 and 1803, when some nine fam
ilies moved into the township. The first min
ister of Hambden was Rev. Mr. Robbins, a
Presbyterian minister from Connecticut, who
arrived in the year 1804. Five years there
after the first school was taught by Miss Anna
Pomeroy, on what was then known as the
Gridley farm.
Parkman Township.
Parkman township was named after Samuel
Parkman, of Boston, Massachusetts, one of
its original proprietors. Robert B. Parkman,
of Cayuga county, New York, who was a
nephew and business agent of the former,
visited this locality in the autumn of 1801. In
the following year he spent some time in this
section, surveying the township and dividing
it into lots of six hundred acres each. In June,
1804, he left his New York home to begin the
first settlement of the new township. It is
said to be the only township of that name in
the United States, except one in Maine, which
was also owned by Samuel Parkman, the uncle
of Robert B., named above. The Parkman
family, which thus became the pioneers of the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

319

township, consisted of Robert B., his wife and
infant child.
Parkman Village.
The water power of the Grand river de
termined the location of the first settlement.
At the time when Mr. Parkman built his small
cabin on the bank of that stream, there were
but three families in Nelson, the adjoining
township in Portage county, and about the
same number in Farmington. The men of
these townships, with a few others from Bur
ton, assisted him in putting the logs in place
and laying the roof of his house. In Septem
ber of the same year the buHding of the saw
mill was commenced, near the location of the
present flour miH. In 1868, after the settle
ment known as Parkman had become quite
flourishing, six acres north of the village were
purchased by the town and set apart for burial
grounds. This pretty cemetery is still in use.
The flour mill originally erected by Mr.
Parkman was burned in 1830, but was rebuilt
in 1834 by John P. Convers. In 1839 it was
enlarged and was in active operation up to a
comparatively recent date.
Messrs. Parkman and Converse were in
partnership in various lines of industry such
as distilling, the sawing of lumber and the
manufacture of linseed oil, as well as of flour.
! They remained thus associated uiatil Mr. Park-
man's death in 1832, and were considered
among the leading manufacturers and busi
ness men of that part of the county.
Claridon Township.
The beginning of Claridon township as an
industrial community antedates its actual set
tlement, as Stephen Higby, of Hambden,
erected a saw mill and grist mill about thirty
feet over the' town.ship line and within the
present bounds of Claridon township. It was
nearly three years thereafter before an actual
settlement was made in this township — the
pioneers named being Asa Cowles and wife
with their children, Elijah Douglass and wife.

with Miss Chloe Douglass, sister of the latter.
Mrs. Douglass was Mr. Cowles' daughter. This
little party left their homes in New Hartford,
Connecticut, and traveled the entire distance
overland through what was then an almost
unbroken wilderness. Several parties from
Burton and Newbury assisted in the erection
of the log cabin which sheltered both of these
famihes, and among those who was unusually
skilful with the ax was Peter Hitchcock, after
ward the famous judge and public man. The
month of July, 181 1, marked the settlement
of these pioneers of Claridon township.
Newbury Township.
The first improvements undertaken in the
township of Newbury were made by Judge
Stone near North Newbury, about 1802. That
sturdy pioneer settled in the township of Bur
ton, but acquired land in both townships about
the same tirae. Lemufj. Punderson.
Soon after, Lemuel Punderson carae from
Connecticut, named in 1808 and settled with
his wife at Burton, as a land agent, and like
wise commenced improvements in the town
ship. In 1808 the latter and Mr. Hickox en
tered into partnership and built a grist mill,
as well as a- saw mill and distillery, near the
foot of the big pond, now so well known as
Punderson's Pond. After building their dam
it was carried away by a freshet, but was im
mediately rebuilt, and in the year 1810 both
grist mill and distiUery were in active oper
ation. In July, 1810, Mr. and Mrs. Pund
erson moved from Burton and settled on the
land near the foot of the pond, which became
their homestead. Punderson's pond has been
the resort of fishermen for years and has now
passed into private hands. In 1816 Mr. Pund
erson completed his saw miH ahd rnay there
fore he caHed the industrial father of this
locality. After his coming the settleraent of
Newbury became a reality, and family after

320

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

family came into the town from the various
states of the east.
In the summer of 1815 Joshua M. Burnett
generously gave the use of his back parlor in
his log house for school purposes, and this
pioneer educational institution was taught by
Miss Chloe Humphrey. In the year following
its opening th? first school house was erected
just north of the old Parker farm.
Troy Township.
Jacob Welsh, a citizen of Boston, Massa
chusetts, was employed as agent by a repre
sentative of the Connecticut Land Company to

trail on the east side of the river into Troy
township. This was early in 181 1. Chester
Eliott of Bondstown (now Hambden) sur
veyed the township into sections. In February,
1820, the territory now known as Troy town
ship was set off and called Welshfield town
ship, in honor of the Jacob Welsh above men
tioned. The death of its founder occurred
April 19, 1822, and since 1834 the township
has retained its present name of Troy.
Bainbridge Township.
The first settler in what is now Bainbridge
township was David McConoughey, a Scotch

GEAMMAE .4.ND HIGH SCHOOL, CHAEDON.

locate the tract now erabraced within the boun
daries of Troy township. Accordingly, with
his eldest daughter Betsey, he came to Bur
ton in the fall of 18 10 and occupied his time
during the winter of that year in exploring his
territory and selecting a location for the first
log house to be built in the township. He era
ployed a man named Phineas Pond, of Mantua,
to erect a sraall log cabin near the house where
his son. Captain John Welsh, afterward lived
and died. Mr. Welsh also eraployed Soloraon
Charter, afterward a resident of Burton, with
his brother, to cut the brush and clear the
way so that a wagon could follow the Indian

Irishman from Blanford, Massachusetts, who,
on the first of January, 1811, arrived with his
wife and six children at the cabin of Samuel
McConoughey, his brother, who five years be
fore had settled in the northwestern part of
Aurora. On Thanksgiving day of the same
year David McConoughey and family moved
into the cabin that the father and sons had con
structed, which was located in the southeast
corner of Bainbridge township. This was the
first faraily to make this section of Geauga
county their home. The first saw miU in the
township was built by General Chauncey
Eggleston, a wealthy farmer of Aurora, in

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

321

1820. The following year he erected a grist
mill, and in 1823 the first tannery of the town
ship was started by John and James Lowry.
These were the first industrial plants in the
township. The Village of Chardon.
The first permanent settlers of Auburn and
Chardon townships arrived in the year 1812
Bildad Bradley was the pioneer of Auburn,
his house being located on the Mills tract near
the north line of the township.
The early history of Chardon township has
already been given in the section of history
devoted to the organization of the county it
self and the location of its seat of justice.
Chardon in 1837.
A definite idea of the advantages and attrac
tions of the village and township of Chardon
may be obtained from the following extract
taken from the Ohio Gazetteer and Travelers'
Guide, published at Colurabus in 1837 : "Char
don, a post town (office of the same name)
and seat of justice for Geauga county; situated
on the height of ground between the head
waters of Grand, Cuyahoga and Chagrin
rivers, and fourteen miles south of Fairport,
on Lake Erie. It is computed to be about six
hundred feet above the lake. The raail stages
from Pittsburg and Zanesville raeet at this
place; the first running three times a week,
the second twice. There is also a daily line
of stages lately established, running from Fair-
port, through Chardon to Wellsville, on the
Ohio, a distance of ninety-four miles, which
has been performed in fifteen hours. This
will be an important route when it is better
known to the public. The village contains,
sixty-five dwelling houses, some of which con
tain more than one family. Inhabitants, about
six hundred; four stores, &c. The public
buildings are a court house, meeting house,
school house and jail. Distance southwest
from Jefferson, 28 miles; 35 northwest from
Warren; 30 north from Ravenna; 28 east by
Vol. 1—21

north from Cleveland, and 168 northeast from
Columbus. N. lat 41 deg. 36 rain.; W. lon.
4 deg. 16 min."
"Chardon, a central township of Geauga
county, in which the above town is situated.
It contained 881 inhabitants at the census of
1830. It is a good township of land, a con
siderable portion of which is under a high
state of cultivation. It returns 16,340 acres
of land for taxation, valued at $60,485, ex
clusive of town property."
Chardon of the Present.
The present village of Chardon is a pretty
and well constructed town of some 1,500 peo
ple, located on a sightly eminence, and, to
gether with Bass Lake, three railes distant,
and Little mountain, seven miles away, is some
what of a suraraer resort. It is located on the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and also has
abundant communication wifh the surround
ing territory through various electric lines.
It is only twenty-eight miles from Cleveland.
As stated, the town was laid out for the
county seat in 1808 and named after Peter
Chardon Brooks of Boston. In the center of
the viHage is a handsorae square of about
eleven acres in which stands a substantial
brick court house, and across its bounding
thoroughfares are commodious public school
buildings and a most creditable City Hall.
The grammar and high schools occupy sep
arate buildings, accommodations for the ad
vanced students being provided by a handsome
two-story brick building which was erected in
1908. In the same year was corapleted the
City Hall and fire station ; an attractive build
ing of stone and brick, with tHe roof. The two
leading religious denominations are the Congre
gational and Methodist, the former occupying
a beautiful building erected in 1875, and the
latter an edifice built in 1883. There is also
a well sustained Christian church and the
Catholics have a small charge known as St.
Mary's. The business of the place and the surround-

322

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ing country is transacted through two sub
stantial institutions, the First National and the
Chardon Saving banks.- One of the largest and
most attractive business blocks of the place is
Memorial Hall, a three-story brick structure
erected in honor of the G. A. R. Two sub
stantial newspapers sustain the reputation of
the place, viz : — The Republican and the
Record, the latter being a Deraocratic journal.
Sketches of these newspapers will be found in
the section devoted to the history of the press.
Montville Township.
Montville township was one of the last to be
settled in the county, its pioneer being Ros
well Stevens, who selected his land in the
early suramer of 1815, being then a resident of
Morgan, Ashtabula county, and in the follow
ing December located in section thirteen, near
the center of the township.
This section was part of what was then
known as the Torringford tract, which con
sisted of a belt of land a mile in width extend
ing frora the east to west through the town
ship. In various other portions of the West
ern Reserve, especially in Ashtabula county,
the Torringford Land Company of Connecticut
was a large land owner.
Munson Township.
In 1816 Munson township received its first
permanent settler in the person of Sarauel
Hopson, then residing in Mesopotamia, who
had previously lived in Burton several years.
In the spring of that year he purchased a
farra on the west side of the Chagrin river,
erected a log house, and in July brought his
family to reside in it. On account of a par
tial failure of crops Mr. Stevens returned to
Morgan, Ashtabula county, but two years
afterward again made Montville his horae,
where he reraained to develop the country and
reap substantial benefits, as well as general
honor. In the raeantime Orizon Cleveland,
Jehial Wilcox and Hazard Andrews had taken
up land and located in the Torringford tract

near the center df the town. Mr. Cleveland
also becarae discouraged over the drought and
failure of crops and left the country, but
he never returned. Two raonths before Mn
Stevens' return from Ashtabula county, an
addition to the population of Montville town
ship was made by the coming of James Win-
tersteen, who settled on the highlands toward
the north. He was also a "stayer" and his son,
James Wintersteen, patterned after him in
this, as well as in other good qualities. These
were the first of the pioneers in this part of
the county.
The territory of which Montville township
as coraposed, prior to the year 1822, was at
tached to Harabden, but in March of that year
was erected into a separate township. Its
northern sections are said to attain the highest
elevation in the county; this high altitude
accounts for the name of the township.
Russell Township.
The township of RusseH was the last section
to be settled in Geauga county, being at the
tirae erabraced within the limits of Lake
county. At the commencement of this settle
ment it was called the West Woods by the peo
ple of Newbury and the adjoining country,
and for sorae reason yet to be explained this
land was withheld from the market for several
years by the proprietors of the Conneticut
Land Company. The first settlers of the town
ship consisted of Gideon Russell, his wife and
five children, who located there, in 1818, on
the Chillicothe road a little south of the center
of the township. For about two years they
appear to have been the only inhabitants of
this section of the county, but in the faH of
1820 Simeon Norton and faraily joined the
Russells. The horaestead of the latter was
about half a mile south of the center of the
township and about the same distance from the
Russell farm. As Mr. Norton's house was
built of split and hewn logs, it was considered
in those days quite an advanced type of archi
tecture.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

323

After 1820 the settlement of the township
commenced in earnest. It was however, seri
ously retarded by the great drought of 1845,
Russell township being one of the greatest
sufferers in the county. It also was a victim
of the great freshet of 1878, during which
the Chagrin river reached high-water mark.
The destruction of property in Russell town
ship and the adjoining county was especially
great; cattle, sheep, fields of grain, mill dams
and bridges being swept away.
The Great Drought of 1845.
In the history of Geauga county two dis
asters are to be recorded which caused wide
spread suffering, especially to the agricultural
populace — one resulting from a visitation of
nature, and the other, the outcome of huraan
short-sightedness. The great drought of 1845 is stiH remem
bered by a few of the oldest pioneers of the
county ?s a season of terrible apprehension and
actual suffering, the district of the county
which suff'ered the most being about one hun
dred miles in length and fifty or sixty in
width, lying along Lake Erie. Within this
area Geauga county was perhaps the greatest
sufferer. From April i until June 10 of that
year no rain fell throughout that great extent
of country, and on the latter date only a few
drops moistened the parched soil. There was
then a complete cessation of rain until the
second of July ; then a sHght shower, and noth
ing more untH September. Many wells,
springs and streams of water which were con
sidered unfailing dried up completely. The
grass crop failed and the pastures became Hke
hard-beaten rt>ads, so that in traveling over
them great clouds of dust would arise. All
the grains were a complete failure; it was
with the utmost difficulty that bare sustenance
for live-stock could be dbtained and even the
orchards were shriveled, as a whole. To com
plete the devastation, grasshoppers were un
usually plentiful, and whatever green thing

might have been left to sustain life was
greedily devoured by these insects. They be
came so ravenous that they often trimmed
thistles and thorny twigs growing along the
dusty roadside.
- So great was the scarcity of food for the
domestic animals that early in the autumn of
that terrible year large droves were sent into
the Scioto country, where the crops were more
abundant, while others were driven into West
ern Pennsylvania in order to keep them alive
during the winter. Many hundreds of dairy
cows were, however, sold for less than five
dollars a head, as the cost of wintering them
would have more than consumed their value
before the following spring. Foreseeing these
dangers to the very existence of their live
stock, many of the farraers sowed fields of
turnips in August and September, hoping
thereby to raise winter food for their cattle ;
but the seed did not even vegetate for lack of
moisture. These statements but faintly con
vey an idea of the financial losses experienced
by the farmers and live-stock dealers of
Geauga county, and nothing could be said to
depict the awful suffering experienced by both
human beings and dumb brutes.
The Ford Bank Failure.
The second disaster which is to be noted
was of an entirely different nature, caused as
it was, by the short-sightedness of the Burton
banking firm, so widely known as Boughton,
Ford & Corapany. The failure of this firm for
more than $1,000,000, which started this and
adjoining counties in January, 1903, involved
the future and in many cases the actual lives
of nearly three thousand creditors.
It is probable that there is not another in
stance in the history pf bank failures in the
United States where such poignant suffering
was caused to so raany people as in this case
to be described. The bank firm was composed
of George H. and R. N. Ford, the sons of ex-
Governor Ford, _and Mr. Boughton, their un-

324

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

cle. The basis of the supposed security of the
bank consisted of large tracts of land cora
prising about four hundred acres, which were
owned by various members of the Boughton
and Ford families and located principally in
Geauga county. But unsound judgment in
making loans, as well as unfortunate oil spec
ulations in Western Pennsylvania fields,
brought about the collapse of the bank's
finances, so that on January 26, 1903, it was
obliged to raake an assignraent to Culton E.
WiUiaras, a well known citizen of Burton, long
engaged in the real estate and other lines of
business. The affairs of the bank were first
thrown into the Probate court, "but upon
petition of the creditors the estate was finally
placed for liquidation in the United States
Court of Bankruptcy, under the special super
vision of three trustees — Mr. Williams, before
noted, W. C. Mumaw, of Troy and C. E.
Thorpe, of Auburn. Legally these three trus
tees are still in service, although Mr. Williaras
is in reality the only active raeraber. In set
tling up the affairs of the bank it was ascer
tained that the 2,500 or 3,000 creditors were
scattered through Geauga, Portage, Cuyahoga
and Lake counties, about eighty per cent, how
ever, residing in the first named.
So loosely had affairs of the bank been
managed that virtually no available assets were
at once found, although as the investigation
progressed the trustees were able to turn over
to the creditors seven and three-eighths per
cent of the HabHities. Many merchants and
hundreds of farmers were thrown into bank
ruptcy. Widows and orphans were made pau
pers. This latter stateraent is no figure of
speech, for it is a matter of actual record that
many of the victims of the Ford bank failure
were obliged to go to, the poor-house; and
even a number of deaths are directly traceable
to the suffering caused by it. Although the
largest loss which any one individual sustained
was but $23,000, the effects of the failure are
indescribable and can never be measured in
dollars and cents.

Higher Educational Institutions.
Geauga county has always maintained the
high standard of the Western Reserve for
substantial and thorough institutions of learn
ing. Not only have her schools been conducted
on a broad basis, especially since the insti
tution of the Akron Law, but, like nearly all
the other counties of the Reserve, she had
founded academies and seminaries whose repu
tation has extended far beyond her immediate
boundaries. The Burton academy was instituted in 1804,
and as it was the predecessor of the famous
Western Reserve College its history is here
given in detail.
In 1825 an acaderay was founded at Char
don, and the higher branches commenced to
be taught in the fall of that year; but event
ually the academy was merged into a high
school connected with the township system.
Parkman Academy was built in 1839 and
Geauga Serainary, of Chester, where Garfield
received a portion of his early education, was
established in 1842. Every township, in
fact, has raaintained a school for the benefit of
advanced scholars during the winter months.
Teachers, institutes have also flourished for
years in the county, and nothing has been left
undone to advance the cause of higher, as well
as a common-school education.
Burton Academy.
As stated. Burton Academy was founded in
1804, its building, being occupied in 1806. It
was the first institution of the kind on the. Re
serve. In the winter of 1806 and 1807 Peter
Hitchcock, whose career has already .been
noted, was the first teacher in the academy, but
the attendance was so small that the school
closed temporarily for a few months. Seabury
Ford was one of the scholars in attendance
during the winter of 1809, Judge Hitchcock
still being the chief instructor in the academy.
Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by
fire in December, 1810. It stood on the west
side of the square, a little north of the present

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

325

union school building. At the time of its
destruction, its teacher was Gilbert Ferris,
whose enthusiasm for the academy induced
him to build an addition to his log dweHing
house in which to teach the scholars under his
charge. The war of 1812 seriously interfered with
the progress of Burton Acaderay, as it did
with all things on the Reserve. In 1817 a new
building was started on the east side of the
square and corapleted two years afterward.
In May, 1820, David L. Coe. a graduate of
Williams College, Massachusetts, opened the
new structure and continued in charge until
1824. The original charter of Burton Acad
emy was then extended for ten years, and
the Presbyterian and Congregational churches
of the Western Reserve induced the old man
agement to add a theological department to
the curriculum, but the widespread fever
epidemic which visited Burton and the vicinity
during the years 1823 and 1824 induced those
in control of the academy to consider a prop
osition to remove the institution to Hudson,
Ohio, and for this purpose a charter was ob
tained February 7, 1826. This proposition, it
is needless' to say, was strongly opposed by
Judge Hitchcock and others ; and the success
of the academy while located at Burton, as
well as the health of the residents of the sec
tion in after years, proved that the fears as to
the unsanitary condition of Burton was
groundless. Notwithstanding, in 1830 the
academy was removed to Hudson, and still
later, to Cleveland, as the Western Reserye
University. Says B. A. Hinsdale : "This acad
emy flourished and narrowly escaped expand
ing into a college." It may be added — Nor
walk had its Delaware and Burton, its Hud
son! Present Educational Status.
A fair idea of the present status of the
schools and teachers of Geauga county may
be obtained from the last yearly report of the
State Superintendent of Public Schools. From

this document it appears that the co'unty is
divided into fifteen township districts, seventy-
three sub-districts and sixteen separate dis
tricts ; that the total value of school property
is $165,750 and that the following number of
teachers are employed : — seventy-nine in the
township districts and one hundred and eleven
in the separate districts, of whom thirty-one
are men and eighty, woraen. / From the same
authority it is learned that the average monthly
wages paid in the elementary schools of the
county are — in the township districts, $38 to
men and $40 to women, while in the var
ious high schools of the county, as well
as in the separate districts, the men
coramand the higher wages. The average
monthly wages of women in the high schools
amount to $47, while those of the men are
$78; in the separate districts $47 and $68,
respectively, to woraen and raen. The annual
receipts from all public school sources in
Geauga county araount to $97,053.60; expen
ditures $93,757.69 ; balance on hand, $64,499.50
Early Epidemics in the County.
The reader will doubtless recall the fact that
it was a widespread epidemic of fever and
malaria which frightened away the Burton
Acaderay and fixed its location at Hudson.
In fact, for raany years prior to that tirae,
the county suffered greatly from a series of
epidemics which are, of course, incident to
raany new countries before they are thoroughly
settled and their drainage provided for.
A description of these draw-backs, with the
mention of the typhus epidemic which raged
in Burton and vicinity in the early twenties,
is given in an address prepared by Dr. Orange
Pomeroy for the annual meeting of the Geauga
Historical Society held at Burton in 1878.
"The diseases from which the early settlers
suffered," he says, "were from natural causes
. — malaria. The soil, in aH parts, consisted of
decomposing vegetable matter, which, upon
the clearing awav of the dense forests and the

326

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

overturning of the plow, exposed this rich
compost to the sun's ray's, causing the devel
opment of a subtle poison, which becoming
mixed with the atmosphere in sufficient quan
tities developed intermittent and remittent fev
ers, which were, at an early day, very general
upon the high as well as upon the low lands.
"There was another cause which may stiH
be said to exist, but only to render those dis
eases endemic, that is, the general topog
raphy. "Geauga county is an elevated plateau, and
is drained by the following streams ; the Grand
river drains about one third of the area on the
north and east^ the Cuyahoga, the central
third; and the Chagrin river, the western
third. The branches of the Grand river are
generally rapid, and there is but Httle swamp
land in that portion. Therefore, there is not
a suitable field for the development of the
miasraatic poison. The sarae may be said of
the Chagrin and its branches, with the excep
tion, perhaps, of . that portion which runs
through Munson township; that, however, for
a number of years, has been quite free from
malarial diseases ; but some years ago they pre
vailed to an alarming extent.
"With the Cuyahoga river the condition is
different — it has but little fall and therefore
the current is sluggish, from its source in the
northern part of the county to the extreme
southern end of the same. It has broad
bottoms, which, in Middlefield, Burton and
Troy townships, become very low and swarapy.
A few years ago a special tax was raised for
the purpose of lowering the bed of the river
at the rapids and also to ditch the swarap. That
work has now been corapleted, and has re
sulted in materially lessening sickness which
was forraeriy so severe araong the inhabitants
in the vicinity. It has also had the effect of
reclaiming thousands of acres of, heretofore,
worthless land, and rendering it valuable for
meadows and pasture.
"I will now briefly touch upon the history
of the various epidemics which have from time

to time visited this county. As I have said
before, the first and most prominent diseases
which prevailed here were the malarial fevers.
There were some years in which they had
more the appearance of an epidemic, as in such
years nearly all of the people were more or
less severely affected with intermittent or re
mittent fever. In the years of 1812 and 1814
those diseases were particularly prevalent, dur
ing the autumn and spring. About the same
time (I am unable to learn the exact year), an
epidemic of erysipelas prevailed in the eastern
part of the county, as well as in Ashtabula and
Trumbull counties. It was called at the time
'black tongue.' It was fatal and was accom
panied by puerperal fever, which was also
exceedingly fatal in its results.
In 1816 typhus fever made its appearance,
and was very fatal, on account of its malignity
and the mistaken ideas of its pathology. The
raost of the physicians having come from New
England, where the diseases were of an inflam
matory type, requiring the free use of the
lancet and other active depleting agents, were
not prepared to meet a new disease differing
so corapletely from those with which they had
had to deal — a disease the essence of which
was a peculiar blood poisoning, and the treat
ment best adapted being tonics and stimulants
and not sedatives. This fever left an impres
sion which is felt to this day — all diseases be
ing more or less of an asthmatic type.
"After the typhus fever I have no infor
raation to lead me to think that there was any
unusual sickness -until 1821, when remittent
fever prevailed to an alarming extent in the
valley of the Cuyahoga. In Burton it was
particularly severe, and there were a great
many fatal cases." The Professions.
There has always been quite a discussion as
to the comparative importance of the profes
sions in the establishment and promotion of
new communities. The safest way out of such
a discussion, which has distinct merits on both

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

327

sides of the question, is to say that it would be
impossible to get along without physicians,
editors or members of the bar in any new and
struggling country. Early Physicians.
Among the early physicians of Geauga
county may be mentioned several of both abil
ity and lovable qualities. Dr. Kennedy, who
came to Burton in i8i2.and had quite a large
practice in the northern townships was the
earhest doctor. In the same year. Dr. Clark
settled on the State road near the northwest
corner of Middlefield township. In 1814 Dr.
Goodwin, who had been a surgeon in the War
of 1812, also became a resident of Burton, and
acquired a very extensive practice which he
retained for many years. Dr. Denton located
at Chardon in 1820, and during the succeed
ing decade acquired a fine practice in the
northern towns of the county. He was both
a skilful surgeon, a graduate of Colurabia
College, and an accoraplished scholar, as well
as an excellent physician.
Dr. L. A. Hamilton located at Chardon in
1830, about the time of Dr. Denton's death,
and continued in practice at that place until his
own decease in 1867.
Dr. E. Breck, of Huntsburg, and Dr. Lud
low, of Auburn township, both came in the
early twenties and enjoyed large practices and
subsj:antial reputations. Those mentioned
were perhaps the most prominent physicians
who made Geauga county their home prior
to 1830.
It is universally conceded that Judge Hitch
cock was the most prominent member of the
legal profession in .Geauga county during the
entire period of his active services, on the
bench and at the bar. Both he and Samuel
W. Phelps were not only pioneers in their
profession, but for years gave a decided moral
tone to the entire county bar. Ralph Granger
was also a noted lawyer, as weH as a prominent
real estate operator. He came from Canan
daigua, New York, and located at Fairport as

early as 1820. His father, General Granger,
had been postmaster general in Madison's ad
ministration, and at his death left the son a
large estate. The younger Granger was there
fore in comfortable circumstances and in
creased his fortune by natural business abili
ties. Furthermore, he had acquired a liberal
education and, in all probability, was the most
thorough scholar of the Geauga county bar.
First Newspaper.
The first paper published within the present
limits of Geauga county was the Chardon
Spectator and Geauga Gazette, established in
1833, with Albert Phelps, editor and propri
etor. Prior to that year the county depended
upon Painesville for its news and its editorial
inspiration. Unfortunately, Mr. Phelps was
not a practical printer and it is almost need
less to say his enterprise was short-lived.
After publishing the paper nearly two and one-
half years, as he announces in his valedictory,
"at a constant pecuniary loss, besides the loss
of his own services, by no means inconsider
able, however inefficient," he was reluctantly
compelled to abandon the enterprise November
27, 1835, and on that date the establishment
was sold to J. I. Browne, editor of the Toledo
Gazette.
Joseph W. White.
On May 23, 1840, the first nuraber of the
Geauga Freeman appeared, under the editor
ship and proprietorship of Joseph W. White.
Like its predecessor, it was a Whig paper, and
was especially established to proraote the can
didacy of General Harrison for the presidency.
Of all the Whig counties in the state, not
withstanding its comparatively sraall popula
tion, Geauga was considered the raost enthu
siastic for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too."
The character of the editor of the Freeman
was in direct contrast with that of Editor
Phelps of the Gazette; he was not only a prac
tical printer, but a raan of action, whose ex
periences had been even romantic. Born in

328

HISTORY OF TFIE WESTERN RESERVE

Fort Duquesne, July 3, 1788, Mr. White's
parents, with many others, were forced to take
refuge in the fort, and after the conclusion of
hostihties the boy spent several years in Pitts
burg where he served an apprenticeship at
the printer's trade. He was married in 1810,
and soon afterward started, with his young
bride and her younger sister and husband
(also a printer), for the infant settleraent of
Marietta. The little party embarked from
Fort Duquesne in midwinter, and in an open
canoe floated down the Ohio river (then filled
with ice) for jMarietta, where they arrived
in safety, and, going thence to Zanesville, the
two young men established the Ohio Patriot,
of which Mr. White was the editor. His paper
survived the war of 1812 and its editor also
had the honor of serving in the closing year
of the war with his old class-mate, Lewis Cass.
Mr. White was therefore well adapted to
assist in the conduct of such an aggressive
campaign as that of 1840, and, although he re
mained editor of the Freeman only two and
a half years, he afterward removed to Me
dina, Ohio, and later to Chardon, where he
became well known as a journalist during the
Civil war period. In fact, it was his boast
that he had had the honor of participating,
as a journalist, in every national war in which
the United States had been engaged. His
death occurred near Youngstown November
17, 1869, in his eighty-first year, and he was
then considered the oldest ex-editor in Ohio.
In Noveraber, 1842, the Geauga Freeman
was purchased by David T. Bruce, who
changed its narae to the Geauga Republican
and Whig. Mr. Bruce's connection with the
paper ceased six years thereafter, but as he
had received into partnership his two sons,
Williara W. and Eli Bruce, the manageraent
of the paper was continued in the family. In
Deceraber, 1849, f^^ sons mentioned changed
its name to the Geauga Republic, and thus
continued its publication until January 17,
1854, when they removed the plant and news
paper to Cleveland, and established in that city

the daily and weekly Express. The Bruces
both father and sons, have the reputadon of
being among the strongest journalists who
flourished during the ascendancy of the Whig
party in Geauga county.
Chardon Free Democrat.
The first nuraiber of the Free Democrat was
issued at Chardon, in December, 1849. -^
number of prominent citizens were interested
in its establishment, but only the names of
O. P. Brown and M. C. Canfield appear as
editors. Both were able writers and thorough
believers in the "Free Soil" movement, upon
which principles the paper was estabhshed.
In August, 1850, however, the paper passed
into the hands of Hon. J. F. Asper, who
afterward becarae widely known as Heutenant
of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
colonel of the 171st, which was stationed at
Johnson's Island, and as a meraber of con
gress from the state of Missouri. J. S. Wright
becarae its editor in March, 1852, and being
a practical printer and journalist established
the paper on a sound financial basis, changing
its narae in January, 1854, to the leffersonian
Democrat. During the seven years of his editorship
Mr. Wright earned a solid reputation in his
profession and also acquired high standing
in county politics, serving as chairman of the
Republican Central Committee, and also twice
as county treasurer. He died August 12,
1859, only a few raonths after resigning his
editorial labors. Julius Orin Converse.
In the meantirae (on January i, 1859) '1^^
Democrat had been purchased by J. 0. Con
verse, who edited the paper vigorously and
earnestly for a period of forty-five years.
Mr. Converse changed the name of his journal
in January, 1866, to the Geauga Democrat,
haying in the meantime served as postmaster
of Chardon under the first Lincoln administra
tion. On the third of January, 1872, it be-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

329

came the Geauga Republican, as it is still
known. Its editor was postraaster of Char
don for three terms — under Lincoln, Harrison
and McKinley, and at the tirae of his death,
Septeraber 6, 1902, had served as postraaster
for five months under Roosevelt.
Mr. Converse had continued as editor and
proprietor of the Republican until January
I, 1902, when he sold the paper to Lewis
S. Pomeroy, who, in September, 1905, dis
posed of it to the Geauga Printing Company,
with H. C. Par.sons as managing editor.
Julius Orin Converse was born in Chardon,
May I, 1834. and died on the premises where
he first opened his eyes upon this world. With
the exception of a brief period, his entire
life was passed in this locality — virtually the
only exception to this life-long residence being
the two years which he passed in Cleveland
during his boyhood. It was there that he
acquired his taste for the newspaper business
as a carrier and seller of city journals, and on
his return to his native town he learned the
trade of a com.positor. His connection with
the local press has already been given and his
identification with the Republican politics of
the county was as prominent as his leader
ship in journalism. From his early boyhood
he took a deep interest in the political affairs
of the county, joining the Republican party
when it was organized, and ever afterward
being a faithful supporter of its principles. He
cast his first presidential vote for Fremont
and served his party well and repeatedly, as
chairman of its county committee. For four
years, beginning with 1880, he was a mem
ber of the State Central Committee (its chair
man, during the last year), and in 1884 was
chosen as one of the two delegates from the
Nineteenth district to the Republican national
convention, held at Chicago. In 1880 he was
a candidate for the Congressional nomination
and received the solid support of Geauga
county for that honor. In every way and for
nearly fifty years, he was one of the lead
ing representatives of this section of the West

ern Reserve, and maintained during this long
period the confidence and esteera of such na
tional leaders as Garfield, McKinley and Sher
raan. His admiration for the first naraed
found expression in an essay entitled, "Gar
field the Ideal Man," which received high
praise frora not only his personal friends, but
from Hterary critics as well. In whatever
field of endeavor Mr. Converse worked, he
was universally acknowledged to be a raan of
thoroughness and absolute trustworthiness —
faithful in all things, both small and large.
The deceased married, Decembar 24, 1862,
Mrs. Julia P. Wright, of Freedom, Portage
county, a daughter of Mr., and Mrs. David
H. Wright, widely respected citizens of Char
don in their last years. He was survived by
both a widow and daughter — the latter, Miss
Mary- E., having been connected with the
Chardon postoffice for thirteen years, and had
charge of the office for several months after
her father's death.
"Geauga County Record."
The Geauga County Record, of Chardon,
now edited and published by Paul E. Denton,
was estabhshed on December 23, 1886, by R.
L. and H. P. Denton, under the narae of the
Democratic Record. The office was located
in a small roora in the town hall, and the
original sheet was a six-coluran folio of home
print. In those days the Record was printed
on an "Army hand press," one page at a time,
the forms being inked by a hand roHer. A
few weeks after the appearance of its first
number W. G. King was admitted as a part
ner and the firm was knowrt as Denton Bros.
and King until the following spring, when
Mr. King withdrew frora the business and
reraoved to western Kansas to engage in the
practice of law. For about sixteen years the
paper was published in a roora over No. 6
Main street. In AprH, 1888, H. P. Denton
sold his interest to his brother, R. L. Denton,
who was then its sole proprietor until 1890.
when he disposed of the business to Dr. O.

33°

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Pomeroy and J. E. Smith, of Chardon, and
removed to Bismarck, North Dakota. H. P.
and G. M. Denton edited the paper for a time
and were successively succeeded by S. E. Col-
grove, of Cleveland (editor), and the late R.
N. Traver, of Painesville, as editor and pub
lisher. James A. Davidson and son (the late
W. H. Davidson) were then editors and pub
lishers for a year or more until the paper
was bought by John W. Harter, of Akron, and
in July, 1900, was sold to Elraer F. Reihoehl,
of Massillon, who was its editor and publisher
until the journal was sold to the Geauga
Printing Company on February 5, 1909, with
Paul E. Denton (then its news editor) as its
managing editor. In 1903 the office had been
removed to the second floor of the Postoffice
block, and three years thereafter occupied its
present quarters in the new Printing block.
The Record has continually iraproved in me
chanical excellence and general influence and
resembles in its general make-up a small city
daily, rather than a country newspaper. At
the Democratic convention held June 25, 1887,
it was made the official organ of the Democ
racy of Geauga county, and is its only ex
ponent in that section of the state.
The Geauga Leader was established at Bur
ton December 18, 1874, by J. B. Coffin. He
was succeeded by A. R. Wolsley and its pres
ent editor and proprietor, Charles J. Olds,
has been in charge since 1894. The Leader
is a Repubhcan weekly and stands stanchly
by the colors of its party.
The Middlefield Messenger is the latest ac
cession to the newspapers of Geauga county
and was established about a year ago by Carl
ton Lovejoy, a young man who had previ
ously had experience in journalism at Warren.
Old County Roads.
The first public road built through the
Western Reserve, known as the old Girdled
road, was laid out by Thomas Sheldon, of
Suffield, Connecticut, who acted for the Con

necticut Land Company, in January, 1798. It
commenced at the southeast part of Trumbull
county, passed near the SaH Springs, passing
through the northeastern part of Middlefield
township, the southwestern part of Hunts
burg and the central portion of Claridon town
ship east of Chardon to a point near the Per
kins camp in Concord, thence in a northwest
erly direction to the Ridge on Lake Erie. At
various places along the route of this old road
scarred trees appeared as late as 1876, these
indicating beyond a doubt the actual route of
this old historical highway.
This road is often spoken of as Wayne's
road, but not a few thorough historical schol
ars of the Western Reserve object to its being
thus designated. The following article on this
point, written by C. C. Brownson, of Summit
county, to the Painesville Telegraph, is self-
explanatory : "I have heard the ' Girdled
Road called Wayne's Trace. Why it is so
called I have yet to ascertain. General Wayne
defeated the Indians at the battle of FaUen
Timber, August 20, 1794. Wayne's army
marched north from Cincinnati, and returned
the same route. Wayne had command, after
this, of the U. S. garrison at Erie, Pennsyl
vania, where he died in 1805, and was buried '
at the foot of the flag-staff'. His remains were
removed to his native county, Chester, Penn
sylvania. I am not able to find any dis
turbance to call out troops under General
Wayne that would need a miHtary road
through northern Ohio."
The old ChiHicothe road was laid out in
1802. It passed through the western tier of
townships in Geauga county from the Lake
Shore road to its terminus at Chillicothe, and
Captain Edward Paine, of Chardon, was one
of the comraittee engaged in laying out the
highway. The old State road from Painesville
to Warren was laid out in 1805, and the
County road, frora Painesville to the south
line of Parkman township, was surveyed in
1806. It passed thfough both Chardon and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

331

Burton in a southeasterly direction. Justice
Miner, Noah Page and Daniel Kellogg were
commissioners, and Chester Elliott, surveyor.
Railroads of County.
It was fully twenty years from the incep
tion of the first railroad enterprise in Geauga
county before any train commenced actually
to run. In August, 1852, the PainesviHe and
Hudson Company was incorporated and in the
following July the Clinton Line Railroad
came into existence. Rights-of-way were se
cured and a large amount of capital was used
for preliminary grading and construction, but
a financial crisis finally caused a complete
suspension of work, the corporation went into
the hands of its creditors and eventually re
appeared under the name of the Painesville
and Youngstown Railroad Company. The
certificate of incorporation of the latter com
pany was filed in November, 1870. The
Painesville and Youngstown Railroad used
the old road built by the Painesville and Hud
son line, from Painesville to Chardon, and
laid out a new road from Chardon to Youngs
town, through Claridon, Burton and Middle-
field townships. The road was finally opened
to Chardon in the summer of 1872, and the
freight department was in full operation at
Burton in Deceraber, 1873 ; at Middlefield Hi
'the following April and at Farraington, War
ren, Niles and Youngstown in the summer
and fall of the same year. This road, which
is now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio system,
passes through Geauga county from its north
ern line, diagonally, to its southeast corner.
Chardon, Burton and Middlefield are also con
nected by thorough electric service with Cleve
land, and are therefore provided with com
plete means of communication and transpor
tation. Part in the War of 1812.
The war of 1812 gave birth to the military
spirit of Geauga county. Prior to that period
no full regiments had been organized, partly

owing to the sparse population and partly be
cause of the lack of general interest in miH
tary affairs. But during the legislative ses
sions of 1812-13 the seventeen organized coun
ties of Ohio were divided into four military
divisions. Geauga county was in the fourth
division, commanded by Major General Wads
worth, of Canfield, Trumbull county, and also
in the 4th brigade, coraraanded by General
Joel Paine, of Painesville, Geauga county.
The first regiment of the fourth brigade was
commanded by Captain Jedediah Beard, of
Burton. The first regiment had the following col-
onels-coraraandant : Joel Paine, Eli Bond,
Hezekiah King, Justin tole, Julius Hunting
ton, Abel Kiraball, Hendrick E. Paine, Josiah
Tracy, Benjarain Frisby, Wilcox and BiHings.
The Second regiraent (Chardon) had one
militia company and one light infantry com
pany ; Kirtland, one militia and one rifle com
pany. The following townships had each a
militia company: Chester, Munson, Claridon,
Hambden, Huntsburg and Montville. Col-
onels-coramandant : C. C. Paine, Jereraiah
Ames, John F. Morse, Lester Taylor, Erastus
Spencer, Colonel Ames, of Chester, Huron E.
Huraphrey and L. J. Rider.
The Third regiment (Burton) had one mi
litia and one light infantry corapany; Bain
bridge, one railitia and a squad of cavalry.
The following townships had one militia com
pany each: Parkman, Troy, Middlefield,
Newbury, Auburn, Russell. Colonels-com
mandant were: Jedediah Beard, Major Al-
lyn Humphrey and Major Horace Taylor;
each commanded one or more regimental mus
ters. Colonels, P. D. McConoughey, C. C.
Paine. Until this tirae it had erabraced the
territory of the Second regiraent. S. H. Will
iams, Chester Treat, Stephen, EHjah Ford,
of Troy ; Seabury Ford, John McFarland, Col
onel Henry, of Bainbridge ; Colonel Riddle, of
Newbury. Benjarain Mastick and Henry
Ford were their respective colonels.

332

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The County in the Civil War.
Although the county militia was maintained
as a loosely organized body for many years
after the war of 1812 and was temporarily
revived at the time of the Mexican war, it was
virtually non-existent at the time of the out
break of the Civil war in April, 1861. There
was, in fact, no railitary organization within
the limits of the county at that time, but
hardly had the echo of the guns trained on
Fort Surater died away before the old-time
military spirit was called into full vigor.
Among the first in the state to answer Presi
dent Lincoln's call for 75,000 men was the
company organized in Lake and Geauga coun
ties under coramand of Captain George E.
Paine and assigned to the Nineteenth Regi
ment for the three months' service. Com
panies were also formed in Chardon under
comraand of Captain Ganson, in Huntsburg
under Captain Philander Kyle, and in Burton,
under Captain H. H. Ford. As the county
erabraced no large city or town which could
be designated as headquarters for recruiting,
these meetings, were generally held at such
places as Painesville, Cleveland, Akron and
Warren. In August, 1861, five young men of Bur
ton — Elias A. Ford, Chauncey N. Talcott,
Henry W. Johnson, Lester T- Patchin and
James B. Cleveland — determined that one com
pany, at least, should go into the field with
officers credited to Geauga county. They were
so successful in their recruiting campaign in
the southern part of the county that they
succeeded in organizing the first full company
of what afterwards became the Forty-fifth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under comraand of
Colonel Williara B. Hazen. Another full com
pany was also organized in the northern part
of the county. These companies were desig
nated B and G and were under the coraraand,
respectively, of Captain Williara R. Tolles and
Captain M. H. Harablin. A little later in the
same year (1861) was organized the Nine
teenth Independent Ohio Battery, the men of

which were largely enlisted and partly oflScered
from Geauga county. Many men from this
county also enlisted in the Twenty-ninth regi
ment of infantry. The northern townships
furnished a number of recruits for what were
known as Wade and Hutchins cavalry regi
raents. In August, 1862, Geauga county fur
nished the entire company known as E, under
Captain Byron W. Canfield, of Chardon, and
part of company F, under Captain Sherburn
H. Williams, of Parkman, as weH as a num
ber of men in companies B, C, and I, aU of
which were attached to the 105th Ohio regi
ment. In June, 1862, a large party of men
from this county were enlisted and taken to
Columbus, where they were incorporated into
a company and attached to the Eighty-second
regiment for three months' service, the bal
ance being mustered into the Eighty-eighth
regiment for three years and assigned to guard
duty at Camp Chase. The 128th regiment
also received a small quota of Geauga county
men, who were assigned to guard duty at
the Confederate prison on Johnson's Island,
north of Sandusky, being there stationed at
the time of the famous conspiracy that so
nearly resulted in the liberation of the rebel
prisoners. Tv,ro companies of Geauga county men were
also raised and sent to Cincinnati, in 1862,
forming part of the force there assembled to
repel the attack upon that city by the Confeder
ate cavalry leader, Kirby Smith. One of these
companies was commanded by M. C. Canfield
and the other was captained by Peter Hitch
cock, of Burton. As is well known, "The
Squirrel Hunters," although eager to prove
their prowess, were not called into active serv
ice, as the raid of Kirby Smith was repelled
south of the Oliid river.
Under a law of the state providing for a
volunteer militia various companies were also
organized in the county as a portion of the
Ohio National Guard. Judge Hitchcock
formed one company from Burton, Middle-
field, Claridon and Huntsburg townships, and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

333

in the summer of 1863 another company was
formed from recruits in Newbury, Munson
and Russell townships, under command of
Captain John Cutler. These two commands
constituted the Eighty-sixth Battalion, Ohio
National Guard. Subsequently, they were
consolidated with the Fiftieth regiment, Ohio
National Guard, and ordered to Johnson's
Island ; but upon their, arrival there in May,
1864, they were consolidated with the 171st
regiment, afterward entering active service
and fighting under Grant throughout the ter

rible campaigns of the "Wilderness." On the
1st of May, 1866, in pursuance of an act
passed in the previous April, the members of
these companies mentioned were discharged
from t'he State service and exempted from
military duty.
Altogether, Geauga county furnished over
1,300 men to the Union armies, or nearly
ten per cent of its entire population, which
certainly is a record eminently creditable to
its patriotism.

CHAPTER XXIII.

SUMMIT COUNTY.

The two northern townships of Sumrait
county erabrace the geographical center of the
Western Reserve, and its two southern town
ships (Green and Franklin) are just outside
of the Reserve. In its southern portion also
lies a section of the watershed between Lake
Erie and the Ohio river. The county is also
the center of a region that, for a radius of
forty railes, has more natural lakes than any
other section in the state of Ohio. Silver
creek is the highest point on the Western
Reserve, 1,392 feet above lake level. It is,
therefore, evident that from the standpoint
of physical characteristics and geographical
position Summit county is of the utmost ira
portance and interest in treating of the history
and the development of the Western Reserve,
This is particularly true of the educational
affairs of northern Ohio, as for raany years
the Western Reserve College, located at Hud
son, was the center frora which radiated many
of the most striking inteHectual and educa
tional influences which dorainated this part of
the state. Primitive Nature in Action.
Surarait county bears out the general rule
that the ultimate iraportance and destiny of
any locality are largely the result of geolog
ical forces. The vast glacial or ice sheets,
whose action is raanifested in such reraark
able forras at Kelley's Island, at the north
ern liraits of the Reserve, plowed down
through the central portion of Sumrait county,

and forraed an immense dam across the Ohio
river. The physical evidences show that the
prehistoric waters backed up as far as the
headwaters of the Allegheny river, and formed
an immense lake, four hundred by two hun
dred miles in area, and submerged the site
of Pittsburg, and much of the Western Penn
sylvania and Eastern Ohio, at the same time
burying Summit county under a mountain of
ice. When this barrier was finally disin
tegrated the waters rushed northward and
formed what Ohio geologists have termed the
Cuyahoga lake and Akron river. At what
time the glacial barrier was broken through
and the Cuyahoga turned toward the north
are matters of pure conjecture. Before this
time what is now known as Cuyahoga river
is supposed to have flowed in a southern di
rection through Glendale Cemetery (Akron)
and the Water Works Park and Akron river.
to Summit lake. Some years ago workmen
who were drilling for the Akron Water Works
found huge antlers of a deer about thirty feet
below the present surface, thus proving that
at one time there was a great river valley
north of Summit lake.
As has been stated in the foregoing nar
rative, with the shrinkage and drainage of the
Cuyahoga lake and the forcing of its waters
toward the Lake Erie, the valley of Cuyahoga
river was formed ; and the prehistoric Akron
river shrank into what is now known as Sum
mit lake, with its small and soraewhat mysteri
ous outlet. With the falling of the waters,

334

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

335

or their shedding southward over the divide,
was also formed the valley of the Tuscarawas
river. Thus geology fixed the picturesque
channels of these two streams in Summit
county, and the power derived from their
currents provided the primary means by which
. Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and other localities
became great manufacturing centers.
The Cuyahoga Valley.
Akron, the county seat, and one of the
great manufacturing centers of the Reserve,
derives its name from the Greek word which
signifies "Point," and its massive court house
stands upon one of the highest elevations in
- Summit county. The city, in fact, is the cen
ter not only of the most important indus
trial Hfe of the county, but the starting point
of its most impressive and beautiful physical
features. The Cuyahoga valley, which begins
at Akron, expands as it approaches the north
ern limits of the county, and thereafter, in
Cuyahoga county, loses much of its irapres-
siveness and beauty. The gorge of the Cuya
hoga which extends from Cuyahoga Falls,
three or four miles westward nearly to the join
ing of the Big and Little Cuyahoga rivers, is
famous throughout the West both for the rug-
gedness of its beauty and the power which it
furnishes to the great manufactories along
its precipitous banks. In summer its banks
are graced with oaks, maples, and elms, ash
and evergreens, and in the winter months pre
sent to the visitor, especially in the vicinity
where manufactories are found, fantastic and
changing formations of ice, snow and frost.
The Divide and Portage Path.
The famous Lake Region stretches from
Akron to the southern Hmits of the county,
and include Turkey- Foot and Long lakes. In
the northern portion of the county are Silver
and Wyoga lakes ; Springfield lake lies to the
east; and Shocolog, White and Black ponds
are in the west. As far back as history run
neth, in the country now covered by the West

ern Reserve, the divide between the head
waters of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas riv
ers has been historic ground. When white
men first came upon the scene they found
the Indians using this portage as the raost
coraraon means of passage between the region
of the Great Lakes and the Ohio valley; and
by the treaty which the United States raade
with the Indians the Portage Path, or Red-
Men's Trail, becarae the legal boundary be
tween the Six Nations and the Western Indi
ans. As finally surveyed by the second expe
dition sent out by the Connecticut Land Com
pany in 1897, its length was eight miles, four
chains and fifty-three links, and its exact
course is thus described : It leaves the Cuya
hoga river at the present village of Old Por
tage, about three miles north of Akron; as
cends westward to high ground; thence turn
ing south parallel with the present Ohio canal
to near Summit lake ; hence along low ground
south to the Tuscarawas river about a mile
above New Portage. "Since the memory of
man runneth," these eight miles have sepa
rated the headwaters of the Great Lakes from
those of the Ohio and in many respects this
locality is very similar to the so-called Divide
at Summit, a few miles south of Chicago,
which marks' the division between the waters
of Lake Michigan and the Illinois, or Mis
sissippi river.
The historical significance and interest of this
ancient Portage Path, which, when Summit
county was first settled by white men, was the
distinct frontier line of the United States, are
thus depicted by Gen. L. V. Bierce in his
"Reminiscences of Surarait County," published
in 1854:
"When we cast our eyes north and see Old
Portage, a celebrated boundary in the treaty
of Fort Mcintosh in 1785 — south, and see
New Portage, from which boats we fitted out
to New Orleans — when we look west and see
within our township and almost within our
corporation, the celebrated Indian Trail, once
the boundary between the Six Nations and

336

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the Western Indians, and, by the treaty of
Greenville in 1795 made the boundary between
the United States and Indians — we find our
selves on classic ground. On the bursting out
of the war of 1812 so important was the Old
Portage deemed as a military post that Gen
eral Wadsworth, with a portion of the army,
was stationed there on the bank west of the
two locks; but so signal had been the defeat
of the Indians at Tippecanoe that few, if any,
have ever returned to their favorite haunts
on the Cuyahoga, or traversed their war paths
across the Portage. On the extinction of the
Indian title the settlers began to flock in, and

tier country of the' United States. His asso
ciates in the enterprise were Birdseye Norton
Nathaniel Norton, Stephen Baldwin, Benja
min Oviatt and Theodore Parmele. They had
purchased their land at fifty-two cents an
acre, but as it was considered among the
most undesirable tracts in that part of the
Reserve, ten thousand acres were added from
a so-called "equalizing township," which re
duced the purchase price to about thirty-four
cents an acre. As stated, Mr. Hudson came
on to ascertain the nature of his purchase
and in Western New York feU in with Benja
min, afterwards Judge Tappan, bound for his

OLD HUDSON EESIDENCE, HUDSON.

in 181 1 Major Spicer, Amos Spicer, Paul and
B. Williams settled a little east of the pres
ent corporation. When we look forward we
are lost in wonder. The Portage Path, the
ancient boundary of the United States, is
now the dividing line between the east and the
west." David Hudson, First Settler.
In 1799, David Hudson, familiarly known
throughout much of the Western Reserve as
"Deacon" Hudson, started from his horae in
Goshen, Connecticut, to investigate his new
purchase of a "swamp township" in this fron-

home in Ravenna, the county seat of Portage.
The Hudson party took passage in the boat
which Mr. Tappan had already engaged, and
started from Gerondigut Bay, Lake Ontario,
early in May. They soon overtook Elias Har
mon and wife, who were bound for Mantua.
Upon reaching Niagara, they found the river
full of ice and in fact were much impeded dur
ing their entire journey along the shores of the
lakes to Ashtabula county. At this point the
boat was driven ashore and the Harmon craft
partially wrecked. Its owner left it stranded
and passed on to Mantua, while Mr. Hudson
repaired the boat and used it for the descent

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

337

of the Cuyahoga river. Before he reached his
landing place, where he was to disembark for
his purchased township, the Indians stole all
his provisions which he had shipped ahead.
Upon reaching the site of Hudson with the
twelve persons who comprised his colony, he
also found that the cattle which were to have
been driven from Buffalo to this point had not
arrived. After clearing a small plat of ground
upon which to plant wheat, the leader of the
colony returned to Cleveland and thence to
Western New York to trace the lost provisions
and stray cattle. This is but one illustration
of the difficulties which stood in the way of
permanent settlement in this wild frontier
country. On July 25, Mr. Hudson commenced
the town survey which was not completed until
nearly three months afterwards, as he was
the only member of the party who was not
stricken with fever and the ague. This was
particularly fortunate, as he was again dis
appointed in the arrival of provisions and was
obliged to go to Cleveland to replenish the
communal larder. Considering now that the
affairs of his community were in such per
manent shape as to warrant him in establish
ing his family at Hudson, he returned to Go
shen, Connecticut, and on January i, 1800,
began his second journey to the Western Re
serve, accompanied- by his wife and six chil
dren; Mesdames Bishop and Nobles; Misses
Ruth Gaylord, Ruth Bishop, and eighteen
others — comprising altogether a party of
thirty. This colony sailed in four boats, but,
although they were much delayed by ice and
contrary winds, finally reached the mouth of
the Cuyahoga river, where they y*ere obliged
to wait for the falling of its waters on account
of the tremendous rain of the previous night.
On May 28 they reached the landing place
from which they started for Hudson, arriving
there about the same time as the herd of cat
tle which had been driven from West New
York- for the uses of the colonists.
David Hudson came by his pioneering and
colonizing instincts both by inclination and

inheritance. At the time he settled in Hudson
he was a vigorous young man of thirty years,
and took just pride in remembering and re
peating that he was a lineal descendant of
Hendrick Hudson, the discoverer of the Hud
son river and among the first explorers of the
arctic regions, in which he was to meet his
tragic death. The historic Hendrick Hudson
named his youngest son David, and the David
Hudson of Summit county was the youngest
son of the youngest son for six generations.
In Deacon Hudson the chain was broken, as
his youngest son died without a male heir.
The Baldwins of Hudson.
Mr. Hudson died March 17, 1836, at the
age of seventy-five years. The first birth
within the bounds of Hudson, or Summit
county, was his daughter, Maria, October 28,,
1800. As Hudson had not then been organ
ized as a township, therefore her birth oc
curred in the "Northwest Territory." She
married Harvey Baldwin and spent her entire
life in the house of her birth. Harvey Bald
win belonged to a good old New England fam
ily. His brother, Norman, the father of Eliza
B. Perkins, of Warren, was one of Cleve
land's enterprising citizens, while his brother,
Frederick, who lived in Hudson, was a man
of mental vigor and great ability. His daugh
ter, Caroline, married Mr. Babcock, of Cleve
land, and is interested in civic work. The
Puritan education of Harvey and Maria Bald
win clung to them through their lives. Al
though of comfortable means, they lived so
plainly that to some they seemed to stint them
selves. They were devoted to the interests
of the college and, during the college year,
boarded the students. Many men who now
are prominent in the world's work sat at
"Uncle Harvey's frugal board." In her whole
life-time "Aunt Maria wasted nothing." The
price charged for this simple fare was low,
and the food wholesome. The schoolboys of
1870 rather enjoyed the spirit of this home,
but they disliked the Bible reading, the table

Vol. 1—22

338

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

blessing and the long prayers. However, they
had to submit, or seek other quarters.
The daughter of Harvey and Maria Bald
win married Edwin Gregory. They were ex
ceedingly happy. He was an educator of
prominence, being for years the principal of
the Rayen High School, of Youngstown. Mr.
and Mrs. Gregory had two daughters — Hat
tie, who married Julius Whiting, of Canton,
and who died a few years since, and Anna,
who raarried Henry Lee. Mrs. Lfee, although
a young woraan, is the oldest descendant of
David Hudson living. Her grandraother,
Mrs. Baldwin, at the tirae of her death was
nearing the century mark, the celebration of
her ninetieth birthday at the Congregational
church of Hudson, October 28, 1890, being
an event of widespread interest throughout
Summit county.
The Old Hudson House.
The Hudson residence is undoubtedly the
oldest house now standing in Sumrait county
and is also one of the best preserved. (Here
Anna Gregory Lee, her husband and interest
ing faraily live.) Although an addition has
been raade to the original building, and it
has been variously improved, its original mas
sive foundation, consisting of walnut logs
fully eighteen inches square, still stands to
bear testimony to the thorough and honest
work of its builder. Originally, they sup
ported a tremendous fireplace. The cellar is
as "dry as a chip.'' It is hard to imagine how
any water could permeate the massive stone
waHs and stone-like cement. As the Hudson
house now stands, it is a two-story homelike
and pretty modern cottage, shaded by elms.
Behind the house is a picturesque ravine, con
taining a bubbling and protected spring. It
was this spring which made Mr. Hudson
locate here. From it not only himself and
family drew their water supply, but John
Brown, who was to become the noted Aboli
tionist, as a boy at Hudson was wont to quaff
his thirst at this fount.

John Brown at Hudson.
After John Brown, "whose soul goes march
ing on," had becorae a character of world-wide
fame, the citizens of Hudson recalled him as
a very interesting character of their com
munity, although when he lived among them
he was considered little better than a mis
chievous youth and rather a hot-headed and
violent young man. His father, Owen Brown,
established one of the first tanneries in Hud
son and Summit county, and the son there
obtained his first real taste of hard work.
The elder Brown was considered a great wit
and is said to have even enjoyed a joke though
he were the butt of it. Upon one occasion
it is told that young John Brown had been
caught in some mischievous prank which war
ranted his father in inviting him to the barn,
where such matters were usually discussed be
tween them. But before the actual meeting
took place the boy raanaged to loosen a plank
in the barn floor, beneath which were stored
a quantity of plows, harrows and other agri
cultural irapleraents. The interview came off
at the appointed time, but as the first blow
from the paternal , strap was about to land
upon the son, he retreated in such a way that
his sire stepped upon the loose plank and
was precipitated upon the various implements
below. Although badly bruised, Owen Brown
was so appreciative of the joke played upon
him that the interview proceeded no further.
Hudsonians also were fond of telling how,
even in his very young manhood, John Brown
showed decided ability in defending what he
considered his personal rights. After reach
ing his rakjority and when he had become
the head of a family, for some time he cul
tivated a farm in northeast Hudson ; but, fail
ing to make it pay financially, he placed a
mortgage upon the property, which he could
not raise. He called upon a neighbor for
financial assistance. The property was bid in
by his friends, Mr. Brown being allowed to
remain upon the homestead. Not finding it
convenient to vacate when the allotted time

HOUSE BUILT BY JOHN BEO'WN, HUDSON.

JOHN BEOWN'S DESK.
First reproduction from the original by the
courtesy of the Western Eeserve Historical
Society, Cleveland.'

340

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

had expired, he was ejected from the prem
ises by officers of the law; but when they
left the farm he returned to his house and
armed his family with shotguns and rifles. He
thus held the fort for several days, and his
enemies were finally only able to circumvent
him by drawing him out of the township, upon
the pretext that he had been summoned away
on another la-w suit. In short, John Brown's
fighting propensities were demonstrated at a
very early period in his life. Notwithstand
ing, he seemed to have been a young man of
varied industries, for, besides mastering the
tanner's trade, he did more or less buHding
in Hudson. One of the houses which he
erected is still standing in the quaint and inter
esting old town.
The Western Reserve College.
The David Hudson house stands on the
beautiful knoll nearly opposite the deserted
grounds of the old Western Reserve College,
which for thirty or forty years was one of
the leading educational centers of this section
of northern Ohio. While Ohio was stiH a
territory, a petition was sent to its legislature
asking for a charter to establish a college in
the Western Reserye. After the adraission of
Ohio as a state, in 1803, the petition was re
newed and a charter granted to the Erie Lit
erary Society, which possessed full power to
establish such an institution. After several
unsuccessful raoveraents in connection with
the acaderay at Burton, the town of Hudson
was selected by the Presbytery as the most
feasible point for the establishment of a col
lege "to educate pious young men as pastors
for her destitute churches"; "to preserve the
present literary and religious character of
the state, and redeem it from future decline" ;
"and train competent men to fill the cabinet,
and for the bench and bar." As provided by
their charter, the trustees of the Western Re
serve College held their first meeting at Hud
son in March, 1826. Rev. Charles B. Storrs
became its first president in 1830, and its last

president while located at Hudson was Dr.
Carroll Cutler, who served from 1871 to 1886.
President Cutler is still remembered with
affection by many of its old-time students,
some of whom still reside in or near Hudson
and his grave in the beautiful old local ceme
tery is an object both of pride and affection.
The college removed to Cleveland in 1882.
During the last ten years of its career as a
Hudson institute it was opened to women as
well as men, but in 1888, six years after its
removal to Cleveland, the trustees formally
decided against co-education. Although the
number of students of the Western Reserve
College was never very large, its graduates
number many who afterward became quite
prominent in statesraanship and the profes
sions. Among those who completed the col
legiate course therein was President Hayes.
The Village of Hudson.
Hudson was incorporated on the ist of
April, 1837, but was simply an academy and
college town until 1852, when its citizens were
seized with the railroad fever. The Cleveland
and Pittsburg Railroad was completed from
Cleveland to Hudson, and the Akron branch
was built not long afterward. Professor
Henry A. Day, of the Western Reserve Col
lege, was a prime raover in all of these enter
prises, as well as in the proraotion of the
so-called Clinton Line extension and the Hud
son and Painesville Railroad. The two last
named proved to be only dreams, and in 1856
these projects completely coHapsed, leaving
the entire village alraost bankrupt. The roads
remain today in precisely the condition in
which they were left in 1856.
Ellsworth Campaign for Dry Hudson.
. Although growing and substantial manufac
tories were afterwards estabhshed, Hudson
is best remembered as an old-time educa
tional center, and the nucleus of much of the
most radicaL slavery agitation in the Western
Reserve. Of late years it has also been con-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

341

vulsed over the wet and the dry question.
The contest has waxed particularly strong
from the fact that the most earnest leader
of the temperance crusade is James W; Ells
worth, a native of Hudson who has accumu
lated several million dollars in the east and is
ambitious to benefit his home community, both
from a material and a raoral standpoint. In
1898 the village voted against the saloon. To
make the issue doubly sure, in 1900 Mr. EHs-
worth offered the village a model system of
water works provided it cast a majority of
votes against the liquor element. The result
was another victory for the drys, by a vote of
one hundred sixty-two to ninety-seven. The
matter, so far as Mr. EHsworth is concerned,
does not rest here, for he has so arranged
matters that if the village votes "wet" during
the next fifty years the water works shall
become the private property of his heirs.
The • unique features in the local politics
of Hudson are not only of interest, but may
be suggestive to wealthy men in other com
munities who desire to influence public opinion
on the side of morality. Further details of
his campaign and his improvements for the
town are given in the subjoined extract, taken
from a late Cleveland paper :
"Two years ago Mr. Ellsworth submitted a
proposition to the town councH by the terms
of which he was to build an electric light plant
and sewage system. In return, the village was
required to rid itself of saloons by a local
option election; bar electric lines from run
ning through its main streets; care for the
shade trees of the viHage and plant new trees
'every fifty feet along the streets ; bury all tele
phone and telegraph wires and extend the boun
daries of the viHage to include, as part of the
corporation, thirty-five acres of land owned by
Mr. Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth also gently inti
mated his wish that the houses should be
painted white, with green blinds; that red
tiles should replace shingles, and that green
hedges should supplant picket fences. The
proposition had no sooner been submitted than

it was the center of a bitter war. The 'wets'
claimed business would be ruined if the sa
loons were abolished, and that very few of
Hudson's citizens could afford to install elec
tricity and water in their homes, even if these
improvements were -brought to their very
doors. They also quoted figures showing the
burden the taxpayers would be under in main
taining the improvements.
"The 'drys' rephed that the value of village
property would be greatly increased and that
the improvements would draw a desirable
element of residents from Cleveland to the
viHage. The first battle was waged on the
'wet' and 'dry' issue alone, and the 'wets'
were overwhelmingly defeated. As soon as
the result of the election was announced Mr.
EHsworth bought several pieces of unsightly
property. On the site of a deserted stone
building opposite the old Western Reserve
Academy he built a boys' club and a residence
for the pastor of the Congregational church.
Rev. L. J. Hoyt.
"The pastorage was completed some tirae
ago and the boys' club is practically finished.
He also remodeled an unsightly buHding at
one corner of the town square into a pleas
ing structure along old colonial lines. The
bank is now housed in this structure. While
this work was completing, the disgruntled
'wets' continued their activity. They pointed
to the fact that most of the storekeepers were
complaining because their business had fallen
off, and reiterated their demand that active
work be started on the water works and power
plant. As 'Dutch' Grabers', 'Hen' Hill's and
Frank Capri's cheerful bar rooms were no
more, the discontented and thirsty ones made
their headquarters around one of the stores.
Here of an evening, gathered around a glow
ing stove, they over-exerted their already iH-
irrigated throats discussing how the Congre
gational pastor. Rev. Mr. Hoyt, could fill his
big rooms with furniture — which was not in
cluded in Mr. Ellsworth's gift— could kee^
the hardwood floors properly waxed and the

342

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

great lawn close-cropped on the stipend the
church affords. Then, too, they derived much
satisfaction on figuring out just how much
coal the parsonage required to keep it warm
under varying weather conditions. The same
overwrought throats were exercised daily, too,
in speculation as to how the boys of the town
would be able to maintain their club house
when it was opened. They took a malicious
delight in counting over the score or so of
boys in the viHage large enough to top one of
Mr. Ellsworth's pool tables, and wondering
how the coal bills and incidental expenses of
the club were to be met.

worth's conditions. Meanwhile the 'drys,'
having no store for a meeting place, point
proudly to the good which has already been
accomplished under Mr. Ellsworth's plan.
The town is cleaner, more attractive, they
claim, under the new order than it ever was
under the old. The number of arrests has
grown so small that the sole duty of the vil
lage marshal is to light the gasoline street
lamps every night when the moon is not on
the job. In other days, they maintain, street
fights were common, and the lock-up in the
town hall was well populated every Saturday
night.

OLD 'WESTEEN EESEEVE COLLEGE, HUDSON.

"Of course, the 'wets' adrait that the village
has not fulfilled all of Mr. Ellsworth's condi
tions. It has not sunk its telephone wires
below the streets. The wires are still strung
on poles in the coraraon, unraodel town way.
And then they point in justification to the
long and bitter fight the village has waged
with the telephone corapanies. That the boy
cott which was started failed, they blarae upon
their wives. And, tilting their chairs toward
the box of sawdust, speculate at great length
upon the fate of those who were rash enough
to subscribe to the stock of a new telephone
corapany which will coraply with Mr. Ells-

" 'Yes,' retort the 'wets' ; 'there aren't
enough people on the street any more to start
a fight.' "When the discussion gets to this point,
life-long ties are broken, relatives solemnly
vow never to speak to each other again, and
gray-haired friends part in the heat of anger."
Hudson is a quiet village of about one
thousand people, with a fair business for a
place of its size, but its hopes for a decided
growth in the future are largely based upon
the efforts of several of its leading citizens to
bring about the location of a normal institute
in their midst, utilizing therefor the former

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

343

buildings occupied by the Western Reserve
CoHege, which are still in a fair state of
preservation. Township's First Marriage and Death.
The first marriage which occurred in Hud
son township united George Darrow to Miss
Olive Gaylord, and the ceremony was per
formed by Deacon David Hudson, October
II, 1801. As it was his maiden attempt in
this line, the Deacon was naturally somewhat
bashful as to the presence of spectators, and
attempted in every way possible to keep the
coming marriage a secret. However, when
the blushing . bride and groom appeared in
his best room, Mr. Hudson also found quite a
large gathering assembled, fully prepared to
witness the happy event.
The first death in the township was that
of Ira Noble, son of Eliza, a bright boy of
eight. He died in August, 1800. The first
burial of an adult was also in 1800, and con
signed to mother earth the remains of the be
loved mother of John Brown. As stated, the
first tannery was conducted by John Brown's
father, who established his business in 1805.
First School House.
The first school house was a log structure
which David Hudson erected in 1802; but a
school had been taught in the previous year
by George Pease, in a little building which
stood on the southwest corner of lot 56, near
the center of the public square. The first
house erected in the town of Hudson was for
a private residence and was built by Thad
deus Lacey, who resided in it with his wife
during the winter of 1799 and 1800, while
Mr. Hudson was absent in Connecticut mak
ing preparations to return with his faraily to
his new home in the Western Reserve. Some
what later, Mr. Kellogg, also a member of the
Hudson colony, erected a log house on lot 56,
residing therein until Mr. Hudson and his
family returned in June, 1800. In September,
1802, the first church of Hudson township
was organized.

Hudson Township Organized.
On April 5, 1802, the township of Hudson
was organized by the election of officers. Fif
teen votes were cast upon this occasion. The
first mail route in any part of Summit county,
and one of the first in the Western Re
serve, was established by Postmaster-General
Granger in 1805, and ran from Pittsburg to
Warren, Ashtabula and Cleveland, and thence
to the vHlage of Hudson.
At the time of these first happenings, Indi
ans were quite plentiful in and around Hud
son. The most celebrated character among
the red men was the widely known Ottawa
chief, Ogontz. He had been educated by the
French missionaries at Quebec for a Catholic
priest, but his savage instincts were too strong
to be overcome by any amount of education,
and he therefore returned to the ways of his
fathers and his people. In 1805, when the
Indians ceded all their lands west of the Cuya
hoga river, Ogontz became a wanderer over
the lands of the Western Reserve. At the
time of the fir.st settlement of Hudson, Ogontz
had no power except what was given him
by his talents, his education and his natural
force of character. But his character was such
that he was bound to rise whenever he carae
in contact with his people. An account of his
life is given in the Erie county chapter.
Stow Township.
Stow township followed closely the settle
raent of Hudson. It was the property of
Joshua Stow, who was coramissary of the sur
veying party under Moses Cleaveland, who
came from Connecticut in 1796. His connec
tion with the corapany is dwelt tipon in the
early chapters of the general history. Being
a housekeeper and a home-maker, the author
always has believed that the commissary de
partment in time of war is as important and
requires as much ability to manage as the
field. This was surely true of the party of
Western Reserve surveyors. ]\Ir. Stow ran

344

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

no lines, raade no discoveries, but he did that
which raade the other things possible.
In 1799 Joseph Darrow, another Stow
township pioneer, had become a resident of
Hudson as one of the Deacon's colonists there.
He remained in that locality untH June, 1804,
when Mr. Stow joined him and the two pro
ceeded to locate and survey the township
toward the west. Nearly two years before,
in 1802, WilHam Walker, the first settler in
the township, at the tirae of its survey was
living in his cabin in the northeastern part of
lot 89, where his descendants resided for raany
years afterwards. In April, 1803, Surveyor
Darrow married Miss Sally Prior, of North
ampton, and they were the first couple thus
united in Stow township. In 1805 there was
quite an iraraigration to this part of the West
ern Reserye, and in 1808 the township was
organized. Judge Thomas Wetmore being
elected the first justice of the peace.
Monroe Falls and Its Fall.
Like other sections of this new country and,
in fact, of the United States, Stow township
had its full quota of "paper towns." In 1837-8
a gentleman from Boston by narae of Monroe
laid out a town a few railes east of the pres
ent site of Cuyahoga Falls, with the design of
making it a rich raanufacturing center. Mon
roe Falls soon blossomed out in its embryo
industries, such as flour mills and blacksmith
shops, and a number of stores and a bank
soon followed. Its proprietor induced not a
few well-to-do Bostonians to erect residences
in the locality, and for a time it seemed as if
the place would really develop according to
his expectations. But the country around was
not sufficiently settled to support any such
enterprise, and, although rauch money was
spent upon Monroe Falls, its life was short.
All that now remains of it are several irregu
lar banks of earth, raarking the site of busi
ness ho,uses and residences and the old mill,
which is now used for the raanufacture of
paper. There are also a few later-day stores

and houses which give the place an excuse
to remain upon the map as Monroe Falls. The
prime cause of the downfaU of the place was
the failure of the local bank, which abounded
in promises, but was sadly short in fulfill
ments. Silver Lake and Other Resorts.
Stow township is beautifully diversified with
hill, dale, river and lake ; the Cuyahoga passes
through it frora the east to the southwest
corner. It is now perhaps best known as the
location of Silver lake. This is really a beauty
spot among the many picturesque places in the
Western Reserve, with a varied -and substan
tial basis of natural charms. Artificial im
provements have also taken place which make
it one of the raost popular summer resorts
in northern Ohio. It is the favorite gather
ing place of a .flourishing Chautauqua circle,
and the so-called Chautauqua Park is familiar
to many literary people in the middle west.
Near Silver lake are two other beautiful sheets
of water, already mentioned as Wyoga and
Crystal lakes.
Northampton Township.
The townships of Northampton and Stow
received their pioneer settlers at about the
same time. In June, 1802, Simeon Prior,
of Norwich, Massachusetts, exchanged his
eastern farm for four hundred acres in what
was known as the Connecticut Western Re
serve, or New Connecticut. He left Massa
chusetts in the raonth named, .journeying to
Seneca, New York, where he purchased a
boat of three tons burden, finally reaching
the beginning of his trip up the Great Lakes,
by way of the Mohawk river, Oneida lake,
and the Oswego river. Completing his voy
age up the Cuyahoga river, he then visited
"Deacon" Hudson, who had begun his well
known settlement two years before, and re
mained with this helpful pioneer until he had
located his own land in Northampton town
ship, and completed the log house for the re-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

345

ception of his family. In August, 1802, this
rude home was occupied by the first white
family of Northampton township. Mr. Prior
brought with hira a number of fruit trees
which he planted near his home, and these
were the commencement of large and prolific
orchards. This old pioneer was a Revolution
ary soldier and died at his Northampton home
in 1837, at the age of eighty- four; his wife
passed away the following year, and they
are both buried in the northwest corner of
the Northampton graveyard. Simeon Prior
brought with him from Massachusetts a
sturdy family of eleven children, most of
whom remained in the locality, becoraing well
known residents of Summit county, and many
of them died not far distant from the scene
of their old home.
Stories of "Seneca."
¦ The Indians who frequented the banks of
the Cuyahoga river in what is now North
ampton township were Ottawas, one of their
villages consisting of a portion of the tribe
of which the celebrated Logan was chief. But
the Indian leader, known by the narae of
Seneca, was more particularly identified with
the country now covered by Northampton
township. He was tall, dignified, and of
pleasing address, but in his youth was an
ardent, lover of "fire water." In one of his
drunken frolics of the earlier days he at
tempted to kill his squaw ; but the tomahawk
blow intended for her kiHed his favorite pap-
poose which was lashed to her back. This
mishap so affected the young chief as to make
him a temperate drinker during his entire
after life, and he is said to have even indulged
sparingly in cider. Seneca, however, joined
the British in the war of 1812, and a son of
Simeon Prior relates that one of his friends
saw the old chief in Detroit after Hull's sur
render, dressed from head to foot in a British
uniform with two swords dangling by his
side. It is needless to say that he never re
turned to the vicinity of his native village in
Northampton.

Northampton as a War Center.
The growth of Northampton was seriously
retarded for many years because of the war
like dispositions of the Indians living within
its borders. The stationing of General Wads
worth at the old Portage, with a force of
American soldiers, first gave the inhabitants
of this section of Sum'mit county complete
assurance of protection. But the settlers did
not commence to locate largely until after the
war of 1812. Northampton has another claim
to be considered as an iraportant center of
warlike and military operations ; although it is
not generally known that three of the vessels
of Commodore Perry's fleet, which really
brought victory to the American arms by its
decisive naval victory; were built in this town
ship and floated down the Cuyahoga river to
Lake Erie. The town also responded nobly to
the call for raen during the Civil war, nearly
one hundred and fifty of her citizens going
eagerly to the front.
In 1836 the village of Niles at the mouth
of the Yellow creek was platted, and although
its future seemed bright at one time, its site
is now covered by the sraall haralet of Botzura.
Others centers of settlement which may be
mentioned are Steele's Corners, Northafnpton
Center, McArthur's Corners, and Portage
Mills.
Boston Township.
The third township in Summit county to be
permanently settled by immigrants from Con
necticut was Boston. Its first settlers were
Samuel Ewart, who had come to this country
frorri Ireland, and Alfred Woleott, a citizen
of Hartford, Connecticut. These men had
purchased holdings of the Connecticut Land
Corapany covering raost of the present town
ship. Ewart settled eaSt of the present village
of Boston Mills and Woleott in the southern
part of its future site. The forra.er appears to
have been rather an uneasy character, did not
reraain long in the locality, and died at San
dusky in 1815 ; but Mr. Woleott remained in

346

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the vicinity until his death and his family be
came very prominent in after years. At the
time of the coming of these pioneers, there
was an Indian settlement near the northern
line of the township. The locality appears to
have been a celebrated place for the assembling
of war parties previous to starting out on
their expeditions, and the old settlers were
wont to relate that the savages had there
erected a wooden God to whom they made
their offerings before starting on the war
path. Boston and Its Downfall.
In 1814 George Wallace, of Cleveland,
erected the first saw mHl of the township on
the site of Brandywine viHage, afterward Bos
ton. The tract embraces the old village of
Brandywine and WaHace MiHs, afterward
attached to the township of Northampton. In
the same year Mr. Wallace built a grist mill
and a store, these being the first business estab
lishments on the present site of Boston. In
' 1826-7 it seeraed as though the viHage might
sometime rival its eastern namesake. It was
a leading center of the widespread land specu
lation which so absorbed and excited residents
of the middle west and brought many thou
sands of dollars frora the east into the new
country. In accordance with the general fever,
two Boston capitalists naraed Kelley, with
others, forraed the Boston Land Corapany,
purchased a large tract of land and laid it
• out as a great city. The plat is still in exist
ence and on file, but inhabitants of this
arabitious Western Boston are mostly miss
ing. Several years before its coHapse, how
ever, Boston had becorae widely advertised
throughout the Western Reserve for its ex
tensive banking operations. In 1832 it contained
the largest banking establishraent in Ohio, if
not in the Union. But its downfall and the dis
grace of its promoters were matters of only
a few years, and are thus described by one who
had an intiraate knowledge of the subject:
"The officers of the Boston Bank were Will

iam G. Taylor, who lived on the lower end of
Water street, Cleveland, nearly opposite the
Light House ; Dan Brown, of Rising Sun, In
diana ; James Brown, of Boston, and Col. WiU
iam Ashley, from Vermont. A more noble set
of men never met to consult on the affairs of
the State Band of Ohio; and, excepting the
fact that they never had a charter from the
State authorizing them to swindle, a more
honest set of men never congregated as a
Board of Control. Taylor was a lawyer, a
man of education and talent, and wealthy.
Dan Brown was a merchant; the finest
looking and raost accomplished genfleman
in the West. James Brown is too weU
known to need a description. Those who
knew him twenty years ago will endorse the
portrait when I say he was one of the finest
looking men in Ohio. Over six feet in height/
well proportioned, his hair black as a raven, a
little curly ; and it was proverbial that his word
was as good as a bond. Col. Ashley was
frora Vermont, where he started his banking
operations; but being hard pressed he fled to
Slab City, in Canada, frora which he was a
fugitive when he carae to Boston in 1822. One
of the finest speciraens of a raan, with the
exterior and manners that would adorn any
society, he sunk the Gentleman in the Banker.
After various vicissitudes, in 1832 they started
a grand scheme of financiering, in which, if
they had succeeded, they would have rivalled
the Board of Control of the State Bank of
Ohio. "This was their scheme to swindle the
world. They discounted an immense amount
of bills on the United States Bank, with which
they contemplated visiting Europe, and even
China, and exchanging the United States Bank
paper for the products of those countries.
They were arrested, however, in New Orleans.
Dan Brown died there in the calaboose, James
Brown was used as a witness against Taylor,
who was acquitted, and became a vagabond
on the earth. James Brown was subsequently
arrested and sent to the penitentiary for ten

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

347

years, but was pardoned by President Taylor.
Ashley died in the penitentiary of Ohio in
1838. Abram Holmes, one of the stock
holders, became a fugitive from justice, but
retumed in 1837, with a consumption, of which
he soon after died. Daniel Brown, a son of
James, was arrested when but eighteen years
old for discounting their issues in Lorain
county, but was liberated by a technicality of
law ; from thence became a fugitive from jus
tice, not having a place on which to set his
foot in safety until 185 1, when he saved the
officers of justice any further trouble by dying.
The balance of the stockholders having more
skiU in the science of banking, shared the
profits, but avoided the liabilities. Thus fell the
bank of Boston ; since which no township has
been superior in morality, good order, and
intelligence to Boston. Since speculators and
bankers have left, industry, honesty, and pros
perity are characteristics of the township."
Boston township was organized in 181 1 as
a part of Portage county. The first marriage
within its limits occurred on July 29th of the
following year between William Carter and
Betsy Mays. Milanda Woleott, daughter of
Alfred Woleott, the prosperous surveyor of
the township, was the first white child born
therein, April 14, 1807. Lois Ann Gear taught
the first school in the suraraer of 181 1.
Boston township was very patriotic during
the Civil war, and furnished one hundred and
forty men to the Union army, the most dis
tinguished of its soldiers being Arthur L.
Conger. On July 4, 1889, the Colonel and his
wife presented the township with a fine sol
diers' monument which stands on the western
'imits of the viHage of Peninsula.
Boston Mills, Peninsula and Everett are the
three villages of the township. The first
named contains saw mills, as well as the paper
niHs of the Akron-Cleveland Paper Bag Com-
]iany, while Peninsula has not only an exten-
.«ive flour mill but, a large stone quarry, whose
I'utput chiefly consists of mill stones.

Coventry Township.
Coventry is one of the southern townships of
Summit county, which bounds the Western Re
serve in that direction. The chief early interest
in the township centered in the fact that the
Old Portage Indian path passed through the
township from north to south and terminated
at what is now the village of New Portage.
Hopocan, or Captain Pipe.
As this was the head of the Indian trail,
the locaHty was always an important one for
the Delaware Indians, whose chief, Hopocan
(caHed Captain Pipe by the whites), was a
veritable king over his tribe. Hence Coven
try was for many years caHed the State on
the Kingdom of Coventry. Captain Pipe or
Hopocan, the chief mentioned, was a great
warrior, being one of the chiefs who took part
in the battle which caused St. Clair's defeat;
in fact, he afterwards boasted to the white
settlers of this locality that upon that bloody
day he tomahawked white men until his arm
fairly ached. He is better known in history
for his connection with the defeat of Colonel
Crawford at Upper Sandusky, in June, 1802,
and his torture of that unfortunate, whom he
burned at the stake a few miles west of the
present location of the city. Captain Pipe was
also inthe battle of the Rapids of the Maumee,
in 1794. After this crushing Indian defeat, he
returned to his tribe in Coventry, where he
professed great friendship for the Americans,
but upon the breaking out of the war in
1812 he left the country to join the British.
He finally left this part of the country in 1817
to occupy his portion of the Reserve granted to
the Delaware Indians in Marion county.
Twelve years later he raoved west of the Mis
sissippi and died there. With him perished
one of the most powerful Delaware chiefs who
ever lived on the Western Reserve; and the
"Kingdom of Coventry" passed away with
him.

348

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The original proprietor of the township of
Coventry was Samuel Hinckley, of Northamp
ton, Massachusetts ; the ,first settler was David
Haines, a Pennsylvanian who came in 1806,
and after the war of 1812 the country re
ceived qiiite an accession of settlers. For
raany years before the coraing of the Ohio
canal. New Portage was considered as araong
the places of greatest proraise in the West
ern Reserve, being at the headwaters of the
Tuscarawas river and, through the Muskingum
and Ohio rivers, placed in direct connection
with the Mississippi valley and New Orleans.
By a considerable stretch of the imagination it

diverted northward to Akron and the Great
Lakes, and New Portage collapsed.
It is Coventry township which embraces the
dividing ridge between Lake Erie and the val
ley of the Ohio. Summit Lake, two miles
south of Akron, feeds the Ohio canal both
north and south; so that it is really the reser
voir which connects the waters of the Gulf
of St. Lawrence with those of the Gulf of
Mexico. The township was organized in
1808 from Springfield township. Portage
county, but, with the rapid expansion of Ak
ron, Barbertown and Kenmore, it seems likely
that within a short time the township wiU be

CUYAHOGA FALLS "WATEE POWEE.

was designated for years as a leading "sea
port." As early as 1819, William H. Laird
constructed a nuraber of flat boats at New
Portage, loaded them with all kinds of produce,
and after a two months' voyage brought them
to New Orleans without breaking cargo. The
place promised to be such an extensive empo
rium that various large projects were put under
way of an industrial character. In 1821-2
c[uite a large plant for the manufacturing of
glass was established here, and operated for
a number of years, but, with the construction of
the Ohio Canal, trade and commerce were

completely absorbed by these growing munici
palities. The Village of Cuyahoga Falls.
From the earliest times of settlement in the
central portion of the Western Reserve, both
the picturesque features of the Cuyahoga river
in the locality of the Falls and the immense
practical value of the water power at this
point, have given the locality particularly
strong clairas to distinction. The township
coraprises four and one eighth square miles, in
stead of the usual five, and is co-extensiye with

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the village itself. The origin of the name
Cuyahoga has been variously explained. It
is undoubtedly of Indian origin and has been
translated as signifying both "crooked" (in
the Delaware language) and "shedding tears"
(Indian, Coppacaw). The section of faHs and
rapids which characterizes this portion of the
Cuyahoga river is more than two miles in
extent, and has a fall from head to foot of two
hundred and twenty five feet. During this
passage down the river four distinct falls are
encountered, from fifteen to twenty-two feet
in height. The gorge throughout has been
cut through sandstone in a fashion most rug
ged, picturesque and fantastic. The town was
originally laid out by Elkenah Richardson in
1825, and resurveyed by Birdseye Booth in
1837. By 1840 it had made such progress that
it was the strong cpmpetitor of Akron for the
county seat.
Cuyahoga Falls Water Power.
The first manufacturing improvements made
at Cuyahoga falls were by Henry Wetmore
and his brother William Wetmore, Jr.,
descendants of one of the original proprietors
of the town. On April i, 1825, was com
menced the building of the dam across the
river, which is still known as Upper or Wet-
more's dam, and has a fall of twelve feet. In
1826 Henry Newberry built an oil mill and
residence, and in 1827-8 laid out that part of
the village located in Tallmadge township.
Newberry's dam, which he constructed, had
a fall of eighteen feet. It eventually furnished
power to a paper mill, saw mill and
grist mill, tool - factory, engine factory
and many other establishments. The next
dam of early days was constructed and owned
by Cyrus Prentiss, and the fourth was con
structed by the "Portage Canal Manufacturing
Company." The object of the last named was
to convey water power from the falls to Akron,
and assist in the buHding up of that place as a
manufacturing center. The dam and canal
were constructed, but the object of the com-

349
pany was not accomplished, although the im
provement became important in the develop
ment of the local water power.
Schools and Newspapers.
Early in its history the village of Cuyahoga
Falls commenced to provide for the educa
tional needs of its juvenHe population, two of
its earliest schools being opened in 1834 and
1836 by J. H. Reynolds and Miss Sarah Car
penter, respectively. In 1837 the Cuyahoga
Falls Institute was opened for pupils, and for
several years had a high reputation as a
school for advanced students. The village
high school was organized in 1855 and its
present substantial building erected in 1871.
The first village newspaper was founded in
1837 as the Ohio Review. In 1870 the Cuya
hoga Falls Reporter was founded by E. O.
Knox and is still published as a flourishing
weekly newspaper by Bauman and Orth. The
founded in 1906 and now issued by J. C.
Rairigh. The only local bank is the Cuyahoga
last publication established was the Telegram,
Savings Bank, established in 1904. Cuyahoga
Falls, as it now stands, is a well-built city
of two thousand people, its large manufactur
ing plants lining both sides of the Cuyahoga
river, even far beyond its corporate limits.
The Falls' Claims to Fame.
The especial claims which Cuyahoga Falls
puts forth as a maker of history are that the
paper mills founded by the Wetmores manu
factured the first paper made by machinery
west of the Alleghany mountains, on December
8, 1830; that the first bituminous coal ever sent
to Cleveland was mined at the Falls ; and that
one of the first steam engines manufactured
by any of her establishments was ordered by
President Taylor and long used by hira on his
Louisiana plantation. In Cuyahoga Falls not
a few men of wide fame and usefulness spent
early periods of their lives. In this class may
be instanced John Hamlin, so well known as
the manufacturer of Hamlin's Wizard Oil,

350

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and the leading promoter of amusments for '
raany years in Chicago ; John J. Bagley, of
Detroit, ex-governor of Michigan, who was a
newsboy here ; Hon. Erastus Harper, forraeriy
lieutenant governor of Colorado; Hon. Virgil
P. Kline, of Cleveland, who was at one tirae
assistant superintendent of schools, and Ed
ward R. Sill, the widely known poet and
educator.
Tallmadge Township.
TaHmadge township, in the eastern part of
Sumrait county, was one of the first sections
to be perraanently settled. Its pioneer emi
grant was the Rev. David Bacon, a missionary
who was sent out by the parent society of
Connecticut in the fall of 1807. It has been
weH said that this talented man not only
formed the first settleraent there, but "gave
tone to the morals of society" that is evident
to this very day.
The township derives its name frora Col.
Benjarain Tallmadge, of Litchfield, Connect
icut, who purchased it of the Connecticut
Land Corapany. It was surveyed by Amzi
Atwater, one of the Connecticut Land Cora
pany's surveyors, who developed into a power
in his community. An account of him is
given in the Portage county chapter.
Bacon and His Colony.
A typical New Englander of sturdy char
acter, David Bacon conceived the project of
transplanting his religious faith into this west
ern country by the establishment of a colony
in Summit county, the members of which held
ideas similar to his own. He therefore pur
chased from Colonel Tallmadge some twelve
thousand acres of land at $1.50 an acre, but
before he settled his colony upon this land he
took the precaution to procure another survey
of the township. It should be stated that Mr.
Bacon, prior to settling in the Western Re
serve, had labored for five years as an Indian
Missionary at Detroit, Michigan, he being the
first missionary sent to the western Indians

"from the state of Connecticut. At the end of
the second year of the Bacon survey, in 1810
there were but twelve famihes in the colony,
and the settlement formally received its name
of Tallraadge. Although its founder became
deeply beloved throughout the entire region,
he failed to carry through his enterprise in
a financial sense. Finally finding himself un
able to meet the payments upon the purchase
and being unable to compromise with his busi
ness-like creditors in the east, he left Tall
madge permanently in May, 1812, and died at
Hartford, Connecticut, August 17, 1817, a
man broken both in body and spirit.
First Public Library in County.
Tallmadge township was organized as a sep
arate political territory iii November, 1812,
Elizur Wright and Nathaniel Chapman being
elected its first clerk and justice of the peace.
Frora the very first the community showed the
intellectual impress of its founder. The vil
lage of Tallmadge opened the first public
library in Sumrait county in 1813, and it is
still in existence as a flourishing institution.
In 18 16 TaHmadge Acaderay was incorporated
and opened to "^students, araong its teachers
being Hon. Sidney Edgerton, a raan of national
reputation, whose legal and public life was
closely connected with the history of Akron.
The township has also shown extensive manu
facturing activities, notably in the line of car
riage making. This line of industry was estab
lished by Amos Avery and William C. Oviatt
in 1827, and among well known manufacturers
may be mentioned the late Gen. L. V. Bierce,
a pioneer citizen of Akron.
Tallraadge was further honored by his resi
dence there, in his younger years, of the dis
tinguished William H. Upson, who resided
with his parents in this locality untH he was
about fifteen years of age and graduated from
the Western Reserve College before he wa.=;
nineteen. His later career as a distinguished
member of the Ohio supreme court and of the
National ITouse of Representatives is nar-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

351

rated more at length in the sketch of the city
of Akron. Springfield Township.
Springfield township is chiefly noted for its
rich deposits of potter's clay, furnishing as it
does much of the raw material for the great
manufactories of Akron. Its principal village
is Mogadore. The township itself has many
potteries in active operation, and its deposits
of clay are in such high demand that some of
the- raaterial is even sent beyond the borders
of the United States. The little Cuyahoga
river, which runs through this township, offers
many fine mill sites, but the water powers are
now generally owned by the manufacturers
of Akron.
The first settler in the township was Ariel
Bradley, and the first house was erected by
him in what is now the village of Mogadore,
in 1806. Mr. Bradley was a native of Con
necticut; as a boy he served under General
Washington and came into the Western Re
serve during the year 1801, residing first in
Mahoning county and later moving into Port
age county, where he lived shortly before com
ing to Springfield township. The first native
white child born was Jane Hall in 1809, and
the first marriage occurred in the following
year between John Hall, brother of the infant
mentioned, and Margaret Blair.
Springfield township was organized on the
first Monday of April, 1808, it being at that
time a part of Trumbull county. On March
13, in the following year, Benjamin Baldwin
was sworn in as its first justice of the peace.
The first school in the township was taught
by Reuben Upton in the winter of 1812.
Besides Mogadore, may be mentioned as
flourishing hamlets. North Springfield, Mill-
heim, Brittain and Krumroy.
Northfield Township.
The first settler of this township was Isaac
Bacon, a Bostonian who moved to Genesee,
New York, when quite young, and there be

came a farmer of raeans and standing. In
1806 he exchanged his valuable farm in West
ern New York for three hundred and twenty
acres of wild land in this section of the West
ern Reserve. A quarter section of this land
lay in Northfield, and to this locality he moved
his faraily in April, 1807. For some time after
he erected his- log cabin, he had as neighbors
upon his farm three Indian families, who were
loth to leave their wigwams. Not long after
he had settled in this locality the Western
Reserve surveyors laid out the road from Hud
son to Old Portage, and thence to Cleveland.
Mr. and Mrs. Bacon's closest neighbors for
sorae time were Zina Post, of Hudson, and a
faraily by the name of Noble who lived on
Tinker's Creek, Cuyahoga county. In 1808
they lost an infant daughter — the first death
of a white person in the township.
The solitude of the Bacon family was re
lieved in June, 1810, by the arrival of Jere
raiah Craraer, a brother of Mrs. Bacon, who
established his horae about half a raile away.
Mr. Bacon was drafted for service in the war
of 1812, and in Septeraber of that year ordered
to Cleveland, but he was soon afterward dis
charged, returned home sick and died on
Noveraber 6th of that year.
At the conclusion of the war the settlers
increased quite rapidly and in 1821 the town
ship was regularly organized. Besides North-
field, the raost flourishing settlements in the
township are Little York and Brandywine.
Founding of Akron.
The physical location of the city of Akron,
situated as it is midway between the head
waters of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas riv
ers, and making an almost perfect triangle
with New Portage and Old Portage, pre
destined it to be the all-important center of
coramerce and industry, with perfect means of
communication with the larger city of Cleve
land and the great territory tributary to the
lake region of the north. Immediately after
the location of the Ohio canal in 1825, there-

352

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

fore, that energetic and far-seeing pioneer.
General Simon Perkins, laid out the viHage of
Akron and began upon its improvements. The
village plat was recorded on December 6, 1825,
and covered three hundred lots in the vicinity
of the present great plant of the Goodrich
Rubber Corapany.
The first house erected was the building at
the corner of Main and Exchange streets,
which was completed in the September after
the town was located, and before it was named.
Soon afterward a colony of laborers appeared,
being sent to commence work at this point on
the new canal, and the one hundred cabins
which they threw together, although crude
and unsightly, gave the place a decidedly busi
ness-like appearance. Associated with Gen
eral Perkins was Paul Williams, who owned
land adjoining the original Perkins plat on
the east. These raen, therefore, with the one
hundred or more Irish laborers mentioned,
may be said to be the founders of Akron, its
trade, its commerce, and its industries. Mr.
Williams had been settled on the site of Akron
since 181 1, coming to this vicinity from New
London, Connecticut. Village of Middlebury.
At the time of the location of the Ohio canal
the village of Middlebury, which has since
given place to the more vigorous city of Akron,
was one of the most thriving viHages in the
Western Reserve. Its founder was Captain
Joseph Hunt, a Connecticut sailor, whose ship
had been captured by a French cruiser during
the naval troubles of 1797, and who in 1804
had left his sea-faring life altogether to try
his fortune on the land. In 1804 Captain
Hunt removed to Ohio, settling first in At
water, Portage county, and in 1807 he pur
chased fifty-four acres on the future site of
Middlebury, located there with his family and
coraraenced the erection of a grist and flour
mill. He did not live to see it entirely com
pleted, but his son, William J., took up the
work and made the "Middlebury Mills" fa

mous throughout the surrounding country. A
carding and cloth-dressing establishment was
afterward erected known as Bagley's factory.
In 1818 the village was laid out by Mr. Hunt
In October, 1825, with the commencement
of work upon the Ohio canal, a newspaper was
started at Middlebury, called the Portage
lournal, and for some time after work upon
the canal actually started this point was the
headquarters of the many bidders and con
tractors who were pushing forward the enter
prise toward Cleveland. MiHs, factories, and
raachine shops were soon in operation, and at
one time there was no less than sixteen busy
stores in the village, but with the completion of
the canal in 1827; the development of Akron's
immense water power, in later years; the lo
cation of the county seat in 1841, and the
corapletion of the canal connecting Akron
with Beaver, Pennsylvania, during the same
year — the prospects of the village of Middle
bury -vvere corapletely crushed by the per-
forraances of its rival.
Expansion of Akron.
The territory from which Akron was formed
was taken from both Coventry and Portage
townships, and its first town election was held
on the second Tuesday in June, 1836. Three
years afterward that well known and remark
able man. Senator Lucius V. Bierce was
elected raayor of the village of Akron. In
April, 1865, the first city election resulted in
the choice of Jaraes Mathews for the mayor
alty. In 1872 Middlebury was annexed to
Akron as the 6th ward of the city, and as
such it continued until 1900, when the addition
of other territory raade necessary a re-dis
tricting, in which process it became the second
ward. In 1882 the so called "Old Forge" district,
lying to the northeast of Akron was annexed
to the city. This interesting section of the
municipality had been thus named from the
fact that in 1817, Asaph "Whittiesey, of TaH
madge, and Aaron Norton and WiHiam Laird,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

353

of Middlebury, had there established a
wrought-iron industry of large proportions.
This is now a portion of the sixth ward of
the city. Akron's First Railroad.
But the decisive end of the old order of
things for the city of Akron was raarked by
the coming of its first railroad train, on July
4, 1852. The event was enthusiastically cele
brated, not only by the citizens of Akron but by
those of other portions of the county, especially
the residents of Hudson. It was from the
latter city that this pioneer train came directly

to their very bed. In 1874 the canal channel
was also cut at Akron, but, although various
arrests were made, no punishment of the of
fenders was ever meted out. In fact, long
before this time, the canals were considered
"dead issues." The above may be considered
the raain influences which have had a decided
bearing upon the development of the city, but
many details must necessarily be omitted.
The Present City of Akron.
Akron is one of the greatest industrial cen
ters in the middle west. As a manufactory
of stone-ware, sewer pipes, and all kinds of

MAIN STEEET LOOKINa NOETH, AKEON.

over the Akron branch of the Cleveland and
Pittsburg Road.
The Canal, a Sanitary Menace.
At Akron, as in all portions of the country,
the building of the railroads raarked the de
cline of the canal traffic, and by the late sixties
the waterways had fallen so largely into dis
use as to become menaces to the public health
of the city and the surrounding country. Feel
ing against their continued existence finally
reached such a pitch that in the spring of 1868
the canal banks were cut in three places at and
near Cuyahoga Falls, and the waters drained
Vol. 1—23

pottery it stands in the very first class. One-
fifth of all the matches made in the United
States are manufactured at Barberton, virtu
ally a part of Akron, and here also is one of
the most important agricultural implement
centers in the country. The civic spirit of the
place is also high, and the citizens of Akron
have always stood for the best type of patriot
ism. A striking evidence of this latter trait
was given on Decoration Day of 1876, when
the soldiers' memorial chapel at Glendale
Cemetery was dedicated; at the time this was
the only building of the kind in the United
States. Its erection was brought about

354

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

through the efforts and generosity of Buckley
Post, G. A. R., that organization taking its
name from Col. Lewis P. Buckley, one of
Summit county's most beloved and famous
soldiers. The most definite and reliable information
regarding the present status of Akron is fur
nished by its newly organized Chamber of Com
merce, which issued a report for that purpose
covering the year ending December i, 1909.
It appears frora this publication that the pres
ent municipal area is eleven and forty-eight
hundredths square miles and that the valu
ation of its real and personal property (as
sessed at about fifty per cent) is $27,500,000.
The city revenues amount to nearly $490,000.
Its water works are owned by a private cor
poration and draw their supply from a small
lake fed by the Ohio canal and natural springs.
The daily pumpage through the system is
7J300,ooo gallons. Akron has fifty miles of
paved streets, their pavement being largely
composed of brick; also 103 miles of
sewers, constructed at a cost of $772,-
000. The lighting of the streets is accom
plished through contracts with private cor
porations, which furnish both natural and
artificial gas and electric lighting. The aver
age annual cost of lighting by electricity is
$79, $18 by gas, and $22.35 by gasoline. In
the city schools are enroHed 9,500 pupils. The
value of the school property is $1,200,000.
The city has also a well equipped public
library of 23,000 volumes. Its thirteen parks
and squares embrace an area of over ninety-
seven acres and the death rate of the city is
given at ten and nine-tenths per thousand
'persons. The different sections of the city
are thoroughly connected by substantial
bridges and viaducts, which are valued at
$135,000. That Akron is not completely absorbed in
business and material things is quite evident
from a casual glance at the stately array of
churches which front many of her most busy
manufactory districts. This Hst embraces

twelve Methodist, seven Reform, six Lutheran
five Catholic, four Baptist, four Disciples, and
three Congregational churches. There are also
six parochial schools supported by the various
denominations, and the most widely known
and flourishing institution of learning in the
city is Buchtel College, which is conducted
under the auspices of the Universalist church.
Briefly returning to the industrial business
strength of Akron, mention should be made of
several of its great plants which so decidedly
loom above its other establishments of impor
tance — for instance, the American Sewer Pipe
Company, with a capital of $7,000,000; the
Chanute Cement and Clay Products Company,
$4,500,000; the Diamond Rubber Company,
$5,000,000 ; the B. F. Goodrich Company (also
raanufacturers of rubber products), $10,000,-
000 ; the Goodyear Fire and Rubber Company,
$2,000,000 ; the Robinson Clay Products Com
pany, $2,000,000; the Whitman and Barnes
Manufacturing Company (agricultural imple
ments), $2,362,000; and the Werner Company
(book manufacturers), $1,300,000. Akron has
also become well known as a large producer
of cereal products. Among the largest estab
lishments devoted to this specialty is a branch
of the Quaker Oats Company; besides which
are the Great Western Cereal and fhe Pioneer
Cereal Companies. Barberton is the head
quarters of the gigantic raanufactory operated
by the Diamond Match Company.
Hon. Sidney Edgerton.
Of the eminent men whom Akron has sent
out into public life there are none of whom
she is more proud than the Hon. Sidney Ed
gerton, a New Yorker, born in 1818, who
came to Akron when a young man of twenty-
six and commenced the study of law with
Judge Rufus P. Spaulding. He graduated
from the Cincinnati Law School and was ad
mitted to the bar in 1846, and sprung into pub
lic notice so quickly that two years afterward
he was sent as a delegate to the convention
which resulted in the formation of the Free

HISTORY OF' THE WESTE'RN RESERVE

355

Soil Party. Mr. Edgerton served as prosecut
ing attorney of Summit county in 1852; was
elected to congress in 1858 and i860; became
chief justice of Idaho in 1863 ; prepared the
bHl under which Montana was organized and
served as governor of that territory. Resign
ing the latter office, he returned to Akron in
January, 1866, resuming the practice of his
profession, and died in that city July 19, 1900.
He was the father of nine children, of whom
Mary P. Edgerton is now in charge of the
Akron Public Library.
Hon. William H. Upson.
Hon. WiHiam H. Upson, a native of Frank
lin county, Ohio, was born in 1823, and re
moved with his parents to Tallmadge, Sum
mit county, when a boy of nine. He read law
with Judge Reuben Hitchcock, at Painesville,
and was admitted to the bar in 1845, ^o^ many
years after settling in Akron being in part
nership with Mr. Edgertoii. Mr. Upson was
appointed judge of the supreme court of Ohio
in 1883 and served as judge of the circuit
court from 1884 to 1890. He was prosecuting
.attorney of Summit county from 1848 to 1850;
a member of the state senate from 1854 to
1855, and a member of congress from the
eighteenth district from 1868 to 1873. He
also was honored as a delegate of the national
Republican convention which nominated Abra
ham Lincoln in 1864 and Rutherford B.
Hayes in 1876. Upon his return to private
life he devoted much of his time to the further
ance of the educational interests of Northern
Ohio, being for many years trustee of the
Western Reserve College, Oberlin College and
the Lake Erie Female Seminary. He died
in 1910, a few days before this chapter was
finished.
Hon. Rufus P. Spaulding.
Rufus P. Spaulding was for years one of
the foremost members of the Akron bar and
a leader in the promotion of the city as the
seat of justice of Summit county. Later he

became a judge of the supreme court of the
State of Ohio, and ably served in congress
from the Cleveland district during the period
of the CivH war. Reference to him and his
work appear in several places in this work.
General Lucius V. Bierce.
General Lucius V. Bierce, whose writings
of pioneer times have furnished much infor
mation incorporated in this sketch, practiced
law at Akron for more than a quarter of a
century and during that period is said to have
engaged in as many suits in Portage and Sum
mit counties as any member of' his profession.
During the Civil war he was very active in
raising men, afterwards made an enviable
record in the state senate, and in later years
was elected mayor of Akron. He was one of
the most respected, forceful and able men the
Reserve ever produced. General Bierce was
born in 1801. His father, a Connecticut
farmer, moved to Nelson, Ohio, in 1816.
Earned his living at Ohio University, where
he obtained his education. He was examined
by Elisha Whittlesey, John C. Wright and
Thomas Webb. Judge George Tod became
interested in him and appointed him prosecut
ing attorney in 1836. He moved to Ravenna
and lived there until 1837, when he went to
Akron. Although he was sixty years old when
the war broke out, he raised two companies of
marines. He boarded them for two days and
partially clothed them and delivered them at
the Washington Navy Yard. Returning home
he raised a corapany of one hundred men for
the artillery service. He was too old to go
himself. He was elected to the Ohio senate by
3,000 majority. Being appointed assistant
adjutant general to the United States in 1863,
he disbursed over a million dollars. In 1875
he gave his entire property of $30,000 to Ak
ron for public buildings.
Professor John S. Newberry.
Professor John Strong Newberry was born
in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1822. His father

\ \

356

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

moved to Cuyahoga FaHs, Summit county, in
1824. The son was educated in Hudson and
in Cleveland, where he was graduated from
the Medical CoHege in 1848. He was ap
pointed state geologist in 1869. As a geolo
gist he ranked araong the first in America. He
received numerous honors, among them being
an appointment to a professorship of Geology
in Columbia CoHege, New York. To him and
to Professor G. F. Wright of Oberlin, resi
dents of the Reserve are more indebted for a
knowledge of the geology of the Great Lakes
and their iraraediate vicinity, than to any other
two raen. Professor Newberry was so great
a figure in the relief work of the Civil war
that a raore extended biography of him will be
found in the chapter of the general history de
voted to that topic.
Christopher P. Wolcott.
Christopher P. Wolcott, another distin
guished citizen of Akron, located there in
1846; was attorney general of the state and.

Buchtel College.
Lombard University, Illinois, preceded
Buchtel College, at Akron, as a Western In
stitute of learning under the control of the
Universalist church. The preliminary steps'
which led to the final establishment of the
school at this point covered several years. The
first one was taken by the Ohio convention of
Universalists, which met at Mt. Gilead in

ADMINISTEATION BUILDING,
BUCHTEL COLLEGE.

BUCHTEL COLLEGE, BUENED IN 1899.
Corner-stone laid by Horace Greeley.
as such, conducted the famous Oberlin- WeU
ington Rescue Case. He was a brother-in-
law of Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, and served
as assistant secretary of war under his great
relative.

1867, at which the Rev. Andrew Willson pro
posed the establishment of a second co-edu
cational institution to be supported by his
church. In the fall of that year the West
ern Reserve Association of the UniversaHsts
was held at Akron, and various members of the
faith in that city agreed to pledge $60,000 for
the location of a college in their midst. Of
these, John R. Buchtel gave $6,000 as a
building fund and $25,000 as an endowment
fund, and was himself elected president of the
first board of trustees, with Hon. Sanford M.
Burnham, secretary, and George W. Crouse as
treasurer. The corner stone of the building
was laid July 4, 1871, upon which occasion
Horace Greeley delivered the principal ad
dress. The ceremonies were followed by a re
ception in honor of the distinguished journalist
at the home of Mr. Buchtel. In March, 1872,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

357

the coHege buildings were completed, about
$200,000 having been expended on their erec
tion and furnishings.
The first president of Buchtel CoHege was
Rev. S. H. McCoHester D. D. of Ohio who
served from 1872 to 1878, and was followed
by Dr. E. L. Rexford, from 1878 to 1880.
Charles M. Knight served as provisional
president for a number of years; in 1897 Rev.
Ira A. Priest, D. D. was elected to the head
of collegiate affairs; since 1901 its president
has been Rev. A. B. Church, D. D., LL. D.
The original Buchtel Hall was destroyed by
fire in December, 1899, but in the following
year the present structure, thus known, re
placed it. This is the administration building,
as weH as the assembly hall of college classes,
with the exception of those who are taking
chemical courses. For the accommodation of
the latter, there is an especial structure known
as the Knight Chemical Laboratory, erected in
1901. Besides these buildings the spacious
campus embraces an astronomical observatory,
the Crouse Gymnasium, the residence of the
president of the college, and Curtis Cottage,
which was opened in January, 1905, as a home
for women. The attendance at Buchtel college
has reached two hundred and seventy-five, and
is on the increase. It may be added that
Crouse gymnasium bears the name of Hon.
George W. Crouse, of Akron, one of the most
liberal contributors to the support of the col
lege, and that Curtis Cottage owes its exis
tence to WilHam P. Curtis, the well known
citizen of Wadsworth. Buchtel College itself
bears the narae of him who was one of its
faithful founders, supporters and promoters
in the best sense of these words.
A World's Industrial Center.
Barberton is one of the most thriving manu
facturing towns of Summit county, although
the territory between its corporate liniits and
those of Akron is so thickly interspersed with
manufactories that to all outward appearances
the two places comprise one great busy and

prosperous community. In the opposite direc
tion, toward the north, one passes from Akron
into the village of Cuyahoga Falls, and it is
equally difficult to determine when one leaves
the corporate territory of the one for the other.
For mHes around Akron the country is but
one vast hive of industry, and recalls the
observation made by an enthusiastic pioneer
of the city who had returned to his home
place after journeying through all the noted
industrial sections of the world. "I came back
to Akron," he said, with great satisfaction,
"firm in the belief that nowhere on the face
of the earth is there so remarkable a mani
festation of industrialism as in the territory
surrounding this city for a dozen miles; for
here you find not only every form of modern
industry fully developed, but also populous
and profitable markets right at the door of
the manufactories." The City of Barberton.
Barberton, one of these remarkable indus
trial raanifestations, was founded by Ohio Co
lumbus Barber, president of the Diamond
Match Company and of the First National
Bank of Akron, and a leading factor in the
growth of numerous other corporations. He
had been reared from boyhood in the line of
manufacturing and business pursuits and in
1890, with Charles Baird, John K. Robinson
and Albert T. Paige, purchased about one
thousand acres of land on the present site of
the city which bears his name. Subsequently,
these men sold a one-half interest in this prop
erty to George W. Crouse, Sr., and a Pitts
burg syndicate, and in May, 1891, the propri
etors united in the organization of the Bar
berton Land and Improvement Company, of
which Mr. Barberton was president. Through
this active and strong organization many man
ufacturing plants were established on the town
ship site, besides the great plant of the Dia
mond Match Company. Mr. Barberton was
chosen president of the most of the early com
panies thus organized and located, as well as

358

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of the Barberton Belt Line Railway Company
and the Barberton Savings Bank. In 1893 the
Diamond Match Company began the construc
tion of its great plant at Barberton, and at its
completion the Akron manufactory was re
raoved to the new town. The company named
owns and operates immense plants outside of
Barberton, in a territory which stretches liter
ally from Maine to California. The Barber
ton manufactory has capacity for producing
two hundred twenty-five million matches a
day. Some industrious mathematician has es
timated that this output, if the matches were
placed end to end, would stretch over eight
thousand miles in length, and the product for
a year would reach around the world nine
times in an encircling band eight inches in
width. The raw material for this immense
output is obtained frora the great tiraber hold
ings of the corapany in California and the
eastern states. Besides possessing this, the
largest match factory in the United States,
Barberton also clairas the largest boiler fac
tory in the country operated by the Babcock-
Willson Company and employing fifteen hun
dred men; the largest valve factory (Pitts
burg Valve and Fittings Company) with
nearly nine hundred employes ; the leading
sewer pipe factory, operated by the Araerican
Sewer Pipe Company ; and the leading soda-
ash factory in the states. Altogether, about
five thousand workmen are kept busy by the
manufactories of Barberton, which have a
monthly pay-roll of $200,000. The city also
contains one of the finest high schools built
in the state, valued at over $100,000; an
opera house; four hotels and twelve churches.
The tax valuation of its entire property is
nearly $3,000,000. Four trunk line railroads
place Barberton in communication with the
great outside world and assists in the distribu
tion of its manufactories. The rapidity with
which Barberton sprang into life, and has con
tinued to grow, has firmly fixed upon her the
appropriate name of the "Magic City."

Norton Township.
Norton township, which embraces the site
of Barberton, was one of the early settled sec
tions of Summit county, its first permanent
resident being James Robinson, who migrated
from Otsego county. New York, in 1810. Five
years later he sold his farm and moved to-
Northampton, and thence to New Portage,
where he passed his last years as proprietor
of a distillery. The township was organized
on the 6th of AprH, 1818, taking its name from
Birdseye Norton, its principal proprietor. At
the first election held in that month thirty-one
votes were polled. In the preceding year,
1 81 7, Thomas Johnson had erected the first
saw-mill in the township. Mr. Johnson set
tled at what has since been known as John
son's Corners in 1823, and in 1830 erected the
first grist mill at Hudson Run. Westerh
Star, another hamlet, was formerly known ks
Griswold's Corners, and was located on the
line between Summit and Medina counties.
Other settleraents worthy of mention are Nor
ton Center, Hometown, Sherman and I>en-
nison. Richfield Township.
The territory tiow included in Richfield
township, as it lies west of the Cuyahoga
river, did not become a part of the United
States until 1805, sJ^d then by the treaty of
Ft. Industry, by which all Indian lands west
of the Portage Path were ceded to the general
government. Its first settler was Launcelot
Mays, who came from Pennsylvania in 1810
and located in the southwestern part of the
township. The township was organized in
1816, and two years afterward Rev. Mr.
Shaler preached the first sermon within its
limits. The Wyandots and Ottawas, who
originally inhabited this part of the county,
had abandoned it entirely about four years
before, 'or soon after the battle of Tippecanoe.
Like Twinsburg township and several others
in Summit county, Richfield is distinguished
for the excellence of its early-time schools,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

359

among its best known and most creditable in
stitutions being the Richfield Academy, which
was opened in 1836. It is also interesting to
note that two men of national fame had their
early training in Richfield township, namely :
Hon. Russell A. Alger and Samuel B. Axtell.
The family grave-yard of the Algers is at West
Richfield and here Russell A. erected a monu
ment to his parents and oldest sister. The
township has never developed as a manu
facturing district owing to its lack of trans
portation facilities, but has always stood high
as an agricultural and stock-breeding section.

Bath Township.
Bath township received its first settler in
the person of Jason Hammond in the year
1810. It was originally called Wheatfield, but
with the coming of the Hammonds and their
prominence in its affairs the name gradually
disappeared and the entire township was for
many years known as Hammondsburg. Dea
con Jonathan Hale and Mr. Hammond left
Connecticut within fou;r days of each other,
Mr. Hale filing the second claim in the town
ship. Upon its political organization in 1818,
-it was Deacon Hale who was the means of
giving it its present name, Bath. At the first
meeting of town officers one of the questions
put was. What shaH it be caHed, and Mr.
Hale spoke emphatically as follows: "CaH it
Jerusalem, or Jericho, or Bath, or anything
but Hamraondsburg," and the majority voted
to have it christened Bath.
When Messrs. Hammond and Hale located
in the township, the Cuyahoga valley was in
habited by a band of Ottawa Indians, the
chief of which was SkikeHimus, the father of
the famous Logan. The present hamlet of
Hammond Corners was named after the pio
neer settler of Bath township. Ghent is a
flourishing hamlet, in which are several saw
and grist miHs and evidences of considerable
business.

Copley Township.
The territory now included within Copley
township originally fell to Gardner Green and
others of Boston, and was first caHed Green
field and later it was christened Copley in
honor of Mr. Green's wife, who was a de
scendant of the English lord, Copley. Its
first settler was Jonah Turner, a Pennsyl
vanian who located therein during 1814. Mr.
Turner first visited the locality of his future
home during the war of 1812, when, as a
member of a Pennsylvania battalion, he en
camped on the ground upon which the year
after he built his log cabin. Copley township
was organized in 1819 as a portion of Medina
county, but its first real claim to distinction
did not materialize untH ten years later. On
the 29th of January, 1829, at the log school
house, on the northwest corner of the town
ship, was organized the first temperance soci
ety in the state of Ohio which was founded
upon a constitution. The question of temper
ance, and even prohibition, had agitated Hud
son and Tallmadge several years before. Har
vey Baldwin, of the former village, "had gone
so far as to refuse ardent spirits on the rais
ing of a cider press," but untH the date men
tioned there is no record of any temperance
society having been organized under a formal
constitution. Although this is a matter of undis
puted record, it is also known that as early
as 1820 Chauncey and William David had
erected a distillery in Copley township, which
was operated constantly and with profit until
May, 1852. Three other establishments of a
like nature were started and supported in this
locality ; so that Copley township had a mixed
reputation of being a favorable ground both
for the agitation of the "wet" and "dry" side
of the question.
Twinsburg Township.
Twinsburg township derives its chief per
sonal interest from the facts connected with
its christening, and the founding of a school

36o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of higher learning, kno-vvn as the Twinsburg
Institution, which for many years enjoyed
a widespread reputation aniong religious and
intellectual people. The ''twins'' who detcj--
raiiied the name of the tov/nship were Moses
and Aaron Wilcox, who were the original pro
prietors of its northeast section. They carae
frora North Killiiigsworth, Connecticut, in
1823, haying four years previously donated si^:
acres of their land in the center of the town
ship that they might have the honor of thus
christening this portion of Summit county.
Previous to this time it was caUed Millsville.
The Wilcox tv/ins were born on the nth of
May, 1 77 1. They married sisters, Hulda and
Mable Lord, of Killingsworth ; died in 1828,
within a few hours of each other and were
buried in the same grave near Twinsburg
Center. As an addition to this singular rec
ord, it has been stated that in early life they
so resembled each other that none but their
raost intiraate friends could distinguish them.
They not only married sisters, but had an
equal number of children; held all their prop
erty in comraon ; their penmanship could
scarcely be distinguished; their thoughts were
similar, as well as their looks; they were
taken sick on the same day with the sarae
disease, and, as stated, passed away within a
few hours of each other.
The Twinsburg Institute.
The Twinsburg Institute, mentioned above,
was founded by Rev. Samuel Bissell, a Yale
graduate of 1823 who received his license to
preach two years afterward, and in January,
1828, delivered the first serraon in Twinsburg
township to a society recently forraed at Au
rora. He reraoved from Aurora to Twins
burg Center in the following April and was
installed as pastor of the church at that point,
taking with hira four young men as the nu
cleus of a projected high school. He fitted
up a rude log cabin for their residence, and
a blacksmith shop was made into an academy.
This was the foundation of the Twinsburg In

stitution, which developed into a modern col
lege of three hundred students within the next
forty years. During the autumn of its initial
year the enrollraent had increased to one hun
dred and forty and in 1831, through the labors
of Mr. BisseH, an edifice was erected which
served for a nuraber of years both for a church
and an acaderay. In 1837 a separate structure
was erected for the institution, and to this ad
ditions were raade from time to time, until
three buildings of considerable size had been
provided for the accoramodation of the stu
dents and faculty. In the course of time, with
the springing up of more wealthy institutions
of learning and the decrease of attendance be
cause of the Civil war, the Twinsburg Institu
tion suff'ered a serious decline ; but its founder
showed a bravery not excelled by any soldier
on the battle field. In 1866, then seventy
years of age, without raeans and with but lit
tle income, he erected a new stone buUding
two stories in height, literally with his own
hands, although he had never had experience
or training as a mechanic. In course of time,
however, the building was in such condition
as to corafortably provide for one hundred
students, and Mr. Bissell had the satisfaction
of seeing the usefulness of his institute re
stored, although he was obliged, after a few
years, on account of age, to abandon the proj
ect which had been the proudest work of his
life. During its existence, it is estimated that
the Twinsburg Institute educated fully six
thousand students, among whom were more
than two hundred Indians drawn principally
frora the Senecas, Ottawas, Pottawatomies
and Ojibways. Mr. Bissell died in 1895, at
the age of ninety-eight years.
Creators of Akron and Summit County.
As more than intimated. Dr. Eliakim Crosby
was the real father of Akron, his claims to
paternity having been undisputed after, mainly
through his efforts, the city became the seat
of justice of Sumrait county. In 1840 his
offer of two thousand dollars toward the erec-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

361

tion of official buildings, provided his town
secured the coveted honor, was considered
quite munificent. A bitter opposition to the
creation of the new county of Summit was
organized throughout Medina, Lorain, Port
age and Stark counties, whose choice farm
ing territory was threatened ; but, through a
political combination between the Whigs of
Akron and the Democrats of Portage county,
led by Dr. Crosby, Colonel Simon Perkins
(the state senator) and Hon. Rufus P. Spal
ding (the representative), the legislative act
was passed and signed, in the winter and
spring of 1840, by which Summit county be-

Akron vs. Cuyahoga Falls.

The contest for the location of the county
seat was lively in the raost practical sense of
the word, the oratorical charapion of Cuya
hoga Falls being Senator Elisha N. Sill and of
Akron, Judge Spalding. The Whigs centered
at the Falls and the People's Party, at Akron,
and the county offices were divided between
the two rivals until the AprH election of
1842, at which the dispute was subraitted to
popular vote. The result was to give Akron
2,978 votes and Cuyahoga Falls, 1,384, with
125 scattering. In Deceraber, 1843, a court

SUMMIT COUNTY'S OLD AND NE-W COUET HOUSES.

came a political unit of the state. As it em
braced the summit, or divide of the water
shed between Lake Erie and the Ohio river,
as weH as the most elevated level of the Ohio
canal (which stretches without a lock from
the southern part of Akron to New Portage,
and was designated as the Summit level), the
name adopted for the county was unavoidable
and most appropriate. Judge Spalding is said
to have drawn the creative act and, with Dr.
Crosby and Colonel Perkins to have presided
at the christening.

house was erected on the commanding emi
nence just east of the present stately struc
ture. Accepted by the county commissioners
under protest, by dint of constant repairs and
several additions (with trust in Providence)
it was occupied, without loss of life, for sixty-
four years. In 1907 the county building of
the present was corapleted at a cost of three
hundred thousand dollars.
County Charities.
In 1849 ^^^ County Infirmary was located
about two miles west of Akron, the entire

362

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

poor farra then consisting of one hundred and
fifty acres. In 1864 the little frame building
of the early days was replaced by a substan
tial brick structure. Repeated additions have
been made both to building and grounds, until
today the land amounts to more than two hun
dred acres, and the infirmary structure is all
that raodern requirements can desire. The
^ Children's Home, another beneficial county in
stitution, was estabhshed in 1882, and is
located in the southeastern part of the city.
Famous Akron School Law.
The schools of Sumrait county have always
had high reputation, both from standpoints
of attendance and teaching efficiency. The
latest official figures show that 136 teachers
are employed ; that the value of school prop
erty is $1,485,600, and that the daily average
attendance of pupils is 12,871. But by far the
greatest honor which attaches to the public
schools of Sumrait county is the fact that the
city of Akron has given to the entire state
a system of popular education which is
acknowledged by experts to be a model. Its
author wa,s Rev. Isaac Jennings, then pastor
of a Congregational church of that city. He
it was who started the moveraent for an im
provement of local educational facilities,
inspired and guided numerous public meetings,
and, with the assistance of such citizens as
R. P. Spalding, L. V. Bierce and H. W. King,
formulated a legislative act which, in 1847,
becarae the famous Akron School Law.
It created one school district for each town,
and a school board of six members ; authorized
a suitable nuraber of priraary schools and one
central grammar school, or gave power to
raise money by taxation for the same. Under
the Akron law M. D. Leggett organized the
Akron schools, and becarae superintendent.
He received five hundred dollars a year sal
ary, and a little later J. D. Cox, who was
afterward governor and secretary of the in
terior, received six hundred doHars for the
sarae service in Warren.

Akron ought to be proud of another thing
connected with public education. In 1847 the
Ohio State Teachers' Association was organ
ized there. So not only did these two things
reflect to Akron's credit, but to the Reserve
as well.
Newspapers of Summit County.
The press of Surarait county had its incep
tion in the founding of the Ohio Canal Advo
cate, by Laurin Dewey, in 1825. He was a
practical printer and country editor from Ra^
venna. The paper was discontinued in 1829,
when it became evident that Akron was to be
the live town on the route of the canal. Soon
after the incorporation of that place, in 1836,
Madison H. White, of Medina, moved to
Akron and established the Post. The Western
Intelligencer had already come into existence
at Hudson (in 1827) and the Ohio Observer
at Cuyahoga FaHs (1832). In 1837 Samuel
A. Lane established the Buzzard at Akron,
which was transformed into the Summit Bea
con a few years thereafter, and has come down
to the present in the form of the Beacon
lournal, now a flourishing daily, founded as
such in 1869. The Beacon Journal absorbed
the Daily Republican in 1891.
The Akron Times, the leading Democratic
paper, is founded on the American Democrat,
first issued by Horace Canfield in 1842. In
1849 he associated himself with Sidney Edger
ton in the publication of the Free Democrat,
which, under a succession of names, was
merged into the Akron Weekly Times in 1867.
The daily edition was started in 1892. The
Germania, which so well represents the large
German element of the city and county, was
founded by H. Gentz, in 1868. The Reporter,
of Cuyahoga Falls, founded in 1870, has been
mentioned as one of the old-time publications
of the county. The Hudson Independent was
founded in 1896 ; the Barberton Neirn in 1892
and the Barberton Leader in 1894; the Akron
Press in 1892, and the India Rubber Review

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

363

Monthly (a flourishing organ of the great in
dustry indicated), in 1901.
Banks of the County.
With the organization of the Bank of Ak
ron, in 1845, Summit county became a fixture
in the financial world. This institution en
dured until 1857, ¦when it went down with the
Akron Branch railroad. In the meantime,
Messrs. George D. Bates and Philo Chamber
lain, who had opened a private bank, pur
chased the old building of the Bank of Akron
and continued in business until 1864, when it
was merged with the Second National Bank.
The First National had been established in
the previous year,' and both are still leaders
in the finances of the Western Reserve — ^the
Second, with a capital of $350,000, and the
First, with $100,000. Other financial insti
tutions are the following: National City
Bank of Akron, founded in 1883 and now
capitalized at $100,000 ; People's Savings Bank
of that city, established in 1890, capital $50,-
000; Clinton Savings Bank, of the same year
and capital; Barberton Savings Bank, estab
hshed in 1891, capital $50,000; the Central
Savings and Trust Company, of Akron, which
commenced business in 1904 and has a capital
of $100,000; as well as the Commercial Sav
ings, Depositors Savings, Dime Savings and
Dollar Savings banks, all of Akron; and the
Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank.

The County in the Civil War.
A long, bright and interesting chapter might
be written on the patriotism of Summit county
and the part taken by her sons in all the
wars from 1812 to 1898. To the active, great
and terrible arena of the Civil war she nobly
sent forth her youth, her young and her strong
men. Companies G and K, of the Nineteenth-
regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; D, G and
H, of the Twenty-ninth; the Sixth Ohio Bat
tery; Company H, of the One Hundred and
Fourth, and various portions of the One Hun
dred and Fifteenth, Second Ohio tavalry.
First Ohio Light Artillery, Sixty-seventh In
fantry (Colonel A. C. Voris), and the One
Hundred and Sixty-fourth — were well repre
sented by Summit county heroes. In the
Spanish-American war Company B, of the
Eighth Infantry, and Battery F, First Regi
ment Light Artillery, O. N. G., were organized
in Akron. The Eighth mobilized at Akron
and saw special guard duty in Cuba. This
command was among the first in the United
States to respond to President McKinley's call
for troops. It should be added that the Eighth
Regimental Band was composed mostly of
Akron musicians. Although Battery F did
not serve under the first presidential call, it
was later mustered into service and gave a
good account of itself.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MEDINA COUNTY.

Medina county lies south of Lorain and
Cuyahoga, west of Sumrait and east of Lorain
and Ashland, its southern boundary being the
forty-foot parallel. It has seventeen town
ships. Its general form is that of a rectangle,
and its area is more than 260,000 acres. The
origin of Black river is found in the western
part of the county in a swamp of some 2,000
acres lying in Harrisville township, while
Rocky river, the most important of its streams,
has its source near MontviHe at the foot of
the highlands found in that locality. A num
ber of small creeks flowing into the Mus
kingura river drain the county toward the
south, so that both Medina and Surarait coun
ties erabrace the distinct divide between the
streams which flow toward the Great Lakes
and the Ohio valley. Unlike Sumrait county,
Medina is alraost devoid of lakes, the only
exception being the sraall body of water on
the boundary line between La Fayette and
Westfield townships, which discharges into
Chippewa river. Wadsworth Run is located
on the highest rise of land in the county, 1,349
feet above sea level.
Pione'er' Settlers.
It is said that the earliest trace of the white
man in Medina county was found by the first
permanent settlers in Wadsworth township.
On the west bank of Holmes Brook, the first
comers to that section of the township found a
large beech tree in whose giant body was
deeply cut the inscription, "Philip Ward,
1797"; under this narae were the initials, T.

D., R. C, W. V. Who Philip Ward was,
what brought him and his corapanions to this
spot, is not known. They may have been
hunters or some of the Connecticut surveyors
prospecting. Judge Joseph Harris was Medina's pioneer.
He was a native of Connecticut and when
he came west located in Randolph. He was
an agent of the Connecticut Land Company
and agreed to take two hundred acres of land
in payment for his services ; he visited Me
dina county, chose his land there, staked out
his claims, built a cabin and named the place
Harrisville. The following year his family
joined hira.
The organization formed to develop this part
of the country was known as the Torrington
Corapany, and in June, 1811, George and
Russell Burr, with their wives, and Calvin
and Lyraan Corbin — the latter from Boston,
Massachusetts — joined Mr. Harris and his
family. First Native White Child.
About this time the Warners and others lo
cated in Liverpool township. A daughter of
this family, Sally Urania Warner, was the
first child born in Medina county, the day of
her birth, June i, 1812. She was large and
strong physically, and was a good shot. She
had two children, one a dwarf and the other,
who raarried a man named Noble, was mur
dered by her husband. She rather dominated
her husband but grieved greatly at his death.
"She inscribed on his grave stone : The be
loved husband of SALLY U. WARNER, her

364

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

365

name being in such large characters it is often
taken for her tombstone."
Increase in Population.
Medina county was named for an Arabian
city. It was erected from Cuyahoga and Port
age in 1812, but was not organized until 1818.
The population of the county at the time
of its organization was probably not far from
two thousand persons. Mr. Northrup, in his
history of Medina county, estimates the popu
lation of the various townships at that date
as 2,469. Comparing this estimate with the
census of 1820, it shows only a little larger

cessions from New England famHies that had
moved to New York, Pennsylvania and other
parts of Ohio, previous to their coming here.
In Homer and Spencer townships, however,
the original settlement was raade considerably
later, and by Germans generally from Penn
sylvania. In the southeastern and eastern
parts the original stock of New Englanders
has been supplanted by a thrifty class of Ger
mans, who, by their persevering industry, have
added largely to the resources of the county.
The influx of population up to 1850 was reg
ular and rapid, the population increasing from
2,469 in 1818, to 3,090 in 1820; 7,560 in 1830;

('- ... '

" -jHH 'S

'^^^^K^^^^B^^^t^^

MEDINA COUNTY COUET HOUSE.

yearly increase than is shown in the decade
from 1820 to 1830, which was very probably
the case. But, while the aggregate seems
probable, the distribution as given below from
Mr. Northrup's work seems quite the reverse.
In this, seven townships which were not or
ganized tiH after 1830, are credited with a
population of 467. The number ought prob
ably to be referred to the whole territory
lying west of range 15.
The early settlement was principally drawn
from Connecticut, though there were large ac-

18,360 in 1840; 24,441 in 1850; 21,958 in
1900. The townships as they now stand, with their
dates of organization, are as follows: Liver
pool, 1816; Harrisville, 1817; Brunswick, 1818;
Medina, 1818; Wadsworth, 1818; GuHford,
1819; MontvHle, 1820; Westfield, 1820; Ge
auga, 1820; Hinckley, 1825; Sharon, 1830;
Litchfield, 1831 ; Spencer, 1832; York, 1832;
La Fayette, 1832 ; Chatham, 1833 ; Homer.
1833-

366

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

First Surveys.
Captain Bela Hubbard, of Randolph, sur
veyed the first road in Wadsworth. David
Hudson, of Hudson; General Campbell, of
Ravenna, and Mr. Day, of Deerfield, all of
whom figured in the early history of Portage,
were the explorers. This party naraed the
streams in the vicinity. Finding a deer's car
cass, which was the work of wolves on the
bank of a stream, they caHed it Wolf creek.
A run they named for David Hudson.
James Redfield, of HarrisvHle was a famous
wolf catcher. "To encourage the young peo
ple in getting married he said he caught wolves
to get money to pay the rainister."
The War of 1812.
The war of 1812 interfered with the settling
of Medina, as it did of the whole Reserve.
At that date there were only three or four
families residing in the county.
On the first day of July, 1812, a messenger
arrived from Randolph, Portage county, bring
ing a newspaper to the Harrisville colony,
containing a declaration of war with Great
Britain. He also presented to them a letter
warning the settlers of probable danger. A
consultation was therefore held in the even
ing, which resulted in the hurried preparations
of Messrs. Harris, Burr, Corbin, and their
families, for departure to the town of Ran
dolph. George Burr and his wife had gone
there some weeks before. Having seen his
family safely settled at Randolph, Mr. Harris
returned to his deserted home and homestead
on the following Monday. As he approached
the settlement, he discovered that some person
had been in the vicinity during his absence,
and, dismounting from his horse, he pro
ceeded silently and carefuUy to exaraine the
Indian trail leading from Sandusky to Tus
carawas, but, as he found no evidence of sav
ages having passed that way, came to the con
clusion that some white person must have
occupied his house. On entering his cabin
indications were that a number of persons

had passed the night there. It was not until
some days afterward that he learned that the
commissioners, who had been appointed by
the legislature td establish a state road through
this part of the country, had made use of his
home, his furniture and probably his pro
visions. In order to insure the harvesting of the
crops of wheat, corn and potatoes, upon which
the little settlement so much depended, Mr.
Harris reraained in this vicinity for about five
weeks, with his dog as his only companion.
He then returned to Portage county, where
he first learned of the surrehder of Detroit to
the British.
At a call from General Wadsworth, com
mander of the American militia on the Re
serve, Messrs. Harris, Burr and others joined
the home troops, mustered in and about the
vicinity of Cleveland, and held themselves in
readiness for whatever hostilities might occur.
About this time the Corbins sold their land at
HarrisvHle to Russel Burr and returned to
Connecticut, and Messrs. Harris, George Burr
and their families were all that remained of the
infant settlement. The war scare having sub
sided, they returned to Harrisville in Octo
ber, 1812, and, arriving at their homes, found
everything quiet and unmolested. From that
time on, the settlement of Medina county was
continuous, if not rapid.
First Settler of Liverpool.
Moses Demming, a native of Southbury,
Connecticut, was the pioneer settler of Liver
pool. He lost both of his parents in the year
1809, and at the age of fifteen was bound out
to learn the blacksmith's trade. At the age
of twenty-five he removed to Waterbury, his
native state, where he met Ruth Warner,
whom he married in 1802. Being a typical
Yankee, however, both as to industry and
enterprise, he refused at first to settle upon
the small farm which he had bought, but ber
came a widely known clockmaker and clock _
peddler. In a few years he sold his forty acres

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

367

of stony land and removed his home to west
ern. New York. In the winter of 1810 his
father-in-law, Mr. Warner, became so much
interested in the lands of the Western Reserve
that he visited what is now known as Liver
pool Township and decided to locate therein.
It took but a little persuasion to induce Mr.
Demming to become one of the company of
emigrants which started westward in 181 1.
Both Mr. Warner and Mr. Demming sup
plied themselves liberally with clocks, which
they sold and traded as they progressed toward
northern Ohio. Their journey toward the
destination which afterward became their
home is so interesting and illustrative of these
pioneer days that it is described in words
penned fifty years afterward by Mr. Demming
himself, as follows: "We arrived at Colum
bia on the last day of February, 181 1. When
at Cleveland, on our way to Columbia, Mr.
Huntington urged me to buy a lot in that town
for $60, and pay part in a clock, and the bal
ance in any kind of trade we then had with
us. The lot offered to me contained one acre
and a fourth, and is the same lot on which
the Court House now stands. Cleveland was
then reported to be sickly, and the scrub oaks
seemed to indicate that the ground was too
poor to raise white beans; so we could not
make a trade. I traveled many miles over
what is now called Columbia, Liverpool and
Brunswick, exploring and deciding upon the
most available portion to purchase and prepare
to locate; and, after due deliberation, made
a choice of the farm on which I now (i860)
reside. I contracted with a young man to
make an opening and prepare a field to plant
in corn the coming spring; and on the 15th of
March started for home. Nothing of import'
happened on my way.
From Cleveland to Liverp6ol (1811).
"When I got home I made preparations to
move, seUing off all that I could not take
with me conveniently. I owned eleven head of

young cattle that I determined to take with
me, if possible. Late in April we filled our
wagon with such articles as we supposed es
sential, topping oft' our load with a quantity
of wheel heads, and, hitching on a team of
oxen and one horse, set out on our tedious
journey. The driving of the cattle through
the woods and across streams caused us
trouble and toil. We progressed at the aver
age speed of sixteen mHes per day. Our wheel
heads aided in paying our expenses at places
where we tarried over night. From Qeveland
to Columbia, a distance of twelve miles, there
were no inhabitants, and in many places the
roads were heavy. We traveled hard from
early dawn to late eve in making that dis
tance. The roads were very deep, and our
chances to avoid deep mud few and far be
tween, unless we had cut an entirely new
road. Prior to our arrival there had been
heavy rains, waters were high, and fordings
rather dangerous. In attempting to cross a
creek, the round poles comprising the bridge
were floating in an eddy over the two long
stringers, I urged the cattle forward, and.
when they stepped on the poles they gave way
and let the cattle into the water between the
stringers. I stood on a stringer with a stout
pole, pushed the head of each one of the cat
tle under the stringer and forced it through
the current, and by this means, after many
punches with the pole and much grappling of
horns, I got all my cattle over. We left our
wagon, took a few of the necessary articles.
traveled up the stream to where we found it
more shallow, and, after much toil and circuit
ous travel, we arrived at Liverpool on the i8th
of May, having traveled twenty days."
The Warner family did not become per
manent residents of this locality until Febru
ary, 1812, so that Moses Demming has the
honor of being the pioneer, as already men
tioned. Mr. Demming's wife, who died July
26, 1812, was the first white person buried
in Liverpool township.

368

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

War Tidings Reach Liverpool.
In the previous month, war with Great Brit
ain had been declared, but it was not until
some time after the death of his wife that
Mr. Demming and Mr. Warner received any
definite notice of the progress of the conflict.
During this time they were naturally in a
state of great trepidation, although their fears
were somewhat allayed by the rumor that
General HuH was acquitting himself well.
One night the Demming family was aroused
frora a sound sleep by a rapping at the door,
and Mr. Warner appeared bearing the alarra
ing tidings that Detroit had surrendered to
the British. Like the little colony at Har-
risviHe, those at Liverpool at once packed up
their belongings and started. Their destina
tion was Hudson, Surarait county. Before
they were well under way, however, a mes
senger, Levi Bronson, returned from Cleve
land bringing such word as to quiet fears.
The Liverpool contingent therefore only trav
eled as far as Columbia, where they erected
a small block house and placed theraselves
under the coramand of Captain Headley. One-
half of the raen were detained on railitary
duty, while the other half were allowed to
attend to their horae affairs. Mr. Deraraing
made the practice of going to Liverpool every
morning and returning to Columbia in the
evening. In the course of two or three weeks,
most of those who had broken up their homes
at Liverpool returned, and the monotony of
pioneer life was again resumed.
An Old-Time Trip After Salt.
Liverpool township has been noted since the
earliest days for its salt deposits and salt
works, and for months before' the era of
railroads the pioneer settlers for raany railes
around were in the habit of resorting to
its territory for their household supplies.
Ephraim Lindley, one of the first settlers of
Hudson, thus describes his journey into this
salt region when he was a boy, not long after
the war of 1812. After obtaining an empty

sack in which he stowed bread, wild meat and
other provisions, the youth left Hudson for
Liverpool on a cold, blustering December
morning. "There was a blazed road from Hudson to
Richfield. From thence I had to go 'to the
north line of the township, and from thence
find my way by blazed trees to Timothy Doan's
in Columbia. Between the house of Widow
Payne (Brecksville) and Mr. Doan's was an
unbroken wilderness of fifteen miles, except
ing the blazed line made by surveyors. My
first day's travel brought me to the cabin of
Mrs. Payne. On the second day I got to
Liverpool Salt Works, took possession of the
peck of salt and learned that I could buy an
other peck, which I wiUingly purchased. I
shouldered my half bushel of salt on the after
noon of the second day, and with elastic step
started homeward-bound. The second night
I tarried at the house of Horace Gunn, who
lived near Thomas Doan's. Liverpool sah
dripped much, and, my own exercise causing
sweat, the two came in contact and kept me
uncomfortable. The next morning, after leav
ing Mr. Gunn's, I had to repass through the
fifteen miles of continued wilderness, with a
short allowance of bread, loaded with a half-
bushel of wet salt. The snow was about four
inches in depth. After I had passed over
about two miles of my lonely forest road I
met a corapany of wolves, who seemed to be
on the track I made when going to Liverpool.
In passing along, I discovered that they fol
lowed, though at respectful distance. There
were five in number, and their frequent
stopping and pawing in the, snow caused me
to conjecture that they meditated an attack. I
furnished myself with a stout club and deter
rained to fight if they should attack me. After
following for a distance of five miles or more
they left my company and I traveled on, very
well satisfied with their absence. I am of the
opinion that the bitterings of the salt and my
own sweat was what they scented and
prompted' them to follow me. I got home

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

369

safely with what remained of my half-bushel
of salt, after a full share of bitterings had
eked out. This was my first important errand,
and I can assure you that I then traveled that
distance, and carried the salt more willingly,
than a young man of sixteen years will now
carry a half-bushel of potatoes from the gro
cery to his home."
Medina Township.
The country now included within the limits
of Medina county was therefore first opened
up to settlers at almost the same time in the
southwestern and the northwestern portions.
A few years afterward, the township and vil
lage of Medina (first called Mecca) were sur
veyed and platted.
The principal proprietor of the township
was Hon. Elijah Boardman, of New Milford,
Connecticut, a leading member of the Connec
ticut Land Company and of the state itself.
He had been six times a member of the Con
necticut Legislature, and after the township
had been settled to a considerable extent and
Medina county had been politically organized,
he was honored with a seat in the United
States Senate, and at the time of his death
in 1823 he was a member of Congress, his
last years being spent at Boardman, Mahon
ing county.
Although Medina was surveyed as early as^
1810 and the Hinman Brothers erected a cabin
on the site of the village not long afterwards,
they remained in the locality but a short time.
Zenas Hamilton, the first prominent and
useful settler, did not arrive from New York
untH October, 1814. With his family he tem
porarily occupied the lone cabin erected by
the Hinmans, but as he had brought with him
a family of eight children he was obliged to
erect a larger shelter for them.
First Sale of Village Lots.
The next really important arrival was Rufus
Ferris, who was an agent for Boardman, the
proprietor of the township. He brought with

him a number of workmen, the party arriving
on the uth of June, 1816. Mr. Ferris and
his assistants at once went to work to raake
a clearing and take the preliminary steps for
the sale of viHage lots. They not pnly made
a respectable clearing, but sowed corn and
wheat, which were among the first crops raised
in the county of Medina. Mr. Ferris' house,
which was the headquarters of these busy
operations, stood half a mHe north of the pub
lic square in Medina of today.
Early Religious Services.
In the fall of 1816 a number of lots were
selected by different individuals and the set
tlement grew to such encouraging proportions
that in March of the following year a religious
society was organized by Mr. Ferris and other
influential citizens. It was on the uth of that
month that Rev. Royce Searl, rector of Saint
Peters' Church, Plymouth, Connecticut, con
ducted the first public religious services of
the township and the village.
On the loth of April, 1817, the people of
Medina assembled with teams and poles to
clear away the underbrush, cut the timber and
prepare for the raising of the first log meet
ing-house in this part of the county. About
noon, as narrated by an old-timer who took
part in the proceedings, notice came that Mr.
Searl would be on the ground to preach the
sermon at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Prepa
rations were made for the accomraodation
of the audience by placing poles between the
rough logs. Notwithstanding this, nearly
every citizen of the township was present to
give his moral support to this important event.
Probably never since has such a percentage
of the citizens attended divine worship. The
sermon was everything that it should be, and
the exercises concluded with hearty if not
harmonious singing.
First Medina School.
The first school ever taught in Medina was
by Eliza Northrup, in the house above men-

Vol. 1—25

370

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

tioned, during the summer of 1817, and the
first native son was Matthew, son of Zenas
Hamilton, who was born June 9, 181 5. He
was widely known araong western physicians.
Pioneer Roadways.
Medina and Harrisville, as the two first set
tlements of any proraise in Medina county,
were soon connected with roads, although
the intervening country was stHl virtually a
wilderness. Before the early twenties the cora
munication was quite coraplete between Me
dina, Harrisville, Wooster, Elyria and Middle
bury. Some of these roads were constructed

Goods were brought over the Alleghany
mountains in large wagons, but tinware and
notions were peddled by raen from Connecti
cut and Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania ped
dlers were honest, but some of those from
Connecticut were not. So carefully did the
nutmeg men have , to be watched that the
words, "swindled" and "Yankeed" became
synonymous in this vicinity.
Township Organization.
The settlement of Harrisville and Liver
pool townships had not far progressed before

B. & O. BEIDGE AT LODI; 300 FT. LONG, 85 FT. HIGH.

by legislative appropriation and sorae by do
nations of the actual settlers. The road be
tween Medina and Harrisville was a section
of the State road, for which the legislature
had made provision in the shape of an appro
priation. In the spring of 1816 Jaraes S.
Redfield, of Harrisville, took a contract for
chopping out the regions from the center of
his town to the southwest corner of Medina,
and for the construction of fifty-seven rods of
bridges and causeways along the route. He
finished his work about the first of Septem
ber, and thus completed the first public high
way of any consequence in the county.

its residents were discussing and urging the
political organization of Medina county. This
was effected, through legislative enactment,
January 14, 18 18, when the territory was di
vided into nineteen townships. These then
comprised over 100,000 more acres than the
present area of the county, its present limits
being fixed by the taking away of the terri
tory now embraced by Grafton, Penfield,
I-Iuntington and SuHivan townships, county of
Lorain. In 1831 to 1833 the townships that
now compose the county were fully organ
ized and recognized.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

371

First Court and Township Election.
The first court was held in January, 1818,
in a barn erected by Rufus Ferris, within the
limits of the corporation of Medina. The
court consisted of Judge George Tod, of
Trumbull county, as president, with Messrs.
Harris, of HarrisvHle ; Brown, of Wadsworth,
and Welton, of Richfield, as his associates.
The session was formally opened by the sher
iff, who invited all litigants to present their
cases, but, as none were ready, the court spent
the day in friendly and social intercourse.
The first election of township officers of
Medina was held on the first Monday of April,
1818, and in the preceding month (March 22)
the first couple in the township, Giles Barnes
and EHza Northrop, had been married by
Rev. Searl, the pioneer clergyraan. He was
an Episcopalian, but solemnized their mar
riage according to the form of their church,
the Congregational. The pioneer religious so
ciety of Medina was the First Congregational
church, organized February 21, 1819, by Rev.
WHliam Hanford, a Connecticut missionary.
Village of Medina Founded.
The viHage of Medina was laid out in 1818
soon after the complete political organization
of the county was effected. The plat is dated
November 30 of that year, and is thus en
dorsed : "A plat of land situated in the town
ship of Medina, given by Elijah Boardman to
the county of Medina." The village was sur
veyed by Abraham Freeze, county surveyor.
The first house built in the present corporate
limits was a log buHding erected by Captain
Badger on the subsequent site of the Barnard
Block, and he also erected another house near
by, those being the pioneer structures of Me
dina village. The first building mentioned
was opened as a tavern in the fall of 1818,
and as Mr. Badger was unmarried at that time
he associated himself with a man by the name
of Hickox, and together they conducted this
pioneer hostelry and made it a very popular
resort. The first goods sold in the town were

by a man named Sholes, who opened a small
store in 1819 in the first frame house which
Medina could boast. In 1819 Captain Badger
took a contract to clear off the public square,
in preparation for the buHding of the County
Court House. The first session of court was
held in the upper story of his tavern during
the preceding year.
First Real "Fourth! of July."
The first noteworthy Fourth of July cele
bration at Medina was that observed in 1821.
No church beHs or firing of cannon ushered
in the day, but rather the tinkling of cow bells
and the singing of birds, and other sounds
common to a recently settled wilderness. Not
withstanding which, the few citizens who took
part in the celebration were full of enthusiasm
and patriotism and, unless Medina was ^an
exception, fire-water added to the gaieties.
John Freeze, who presided over the little
gathering, was especially warm, notwithstand
ing his unfortunate name. He was ably as
sisted by Dr. B. B. Clark, A. G. Hickox (who
read the Declaration of Independence), and
Rev. R. Searle, the popular and all-useful
clergyman, who delivered a fitting oration. A
nuraber of toasts were read and loudly cheered
and, in line with the usual custom of a con
servative community in those days, sweetened
whiskey was imbibed at the cheering of every
toast and was repeated after the response.
Among the voluntary toasts thus given and
cheered the following is perhaps the most
remarkable, remembering the year of this cele
bration, namely: "Freedom to the Africans,"
responded to by Captain Herman Munson,
aged 83. Thus was the Anti- Slavery principle
recognized at this early date in the history of
the Western Reserve.
Of course, then, as now, women baked and
brewed, broiled and boiled in order that men,
women and children might be weH filled; yet
the toast to which men so gallantly drink to
day, "The Ladies," was never even thought of.
Today the negro is a real citizen, with all

372

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the rights and privileges pertaining to citizen
ship, and the daughters of the women who
did fully half the work connected with the
building up of this county are still classed
politically with dependents. The women of
1800 were not dependents; neither are the
women of 1910.
By the year 1835 the village of Medina had
grown sufficiently in population and impor
tance to admit of being incorporated, and for
this purpose a special act of legislature was
passed. The place increased slowly, but stead
ily and without serious interruption, until April
14, 1870, when it was virtually laid in ashes.
Its citizens promptly formed the Medina
Building Association with a capital of $100,-
000, and within a few years it was virtually
restored. The place lies in the midst of a
rich agricultural country and even before the
era of railroads was considered as being advan
tageously situated on the great stage road
which ran from Cleveland to Columbus.
City of Medina.
The Medina of today is a substantially built
city of about 4,000 people, with a raodern
sanitary sewerage system, coraprising eight
miles of mains and connections, and one of the
best water works in the Reserve. The water
supply is brought from Rocky river, and be
fore it reaches the consumer is filtered through
a long bed of gravel and sand and carried into
a weH-constructed stand-pipe. The works
were completed in June, 1908, and both water
and sewerage systems are under the control
of the Board of Public Works, assisted by an
expert sanitary engineer from Colurabus,
Ohio. Medina's churches are well attended and its
religious edifices substantially and tastefully
buHt. The Congregationalists appear to be
the strongest of the religious denorainations,
while the Baptists and Methodists are not far
behind. The Catholics have but recently
erected a new church edifice (St. Francis Xav-
ier), which bespeaks their firm establishment

in Medina. The St. Paul Episcopal church
also has a flourishing society. Mention must
also be made of the Church of Christ, both
because of its strength and from the somewhat
remarkable fact that within the past year some
unknown friend has donated to that society
$50,000. Medina also has a pretty and commodious
opera house and supports a number of flour
ishing secret and benevolent societies con
nected with the Knights of Pythias, the Ma
sonic Order, the I. O. O. F., and the Modern
Woodmen of America.
The city has three important manufacturing
plants. The Medina Foundry Company man
ufactures furnaces, the Medina Bending
Works turns out tires and rims and wheel
spokes, and the A. I. Root Company manu
factures bee supplies.
Manufactory of Bee Supplies.
It was an ancient saying among the Arabi
ans that "All roads lead to Mecca," and it
may be stated with equal force that aU citizens
of Medina point with pride to this last great
plant as their prime attraction and the strong
est business support of their community. It is
the largest establishment of its kind in the
world. No bee fancier, none who desires to
learn of the industry or to become completely
equipped for the business, can possibly avoid
being, interested in this plant. The A. I. Root
Company not only manufactures every device
known to bee culture, but for years has issued
what is known all over the world as "Glean-
nings in Bee Culture," a publication which
constitutes a library in itself on subjects con
nected with this specialty. The origin and
originator of this great establishment consti
tute an interesting feature in the industrial
history of the Western Reserve.
Amos I. Root.
Amos Ives Root, the father of this business,
was born about two miles north of the pres
ent plant, and as a boy, a youth and a young

HISTORY OF TFIE WESTERN RESERVE

373

man became known in his home community
for his mechanical ingenuity and invention.
Although slight and frail in appearance, he
was generally recognized and perhaps feared
as a person of fierce determination. This
manifested itself not only when he was teach
ing school and the older pupils atterapted to
"put him out," but in after years when he was
establishing himself in business.
In 1861 he became a jeweler at Medina, and
within the succeeding sixteen years the firm of
A. I. Root & Co. became one of the largest
manufacturers of jewelry in the West. In the
meantirhe Mr. Root had commenced contrib-

returned with the swarm safely imprisoned.
"This was the nucleus of the great bee and bee
supply business now carried on under the name
of the A. I. Root Company.
Mr. Root increased his one swarm to an
apiary of thirty-five colonies in 1867, although
these were cut down to eleven during the fol
lowing winter, but the number was increased
during the following season to forty-eight.
From these he took over 6,000 pounds of honey.
at a net profit of $1,540. His neighbors de-
¦ manded that he raake hives for them, and these
demands became so insistent that he sold his
jewelry establishment and in 1877 began the

BEE SUPPLIES PLANT OF A. I. BOOT & COMPANY.

uting a series of articles to the American Bee
Journal, recounting his experiences and fail
ures in the raising of bees. He himself tells
how he happened to engage in this line. It
was in 1866, when he was busily engaged in
superintending twenty or more workmen in
the manufacture of jewelry, that his attention
was caHed to a wild- humming, over his head,
which he knew meant the passing of a swarm
of bees. One of his workmen jokingly asked
him how much he would give for the capture
of the swarm. "One dollar," he quickly re
plied ; whereupon the workman rushed outside,
grabbed a drygoods box, and in a few minutes

manufacture of hives, suppHes and apparatus
of all kinds.
It should be understood that since that
time the Root Corapany has never dealt in
honey, but has devoted itself to the manufac
ture of the means by which others may pro
duce it and place it upon the market.
Earnest R. Root.
In 1887 the elder Mr. Root withdrew from
the business, and since that year his son.
Earnest R. Root, has been in active control.
The latter was born at Medina in 1862 and
entered OberHn College in i8§i. He did not

374

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

quite complete his course of four years, as he
was anxious to enter into the business which
his father had already made prosperous. In
1904 the capital stock of the business was in
creased from $100,000 to $300,000, and an
idea of its extent may be gained from the
statement that its building now occupies fifteen
acres of ground; that the annual transactions
amount to a half-miHion of dollars, and that,
besides the various apparatus placed upon the
market, the company sends out one thousand
colonies of bees every year.
Returning briefly to the origin of the Root
business, it will be remembered that its
founder commenced his contributions to apiar
ian literature in 1865. Besides writing for the
Americam, Bee Journal, he sent out a great
number of private circulars to his correspond
ents, and in 1873 the expense of these publica
tions became so great that he commenced to
issue a quarterly, and later a raonthly. The
latter was called "Gleanings in Bee Culture."
In 1877 Mr. Root corapiled the first edition of
his widely known book called "The A B C of
Bee Culture," which is one of the raost com
plete, extensive and authoritative encyclopedia
on this subject ever published. This encyclo
pedia, the raonthly and the large catalogue and
other business publications put forth by the
company, have resulted in the establishment of
a large and complete printing departraent.
The company has also in process the forma
tion and organization of a Poultry Depart
ment, which is designed to fill the same place
in that specialty as is already occupied in the
bee industry. The elder Mr. Root, whose
health is somewhat broken, has been experi
menting, for a number of years in this line
on his Florida estate.
Banks and Newspapers.
Medina has three flourishing banks. The
oldest of these, the old Phoenix National Bank,
was established in 1873 by H. G. Blake, who
is best known to general history as the father
of the money-order system. As at present

organized, this institution has a capital of
$75,000. The Savings Deposit Bank Company
was founded in 1892, and is capitalized at
$50,000, as is the Medina County Nationa',
established in 1898.
The city has two flourishing newspapers,
one, the organ of the Republican party — which
is the oldest and most influential — and the
other, the organ of the Democracy. The Me
dina County Gazette, the Republican journal,
was established in 1832, being then known as
the Constitutionalist. In 1841 it was consoli
dated with the Medina County Whig, appear
ing under its present name in 1853, The
Gazette came under the control of J. H. Greehe
& Co. in August, 1879, and during the suc
ceeding, eleven years rapidly increased in cir
culation and general influence. Through the
strong and aggressive personality of Captain
J. H. Greene, than whora no more popular
man ever sat in the editorial chair in Medina
county, the Gazette earned a splendid name
for ability, as well as for honorable political
warfare. Captain J. H. Greene.
Captain J. H. Greene, whose death on Deco
ration day of 1890, was sincerely mourned
by a host of friends of both political parties,
was born in Middletown, Butler county, Ohio,
June 2, 1833, and at the age of fourteen
entered the Hamilton (O.) Intelligencer, as
an apprentice in the printing office. At this
time the publisher of the Intelligencer was
WiHiam C. Howells, father of the widely
known novelist, and in after years the latter was
an intimate friend of young Greene. At the
death of his father, Mr. Greene returned to
Hamilton, but not long afterward set forth
on his travels as a journeyman printer. In
these years of his young, manhood he also
had a taste of both the pleasures and hardships
of the wild west, his experience being mostly
acquired as a cattle drover in Indiana, IHinois
and Arkansas. Returning to his trade and
profession, Captain Greene was for some time

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

375

connected with the Milwaukee (Wis.) Senti
nel, and various publications in Indiana and
Kansas. WhHe residing in the latter state
political excitement was at its height over the
Kansas-Nebraska biH, but in 1856 he returned
to his native state of Ohio and obtained a posi
tion on the editorial staff of the Cleveland
Leader. He afterwards located in newspaper
work in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he
followed his calling for several years in con
nection with his official duties as postmaster
of that city. It was from this point that he
enlisted for service in the CivH war and
joined the forces of the famous Eighth
Wisconsin Regiment, which becarae known
throughout the country as the "Eagle Regi
ment." A few army veterans of the Badger
State stiH recall the wonderful standard bearer
of that regiment known as "Old Abe," the
eagle, whose fierce, yet dignified Hfe, went out
many years after the close of the Civil war.
Captain Greene served with his command in all
the important engageraents of the southwest,
and throughout his life was one of the most
ardent admirers of his old commander. Gen
eral Grant. He was not only a journalist of
repute, but an eloquent public speaker as well.
The deep and universal affection which went
out to him had its birth in his earnestness, his
charity and his lovable qualities as a man. To
the last he was a comrade indeed to every sol
dier who came within the radius of his influ
ence, and it seems pathetically fitting that his
death should occur soon after he had officiated
so tenderly in the decoration of the soldier
graves of the Medina veterans.
At Captain Greene's death the control of
the Gazette passed to his old-time partner,
Charles D. Neil. The latter died in December,
1896, and untH August 8, 1898, the paper was
published by the widow, Mrs. Nellie S. Neil.
From that time until March, 1906, it was
conducted by H. G. Rowe and R. M. Clarke,
and since that date has been under the sole
management, both business and editorial, of
Mr. Rowe.

Lodi and Vicinity.
Judge Harris, who was a pioneer settier
of Medina county, located both in the center
of Harrisville township and also near the
center of the present vHlage of Lodi. It was
here also that the first stores of the township
were built and that one of its first taverns
was operated by Warren Chapman. However,
it was not until the spring of 1818, when Will
iam Barnes arrived from the east and located
at Lodi, that the settlement commenced really
to advance as a business and industrial cen
ter. He soon constructed a dam and on the
East branch, formed a good water power,
erected a grist mill and made other improve
ments. In 1834 Jaraes Richtie erected a
woolen factory two miles south of Lodi and
from time to time saw mHls and grist raids
sprung, up in the surrounding country. A
large grist and saw raill were removed from
Penfield and erected near the center of the \
village in 1868, and the Snow Flake Flouring
Mill was built in 1875. This latter was on
the site of the first flouring mill ever put in
operation in Medina county some fifty years
previous. Preceding the war of the rebellion the lead
ing settlements in Harrisville township were
strongly in favor of the Anti-Slavery move
ment. Among 'those best known among the
Abolitionists was Uncle Timothy Burr, who
then lived in a large brick building west of
the village of Lodi. His home, known far
land wide as the Burr House, became a famous
station of the "underground railroad," and
scores of hunted and frightened colored people
found shelter, protection and food at the hands
of brave Uncle Timothy. It is said there
often were ten to fifteen negroes secreted in
his house awaiting transportation to Oberlin
and thence to Canada and freedom.
Lodi, as known today, is a pretty viHage of
about 1,000 people, but raakes no strong claim
to distinction as either a business or industrial
center. It has only one manufacturing plant.

376

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

a saw mill devoted chiefly to the production
of crates ; it also has a corn elevator, and its
citizens expect in the near future to include
in their industries a plant for the manufacture
of autoraobiles.
The two local banks are the' Exchange, es
tablished in 1883, and the National Bank,
founded in 1903. The president of the forraer
is Albert B. Taylor, whose father was one of
the oldest settlers of Lodi, and he himself has
done rauch in the iraprovement of the town.
The building which he erected some ten years
ago, known as Taylor's Inn, is both, a hostelry
and a bank, and is really unique from the
standpoint of architecture.

turesque natural features, and especially fine
views are obtained in the vicinity of the B. &
O. bridge, which spans a beautiful stream
and ravine for a distance of 200 feet.
Before taking leave of this attractive little
place, it would be inexcusable to omit mention
of two of its most noteworthy citizens. They
have made no striking records, but are well
known throughout all this section of the West
ern Reserve for their remarkable contrast in
physical appearance. Captain M. B. Bates
and Frank Bowman have been residents of
Lodi for many years, the former being seven
feet, four inches in height and weighing 380
pounds, while the latter is but four feet, seven

TAYLOE'S INN, LODI.

The bright local newspaper of the place, the
Lodi Review, was founded in 1886, and for
the past seven years has been under the edi
torial and business raanageraent of J. W.
Dunlap. The churches of Lodi, mentioned in the
general order of their strength and influence,
are the Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist.
The Kni§;hts of Pythias have a strong lodge
of about 130 members, and the Masons, in
cluding their auxiliary, the Eastern Star, are
also strong.
The country around Lodi is not only rich
agriculturally, but is distinguished for its pic-

inches in height, with an unrecorded but im
aginable weight. In the photograph of this
giant and this midget, which is here repro
duced, also appears the figure of a man of
medium height and size.
Favorite Indian Resort.
A few miles northwest of Lodi is a beauti
ful sheet of water known as Chippewa lake,
and on its shores is one of the prettiest sum
mer resorts in this part of the Reserve, Chip
pewa Lake Park.
It can well be understood why this pic
turesque section of Medina county should have

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

377

been the favorite resort of th^ various bands
of Wyandot and Delaware Indians. At the
time of the first . settlements, from 1811 to
1818, there were several flourishing Indian vil
lages in this vicinity, located on the shores of
Chippewa lake and the Little Chippewa river
and Killbuck creek. The first contact between
the red raen of this locality and the white
woodsraen who carae to clear the forest for
their future homes is thus graphically de
scribed by one of those who thus prepared the
way for the flourishing- settlements of the pres
ent: "The Indians were all very friendly to
the new settlers, and furnished thera with all
the meat they desired at a very low price.
Though visiting the cabins quite often, they
were never in any way uncivil. They would
not approach a house until they had apprised
the occupants of their presence, when they
would strike their tomahawks into the trees
and advance unarmed, thus indicating their
friendliness. Henry and Chester Hosraer cora
raenced chopping near where the business por
tion of Seville now stands, their clearings ex
tending across the Hubbard and west to the
Chippewa. Moses Noble coraraenced near
where the lower mill now stands, and Shubael
Porter a short distance therefrom in a south
easterly direction. As spring opened, the
sun's warm rays fell unobstructed upon many
a spot that had never been reached by them
before. An opening had been made in the
forest that indicated the presence of the white
man and the near approach of industry and
civilization.
The Red Man 'Leaves.
"The Indians stood lazily looking on, sad
at heart, no doubt, at seeing such havoc made
of the dear old woods in which they had lived,
fished and hunted, perhaps from their youth;
and the wild animals, as they galloped over
trails well known to thera, stood upon the
edge of the clearing, amazed at what they
could not understand, and then, taking fright
at the sound of the axes and falling timber.

fled away to the depths of the still undisturbed
wilderness. The fires were kindled in the
brush and log-heaps, and fine oaks, poplars and
black walnuts, that would now be of great
value, were burned, siraply to get them out of
the' way and off of the land. The rubbish
was cleared away, and of those fine trees,
araong whose branches the winds had played
but a few weeks before, there remained noth
ing but the stumps. Many of these were very
large, and so thickly did they stand that, under
different circurastances, it would have seemed
but of little use to cultivate the soil between
them, but here the plow, harrow and hoe were
introduced at once. Early in May, William
H. Bell and Samuel Owen came to the set
tlement (Seville) from the East; Mr. Owen
remained but a few days, when he returned
East. Shubael Porter did the first plowing,
near the Chippewa creek, south of the road
leading to the lower mill. About fifteen acres
in all were cleared and planted, and, when the
warm days of June came on, the first corn,
, oats, potatoes, etc., that had ever shown signs
of life in the Chippewa VaHey, modestly
peeped forth from the virgin soH."
Guilford Township.
Roger Newbury, of Windham, Connecticut ;
Justin Ely, of Springfield, Massachusetts;
Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, Connecticut, and
Elijah White, of Hudson, Connecticut, each
owned a quarter of the township of Guilford.
John and David Wilson, brothers, made the
first opening, in the northeast quarter of the
township in 1816. In the sarae year WiHiam
Moore cleared a sraall tract in the northwest
quarter about a raile east of Chippewa creek.
The first perraanent settlers in the township,
however, were Henry and Chester Hosmer,
Mary T. Hosmer, Shubael and Abigail Porter,
Lyman Munson and Moses Noble, who carae
from Massachusetts in February, 1817. The
men of the JDarty built a log house on the
south bank of Hubbard creek, and on the ist
of March, 181 7, the entire colony moved into

378

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

it as their abiding place. The house thus
occupied was within four rods of the building
long afterward known as Dowd's Hotel. At
that time the vHlage of Seville was not thought
of. Not far away was an Indian village of
about ten wigwams. The savages found hunt
ing very good along the lowlands of Chippewa
and Hubbard creeks ; not only did elk and deer
abound, but bears and wolves, and the two
streams mentioned were filled with excellent
fish. Naturally a goodly number of Indians
lingered in this locality several years after it
had been quite generally settled by white men.
In 1821 the first log school house in the

Among the best known of the early set
tlers of Guilford township were the Wilson
brothers, David, John and Robert. David
it appears, was the most enterprising of the
three, as he had been a permanent settler only
a few months before he decided to forego the
pleasures of bachelorhood and take to himself
Miss Abigail Porter, daughter of one of his
neighbors. They were married December 18
1818, at the house of Lyman Munson, who
then lived at Seville. Representatives from
all the nearby settlements attended the wed
ding, which was a very important social event.
Esquire Warner, of Wadsworth, officiated.

CHIPPE-WA LAKE, ONCE FAYOEED INDIAN EESOET.

township was erected just west of the State
road. A large chimney of clay and sticks was
buHt in the end of the log house, whose roof
was made of clapboards weighed down by
poles, this mode of construction being forced
upon the pioneers on account of the scarcity
of nails. A rickety door, raade also of clap
boards, swung on creaking wooden hinges,
and the two windows of the tiny log school
house were provided with greased paper in
stead of panes of glass. This pioneer school
house was burned down in 1822, and in 1823
a second and quite sirailar building replaced it.

On the day following the wedding Mr. Wilson
took his wife home with him, they both riding
upon one horse. They were the first couple
of white people married in GuHford township,
and their children and their children's children
long resided in this section of Medina county,
developing into useful men and women.
In 1824 the present burying grounds, just
' east of Seville, were surveyed and deeded to
the township. The first burial therein was
Mrs. Harriet Wilson, wife of Robert Wilson,
who died during the year of the survey.
In 1825 a mill route was estabhshed between

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

379

New Hampshire, Huron county, and New
Portage, Portage county, Mr. Hosmer being
appointed the first postmaster at Guilford.
Village of Seville.
By 1817 the township of GuHford had made
decided advancement in settlement and public
improvements, substantial roads having been
opened in several directions. The majority of
these public highways converged at what was
known as the Hosmer Opening, which seemed
to mark that locality as the proper site for a
future town.
In 1828 Henry Hosmer, proprietor of the
land at this point, called upon Nathaniel Bell,
then county surveyor, to plot a town to which
he gave the name of Seville. At that period
Guilford had two regular mail routes, an ex
cellent tavern kept by Dr. Eastman, a school
house, a store, blacksmith shop, saw mill, and
boasted numerous farmers who had already
quite a substantial position in Hfe. Thus may
be traced the main causes of the birth of
Seville as a village.
The present viHage of Seville is a pretty
community of some 900 people, and is recog
nized as a good shipping point for live stock
and farm products. It also contains a smaH
flour miH, a planing mill and a foundry, as
well as a warehouse for the storing of tobacco,
which was built in 1909. It chiefly depends
for its growth, however, upon the fine agricul
tural country of which it is the center, and its
stores are well patronized by the well-to-do
farmers for several miles around.
Brunswick.
Although this village is but twenty miles
from Cleveland, it has never had a railroad.
In the early days a stage ran regularly, and
once when the author of this volume was a lit
tle chHd she made this journey by stage — the
only time she ever rode in the old style con
veyance. If she were to drive to the Pacific
coast today the ride would not seem to her so
long as that. "Once she took the same ride,

with her mother as driver, and an aunt and
baby brother. After the stop at noon the
family horse, "Old Charlie" started out at so
brisk a gait as to alarm the driver who knew
little about horses. Up and down the hills he
went or stopped at will to feed at the roadside.
When he arrived in Brunswick it was found
that the man who had fed him at noon had
forgotten to put the bits back in his mouth, and
he had safely carried his cargo — rather pre
cious to at least one man — "back home" in
safety over a distance of fifteen miles.
The first emigrants came to Brunswick in
1815. They were Samuel Tillotson and fam
ily and Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Harvey.
Mr. and Mrs. Tillotson carae from Lee,
Massachusetts and it is well "and family" is
added to their names, for they had ten chil
dren when they arrived and four were born
thereafter. One of their sons brought his
bride with him and a happy time this party
had. The Young Mrs. THlotson had a beau
tiful voice and they sang as they journeyed.
They had oxen and horses to draw them and
hitched behind was a cow, who after a time
foHowed of her own accord. They were
obliged to cut a thin way through the forest
the last miles of their journey. They stopped
with the Doan family in Colurabia until their
house was done.
Mrs. Sarah Tillotson.
Sarah Tillotson, the mother of this family,
was an unusual woman, and well may Bruns
wick be proud of this fine mother. She acted
as physician for the early settlers, until the
arrival of Dr. Seth H. Blival in 1817. She
thought nothing of mounting her horse with
her home remedies and going any distance in
any weather to people in distress. She it
was who helped to bring into this world one
of the first white children of Medina county,
George Harvey. Her daughter, Polly, mar
ried John Pritchard and moved to Nelson,
Portage county. Here in a log, house on the
road now known as the GarrettsviHe road

38o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

they lived a long and useful life. Within a
radius of a few miles General William Hazen
and President Garfield later began their able
careers. On this same spot still lives her son,
George Pritchard, and his wife, Eraily, and
this old horae has been one of cheer, love and
hospitality from its founding.
The day after Mr. TiHotson's famHy stopped
at Mr; Doan's Mr. and Mrs. Soloraon Harvey
appeared. Together they buHt their log cab
ins, Mr. TiHotson's being finished a day ahead
of Mr. Harvey's; but, because the Tillotson
children had measles, the Harvey faraily were
settled in the town first. It's just such little
doraestic things which change history and
Jives.
First Brunswick School.
The year 1817 witnessed the organization of
the first church and of the first school in
Brunswick township. Sarah Tillotson, daugh
ter of the pioneer home doctor and nurse, was
the first teacher. In order to accommodate
both Brunswick and Liverpool, it was held
near the township line, and sixteen scholars
attended. This represented alraost the entire
juvenile population of the two townships.
Nothing Sectarian About This.
Religious services were held early in Bruns
wick, but the first society formed was Method
ist, and to Jacob Ward belongs the honor of
forming it. It is worthy of note that no
sectarian feelings were cherished then as now,
but Episcopalian, Congregationalist, Method
ist and other church raerabers, both of Liver
pool and Brunswick, united to hold a general
religious meeting. If the meeting happened
to be held at Mr. Warner's cabin, that good
man who was an Episcopalian, took the lead
of the meeting, and if the gathering was in
Brunswick, the leader of the religious exer
cises was generally of the Methodist or Con
gregationalist denomination. As noted by an
old-timer who took part in these early relig
ious gatherings : "Generally the small family
dwelling was fiHed with those who revered
the Sabbath and church duties. The exercises

commenced with singing, in which all took
part and were able to keep time and sing in
unison without the aid of organ or other
musical instrument. After singing, a devout
and fervent prayer was offered and then the
sermon was read, one or more exhorted and
the meeting closed by singing. Many of those
who witnessed those religious exercises in the
then wilderness cannot have forgotten the
zeal, the good feeling and the unaffected
soleranity that was apparent."
A Remarkable Discovery.
One of the honest pioneers of Brunswick
township claims that his neighbors were among
the first in the county to make the surprising
discovery that a barn could be raised without
the aid of whiskey. The story goes that
Captain John Stearns had fixed upon a day to
raise his new barn, when it was discovered
that his supply of liquor was entirely ex
hausted ; that he could neither buy nor borrow
in the entire township and that there was no
supply nearer than Tallmadge, to reach which
would require a journey of at least-two days.
The owner of the barn-to-be made known his
difficulty to some of his neighbors, who told
him that under the circumstances they thought
perhaps the matter could be arranged, though
they did not fully approve of his carelessness
in not providing the whiskey beforehand. On
the day appointed the people assembled and
promptly raised the barn, thus making the
remarkable discovery that men could do good
work without whiskey, as well as could women.
Two Stanch Women Workers.
In those days raen and women worked side
by side, and the work of one was not harder
than of the other. Sally Lane, left a widow
with five children to support, the youngest six
weeks old, used to walk two mHes and a half
each day by the blazed path to sew, and then
walk back at night, because her children, of
course, could not stay alone. Emeline A. Mar
tin was one of Brunswick's citizens who en
dowed an orphan asylum at Racine, Wiscon-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

381

sin, and gave generously to the Cleveland Or
phan Asylum, as well as to other institutions,
relatives and friends.
Granger Township.
Although Gideon Granger owned much
land on the Westem Reserve, and through
family connections was identified with Trum
bull county history and through much prop
erty with Ashtabula county, he possibly never
visited the township named for him; at least,
he never did anything, with it except to sell it.
In the month of October, 181 5, James Gay-
nard, in company with Eleazer Hills, Anthony
Low and Burt Codding, came to Ohio to view
Np. 3, Range 13, of the Western Reserve, or
what is now the chief portion of Granger
township. Satisfied with the appearance of
the land and the general outlook of the coun
try, they returned to Connecticut and com
pleted their arrangements with Mr. Granger
for the purchase of his land. The sale of their
farms at Bristol gave them enough to make a
payment and a mortgage was given for the
balance on the whole township. This act
made a title to the land cloudy and settlement
was hindered. After the agreement was made
and before it was formally signed, Gaynard
transferred a portion of the proprietorship to
John Codding. The former settled on lot
15 in Granger, where he died December 20,
1844, and his son and the descendants of other
generations lived in that vicinity for many
years afterward.
Jesse Perkins, a worthy young, man who
located in 1818, died while Hving at the house
of John Turner in Copley, his death on April
8, 1819, being the first in the township.
The first cabin built was erected by Ezekial
Mott, in the spring of 18 16, on the land after
ward occupied by George M. Codding.
The first two births in the township oc
curred on the same date, August 2, 1818,
Hamilton Rowe and Deborah Goodwin being
the additions to its population.
The first school was kept by William Paul

on lot 42, in the winter of 1819-20 and num
bered seventeen scholars.
The township of Granger was organized in
February, 1820. Its first election was not held
until the first Monday of April in that year.
Opinion is divided as to whether the people
of the town should feel'proud over the receipt
of the first money which was turned into the
township treasury. ¦ It was a fine of twenty-
five cents imposed for swearing, and of that
money half was paid out for paper on which
to record the first township proceedings.
Wadsworth.
The township derived its name from EHjah
Wadsworth, a leader in the development of
the land controlled by the Connecticut Land
Company, who lived for a number of years at
Canfield, Mahoning county. The first actual
settlers within its limits were Daniel Dean
and Oliver Durham, Vermont men, who
started from their native state for the Reserve
in 1814. Late in February they arrived at
Canfield, where they became acquainted with
Mr. Wadsworth and purchased of him, a large
piece of land in the tract known as No. i, or
the Wadsworth tract.
On the first day of March Durham and
Dean's son, Benjamin, a lad of sixteen, reached
Wadsworth and made carap, Daniel Dean
and his son Daniel following the next day.
Benjamin Dean felled the first tree and the
two boys helped to build the two log houses
which later became their homes. At that time
"Akron was merely a swamp." 1817 brought
a goodly number of emigrants and in the next
six years the township was settled, except the
southwestern quarter. In 1824 there were
about nine hundred inhabitants.
Wadsworth^s Pioneer Events.
Among pioneer happenings the following
may be recorded : The first school in the town
ship was taught by Harriet Warner in 18 16
and was kept in one end of her father's log
house. A small school house was built in the
succeeding faH.

382

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Alonzo Durham, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Oliver Durham, was the first child born in the
township. He lived to a good old age, and
the first person to die was Daniel Ware, in
1817. The first birth was a daughter of William
and Mary Rasor.
The first Sunday school was organized in
1820 by Sarah Kingsbury.
The first piano in Wadsworth belonged to
Emily Pardee Hanchel.
The first religious services were held in the
house of Oliver Durham in 1814. Regular
services were estabhshed at the house of Sal
mon Warner. When first school house was
erected in 1816 services were held there.
A Methodist class was formed in 1816.
A Congregational church was organized in
1819. The Union church, Gerraan Reform and
Lutherans was established in 1817.
The Baptist organized in 1821. This society
was afterward the nucleus of the Disciples
church. The first death in Wadsworth township was
that of Daniel Ware in 1817.
The first burial in the Center grounds was
the infant daughter of Frederick and Chloe
Brown in 1817.
The postoffice, established in 1820, was kept
by Abel Dickinson.
The early surveyors named the western part
of Wadsworth, because of its swampy con
dition, "The Infernal Regions," and the slug
gish streara that oozed through the swamps
was named "River Styx." This part of the
township was dreaded by the early traveler.
The date of the first law suit in the township
is not definitely known, although the cause of
the legal proceedings is Henry Falkner bought
a cake of tallow of one John Reed, but found,
upon investigating his purchase with a kitchen
knife, that it contained a piece of green beech
wood weighing about three pounds. Naturally
he refused to pay for taUow which he received
in the form of wood, and was sustained in his

refusal by Justice Warner, who decided that
Reed should not only meet the costs of the
trial, but lose the tallow with its dishonest
contents. In 1816 Frederick Brown built the first
house. The first physician was Dr. John Smith;
second, Dr. Austin, who lived at Eastern Star,
first in the village. Dr. Nathaniel Eastman.
"The first school, above common grade, was
held in winter of 1830 and '31, in the then new
Congregational church."
In 1839 Wadsworth Academy was incorpo
rated "and the octagon house erected which
has for a few years past been used as a
church." Possibly one of the most conscientious fam
ilies ever living in Wadsworth was that of
Judge and Mrs. Eyles. They arrived in 1820.
They were the grandparents of Hon. B. A.
Hinsdale, who was president of Hiram Col
lege, superintendent of Cleveland schools and
professor at the University of Michigan. He
was a student, a scholar, a gentleman and a
Christian. Bituminous coal, which was known to exist
by the early settlers, was first mined at Silver
creek. The building of the Atlantic & Great
Western railroad put this coal on the market
and was the beginning of Wadsworth's pros
perity. Present Village of Wadsworth.
The most important industries now at
Wadsworth are the Ohio Match Company (an
independent concern), the Ohio Injector Com
pany, the Ohio Salt Company and the Wads
worth Brick Company. The Wadsworth Light
& Water Company furnishes both electric and
natural gas illumination, and also an abundant
supply of pure water from several artesian
wells in the outskirts of the city. Wadsworth
has three miles of pavement, all of which has
been laid within the past three years, and the
system of good roads, which is being largely
promoted by the citizens of Wadsworth, em-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

383

braces five miles of a well-constructed high
way running through the township. A sani
tary system of sewerage has also been nearly
completed, and all of these enterprises place
Wadsworth in the class of enterprising and
progressive municipalities.
Turning to its educational facilities, it is
found that its Central school building was
completed in 1908 at a cost of $65,000. The
school attendance is not far from 600. The
system embraces a full high school and gram
mar course, - its graduates being admitted to
the state colleges and university without a
special examination.
The Wadsworth churches are well sustained
and include the Lutheran, the Methodist,
Menonite, Disciples and Catholic. Among its
strongest fraternal organizations are the
Masons, the Knights of Pythias and ihe I.
O. 0. F. •
Another strong force which should be
reckoned with in accounting for the good
standing and progress of Wadsworth, is that
exerted by its well-edited local newspaper, the
Banner-Press. Its editor and publisher is W.
S. Hostetler. The present journal was estab
lished in 1886 under the name of the Banner.
Its successor was the Banner-Enterprise. The
Press was established in 1906, and two years
later consolidated with the Banner under its
present title.
Wadsworth has two national banks in good
standing, both established in 1901, the First
National, with a capital of $25,000, and the
Wadsworth National, with a capital of
$50,000. The viUage lies two miles from the east line
and three miles from the west line of the
township, and obtained its first start as a
growing settlement from the fact that it was
at the intersection of the state roads passing
through the township from north to south and
from east to west. The east and west high
way was laid out in 1808, before the township
received its first settlers. Wadsworth village
grew up around these so-called Corners, and
soon after the coming of its first railroad its

population so increased that it was thought
best to formally incorporate it. This occurred
in 1866, 1 its first election, April 4, resuHing in
the election of Aaron Pardee, mayor; J. C.
Houston, recorder; C. N. Lyman, W. F.
Boyer, John Lytic, W. T. Ridenour and Lu-.
man P. Mills, viHage trustees. The Town
HaH was erected by the township taxes in
1867 at the cost of $5,000.
Hinckley Township.
In the distribution of the lands of the West
ern Reserve among the original land specula
tors, the township of Hinckley feH to the lot of
Judge Samuel Hinckley of~ Northampton,
Mass. The Judge seems to have been a born
speculator in lands and owned several town
ships in the county besides Hinckley. This
one was considered bad-land — the roughest
and most broken in his entire list of purchases
— and the result was that he held it back from
the market longer than many of the others.
The Famed Hinckley Hunt.
Hinckley was admirably adapted to harbor
wild game, and this shrewd proprietor there
fore hit upon a very effective scheme for ad
vertising it to would-be settlers. It consisted
of organizing what to this day is known and
noted throughout the central section of the
Western Reserve as the "Great Hinckley
Hunt," and although the enterprise was put on
foot ostensibly to clear the country of bears
and wolves, which were a great annoyance to
the settlers, the Hunt was undoubtedly organ
ized for business purposes as well.
Pages both of prose and poetry have been
devoted, with pioneer enthusiasm, to the de
scription of this blood-stirring event, but this
history must content itself with presenting the
following from the pen of Mr. Cogswell who
knows intimately whereof he writes: "The
hunt was appointed to come off on the 24th of
December, 18 18, by a proclamation to the fol
lowing towns: Cleveland and Newburg,
which were to form on the north line of
Hinckley ; B recks viHe and Richfield, on the east

384

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

line ; Bath and Granger, on the south line ; and
Medina and Brunswick, on the west line; —
and thus complete the square. It was the in
tention to sweep the whole township of Hinck
ley, and orders were given to be on the
•ground about sunrise.
"Uncle Gates and myself started from his
residence, on the Cuyahoga river, the day
previous to the hunt, with the intention of
taking a little look for game through the
woods as we went, and in order to be on the
gjround next morning. When we were near
the north line of Bath we separated with the
understanding that we would raeet at another
certain point. I had not gone far when I dis
covered where a coon had corae off of a large
oak tree, and had turned back and went up the
tree again. I knew if there was an Indian
there he would contrive sorae way to get the
garae without the trouble of cutting the tree.
I looked about to see how this could be ac
coraplished. There was a large lirab on the
oak, about sixty feet from the ground, and
not far from the tree was a small hickory,
which if feUed would lodge on the lirab. I
chopped the hickory, it lodged, and made, as
I supposed, a safe bridge by which I could
reach Mr. Coon. But I was mistaken, for
when within ten or twelve feet of the limb,
I discovered that there was very little of the
top of the hickory that was above the lirab, and
that it was sliding down further every move I
made. This was a perilous situation indeed,
and I saw that something decisive must be
done. I first thought of retreating, but I soon
found that this would be as bad as proceeding,
as every move I made brought the hickory
further off the lirab. I therefore resolved to
reach the tree if possible, and with several
desperate grabs, I did so. I now thought I
would make things safe, and I took the few
remaining twigs that still sustained the hickory
and withed them around the limb of the oak.
I soon discovered the retreat of my coon, and,
chopping in, I pulled hirr^ out and threw him
down to my dog. I descended safely, and by

the time I had reached the ground Uncle
Gates came up. I showed him what I had
done, and he declared that he would not have
undertaken it for all the land on the Cuyahoga
river, from Old Portage to Cleveland. I did
not undertake it for the value of the coon
but because I thought I would not beoutdone
by the Indians. We stayed over night at Mr.
Rial Bray's near the east line of Hinckley.
"Next morning we were on the line by sun
rise. We waited some time before they were
all in their places, and then the word 'all
ready' was passed from mouth to mouth. The
word was forty seconds going round the
twenty miles, the first telegraph known. Then
came the sound of horns, which was the sig
nal for a start. The managers had made a
circle, half a mile in diameter, in the center
of the town of blazing trees, and when we
came to that circle we were ordered to halt.
It soon became evident the ring was too large,
as the game had a good chance to secrete
themselves. The raanagers now came to me
and said they wished I would select some
good man, and go into the ring and shoot
some of the large game which would drive
the rest toward the outside. I selected my
uncle Gates, and we proceeded toward the
center. I soon came in contact with plenty
of wolves and bears, and had shot several
>vhen I saw near the center a monstrous bear,
I think the largest I ever saw of that species.
I wounded him twice so that he dropped each
time, when he retreated toward the south line,
and I followed in close pursuit. About this
time the south line advanced about forty rods,
which brought them within a short distance of
myself and the bear. My dog, seeing me
after the bear, broke away from the young
man who had him in charge, and came run
ning to my assistance, and met the bear just as
he was crossing a little creek on the ice. I
ran up to the bank, within twenty-five or
thirty feet of the bear, and stood several feet
above him. About this time the men in the
south Hne commenced shooting at the bear.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

385

apparently regardless of me or my dog. There
were probably one hundred guns fired within a
very short space of time, and the bullets
sounded to me very much like a hail storm.
As soon as the old fellow got his head still
enough so that I dare shoot, I laid him out.
While they were firing so many guns, a great
many persons hallooed to come out or I would
be shot, but, as it happened, neither myself nor
dog were hurt, and even the bear was not hit
by their random shots ; for when he was
dressed there were but three ball holes found
in his hide, and those I made.
"I now returned to the center alone, as my
uncle Gates had got frightened out, and fin
ished the bears and wolves ; then commenced
on the deer. I killed twenty-five or thirty, so
fast that I did not pretend to keep count. I
stood by one tree and killed eight as fast as I
could load and shoot. The last animal I killed
was a wounded wolf that had secreted himself
in the top of a fallen tree. We were ordered
to go down where the big bear was, discharge
our guns, and stack them, and proceed to draw
in the game. It was found, when the men
were all together, that there were four hun
dred and fifty-four, and it was estimated that
there were about five hundred on the lines in
the morning.
"The amount of garae killed was, about
three hundred deer, twenty-one bear, and
seventeen wolves, that were killed in the ring ;
and it was estiraated that about one hundred
deer were killed while marching to the center.
The night was spent merrily in singing, songs,
roasting meat, etc. In the morning we tried
to hit on some plan to organize, and divide the
game, but it seemed impossible to get any plan
to work. About this time Major Henry Coyt
came from Liverpool, and I went and asked
him to assist us in bringing about an organiza
tion. He' did so and succeeded in getting a
committee appointed, consisting of himself,
Capt. John Biglow, of Richfield, and myself.
We proceeded to divide the men into four di
visions, as follows : first division, Cleveland,

Royalton and Newburg; second division,
Brecksville and Richfield ; third division, Bath
and Granger; fourth division, Medina, Bruns
wick and Liverpool ; and then we divided the
game as well as we could, in proportion. This
was probably the greatest hunt that has ever
been, or ever will be in the United States ; and
strange to say, but one accident happened.
Captain Lothrop Seymour received a buck shot
in his shoulder and one in his leg."
Township of Hinckley Surveyed.
In 1819 the township of Hinckley was sur
veyed by Abrahara Freeze of Brunswick. He
divided it into 100 lots, each containing a one-
quarter section of land. In lot 69 Mr. Freeze
found a squatter named Walton, who was the
first settler on the township and the only one
at the time of the survey. As yet, however,
that township was known only by number and
had not received a distinctive name. The ques
tion of its christening came up during, the ex
citement attending the raising of the Freeze
barn, in the suraraer of 1824. Upon that occa
sion all the able-bodied raen of the township
were present to render their assistance, and
after the frarae of the barn had been raised the
question came up of organizing and naming
the township.
Judge Hinckley's "Come Down."
Mr. Freeze stated to those present that
Judge Hinckley had promised him that if the
citizens would name it Hinckley in his honor
he would deed them a lot of 160 acres for
school purposes, or for any other public use
which they designated. They therefore voted
unaniraously in favor of Hinckley, and the
next year when Judgfe Hinckley paid his an
nual visit to collect his rental and payments on
the lots, Mr. Freeze reminded him of his
promised donation. The judge said that he
had been very unfortunate during the past
year ; had met with heavy losses ; had had
much sickness in his famHy, and reaHy did
not feel able to make so large a gift to the

Vol. 1—25 /

386

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

township. He did offer, however, to donate
two and one-half acres at the Center for a
pubHc square, and two burying grounds, each
containing one and one-quarter acres ; and,
although this was a sad "come-down" from his
original generous offer, the people of the town
ship accepted it, and the name of Hinckley has
therefore since continued attached to it.
The first township election was held at the
log school house on the present site of No. i.
The election was held September 25, 1825, and
resulted in the choice of the following : Robt.
IngersoH, T. N. Eastson, Josiah Piper, trus
tees ; Joab Loomis, Samuel Porter, overseers
of the poor ; Jared Thair, clerk ; Fred Deraing,
treasurer ; John C. Lane, Chester Conant, Ab
rahara Freeze and David Babcock, supervisors.
Litchfield Township.
Frora the early records it is evident that the
portion of Medina county now called Litch
field was originally owned by Judge Holmes
of Litchfield, Connecticut. Sorae tirae in the
early 20's he caused it to be surveyed and a
tract of land cleared in the center of the town
ship, on which he erected a cabin. Soon after
ward, howeyer, the land reverted to the state
of Connecticut and was again thrown into the
open market. While controlled by Judge
Holmes, it was generally known as Holmes-
town, but when it was subsequently surveyed
appeared upon the map of the Western Re
serve as Litchfield; and by that name it has
since been known. The territory was included
within the choicest hunting grounds of the
Wyandot Indians and their wigwaras were
scattered along Center creek as late as 1822.
Prior to that year the settlements in Liver
pool on the north and Hinckley on the south
had begun to spread and to drive out the wild
game, thereby thinning out to some extent the
habitations of the Red Men. The first perma
nent settlement within the township was not
made untH February, 1830, when Cyrus Cook,
wife and child located on a sraall clearing in
the northern part, and in the following- May

quite a colony carae from Connecticut to setfle
in the township. Nearly aH of these first
settlements were in the vicinity of Litchfield
Center. On the 30th of June, 183 1, the town
ship was organized by the election of E. Hood,
J. Vandventer and George Olcott as trustees;
Thomas Wilcox, clerk ; Asah Howd, treasurer,
and Johnathan Richards, justice of the peace.
At this election the voters and the officials were
nearly synonomous, as only nine votes were
cast altogether.
The raonth of May, 1832, proved of great
raoment to the early settlers of Litchfield town
ship, as a colony of forty-one persons setfled
araong them in one day. So great an influx
brought vigorous life and much encourage
ment to the real pioneers of the township.
In 1832, when the assessor raade his first.
list of the property valuation of the township,
there were returned one horse and twenty-
four cattle, valued at $232. The township is
now one of the richest in live-stock and agri
cultural products in the country, and even
twenty years after the first return of the asses
sor was made, as mentioned above, its live
stock had increased so as to include 500 horses,
1,500 cattle, and nearly 6,000 sheep. The total
value of its live stock and agriculture in the
50's was about $75,000.
Sh.aron Township.
Sharon township, southeast of the vUlage of
Medina, was among the later sections of the
county to be opened and settled. It was origi
nally known simply as "Hart and Mathew's,"
from its proprietors who resided in Saybrook,
Connecticut. As there were no setdements
in this section of the county for a consider
able tirae after the adjoining township had be
come quite well populated, and aU kinds of
garae were found here in abundance, Sharon
township may be called a common hunting
ground for all the pioneers in the southern
part of the county.
In 1816 David Point, a New Yorker, settled
within the limits of Sharon township and he

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

387

and his descendants continued to reside there
for many years. His original location was in
the northeastern corner of the township, his
holding being afterward included in the farm
owned by Jacob Rudsill.
The first death among the whites of the
township was that of an infant child in the
Point family, who died of croup in 1822. At
this time there was no physician, in the town
ship, the nearest member of that profession
being located at Wadsworth.
The first native white female child was a
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Point, born in June,
1618, who in her young womanhood married
George Vaughn, subsequently a resident of
Allen county, Indiana.
In 1829 the township was surveyed by Peter
A. Moore, and George W. White, of Trum
bull county, and its name changed from "Hart
& Mathew's" to Gash township. This was
done at the suggestion of Mr. Moore, in honor
of his native province in Scotland. The name,
however, was retained by the township only
three months, when it was again altered to the
one it now bears.
At its organization, in 1831, seventy-five
votes were cast. It was in the year 1833 that a
number of families came from England and
located in what is known as the English Set
tlement, two mHes northeast of the center of
the township. Most of them continued to re
side in Sharon and became among its wealth
iest and most substantial farmers.
SHAR.ON Academy.
In 1835 a charter was granted by the legis
lature to create the Sharon Academy, which in
after years, became one of the leading educa
tional institutions of the county.
Medina in the War of 1812.
.In military matters it would be inexcusable
to put forth even the outlines of history of
Medina county without making grateful men
tion for the part her sons played in the various
wars of the nation. On account of the small

number of settlers who located in the county
prior to the war of 1812, individual mention
has been made of those who participated in
that conflict. The sons and daughters of the
county remained virtually undisturbed there
after, as far as raHitary raatters were con
cerned ; until the outbreak of the Mexican war
in 1846. During the month of June of that
year, between twenty and thirty men re
sponded to the national call for troops from
Medina county, and volunteered in the three
regiments assigned as the "Ohio quota" to the
American Army of Occupation. The Ohio
regiments were soon filled, but as there was
not a sufificient number of men from Medina
county to form a corapany they were sent to
Wooster, Ohio, and formed a part of a com
pany organized at that place. The organiza
tion was known as Company E of the third
Regiment. A partial list of the men from
Medina county, who marched under General
Scott to Mexico and took part in the cam
paigns and battles which have become histori
cal, is as foHows: Alexander Coretsca, Sam
uel Fritz, Uriah Fritz, Nathaniel Case, John
Callihan, Charles Barrett, Elijah Beard, Amiah
Chaffey, D. W. Rouse, C. B. Wood, Columbus
Chapman, Terry Harris, Josiah Coy. W. S.
Booth, Stephen M. Hyatt, Horace Potter,
Luther Adkins, Ebenezer Manning, Robert
W. Patterson and O. P. Barney.
Medina in the Mexican War. 1
An account of the first meeting called in the
village of Medina for the enlistment of Mexi
can volunteers is thus given : Sometime about
the 1st of June, 1846, notice was given that
a meeting would be held at a given date in
the vHlage of Medina, for the purpose of re
ceiving the names of those who desired to
serve in the war with Mexico. The day and
hour came ; a band of raartial music paraded
the streets to assemble the citizens, and, in the
park, speeches were made by one or more of
the prorainent citizens. Volunteers were
called for, but, out of the throng there

388

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

assembled, only two men signified their in
tention and readiness to march in battle ar
ray to the bright land of the Montezumas.
These two were Alexander Coretsca, of polish
descent, and Nathaniel Case. The two were
loudly cheered, as they enrolled their names
in their country's service. Some one said to
Coretsca : "Yes, you'll die down there in that
hot climate," to which the latter rephed, "It
wiH be as well to die down there as any place."
After a few days several others added their
names to the roll. All the men mentioned
above were in Company E, of the Third Regi
raent, except John Callihan, Ebenezer Mann
ing and Stephen Hyatt, who were in the Sec
ond Regiraent, and Horace Potter, who was in
Company F,' of the Third Regiment. The
brave boys realized that it was no holiday to
go in the hot months of the year from the
comparatively cold climate of the Northern
States to the altogether different and peculiar
climate of Mexico.
The Third Regiment was mustered out of
the service at New Orleans, in the autumn of
1847, and in common with the other American
soldiers, the Medina county boys drew their
pay for eighteen raonths at seven dollars per
month. The three fatalties of the Mexican
War, which were reported as a direct outcome
of the war, araong the Medina county troops,
were Josiah Coy, who died at Camargo ; Araiah
Chaffey, who died near Natchez, Mississippi,
a few days after his discharge, of a disease
contracted while in the service ; and Terry
Harris, who sacriffced his life to. the cause
about a week after he reached home, as a re
sult of the hardships and exposures of the
campaigns in which he had participated.
The Civil War.
A few days after the fall of Fort Surater,
a raass raeeting was held at Medina for the
securing of volunteers, under the first presi
dential call. E. A. Warner was chosen presi
dent for the day; the usual patriotic resolu
tions were adopted, and thrilling, speeches

made, and upon the call for volunteers, about
200 men subscribed their naraes on the enlist
ment rolls. They were formed into companies
A and B, of the Eighth Regiment, Ohio Vgl-
unteer Infantry. Wilbur F. Pierce was cap
tain of Company A, and O. O. Kelsey com
manded Company B.
Upon the arrival of Company A at Cleve
land, it was , incorporated as a body into the
Eighth Regiraent, changing its name to Com
pany K. Corapany B, however, was divided,
and about fifty of its men joined a command
organized from several companies. On May
2, 1 861, the regiment was ordered to Camp
Dennison, and the boys went forth from Me
dina county and were swallowed up by the
great military operations of the succeeding
four years.
When these first two corapanies raised in
Medina county were dispatched to the field,
the rapid enlistment of other volunteers pro
ceeded. Companies B and E, Forty-second
Regiment, were raised almost entirely in the
county, besides which there were thirteen Me
dina men in Company I, and twenty men in
Corapany G, of the sarae regiraent. The col
onel of this comraand was James A. Garfield.
Although other troops than the four com
panies mentioned were raised in Medina
county prior to the time when the Seventy-
second Regiment took the field, they were in
corporated into so raany commands that it is
impossible to go into details. The Seventy-
second, howeyer, contained more than the
equivalent of a fuH company of Medina county
soldiers, although they were distributed among
various companies. During the last three
months of 1861 Company K and portions of
other companies were recruited mostly in this
county. Of the One Hundred and Third Ohio
Infantry two companies were mostly recruited
frora this section of the Western Reserve^
one commanded by Lyman B. Wilcox, and the
other, by WiHiam H. Garrett. Company I of
the Second Ohio Cavalry, which was com
posed chiefly of men from Medina county, was

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

389

officered as follows : Allen P. Steel, captain ;
David E. Welch, first lieutenant, and William
B. Shattuck, second lieutenant. The recruit
ing officer of the local company was Hon. H.
G. Blake, a prominent citizen of Medina. It
may be stated as a rather interesting military
item that in September, 1861, Quarter-Master"
J. J. Elwell bought fifty horses at Medina for
this regiment, which was the first raised in
northern Ohio to be attached to the cavalry
branch of the service. The Second Ohio was
ordered to Carap Dennison the latter part of
Noveraber, 1861, where it received sabers and
continued drilling until December 20, when
it was ordered to Kentucky.
The four corapanies which enlisted in Me
dina county during the spring of 1864 were
organized into the Seventy-ninth Battalion,
Ohio National Guard, Hon. Harrison G. Blake,
serving as Lieutenant Colonel of this com
mand. It was largely through the efforts of
this brave leader, who afterwards also became
so prominent in civic affairs, that the required
contingent of troops was raised frora Medina
county. It has been estimated that about 1,500 raen
went from Medina county to the Civil war,
and the two men most directly responsible for
this fine showing were Hon. H. G. Blake al

ready mentioned, who may be caHed the great
promoter of enlistments, and M. C. Hills, who
served as draft commissioner of the county.
The first draft which occurred, October 5,
1862, resulted in the enrollraent of sorae 380
raen, and other drafts raised this nuraber to
more than 500; so that it is within bounds to
say that of the 1,500 men who served their
country as soldiers from Medina county in the
Civil War, two-thirds were volunteers.
Two Famous Men.
Medina County is proud of two men who
have achieved farae — :one, Russell A. Alger,
born in Lafayette township, and George K.
Nash in York. General Alger was conspicuous
in the war of the Rebellion, was United States
Senator from Michigan and secretary of War
under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt.
During that time the Spanish War was in
progress and he of course had much to do
with it officially. He at one time served at the
head of the Grand Array of the Republic. He
was very successful in business, his fortune
being laid in the lumber business of Michigan.
George K. Nash was a leader in the Repub
lican party of the state, and discharged the
duties of governor most acceptably. He Was
honest, conscientious and able.

CHAPTER XXV.

ERIE COUNTY.

Erie County, composed of eleven townships
set off from Huron in 1838, is bounded on the
north by Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie; east,
by Lake Erie and Lorain; south, by Huron;
west, by the west boundary of the Reserve.
The north-west corner of the township of
Margaretta extends a little beyond the limits

tries, it has long ago lost its agricultural char
acter. It is still pre-eminent however as a fruit
country. From its grapes has grown its wine
industry, known all over the United States.
Limestone and freestone, are quarried here in
large quantities, and ceraent is manufactured.
Much of the narrative bearing upon the

EEIE COUNTY COUET HOUSE.

of the Reserve. It has an area of only one
hundred and seventy-seven square miles and
is therefore one of the smallest counties in
Ohio. Generally speaking, the surface of the coun
ty slopes gradually toward the lake, from an
elevation of about one hundred and fifty feet.
In the early years of its settlement its main
commercial strength was its fine grain, but,
with the prodigious development of its indus-

early settleraent of Erie county is contained in
the history of Huron county, or the Firelands ;
but the establishraent of this section of the
Reserve as a strong and growing community
of northern Ohio coramences with the found
ing of the city of Sandusky.
History of Fort Sandusky.
One of the most complete, authentic and
interesting accounts descriptive of the found-

390

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

391

ing of Sandusky was published in the first di
rectory of the city issued in 1855 by John
McKelvey, who, although an active business
man of today, is still considered the best living
authority of these pioneer times. It is chiefly
from this source that the information is de
rived which is incorporated in this article.
It is a matter of general knowledge that the
first Indian tribe, whose territory included the
shores of Sandusky Bay, comprised the Eries,
or Cat nation. They were exterminated by
the fierce Iroquois in 1655, and about a cen
tury afterward the Wyandots and Ottawas
gradually occupied the country around Lake
Erie. They still held it, in 1679, 'when the
pioneer white men under the French voyageur
La Salle, appeared in this locality. It was on
the south-eastern shores of Lake Erie that the
wreck of the "Griffin" was found — a bark
which La Salle had constructed a few years
before, at the mouth of Tonawanda creek, for
the prosecution of his fur ventures among the
Indians living around the Great Lakes.
Near the raiddle of the seventeenth cen
tury sorae English traders settled on the pres
ent site of Venice, eight miles west of San
dusky, and there built a stockade which they
occupied until they were driven out by the
French in ¦ 1750. The latter then buHt Fort
Junandat, which afterwards became known as
Fort Sandusky and was occupied by the Eng
lish in 1760. In May of that year Fort San
dusky was captured and burned by the Indians,
during Pontiac's conspiracy. In the follow
ing month Captain Dalzell, in retaliation for
this, stopped at Sandusky and burned the
fields of standing corn, as well as the Wyan
dot vHlage at Castalia. He then marched
north to Detroit and relieved the garrison of
that place. At this time Sandusky bay was
called Lac-San-douske, raeaning in the Wyan
dot language "cold water lake."
Ogontz Place.
In 1810, the year after the completion of the
survey of the ' Firelands by Almon Ruggles,

John Garrison erected a log cabin at the trad
ing post which had succeeded Fort Sandusky.
At this tirae the post was called "Ogontz
Place," so named from a distinguished Indian
chief of the Ottawa tribe, educated and sent
here by some missionary society in Canada.
Ogontz and His Fate.
A French priest of the Catholic church
found a papoose alive in a village which
had been depopulated because of small
pox. He took the child to Quebec or Mont
real, educated him and sent him back as a
missionary to the Ottawa Indians near the
Cuyahoga — "Logera Town," the place was
called. Here this priest, Ogontz, preached the
gospel of love, patience and forgiveness, but
he found after a time that it was easy to raake
CathoHcs out of the Indians but that it was
not easy to raake Christians ; that is, the
forras attracted them, but the spirit was not
incHned to the doctrine of turning the other
cheek. So when these Indians had fought
another tribe and been defeated, they withdrew
to the region of Sandusky, and Ogontz
dropped his priest's robes and became their
chief. On his arrival Ogontz received from his
own most flattering attention and favors. That
such attention should continue to be shown an
Indian by Indians was not possible. Sorae ani
mals, many children, raost savages, follow
out openly their feelings of hatred and jeal
ousy ; it is only grown white raen and woraen
who try to hide theirs. It was therefore not
long before a jealous chief met Ogontz at a
trading post on the Huron river, about two
miles from the raouth, and a contest ensued.
Ogontz was not kiHed, but his opponent was.
To make amends the son of the slain raan was
adopted by Ogontz and treated as his own
child. The Indian boy, knowing the circura
stances of his father's death, quietly kept his
lamp of hatred and revenge burning, and when
he had gained courage through his physical
growth, he killed his parent's slayer ; and so it

392

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

happened that Ogontz slept with his father
before his natural life was done.
Tragic Deaths of Omic and Semo.
Previous to the war of 1812 the Indians of
the vicinage became troublesome and even hos
tile. The frontiersmen asserabled at Huron
to forra a corapany for the protection of them
selves, their families and possessions. It
seems they were none too soon in this action,
for as they were organizing two men, named
Gibbs and Buell, living about one raile south
of Sandusky (on or near the present road to
the ceraetery) were murdered. Twenty men
went to the spot to obtain evidence. A part
of a "spontoon" found buried in Gibbs' skull
was identified by Alfred Ruggles, a black
smith, as one he had but a short tirae before
made for an Indian, Semo. Knowing where
Serao lived, the party pursued hira as far as
Portage river and arrived just in time to see
him disappear in the woods on the opposite
bank. A trader, naraed Van Worraer, living
near the river, inforraed the party that an
Indian, Oraeek, had been in the corapany of
Serao for months, and might be found up the
river. He proposed to go to Oraeek, hire him
to work, and bring hira down where they
could capture hira. The plan was successfully
carried out. Oraeek was seized, taken to
Cleveland, tried, found guilty, and hung. An
account of this occurrence is given in the chap
ter on Cuyahoga county, but the name is raore
often spelled Omic than Omeek.
Semo was taken soon after, but made his
escape. A reward of one hundred dollars was
offered for his body, dead or alive. His tribe,
not wishing to screen so dreaded a foe of the
whites, and anxious to obtain the prize raoney,
captured hira in the vicinity of Mauraee bay
and returned to deliver him up. Qn their
way back, and while encamped for the night,
Semo, knowing the fate of Omeek, and an
ticipating a similar one were he taken to Cleve
land, seized a gun, placed the muzzle of it un
der his chin, and with his toe firing it, the

charge passed through his head, kilHng him
instantly. Thus were removed two dangerous
characters, but hostilities were not ended.
The Castalia Massacre.
During the same spring, of Semo's death, a
raost barbarous raassacre occurred at the head
of Cold creek, now Castalia. There were liv
ing there at this time the families of Snow,
Butler and Putnam, and a girl named Page.
Snow had erected on Cold creek, a grist miU,
in which he usually kept corn ; this the Indians
continued to steal in the night tirae. Snow, to
stop this thieving, laid the boards of the floor
leading from the embankment to the mUl in
such a way, that when trod upon they would
give way and let the Indians through.
The Indians being caught in this trap a few
times were so exasperated as to plan ven
geance on the whole settleraent, and accord
ingly, one morning before the usual time of
rising, concealed themselves araong the bushes
that grew on the bank along the creek. The
raen, Messrs. Snow, Putnam and Butler, had
for several days been cultivating a piece of
corn about one mile distant, and on the above
morning, not anticipating any trouble from
the Indians, started as usual for their place of
work. As soon as they were out of sight, the
Indians approached the cabins. Escape was
impossible and resistance useless. One little
boy, being old enough to understand their hos
tile intentions from the raanner of the Indians
approach, crawled into the tall grass by the
fence like a quail. He, however, was discov
ered by one of the Indians and puUed out.
Mrs. Snow being unable to travel because of
her delicate condition at the time, was butch
ered on the spot, as were also her chHdren,
three or four in number. The fest were se
cured as prisoners, taken to Maiden, Canada,
and were released or purchased by the whites
a few months after.
Fierce Fight on Johnson's Island.
In the ensuing- fall, soon after HuH's sur
render at Detroit, thirty raen formed them-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

393

selves into a company of "rangers," under the
command of Captain Cotton. Their duty was
to stand as guard at the Huron blockhouse and
scout through the country, as circumstances
might require ; each furnished his own horse
and equipments. On a bright, clear raorning,
shortly after the forraation of the corapany,
a large number of Indians were seen in the
vicinity of Bull's (Johnson's) Island. They
were, as was afterwards ascertained, a power
ful tribe from the ^^'est, known as the "Pot
tawatomies." After paddling about in their
canoes for a while, they disappeared. The
company of rangers, anxious for a skirmish,
got their boats ready and started in pursuit
of them. Thinking them to be on the penin
sula, they raade directly for that point. They
passed through the opening to the lake to the
east of Bull's Island, and made their boats
fast. They proceeded through the woods in
search of the enemy ; but going to the "Har
bors," a distance of four or five miles without
seeing or hearing thera they returned. In the
meantime, the Indians concealed on Bull's
Island had watched the movements of the
whites, and as soon as they saw them disap
pear in the woods on the peninsula, jumped
into their canoes and paddled across. Here
they chopped the fastened boats to pieces with
their tomahawks and started through the
woods in pursuit of the rangers. The two
parties" raet and a conflict ensued. The Indians
were routed and driven back with a heavy loss.
V. RamsdeH, J. Mingus and three others were
kUled while Jonas Lee was disabled by a bad
wound in his thigh. While lying on the ground
he heard footsteps and rising, he saw an In
dian running towards hira preparing to scalp
him. He raised his gun which he had re
loaded and killed his would-be slayer. Other
Indians overlooked him and he lay there un
molested tiH found by his party. The rangers
had to remain on the peninsula two days be
fore rehef reached them frora this side.
' In August, 1812, General Hull surrendered
Detroit to the British; and from this time to

the achievement of Perry's victory, in Septera
ber of the following year, the inhabitants were
in constant apprehension for their personal
safety. The sighing of the breeze, and the
discharge of the hunter's rifle, alike startled
the wife and the raother. This was true of
all portions of the Western Reserve, but the
danger was greatest in the northwest.
First Permanent Settlers.
The first permanent settlers came to San
dusky in 18 16. Money at this time was very
scarce, and produce very high, prices ranging
as foHows: Flour, $10 per barrel and a poor
article at that ; salt, $8 per barrel ; domestic
shirtings, 50 to 62 cents per yard; satinetts,
$2.50 to $3.50 per yard; green teas, $1.50 to
$2.50 per pound ; brown sugar, from 25 to 30
cents per pound; loaf sugar from 40 to 50
cents per pound, etc. There being few raids,
little wheat, farailies depended upon flour
bought by the barrel. Corn cost at least $1 per
bushel and butter was usually 25 cents per
pound. Prices were high all over the Reserve,
but higher here because the distance frora the
base of supplies was greater and the cost of
transportation of course was added.
There were vessels on the lake at the tirae,
but freight could not be brought from Buffalo
here short of $2.50 per barrel bulk. For sev
eral years the settlers consumed aH the pro
duce that was raised through this section";
but as soon as a surplus accumulated, a ready
market was found at Detroit, Monroe and
other settleraents in the upper regions of Lake
Erie. Original Sandusky Plats.
In the spring of 1817, the town of Portland
was laid out by its then proprietor, Zalraon
WHdman, of Danbury, Connecticut. ^ It em
braced that portion of the present area of San
dusky which lies between Hancock street on
the east, Decatur on the west, and Jefferson on
the south. During the ensuing year, a claim
was interposed by Hon. Isaac Mills, of New

394

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Haven, Connecticut, to an undivided portion
of the whole tract embraced in the present
city Hmits, which resulted in a coraproraise as
is usual in all cases of dispute, three-fourths
was allotted to Mr. Wildman and the other
fourth to Mr. MiHs.
In the spring of 1818 these gentlemen united
in laying out the present plat of the town un
der the name of Sandusky City, since changed
(by the provisions of an act to provide for the
organization of cities and incorporated vH-
lages) to Sandusky. Its location is on the
south side of Sandusky bay, being in 41 de
grees, 32 minutes, 10 seconds north latitude,
near the center of the north side of the state,
one hundred miles due north from Columbus,
sixty frora Cleveland, sixty from Detroit,
forty-eight from Toledo and two hundred and
eighteen from Cincinnati.
From the original plat of the city of San
dusky, dated June 5, 1818, it appears that the
first thoroughfares laid out were Water, Mar
ket, Washington, Adaras, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Wayne and Jackson streets, and Co
lumbus, Miami and Huron avenues. The
streets were planed to be four rods in width
and the avenues six. Two open spaces in
Market street were appropriated for public
market grounds, and the public parks pro
vided for were Washington, Columbus, Miami
and Huron. It is particularly specified in the
deed that "Washington Square is hereby ap
propriated for public ground, parade, or walk,
and is never to be obstructed except that part
of it included in line marked A. A., which is
hereby appropriated for buildings for re
ligious, literary, state, county and city pur
poses, but no jail or state prison is ever to be
erected thereon."
John Garrison, Pioneer Merchant.
To complete this article on the founding
of Sandusky and its history up to the tirae
when it attained the dignity of being, platted
as a town, recourse is again had to John Mc
Kelvey and his ready pen. In this case, how
ever, the main narrative comes from John

Garrison, Sandusky's first store-keeper, who
tells of the founding of his business and the
location of the first family on the site of the
present city. A short time before his death,
in 1865, Mr. Garrison prepared an account of
his coraing to these parts, frora which the fol
lowing is extracted:
"We lived on this farm (in Cayuga county.
New York,) sixteen years and continued to
improve it. I had under good improvement
150 acres, three good frame houses, three
30x40 good frame barns and seven acres of
orchard, and had suitable stock for the farm.
I had also a good stock of goods, having
opened the first store in that vicinity. In 1810
I was ^desirous of going to the west; sold out
my store, went out to Ohio to look at the
country, and purchased 4,000 acres of land
in Huron county, at 90 cents an acre. I then
returned to Cayuga county. New York, and
found that the raan to whom I sold my goods
.had failed and that I had lost $500 by him.
"Not discouraged by this, I sold my farm
for about $7,000, which was increased to
$10,000 by the sale of ray personal property.
I went east and purchased $4,000 worth of
drygoods, and goods suitable for the Indian
trade, and sent them to Buffalo on April 10,
181 1. I started with a four-horse team of my
own and three other teams to help me as far
as Buffalo, about 150 miles. There I shipped
my goods to the mouth of the Huron river,
took ray family in my wagon and traveled
around the lake, and arrived at the mouth of
the Huron one day before ray goods. I stored
the goods in an old Indian cabin with a French
trader and went out to see my land and select
a building place.
"A very singular circumstance occurred at
this time. At the mouth of the Huron we met
several persons with their teams waiting to
cross. They had been there several days wait
ing for the wind, which had been blowing a
perfect gale, to subside. The wind being frora
the east drove the water into the river and
made it too deep for fording. It was at last
proposed to build a raft and cross our teams

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

395

on it, one at a time. The next morning I got
up very early and went down to look at the
river. To my surprise I found that the wind
had changed during the night to the north
west and had driven the water out of the river
and left a bare sand bar stretching entirely
across. I walked out on the bar and finding
it quite hard I hastened back to the wagons,
and we all hitched up our teams and crossed
without difficulty on dry land. In one hour
after we crossed, the bar had disappeared and
the vessel which brought my goods anchored
over the spot.
"I found my land, or rather where my land
was, for much to my disappointment it was
nearly half covered with water. It lay about
twelve miles back from the lake and was very
good land in a dry season. I preferred to
settle near the lake, and for a few days trav
eled up and down the lake shore examining
the different points.
"I finally came to the conclusion that on
Sandusky bay there was destined to be a point
of importance as a business place. The land
was not in market, and the shores of the bay
were covered with the camps of the Indians.
There I detrmined to pitch my camp, and at
once employed some men to assist me, build
ing a cabin to live in, twenty feet square, and
an additional ten feet wide for a store. It re
quired but a few days to complete the whole.
My family moved into the house, and I raoved
my goods into the store and coraraenced selling
to the Indians and settlers. Mine was the first
store ever opened in Huron county, where now
stands the city of Sandusky, with its scores
of fine stores, churches, railroads, etc. Then
the Indian canoe moved noiselessly over the
bosom of the bay, where the mighty steamboat
plows her way. Where the Indian and soli
tary hunter or trapper pursued his way on
foot and alone, guided by the trail of the
blazed trees, now thunders the steam engine
with its train of cars bearing multitudes to
and fro. And where stood the wigwam of the
Indian, or the rude cabin of the trader, now
rise the dwellings and spires of a city."

Eleutheros Cooke.
Undoubtedly Jay Cooke had a wider na
tional reputation than any other Erie county
man. The story of his life by Oberholtzer is
told so graphicly as to be as interesting as a
tale of adventure, while in it and around it
is woven the history of the times. His father,
Eleutheros (meaning "Free-born"), when a
young man left northern New York with a
party for Indiana. When they reached the
upper waters of the Alleghany they made a
flatboat, and Indians paddled and poled them
to Fort Du Quesne. Here they built a larger
boat and proceeded on their way down the
Ohio, landing at Madison, Indiana, where the
father built a brick house for the family.
When business called the father to New
York he could not go back the way he carae,
since there were no boats with power to pull
against the streams. He therefore went over
land to Lake Erie, took a boat for Buffalo and
finished his journey through the wilderness.
The spot where he reached the lake was
Ogontz Place, (at present Sandusky), and he
was so irapressed with the blue lake, the green
shores, the rocks and trees that he was never
able to efface them from his mind. When he
returned to Indiana, by the Ohio river route,
he talked so constantly of the attractiveness of
Sandusky that it was decided the whole party
would move there. This was done in the win
ter of 1818-19. The journey was accom
plished by sledges through an unsettled coun
try. At Bloomingville, eight railes south of
Sandusky, they took up their abode.
Jay Cooke writes, "To the south of this vil
lage (Blooraingyille) the prairie was covered
with waving grass, with herds of deer and
wolves, and innuraerable flocks of wild tur
keys, prairie chickens, etc. I have often lis
tened to ray father's stories of these things,
and particularly to the account of the jour
ney from Madison and the many escapes from
Indians, bears and wolves. * * * Xhis
whole region was the paradise of the Indians."
After a time Eleutheros Cooke saw that

396

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Bloomingville was not so promising a location
as Ogontz -Place, and as Ogontz and the mem
bers of his tribe had been moved to a reser
vation, about forty miles away, Mr. Cooke
purchased the very spot upon which the chief's
wigwam had stood. Here he began to build
a stone house, although his friends declared he
could not find stone enough to complete it.
Strange they should have so thought, when we
now know how much stone there is and has
been in that vicinity.
" 'It was for those days a most imposing
mansion' and, although the building was in
large part demolished many years ago, only
the central walls remaining to serve , the uses
of the Second National Bank, it is still, to
those who know its history, one of the land
marks of the city."
Jay Cooke Is Born.
Into that house the family moved in 1821,
having lived for a few raonths in a frame cot
tage while waiting for its completion. It was
in this frarae cottage that Jay was born Au
gust 10, 1821. He used to say he was "prob
ably the first or nearly the first boy baby born
in Sandusky."
Because Eleutheros Cooke had lost an elec
tion to the legislature, raany people raisspelling
his narae, he deterrained his children or rather
his boys (for who in that day ever thought
any woman would have her name on any po
litical ticket) should not be so hampered. The
first son he naraed for the English statesraan,
Pitt ; Jay was a namesake of Chief Justice Jay,
and the father deterrained to call the next son
Fox, for the great Englishman ; but here the
mother rebelled. Bless her soul ! Since she
gave her children birth, nursed and reared
thera, it does not seera as if she were presum
ing to ask to narae just one. She naraed him
for her father and her brother, and after many
years of struggle this Henry Davis achieved
success and brought her comfort and honor —
reflected honor, of course, for few women of
her time were receiving honors themselves.

Jay's father was the flrst lawyer to settle
at Sandusky. He was a member of Congress
with John Quincy Adams and of the state
legislature with Tom Corwin. He was inter
ested in all public and local questions. He
strove hard to establish canals in Ohio. He
drew the charter which provided for the Lake
Erie and Mad River railroad. Jay says : "The
incorporators did not avail themselves of their
privileges until 1831, or 1832, when ground
was broken at Sandusky and my father was
the orator of the day. General WilUam Henry
Harrison and raany other notables were pres
ent and the guests all dined at our house.
There was a procession, a band and a cannon,
and I remember that we boys all walked in the
parade and had a big time generaUy."
Jay Cooke.
From childhood Jay Cooke showed a dis
position to raake raoney. He clerked in a store
at noon and on Saturdays, and although he
was but sixteen when he left Sandusky, he was
considered a proraising business man. When
he was twenty-one his success as a financier
was well assured. Remarkable! At twenty-
four he and Dorthea Elizabeth Allen were
raarried.
Henry D. Cooke.
The older brother Pitt was settled, and
Henry D. had just finished college. The latter
had a hard tirae getting started in Hfe. He
thought of entering the rainistry, his father
having been one of the most forceful and able
lawyers of his time, some expected him to fol
low that profession. He finally with Jay's
help bought the Register and became its
editor. Few papers at that time were great
financial successes. The Register was no ex
ception. He becarae interested in politics and
was presidential elector on Fremont's ticket
in 1856. ITe bought an interest in the Ohio
State lournal and became associated with
Chase, Sherman and other Republican leaders.
Again his editorial work' was good, but his

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

397

family had to help him out financially. His
wife in writing to his father, says : "For two
weeks he (Henry) has not had one cent in his
pocket" and the father adds : "Poor fellow !
His severe labors and his sterling merits and
shining talents deserve a better fate, and I pity
him from my soul." Among the young men
who worked on the Ohio Journal in Henry D.
Cooke's days was William Dean Howells.
Jay Cooke, in the meantime, was growing
more influential. He suffered losses arid re
gained lost ground. He was optimistic, cour
ageous and always thoughtful of those de
pendent upon him for advice or money. With
the beginning of the war he saw his oppor
tunity and he really became the financier of
that period. His brother had been appointed
public printer and, being acquainted with
Ohio's public men, was of great assistance.
These two men were personaHy associated
with Lincoln, Chase, Fessenden, Sherman and
their like.
Henry D. was made governor of the District
of Columbia, and some historians think if
there had not been a Jay Cooke the general re
sult of the war would have been different.
The story of the part Jay and Henry played
is a matter of general history and is not re
peated here.
The father, Eleutheros, built a house on
Columbus avenue, where the Sloan House now
stands, and in this great mansion the children
and grandchildren gathered for visits. This
house many years after was taken down stone
by stone and re-erected on Columbus avenue,
and is now the home of T. Morrison Sloane,
the daughter of Pitt Cooke. Eleutheros Cooke
died on December 27, 1864, and was greatly
mourned by his family. He understood po
litical matters as well, if not better, than his
sons. "Certainly none (of his sons) was in
the same manner grounded in constitutional
law and the philosophy of government, fitting
him for public life."
When the war was over Jay began railroad
operations in the great northwest. His opera

tions were stupendous. A financial condition
unlooked for brought about a failure, but from
this he recovered so that in his old age he was
possessed of all or more than he cared to have.
Jay Cooke's Boyhood.
The following, taken frora a paper read by
Jay Cooke before the Firelands Historical So
ciety at the Sandusky meeting of 1900, tells
the story of the part played by Mr. Cooke
and his father in the early building of San
dusky. "You must not expect from rae on this occa
sion anything more than a truthful talk upon
some subjects your president tells me you
will be pleased to listen to, as coming from
one who, although not a member of your so
ciety yet, has for long years kept hiraself in
formed as to your aims and purposes and who
has taken much interest in all you have done.
I never delivered a speech in all my nearly
eighty years of life. The largest body I have
ever addressed was a male Bible class of some
times 150 members, which I have conducted
each Sabbath for nearly fifty years ; and yet
when I recall the fact that my dear father, the,
Hon. Eleutheros Cooke, so frequently in the
long ago raet with you and addressed you, and
that your society has nurabered and now nura
bers raany old friends, I could not refuse the
invitation to appear before you.
"My preference would have been, however,
to have met and talked with you at the fire
side of my own home. Oh, what hours we
could have spent together, chatting about the
good old times, the old friends, the thousand
and one incidents, old customs and experi
ences, and again of the wondrous changes that
have taken place, the rapid progress in arts
and sciences and inventions in steamships and
railroads, and telegraph and telephones. Why
a whole year of such talks would hardly suf
fice to exhaust the infinite sum of the items
we would recall from memory's storehouse,
even a memory reaching no further backwards
than three score years and ten.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

"My friends, I consider myself one of you.
I was born near the spot where we are now
assembled. I have a perfect recollection of
Sandusky when it was but just changing from
an Indian village. Old Ogontz raany a tirae
has carried me on his shoulders. I named my
beautiful horae near Philadelphia after this old
chief, and now the whole country around me
for miles has appropriated for their postoffice,
railroad station and village the name of
Ogontz. "My father, I think, built the first stone
house down on Columbus avenue. The town
was then called Portland, and afterwards San
dusky City, and now Sandusky. My first
recollection of any public worship was of a
Methodist meeting held in a cooper shop on
Market street, our seats rough boards placed
on kegs. Shortly after this a small frarae
church was erected by the Methodists near
where the courthouse stands. After this a
stone church built by the Congregationalists,
also a stone church by the Episcopalians and
many other societies foHowed, until in time
this fair city has becorae noted as a city of
churches. "The bay was at certain times covered with
ducks and wild geese and swan, and the water
populous with all kinds of fish. I reraeraber
a joke which our rival neighbors used to per
petuate, i. e., that before the Sandusky people
could dine or sup they would have to send us
boys down to the docks to catch enough fish
for a meal. But in fact this whole country was
full of game and fish of all kinds, and a per
fect paradise for hunters and fishermen. Deer
and squirrels and prairie chickens and wild
turkey, etc., abounded.
Father Corners a Whole Flock.
"My father never was a hunter, but on one
occasion he beat us all in prowess by capturing
a couple of dozen of fat wHd turkeys without
firing a gun. He had a hundred-acre field of
corn out on the prairie and had buHt a spa
cious corn house in the center. One day, rid

ing over this field after harvest, .he noticed
a window was open, and approaching and
looking in discovered a large flock of wild
turkeys within and feasting on his corn. He
promptly closed the window and captured the
whole flock, thus providing a feast for the
good old Thanksgiving day then near at hand.
"On this same prairie between Blooming-
vHle and Strong's Ridge I have hunted with
Judge Caldwell. It was a rare spot for deer
and prairie chickens.
First Telegrams and Railroads.
"And now before closing these personal
reminiscences I wish to refer to an incident
which sorae of you will no doubt recall. It is
this, at one of your meetings in Norwalk long
ago my father, who was the orator on that
occasion, took from his pocket the very first
telegram that had been sent from Philadelphia
to Sandusky. He reminded you of past diffi
culties particularly in the earlier periods, in
the- matter of raails and raessages from the
East, and how that frequently letters were
days and weeks before reaching their desti
nation, and how he held in his hand a message
that he had received from his son Jay from
Philadelphia in just five rainutes from the
time his son had written it that very morning.
"To realize the wondrous change that you
and I have witnessed we can recall the time
when postage on a letter from Sandusky to
Norwalk was twelve and one-half cents and
from Boston to Sandusky was twenty-five
cents, and if the envelope contained an en
closure beside the one sheet the postage was
doubled. Why, my friends, I myself have
paid seventy-five cents on a letter to my
sweetheart in Kentucky just because there was
so rauch news in PhUadelphia that it required
three sheets to teH it aH. You and I remember
when tomatoes were called 'Love Apples' and
were not eaten, considered poisonous.
Father and Son as Railroad Men.
"We remember the first soda water foun
tain, the first daguerreotype, the first steam-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

399

ship that crossed the ocean, the first railroad
charter obtained in the world — and that by my
own father — in 1826. We aU reraember the
beginning of the road, at first between San
dusky and BeHevue, with a thin English strap
raU and cars drawn by a horse. I was present
when, about 1835, ground was broken near
Foreman's rope walk and a grand celebration
held. All the great men of the state were in
vited. 'Old Tippecanoe,' the first President
Harrison, was there. My father delivered the
oration. We had music and a cannon and the
boys all marched in the procession.
"At this tirae a few other raHroad projects

dence in PhUadelphia, almost continually been
financiering for railroads. As a member of
the great firm of E. W. Clarke & Co., and
afterwards of the firm of Jay Cooke & Co.,
I have until recent years been instrumental
in the building of nearly all the older railroads
in the country. The last of these, the great
Northern Pacific railroad, now a triumphant
success and which has developed one of the
finest portions of this country, where, in 1870,
a vast territory was filled with buffalo and
Indians, can now be found over six millions of
intelligent and energetic farmers and miners
and merchants and ranchmen, etc., and many

FIEST ENGINE BUILT IN SANDUSKY.

had been launched — a few miles of the Balti
more & Ohio, some three miles of the German-
town road, also a piece of the Albany &
Schenectady road and a mile in the Quincy
granite quarries. But to my father and to the
Western Reserve belongs the honor of being
the pioneer in railroad matters. From this
small beginning hundreds of thousands of
miles of railroad have been constructed. Why,
my friends, there are today enough finished
railroads in the United States alone to reach
around the world fully ten times.
"I ha-ve since 1838 when I took up my resi-

large cities and thriving towns, hundreds of
churches, schools and coHeges, and branch
railroads innumerable."
First Engine West of the Alleghanies.
A remarkable addition may be made to that
part of Mr. Cooke's address — ^which refers to
the old Mad River railroad between Sandusky
and BeHevue, whose charter was obtained by
his father in 1826. There is now living in San
dusky an old man in his ninety-third year
named S. J. Catherman, who, when he was
eighteen years old, was employed in the car

400

HISTORY OF. THE WESTERN RESERVE

shops of that road in this city. Various parts
of the pioneer engine, "The Sandusky," were
manufactured in the east and shipped to San
dusky to be put together. The work was
successfully accomplished under the direction
of Thomas Hogg, the master raechanic, who
was at the throttle of the old raachine when
she clanged over the strap rails to Bellevue
in 1835. Later, Mr. Catherraan becarae the
master mechanic himself, and has a vivid
recollection not only of the "Sandusky," but
of the second engine used on the Mad River
road, "The Erie." He claims that "The San
dusky" was both the first engine to be run
west of the Allegheny mountains and first
one in the world to be equipped with a steam
whistle. A few months ago the still bright
old gentleman was interviewed by the San
dusky Star-Journal, whose representative
drew from him other information which has
real historical value. It seems that when Mr.
Catherman was employed in the Mad River
shops little side door cars, rauch resembling
the present-day box cars, were used on all the
steara roads. To General Overseer Gregg he
suggested the idea of building a car with doors
on the ends and reversable seats. The idea
appealed to Gregg, and Catherraan was in
structed to "go ahead" ; and from the coaches
which he then commenced to build in the Mad
River raHroad shops have developed the
luxurious affairs of today.
Modern Sandusky.
The present city of Sandusky, with its
30,000 people, is one of the most interesting
places in the Western Reserve, whether con
sidered historically, commercially, indus
trially or as a suramer resort. It has been
one of the chief outlets for the industries of
the interior and an inlet for the varied com
raerce which for so many years has come over
the waters of the Great Lakes.
When the so-called Sandusky City road was
even more important than any thoroughfare
which led from Cleveland into the interior.

Sandusky was also the largest port on Lake
Erie. It was early the most important ter
minal of raany wagon roads, and later it be
carae the terrainus of the first two railroads
built in the state of Ohio.
The five lines of railroad which now con
nect Sandusky with other portions of the cen
tral west are the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chi
cago & St. Louis, Baltiraore & Ohio, Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern, Lake Erie &
Western and Columbus, Sandusky & Hock
ing. At present, about forty regular trains
arrive and depart from Sandusky every day,
and in the suramer season many special excur
sions are run to summer resorts and pictur
esque points along the lake shore. Pleasure
steamers also run to Kelley's, Put-in-Bay,
Bass and Pelee Islands, and other beautiftil
resorts.
The Confederate Monument.
Steara tugs will also take the pleasure seek
ers frora Sandusky to Johnson's Island, north
of the city, near the harbor entrance, where
raay be viewed the old Confederate cemetery
in which are buried 206 soldiers of the South
ern cause, raany of whora took part in the
famous conspiracy of Confederate prisoners
confined there during the Civil war. Through
the agency of the Daughters of the Confed
eracy an iraposing raemorial monument (un
veiled in June, 1910) now stands on the
grounds. The statue, which faces the south,
represents a Confederate soldier slightly bent
forward with his right hand over his eyes as
if peering- into the distance. It was designed
and executed by Sir Moses Ezekiel, in Rome,
Italy. The idea of erecting a monument was con
ceived by the women of Robert Patton Chap
ter, United Daughters of the Confederacy of
Cincinnati. They, in 1908, purchased the
cemetery frora the late James H. Emrich and
Charles F. Dick, of Sandusky, who at the
close of the war acquired the island for
quarrying purposes. These women set about

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

40 1

to raise a fund, assisted by an advisory com
mittee consisting, of General Basil W. Duke,
of Louisville, Kentucky; General Marcus J.
Wright, of Washington, District of Colum
bia; General James I. Meets, of Wilmington,
North Carolina; General K. M. Van Zandt,
of Ft. Worth, Texas; Colonel Joseph Bryan,
of Richmond, Virginia ; Rev. J. William Jones,
of Richmond, Virginia; John T. Mack, of
Sandusky, Ohio; Colonel R. E. Park, of At
lanta, Georgia; Captain J, T. Leathers, of
LouisviHe, Kentucky, and T. C. Gordon, of
Dyersburg, Tennessee.
The nucleus of the desired fund was raised
by popular subscription, taken in the south,
and supplemented from time to time by sub
stantial contributions from northerners.
The monument was unveiled and dedicated
June 8, 1910, 'with impressive ceremonies, in
which participated Governor J. Harmon, of
Ohio, and some of the chief executives of the
southern states, as well as military characters
connected with the former southern cause.
Kelley's Island.
Almost directly north of the harbor entrance
is KeUey's Island, the original home of grape
culture in the Sandusky region. In 1842 one
Charles Carpenter, of Elyria, bought a small
tract of the island and set out in it some
Catawba and Isabella cuttings. He seemed
to be the first in this locality to foresee the
great future of grape culture, and in 1845 his
vineyard had so prospered that thereafter he
made its development the chief business of his
life. Within a few years he had over an acre
planted to well-bearing vines and he had be
gun the manufacture of wine himself, his first
output being two small casks. Others set out
grape vines until now the whole island is
almost one vineyard. On Kelley's Island are
the noted wine cellars containing the largest
cask in the world, with the exception of the
Heidelberg giant in Germany.
But scientists find Kelley's Island a place for
study, since remarkable evidences of glacial
Vol. 1—26

action in the country are here. IHustrations
of the deep and fantastic grooves made by
glaciers, which bore down from the north, are
here presented. Put-in-Bay.
Northwest of Kelley's Island across a nar
row channel is Put-in-Bay, where in early time
history was made as well as wine. It would
be unnecessary to tell few visitors to this point
that it was the scene of the great Perry naval
action of 1813. On the other hand, few are
aware that the western line of the Western
Reserve divides the waters of this little harbor.
Put-in-Bay also has its Mammoth Cave,
which is reached after a descent of sixty feet
underground. A lofty cavern is then entered,
where rests a crystal lake. Thence a circular
tunnel 600 feet in length leads to a second
huge cave, with its beautiful and weird for
mations of stalagmites and stalactites. Put
in-Bay is now the horae of the State Fish
Hatchery. GlBRAL'TAR AND JaY CoOKE's HoME.
Directly across the channel from Put-in-
Bay is Gibraltar, which was the magnificent
summer home of Jay Cooke. The house of Jay
Cooke was built of native stone in 1889 and
rose majestically frora a rocky point of land.
It is illustrative of the character of the great
financier that this summer palace was not
monopolized by his family and hosts of
wealthy friends, but largely devoted to the
comfort and rest of broken-down clergymen.
Each year he invited eight or ten exhausted
ministers to this beautiful place for rest and
recreation. This is now the home of his
son. Rev. Henry E., an Episcopal priest, who
has inherited his father's fine tastes and genial
manner. Like the father, he loves to have his
family about him, and loves to share his home
with others. Until recently he was the rector
of Christ church at Warren. He is at present
doing special work for the diocese.
Pelee Island, the northernmost and largest

402

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of the group, stretches from near the mouth
of Sandusky bay two-thirds of the distance
across the upper end of Lake Erie, and is also
a favorite resort of Sandusky's pleasure seek
ers. Here are club and boat houses. Various
interesting evidences of fossil life are found
in its limestone deposits. Between Pelee and
Put-in-Bay islands lie Bass and Catawba.
Sandusky Harbor and Cedar Point.
A railroad has been built along the water
front of the city known as the Pier road which
connects the business center and the docks.
Sandusky harbor is picturesque and thorough
ly improved for purposes of navigation and
comraerce. It erabraces nearly forty-five
square railes, and is alraost land-locked. The
raost prominent peninsula at its entrance is
Cedar Point, which is a stretch of wild land
seven raUes long, originally covered with thick
timber and presenting some of the most beau
tiful natural beaches on Lake Erie. In 1882
B. F. Dwelle leased the Point from its owner
and commenced to iraprove it. Subsequent
improvements make it very attractive. In 1905
the management was incorporated as the
Cedar Point Resort Company, with a capital
of $1,000,000. Even more raagnificent ira
proveraents are designed than have taken
place. Although not wide, the opening of the har
bor into Lake Erie is easily discernible by the
mariner and frora whatever direction the wind
raay come vessels are naturally protected. The
channel for large vessels is eighteen feet in
depth and is sufficient for the passage of al
most any steam craft on the lakes. More
than two miles of docks have been constructed
on the water front of this naturally magnifi
cent harbor, adding to its completeness as an
agency in the building up of the vessel inter
ests and the comraerce of the Great Lakes at
this point.
The harbor improvements, commencing in
1840. with the building of the old light house,
have continued, almost without interruption.

ever since. From the East Battery, at the ex
treme end of the old city of Sandusky, to the
westem extremity of the present corporation
there is scarcely a foot of water front that- is
not improved by a substantial wharf, while
great warehouses for the storage of ore, lum
ber, coal and fish are almost numberless.
The Fish Business.
At least a dozen large steara vessels and a
number of sraall sail boats are engaged in the
fishery business. Although the business is not
what it was thirty years ago, nine hundred
men in Sandusky make their living through
it and more than one and one-half million dol
lars is invested therein. It originated in 1853,
being established by sorae Connecticut people
who first set pound nets in Sandusky harbor,
being convinced that white fish and herring
could be caught as well at this locality as near
Detroit. The fishing industry was at its height
during the years from 1870 to 1885, the
"star" catch of this period being 1,200 tons
of herring in one day. About this time fisher
men commenced to introduce the so-called giU
nets, which they drew across the waters of the
bay and lake, and as they gradually decreased
the size of the meshes it was not many years
before the natural supply showed signs of ex
haustion. This reckless and almost criminal
waste of natural wealth is in line with the
wholesale destruction of forests throughout
the United States, and in both cases more or
less fruitless atterapts have been made to con
serve these natural sources of wealth which
at one time seeraed inexhaustible.
As far as Sandusky is locally concerned, the
result has been that the catch of fish at that
point is today only about one-fourth of what
it was twenty-five or thirty years ago.
Countless other industries, however, of
strictly raanufacturing nature, have sprung
up to take the place, are so varied and have in
creased to such enorraous proportions, that the
decline of the former has had little effect on
the general prosperity of the city.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

403

Coal, Lumber and Iron Ore.
Sandusky is now perhaps the oldest ship
ping point for coal and ore on the Great
Lakes. The bulk of its manufactures, how
ever, is transported through its great system of
railroads. According to the latest estimates,
the value of these productions exceeds twenty
millions of dollars annually. In this list of
manufactures, wood leads in importance, both
in the amount of capital invested and the num
ber of men employed. During the open season
.of lake navigation Sandusky harbor is crowded
with great vessels heavily laden with lumber
from the forests of the northwest. From it is
made office furniture, sashes, doors, blinds and
various ornaments for the exterior of build
ings. A large number of wood-workers in
Sandusky are also engaged in the manufac
ture of casks, barrels and other packages re
quired by brewers and wine merchants.
The Wine Industry.
The wine industry is considered by many
almost as important as the manufacture of
wood in its various forms. The luscious
grapes which go into the city's score of winer
ies are raised to a great extent on the islands
•of the bay and in the vicinity of the city itself.
It is so thoroughly a local industry that the
traveler cannot but note that the smallest land
¦owner in Sandusky or vicinity hardly ever
fails to plant his little patch of grape vines and
¦contribute his part to the great whole.
The Schmidt Junior Brothers Wine Com
pany commenced business in September, 1902,
with a capital of $300,000. The Sweet Valley
Wine Company, one of the oldest establish
ments of the kind in Sandusky, was formed in
1887 and has now a capital of $150,000.
Among the other important wineries which
have made Sandusky famous can also be men
tioned those conducted by Engles & Krudwig,
¦organized in 1894, and capitalized at $150,000,
and the Hummel Wine Company, capital
ized for $100,000. Two immense breweries
at Sandusky are conducted by the Cleveland &

Sandusky Brewing Company, which was or
ganized in 1898.
Miscellaneous Manufactories.
Besides the industries mentioned, the manu
facture of glass although new, has assumed
importance, both in the production of window
glass and bottles. Among the leaders in the
industry is the Enterprise Glass Company,
which was founded in 1907 and has a capital
of $200,000. In Sandusky, as in other large
cities, a number of concerns are devoted to the
manufacture of motor cars and their parts,
among these are mentioned the Ohio Motor
Car Company, founded in 1897, and th'e Rob
erts Motor Company, established in 1907, as
weH as the Schultz Auto Works, which was
founded at a still more recent date, and now
eraploys 500 hands.
Sandusky is headquarters for a large and
growing industry in the raanufacture of ce
ment, the most recent enterprise in this line
and the largest being conducted by the Lake
Shore Portland Cement Company with a capi
tal of one and one-half miHion dollars. This
business was founded in 1909. The Castalia
Portland Cement Company is also in active
operation, the stock of this concern being held
mostly in Pittsburg. The main factory of the
American Crayon Company is located in San
dusky and represents one of the largest estab
lishraents of this kind in the country; it is
capitalized for $500,000. The raanufacture of
straw board and paper is a leading industry,
and is chiefly represented by the Hinde &
Dauch Paper Company. The Jarecki Chemi
cal Company, which has been in business for
nearly twenty years, is engaged in the manu
facture of fertilizers from waste fish products.
The workers in metals are less numerous
than any other branch of industry, but their
production is considered among the most im
portant. The oldest plant identified with this
Hne is that operated by the Sandusky Tool
Company, which was established in May, 1869.
There are also factories for the manufacture of

404

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

gas and gasoline engines, valves and other
machine specialties, as well as general foundry
and machine shops ; in short, there is scarcely
a specialty in the line of manufactures which
is not represented in the Sandusky establish
ments and its $20,000,000 output.
Sandusky Banks.
The banks of Sandusky are of the substan
tial nature expected in a city of its size and im
portance. The Third National Exchange is
the oldest, and the strongest. It commenced
business October 10, 1872, and is capitalized
at $300,000. As Sandusky was one of the
most patriotic cities on the great lakes, she
eagerly took advantage of the National Bank
act, one of the most important of the war
measures for the raaintenance of the Uuion
cause. In reality, her First National Bank
was the second institution of its kind in the
United States to apply for a charter under the
provisions of that act, its only predecessor be
ing the First National, of Washington, which,
of course, enjoyed the advantage of "being
upon the ground." On account of the delay
in raaking out and transraitting the necessary
papers, however, the charter of the Sandusky
institution appears as No. 16 among the arch
ives of the treasury departraent.
The local pioneer was the Bank of San
dusky, a private house organized in 1834. In
1837 Augustus H. Truman and Horace O.
Moss founded a bank, and conducted it for
many years under the name of Moss Brothers.
Their institution was really, the predecessor
of the First National. The Second National
Bank of Sandusky received its charter in May,
1863. The Third National was organized in
1872, and upon the expiration of its charter
in 1892, was succeeded by the Third National
Exchange. The Citizens' National bank was
founded in 1884, incorporated as the Citizens'
Banking Company in 1898, and is capitalized
at $100,000. The Commercial National bank,
founded in 1902, has a capital of $150,000,

and the American Banking Corapany (1904),
$100,000.
The Chamber of Commerce.
Banks are a necessity to the conduct and
progress of a city's business and industrial
activities ; and the municipality of today places
a vigorous and wide-awake Chamber of Com
merce in the same class. The local organiza
tion was preceded for a few months by the
Sandusky Business Men's Association, the
Chamber of Commerce succeeding it in July,
1899. It would be far easier to tell what this
representative body of men has not done for
Sandusky, than to describe what it has accom
plished for the industrial and civic good of he
city, but the first list would be so short and
the second so long.
Press of Sandusky.
The most effective and persistent exploiters
of Sandusky, are its papers the Register and
.S'tar-Journal. The Sandusky Register was founded in 1822
by David Campbell, a New England printer
who had raade an ineffectual attempt to es
tablish the Illuminator in the preceding year.
He did, however, succeed in founding the
Clarion, the first issue of which appeared April
22, 1822. This proved to be the father of the
Register. Mr. Campbell continued the Clar
ion until 1844, when he ventured to put forth
the Daily Sanduskian. Some years after it had
become an acknowledeged journalistic success,
he sold the paper to Earl BiH and Clark Wag
goner. The former became widely known, in
later years, particularly as clerk of the United
States district court for the northern district of
Ohio, whHe Mr. Wag,goner acquired national
fame as a journalist. He was editor of the
Toledo Blade and Commercial. BHl & Wag
goner were succeeded by Henry D. Cooke and
FI. D. Cooke & Company, who changed the
name of the paper to the Commercial Register
and continued its publication for twelve years.
Then Mr. Cooke became editor of the Ohio

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

405

State Journal, while Mr.Waggoner served his
editoral connection with the Register to com
mence his brilliant career on the Blade. Bill
& Johnson were the next proprietors, assuming
control in 1855, and the paper changed hands
several times prior to 1869, when Isaac F.
Mack bought a half interest in the business.
In 1870 he became sole proprietor and changed
the name to The Register. His brother, John
T. Mack, became a one-half owner in 1874, and
for thirty-five years the Sandusky Register was
published under the name of I. F. Mack &
Brother. Mr. and Mrs. I. F. Mack and Mr.
and Mrs. John D. Mack are among Sandusky's
most devoted and influential citizens.
On April i, 1909, the business was incor
porated as the Register Publishing Company,
with a capital of $100,000 and the following
ofiicers: John T. Mack, president and man
ager; Mrs. John T. Mack, vice-president;
Egbert H. Mack, secretary, and John D. Mack,
treasurer. In May, 1869, the Register was
changed from an evening to a morning paper,
its Sunday edition first appearing in 1882.
It has vigorously and ably supported Repub-
Hcanism since the organization of the party.
The Sandusky Journal was founded August
16, 1866, by Addison Kinney and Frank B.
Colver, and in 1887 was consolidated with the
Sandusky Local (established in 1882). The
Star appeared in 1898, and in the following
year the Alvord & Peters Company was estab
hshed as a printing corporation. In 1900 the
latter purchased the Star, into which the Jour
nal was merged in 1904. Under the keen and
energetic management of the Alvord & Peters
Company the Star-Journal has been developed
into a strong and prosperous publication.
Ground has already been purchased for the
erection of a large five-story building, to cost
$50,000 and be occupied entirely by the news
paper and printing plant.
The large German element of Sandusky is
well represented by the Demokrat, which in
cludes a weekly issue founded in 1856, and
«t semi-weekly, first put forth in 1861.

Municipal Departments.
All of Sandusky's municipal departments
are well organized and a credit to the city. Its
service for fire protection dates back to 1830,
when the town of five hundred people was
divided into two districts and the bucket bri
gade composed the department. Its first hand
engine came in 1835. But Sandusky had to
be protected against the acts of its bad men
before its fire departraent was born; conse
quently it had a poHce marshal as early as 1825.
Its modern system of water supply was in
augurated by the completion of the city works
in 1879, at a cost of $375,000. Since that year
the capacity of the works has kept pace with
the increasing demands of the city. Its pure
and adequate supply is drawn from Sandusky
Bay, through an intake pipe 1,800 feet long.
Frora the crib the water is pumped into a huge
reservoir ; thence to a stand-pipe 180 feet high,
from which it is forced into the city mains.
Sandusky's Public School System.
The public school system of Sandusky in
cludes a large High School, located on the
south side of Washington park, which was
erected in 1867, and the Fourth, Sixth, Sev
enth, Eight, Ninth and Tenth ward schools.
The first official records of the local system
commence with 1838, when John F. Campbell,
city superintendent, appointed Lucas S. Bee
cher, S. B. Caldwell and Moorse FarweH as
school directors. The teaching appears to
have been conducted in different Protestant
churches until 1844, when the city commenced
to erect school buddings. The schools were
first graded in 1848, during the administra
tion of Superintendent M. F. Cowdery. There
are now (1910) nearly 3,000 pupils attending
the Sandusky public schools, of whom more
than 450 attend the high school. The enroll
ment of the high school is double what it was
seven years ago, having increased much faster
than the population of the city. German and
Latin are taught but no other foreign Ian-

4o6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

£;uages. Formerly all the students took four
years of science before graduating, but part of
this is now optional in sorae courses. Labora
tory and field work are eraphasized, the school
being very favorably located for both short and
long excursions. On each long excursion the
student's attention is directed to physiography
or geology, as well as aniraals and plants. The
museum is better than in most Ohio colleges, or
perhaps any other Ohio high school. It in
cludes all branches of natural history. The
foreign bird collection is the best in the state.
Besides the use of it, made by the high school
and occasionally classes frora other schools, it
is four times a year thrown open to the public
(on Sunday afternoons) and many speciraens
displayed which, at other tiraes, are stowed
away in drawers and cupboards.
Early Schools — Teachers' Institute.
The first school teacher in Sandusky was
Sallie Stimpson. In 1818 she taught in a log
cabin which stood on Wayne street.
A house was built the sarae year (1820),
and standing on the ground where the Epis
copal church is, was used as a school and a
church. In 1828 a stone building was begun for an
acaderay and for other purposes. It was not
finished until 1834 and then only one roora
was done off. This was used by Miss MiHs
for her select school and by the Congrega
tional Church. Frora 1838 to 1868 this build
ing was used as a Court House.
Schools were organized under state laws in
1838. The raen who served as superintendents
from 1843 were M. F. Cowdery, T. F, Hil
dreth, C. R. Dean, U. T. Curran, Alston Ellis,
Henry Balcora, C. C. Miller, E. J. Shives and
H. B. WiHiams.
The first class to graduate was composed of
four girls, Eraraa Bouton, Helen Norris, Sarah
Root and Martha Root.
The first teachers' institution on the Reserve
was held at Sandusky in 1845.

Sandusky Business College.
Although the Sandusky Business College is
no part of the public system it has so fairly
established itself as a general educator that
mention of it is here made. As it was organ
ized in 1865, it has long since passed beyond
the experimental stage.
The Public Library.
The Public Library of some 15,000 volumes
is directly traced to the efforts of the women
of Sandusky. They organized a library asso
ciation in March, 1870, and conducted a read
ing room in the high school building until
1886. The Masonic Temple then provided
them with quarters for a time. In the mean
time they had formed a library building asso
ciation, which was incorporated in 1896, and
in 1901, with the assistance of Mr. Carnegie,
they had the satisfaction of presenting to the
public the fine blue limestone building which
now stands as the PubHc Library.
The Carnegie Library of Sandusky is stiU
managed by a board of women. They pur
chased the lots on which it is built and Mrs.
J. O. Moss then president of the board ob
tained frora Mr. Carnegie the raoney to erect
the building. The present officers are as fol
lows : President, Mrs. Mary F. Mack ; treas
urer. Miss Harriet West; secretary, Mrs.
Eraraa . M. Marshall, board raembers. Miss
Alice D. Mack, Miss Jessie Wilcox, Mrs. Mary
A. Cook, Mrs. Mary E. Buyer, Mrs. Susan
Kelley, Mrs. Frances Latham, Mrs. Katherine
M. Graefe and Mrs. Marie Schuck.
P.VRKS — Court House — Churches.
As already noted, Washington Park, which
lies in the center of the city, as weU as. the
public grounds on Huron and Miami ave
nues, were provided for by the original pro
prietors of the town. The present court house,
which fronts Washington Park on the south,
was built in 1872. Sandusky has also a num
ber of cemeteries, the most beautiful of which,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

407

Oakland, comprises 160 acres in Perkins town
ship, south of the city. It was first platted in
1849-50- It requires but a glance at the residence dis
tricts of Sandusky to realize that her people
are church supporters. She has twenty or
more religious organizations, of which the
Evangelical churches number five (four Ger
man) ; Catholics, three ; Methodists three, and
Baptists, two.
The Methodists appear to have been the
pioneer religionists of Sandusky, although un
til 1828 they met at the homes of the raem
bers. In that year they erected a one story
wooden church fronting the present site of the
court house, south side of Washington Park.
The present Trinity M. E. church is large,
vigorous and growing.
The First Congregational church organized
in May, 1819; was provided with its first set
tled pastor in 1836 and about the same time
erected a smaH house of worship fronting
north, on the public square. The society now
occupies a beautiful church erected in 1895.
Grace Episcopal church celebrated the sev
enty-fifth anniversary of its founding in 1910.
This parish is about to erect a new building.
The Baptists appear to have established their
first regularly organized society in 1838. The
Wayne Street Baptist church was forraed in
1854 and the Zion Baptist (colored), in 1856.
Araong the Catholics, the Gerraans were the
first to form a society in Sandusky. In 1843
members of this faith founded the Church of
the Holy Angels, from which sprung St.
Peter's and St. Paul's. The building which
the latter church now occupies was erected
in 1866. St. Mary's church was founded in
1855, and the corner-stone of the stately edi
fice now occupied was laid in 1873. Both of
these Catholic churches established parochial
schools early in their history. Within the past
few years the old school buildings have been
replaced with stately edifices which are orna
ments to the city and impressive evidences of
CathoHc strength.

In the early fifties the Germans of San
dusky organized several strong Protestant
churches — St. Stephen's Evangelical, in 1852,
and the First Gerraan Methodist in 185 1.
Zion's Evangelical Lutheran church is now
one of the strongest in the city, its religious
horae, which was completed in 1898, being both
stately and graceful.
Secret and Benevolent Societies.
In the establishment of the secret and benev-
.olent societies, the Masons came first. In June,
1818, was formed Science Lodge No. 50. San
dusky Chapter No. 72 was formed in 1856,
Council No. 26 in 1857, and Erie Commandery
No. 23 in 1869. The Masonic Temple of
Sandusky is one of the most impressive blocks
in the city.
The first body of the Odd Fellows was
Ogontz Lodge No. 66, organized in 1846, and
Erie Encarapraent No. 27 followed in 1848.
McMeen's Post, G. A. R., was organized
March 18, 1880, and the first lodge of the
Knights of Pythias (Reserve No. 128) in 1881.
Miss Fay and the Orphans' Home.
Prior to 1857 dependent chHdren of this
vicinity and the county generally were obliged
to find horaes in airas houses. On that date
Miss Fay took thirty-five orphans of soldiers
in a horae. Later she thought of asking the
state to raake the horae a county institution.
Attempts were made to accoraplish this in 1864
and in 1865, while in 1866 it becarae a law.
This law apphed to all counties of the state,
and other states have followed the exaraple
of Ohio. Bravo for Miss Fay!
Artists of Sandusky.
Araong Sandusky artists we find the naraes
of John Jay Barber, Elizabeth Mourse, George
Starr ElweH, Eraraa Matern Weaver, Charles
C. Curran, Charles Francis Schuck, Wilder
and Katherine Darling.

4o8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Soldiers and Sailors' Home.
The Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home is lo
cated in Perkins township about a raile south
of Sandusky. Its buildings and grounds cover
more than ninty-two acres. Its first Board of
Trustees was organized under legislative act
in June, 1886, Isaac F. Mack being elected its
president and R. B. Brown secretary. The
State Comraissioners appointed to locate the
Home visited various points in Ohio, and on
July 31st of that year decided in favor of the
site near Sandusky. As an inducement toward
this decision, the city agreed to construct a
large sewer from the ground to Augustine In-

pleted. It should here be explained that the
horaes or dorraitories of the inmates are des
ignated by letter, only one being omitted from
the alphabet — "J," which is too liable to be
confused with "I."
The Horae was forraally dedicated Novem
ber 19, 1888, and by the last of 1889 cottages
A to D, inclusive, and the Domestic and Ad
ministrative buildings were occupied. The
other cottages up to O have been erected since
that year. In 1889 they also finished a hospi
tal — a weH-built two-story stone building,
which cost $30,000. In the following year
what is known as the Annex was completed.

VIEW AT SOLDIEES' HOME, SANDUSKY.

let, an arm of Lake Erie, and also place the
Horae in connection with the Municipal Water
System. They further agreed to extend the
city gas mains to the horae grounds, and place
the institution in direct connection with San
dusky by the extension of its electric and
street ckr lines. All of these proraises have
been kept to the letter.
The ground was broken for the first build
ing of the home (Cottage "A") in the fall of
1886. This structure and the Doraestic and
Administrative buildings, were the first com-

Here the feeble minded live. In 1895, during
McKinley's administration as governor of
Ohio, the large modern structure, which is
now the main hospital building, was completed.
The three buildings mentioned are connected
by covered ways, and, as they now stand, rep
resent one of the most convenient and scienti
fic hospitals of the kind in the country. Next
to this group is a large library building con
taining a collection of well-selected books and
magazines, while files of newspapers from each
county in Ohio are at hand. In the second

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

409.

story of this imposing two-story brown-stone
structure is the G. A. R. HaH, where all the
military societies of the Home assemble. Be
tween the hospital and the lakes, which adorn
the eastern part of the grounds, is an impos
ing Assembly Hall, completed in 1891. It
contains a tastefully furnished auditorium,
seating between 600 and 700; is constructed of
limestone with a red tile roof and is mainly
devoted to the holding of religious services.
Camp Fires and the presentation of plays and
other entertainments for the amusement of the
residents. The iraposing array of cottages
which stretches through the grounds from
east to west terminates at each end in what is
known as the "Mack" and "Dill" cottages —
the former named in honor of the first presi
dent of the board of trustees and the latter of
the first perraanent secretary. These buildings
are made of huge broken boulders with tile
roofs, may be said to guard the opposite en
trances to the grounds ; in fact, they were orig
inally intended for this very purpose and
are now mainly occupied by the most reliable
and dependable ex-soldiers.
Each cottage, or dormitory, is under the
command of a, sergeant and corporal, whose
duties are to see that the rules of the institu
tion are obeyed and to report any violations to
the commandant of the Home. Southwest of
the grounds is cottage O, originally intended
for a railway station and rest room, but at the
present time used as a dormitory by the male
help connected with the hospital ; the nurses
and other women employees occupy a building
just east of the main hospital. The admin
istrative building contains the living rooms of
the commandant and his family, and on the
second floor are the offices of the trustees, and
other quarters necessary for the thorough con
duct of the institution.
Officers Row comprises several residences
covering four acres and stretches along the
northern portion of the main grounds. In this
quarter reside, with their families, the quar
termaster, adjutant, chaplain, engineer, quar

termaster's clerk and chief cook. The illustra
tion accompanying this chapter gives a better
idea of this attractive tract than any words
can do.
The coraraandant of the Horae, Gen. W. R.
Burnett, prior to his appointment to his present
position in July, 1909, was a well-known pub
lic man of Springfield, Ohio. Quartermaster
Captain Latham HoUoway appointed in May,
1910, and was formerly a resident of Canton,
Ohio, while Adjutant Captain J. D. Wheeler
was appointed in 1902 frora Cleveland, Ohio ;
and Chaplain Rev. WiHiam H. Haines, who
has held his present position since 1897, came
from Marysville, Ohio.
The veteran of the Home as to years of ser
vice, and the one whom everyone knows and
admires for his ability and faithfulness, is Dr.
J. T. Haynes, the surgeon of the institution.
His official' connection with the service cora
raenced in 1889 as First Assistant Surgeon.
At the time of his appointment, he was en-_
gaged in practice in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in
August, 1891, was proraoted to be Surgeon
in Charge ; so that Dr. Haynes has seen the
institution grow literally from the ground up,
and in its developraent he himself has been an
active and strong force. He has taken especial
pride in the construction and developraent of
the hospitals. The plans for their construction,
both interior and exterior, are his handiwork
and head-work, and are so practical as to have
been foHowed by several sirailar state institu
tions in the east and west. Dr. Haynes has not
only been prominent at the Home as an official,
but was married there, and the birth and rear
ing of his children have occured at the Home ;
so that, both officiaHy and personally, he is
closely identified with that institution.
Johnson's Island and the Conspiracy.
A few years ago a weather-beaten block
house on Johnson's Island was burned to the
ground, this was the last of the great Confed
erate prison. All else that is left of that time
are the buried remains ©f 206 soldiers. Their

4IO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

graves are arranged in eight rows, or sec
tions and are silent but conclusive witnesses
to the iraportant part played by this prison
in the fortunes of the Confederacy. Of
the Confederates buried here, it is recorded
that four held the rank of colonel in the South
ern army ; one was lieutenant colonel ; thirty-
six were captains; one a major; seventy-two
lieutenants ; in fact, it is known that corapar
atively few of those who were buried here, or
who left the prison on Johnson's Island alive,
were privates in the Confederate array.
The property was first leased by the general
governraent as a depot for rebel prisoners in

day are Frank E. Hutchins, then a captain
now Assistant Attorney General of the United
States at Washington. He is more than eighty
years old and Ezra B. Taylor of Warren, who
was at the tirae a private, later colonel and
who is now eighty-seven. When the author
was a child she used to tease her father to teU
her of the life at Johnson's Island and she let
her indignation run high at the thought that
her father (wonderful in her eyes) had to
walk back and forth in the rain at night hours
at a tirae while "the Rebels" slept within. So
^'at Johnson's Island Confederate gentlemen in
side had their sorrows and Union gentlemen

CONFEDEEATE CEMETEEY, JOHNSON'S ISLAND.

1861, and the necessary buildings were cora
pleted for their reception in April of the fol
lowing year. The first prisoners were guarded
by Corapany A, Hoffman's Battallion, O. V. I.,
but as the number increased the force was
strengthened and a full regiment, the one hun
dred and twenty-eighth, was placed on guard.
This guard was changed of course and at
one time the 171 O. V. I. was ordered there.
This regiment enlisted for one hundred days
and was composed of leading professional
and business raen and very young raen of the
best families of TrurabuH county. Among two
of the oldest officers of that regiraent living to-

outside had their sorrows as did everybody
vvho lived in those awful days. War and sor
row are Siamese twins. The largest number
confined here was 3,000, but, as they were
being constantly exchanged during the prog
ress of the war, it is estimated that fully 15,000
different prisoners were received during the
entire period. It was owing to the location of
Johnson's Island that the prisoners were large
ly composed of officers. The communication
between the mainland and the island was quite
free ; the citizens of Sandusky were constantly
passing back and forth. Not a few enduring
friendships were formed between these men

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

411

of different training and beliefs. This com
paratively unchecked intercommunication evi
dently encouraged the Confederates to hope
for ultimate escape from their confinement.
An attempt was made to carry out a plan that
involved the release not only of the prisoners,
but the burning of Sandusky, Cleveland and
other lake cities, and the inauguration of a
raid through Ohio in an attempt to join the
rebel armies of the Virginias. It was one of
a chain of conspiracies, which also involved
Camp Douglas and Chicago ; the latter com
ing even nearer to success than that of John
son's Island. Rumors of this intended release,
which was to be effected by a corabination of
rebel sympathizers in Canada and the prisoners
themselves, reached the ears of the Federal au
thorities, who in September, 1864, dispatched
the United States steamer Michigan tq the
threatened scene of action near Sandusky.
The progress of 'the conspiracy from this time
on is well related by the old Lake Shore Maga
zine, as follows :
"September 19, 1864, the steamer 'Philo
Parsons,' plying between Detroit, Sandusky
and the adjacent islands, was boarded at Sand
wich, on the Canadian shore, by four men, and
at Maiden by twenty more, who brought an
old trunk with them. No suspicions were
aroused, as large numbers of fugitives were
constantly traveling to and from Canada at
that time. After leaving Kelley's Island, the
clerk, who was in command of the boat, was
suddenly confronted by four men with re
volvers pointed at his head ; the old trunk was
opened, the whole party armed themselves,
and, with Beall at their head, took possession
of the boat. Her course was altered and
turned back to the Middle Bass Island. Here
the 'Island Queen,' a boat plying among the
islands, came alongside ; she was immediately
boarded, and, although her captain (G. W.
Orr) made a determined resistance, she was
soon at the mercy of the conspirators, together
with a large number of passengers. The engi
neer of the Queen, refusing to do the bidding
of his captors, was shot through the cheek.

But no discourtesy was offered to any one of
us beyond the absolute necessity of the case,
the conspirators being largely educated men
from the best families of the South.
"An oath of secrecy for twenty-four hours
was extorted from the passengers, and they
were then put ashore, the captain of the Queen
being retained as pilot, but he refused to act.
The two steamers were then lashed together
and put off toward Sandusky ; but after pro
ceeding a few miles the Island Queen was
scuttled and the Parsons continued alone. She
did not enter, but cruised around the mouth of '
Sandusky bay, waiting for the signal from the
conspirators on land. That part of the plot,
however, had failed.
"A Confederate officer naraed Cole, to whom
the operations at Sandusky had been entrusted,
had, as a Titusville oil man, been figuring very
largely in social circles ; a liberal entertainer,
giving, wine suppers and spending money very
freely. He had formed the acquaintance of
the officers of the 'Michigan' and had invited
them to a wine supper on the evening of Sep
tember 19. The wine was drugged, and when
the officers had succumbed to it, a signal was
to notify Beall, who was then to make the at
tack on the Michigan. But Cole had perforraed
his part of the plan in such a bungling raanner
that the suspicions of the officers were aroused
and the commanding officer of the Michigan,
Captain Carter, arrested hira on suspicion, at
the very moraent when success seemed assured.
'Tn the meanwhile Beall and his comrades
waited outside the bay for the signal. When
they realized the plot had faded, they made for
the Canadian shore, passing Middle Bass
Island, where he had left the Island Queen and
Parsons passengers, who saw the Parsons pass,
with fire pouring out of her sraokestacks and
raaking for Detroit like a scared pickerel. The
captain and others who had been kept to man
age the Parsons, were put off on an uninhabit
ed island, and when the Canadian shore was
reached she was scuttled and the conspirators
disbanded. "This daring venture excited great con-

412

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

sternation among the lake cities and served to
call attention to their defenseless condition.
"Beall was captured a few months later,
near Suspension Bridge, charged with being
a spy both in Ohio and New York ; ,also with
an attempt to throw an express train from the
track between Dunkirk and Buffalo. He con
fessed to much of the evidence brought against
him ; was found guilty and hung on Governor's
Island, February 24, 1865.
"Cole after being arrested raanaged to warn
his accoraplices in Sandusky, of whora he had
a great nuraber, and who, thus warned, escaped
arrest. He hiraself was confined for sorae
tirae on board the Michigan, afterward trans
ferred to the island, then to Fort Lafayette, in
September, 1865, and was released after the
close of the war.
"The treatraent of the rebel prisoners on
Johnson's Island was considerate even to the
verge of indulgence ; their wants were said to
have been better filled than those of the sol
diers guarding thera; this was owing to their
being supplied plentifully with raoney by their
friends ; they were well fed, clothed and
housed, and were allowed every privilege con
sistent with security."
Johnson's Island, three railes north of San
dusky, coraprises about 300 acres of land and
is nearly one and a half miles in width, grad
ually rising frora the shores of the bay toward
the center of the island, where it reaches an
altitude of about sixty or seventy feet. It was
originally covered with heavy tiraber and is
said not only to have been a favorite resort for
the Indians in the_ fishing season, but also a
place to which they brought their captives for
torture. Its first white owner was E. W. Bull,
and it was called Bull's Island until 1852, when
it was purchased by L. B. Johnson and as
suraed its present name.
Inscription Rock, Kelley's Island.
There are undoubted evidences that Kelley's
Island was a favorite resort of the aborigines,
numerous proofs being found in the mounds.

burial places and irapleraents and, beyond aU
in the faraous Inscription' Rock. The last
named has been regarded by scholars as the
work of the Eries not long after their anni
hilation by the Iroquois in 1655. The rock Ues
on the south shore of the island and stands
about a dozen feet above the water. Its upper
surface is 32x21 feet and is smoothly polished
by glacial action ; and upon this splendid tablet,
prepared by nature, is inscribed the mysterious
Aboriginal record composed entirely of rude
pictures and symbolic figures. These inscrip
tions were first brought to the knowledge of
the white man about the year 1834, and soon
after the purchase of the island by the Kelley
brothers, in 1851, they were copied by Colonel
Eastman of the United States army, who was
detailed by the government for that purpose.
These copies were submitted to Shingvauk, an
Indian learned in picturegraphy and antiquity,
who interpreted them as the 'final chapter in
the history of the Erie nation, especially de
scriptive of its downfall before the might of
the Iroquois. From the quaint human figures,
the pipes of peace, tomahawks', dignified war
riors and chiefs, great canoes and snowshoes,
and like things, this Indian seer translates the
record as a narrative of warfare, negotiations,
treaties, triumphs and defeats, which teU of the
first occupation of this section of the country
by the Eries ; later, the coming of the Wyan
dots ; the final triuraph of the warlike Iroquois
and the crushing forever of the once powerful
Cat nation.
Wonderful Glacial Grooves.
Reference has been made to the remarkable
glacial grooves made by prehistorical glaciers,
as well as the highly polished surfaces of lime
stone which are scattered all over the higher
lands of northern Ohio, and in the western part
of the state almost to the Ohio river. On these
higher lands, which lie several hundred feet
above Lake Erie, the glacial scratches are gen
erally from south to southeast, indicating the
general direction of the great ice movement

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

413

during the height of its power in northern
United States. However, the direction of both
scratches and the great furrows or grooves on
KeHey's Island is mainly toward the south
west, which corresponds with the longest diam
eter of the lake, indicating that these were
markings of a later glacial movement, which
was chiefly confined to the beds of the Great
Lakes. These grooves vary from several
inches to two and three feet in depth, and run
for many rods in one general direction, wind
ing and twisting over many acres of hard
limestone. Without doubt they represent the

west, and that probably aH the lake west of
Pelee in the preglacial period was more land
than water. In this entire region, wherever
the rocks are laid bare, evidences of ice action
are very raarked. Even in Sandusky city
itself raany of the cellar bottoms, which rest
upon limestone, show the characteristic
scratches and polish.
Settlement of Kelley's Island.
Kelley's Island is a township of Erie county,
a little more than four square miles in area and
is thirteen mHes frora Sandusky. It was orig-

GEEATEST GLACIAL GEOOVE EVEE UNCOVEEED,
KELLEY'S ISLAND.

most remarkable evidences of glacial action
in the United States, if not in the world. The
illustration speaks of their wonderful force,
and shows the greatest glacial groove ever un
covered in this locality. For this illustrative
matter the writer is indebted to Professor E.
L. Moseley, of the Sandusky high school, who
has perhaps the largest collection of photo
graphs descriptive of this wonderful locality
in existence.
Geologists state that the entire group of
islands originally formed a part of the main
land on the south, and of the low coast to the

inally called Cunningham's Island, being thus
named frora a French settler and trapper who
came thither in 1803. He was joined in 1810
by two companions, but the three deserted the
locality during the war of 1812, when General
Harrison placed a guardhouse upon the west
ern point of the island. In 1818 a Mr. KHlam
located on Kelley's Island, with his family and
one or two men. About this time Walk-in-the-
Water, a pioneer steamer on the Great Lakes,
appeared at the port on Kelley's Island for the
purpose of collecting fuel; and Mr. KiHam
supplied her with a partial cargo of red cedar.

414

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

This was one of the earliest commercial trans
actions of the Sandusky region. In 1820
Walk-in-the-Water was wrecked at a point
called Albino.
Kelley's Island of the present, however,
came into history in 1833, when the brothers
Datus and Irad Kelley, respectively of Rock
port and Cleveland, bought the island be
cause of its rich forests of red cedar. At this
time there were a few squatters there and only
six acres of clear land. Datus Kelley raoved
his family thither in 1836, and made the island
his home for thirty years, dying thereon in his
seventy-eighth year. His early days were
passed raainly in cutting and seUing cedar
tiraber and the opening up of several lime
stone quarries. Noticing that the wild grapes
upon the island were remarkably thrifty, the
idea that they raight be cultivated both as a
profitable investment and as an inducement to
bring, other settlers, occurred to him, and in
1842 he therefore brought from his Rockport
home a quantity of Catawba and Isabella vines
and planted thera, leaving their active culture
to his son-in-law, Charles Carpenter. The lat
ter planted the first acre of grapes on Kelley's
Island and so deraonstrated the profitable
nature of their cultivation that within a few
years 1,000 acres, or nearly one-third of the
entire area, was covered with vineyards. The
product was first used in the simple forra of
fruit, but the manufacture of wine soon fol
lowed, and before Civil war tiraes Kelley's
Island was headquarters for some of the
largest wine companies in northern Ohio. By
1880 the average crop of grapes had increased
to 700 tons, all of which was manufactured
into wine. The Kelley Island Wine Company
was for raany years the leader in this industry
and its vats had a storage capacity of one-half
million gallons. Mr. Carpenter was also an
active promotor of the artificial propagation of
fish, and was among the most prominent
leaders in the movement which resulted in the
estabhshment of the State Hatchery, which
was located at the city of Sandusky in the

early eighties, but was reraoved a few years
ago to Put-in-Bay.
Huron.
The town of Huron, having a population of
1,700 people, is fifty miles west of Cleveland
and ten railes east of Sandusky. The exact
date of the first settleraent in Huron is uncer
tain, but tradition has it that a French trading
post which was at the mouth of the Huron
river in 1749, which was abandoned prior to
the Revolutionary war. The beginning of the
first permanent white settleraent was in 1805,
in which year John Fleraing, came to Huron
and located on the east bank of the river, about
two miles south of its mouth. Mr. Fleming
was a man of remarkable social ability, was
highly respected and a member of the Catholic
church. He was married in 181 1 to a daugh
ter of William Pollock, this being the first
Christian marriage in Huron.
Jabez Wright came to Huron in 1809, and
in the same year he and Almon Ruggles com
menced the survey of Huron township, laying
it off into sections and lots. Mr. Wright was
elected justice of the peace, the first one in the
township, and later becarae associate judge of
coraraon pleas court of Huron county, whUe
Mr. Ruggles was elected to fill the same office.
The early settlers built some very creditable
houses from the heavy timbers of the forest.
The first practicing physician was Dr. Ab-
solam Guthrie, who resided in the village from
1813 until 1817. S. S. Smith has the honor of
being the first white person born in Huron.
Commerce and Shipbuilding.
When once fairly started, the population of
Huron increased rapidly and for many years
it was the most propsperous town along, the
lake. Large shipping interests were estab
lished and carried on; for this was the outlet
for the people living through the central por
tions of northern Ohio. Even back a distance
of fifty to seventy-five miles, from 1820 to
1830, grain hauled to Huron and sold for

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

415

sixty-two cents per bushel was loaded on boats
and shipped to Buffalo, thence, via the Erie
canal, to New York city. Lumber and fish
were also staple articles of exportation.
The first boat built in Huron was in 181 1, by
Captain Reed, for Major Hiram RusseH, and
had a capacity of four tons. He built another
in 1813 called Fair America, which was sold
to the British government. The first stearaer
built in Huron was for Towar Jackson and
Richard Colt in 1834, and was named the
Delaware. A -few of the steamboats built
here and the amount of their tonnage are
Sheldon Thompson, 242 tons (the first steamer
to enter Chicago harbor) ; United States, 366
tons ; Washington, 500 tons ; Columbus, 391
tons; and Great Western, 780 tons. There
were also eight government gunboats built
here, and in Huron the first cabin ever put
upon a lake vessel was built by Wickham &
Walker, after they^ had made a trip to Pitts
burg to view the plans of the Ohio river boats.
The first newspaper published in Huron was
called the Huron Commercial. Its first issue
was January 13, 1837, and it was continued un
tU 1842, when its plant was destroyed by fire.
The Huron lighthouse is situated on the
west pier; it is forty feet above the sea level,
and thirty feet above the base. It has a fixed
light that can be seen twelve and one-half
miles. It was first built in 1835 and rebuilt in
1857. The Huron wagon bridge was built in
1876; before this the people used an old
wooden bridge built on floats. The first rail
road built in Huron was in 1853, and was
called the Oxford Broad Gauge. The first pub
lic highway or street was on the east side of
the river, and the leading thoroughfares of the
town are now Main, Center and Williams
streets. The town hall was built in 1876, cost
ing $14,000. The first public school was
taught by Alvin Coe, in the winter of 1810
and 181 1, and it is also claimed by some that
Miss Tamer Ruggles (later, Mrs. Jabez
Wright) was a teacher in 1815. A littie later,
WiUiam Chapman opened a school near his

home on Center street. The substantial school
now in use was erected in 1885, at a cost of
$20,000 and accommodates 400 pupils.
The Presbyterian church was formed in
1835 and the first house erected in 1853, while
the Episcopalians, who formed a society in
1837, have been meeting, in their own home
since 1840. . St. Peter's Catholic church is at
tached to the parish of Vermillion, the present
building being erected in 1890, although mem
bers of the faith have been organized as a so
ciety since about 1838.
Transfer Point for Ore and Coal.
Huron is evidently a place of considerable
proraise ; but its present standing in the world
of trade and coraraerce largely depends upon
the fact that it has been raade a great transfer
point for the ore of the Lake Superior region
and the coal of the southern Ohio fields. The
Wheeling & Lake Erie railway has been erect
ing its massive docks and slips with huge con
veyors and dumps, on both sides of the harbor,
for more than a quarter of a century. In 1880
the town voted the raHroad company a bonus
of $20,000 as an encouragement for the lo-
.cation of its great plant at this point. Work
was commenced on the old, or north docks, in
the spring of that year, and everything was in
operation by 1883. In this section of the plant
the hoists are still of the old cantilever style.
The new, or southern docks, were only com
pleted several years ago, and the hoisting, con
veying, and dumping machinery there installed
is of the latest. The capacity of the dumps is
from two to ten tons. In the busy season
about twenty trains of coal, or 400 cars of
twenty-five tons each, arrive daily at the rail
road docks. The coal is transferred to wait
ing vessels, their huge cargoes of ore having
been dumped into cars and shipped 'to the steel
raills and foundries of Ohio, Pennsylvania and
other eastern and southern points. With these
advantages of a fine harbor, cheap rates of
water and railroad transportation, and perfect
facilities for handling both ore and coal, Huron

4i6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

may herself become an important raanufactur
ing center.
Huron has two banks — the First National,
founded in 1892, with a capital of $50,000, and
a branch of the Berlin Heights Banking Com
pany. The Erie County Reporter was found
ed in 1879 by its present editor and proprietor,
D. H. Clock, and .Huron has no better or more
earnest friend. Vermillion.
Situated at the mouth of the Vermillion
river on Lake Erie, nearly midway between
Sandusky and Lorain, the viHage of Vermil-
Hon contains about 1,500 people, and its pres
ent importance rests chiefly upon its fishing in
dustry. It was among the first localities set
tled in Erie county, and during the early days
promised to be one of the Great Lake ports.
During the era of sailing vessels, shipbuHding
was also carried on extensively at Vermillion,
but since the age of raUroads the iraportance
of the village has steadily declined. It stiH
does a good business in the fishing Hne and
H. B. Kishman is one of the most prominent
fish dealers. Among its manufactories are a
brass foundry, flour raHl and a large lumber
yard. The village has a good pumping station,
the water being purified by raeans of natural
filtration through sand. Verraillion is classed
among , suraraer resorts. VermHHon Park
affords amusement and recreation, while Lin-
wood is largely given up to rehgious gather
ings. The first white settlers, who were so cour
ageous as to take up their abode in VermHHon,
were WiHiam Hoddy and Almon Ruggles,
came in 1808, and were followed the next year
by William Austin, George and John Sherod,
Enoch Smith and Horatio Perry, while in 1810
came Soloraon Parsons, Benjamin Brooks,
Barlow Sturgis, Deacon John Beardsley and
James and Peter Cuddeback. These sturdy an
cestors came mostly from New England, driv
ing across the wilderness with their teams and
being compeUed, many times, to cut their way

through the forest and guard, their families
both day and night.
The first house ever built in Vermillion was '
erected at the mouth of Vermillion river by
William Hoddy in 1808, and the second by
William Austin near by in 1809. These were
log huts. The first frame house was built by
Peter Cuddeback in 1818. William Austin-
was a progressive man and replaced his log
hut by a stone house in 1821. Horatio Perry
built the first brick house in the same year. A
log school house was erected in 1817, near the
home of Captain Harris, and that gentleman
taught the first school during the winter of
18 1 7 and 1 81 8. During the next winter Ben
jamin Summers taught the school and' this
year a new house was built. At this time the
school district embraced the whole southeast'
corner of the township, and the average at
tendance was from twenty-five to thirty. The
school was supported by subscription, and
money was so scarce that the teacher was
usually paid in grain, whiskey or work, as was
true of most places on the Reserve.
Time went on, stores were erected, a traffic
with the Indians was carried on, and, as the
population of the surrounding country in
creased, business was given an impetus ; ship
building was next engaged in, and VermiUion
came to be a prosperous town. It was inc'or-
porated in 1837, and is governed by a mayor
and a councH of six members.
The town has a modern grammar and high
school building, erected at a cost of $10,000;
a pumping station and pure filtered water ; two
well conducted banks, the Erie County and
Bank of Vermillion, and six churches as fol
lows : the Congregational, Methodist, German
Methodist, Reform, Church of Christ and
Catholic. Vermillion has but recently organ
ized a Chamber of Commerce, and since 1897
has had a newspaper, the Vermillion News.
Both of these mediums, especially the latter,
have done much to advertise the good points
and promote the interests of the vHlage.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

417

Almon Ruggles and Ruggles Beach.
For several mHes west of the village of Ver
million there are a number of delightful sum
mer resorts known as beaches, which are large
ly patronized by the people of Norwalk and
Sandusky. A short distance from the village
of Berlin Heights is what is now known as the
Ruggles Beach (formerly Metowanga). Here
are found pretty cottages, a pavHion for pub
lic gatherings, bowling alleys and various

ALMON EUGGLES HOUSE (1813),
EUGGLES BEACH.

other accommodations and attractions. The
proprietor of the resort, or beach, is Charles
Ruggles — a grandson of Almon — the original
surveyor of the Firelands.
Across the electric road from the grounds
stand a number of comfortable looking, old-
fashioned wooden residences, one of which
was completed by this pioneer of the Western
Vol. 1—27

Reserve soon after Perry's famous battle on
Lake Erie in September, 1813. In an adjoin
ing house resides both the daughter-in-law and
the granddaughter of Almon Ruggles, and the
forraer well reraerabers her father's tale in con
nection with the putting in of the foundation
of this historical structure. She states he
often told her that when he was hauling the
logs to go into this foundation he heard the
boom of cannon over the waters of Lake Erie
far to the northwest. At the time, of course,
he attached little significance to it, but when
news of Perry's famous victory reached him,
shortly afterward, he realized that he had
been a distant witness to one of the greatest
events in American naval history. A picture
of the Ruggles residence, which followed the
first log cabin erected in this locality, is pre
sented in other pages.
Ruggles Beach embraces but a very small
portion of the great tract of land originally
held by this pioneer settler. In addition to his
salary as surveyor of the Firelands, Almon
Ruggles was permitted to select a tract of land
one mile square, anywhere on the lake shore
within the limits of his survey, for which he
was to pay one doHar per acre ; and he selected
his land iri the township of Berlin, his section
including the property already described. He
located his home in this locality, and, although
the owner of this immense tract, which in time
became quite valuable, he was a man of such
generosity that he failed to realize, financially,
from his investment. He not only assisted his
neighbors, but gave largely to charity and all
public moveraents. From 1818 to 1819 he
was a member of the state senate, which then
comprised the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga,
Portage, Cuyahoga and Huron. Under the
old constitution, he was also associate judge
for several years. In politics he was an earnest
Whig and a personal and valued friend of
General Harrison. He died at his home in
Berlin township in 1840, being then sixty-
nine years of age. His living grandchildren,
who are now well along in middle life, are
Charles and Frances Ruggles, residing at

4i8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Ruggles Beach, and Mrs. S. L. HiH, of Berlin
Heights. Berlin Heights.
This is a village of about 700 inhabitants on
the line of the New York, St. Louis & Chicago
railroad, and is the largest of the villages in
Berlin township. Although the place lies in
the center of a rich farraing country, one which
is especially adapted to the raising of fruit, its
growth has been slow. Sorae of the earliest
orchards in Erie county were planted by its
pioneers. One John Hoak, of Huron, who,
in 1812, brought a number of apple and pear
trees from Canada, planted them near Berlin
Heights, and some of the old-timers insist that
a nuraber of these veterans are still standing
and bearing. They point to one pear tree
seventy feet in height, with a girth of nearly
nine feet, and an apple tree which measures
more than that distance around. Berlin
Heights, howeyer, was advertised raost thor
oughly between the fifties and sixties, as the
headquarters of a nuraber of socialistic cora-
munities. They started various publications
at Berlin Heights which were especiaUy de
voted to the promulgation of the so-called
free love doctrines. The Age of Freedom,
which was issued in 1858, became so out
spoken and so obnoxious to the respectable
people of the community that twenty Berlin
Heights women seized the maH sack containing
one of its issues and made a bonfire of them
both. Public sentiraent continued to becorae
so strong against them that the last of these
coraraunities, known as the Christian Repub
lic, disappeared in 1866.
Berlin Heights, as its narae would indicate,
occupies an elevated and picturesque site on
the border between the highlands of northern
Ohio and the lowlands of the lake region ; in
fact, the liraits of the village toward the north
correspond to the quite distinct division be
tween these physical features of the state. The
illustration presented in this article shows the
actual appearance of one of those picturesque

localities where the "heights" and the lowlands
come together.
As a civic, social and religious community,
Berlin Heights has two flourishing churches
the Methodist and the Congregational. It
maintains three societies — the Masons, Knights
of Pythias and the I. O. O. F. — and has a
modern Union school, which is weU attended
and conducted.
Its industries and business activities com
prise a saw mill, a feed mHl and an estabhsh
ment devoted to the handling of lime, plaster
and cement. It has two banks — the Berhn
Heights Banking Company, capitalized at
$60,000 and formed in 1883, and the Citizens,.
capitalized for $35,000 and established in 1904.
The local publication, known as the Saturday
Budget, was established in 1899.
Milan.
The town of Milan, twelve miles southeast
of Sandusky and about eight miles from Lake
Erie, is on-" the Sandusky, Milan & Norwalk
and the Wheeling & Lake Erie railroads, and
is a peaceful place of some 1,100 people. The ¦
town was laid out in 181 6; was an early com
petitor for the county seat of old Huron
county, and in the forties and fifties was a
promising canal town and shipbuilding, center.
But it ignored the "pretensions" of the rail
roads too long for its well being.
Milan stands on the site of an old Indian
village, which, at the time of the survey of the
Firelands, was a Moravian mission, established
in 1804. The Indians called their village Pet-
quotting, while the few whites connected with
missionary work christened it New Salem.
The Moravian mission endured for a short
time. In 1808 the land in Milan township was
brought into the open market, and in the sum
mer of 1809 David Abbott, an eccentric New
York lawyer who carae to Ohio several years
before it was a state, bought 1,800 acres of
land lying on both sides of the Huron river
and including the future site of Milan. He is
considered its pioneer permanent settler, and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

419

most of the first new-comers bought their land
of him. Mr. Abbott died at Milan in 1822.
The progress of the settlement, which at first
was rapid, almost came to a standstiU from
1812 to 1816, as a result of the war with Great
Britain. During the progress of active hos
tilities several men, having wandered too far
from the block house which stood at the south
western corner of the township, were mur
dered and scalped by the Indians.
Milan was laid out by Ebenezer Merry, a
Connecticut man, who had been among the
few to arrive between 1812 and 1816. He died

the Steeple mill and Herb brewery. It has a
good Union school, and churches representing
Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and
Methodists. The most attractive religious
edifice of the place is the churcl#of the First
Presbyterian Society, built and presented by J.
C. Lockwood in 1887.
The large town hall was erected in 1876,
and the squate upon which it fronts is adorned
by a neat soldiers' monument, dedicated July
4, 1867, to the meraory of victims of the Civil
war belonging to the following organizations :
Company E, Seventh Regiment; Company E,

OLD CANAL BASIN, MILAN.

in 1846, having represented the county in the
legislature and twice declined a seat on the
bench. A large brick buHding was erected in 1832
for the accommodation of the Milan Academy,
then attended by some 150 students and widely
known in northern Ohio. The Western Re
serve Norraal school was also formerly lo
cated at Milan.
The town generally known as Milan in
cludes quite a population not strictly within
the corporate limits, called East Milan and
North Milan. Its present-day industries con
sist of the Lake Shore Electric paint shops.

One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment;
Company B, Third Regiment, O. V. G. ; Com
pany G, Fifty-fifth O. V. I. ; Company K, Six
ty-seventh; Company C, Fifty-fifth, and Com
pany B, One Hundred and First.
O'nce a Ship-Building Port.
In 1853 an incorporated body of public-
spirited citizens commenced the prosecution of
the work designed to improve the navigation
of Huron river and excavate a ship canal of
three miles to Lake Erie. After much delay
and an expenditure of $75,000, the work was
completed, and on July 4, 1839, the first vessel

420

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

from the lake to Milan floated in the basin of
the town harbor. This was the comraence-
ment of her commercial and ship-buHding pros
perity of some two decades; but that is now
ancient histqjry, with no ruins, even, to indicate
the extent of her past activities.
Birth-House of Edison.
For one pre-eminent reason, however, the
town of Milan is quite an American Mecca;
it is the birthplace of Thoraas A. Edison. The
house in which he opened his keen eyes stands
on the border of a picturesque valley, and is a
little one-story red brick building. The very

The occasion of this visit to his birthplace was
the death of his old father, who lived in Milan
for many years, as have his other relatives
mentioned. Castalia and Venice.
About five mHes west of Sandusky are two
small settlements on Cold creek — Venice near
its mouth and Castalia, at its head — which
turned out the first flour and cornmeal for the
pioneers of the Firelands. They were among
the pioneers of this industry in the whole of
Ohio, and Venice supplied the city of Chicago
(111.) with the first flour raanufactured by

THOMAS A. EDISON AT HIS BIETHPLACE, MILAN.
(Mr. Edison, with sister, opposite door.)

room in which he was born is in the rear of the
house, and represents a cube of ten feet. The
property was owned for many years by Mr.
Edison's sister, Mrs. Page, who died sorae
years ago and left it to her daughter, of whom
it was purchased by the great inventor. Its
care-takers are now Mr. Edison's old uncle
and aunt, who show pardonable pride over the
achievements of "Tom," while showing the
visitor the little room which was not "big
enough to hdld the boy long." In the repro
duction of the house, Mr. Edison and Mrs.
Page are shown together, other members of
the party being family friends and neighbors.

mills west of the Alleghenies. Castalia was
named from the sacred fountain of Greece, as
Cold creek at this point is fed by a number
of clear subterranean springs. Before it
empties into Sandusky bay, three mHes distant,
it descends about sixty feet and suppHes power
for several mills. In 1810 a grist miU was
erected at Castalia, which ground corn untU
the settlers were driven away by the news of
Hull's surrender. Although the water of the
creek is very cold, it never freezes and main
tains nearly the same temperature summer and
winter. The village of Castalia was laid out
in 1836 by MarshaH Burton.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

421

Venice was founded in the summer of 1817,
its mill race being begun soon afterward. It
is said that the flour mills at that point, which
were completed in 1833, established the first
permanent market for wheat in the Firelands.
The first hundred barrels sent out of Ohio
went to New York, where they were exhibited
as a great curiosity and an index of the feeble
and rather amusing industrial efforts of the
west. But much of the flour made in Venice,
as in other sections of Ohio, previous to 1840,
was shipped to western points. In 1836 Oliver
Newberry, of Chicago, purchased 500 barrels
of flour, largely obtained from the Venice
mills, and took the precious food-stuff to the
struggling, hungry little frontier village at the
foot of Lake Michigan. He bought at $8 per
barrel and sold at $20; but his townsmen held
a public meeting and thanked him for not
charging $50. Chicago was rapidly growing,
food was scarce owing to the unsettled con
dition of the surrounding country, and the

Newberry supply represented the town's entire
stock for the winter. Before the establishment
of the Venice mills and others in the Firelands,
many of the early settlers took their wheat in
boats to Detroit and there had it ground.
Mrs. Harriet G. Sprague, Florence.
One of the early settlers of Florence was
Harriet Griswold Sprague. She was the daugh
ter of Solomon Griswold, of whom much is
related in the Ashtabula county chapter. When
Harriet landed at the mouth of the Huron
river she had a cow with her, which she had
brought that her baby might have food. It
was not long before a bear attacked this animal
in a clearing and tore off her bag.
This family like all others, had a hard time
getting flour, and Mrs. Sprague said when
they became reduced as to supply she grated
it. She said when her husband, out of kind
ness, did the grating, they usually had a scant
meal.

CHAPTER XXVI.

HURON COUNTY.

As a detailed account of the creation of New
Connecticut, or the Western Reserve, as well
as the set-off of the half million acres of land
from the western portion of that domain, has
been given in the general history of this work,
it is not necessary to go further into details at
this stage of the narrative. It is in order.

erabraced the present counties of Huron and
Erie, exclusive of Kelley's Island, and included
the township of Danville, Ottawa county, and
Ruggles, Ashland county. In 1803 a new
charter was granted td the owners of the Fire
lands by the newly created state of Ohio, and a
board of directors was chosen, with authority

HUEON COUNTY COUET HOUSE AND SHEEIFF'S EESIDENCE.

however, to siraply remind the reader that
in 1792 the state of Connecticut set aside this
portion of the Reserve for the benefit of the
citizens of New London, Norwalk aud Dan-
viHe, Connecticut, whose horaes had been
burned and devastated by the British during
the Revolutionary war. These were known
as the "Sufferers' " lands or the Firelands, and

to extinguish the Indian title and survey the
property into townships.
In 1805 the titie of the Red Men was ex
tinguished by the treaty consummated at Fort
Industry, and in 1807, February 7, Huron
county was organized. It comprised at that
tirae an area slightly greater than that of the
Firelands, but a little later this territory was
4.22

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

423

reduced to correspond to their area. It was
not until 1838 that the county was reduced to
its present dimensions and named for a tribe
of Indians which held dominion over a large
portion of northern United States and southern
Canada. As it now stands it is bounded on the
north by Erie; east, by Lovain and Ashland;
south, by Ashland and the forty-first parallel
of latitude; west, by the western boundary of
the Reserve and contains nineteen townships.
Survey of the Firelands.
Taylor Sherman, grandfather of Hon. John
Sherman and General William T. Sherman,
was the general agent of the Firelands Com
pany in 1805. At that date he contracted with
John McLean and James Clark, of Danbury,
Connecticut, for the survey of those lands. He
stated that such work must be done "by Al
mon Ruggles or some other competent per
son." The half million acres was divided, as
was the eastern portion of the Reserve, into
townships five railes square. The contract
provided that the work must be completed
within a year, unless the Indians retarded it
and provided congress ratified the treaty raade
at Fort Industry. The treaty was ratified, the
Indians did not interfere, but the work was
so much mor'e difficult and complicated than
had been anticipated that the date set for com
pletion was extended to June i, 1807.
The Ruggles Surveys.
The first surveyors were not as diligent as
they might have been. Their manner of work
was rather fitful, but in the spring of 1806 Mr.
Ruggles joined a sraall field party at Pitts
burg and proceeded to Cleveland, a haralet of
less than half a dozen families. Here the
party made a canoe from the trunk of a tree,
eight feet in . diamter, and Ruggles with a
party of the men surveyed the shore lines of
Lake Erie, while James Clark was in charge
of the land work. When the west line of the
Firelands, which ran parallel with the western
boundary of Pennsylvania was completed, the
party was reunited at Huron. The islands in

Lake Erie, which are now chiefly attached to
Erie county, were surveyed also at this time
and the party reassembling at Cleveland pre
pared to run the east line, thus completing
the boundaries of the half raiHion acres. When
all the liraits of the survey had been fixed, and
Ruggles and his raen had returned to Danbury,
after an absence of thirteen months, it was
discovered that by sorae miscalculation the
western line of the Firelands had been fixed
two miles too far to the west. This error
made a resurvey of that boundary necessary.
Maxfield Ludlow, a deputy surveyor of the
United States, rectified this mistake and also
surveyed the south line of the Firelands, set
ting a post at each mile along his route. Rug
gles then resurveyed the line of the Firelands,
commencing his work June 8, 1808, afterward
returning to his home in Danbury, Connecti
cut, but in the spring of 1809 resuming his
work. He surveyed into lots the townships of Ver
million, Florence, Wakeman and Clarksfield,
and surveyed into sections the townships of
New Haven, Norwalk and Berlin. For his
work, which was corapleted in the following-
summer, he received three dollars per mile.
He was an excellent workraan and subsequent
calculations show that the Firelands, as finally
surveyed, contain precisely 500,027 acres.
Mr. Ruggles not long afterward settled in
Berlin township, Erie county, where he pur
chased a section of land and established a
horaestead. In this locality his daughter-in-
law and his grandchUdren still reside; the
forraer a venerable, but energetic lady, and the
latter, well advanced in raiddle age. A raore
detaHed narrative of his residence in this lo
cality, as well as an illustration of his second
residence which he erected during the progress
of the battle of Lake Erie, wHl be found in the
history of Erie county, in which it properly
belongs. Several maps of the Firelands, as surveyed
by Mr. Ruggles, were placed on record, but
one of the oldest and certainly the most au
thentic is deposited in the valuable museum

424

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of the Firelands Historical Society, at Nor
walk. Through the courtesy of this associa
tion and its president, .Hon. C. H. Gallup, we
are able to reproduce the accorapanying raap,
which was made in 1818. This was the year
when the county seat was moved from the
locality near the present village of Milan, Erie
county, to the village of Norwalk, Huron
county. Rare and interesting as it is, this raap
of the Firelands has never before been pub
lished.

(Engrayed by A. Doolittle in 1818.)
euggles map of the fieelands.
Settlement of the Townships.
A logical introduction to the organization
of Huron county includes the dates of settle
ment of the various townships embraced in the
Firelands, which were originally marked off
by Almon Ruggles. The years in which they
were first settled are as follows : Huron, 1805 ;
Vermillion, 1808; Danbury, Portland, Groton

and Florence, 1809; Berlin, Milan, Margaretta,
Oxford, Norwalk, Greenfield and Perkins
1810; New Haven, Lyme, Townsend, Ridge
field and Sherman, 181 1 ; Bronson, New Lon
don and Peru, 1815; Fairfield, 1816; Nor
wich, Wakeman, Clarksfield, Greenwich, Hart
land and Fitchville, 1817 ; Ruggles, 1823 ; and
Richraond and Ripley, 1825.
The war of 1812 put alraost coraplete cessa
tion to iraraigration to the Firelands for a num
ber of years, but several causes combined to
revive the movement westward in the year
1817. In that year New England evinced not
only a new business and manufacturing pros
perity, but the shortness and coolness of the
summers induced many families to migrate
to the new western country, whose climate was
reported to be warmer and decidedly healthful.
Hundreds of people afflicted with tuberculosis
recovered after taking up homes on the Re
serve. Then it was supposed that the climate
worked this cure, while now we know that the
outdoor life, the lack of infection, really were
the causes of recovery. In the spring of 1816
settlers came in great numbers and continued'
so to do throughout 1817. The popular sec
tions were the interior townships of Huron,
and so large was the number of emigrants
that for business reasons the county seat was
raoved south and the newly laid out village of
Norwalk was chosen. Here the county seat
has remained both for old Huron and new.
County Organizations.
Huron count}' under its present name, but
not with its present territorial limits, was or
ganized in 1815. As stated, it then included
what is now Huron and Erie. The first ses
sion of the county commissioners was held
August 1st, of that year, at the house of David
Abbott, a farmer whose place was a short
distance north of the present village of Milan,
Erie county. OflficiaUy, the county seat was
known as Avery, and was situated in Wheat-
borough township. The original county com
missioners were Caleb Palmer, Charles Parker

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

425

and EH S. Barnum, and the first county clerk,
Abijah Comstock.
Founding of Norwalk.
For a number of years after the organization
of Huron county, Norwalk and Milan re
mained the chief centers of historical interest.
As the special field of this investigation is
the present Huron county, however, attention
is called to the former city.

Avery was the township now known as Milan.
Now these Connecticut Yankees came on there
and thought they saw an opportunity. They
had traveled through here land hunting and
had seen the Sand Ridge. They had fallen in
love with it. They got their heads together
and said, 'Well now, we will make a land
speculation. We will take the county seat
away from here and up to the Sand Ridge.'
Elisha Whittlesey, Platt Benedict, Frederic

THE OLD PIONEEES OF HUEON COUNTY.
Meeting of Firelands Historical Society, held at home of Martin Kellogg,
Bronson, to celebrate his one hundredth birthday,
September 21, 1886.

The sohd founding of Norwalk by Elisha
Whittlesey, Platt Benedict, and other lesser
lights is thus described by President Gallup
in his valuable paper "One Century of Nor
walk." In 1815 two Connecticut Yankees
came on to attend court at Avery, and that is a
place now where there is no habitation or
sign of life except a hill and grass and trees.
There are no buildings where the county seat
was in those days. Incorrectly, it has been
called Wheatsboro. That was a mistake.

Fallig, three of them, entered into a written
agreement to that effect. They sent Platt
Benedict on to Connecticut on horseback. He
rode eleven days, and the land that Norwalk
was built on was bought for about $2.15 an
acre. They got an act through the legislature
for the appointment of a commission to locate
the county seat. Huron embraced Huron and
Erie then. I don't know what manipulation
took place, but they got the report of the
committee.

426

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

County Se.\t Muddle Settled.
"The act authorizing the change of the
county seat required that they should indem
nify the owners of property at Avery for any
damage they might suffer by their removal of
the county seat. Elisha Whittlesey gave a
bond to indemnify those people for all losses
they might suffer, as might be determined by
a coraraission. The Coraraission was ap
pointed, and acted. They awarded daraages
amounting to about $3,440. Elisha Whittlesey
gave a bond to make that good. Mr. Whittle-

assumed that HabHity. I want to give their
names: David UnderhHl, Peter Tice, Levi
Cole, Platt Benedict and Daniel Tilden. They
obligated theraselves in the sura of eight thous
and dollars to raake good any damage that
might occur.
"For five men to assume an obligation of
eight thousand dollars away back there in 1815
or '16 was equal to raen of today assuming
hundreds of thousands of doHars. They were
poor people; men who had come to hew out
a home in the wilderness. They took their

THE OLD HUEON COUNTY JAIL, EEECTED 1819.

sey, in behalf of the four parties (Fallig having
surrendered his interest to E. Moss White and
Mathew B. Whittlesey) who purchased the
property here, took title in his own name as
trustee for himself and the rest. Fie said to a
certain nuraber of the people of Norwalk, 'If
you will take off frora ray shoulders the re
sponsibility of ray bond to those Avery people,
I will surrender my interest in the town plat
of Norwalk,' and five men stepped up and

courage in their hands and signed the bond.
That is the kind of spirit that' builds towns.
That is the kind of spirit, built up at that time,
that has never died from that day to this in
Norwalk. Pl.\tt Benedict and Family.
"In 1817' Platt Benedict came on with his
family, and with him the family of Luke Kee
ler. They were the joint settiers of the city

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

427

of Norwalk. 'The city hasn't reached its cen
tury mark yet. We are celebrating the Nor
walk township centennial. These two families
came, one settling just east of the Court House,
the other building his home way out east, of
the sand ridg.e; so that Platt Benedict was
really the first settler of the city of Norwalk.
First Church Organized.
"When a few families had become settled
here, they bethought themselves of the institu
tions of their old home. They wanted schools ;
they wanted churches. A few of them gath
ered themeselves together and organized a
church, and this is the paper that records that
organization. It is a quaint old paper and I
am going to read you a little from it.
"norwalk, HURON COUNTY, OHIO
January 20, 1821.
"At a meeting of a number of persons re
siding in this vicinity, Platt Benedict was
elected clerk of the meeting, and the follow
ing gentlemen enrolled theraselves as m'embers
or friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church
of the United States of America : Platt Bene
dict, John Keeler, Luke Keeler, John Boalt,
Amos Woodward, Samuel Sparrow, Williara
Gardiner, Asa Sanford, Aral Keeler, Henry
Hulbert, WiUiara Woodward, E. Lane, Gur-
don Woodward,-' WiHiam Gallup, Ezra
Sprague, D. Gibbs, Enos Gilbert and Moses
Sowers. "Those men associated theraselves together
to organize their church. They did organize
it and soon afterward had their first baptism.
Here is the record of that : . 'On Sunday,
January 21, 1821, the ordinance of ,baptism
was administered, to the following 'JDcrsoris
by the Rev. Roger Searles : Louise WiHiams,
aged three years;" Theodore Williams, aged
one year, children of James Williams. Spons
ors, James WiHiams, E. Lane. William Gal
lup, one year. Sponsors, William Gallup,
Sarah Gallup. Ebenezer Shaw Lane, one
year. Sponsors, E. Lane, Frances Ann Lane,
James Williams.'

"This is the record of the first old church
that was started here for the benefit of those
settlers who had corae in and who were living
here, with the woods all around them. Now
and then the nights were made hideous by the
drunken revels of the Indians who came in and
got the white man's fire-water, and they were
always apprehensive of the results of those
drunken revels. They were living in log
houses ; their windows were not glass. Theirs
was the spirit that buHds towns. They came
in here with the intention of building a town
and a home, but they did not forsee what was
to take place. A Paper Mill in 183 i.
"They had to have paper. How were they
going to get it? They had to have Hour and
things of that kind. When they first came
here, they had to carry their grain way to the
Black river on horseback. They had to carry
it in bags and bring it back on 'horseback.
They started a mill here. Henry Bucking
ham, Platt Benedict and a few others started
a paper mill and grist mill. I want to tell
you what they said about it way back in that
day. Platt Benedict, in writing to Elisha
Whittlesey, under date of August 25, 1832,
said to hira : 'I have taken possession of the
Henry farra and am improving it; have been
offered twelve dollars an acre cash in hand
which I refused; and the steam mHl which
was thought so foolish and visionary is the
sole cause. The mill does a good business,
making seventy to eighty rearas and grinding
about a thousand bushels of corn a week.'
That paper raill was started in 1831, and run
by an engine built here by Daniel Watrous,
=*our pioneer raachinist.
"This littie book is a pioneer book. It was
given to the Firelands Historical Society AprH
6, 1859, by Hon. Frederick Wickham, the
father of Judge Wickham, and long editor of
the Norwalk Reflector. This is a rare publica
tion. I don't know of another copy in exis
tence. It is the 'Ohio and Michigan Register
and Immigrant's Guide.' This was published

NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH
IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION

OLD EPISCOPAL CHURCH
AND BENEDICT CHAPEL

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

429

by J. W. Scott, Florence, Huron county, Ohio,
in 1832. The spirit of comraerce was abroad
in the land in those days. I want to refer you
to these two ads :
" 'Norwalk Manufacturing Co., paper makers,'
etc. " 'Printed by S. Preston & Co., Norwalk, Hur
on county, Ohio.' The whole thing is a pro
duct of Norwalk, way back there in 1832.

ran the water down into a well which they
built. I filled that well up myself about
twenty-five years a^o. There are parts of the
old race still to be seen, showing the enter
prise of those days. About half way down
from the dam to the paper mHl a saw mHl is
yet plainly in evidence just south of East Elm
street bridge. That spirit of enterprise has al
ways remained here. The pioneers started it

(From a melanotype of 1850.)
PLATT BENEDICT, AGED 75 YEAES.

"We can't make paper here today. But we
have the physical record of that old paper
miU. A mile or so up Norwalk creek they built
a dam, and from that dam they ran a mill-race
all the way down to town to the miH. That
stood over on the slope of Woodlawn avenue,
on the west side of that avenue, about thirty
or forty rods south from Main street. They

here and nobody has ever been able to take it
away from us."
Elisha Whittlesey and Platt Benedict.
EHsha Whittlesey was one of the best known
men of the Reserve. For years he Hved in
Canfield, Mahoning county, and in his law of
fice near by all the brilliant lawyers of the time

43°

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

studied law. He was a member of congress
for raany years, and was one. of the best
known, best beloved men of his day. Some of
his grandchildren reside in Warren.
In speaking of Platt Benedict, the first set
tler of Norwalk, or in mentioning any other
pioneer or pioneer events of the Firelands, it
is irapossible, even if it were desirable, to
avoid grateful reference to the historical col
lections of the Firelands Society. Strange as
it may seem, no life-like reproduction of the
stern, and yet fatherly personality, of Mr. Ben
edict has ever been given to the public. The
portrait which accompanies this article is there
fore presented with some pride, and with warm
thanks to both the Firelands Historical Society
and Mr. Gallup, through whose courtesy it is
reproduced. It was copied frora a raelanotype,
made in 1850, and represents Platt Benedict
at seventy-five years of age.
Norwalk in 1837.
It may be of interest to the citizens of the
county seat of Huron to read what the "Ohio
Gazetteer" of 1837 says of it: "Norwalk, an
incorporated port town and seat of justice of
Huron county, is situated near the center of
the county * * * The public buildings
within the village consist of a new and elegant
court house and jail; a banking house; three
churches, belonging to the denominations of
Episcopalian, Methodist and Baptist ; to which
may be added an ample and costly edifice for
the Presbyterian church, now in progress
of building; and four taverns, two of which
are of brick, and furnished at considerable ex
pense. There are also eleven drygoods and
two grocery stores; a steam paper mill and a
grist mill, an insurance corapany, and three
insurance agencies ; a lyceura connected with
a public library and reading room ; two print
ing establishraents issuing weekly news
papers : — The Experiment (Adrainistration)
and The Reflector (Whig). Twelve lawyers,
six divines and four physicians, compose the
professional class of the citizens * * *
In 1830 it contained about 500 inhabitants;

its present population is estimated at upwards
of 1,800. Norwalk's Schools.
When the gentleraen who planned the re
moval of the county seat from Milan to Nor
walk laid out the plat of the latter village,
they dedicated four lots for pubhc purposes;
one for a court house, one for a jail, one for
a meeting house, and one for an academy.
The first school in the vicinity of Norwalk
opened in the fall of 18 16, was a few miles
from the township line on lot 2, Ridgefield.
It stood upon the left bank, after crossing the
bridge which is now on the present road to the
village of Benedict. Its first teacher was
charies S. Hale, a son of General Hale of
Herkimer. Less than two years afterward,
a school was opened by J. A. Jennings in a
house upon the present site of the viUage.
This house was a brickmaker's shanty which
stood on the south side of what is now Sem
inary street, a few rods east of Benedict ave
nue. Later a frame building was erected for
the accommodation of scholars on the site of
the present high school building. Among the
early teachers of Norwalk may also be men
tioned Dr. Amos B. Harris, who taught in the
old court house and in other temporary build
ings for a number of years prior to the organ
ization of Norwalk Acaderay — the final out
come to the institution projected by founders
of the town.
Norwalk Academy.
In October, 1826, the corporation known
as Norwalk Academy was organized by the
election of a president and board of trustees
which purchased of Elisha Whittlesey four
lots on the present site of the high school. Mr.
Whittlesey himself erected and partially fin
ished a three story brick building at this local
ity, leasing the first and second stories to the
Academy and the third to a Masonic Lodge.
In December, 1826, the Academy was formerly
open'ed, with Rev. C. P. Bronson, pastor of
St. Paul's church, at its head and four male

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

431

assistants ; and not long afterward a female
teacher was added fo the force. At the close
of the first year, the rolls of the academy
showed an attendance of one hundred pupils.
Hayes, Foster and McPherson Boys.
For years the Norwalk Academy was the
most popular institution of its kind in Ohio and
several of its scholars afterwards became
noted characters in the history of the United
States. Among these may be mentioned
Rutherford B. Hayes ; Charles Foster, after
ward governor of Ohio ; and United States
Senator General McPherson, that brilliant and
heroic figure of the Civil war. If the tales
told by the old settlers of Norwalk are to be
credited — and there is no reason that they
should be doubted — the Hayes and Foster
boys were noted for their mischievous dis
positions, whHe McPherson was gentlemanly,
studious and "attended strictly to business."
It happened that although the last named
passed creditably through his academic
courses, it looked at one time as if he would
be debarred frora entering the Military Acad
emy at West Point, since Hon. Rudolphus
Dickerson, a member of Congress, through
whom he expected his appointment, suddenly
died. McPherson was already twenty years
of age, and realized with chargin that the delay
of another year would prevent him from com
mencing his military course, as the maximum
age of admission to West Point was fixed at
twenty-one years. By mere accident the war
rant for his admission was discovered among
Mr. Dickerson's papers after his death, and
with this precious document in his possession
the young man achieved the first great ambi
tion of his life.
The story goes that the future president of
the United States and the governor of Ohio
were lively dormitory boys who economized
to such purpose that they lived comfortably
on forty cents a week. An explanation of
their cheap living is given in the following
words: In the fall of the year (as can be
guessed) the boys used to live on the fat of

the land. On almost any night, along toward
midnight's witching hour, mysterious figures
would be seen surreptitiously gliding into the
old school-building, with large, mysterious
bags on their shoulders. If you would glide
up behind one of them, you would see the con
tents of those bags disgorged in the ruddy
glow of the firelight which lit up the laughing
faces of half a score of future senators, con
gressmen, governors, judges, or — must we say
it? — preachers. There were big watermelons
and roasting-ears, and sweet potatoes, apples,
now and then a plump pullet from some neigh
boring roost ; and there was a banquet for the
gods !"
George Kennan.
The Academy continued under the principal-
ship of Mr. Bronson until May, 1828, when
he was succeeded by Henry Tucker, who re
mained for a few raonths, and was followed,
in the fall of that year, by John Kennan of
Herkimer. Although Mr. Kennan had a good
reputation in those days as an educator, he
is now specially known as the father of the
famous traveler and lecturer, George Kennan,
who carae into the world-wide notice many
years ago because of his descriptions and ex
posures of Russian conditions and brutalities in
Siberia. Mr. Kennan was born in Norwalk in 1845,
and his stirring and romantic life has been
filled not only with adventures and unusual ex
periences in Russia, but checkered with cam
paigns in Cuba and Manchuria. He reported
the Russian-Japanese war for the Outlook.
At the present time he considers himself a
resident of New York City, although Norwalk
and Ohio claim him.
With this little break in the history of Nor
walk Academy, its progress is continued by
the statement that in October, 1829, it was
consolidated with the district schools of the
township, and No. i, after that month, occu
pied the first floor of the old Academy buHd
ing. In 1833 Norwalk Female Serainary was
opened in the Academy building. It was under

43^

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the auspices of the Methodist church, especi
ally under the superintendency of Miss Eliza
Ware. Rev. Jonathan Chaplin soon after be
came principal and at the tirae the building
burned, in 1836, the Serainary was a flourish
ing institution.
Norwalk Seminary and Institute.
In Deceraber, 1838, the Norwalk Seminary
was opened in a new brick three-story build
ing, and about 1842 had an attendance of
nearly four hundred. In 1844 the financial
burden proved too heavy to carry, particularly
as the transfer of the interests of the Methodist
church to the University at Delaware was
made and the Serainary went out of existence.
In January, 1846, the Baptist church of the
place called a raeeting to consider the purchase
of the property, and in August of that year
opened the Norwalk Institute, with Rev. Jere
miah Hall as its principal, and Miss Martha J.
Flanders in charge of the female department.
At this time 230 pupils of both sexes were reg
istered. Reverend Hall was succeeded by A.
S. Hutchins, who continued until 1855, when
the Norwalk Institute ceased to exist.
The organization of the local public schools
on their present basis was accomplished in
February, 1847, under the so-called Akron
School Law ; three years afterward, the schools
being thoroughly graded under D. F. De
Woolf, the first City Superintendent. There
were then three public school buildirigs : — the
Central, on Mechanic street, now Whittlesey
Avenue; the Southwest, Pleasant Street and
the Seminary Street. About three hundred
scholars were in attendance in 1855, when the
Board of Education purchased the building
of the defunct Norwalk Institute to be used by
the Central High School. The League Street
School house was erected in 1868 and the
Benedict Avenue structure in 1872.
The Whittlesey Academy.
The Whittlesey Academy of Arts and
Sciences, although its name would indicate
that it is an institution of higher learning not

dissimilar to the old Norwalk Academy, was
in reality an organization of twenty-five lead
ing citizens, who aimed through this body to
initiate and promote public movements of an
educational nature. The incorporators who
thus formed the Academy in 1854, were as
follows : G. T. Stewart, M. R. Brailey, George
H. Safford, E. Gray, J. E. Ingersoll, C. E.
Newman, F. A. Wildman, O. G. Carter,
Charles B. Stickney, W. L. Rose, Louis D.
Strutton, Samuel T. Worcester, John Tifft,
S. R. Beckwith, B. F. Roberts, J. A. Jones,
N. S. C. Perkins, Edward Winthrop, Charles
Bishop, J. A. Jackman, Hiram Rose, J. E.
Morehouse, John Cline, George Baker and
Joseph M. Farr. They erected the so-called
Whittlesey building, reserving Whittlesey Hall
for the special use of the Academy meetings
and public gatherings. They let the hall, as
well as rooms and offices in other portions of
the building. Rentals from these sources
brought the Academy on an average of $1,200
for many years, and every dollar of this in
corae which was not expended upon the main
tenance of the property went toward the pro
raotion of raoveraents which benefited Norwalk
as a public community. The most prominent
of the benefits thus derived was the establish
raent of a public library. In January, 1866,
the Acaderay had opened a Public Library and
reading room, conducted under the special
auspices of the Young Men's Library and
Reading Room Association. It finally passed
over to the city a library of raore than fifteen
hundred voluraes, which was first installed as
a public institution in the Mansion House
block. In June, 1878, it was moved to the
Gallup Block, and in 1905 the convenient and
tasteful building was erected which is now oc
cupied as a City Library.
The Public Library.
The Firelands Historical Society, organized
in 1857, ¦was in reality the outgrowth of the
Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In the final establishment of the Norwalk Pub
lic Library this organization donated $iS,ooo

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

433

and Andrew Carnegie a like sum. The collec
tion now consists of more than 8,000 well se
lected volumes, housed in the main body of the
building. Its first floor, or basement, is de
voted to the safeguarding of the valuable mu-
seura which has been collected by the Fire
lands Historical Society, and also includes
tastefully furnished rooms, which are chiefly
used by various literary women's societies of
the city and the trustees of the Historical So
ciety; hence the library is also designated as
the Firelands Memorial Building.
Firelands Historical Society.
In June 1857 the leading, pioneers of Huron
and Erie counties met at the court house in
Norwalk to organize the Firelands Historical
Society, whose chief aim was to collect and
preserve in enduring form the facts constitut
ing the full history of this interesting section of
the Western Reserve. Since that time it has
held its annual meetings in this city, while
its quarterly gatherings have assembled in vari
ous .other portions of Huron and Erie
counties. It is the only county society of this
nature which occupies its own building, and the
purposes of the organization, formed more
than half a century ago, have been fully
realized. The Firelands society has the honor of hav
ing issued more historical literature of a high
character than any other organization of the
kind in Ohio or in the middle west. ' "The publi
cations thus devoted to the Firelands and the
early history of Ohio include thirty-five sub
stantial volumes and nearly five thousand
pages of reading matter. These publications
include addresses of such pioneers and dis
tinguished citizens as Elisha Whittlesey, Gen
eral L. V. Bierce, Judge Joshua R. Giddings,
John Sherman, President Hayes, Platt Bene
dict, Jay Cooke, Clark Waggoner and G. T.
Stewart. The museum at Norwalk is a verita
ble treasure house of historical interest and
value. Its bound newspaper files include sev
eral initial volumes of journals published in the
Firelands territory which cannot be found in
Vol. 1—28

any other depository, while its collection of
maps, especially relating to the first survey of
the Western Reserve and the Firelands is sim
ply invaluable. The Indian relics, fossils, pfetre-
factions and other mementoes comprise a col
lection over which one might linger with bene
fit for hours. Among the Indian relics one of
the most interesting is a wampun belt, the
property of President Gallup, which has

HON. H. C: GALLUP.
descended through the different members of
the family from the period of King Phil
ip's war, whose chief events are grouped
around Narragansett Bay, R. I. This belt
was presented to one of Mr. Gallup's
ancestors about this time by a friendly Indian
as a warning to hira, but, notwithstanding the
good intentions of the red raan, Captain Gal
lup, who took part in the war, met his death
in the historical Swamp fight. In the "war
department" of the museum are found all
kinds of firearms and ordnance, as well as
powder flasks and pocketbooks collected from

OEhHMo
oOD iJ
<O MOE-im

mOfe <!1-3

oo fin H

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

435

American battlefields, an especially large col
lection representing the battle of Lake Erie.
Platt Benedict was the first president of the
Firelands Historical Society and continued
thus until his death in 1866. The present in
cumbent is Hon. C. H. Gallup, who is also the
curator of the museum. It is not too much to
say that no one ever connected with the organ- ¦
ization has been more faithful or efficient in
extending its high reputation.
A Famous Execution.
Before generally tracing the development
of Norwalk into a raodern municipality, men-

of Danbury, in the vicinity of the "Two Har
bors," so called; and having, collected a few
skins had lain down for the night in their
teraporary huts. Three straggling Ottawa
Indians came, in the course of the night, upon
their camp, and discovered them sleeping. To
obtain their little pittance of furs, etc., they
were induced to plan their destruction. After
corapleting their arrangements, the two eldest
armed themselves with clubs, singled out their
victiras and despatched them in an instant.
They then forced their youngest companion,
Negasow, who had been until then only a spec
tator, to beat the bodies with a club, that he

EAST MAIN STEEET, NOR-WALK, IN 1854.

tion must be made of an event which caused
wide-spread excitement in the community dur
ing its early and formative period. Reference
is made to the trial and execution of Ne-Go-
Sheck and No-gon-a-ba, for the murder of
John Wood and George Bishop, two well-
known citizens and trappers of the Firelands.
The narrative of the crime and execution is
given in the words of the late C. B. Squier, as
follows: In the spring of 1816 John Wood,
•of Venice, and George Bishop, of Danbury,
were trapping for muskrat on the west side

might be made to feel that he was a participa
tor in the murder and so refrain from exposing
the crime. After securing whatever was then
in the camp that they desired, they took up
their line of march, for the Maumee, avoiding,
as far as possible, the Indian settlements in
their course.
A Side Show to Milan.
Up to the early fifties it seemed as if Milan,
the old county seat of Huron county, would
maintain its supremacy as a center of com-

436

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

merce and industry. The latter had con
structed a ship canal to the Huron river and
thus secured an outlet to Lake Erie. A pros
perous shipyard had been estabhshed at MHan
and it had also become a large shipping point
for the grain and farm products of a large
surrounding territory; even the goods pur
chased in the east by Norwalk merchants came
via the Erie canal and lake to Milan, so that
as one of the old Norwalkites expressed it :
"Up to 185 1, Norwalk was simply a sideshow

ance of the project. Thereby it became a rail
road town in contradistinction to a canal town,
and since that time Norwalk has been on the
rise, while MHan has steadily declined. With
the coming of the railroad, various manufac
tories were also established. In 1877, after
the place had increased from 3,000 to 5,000
peopile, the Wheeling & Lake Erie railroad
came to their doors in response to a donation
of $72,000. Norwalk's next great accession
to her industrial strength was the location of

FIEST ENGINE FEOM NOEWALK TO HUEON,
On the old Narrow Gauge.

to MHan." Norwalk had, in short, settled
down to the peaceful and plodding career of an
academy town, but a sudden change carae over
this condition of affairs in 1852, when Milan
refused to subscribe towards the building of
a railroad from Cleveland to Toledo. Its citi
zens considered that there was no comparison
in importance between a railroad and a canal.
Railroads Wake Up Norwalk.
The enterprising people of Norwalk took
a distinctly different view of the matter and
voted $50,000 in bonds to aid in the further- -

the railroad shops of the corporation, which
occurred in 1882. In their location, Norwalk
considered that she had achieved quite a tri
umph ; since Wellington, Toledo, Tremont and
Massillon, as well as other places, were bid
ding for the location, and working energetic
ally against her interests. She did not get the
shops, however, without working hard for
them and also subscribing over $100,000. The
building of the Wheeling & Lake Erie car-
shops added 200 to 300 raen to the population
of Norwalk, and the place therefore considered
it little short of a public calamity when the
plant was destroyed by fire in 1908; it has
since been rebuilt on an enlarged scale.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

437

Industries of Norwalk.
As further indications of the public spirit
of Norwalk, may be mentioned the subscrip
tion of $175,000, which her citizens raised to
locate the great plant of the Huron Steel and
Iron Co. For this purpose the citizens pur
chased 500 city lots as a site for the. foundry.
Its output consists of the manufacture of
steel only and is furnished chiefly to plow com
panies. In 1904 Norwalk added to its trans
portation lines the Sandusky, Norwalk &
Mansfield Railroad, so that now there are few
cities of its size in the Reserve whose facilities
in this line are raore coraplete. Araong its
large and substantial industries may be men
tioned the piano factory conducted by A. B.
Chase Co., which was estabhshed in 1876; the
Auto-Bug Co., which manufactures buggies
with solid rubber tires, but which, mechanic
ally speaking, are automobiles ; The George
S. Stewart Company, large raanufacturers of
library and office fixtures and red cedar cab
inets; the Gardner Grain and Milling Com
pany ; the Norwalk Tobacco Works ; the Press
ing & Orr Canning Factory and Gallup-Ruff-
ing Handle Company.
Norwalk is now a busy and attractive place
between eight and nine thousand people, a
marked evidence of its prosperity being eleven
mUes of brick-paved streets. It also has well
under way a complete and perfect sewering
system, which includes a large disposal plant.
Its standing as a business town is further evi
dent from the fact that one of the best hotels
in the Western Reserve "The Avalon" is sup
ported by its citizens and the traveling public.
As a place of residence, where one may both
earn a good livelihood and live comfortably,
Norwalk is almost ideal.
Churches.
Brief reference has been made to its
churches, which now include a dozen flourish
ing societies. The father and mother of them
all is the St. Paul's Episcopal church, which
had its origin in the religious services first held

in the log-house of Platt Benedict, in 18 18.
Services were first read at his home, but upon
the completion of the new court house, in the
following, year, the meetings were adjourned
to that structure. In January, 1821, the society
was formally organized as St. Paul's Episco
pal church, and in June, 1836, its first religious
edifice was consecrated and still stands at the
rear of Benedict Chapel. The corner-stone
of the stately Gothic structure of stone, now
known as St. Paul's Episcopal church, was
laid in November, 1908, and no edifice devoted
to religious purposes attracts more favorable
comment. Exclusive of interior furnishings,
it costs about $50,000.
In the fall of the same year which marked
the gathering of the little band of Episcopa
Hans in Mr. Benedict's house, four men and one
woman assembled in Norwalk and, through
their exertions, a Baptist society was formed
in January of the following year which nura
bered fourteen members. This was the nucleus
of the present First Baptist church. In 1823
the first Methodist society was organized, with
seven merabers. Its first building was erected
in 1834, on Serainary street; its second edifice
in 1856, and its present church was com
pleted in June, 1902. The First Presbyterian
church of Norwalk was organized in February,
1830, as a Congregational society, and assumed
its present name in March, 1836. Religious
services were held in the old Norwalk Acad
emy building until the latter was burned in
1836, and in 1838 the society erected its own
building, the edifice which it now occupies be
ing completed in 1870. Catholicism obtained
a foothold in Norwalk during 1840, and six
years afterward the building occupied by St.
Peter's church was dedicated. For many
years attendants came from MonroevHle and
Milan but in 1868 the people of the vHlage of
Norwalk, separated from the mother society.
At first their organization was called St.
Peter's and then St. Paul's church. After 1872
each organization had its own pastor. St.
Paul's church is composed almost exclusively
of Germans, while St. Mary's includes the

438

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

English speaking, element. In June, 185 1, the
Evangelical Lutherans formed an organization
and St. Peter's English Lutheran church is
now a flourishing society. In 1869 the Uni
versalist church of Norwalk was organized,
and the buHding stHl occupied by this society
was completed in 1872. Briefly, these are the
chief religious organizations of Norwalk, and
add a very strong feature to its many advan
tages as a resident town.
The Newspaper Field.
Norwalk has always presented a fair news
paper field, although at the present writing it
is somewhat disorganized. The first paper
published in Norwalk, and the second in the
Firelands, was the Reporter, which was first
issued by John P. McArdle in 1827 and dis
continued in 1830. On February 2, of the
latter year, Samuel Preston and G. T. Buck
ingham put forth the Reflector. In 1854 F.
Wickham became its sole owner and so con
tinued untH 1865, when W. S. Wickham joined
him in the enterprise ; the latter withdrew from
the firm in 1873. The Reflector, which is still
in the newspaper field owes its founding and
progress largely to the labors of different
merabers of the Wickham faraily (this feature
of local journalism is further expanded in
the sketch of Hon. Charles P. Wickham, as
assistant editor of this work). The daily edi
tion of the Reflector was established in 1882,
and the Reflector Corapany is now not only
the publisher of the two editions of this news
paper but of the Chronicle a weekly journal
established in 1874. In 1835 the Norwalk
Experiment was founded as a weekly news
paper, and in 1883 the Huron County News
was established, these publications being now
consolidated under the title Experiment-News,
which is issued frora a Norwalk office. The
other local publications embrace the Evening
Herald, founded in 1902, and the Ohio Law
Bulletin and Central States Guide, established
in 1876 and 1885 respectively, and issued by
the American Publishers' Company.

The Town of Bellevue.
Bellevue is a town of more than five thous
and inhabitants, situated not only on the west
line of the Western Reserve and the Firelands,
but on the boundary line between the counties
of Huron and Sandusky. It is one hundred
and twenty miles west of the east Hne of Ohioi
and one hundred and two miles east of its
western boundary; so that it is nearly in the
geographical center of the commonwealth
from east to west. With reference to leading
Ohio cities, it is twelve miles south of San
dusky, forty-five miles east of Toledo and
sixty-seven miles west of Cleveland. Although
surrounded by first-class farming land, its
geographical situation places it within the
radius of the commercial activities of these
large cities, which have drawn upon its natural
territory and" retarded its individual progress.
Nevertheless it is a substantial little place,
and growing slowly and surely.
Early Bellevue Settlers.
The first settler within the present limits of
Bellevue was Mark Hopkins, of Genesee
county. New York, who located with his fam
ily in the fall of 1815, and built the first log
cabin upon the site of the present town. In
Februaay of that year John Baker, also a New
York man, had located with his son about two
and a half miles northeast of the place. The
second settler within the limits of BeHevue
proper was Elnathan George, who came with
his family in the spring of 1816 and built a log
house for their accommodation on the lot
where the Tremont block still stands. In the
following year he added to his dwelling, and
opened the pioneer tavern of the place.
Strictly speaking, it is beyond the province
of this history to mention any local events
which occurred west of the line which passes
through the town and divides Huron and San
dusky counties, as that section is not included
in the Western Reserve. Still, in order to
make the narrative more complete, it may be
said that Charles F. Drake and Captain Zadoc
Strong, in 1822 purchased the land which now

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

439

embraces most of the village on the Sandusky
side of the line.
The Industrious Bakers.
In the faH of 1815, when the Bakers located
near Bellevue, the public roads of this vicinity
were noted for their absence, although Indian
traHs were very plentiful. One of the first
duties, therefore, which was assumed by Mr.
Baker and his son was the cutting of a road
thraugh the woods from Russell's Corners to
Strong's Ridge (where they lived) and the
stone quarries about one mile west of the town.
In the spring, of 1817 the industrious Bakers
also made further public improvements in this
regard, not only cutting roads through the
woods, but putting up guide boards to direct
travelers between Sandusky and various points
in this section of Huron county. At that time
there was not a permanent settler between
Bellevue and Tremont, or lower Sandusky, as
it was then called. Thus Bellevue was first
recognized as a place of sufficient importance
to be placed in communication with the rest of
the world. First Things and Events.
The first store in BeHevue was opened in
November, 1823, by Thomas G. Amsden, a
trader who was engaged in traffic with the
Indians and French. Mr. Arasden displayed
his miscellaneous assortment of goods in a
good size log building, commencing business
as an agent for Daniel Whitney, a widely
known merchant of those times living at Green
Bay, Wisconsin. Two years afterward, how
ever, Mr. Amsden and F. Chapman bought
the stock and entire business, and their store
became so popular and widely known that for
many years the place was known as Amsden
Corners. Mr. Chapman, who appears to have
been a man of energy and public spirit, opened
what was known as the Exchange Hotel in
1829, and made of it one of the best houses
of entertainment west of Buffalo. It is said
that travelers for many miles around, in those
days, would always make it a point to reach

Amsden Corners, in order to secure the com
forts and sociabilities of the Exchange Hotel.
This reraained the only hostelry at Bellevue
until the erection of the Tremont house in
1836. In the spring of 1817, Mrs. Mark Hopkins
died, haying been bitten by a massasauga. A
few hours before her death she gave birth to
a daughter — Jeannette Hopkins — and the child
grew up to womanhood here. Said birth and
death were the first in Bellevue.
The first marriage was that of Israel Mark
ham to Louise Leonard, in 1818, at a house on
the lot recently owned and occupied by H. M.
Sinclair as his residence.
The first sermon was by Rev. Lot B. Sulli
van, in 1818 or 1819, at the house of Elnathan
George. The first meeting house was on the lot where
the Congregational church now stands, and
was buHt about 1837.
The first school was opened about the year
1830, at which date the first school house was
built, or rather the log building formerly used
by Mr. Kinney as a blacksmith shop, was re
modeled. It stood at the intersection of Mon
roe and West streets.
The first manufacturing establishraent was
a blacksmith shop, owned by Return Burlin-
son. A postoffice established here in 1830, with
Frederic Chapman as postmaster, was called
"York Cross Roads." In 1831, Chapraan &
Arasden put in operation a tannery. The first
cabinet shop was opened by David and Ben
jamin Moore, who for some time were the
only furniture dealers in Bellevue. The first
practicing physicians were Drs. Harkness and
Lathrop, and a Mr. Kent opened the first law
office. The first election in Lyme township was held
in a log school house, on the Ridge in April,
1820. Bellevue's first paper was started in 1851,
by G. W. Hopkins, in a small room in the sec
ond story of the Howard Mansion, on Monroe
street. It lived only three or four months. It

440

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

was a five-column sheet, and bore the title of
Bellevue Gazette. Its motto was "Open to
aH."
Grandma Sawyer.
Jeanette Hopkins has been mentioned as the
first white child born in BeHevue, although
during the life of the late "Grandma" Sawyer
(nee C^aroline Chapman) there was always a
vigorous dispute as to this honor. This good
old lady, who lived for more than ninety years
in the town, passed away in February, 19 lo.
The grandfather of Caroline Chapraan, Will
iam Chapman, raoved frora Connecticut to
Huron, now Erie county, about the tirae that
the first settlers were coraing in to Bellevue,
and a few days afterward Nathaniel Chap
man, her father, with his two brothers started
for the locality now including the site of Belle
vue. The brothers stopped at Muskkash, now
known as Venice, eight miles north of Belle
vue, and here John Chapman was killed and
scalped by Indians. A few days later the two
brothers camped on the site of the future town,
but Nathaniel Chapman shortly afterwards re
turned to Connecticut where he raarried Ruth
Torapkins, bringing her later to Bellevue.
Mrs. Sawyer was the first child born of this
couple, and at her death, in 1910, no villager
was better known or raore beloved than
"Grandraa Sawyer." Strong's Ridge Road.
The old Strong's Ridge road, or raore prop
erly "trail," at first ran along the high ground
south of Alfred Stebbins' to the saw mill, near
the present site of Woodward's distillery, and
thence to where Main street now crosses the
county line. This accounts for the awkward
angle at which Monroe street comes to the
center. The Strong's Ridge road was aftet-
ward straightened upon its present line and
thus we see how it is that there is no known line
in the village which conforms to any point of
the corapass known to the science of naviga
tion. Up to this date, the town had grown up
"by guess."

Early Village Plats.
In the year 1835, the land on the Huron
county side, consisting of fifty acres, owned
by Gurdon WiUiaras, was purchased by F.
Chapraan, Jaraes Hollister, Josiah HoUister,
Thomas G. Amsden, L. G. Harkness and
Pickett Latimer, and during that year was
surveyed and laid out into village lots by
David Carap. The lots varied in size and
price, fifty dollars being the average price for a
quarter-acre lot. In 1839 Chapraan & Amsden,
who at that tirae owned a large quantity of
land west of the county line, had it also sur
veyed and laid out. These lots were somewhat
larger. In order to induce the people to locate
here, they put their prices at the lowest figures
possible, giving long time and being very care
ful never to sell to speculators, their principal
object being to build up a village. t
Coming of Railroads.
The Mad River & Lake Erie railroad was
cpmpleted frora Sandusky city to this place in
1839. James H. Bell, a civil engineer in the
eraploy of railroad corapany, was authorized
to name the station here. He called it Belle
vue, as at once suggestive of his own name and
expressive of the beauty of the place. This rail
road was extended to Republic and Tiffin, in
1841, and soon after reached its connection
with the Little Miarai railroad at Springfield.
The line of the Mad River & Lake Erie rail
road was changed between Tiffin and San
dusky, and laid by way of Greenspring, Clyde
and Castalia, in 1855, and the track upon the
Bellevue route taken up.
The Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland railroad
was located through this place in 1852 and
completed the following year.
Town Incorporated.
The town of Bellevue was incorporated by
the act of the legislature passed January 25,
185 1, and its charter limits were about a mile
frora east to west along Main street, extending
about one-quarter of a raile on either side of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

441

the same and embracing nearly equal portions
of Huron and Sandusky counties. A govern
ment was organized February 24, 185 1, with
the following officers: Mayor, Abraham Lei
ter ; recorder, Samuel Z. Culver ; trustees,
Eliphalet D. Follett, Benjarain F. McKira,
.David Arrastrong, Joseph M. Lawrence and
Thomas G. Amsden. School Houses.
As early as 1827, and probably before that
year, several log school houses were located
on the present site of Bellevue, one where the

Central structure, and for forty years the build
ing was occupied for school purposes. In 1885
the original building which now constitutes the
East Central school was erected at a cost of
$5,000, and to this an addition was made in
1906, forraing the substantial eight-room
schoolhouse now in use. The McKira street
building was erected in 1893, and was erected
to accoramodate the priraary pupils living east
of the Nickel Plate railroad. In 1900 was
erected the substantial Central high school
building, which was fittingly "dedicated to the
best interests of twentieth century education."

BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL.

Pike building now stands and another where
the Wright Bank is located. In 1832 a stone
structure replaced the log school houses on the
site of the Pike building, and in 1871 this, in
turn, gave place to a larger brick building.
The latter structure was in Sandusky county.
The building which occupied the site of the
Wright bank and was on the Huron county
side. In 1845 the Catholics erected a two-
story brick buHding which they occupied as a
parochial school. Soon after the erection of
the Catholic school the town erected a seven-
room building on the site of the present East

The cost of the site, building and furnishings
was about $40,000.
Bellevue Churches.
The churches of Bellevue are in accord with
her standing and needs as a moral and religious
cofnraunity. The pioneer society to be organ
ized was the First Baptist church, originally
coraposed of twenty-six members who first as
serabled on May 14, 1836. The first pastor
was Elder J. Kelley. In September of the
same year the First Congregational church was
founded on the plan of Union then existing be-

442

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

tween the Presbyterian and Congregational de
nominations. In 1846 the society was reorgan
ized on a strictly Congregationalist basis. The
Methodists formed a society in 1839, and their
first resident minister was Rev. Oliver Burgis.
In 1849 the Episcopalians organized under the
name of St. Paul's church. In 1852 the Catho
lics of Bellevue founded the Church of the Im
maculate Conception. In 1864 the Evangelical
Lutherans founded St. John's church, and in
the same year the St. Paul's Reforraed church
was founded. In 1875 originated what is
known as Bishop Seybert Meraorial Evangel
ical church.
Young Men's Christian Association.
In 1904 two institutions were founded in
Bellevue which, with its churches, have raost
contributed to the raoral and intellectual up
lifting of the place. These are the Public
Library and the Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation. The buHding, in furtherance of the
weH understood plans of the latter organiza
tion, was dedicated March 6, of that year. The
lot on which the building stands has a frontage
of 145 feet and a depth of 243 feet, giving
araple room for tennis and croquet courts and
an outdoor gymnasiura. The raain floor con
tains the rooms for reading and recreation, the
latter containing easy chairs, garae tables, rau
sical instruments and other means for rest and
amusement. There is also an indoor gymnasium, 40x60
feet, two bowling aUeys and a natatoriura, with
all kinds of shower baths and other accommo
dations of this nature. The second story of
the old part of the building contain sleeping
rooms, which are in constant use by worthy
applicants. The educational departraent of the
Y. M. C. A. erabraces not only lectures given
by authorities on various practical subjects,
but regular classes of instructions for both men
and boys. Distinctive religious activities are
directed largely by a special coramittee, and in
clude not only the regular meetings of the asso
ciation, but others held in the different
churches of the city.

On account of the generous donations of the
New York, Chicago & St. Louis railroad and
of the various brotherhoods of locoraotive en
gineers and trainmen, the building is usually
designated as the Bellevue Railroad and City
Y. M. C. A. Free Public Library.
The movement that culminated in the erec
tion of the present free public library of Belle
vue began with the organization of the Belle
vue Library Association in January, 1891. A
reading room for the benefit of the public was
soon after opened, and until 1892 the enterprise
was solely supported by merabership fees. In
that year D. M. Harkness presented to the
library association a tract of land known as the
Business Mens' Addition to Bellevue, which
was afterwards sold for $1,500. In 1896 the
New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Com
pany (the Nickel Plate) had coraraenced its
support of the library scherae by paying into the
treasury of the association $30 per month.
These material additions to the income of the
association encouraged its board of trustees to
start the raoveraent for the erection of a perma
nent library building. In 1902 Andrew J. Car
negie offered a donation of $10,000 toward the
erection of such a building, upon the usual con
dition that the people of Bellevue furnished
a site and supported the library. These con
ditions were forraally accepted in 1903, and
the completed building was opened to the pub
lic on August 10 of the following year. The
library now consists of nearly 7,000 bound
and well-selected volumes and some 2,000
paraphlets, magazines and unbound volumes.
As a reference and working library, it stands
high among similar institutions in the Western
Reserve. Railroad Connections.
The corapletion of the old Mad River rail
way from Sandusky to Bellevue, in 1839, has
already been noted. In 1855 this line was torn
up and is now a part of the Big Four systera.
The Chicago, Sandusky & Hocking railway

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

443

took over the right-of-way of the old Mad
River line, and this corpo'ration is now a part
of the Pennsylvania Company. By 1854 cars
were running into Bellevue over the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern, and by 1881 two
new railroads were seeking connection with the
town. Their efforts were soon after realized
in the extension of the Nickel Plate and the
Wheeling & Erie lines to this place. Besides
enjoying transportation facilities through
steam railroads, Bellevue has also the Lake
Shore Electric Line as one of its many means
of communicating with outside territory. As
Bellevue is the middle division terminal of the
Nickel Plate road, the yards of that line are
specially extensive and conducive to her stand
ing as a commercial and industrial center.
Industries and Banks.
Among the leading industrial corporations
of the place are the following : The Ohio Culti
vator Company, manufacturers of agricultural
implements and hay presses ; the Conway Steel
Range Company, which turns out steel ranges
and cooking stoves ; the Jeschke Manufactur
ing, Company, whose output includes corn cut
ters and ditching machines; W. H. Gardner
Grain & Milling Company, manufacturers of
flour and mill products and dealers in grain ;
Bellevue Stone Company, dealers in crushed
limestone, sand and gravel ; Zehner Brothers
Packing Company and Bellevue Kraut & Pick
ling Corapany. These are all local concerns,
whHe the A. H. Jackson Manufacturing Cora
pany, whose output is mostly muslin under
wear, is controlled by Fremont capitalists, and
the Spence Brothers Stone Company and the
Garrigan Brothers Stone Company are really
branches of parent houses in Columbus and
Toledo. The financial operations of Bellevue are con
ducted through three organized institutions —
the First National Bank which was organized
in 1875 and now has a capital of $50,000, with
headquarters at Toledo, Ohio; the Wright
Banking, Company, of which J. A. Wright is
president, which was founded in 1899 and is

capitalized at $25,000; and the Savings Bank
Company, which was founded in 1901 and is
capitalized at $25,000.
Bellevue Newspapers.
One of the strongest and most persistent
supporters of Bellevue is its wide awake news
paper, the Gazette. This publication w;as
founded as a weekly in 1867, its originator
being C. A. Willard, a drygoods merchant who
established the paper as a sraall advertising
sheet to boom his own business. Subsequently,
a young raan and practical printer, E. P.
Brown, came over from Oberlin, joined him
ih the enterprise and a "regular built news
paper" was the result. The Hammers, father
and son, succeeded Brown, and the forraer sold
the plant to C. D. Stoner and S. C. Thompson.
In 1881 C. R. Callaghan, a young man who had
been making himself generally useful about
the newspaper office for eight years, bought
a half interest in the business, which was con
tinued for twelve years under the firm narae
of Stoner & Callaghan. C. R. & M. J. Calla
ghan formed their partnership in 1899, and
continued the publication of the paper until
February i, 1906, when the Gazette PubHshing
Company Vv^as incorporated. Since then the
Gazette has absorbed the Daily Record, which
was founded in 1899, and (in 1906) the Daily
and Weekly Bellevue News. The result is that
the Gazette PubHshing Company has a mo
nopoly of the local newspaper field and is mak
ing a legitimate and, at the sarae tirae, profit
able use of its advantages.
Chicago Junction.
Coraparatively a new town, Chicago Junc
tion is, notwithstanding, the third place in pop
ulation within the liraits of Huron county, and,
judging from the enterprise and public spirit
which have been so manifest there for the past
few years, it promises to be really a credit to
its larger and stronger brother at the foot of
Lake Michigan. It was established as a rail
road town, and its present strength and its
promising future rest upon its advantages in

444

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

this regard. On' January i, 1874, the Balti
more & Ohio Railroad Company fixed upon
this point as the eastern terminus of its Chi
cago division. The railroad business was first
prosecuted in a one-story frarae building about
fifteen by twenty-five feet, and the railway em
ployes boarded with neighboring farraers.
A Railroad Town.
It soon became evident that the place was
bound to becorae a railroad center and a nura
ber of houses were built near the station. The

town of Chicago Junction was platted. In the
summer, work was commenced on the perma
nent shops and in April, 1876, the plant was
virtually completed.
Chicago Junction's Great Fire.
During the following two years Chicago
Junction had what may be called a real boom,
but in the raidst of its good tiraes a fire broke
out in the business section of the place and
swept away nearly one-half of its best build-

PEAEL STEEET LOOKING 'WEST, CHICAGO.

first substantial building erected on the site of
Chicago Junction was the hotel and grocery
of S. L. Bowlby, which was opened to the pub
lic September 7, 1874. In December, the rail
road was corapleted to the Junction and tera
porary shops, consisting of an engine
house and blacksraith and raachine shops,
were erected, giving eraployraent to about
sixty raen. Early in the year 1875, the
railroad corapany laid the foundation of its
large brick depot, and about the same tirae the

ings. The people of Chicago Junction \o6k
back to the fire of Deceraber 8, 1897, ^^''^
much the same spirit, not unmixed with pride,
which is exhibited by the typical citizen of
Chicago (Illinois) when he remembers his
great fire of 1871. Although at first thought
the conflagration ¦ seemed a crushing calamity,
and left many of the local merchants on the
border of bankruptcy, they quickly revived in
spirit, went to work with a will, ar^d within a
few years the burned district was covered with

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

445

much more substantial buildings than formerly
had stood upon it.
Town Organized.
TThe town of Chicago Junction was organ
ized in the fall of 1882, by the election of
Samuel Snyder as mayor and other municipal
officers. In 1900 was completed the Akron
extension of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad,
and upon the opening of this division the town
took on new life and increased in population
even more rapidly than during its early years.
The establishment of telephone service in 1898 ;
the completion of a modern system of water
works in 1899 and the erection of an electric
lighting plant in 1900, with the coming of an
electric railroad in 1905, marked distinct steps
in the growth of this progressive place. Its
main streets commenced to be paved in 1900,
and much work- in this line was accomplished
in 1904 and since that time ; its main thorough
fares are uniform and metropolitan in appear
ance. Extension of B. & O. Yards.
Chicago Junction is on the eve of another
era of rushing times, because of the extension
of the already great railroad yards of the Bal
timore & Ohio road. These improvements
have already commenced and will cover, when
completed about two years from this time,
fifteen acres of additional area. More than a
million and a half of dollars are to be expended
in the perfection of the foHowing features:
Great platforms for the so-called New Castle
division df the road on Spring street, with an
arched bridge leading from the general depot
to these structures; west-bound receiving
yards, with a capacity of 680 cars, and classifi
cation yards with a capacity of 1,300 cars ;
east-bound receiving yards, capacity 696 cars,
and classification yards, with a capacity of i,-
292 ; main tracks for both west-bound and east-
bound traffic and car repair yards, with a ca
pacity of 120 cars; house tracks, capacity 201
cars ; a large transfer shed and subway and an

overhead bridge west of Main street; an im
mense water reservoir; and the Sandusky di
vision yards, with a capacity of 150 cars.
In the completion of these great railway
improvements, hundreds of men will be per
manently employed and added to the popu
lation of the town. The local merchants and
-. other business men will feel the benefit of this
large accession, so that Chicago Junction has
every reason to look for not only a "boom,"
but most substantial growth. That she is really
expecting it, is evident from a number of large
enterprises which are well under way; among
these may be mentioned a $45,000 opera house
and Masonic temple.
The place, however, is not solely dependent
upon the Baltimore & Ohio road for its pros
perity and growth. It is surrounded by a rich
agricultural country, whose products find here
a ready market or distributing point. Among
the most important branches of agricultural
industry of the locality may be mentioned
celery growing, thousands of acres in the vi
cinity of Chicago being devoted to the pro
duction of this vegetable. Two other large
industries in the town itself should also be
mentioned, namely : The Beelman Matiufactur-
iiig and Lumber Company and the Chicago
Manufacturing Company. The former is
chiefly engaged in the manufacture of orna
mental hardwood floors, while the output of
the latter mainly consists of windmHls.
Banks and "Chicago Times."
The financial accoraraodations of the place
are furnished by the Commercial Bank, a pri
vate institution founded in 1888, and the Home
Savings Banking Company, the latter estab
lished in 1900, with a capital of $25,000.
Chicago Junction will never be allowed to
"hide its head under a bushel" as long as it en
joys the enterprising service of such a news
paper as the Chicago Times. This paper was
founded in 1883, the year after the incorpora
tion of the town, and is now conducted by E.
A. Evans, formerly superintendent of schools.

446

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

School Accommodations.
At the time the town was first incorporated
its residents sent their children principally to
the Sykes school district, but with the rapid in
crease of the local population Motson's Hall,
at Chicago Junction, was rented, with other
smaller buildings in town. In 1880 the town
ship board of New Haven erected two school
houses for the better accommodation of the
village pupils — one on the East Side in which
the East Side buHding is now taught, and an
other on the lot where the brick building now

village pupils was completed, bonds amount
ing to $16,000 being voted for that purpose.
At the present time Chicago Junction has two
good school buildings, about 475 pupils being
accomraodated in the main structure and thir
ty-five in the East Side building.
Churches and Societies.
In the matter of churches, four leading de
nominations are represented in Chicago, the St.
Francis Xavier Catholic church being especi
ally strong. The Y. M. C. A., organized by
the Baltiraore & Ohio Railroad Company, has

¦WEST MAIN STEEET, NE"W LONDON.

stands. These were used until 1883, when the
voters of the two districts and all that part of
Richmond within the corporate limits of the
city decided to organize themselves into a sepa
rate vHlage school district. This improvement
was perfected at the spring election of 1883,
when the viHage school board was chosen and
organized. In 1891 additional territory was
annexed to this district.
In September, 1888, a large central or main
school building for the accommodation of the

also proved a strong moral force in the com
munity, and its work is thoroughly appreciated
by the railroad men. The building, now occu
pied was erected in 1906, and has sixty-five
beds for the accommodation of both transient
and permanent lodgers. These accommoda
tions are so much in demand that plans for a
$5,000 addition have already been prepared.
The present membership of the association is
nearly 500.
As would be expected, the organizations de-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

447

voted to the interests of the railroad men are
especially numerous at Chicago Junction, the
brotherhoods of locomotive firemen and engi
neers, of railway car men, railway trainmen,
and railway clerks, being already strong and
constantly increasing in membership. The
Masonic fraternities are represented by Rule
lodge No. 552, and the Knights of Columbus
and Knights of Pythias have also flourishing
organizations.

tions of the two railways. The same firm also
has a factory for the raanufacturing of butter
and cheese packages.
The largest manufactory of the place is
operated by the Arnold-Creager Company,
whose business was estabhshed fully thirty
years ago and now coraprises the raanufacture
of brick raachines, trucks and other appliances
required in the operation of that industry. The
flour raHl of the place is conducted by P. H.

PAEK AND SCHOOL HOUSE, NEW LONDON.

New London.
New London is an incorporated village of
about 1,400 people, situated seventeen miles
from Norwalk, the county seat, and located on
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St.
Louis and Northern Ohio railways, some forty-
five miles southwest of Cleveland. It is one of
the oldest and also one of the most thriving
places in Huron county, and exhibits quite an
array of flourishing industries.
The largest business house in the place is
operated under the firm name of Coleman &
Carr, its dealings being in cement, plaster, coal,
Ume, salt, wood and hay. Its yards and ware
houses cover quite a large area near the sta-

Burk and sonj there is a tile factory in active
operation, under the control of E. Bigelow and
son, and two large local manufactories are de
voted to the turning out of paraphernalia used
by secret societies. This industry, which is
considered by many the leading one in New
London, is controlled by the two Ward broth
ers, and it is intimated that they have pushed
their business-with such energy as competitors
that they have virtuaHy divided the local lodges
into two factions.
Early Settlement and Incorporation.
The first settler on the present site of New
London was John Corey, who erected and oc
cupied his log cabin in 1816. A number of

448

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

other settlers followed him by 1817, among
others the Merrifields, whose activity and
prominence gave the settlement its name from
that year until 1822. In the latter year it be
came Kinsley's Corners and from 1840 to 1853
King's Corners.
In the year naraed, the village was incorpo
rated as New London, it having been a station
of the Cleveland, Colurabus, Cincinnati & In
dianapolis railroad since 1850. New London
has a substantial Union school building com
pleted in 1904, and several well constructed

London Record, a neatly printed weekly paper
founded by its present popular editor, George
W. Runyan, in 1868.
Monroeville.
This viHage of some 1,200 inhabitants is lo
cated at the junction of the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern, on the Lake Erie division
of the Baltiraore & Ohio and the Wheeling &
Lake Erie railroads. Although the main busi
ness section of the place is quite a distance
from these lines, the vHlage was laid out in

HUEON EIVEE VIEW, MONEOEVILLE.

and tasteful church edifices. Its religious or
ganizations embrace the Methodist, whose
building was erected in 1879; the Congre
gational, the Catholic and the Baptist. The
last named is known as the Beth Eden church,
and was completed in 1882. New London has
also a neat monument erected to the raeraory of
its dead soldiers, which was donated to the
public in 1897 by the Runyan Woraen's Relief
Corps. Further, and foremost in the estima
tion of many of its citizens, it has the New

September, 1817, and was then called Monroe,
the "ville" being added upon the estabhshment
of a postoffice. An addition was made to the
original site of the place in 1836, and the vil
lage was incorporated in 1868.
Founding of the Village.
The main incidents connected with the
founding of Monroeville and its early develop
ment are well narrated by L. O. Simmons,
editor of the Spectator, in the foHowing words:

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

449

"In the year 1818, a man by the name of Sow
ers, with his family, emigrated from the state
of Maryland to this locality. About the sarae
time Seth Brown and Schuyler Van Ransalear
came here from the state of New York. The
land comprising the present site of the village
of Monroeville was purchased by the above-
named gentlemen, with a view to its iraprove
ment for agricultural purposes — to raake for
themselves and famHies homes. Soon after
they were joined by others, among whom was
one Richard Burt, who proceeded at once to
erect a saw and grist mHl, which were in oper
ation as early as 1816. These raills were lo
cated and comprise the original of the mHl of
The Heyman Milling Company of the present
day. This was the nucleus of greater things ;
the starting point, the origin of our now pojDU-
lous viHage. Messrs. Sowers, Brown and Van
Ransalear caused the survey of the village plat,
which was soon occupied, and prominent
among whom, and as the first to locate there,
were the following : Seth Brown, Schuyler Van
Ransalear, Richard Burt, Dr. Cole, a Mr. Ful
ler, Daniel, John and Jaraes Sowers, and John
S. Davis. Mr. Van Ransalear opened a sraaH
store and to hira belongs the honor of inaugu
rating mercantile pursuits, from which insig
nificant establishment have sprung the many
business houses of today. Verily its progeny
has been prolific.
"Buckley Hutchins, another of the early set
flers of the place, kept the first tavern, not one
of the modern concerns where the blase guest
sits down to a dozen courses but a hurable
structure in which the fare was of a primitive
character, where corn pones and venison
formed the staple diet. Mr. Van Ransalear
was the first postraaster. The Baptists organ
ized the first church society, and were closely
followed by the Presbyterians and Methodists.
"MonroeviHe, like all other towns in a new
country, was subject to many annoyances and
inconveniences ; the mail, for instance, put in
an appearance quite infrequently, and before

the days of stages and railroads was carried
on horseback or on foot from settlement to
settleraent, and the arrival of the postman in
these times was hailed as a gala-day by the
inhabitants. As the years roll by, there is a
gradual increase in the population, and some
new features of improveraent adds to the ira
portance of the place. For raany years there
was little to attract or encourage immigration.
Situated in the raidst of a forest and sur
rounded by savages and wild beasts, the settle
ment of the country was attended with no little
peril and risk of life. There were no markets,
and the resources for the growth and iraprove
ment of the locality were limited in character,
and the growth of the new village was ex
tremely slow. For many years traffic with the
Indians constituted a very important item in
the business transactions of our raerchants.
Many arausing scenes and anecdotes might be
related of pioneer life, but as it is our purpose
to chronicle briefly that of an historical nature,
we will leave the romantic to those whose abil
ity, augmented by the experience of early
years, is greater than our own. As the sur
rounding country becarae more and more de
veloped there was a corresponding increase in
the population of the town ; also an expansion
of business matters. The buHding of the rail
roads in after years marked a new era in the
affairs of Monroeville. It not only infused
new life in business matters, but was the means
of a raore rapid developraent of the surround
ing country. It opened up new and hitherto
unapproachable raarkets, placed us upon the
plane of equality with other and older towns,
and wgs in every respect a consummation that
had been long and devoutly wished."
The Ohio Gazetteer of 1837 in speaking
of this village says : "From this town to San
dusky City a track for a railroad has been cut
out and graded, and it is expected that the
road will soon be ready for use. * * * jt
has improved rapidly within a few years and
now contains several splendid brick buildings.

Vol 1—29

4SO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

one grist mill, one saw mill, one carding and
fulling raill, sorae. six or eight stores, three or
four avenues, etc."
The Monroeville Spectator was founded
in 1870, and Mr. Siramons has been its editor
and proprietor for the past twenty-four years.
He is therefore one of the most widely known
and popular raen in this section of Huron
county.

Farmers' and Citizens' Banking Company. It
was established in 1905 and has a capital of
$50,000. Monroeville has a good systfem of
water works and electric lighting, its plant
having been completed in 1898. The water
supply of the village is obtained from the
Huron river. The churches represented are
the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Bap
tist, German Evangelical, Reformed and Cath-

OLD COVEEED BEIDGE NEAE MONEOEVILLE.

The Village Today.
The Monroeville of the present embraces a
number of fairly prosperous industries, among
which may be mentioned the following: The
piano factory of F. H. Mason & Son, estab
lished in 1892; the Yingling Brothers Manu
facturing Company, which turns out handles
and feHows ; the Aten Lumber and Manufac
turing Company, a comparatively new concern,
which makes such wooden specialties as step-
ladders; and two grain elevators, two flour
mHls and two brick and tile factories. The
leading bank of the place is conducted by the

olic. The last named denomination has two
societies, one composed of the German and
the other of the English speaking element. Of
the local societies, the Knights of Columbus
are the strongest, although the Masons and
Odd Fellows have well sustained lodges.
The "Start" of Henry M. Flagler ( ?)
Careful inquiry has faded to unearth any
greatly distinguished characters who have been
born or passed their early years in Monroe
ville. The only item which might fall in this
class concerns Henry M. Flagler, the Standard
Oil magnate and railroad and hotel king, of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

451

Florida. It has always been insisted by the
old-tiraers of the village that Mr. Flagler was
given his first start toward opulence by
Stephen Harkness, who ran a little harness
shop at this place during his early manhood.
At that time young Flagler was a budding
business raan at Bellevue, and the Harkness
and Flagler families were related by marriage.
Stephen became interested in the Standard
Oil Company and not only invested some of
his money in its stock, but assisted Mr. Flag
ler to go and do likewise. The ultimate result
was the creation of a fortune, on the part of
Flagler, and the earning of a national fame
as a leading official in Standard Oil raatters
and the creator of modern Florida.
Near the outskirts of Monroeville is an old
covered bridge, built in 1836, which is one of
the very few structures of the kind still stand
ing unaltered between the east and the raiddle
west, and is one of the picturesque landraarks
of Huron county. Greenwich.
Although the township of Greenwich, in the
southeastern part of Huron county, was one
of the earliest to be settled, the village by that
name was not considered of sufficient import
ance to be incorporated until 1879. It is now
a place of about 900 people, situated on the
line of the Big Four, and its business raainly
consists of shipments of cattle and dealings in
grain. It also has a tile factory and a lumber
yard, and, as the surrounding country is rich
agriculturally, its merchants enjoy a fair retail
business. *
Other Settlements of the County.
New Haven is a village in the township by
that name, and has not to exceed 300 people,
although it was laid out in 181 5 by David and
Royal H. Powers. It was platted upon the gen
eral plan of New Haven, Connecticut, and was
designed to be a place of broad streets and
large parks, but this was not to be its destiny.
New Haven was a dangerous business com
petitor of Norwalk in the early twenties, but

'commenced to decline at the completion of the
Sandusky, Mansfield & Norwalk raHroad, and
since that tirae has never asserted itself as a
progressive town.
Eleven miles east of Norwalk is the little
village of Wakeman, containing some 600 peo
ple, whose business is such that it is able to
support a good local newspaper and a substan
tial bank. Its journal, the Wakeman Inde
pendent, was founded in 1875. The Wake
man Banking Company carae into existence in
1892. The township and the village both de
rive their narae frora Jessup Wakeraan, one of
the original proprietors of the land.
The story of the rise and decline of North
Fairfield, in the township of Fairfield, is the
old tale of railroad neglect. As early as 1831
a store was established in the center of the
township- on the present site of the village, and
around this pioneer business place grew a
flourishing settlement. Not only were there a
number of prosperous stores at this point, but
several manufacturing plants in the early thir
ties and forties. A newspaper, the Fairfield
Gazette, was even established and became
quite vigorous; later, however, it moved to
Bellevue. Both West Clarksfield and Clarksfield are old
settlements in the township of the latter narae.
During early years the inhabitants of these
places had to go to Florence, or even to New
London, for their mail, but in 1821 a postoffice
was established at Clarksfield with Smith Starr
as postmaster, and Mr. Starr filled that posi
tion without interruption until 1853.
In 1834 Samuel Husted and David Tyler
built a saw mill between the river and the east
and west roads. This was operated until about
1888, but now has almost disappeared. The
milldam at Clarksfield, with a fair sized grist
miH, is the chief present evidence of industrial
life at that place. In the southeastern part of
Brownson township is a little settlement known
as Olena village, the first house upon this site
being built by William Burroughs in 1852.
The village was formerly called Angell's Cor
ners and continued thus for several years.

452

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

when its citizens publicly christened it Olena.
The other settlements of the county worthy of
mention are Havana and Collins.
Three Pioneer Women.
Lois Starr Hoyt, a charter raeraber of the
Baptist church of Fairfield, "spun and wove
the first linen tablecloth for communion use
and gave her necklace of gold beads to aid in
the purchase of a communion set."
Jane Robinson Phillips, of Hartland, was
one of the raost industrious women Huron
county ever had. "She often walked to Milan
and returned in a day, and she could knit a
pair of socks as she journeyed."
Another remarkable pioneer woman of
Huron county, Greenwich, was Nancy Doud
Horr. She was slight of build, but possessed
of great endurance. She did all the work of a
family of six and wove and sold linen cloth,
buying a cook stove with the money. "After
spinning all day she would sit late at night
knitting woolen socks to sell. She also picked
geese and sold the feathers."
Pioneer Physicians of the Firelands.
Before all other professional men the phy
sicians of a new comraunity are a necessity,
and in raany respects affection goes out to
them in more abundant measure than even to
rainisters of the gospel, for the reason that
they and their rainistrations seera nearer to
the hearts of raen, women and children. This
fact is sufficient reason for the reproduction of
the following, taken frora a paper contributed
to the Proceedings of the Firelands Historical
Society by Dr. F. E. Week :
The first physicians of the Firelands seem
to have left very little history to be read by us
of the present tirae, and in many instances we
have been able to find nothing more than a
raere raention of the narae and date of resi
dence here. The first historical collection of
the Firelands was not begun until raore than
half a century after the advent of the first
settler. Our history is principally a compila
tion from the volumes of The Firelands Pio
neer.

Many of the early physicians found them
selves in unpromising fields, where the pros
pects of gaining a livelihood by the practice of
medicine was small on account of the poverty
of the settlers, the sparseness of the settiement,
the hardships necessary to reach their patients
and other causes. There were undoubtedly
raany physicians in the Firelands at an early
day whose names have not been preserved by
the historian. In studying the history of these
early physicians we notice that some of them
becarae engaged in other lines of business in
addition to the practice of their profession, or
abandoned the profession for some other busi
ness. In many cases they found it necessary
to add to the slender incorae gained by their
profession by sorae other raeans. We often
find raention of their taking an active part in
the business and social affairs in the new set
tleraents. The usefulness of their lives de
serves a better history than has been written
by men who lived at a time when the facts
could be more easily obtained.
The pioneer doctor was thrown on his own
resources to a greater extent than those of
modern times. He had not so many books or
journals. He had fewer aids to diagnosis or
treatment. He could not coraraand the serv
ices of a specialist in obscure or critical cases.
These obstacles tended to develop a greater
personality among the brighter rainds, and out
of the obscurity of history we see a few names
shining like beacons, such as Sanders, Tilden,
Baker, Kittredge, Fay, Carapbell, Morton and
others, which were known all over the Fire
lands. Dr. George Hastings settled in Groton in
1810 and died in 1864.
Dr. WatseH Hastings settled in "Oxford in
181 1. He moved to Groton and died there.
Dr. Strong lived in Vermillion b.efore the
war of 1812.
Dr. Ansolera Guthrie settled in Huron in
1812 and moved to Canada in 1817.
Dr. Erastus Goodwin settled in Milan in
18 12 and died in 1834.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

453

Before Drs. Guthrie and Goodwin carae, a
Dr. Long, of Cleveland, used to come when
sent for.
Dr. Parks was among the refugees who left
Danbury after Hull's surrender.
Dr. Samuel Carpenter lived at Cold Creek
in 1824. Another writer says that Dr. Car
penter succeeded Dr. Hastings in Oxford and
was the only physician there for many years.
He moved west and died. His son, Samuel
B., succeeded him.
. Dr. Richard P. Christopher came from
Hartford, Conn., to Perkins in 1815, having
graduated from Yale the previous year. He
died in Perkins in the thirties.
Dr. Lyman Fay, a native of Barnard, Ver
mont, moved to Milan in 1815. He married
Caroline Kellogg, of Townsend, in 1816. In
1823 he moved to Milan village, where he died
in 1854. In an old account book of Samuel
Husted, of Clarksfield, we find the following
entry in the account of Ephraim Webb : "July
25, 1820. To paying Doct. Fay for 2 pukes,
25 cts."
Dr. Joseph Pierce moved from Herkimer
county. New York, to Norwalk in 1815. He
became the first postmaster there. He moved
to New Haven about 1825 and thence to Indi
ana. Dr. Heman M. Clark settled in Wakeman in
1817 or 1818. He had been a surgeon in the
navy in 181 2. He practiced medicine when
there was occasion, but worked his farm. He
was too generous to live by his profession, but
traveled through the settlement on foot when
called upon, without regard to compensation.
If the patient was able to pay he took a mod
erate fee, but if not able he attended just the
same. Dr. Dake lived in Huron in 1817.
Dr. Hartshorn was the first physician in
Venice in 1 817.
Dr. George Anderson was the pioneer phy
sician in Sandusky and the only one there for
many years. He was born in Otsego, New
York, on his father's farm, which is now the
site of Cooper stown, on February 8, 1792. He

was educated at the University of Pennsyl
vania under the instruction of Dr. Rush, and
studied with Dr. Joseph White, of Cherry Val
ley. He settled in Venice in 1817 and in San
dusky a year later. There were only half a
dozen families in the town at that time. In
1821 he was married to Eleanor Hull. He
gained a wide practice and becarae skillful in
treating the diseases which prevailed at that
tirae. He was one of the proraoters of the
Mad River and Lake Erie railroad, the pioneer
railroad of this section. In August, 1834, he
visited a patient sick with the cholera in the
morning and died of that disease in the evening
of the same day.
Dr. Samuel Day, a native of Vermont, set
tled in New London in 1818 and lived there
untH his death in 1829. He had a family of
eighteen children.
Daniel Tilden was born at Lebanon, New
Hampshire, August 19, 1788. His father,
with four brothers, served in the Continental
army during the war of the Revolution. He
entered the office of Dr. Joseph White, of
Cherry Valley, New York, in 1807. He con
tinued his mediqal studies until the spring of
1812, when he received his degree of M. D.
from Dartmouth College. He was married to
Nancy Drake on April 10, 1814. In 1817 he
arranged a wagon train and started frora Cas-
sinovia. New York, for the Firelands. On the
fourth day of July they reached Cook's Cor
ners. 'He was charmed with the beau-ties of
the prairie and soon purchased 2,000 acres of
land, but found that he was land-poor, like so
many others. In 1825 he moved to Norwalk
and entered into partnership with Dr. Kit
tredge. He had a large practice at this time.
He served in the State Senate from 1828 untH
1835. In 1839 he moved to Sandusky, where
he lived until his death on May 7, 1870. He
was president of the Erie County Medical So
ciety for several years and a delegate to the
American Medical Association, of which he
was elected one of the vice-presidents in 1854.
In 1857 he was president of the Ohio State
Medical Society.

454

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Moses Chapin Sanders was born in Milford,
Worcester county, Massachusetts, May 27,
1789. While a youth he moved with his
father's faraily to Saratoga county. New York.
He attended medical lectures at the University
of New York and graduated there. He began
practice at Galway, New York, but moved to
Peru, Ohio, in 1818, with his father, mother
and younger brother. Here he entered into an
active practice of his profession and gained
a high place in the esteem of his patients. He
perforraed every operation known to surgery.
His reputation gained hira the appointment of
medical censor of the old Cleveland Medical
College, now the medical department of West
ern Reserve University, which office he held
until his retirement from practice.
Dr. Cyrus Cole moved from Washington
county, New York, to Delaware, Ohio, in 1817,
then to Canada, then to Fremont, where he
married EHzabeth Desang. In 1820 he moved
to Ridgefield township and lived until his death
in 1853.
Dr. Samuel Stevens lived in Lyme township
in 1820. A doctor of the sarae name and pos
sibly the same raan, who lived at Blooraing
yille, one day rode west through Groton, then
south of the Ridge, thence horae, arriving in
the night, and visited forty patients and passed
sorae who were not so sick, but whora he would
have visited if it had not been night. This was
in the sickly season of 1819.
Dr. L. G. Harkness, who was born in New
York state in 1801, settled in Lyrae in 1823 and
becarae associated with Dr. Stevens. He
raoved to Bellevue and abandoned the practice
of raedicine. He was succeeded by Dr. Daniel
A. Lathrop in 1835.
Dr. Charles Smith was born in Westfield,
Massachusetts, February 2, 1797. About 1826
he raoved to Lyme township and lived there
until his death in 1861. He took an active part
in the affairs of the township and was an
ardent advocate of temperance and religion.
Other early physicians in Lyrae were Drs.
Otis and Boise.
George G. Baker was born in Montville,

Connecticut, December 19, 1798. He attended
Plainfield Academy, thirty mHes from his
horae, and walked home every week to save
the expense of washing and mending his
clothes. He received his medical degree at
Bowdoin CoHege, Maine, in 1822. In that
same year he came to Berlin or VermiUion
(historians differ). He then moved to Flor
ence, where he was the first physician. In
1838 or 1840 he moved to Norwalk, where he
lived until about 1870, when he moved to Nor
wich, Connecticut, where he died April 22,-
1877. His wife was Mary Crane, daughter of
Joel Crane, of VermHHon. In 1846 Dr. Baker
went to Europe with his family and traveled
extensively. In 1851 he became consul at
Genoa, Italy. In 1861 he became consul at
Athens, Greece, but returned after a year and
entered the Union army as a surgeon. After
the close of the war he again traveled exten
sively through Europe.
Dr. William M. Ladd settled in Fitchville in
1822 and died in New London in 1853. His
practice extended over six or seven townships.
Andrew McMillan, of Scotch parentage,
was born in the state of New York. He came
to Monroeville with his father's family and
settled on a farm. In 1822 he moved to
Clarksfield and began the practice of medicine,
being the first physician there. He continued
his medical studies untH 1827, when he gradu
ated from the Ohio Medical CoHege at Cin
cinnati. Dr. Hervey Manley lived at Clarksfield be
tween 1828 and 1832. He taught school a
part of the tirae. He loved to hunt turkeys
with Fred Wildman and James Monroe.
Dr. Allen Barney died in Ridgefield in 1823.
Dr. George W. Sampson settled in Green
wich in 1824.
Williara F. Kittredge was born in Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, Noveraber 27, 1803. He studied
medicine at Rush Medical College. In 1825
he settled at Norwalk and entered into a part
nership with Dr. Tilden. This partnership
continued until Dr. Tilden moved to Sandusky.
Dr. Kittredge then entered into partnership

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE '

455

with Dr. Baker and this partnership continued
until 1851, when the former retired from prac
tice and became engaged in mercantile pur
suits. He died in 1877.
Dr. Richard Morton, a grandson of John
Morton, one of the signers of the Declaration
of Independence, moved to Greenwich in 1825
and lived there until his death.
Dr. Henry Niles was born in Massachusetts
in 1796. He graduated from Hanover College
in 1820. He practiced medicine at Halifax,
\'ermont, untH 1830 or 1831, when he settled
in Greenfield township. In 1833 he raoved to
Clyde and in 1837 to Seneca county, where he
died in 1864. The first physician in Ruggles
was a Dr. Baker, who settled there in 183 1.
Dr. Lerauel Powers was the first physician
at Plymouth. He started a distillery, but, be
coming converted to total abstinence, he turned
the distillery into a hat factory.
Dr. J. N. Campbell was a graduate of Jeffer
son Medical College, receiving his diploma in
1832. He located in Fairfield township in the
faU of the sarae year, entering into partnership
with Dr. Sanders, of Peru. He took an active
part in the building of the village of Fairfield.
Dr. John Tifft was born in Cayuga county.
New York, June 11, 1808. In 1833 he located
in Norwalk and practiced there until 1859,
when he retired. His first wife was Louisa
Fitch, who died in 1859. In 1862 he married
Mrs. Nancy Earl. He died July 10, 1881.
At an early day New Haven seems to have
been a favorite field for physicians. Dr. Sam
uel B. Carpenter lived there from 1814 until
1820. He was licensed to keep tavern there
in 1816 and to sell liquor in 1820.
Dr. Royal N. Powers was' a partner of Dr.
Carpenter from 1814 to 1820. Dr. Selden
Graves came soon after but soon moved to
Seneca county. Dr. John B, Johnson arrived
in 1820 and died in 1824, and his funeral was
the first one in the township conducted by the
Masonic order. A Dr. Brown was a partner
of Dr. Johnson for a time. Dr. Lemuel Pow

ers practiced there for a time, as did also a
Dr. Diramick.
Dr. Philo P. Floy practiced here at one
time. Dr. Joseph Pierce settled there about
1825, then moved to Indiana. Dr. Hulbert
went there in 1825 and died in 1828. Dr.
Johns was said to be one of the early settlers
there. Pioneer Medical Societies.
Dr. Sanders was president of the first medi
cal society in the Firelands, as shown by a call
issued by him for a meeting of the society on
June 4, 1822. The Fourteenth District Medi
cal Society was organized in 1824. At that
time no person other than raembers of one of
the medical societies of the state were per
raitted by law to practice medicine or surgery.
This society continued to hold meetings until
1830. In 1827 there were eighteen regularly
licensed physicians and surgeons in Huron
county (which then included Erie county).
They were Drs. Baker, Tilden, Sanders, An
derson, Fay, Kittredge, Wra. W. Nugent, C.
B. Harris, Clark, Pierce, McMiHan, Christo
pher, Stephens, Sraith, Carpenter, W. Mer
riman, Lemuel Powers and A. H. Brown.
Firelands "Underground" Railways.
The Firelands were honeycombed with "un
derground" raHways in early Abolitionist
days, this feature of its history being graphic
ally described in the foHowing paper contrib
uted to the Firelands Historical Society by
Dr. A. Sheldon: "This essay or reminiscence
will mostly concern the Society of Quakers,
or Friends as they are now called, who settled
on the Firelands in the township of Greenwich
about the year 183 1. They built a log church
and about ten years later built a large frame
church. It was located one-half mile east of
the township center, at the northwest corner
of the farra owned by my father. Many of my
friends and relatives were raembers of this
Society. While I have no means of knowing

456

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the nuraber of raembers, it raust have been near
one hundred and twenty-five.
"This soon becarae an active and iraportant
station on the Underground Railway. While
there were homes here and there in other
townships in the southern part of the Firelands
which were stations, I know of no other local
ity, where, with exceptions, the entire com
raunity were friendly to the negro. And just
here I want to record the naraes of sorae of
those heroes. At the head of the Society was
WHHs R. Smith, who at that time was the
principal preacher. He was liberally educated
for an Episcopal minister. Next, I raention
Joseph Healey and his son, Jacob, who were
also preachers ; John L. Eddy, another
preacher; John Jenny and his sons, Benjarain
and Abrahara ; James and Joseph Bartlett ;
Humphrey Gifford; Benoni Coutant, and
raany others. There were also quite a nuraber
of others, not raerabers of the Friends Society,
who held office on the Underground Railway.
Cyrus H. G. Mead, living south of the Center,
a genuine Down-East-Connecticut Yankee;
Luther Mead, living in the northwest part of
the township, another New Englander ; ray
father, Rufus Sheldon, also of New England
stock — any of these could be depended upon
as conductors or engineers where the passen
gers were headed for the North Star.
"Well I reraember the quietness and secrecy
that seeraed to pervade all nature when a train
had to be raade up. While we boys were not
told much about what was doing, we soon
came to know that an Ethiopian was sorae
where in the vicinity.
"Another first-class station was at Alum
Creek in Morrow county where there was a
large society of Friends. This station was
too far from Greenwich to make a safe run,
especially if they were pursued. There were
quite a number of stations in Richland county
where stops could be made when necessary.
Two stations were located just west of Mans
field. Each had excellent accommodations.
One was kept by James Roe, the other by

John Phinney — these stations were about four
miles apart. I have heard the following inci
dent regarding Phinney : At the time he had
three negroes secreted in his corn crib. He
received a 'grapevine' niessage that the two
owners would probably be there early in the
morning. Of course his plans were soon ar
ranged. Just before breakfast two gentlemen
rode up wishing to see Mr. Phinney. He very
graciously invited them to alight and have
breakfast and they accepted his invitation. In
seating, them at the table he placed them so
they could not see the corn crib, while he had
full view of it. Soon after they were seated he
gave the hired man, who was outside, a pre
arranged sign to hitch up, take the niggers
and 'git.' The blessing consumed a long time,
and it is reported that the family ate very
slowly that morning.- After breakfast Mr.
Phinney took down the old family Bible, re
marking that it was his custora to have family
worship before beginning the active duties of
the day. The Southerners hesitated somewhat,
but could hardly do less than acquiesce. Mr.
Phinney very slowly read the 119th Psahn,
then kneeling so that the old clock was in view,
he prayed for one hour. By that time, the ne
groes were well under way to the next station.
"My informant told me that nearly all the
passengers who carae over that route were
ticketed by the way of Greenwich. The Pal
mers of Fitchville maintained a station on the
Underground. "There was also a station in Hartland, kept
by James Lee. Lee was a big, brawny fellow
and was never known to let any slaveowner
interfere with, or thwart his plans. A little
north of Milan was a Friends' settlement of
Hathaways. The horae of Peter Hathaway
sheltered many a negro on his way to free
dom. On one occasion two negroes took ah
evening train from Greenwich for Hathaway
Station, On arriving they were informed that
an acquaintance from the Southland was
awaiting them in Sandusky, Ohio. Peter and
his good wife were equal to the occasion.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

457

Having secured women's mourning suits, they
left for Sandusky. The negroes attired in deep
mourning, wearing heavy veils, each sup
ported on the arm of a man, went to the land
ing. The boat was waiting and the slaveowner
was standing on the gangplank. Peter ap
proached him, saying, 'Will thee please stand
aside and let these ladies on the boat?' As'
soon as they were aboard, the boat left the
dock. The negroes were on deck and taking
off their veHs, bid their master an affectionate
farewell. The owner, in great rage, turning
to Peter said : 'I wHl follow them to hell.'
Peter replied: 'Thee had best go the other
way; thee will not find these people there.'
The Famous Wellington Rescue Case.
"It suits the purpose of this paper to make a
little digression from the Underground on the
Firelands. Sorae time late in '59, I began at
tending school at Oberlin. This was at the
time of the Wellington Rescue Case, a brief
history of which raay not be uninteresting. In
1856, a negro, John Price, was received and
protected by Oberlinites. His master, John
G. Bacon, in September, '58, learned that Price
was in Oberlin. He immediately took steps
for his capture. He sent one B. P. Mitchell
with papers to consuraraate the arrest and
return of Price. Mitchell, afraid to go into
Oberlin after him, secured the services of a
treacherous farmer living about three miles
from Oberlin. The farmer's son persuaded
Price to take a ride and went a short distance
outside of town. Price was captured and by a
circuitous route taken to Wellington to get a
train on the Big Four. But the fates were
against the kidnappers. On the way to Well
ington they were met by two boys on horse
back going to Oberlin. The town was soon
apprised of the kidnapping. This was about
2 P. M., and in an incredible short time, at
least two hundred men and boys were on their
way to Wellington. Arriving there thf num
ber was augmented to five hundred. The res
cuers went at once to the hotel and demanded
the release of the negro. The captors were

terribly frightened; however, they were soon
assured that no harm could corae to thera per
sonally. "The Southerners tried to get Price to make
a speech saying he wished to go back to the
Southland. Finally he appeared and made this
raeraorable speech : — 'Gentlemen : I want to
go back-because-because-I 'spose I must.' It
is hardly necessary to add that John did not go
South. "After a few weeks maneuvering on the part
of the slaveholders, bills of indictment were
found against thirty-seven citizens of Oberlin,
and warrants for their arrest were issued.
Araong thera were many prominent citizens.
Such men as Prof. H. E. Peck, J. M. Fitch,
Charles Langston, Siraeon Bushnell, Hon.
Ralph Plurab. They were confined in the
Cuyahoga county jail for raonths. They were
offered their freedom on their own recogni
zance, which freedom they scorned to accept.
The story of their prison life would make a
volurae by itself. While there they published
a bi-monthly paper called the Rescuer. As I
remember it, a more appropriate narae would
have been the Hornet.
"On the fifth day of April, '59, the prelira
inary began. Hon. R. P. Spaulding, Hon.
A. G. Riddle and S. O. Griswold, volunteered
their services for the defense. The trial
lasted for weeks, causing intense exciteraent
throughout the whole country.
"After reraaining in jail three months the
cases were noUed and then carae the triuraphal
return home. Such a home-coraing ; such a
welcorae, no words of mine can paint ! A
special train brought them from Cleveland and
with them scores of others, araong thera prora
inent citizens of Cleveland and other cities.
Thousands gathered at the depot to greet
thera. Araidst the thundering of cannon and
inspiring martial music they left the train.
Professor Monroe in a thrilling speech made
the address of welcome, closing, with these
words : 'Erect as God made you, you went into
prison. Erect as God made you, you have

45C

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

corae out of prison. Welcome, thrice welcome.
Fathers of Liberty.' The vast company then
repaired to the First Church, which was soon
filled to its utmost capacity, and then began
a meeting, which I beleive has never had
its counterpart in the history of this, or
any other country. I will not attempt a
description. Among the speakers were,
Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, and you who
were privileged to know Giddings in the
strength and vigor of his manhood, raay im
agine something of what this opportunity
offered to him.
"Among those who came from Cleveland
to witness the occasion was Gray, or as h'e
was called. Deacon Gray, one of the editors
of the Plain Dealer. It was understood that
Gray had come to write for his paper an
abusive article about the raeeting. Gray was
given a seat on the platforra as a reporter,
which took all the sting out of the article,
and instead, he sent in his account highly
eulogizing the raeeting. This greatly angered
the Deraocratic press throughout the country.
Mr. Gray afterwards becarae a Republican,
left the Plain Dealer, and fought in the war
with the Union Army. On the morning fol
lowing the raeeting. Professor Monroe and
Giddings were walking, out and raet Deacon
Gray on the corner near Fitche's book store.
Professor Monroe introduced thera. As they
shook hands Giddings reraarked that he felt an
editorial thrill run through his system. Gray
retorted that he thanked God he was able to
send a thrill through one of these. Black Repub
licans. You should have seen the twinkle in
the eye of Giddings as he came back with 'I
ara glad to find a Deraocrat that thanks God
for anything.'
"These were days when history was being
raade by leaps and bounds. Oberlin then de
spised and alraost forsaken on account of her
devotion to the cause of human liberty-today,
respected and honored throughout the entire
land!

Tribute ,to Firelands Pioneers.
"In conslusion, I turn again to the Firelands.
I know of no greater honor that can come to
this Society than to have recorded the history
of these noble men and women, who were
among the early pioneers in the settlement of
¦the Firelands, but pioneers in a greater sense
in the struggle for the downfaU of that reUc
of barbarism. Human Slavery. Their place in
the history of this county is beside Wm.
Lloyd Garrison ; Wendell Phillips, Salmon P.
Chase, Edwin M. Stanton, Joshua R. Giddings
and Benjamin F. Wade. Though they were in
the humbler walks of life, they knew the right
and knowing, dared maintain it. They were
of those who lit the torches that built the
furnace fires that were to melt the shackles
from the lirabs of miUions of human beings.
I am proud to have known them and thankful
that the years of ray boyhood and young
manhood were spent in their midst."
War History of the Firelands.
Although Huron and Erie counties have
long been separate political bodies, historically
they are often still included in the old-time
division known as the Firelands. The part
which this section of Ohio played in war mat
ters is therefore here described under the title
given above.
The patriot citizens of the Firelands were
ready and eager to do their fuH share in sup
porting the nation at the outbreak of the
Mexican War, and nearly a fuH company of
the Third Regiment of Ohio Volunteers was
'<;nrolled at Norwalk for the purpose. It was
mustered into service at Camp Wasl|ington
at Cincinnati, June 24, 1846, under the com
mand of Captain Shiver, and although ready
to march to the front in the far south, their
services were not required, and they were dis
charged in the foHowing August. Company
C of the Fifteenth United States Infantry,
however, was not only enlisted in the Fire
lands, but saw active service in Mexico, and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

459

marched into the southern capital with General
Scott, September 14, 1847.
The first command to be raentioned, , of
which a considerable portion was raised in
the Firelands, is the Eighth Ohio Infantry,
a three-months' regiment. Its men enlisted
from AprH 16 to 22, 1861, and within a week
later the regiment had arrived at Camp Taylor
and was re-enlisted for the three-years' serv
ice, with the exception of Company I. The
Eighth took part in the campaigns and en
gagements at Winchester, Antietam, Freder
icksburg and Gettysburg, and Company I
especially distinguished itself at the last-
named battle in the capture of three stands
of colors from the enemy.
There were many men from the Firelands in
the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, which was
the first regiment in Ohio to reach the front
in the three-years' service. It was sent into
the field under Colonel Thoraas H. Ford, for
merly Lieutenant Governqr of Ohio, and par
ticipated in the various carapaigns of the
Shenandoah VaHey, Virginia ; in Tennessee
and the southwest, including Champion Hills
and the siege of Vicksburg; in Sherman's
March to the Sea and in subsequent movements
in the Carolinas toward the north. At Atlanta
the Thirty-second suffered terribly, more than
half of its number being either killed or
wounded. It took part in the Grand Review
at Washington and received its final discharge
at Columbus, Ohio, July 26, 1865.
The Fifty-fifth regiment went into camp at
Norwalk, October 17, 1861, companies A, C,
D and I being entirely composed of men
and officers from Huron and Erie counties. In
January, 1862, it left for Grafton, West Vir
ginia, and joined the Array of the Potomac
in time to be present at Culpeper Court House,
Fredericksburg, afterwards being transferred
to the southwest, and participated in the bat
tles at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, Re
saca and Kenesaw Mountain. It was also
with Sherman and was finally mustered out of
service at Louisville, Kentucky, July 11, 1865.

In the Seventy-second Ohio regiment were
many from Erie county. The men saw active
service in Tennessee under Sherraan, and were
also at Corinth and the siege of Vicksburg.
The regiraent afterward participated in opera
tions around New Orleans and the siege of
Forts Gaines and Blakely, and was mustered
out at Vicksburg, September 11, 1865.
The One Hundred and First regiment was
drawn from Huron, Erie, Seneca, Crawford
and Wyandot counties, and was -raustered in
at Monroeville, August 30, 1862. Companies
A, B, D and G were raised entirely in
Huron and Erie counties. The military move
ments in which these commands participated
commenced with the campaign which resulted
in repelling the threatened cavalry raids of
Kirby Smith in Kentucky. The regiment sub
sequently became part of Buell's army en
gaged in the pursuit of Bragg, and partici
pated in the battles of Perrysville, Stone River
(the first on the field), Chattanooga, Chicka
mauga, Franklin and V/ashington, and was
mustered out of the service at Huntsville,
Alabama, June 12, 1865.
The One Hundred and Seventh regiment
was coraposed entirely of Gerraans, and re
ceived quite a number of recruits from the
Firelands. It suffered its most serious loss
at Gettysburg, and was honorably discharged.
from the service at Charleston, South Caro
lina, in July, 1865.
Companies B, C, E and G and part of
companies H, I and K of the One Hundred
and Twenty-third regiment enlisted from
Huron and Erie counties and entered the ser
vice in 1862. They participated in the Shen
andoah Valley raids, but in June, 1863, had
the misfortune to be surrounded by an over
whelming body of Lee's troops and raade
prisoners of war, with the entire brigade to
which they were attached. Most of the
officers were confined in prison for eleven
months, although the foHowing of the Fire
lands quota raanaged to escape: Captain J. F.
Randolph and Lieutenant Frank B. Colver, of

460

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

corapany B, and Captain O. H. Rosenbaum
and Lieutenant B. F. Blair, of corapany G.
In April, 1864, about 250 of the original 700
men, comprising the One Hundred and
Twenty-third regiment reassembled at Win
chester and were equipped for the field. They
had the pleasure of participating in the final
compaigns around Winchester, which resulted
in sueh a briHiant victory for Sheridan; they
were also present at the battle of Cedar Creek
and witnessed the surrender of Lee at Appo
mattox Court House. In June, 1865, the
coramand was mustered out at Camp Chase,
Ohio. The Third Ohio Cavalry, organized in Sep
tember, 1861, at MonroevHle, was largely com
posed of Huron and Erie county men. It took
part in the operations before Nashville and
Pittsburg Landing, and in March, 1862, in the
engagements around Corinth and Bowling
Green, and also joined the Union cavalry in
pursuit of Morgan's troops, as well as of

Wheeler's famous cavalry. The Third Ohio
Cavalry re-enlisted at Pulaski, Tennessee, in
January, 1864, and in the following March
re-assembled at Monroeville to receive recruits
and reorganize for active duties. Through the
efforts of Major Charles W. Skinner and
Captain E. M. Colver, nearly 1,000 recruits
were re-enlisted and the comraand returned
to the front over fifteen hundred strong. In
the following May it moved to Columbia,
Tennessee, as advance guard of the Seven
teenth Army Corps, and gave a fine account
of itself at Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree
Creek, Atlanta, Franklin and NashvUle. After
the collapse of the Confederacy it was de
tailed in the chase after Jeff Davis. The sad
dest incident connected with the history of this
regiment was that which resulted in the death
of Lieutenant E. C. Lewis, who was killed
while on his way home, in the explosion on the
government steam-boat "Sultana," near Mem
phis, Tennessee.

CHAPTER XXVII.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

Cuyahoga county, which did not acquire its
present limits until 1843, is named after its
principal river, which in the Indian language
signifies "crooked." The river is well named,
since its source is further north than its mouth.
The surface of the county is generally undu
lating and, except near the immediate lake
districts, the soil is generally of a loamy na
ture. Now Almost Purely Industrial.
Since the early sixties, Cuyahoga county
has not only largely lost its agricultural char
acter," but has even been transformed from a
commercial district into one which is almost
purely industrial.
In 1880, 184,680 bushels of wheat were pro
duced in Cuyahoga county; 550,108 bushels of
oats and 360,604 bushels of corn. In 1907 the
production of the same grains was as follows :
Wheat, only 132,725 bushels; oats, 349,409
bushels, and corn, 121,670 bushels. Substan
tiaUy, during the same period the population
of the county increased nearly 300 per cent.
Cleveland Virtually the County.
From the best of authorities we learn that
the population of Cleveland was

In 1796

4

" 1800 '

7

" 1810

57

" 1820 (estimated)

150

" 1830

1.075

" 1840

6,071

" 1850

17,034

" i860

43.838

" 1870

92,829

" 1880

160,146

" 1890

261,353

" 1900

381,768

" 1910 (estimated)

500.000

Since the commencement of the Civil war
period, when the character of Cleveland .was
perraanently fixed as industrial, that great city
has virtually absorbed the activities of the en
tire county. The valuation of the property in
the county is about $250,000,000, while the
real estate and personal property outside of
this great raunicipality is placed at about $55,-
000,000. Organization of Cuyahoga County.
By the articles of association adopted by
the Connecticut Land Company,' in 1795, the
Western Reserve was to be surveyed into
townships of 16,000 acres each, one of which
was to be selected as the initial point for set
tlement. Cleveland township was selected for
the latter purpose and the five other townships
to be sold to actual settlers were Euclid,
WHloughby, Mentor, Madison and one on the
Mahoning river. When Trumbull county was
organized in 1800, Cleveland township, then
a part of it, consisted of all the present area of
Cuyahoga county, a part of Geauga and all of
the Western Reserve west of the Cuyahoga.
On Deceraber 31, 1805, the general asserably
of Ohio passed ' an act dividing Trumbull
county and establishing Geauga county. This
territory comprised the western and a part of
the northern limits of Trumbull county and

461

MAP OF
CLEVELAND
SHOWINfi ANNEXATIONS

(Courtesy of S, P. Orth.)

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

463

extended west to the Cuyahoga river and
north to Lake Erie. On January 16, 1810,
Cuyahoga county was fixed as erabracing all
thfe territory now within its liraits east of the
river and including Willoughby township.
There was an earnest dispute over the line
between Cuyahoga and Huron counties in
181 1, and when Medina county was organized
in 1812, the western boundary of Cuyahoga
county was changed. Lorain county was or
ganized in 1824, which created another dis
turbance over the western boundary, and in
1840 and 1841 there were stiH changes of ter
ritory between Geauga, Lake and Cuyahoga
counties, in which Willoughby township was
given to Lake. By this act the present
bounds of this county were fixed.
The Commencement of Cleveland.
General Moses Cleaveland was not the orig
inal discoverer of the importance of the
geographical site of the great city which bears
his name. As early as 1755 there was a French
station within the present limits of Cuyahoga
county, and several years before that time the
mouth of the Cuyahoga river was recognized
by explorers as the natural site for a great
commercial mart.
"As early as 1765," says Harvey Rice, in
one of his addresses before the Early Settlers'
Association of Cuyahoga County, "Benjamin
Franklin, with his usual sagacity, foresaw its
availability, and recommended its occupancy
as a mUitary post. Washington, while vari
ous projects for water communication between
the great northern lakes and Chesapeake Bay
were being considered, suggested the prac
ticability of a route from Lake Erie by way
of the Cuyahoga, Tuscarawas and Muskingum
into the Ohio, as an outlet to the future in
land commerce of the lakes. This route
necessitated a portage near Akron of less than
seven miles, whereby shipipents were to be
transferred from the lakes to the river Ohio ;
thence to ascend its upper tributaries into the
mountains; from whence by another portage
would be reached the navigable rivers falling

into the Atlantic. The commercial importance
of the mouth of the Cuyahoga was thus early
perceived by distinguished men; nevertheless
history gives no reliable information of its
permanent occupancy for trade or commerce
anterior to the year 1786; nor is there any evi
dence that any active raeasures were taken to
carry forward this scheme for opening cora
munication between the lakes and the Atlantic,
and nothing more is heard of it until 1793-4,
when the state of New York proposed to pro
vide an outlet for its lake commerce by clear
ing out and improving the Oswego and Mo
hawk rivers, and then the discussion of the
route by the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers
into the Ohio was revived. We are destitute
of further historical facts concerning either
of these projects from the year 1794 until
1807 — fi-ve years after Ohio was admitted into
the Union as a State. In that year the legisla
ture passed an act authorizing a lottery for the
purpose of raising $12,000 for improving
navigation between Lake Erie and the river
Ohio." The lottery tickets were sold, but
afterward the raoney was refunded and no
drawing ever occurred. Water connection be
tween Lake Erie and the Ohio river therefore
reraained an unsolved problem until the final
completion of the Ohio canal in 1827. The
completion of this undertaking finally fixed
Cleveland's position as a city of national im
portance. The Moravian Missions.
Ten years prior to the coming of the Cleve
land survey party, a band of Moravian mis
sionaries, with a number of their Indian con
verts, arrived from Detroit at the mouth of the
Cuyahoga river in a vessel called the "Macki
naw." They proceeded up the river about ten
miles from the site of the present city of
Cleveland and settled in an abandoned village
of the Ottawas, within the present limits of
Independence township. Although they called
their refuge "Pilgrims' Rest," their stay there
was brief, for in the April following (1786)
they abandoned their temporary settlement for

464

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Huron river and located in what is now Erie
county, at a point which they named New
Salera, near the present site of Milan. Until
1790 the British refused to yield possession of
the country along the shores of the lake west
of the Cuyahoga and even when the surveyors
of the Western Reserve arrived in 1796 their
traders had a house north of the Detroit road
on the future site of Ohio City.
First Fourth of July.
On the 4th of July, 1796, the surveying
party of the Connecticut Land Corapany for
the Western Reserve arrived at Conneaut, or
rather at the mouth of Cuyahoga creek, which
was christened Port Independence. As gen
eral agent of the company, Moses Cleaveland
was in active command of the expedition. His
refined but rugged features, his square and
substantial figure, proclairaed hira to be a nat
ural leader of men. Fortunately, the general
has left on record an account of this historical
celebration of the first Independence day in
the Western Reserve, and also of the appear
ance of the future site of Cleveland, while it
was yet in a state of virgin nature. From a
series of letters unearthed a number of years
ago and from a great mass of correspondence
which had been preserved by Walter H.
Phelps, a descendant of Oliver Phelps, chair
man of the board of trustees of the Connecti
cut Land Corapany, the following are repro
duced, as they came frora the pen of General
Moses Cleaveland, July 5, and August 5, 1796.
The latter, it will be remerabered, was dated
less than two weeks after the landing of the
party upon the site of Cleveland and while
the survey was in active operation :
. Port Independence,
ALIAS Conneaut Creek, July 5, 1796. Sir : —
We sailed from Buffalo creek a week yes
terday, and having head winds and very
heavily loaded, with much perseverance was
able to reach this place yesterday at 6 o'clock
p. m. It being the 4th of July and the sound
of celebration of Independence at Presque Isle
aniraated us to a participation of the general
joy. We gave a Federal salute and one in

honor of the new state of Connecticut, chris
tened the place (Port Independence), drank a
few patriotic toasts and supped and retired in
reasonable order and decency.
There are a number of famihes of the Ma
rengo Indians who reside on this creek. Paqua,
alias Bear, acts as the chief, and his com
panions and I have had an interview and
smoked the pipe of peace. I told them I should
not purchase any right of theirs. I should not
disturb them and would treat them friendly,
and they might improve their land and raise
their corn, and continue to hunt as usual. With
this they appeared to be satisfied, and declare
they will use our people well. They had been
told that we should drive thera off and were
much alarraed. Their fears are now to appear
ance removed. I think we shall receive no
further trouble from them, except begging. If
possible, they are ten tiraes worse than the
Senekas. I am informed there are a few on the
Cuyahoga. I shall in a few days set out and
see them, and I think no fears will creep in the
minds of any. To-m,orrow Mr. Potter and the
other surveyors set out for to take the south
line, and as soon as they have proceeded west
five railes will commence running the ranges.
The appearance of the country at first view
strikes raost agreeably, and I ara not dissatis
fied on further view. I have found people on
here a viewing and anxious to settle.
Through great encourageraent and much
persuasion and pains taken to get settlers on
the Presque Islands, I have received many
appHcations of their settlers- to purchase and
settle here. We raust send back some of our
boats to bring on the provisions left at Fort
Erie. The raen are yet in good health and
spirits. I am with sentiraents of esteem your
raost obedient, Moses Cleaveland.
Progress of the Survey.
Port Independence, 5 Aug., 1796.
Gentlemen : — Since ray last comraunication I
have seen, I believe, all the Indians that reside
on the lands deeded by the existing treaties and
find but few, and have so settled the business
that no fear can possibly be apprehended from
that quarter. Their small possessions wiU do
us no essential injury. It will be a market for
venison and a place to which traders will resort
to purchase their peltries. While they claim not
any title (but resident), I tell them they shaU
not be disturbed ; the tirae will come when they

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

46s

wiU voluntarily quit their possessions. Mr.
Porter and the surveyors are out and have run
the East line and taken the latitude on the
South, which is sixty-eight miles from where it
strikes the lake. The south line is part run,
and they are now trying to take five ranges.
Character of Lands.
Mr. Porter and the surveyors not returning,
I am unable to inform you the quality of the
lands, but am apprehensive (from informa
tion) that the east and northerly parts are low
and flat, though not of the most inferior kind.
The lands on the dividing ridge East and West
more hUly, and of a better quality. On the lake
shore to the Cuyahoga, up that river, as also
up the one called Ashtabula, now IMary Easter,
and the Grand river, I have personally exam
ined, yet not so fully as to determine the width
of the bottoms.
The Mary Easter is about twice as large as
the Conneought. The land excellent, black and
white walnut, sycamore, cypress and hickory,
grapes, hops and crab-apples, plums and white
thorn, etc., etc. The Grand river is about twice
as large as the Mary Easter, and will afford
good navigation for small vessels and boats.
The land on which we went is as good as any I
ever saw in any country. On this river is an
Indian corn, etc., growing luxuriantly. The
Indians were all out on their hunting parties.
The Cuyahoga is navigable for sloops about
eight miles as the river runs, and for boats to
the portage, if the immense quantity of trees
drove down and lodged are cleared out. The
land excellent, the water clear and lively cur
rent, and streams and springs falling into all
three rivers. We went up the Cuyahoga in a
Schenectady boat about twenty-five miles to
the Old Moravian Indian town, and I iraagine
on a meridian line not more than twelve or fif
teen miles. Here the bottoms widen, and, as I
am informed, increase in width, and if possible
in quality. I believe we could have proceeded
further up the river, but found the time allotted
and the provisions inadequate to perform the
whole route. At this place we found a streara
that empties into the river which will make a
good mill seat. The lands on the lake shore in
some places low, here and there a sraall cran
berry pond, not of any great extent, nor dis
covered low drowned lands of any bigness for
twenty or thirty miles on the lake shore.
On the east of the Cuyahoga are clay banks
from twenty to forty feet high, on the top the
land level, covered with chestnut, oak, walnut.
Vol. I— ,30

ash, and some sugar maple. There are but few
hemlocks, and those only on swamp, pond or
lake, and in the immense quantity of flood
wood lodged on the lakes and rivers I rarely
found any of that_wood. The shore west of
the mouth of the Cuyahoga is a steep bank for
ten miles, the quality of the soil I know not,
but from the growth and kind of timber these
present no unfavorable aspect.
I should with great pleasure readily comply
with what I suppose you have heretofore ex
pected that I should leave this country about
this time. I have not as yet been interrupted
in a constant attention to business more than
I could have iraagined, or would have volun
tarily entered into, and I see no prospect of its
lessening at present. Those who are raeanly
envying the corapensation and sitting at their
ease and see their prosperity increasing at the
loss of health, ease and comfort of others, I
wish might exfjerience the hardships but for
one month; if not then satisfied their grum
bling, would give me no pain.
I apprehend the stagnant waters in Lake
Erie (except to the westward) must be of
smaH dimensions. The interior lakes and
ponds, though not included in Livingston's
computation, are, I expect, few and small ; un
less the land bears more to the northwest after
it passes the Cuyahoga than it does this side,
the surplus will not be consequential. I expect
soon to leave this for the westward, and shaH
raake ray residence there untH I am ready to
return to Connecticut. The raen are remark
ably healthy, though without sauce or vege
tables, and in good spirits. I hope they will
continue so. At Presque Isle and parts ad
jacent the people have been and still are very
sickly. I ara, with sentiments of esteem, your
most obedient, Moses Cleaveland.
Biography of General Cleaveland.
As the party which surveyed the original
town of Cleveland made a landing at the
moiith of the Cuyahoga river July 22, 1796,
that date is generally observed by the citizens
of Cleveland as Founders' Day, and in 1888,
the ninety-second anniversary, was unveHed
the beautiful and impressive bronze statue of
General Cleaveland, which now stands on the
public square, surrounded by massive brick
and stone blocks, and grand and impressive
public buildings. After laying out the city.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

467

General Cleaveland returned to his home in
Canterbury, Connecticut, where he died on the
i6th of November, 1806, aged fifty-two years.
The deceased was born in the town of Canter
bury, January 29, 1754, graduating from Yale
College in 1777, and practicing law in his na
tive town for nearly thirty years before he set
foot in the Western Reserve. He was elected
a member of the Connecticut state legislature
several tiraes, and was recognized as a prac
tical statesraan and public man of high char
acter. In 1779, while a young man, he was ap
pointed by the national congress as captain of
a company of sappers and miners in the army
of the United States, but after rendering brief
services in this capacity he resigned and re
turned to the practice of law. In 1796 he was
not only elected general of the state militia
but chosen chief of the staff of surveyors sent
out by the Connecticut Land Company to the
Western Reserve. His landing at the mouth
of the Cuyahoga river prior to commencing
the active work of the survey is thus described
by a speaker oi the present, on Founders' day :
"In attempting to land, he ran his boat
aground araid the bulrushes on the eastern
margin of the river. He now realized, though
not an infant, that he was a 'second Moses'
cradled among the bulrushes. He soon extri
cated himself, however, and ascended the steep
bank of the river, and, on looking about him,
found that he stood upon an elevated plain,
bounded on the west by a ribbon-like river and
on the north by a sea of molten silver. He
probably stood about where we now stand
when he exclaimed : 'Here is the spot where,
in the coming future, will arise a great city. ' "
The First Survey of Cleveland.
Although General Cleaveland was chief of
the party of surveyors which laid out the
Western Reserve and the future site of Cleve
land, the active work was under the direction
of Augustus Porter, assisted by Seth Pease
and Amos Spafford. The area selected for the
founding of the capital of the Western Re
serve contained about 520 acres, and was di

vided into two-acre lots, with reservation for
streets, alleys and public grounds. By the
first of October, 1796, the city map was con
sidered complete, and upon it was written in
fair hand, "City of Cleveland, in honor of the
chief of the surveying party and the general
agent of the Connecticut Land Company for
the Western Reserye." In the spelling of the
city the letter "a," which the general always
used in his narae, was omitted, as was the cus
tom generally followed by other merabers of

SETH PEASE.
the famHy to which General Cleaveland be
longed. Another account for the spelling of the
name, which has been often repeated, is that
a certain eastern newspaper man "found it
convenient to increase the capacity of his iron
frame by reducing the number of letters in
the name of the city." The original streets, as
laid out in the Pease raap, were Miami, Water,
Ontario and Erie, running at right angles to
the lake ; and Superior, Huron, Federal, Lake,'
Ohio and Bath, running paraUel to it Of
course, these early streets were like those of aH
the early towns — laid out for short distance,
sometimes not more than paths, and none of
them of not any great length.
Euclid avenue was surveyed from Huron to
the pubhc square in 181 5. "At first it was not
an important road." Kinsman and Broadway

468

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

were used much raore, but as the city grew
the beauty of this street increased. In the be
ginning it was wet and marshy ; was filled in
with logs and was not graded until 1857, to
the city limits. As houses were built, drain
age extended and trees felled, this road, like
all other roads, dried up.
Kinsman street was naraed after Kinsman
township in TrurabuH county, and got its orig
inal name from the Kinsman family, one of
the raost reliable families of the Western Re
serve. The grandsons of old John Kinsman
now live in Warren and a great-grandson is
the Bishop of Delaware (Episcopal). Kins
man street was changed later to Woodlanrl
avenue. Scovill avenue was naraed from Philo
Scovill. Cleveland Resurveyed.
In 1801 Major Amos Spafford resurveyed
the original plot of Cleve'land and on his raap
he has described the public square as follows :
"The square is laid out at the intersection of
Superior street and Ontario street and con
tains ten acres. The center of the junction of
the two roads is the exact center of the
square." This plot, now known as Monumental park,
was never to be given up to private uses, but,
with the subsequent widening of streets in its
vicinity, it was eventually decreased to about
four acres. As shown by the Pease and Spaf
ford maps, the easterly line of the original
city of Cleveland was the east boundary of
the tier of lots beyond Erie street coinciding
with the present Canfield. ,It began at the
lake and extended southerly one tier of lots
south of High street. The line then ran to
the river ; thence to Vineyard lane ; thence to
the junction of Water and Superior streets;
thence to the river and down that stream to
its mouth. Superior street was one hundred
and thirty-two feet in width and the other
streets ninety-nine. With full confidence in
the future growth of Cleveland, its founder
had directed that the lands immediately beyond
the town proper should be laid out in ten-acre

lots and the rest of the township in one hun
dred acre lots. The territory which would then
be designated as "suburban" was surveyed and
laid out in ten-acre lots during 1797, and ex
tended on the east to the line of what is now
Fifty-fifth street, and on the south to the ridge
along Kingsbury run, extending westerly to
the Cuyahoga river. "The Flats" were not
surveyed into lots, and there was also, an un-
surveyed strip between the ten-acre lots and
the river, near the raouth of Kingsbury run.
South, middle and north highways were laid
out through the suburban lots, being ninety-
nine feet in width to correspond with the city
streets. South highway becarae Kinsman
, street. Middle highway, Euclid avenue, and
North highway, St. Clair.
County Pioneers and Happenings.
Way back between 1783 and 1800 a block
house was built as a trading post by John
Jacob Astor, at the outlet of the old river,
beyond the present location of the water
works, probably at the foot of Waverly street.
Mr. Astor raay have naraed the land lying
west of the Cuyahoga — Brooklyn — in honor of
his own neghboring city.
Job V. Stiles located in Cleveland in 1796
and built a cabin on the ground opposite the
Weddell House on Bank street.
James Kingsbury raised corn in 1797 on an
Indian clearing where the old city hall stands
in Cleveland. He later raoved back on the
Ridge. First hotel ut Cleveland, erected in 1797, by
Lorenzo . Carter, and stood "under the hiU,
about one hundred feet back frora the river
and some three hundred feet northerly from
the present St. Clair street."
Abraham Hickox, the village backsmitii, had
his shop south of the middle of the block be
tween the square and Seneca street. His sign
read : "Uncle Abrara works here."
The first brewery was built "on the Light
House street lot," and the first fire in the com
munity Was when that brewery burned.
Captain Timothy Doane built one of the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

469

early houses. His ¦\yife and babies, accom
panied by his brother Nathaniel, carae with
two horses through the forest path to their
new home. Mrs. Doane rode and carried one
baby; her brother-in-law led a horse with two
other children on it. Mrs. Doane was an un
usual woman of executive ability and industry,
and the baby she carried lived to be an old
man. He remembered how he used to play
with pappooses, who taught him to eat can
dles. At one time either he alone, or accom
panied by his dark-skinned friend, ate up
half of the winter supply. The Doane family

house with ample grounds, corner of Superior
and Seneca streets.
It is supposed that Edward Payne had the
first dry goods store in Cleveland.
The first three-story building on the West
ern Reserve was the Franklin House, which
was built by Philo Scovill in 1826, and the
spot was afterwards used for the erection of
the Scovill building. As this work is going
to press wreckers are demolishing the build
ing located on the west side of West Twenty-
fifth street, near Detroit avenue. In the early
days the Franklin House was the place where

PIONEER FAST STAGE LINE

FRANKLIN HOUSE
r ^ r n \' I 1. 1,,
vi.¥.vY.'!...\;., V). n»\\).

(Courtesy of S. P. Orth.)
STAGE COACH HEADQUAETEES.

rrom OLEVEIiANS to FITTSBOBe,
Leaves dai]y 3( 8 o'clock A. >f., via Bedford. Hudsoa, Ba.
venna, Deerfidd. Salem and New Lisbon, lo WellsviHe,
where they will take tha

WELLSVILLE AND NEW LISBON
TO PITTSBURC.
TbToagli in 30 hoars from Cloveland,
Being the shortest route between the tw.Q cities, and afford.
ing a pleasant trip through a nourishing part of Ohio, ou a
good road, and in better (loaches than any line running to
said place.
The above line is connected with the
eood Intent Fast Mail Stage,
AND
Pioneer Packet & R.til-Ro.id Linc«,
For Philadelphia, Nea.Tork, Batiimore and WashingUm
City, in which passengers travelling in tho above line have
the preference.
Officb in Mr. Kellogg's new building, opposite the
Pmnkhn-House, No. 36 Superior-Street, under the Ameri.
can House. J. R. CUNNINGHAM, Agent.
Cleveland, July, 1837.

was identified with aH the early history of
Cleveland and is probably as well remembered
by posterity as any other family. Great balls
were held at Seth Doane's tavern and people
were turned out of the church for dancing, be
ing taken back when they said they were sorry.
Mrs. W. A. Ingham in 1893 says: "In
18 10 there were but three frame dwellings
here and five or six log houses," and in 1812
Mrs. Long relates that the public square was
only partly cleared and had in it many stumps
and bushes. In 1831 Dr. Long buih a stone

many famous personages who passed through
Cleveland by coach stayed over night.
John Jacob Astor, who had the first trading
post with the Indians in Cleveland, made it a
regular stopping place. His house, the oldest
in Cleveland, stands on West Twenty-eighth
street, near Detroit avenue.
In 1 8 10 wolves' skins brought a dollar.
Men had to pay six cents to be ferried across
the river ; loaded wagons fifty, empty twenty-
five. A person running a ferry paid four dol
lars license, and a tavern Hcense was the same.

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I Courtesy of S. P. Orth.)

FIEST SUEVETS OF CLEVELAND (Amos Spafford Map, 1796).
Original with "Western Eeserve Historical Society.
Refebences : A, Lower Landing. B, "Opper Landing. C, Public Square (ten acres).
D, Mouth of Elver. BE, Lake Erie.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

471

Sarah Mcllrath Shaw, an early Cuyahoga
county settler, was very much interested in
her church and her husband was interested
in the schools. They had no children, al
though they brought up and educated many.
Three of these were Indians who became mis
sionaries. At one time Mrs. Shaw wanted
some money for her church and her husband
told her if she would drink sage tea instead
of real teas for a year he would give it to
her. This she did.
What a lesson is here ! First, that when a
woman did at least half the work she was
not entitled to any money, but it was given
to her. Second, that any woman would have
the courage to give up the things she liked
the best, namely tea, in order to help her
church. No one would have thought of ask
ing Mr. Shaw to give up his grog, and prob
ably his tobacco, for the schools he dearly
loved. The town of Olmstead was originally called
Kingston and then Lenox. In 1829 Charles
H. Olmstead, who owned land in the northern
part of the township, offered to make the peo
ple a present of a library if they would change
Lenox to Olrastead. This they did.
The first frame house built in Olmstead
was raised by the daughters of Lemuel Hoad
ley. The house was building when the father
and mother went away for the day and the
daughters, Maria and- Eunice, thought it
would be nice to have the framework raised
when the parents returned. They caHed the
assistance of a neighbor, Mrs. Scales, and the
three completed the work.
Among a party of Connecticut people
who came to Middleburg, walking from Buf
falo, was Mrs. Bela Bronson, who carried a
chHd in her arms part of the way. This child
was Shalock and afterward he became a
clergyman in the Presbyterian church and
president of Kenyon CoHege.
The first Bible class taught in Middleburg
was Mary Baldwin's. From chHdhood she
was interested in education and saved by
teaching enough money to go to college. This,

however, she loaned a young raan, whora she
married and together they came West. To
gether with him she founded the Baldwin
University. She lived to be ninety- four years.
_ It is recorded of Alice Brockway Roggers,
of Chagrin Falls, for twenty years she never
left her own door yard. She lived to be
ninety-five years old.
Cleveland a Port of Entry.
The next really important event which had
a bearing upon the future standing and
growth of Cleveland was its designation, in
1805, as a port of entry for the custoras dis
trict of the Western Reserve. In March,
1799, congress had divided the Northwest
territory into customs collection districts, that
of Erie including the shores of the lake from
the Pennsylvania line to the Mawmee river,
the port of entry for which was ordered to be
established near Sandusky. In 1805 this dis
trict was divided, its western boundary being
the Verraillion river. The president was au
thorized to proclaim a port of entry for the
new district, which he did by designating
Cleveland. On the 17th of January, 1806,
Judge John Walworth was coraraissioned col
lector. In 1805 a postoffice was also estab
lished in Cleveland and Elisha Norton was
appointed postmaster.
Newburg the Healthier Place.
In the meantirae the surveys had been
progressing in other portions of the territory
now embraced in Cuyahoga county. In fact,
Newburg had been allotted in 1796 and Bed
ford and Warrensville in the following year
In Nev/burg, it will be reraembered, was to
be raised up within the succeeding few years,
one of Cleveland's raost threatening rivals.
During the progress of the survey it devel
oped that the country near the mouth of the
Cuyahoga river was especially subject to raa-
larial fevers, and this fact occasioned for sorae
time a migration to the district further south,
in which moveraent Newburg derived consid
erable benefits. During the initial year of the

472

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

survey, three raembers of the party died of
malarial fever, but the season's work was done
and a boatload of fourteen weak, sick and dis
couraged men left Cleveland for their Con
necticut homes. Yet the geographical and
commercial advantages of Cleveland's location
overcame all such minor drawbacks, and even
tually Newburg and Brooklyn, or the "City
of Ohio," were absorbed into the body-politic
of the more vigorous municipality.
Founding of Industries.
Prior to the establishraent of Cleveland as

for the manufacture of spirits. This father
of Cleveland's treraendous industrial life had
a daily capacity of but two quarts.
In 1808 Cleveland's great shipbuilding in
dustries originated in the person of Lorenzo
Carter, who built the schooner, "Zephyr," of
thirty tons, and somewhat later Joel Thorpe
launched the "Salh'," of about equal tonnage.
A more pretentious schooner of sixty tons
was built in 18 14 by Levi Johnston, and
christened the "Pilot." It is related that twelve
yoke of oxen were required to drag the craft
from the boat-yard to the river, half a mile

FIEST COURT HOUSE.

a port of entry, little progress had been raade
toward the establishraent of industries in Cuy
ahoga county. The original plant was the
grist and saw raill erected by Wheeler W.
Williams on Mill creek in the town of New
burg. The latter passed into the hands of
Judge (afterward governor) Samuel Hunting
ton. Cleveland, however, was not far behind
its rival, for in 1801 David Bryant erected
a log building near the foot of Lakeside
avenue, and there set up a sraall copper still

away. Afterward, for half a century, ship
building held, perhaps, the leading place
E^mong the industries of Cleveland.
Chagrin had the first mill stones for grind
ing corn in Cuyahoga county. They were
made in 1815. First Court House.
As stated. Cuyahoga county was created
in 1810 with Cleveland as the county seat,
its first court house being a temporary build-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

473

ing on the north side of Superior street. It
was built by Levi Johnston in 1813, was two
stories high and stood where the old fountain
in the PubHc Square was. "At the west end,
lower story, was the jail, with debtors" and
criminals' cells grated windows in front; east
end, upper story, the court room. At the
landing of the inside staircase a fireplace, sizz
ling with green oak wood, feebly struggled to
warm the institution. This was the assembly
room for every description of meetings, until
the Acaderay was built."
On June 15 of that year the first court of
record of Cuyahoga county was held, with
Judge Ruggles president, John Walworth be
ing clerk of court, and S. S. Baldwin sheriff.
Peter Hitchcock, who was appointed prosecut
ing attorney, received fifteen dollars for that
term's work.
It was on the Public Square, on which stood
the old log court hovise, that the Indian Omic
was hung for the murder of two white men
near Sandusky. Major Carter had charge
of the execution, the dusky victim of the law
begging to be shot rather than hung, but, as
the trial had been according to the civil law,
its sentence had to be executed in the usual
way. Omic was somewhat coraforted by be
ing furnished with a pint of whisky just be
fore his execution.
Cleveland Hears Perry's Guns.
It was while the log court house was still
in a somewhat unfinished condition that the
people of Cleveland became aware of the his
torical engagement on Lake Erie, under "Com
modore Perry. It is related that the morn
ing of September 10, 181 3, was sunny and
clear. Contractor Johnston was at work on
his building, but suddenly hearing distant
noises like thunder, threw dpwn his tools to
consider the' matter. Suddenly the thought
came to him like a flash ; he shouted to those
around him : "It's Perry fighting the British."
With one accord the news spread through
the little' settlement. Cleveland discontinued
its work, both industrial and doraestic, and its

populace in a mass hurried to the banks of the
lake. As it afterwards transpired, the great
battle was seventy railes away, northwest of
Sandusky, in Put-in Bay, but the clear air
bore the thunders of the cannonade even
down to Erie, over 150 miles distant. Perry's
guns were known by their deep notes, and the
anxious people assembled on the lake shore
waited for them to tell the tale of the distant
fight. The noise of the British guns soon
filled up the harmony of the battle, but at
length they died out one by one and only the
bass notes of Perry's cannonade could be
heard. It is said that at this point, when
the Americans were confident that victory was
with the national arms, the joy of the waiting
Clevelanders was alraost transformed into
hysteria. Cleveland a Village.
On the 15th of October, 1814, the town
ship of Newburg was organized, and em
braced within its limits the residences of such
iraportant citizens as Thoraas Kingsbury,
Erastus Miller and Rudolphus Edwards. It
has been already stated that at Newburg were
established the first raills in the county, and.
in fact, for a considerable period its superior
water power enabled the locaHty to lead Cleve
land both in actual iraportance and in future
prospects. Indeed, for not a few years Cleve
land was described as "the town on the lake,
six miles from Newburg" ; but Cleveland's ad
vantages as a port of entry and the county
seat soon had its effect, and on the 23rd of
Deceraber, 1814, an act was passed by the gen
eral asserably to take effect on the first Mon
day of June following, by which the village
of Cleveland was incorporated. The boun
daries of the new village were described as
"so much of the city plat of Cleveland as
lies northwardly of Huron street and west-
wardly of Erie street, as originally laid out
by the Connecticut Land Corapany." In pur
suance of this act, on the first ' Monday of
June, 1815, twelve of the inhabitants of that
village (its entire voting strength) met and

(Courtesy of S. J. Orth.)
Refebences ¦ Buildings in 1814. Buildings of an eiirller date, o, Fort Huntington, 1818. 1), Trading-house of -1786. c. Carter's flrst
cabin 1796 d Job P. Stiles's flrst cabin, 1796. e. Surveyor's flrst cabin, 1796. f. Surveyor's cabin on tjie hill, 1797. s". Cemetery lot,
I7q7' h .Tail and court-house. 1812. i, Kingsbury's flrst cabin, 1797. k, Carter's house on the hill, 1803. The different positions of.the
Shore lines are shown by the d^tes of the surveys: 1796, 1801, 1812, 1827, 1831, 1840, 1842, 1846, 1857.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

47S

unanimously elected Alfred Kelley as presi
dent ; Horace Perry, recorder ; Alonzo Carter,
treasurer; John A. KeHey, marshal; George
WaHace and John Riddle, assessors, and Sam
uel Williamson, David Long and Nathan
Perry, trustees.
Some of the Real Pioneers.
When the surveying party returned to their
homes in the east, it is said, there were only
three white persons left on the Western Re
serve — ^Joseph Langdon and Mr. and Mrs.
Job StHes. Mr. Langdon himself left soon
afterward, but his place was taken by Edward
Paine, who boarded in the Stiles family and
afterward became widely known as General
Paine, the founder of PainesvHle.
The year 1797 brought an accession of at
least four Cleveland pioneers who helped to
make the early history of the place. Perhaps
the most important of the arrivals of this
year was major Lorenzo Carter, a native of
Rutland, Vermont, and a thorough and warm
hearted pioneer. Early in this year also came
Elijah Gunn and Judge Kingsbury, from
Conneaut,^ and later in the yeai , Nathaniel
Doane and Rudolphus Edwards. In Janu
ary, 1799, Mr. Doane moved to the "Cor
ners," which bears his narae, and from that
time until April, 1800, Major Carter's was
the only white family in Cleveland.
In 1801 Samuel Huntington, a nephew of
Governor Huntington, of Connecticut, then a
lawyer of about thirty-five, settled in Cleve
land. He was a member of the first consti
tutional convention of Ohio; the first state
senator of the county; judge of the Supreme
Court in 1803 and governor in 1808. He
afterward made Painesville his perraanent
home, when he died in 1817. When he located
at Cleveland he resided in a block house on
Superior street, which then stood on the site
of the "American House." Judge Hunting
ton's house was made of hewn logs, with
sawed flooring and doors and was then consid
ered the height of domestic architecture.

[There are many interesting facts to be found
in regard to him in the early chapters of the
general history and in the sketch of Lake
county. ]
Lorenzo Carter, not to be outdone in the
building line, soon after erected the first frame
house in town. In 1802 the first school house-
was opened at Mr. Carter's residence, thaL
gentleman atso being licensed by the court as a
hotel keeper.
Several years afterward. Judge Hunting
ton and a nuraber of other citizens of Cleve
land removed to the vicinity of Newburg on
Mill creek, as that locality was not only busy
as an industrial section, but was considered
more healthful than the little settlement at
the mouth of the Cuyahoga river; but Major
Carter continued faithful to his first love, re
mained at Cleveland, and in 1810 built a ware
house at the raouth of the river and other
wise added to the improvements of the place.
During the war period from 1812 to 181 5,
however, little progress was made in the city,.
the nuraber of buildings in the latter year
being only thirty-four.
Beginning of Public Schools.
The year 1817 was an iraportant one in the
early history of the village of Cleveland, as-
it raarked the coraraenceraent of its public
school systera. In that year the viHage coun
cil passed an ordinance to reimburse twenty-
five citizens who had subscribed $198 toward
the building of a public school.
In 1817, also, the era of log warehouses-
ceased. Leonard Case and Captain WiHiam
Gaylord buHt a large frame edifice for the-
purpose, on the river north of St. Clair street.
During the previous year the Comraercial
Bank of Lake Erie, had been opened, which,
although it closed in 1819, was afterwards
placed upon its feet and greatly flourished.
On the 23rd of April of this year "Walk-
in-the-Water," the first steamboat to navigate
the waters of the Great Lakes, entered the
harbor of Cleveland.

JAMES KINGSBUEY.

'UNCLE" ABEAM HICKOa.

LOEENZO CAETEE. MRS. LOEENZO CAETEE.
FOITE SPLENDID PIONEEES.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

477

Press and Churches Arrive.
The Cleveland Gazette and Commercial
Register, the pioneer of the local press, made
its first appearance July 31, 1818, and in
1820 the city commenced to take its place
as a transportation center by establishing a
stage line to Columbus, with a branch to Nor
walk. Afterward connections were established
with Pittsburg and Buffalo, and for thirty
years this system of passenger travel flour
ished, the transportation of freight, of course,
being conducted through the Ohio Canal and
the lake marine.
About the year 1820 the first church organi
zations of Cleveland commenced to take shape,
the first meetings of the early societies being
generally held in the old log court house. The
upper, or second story, of that buHding was
the court room, and here the Episcopalians
held their first raeetings, before Trinity church
was built on the corner of Seneca and St.
Clair streets. About the same tirae the Pres
byterians and Baptists coraraenced to hold
meetings in the old acaderay building, which
stood upon the site of engine house No. i.
In 1826 the enterprising raen of Cleveland
concluded that a better court house was a pub
lic necessity. Under the general supervision
of H. L. Noble and George C. Hills, work
upon the building was coraraenced in the
spring of 1827, but its completion was consid
erably delayed by the very sickly season of
1827 and 1828.Opening of Ohio Canal.
It was on the 7th of July, 1827, that the
Ohio Canal was formally opened — that enter
prise which did so rauch to establish the city
commercially. Upon the occasion of the com
mencement of the canal undei;taking the citi
zens of Cleveland had the honor and pleasure
of greeting Governor Clinton, the great father
of the New York canal system. It was the
building of the Erie Canal through New York
state which had stimulated the people of Ohio
to undertake the building of the canal which
connected the waters of the lakes with those

of the Ohio river. It was chiefly through the
efforts of Alfred Kelley that the northern ter
minus of the canal was located at Cleveland.
The first work was done on the Licking
Sumrait, about three miles west of Newark,
on the Fourth of July, 1825, and Governor
Clinton dug the first shovelful of earth which
marked the practical commencement of the
canal. The New York executive arrived at
Cleveland on the 3rd of July, saHing into the
harbor on the steamer "Superior." As the
steamer could not make the harbor with safety,
it was anchored in the outer waters, where
the commander ordered a yawl to take the
distinguished governor and his aides ashore.
There were also present in the New York
party Messrs. Rathborn and Lord, who had
loaned the people of Ohio the money with
which to commence the canal, as well as Judge
Conkling of the United States district court.
The boat was rowed up the river, with the
stars and stripes waving over it. It landed
at the foot of Superior street, where the recep
tion coramittee and raany citizens were gath
ered, who, with Governor Clinton and his
distinguished friends, were escorted to the
Mansion house, where they were addressed
by Judge Samuel Cowles, who had been se
lected for that purpose. In his eloquent reply
Governor Clinton said that "when our canals ,
were raade, even if they had cost five miHion
dollars, they would be worth three times that
sum; that the increased price of our produc
tions, in twenty years would be worth five
millions of dollars ; that the money saved on
the transportation of goods to our people dur
ing the same period would be five millions of
dollars, and that the canals would finally pay
their tolls and refund their entire cost, prin
cipal and interest."
Clinton's Departure from Cleveland.
De Witt Clinton is described by an eye wit
ness to his reception as a man of most majes
tic person : "In his person, large and robust ;
his forehead high and broad ; his hair black
and curly ; his eyes large, black and brilliant — ¦

478

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and, take him all in aH, he looked as though
he was born to command." The eye witness
referred to, George B. Merwin, further de
scribes the departure of Governor Clinton and
his party frora Cleveland in the foHowing
graphic style : "As the weather was very
warm and the distance to Licking county about
one hundred and fifty miles, it was thought
best to get an early start in the morning and
take breakfast at Mother Parker's, who kept a
tavern at the foot of Tinker's creek hill, about
one and a half miles down the creek west of
Bedford. She was a black-eyed, steel-trap
style of a Vermont woman, and a good cook.
Half an hour after daylight an extra stage
carae and the party left."
"A sraall swivel, used for celebrations, had
been left at some former occasion on the brow
of the hill on the west side of Vineyard lane,
now called South Water street. My father
woke up the late Orlando Cutter — his store
was where the Atwater block stands — and got
sorae powder, and when the stage got a few
rods up Superior street, gave the party a
parting salute ; then, mounting his horse, he
soon passed the stage and rode on to give
Mrs. Parker inforraation who was coraing,
and that she must prepare a good breakfast.
He also inquired where her husband, Cordee,
was, and if he had taken his bitters, of which
the jolly old fellow was very fond. She said
-he was out at the barn, where ray father found
him with as heavy a load as his buckskin
l)reeches could waddle under. My father
quietly picked the old fellow up and took him
in the granary, returned to the house and
assisted in getting the breakfast, by grinding
and making the coffee, while Mother Parker
fried the hara and eggs and raade some bis
cuits. The party sat down and did justice
to the fare set before them, as my father
said. Such was the manner and style of the
reception and departure of Governor Clinton
and his distinguished friends in Cleveland."
The corapletion of the canal was enthu-
-siastically celebrated both in Cleveland and

Akron, but this general rejoicing was fol
lowed by a long season of depression and
gloora, caused by the epidemics of typhoid
fever and malaria the following summer and
autumn. This public calamity was supposed
to be occasioned by the digging of the canal
basin and the result was not only a widespread
depression of spirits, but an absolute stag
nation of business for several months. It
was raany years before the horrors of this
season were even partially forgotten by the
early settlers of Cuyahoga county.
Cle\'elakd Continues to Grow.
The population of Cleveland at the time of
the completion of the Ohio canal was about
500, and two years afterward, on the 31st
of Deceraber, 1829, the legislature passed an
act extending the village boundaries and add
ing to the original town the land lying on the
river from the southerly line of Huron street,
down streara to a point just west of the junc
tion of Vineyard lane with the road leading
to Brooklyn, thence west to the river and
down the river to the old village line. In
1834 those boundaries were further extended
by adding sraall tracts east of Erie street
and south of Ohio.
Cholera Epidemics.
Chicago and Cleveland were most seriously
affected by the epidemics of cholera which
visited several of the lake ports in 1832. The
farnous Blackhawk war was then raging in the
territory which is now called Wisconsin and,
in Northern IHinois to the Mississippi river,
the garrison at Chicago had been massacred,
and, about June of that year. General Winfield
Scott was ordered to gather all the troops
available in the eastern forts and start in all
haste to the relief of Chicago, or Fort Dear
born. He embarked with a full load of sol
diers on the steamer "Henry Clay," with Cap
tain Norton in command. By the time the
boat arrived at Gratiot at the port of Lake
Huron, it became apparent that it would be

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

479

impossible to reach Chicago by water. Gen
eral Scott therefore landed his men, who were
in good physical condition, and sent the "Clay"
back to Buffalo. Reception of T\\'o Cities.
Captain Norton started down the river with
his sick soldiers, but when he atterapted to
obtain food and raedicine at Detroit, he found
the dock covered with armed men and cannon.

¦pier on the west bank of the river with a
flag of distress flying frora his masthead.
The citizens of Cleveland had already been
informed of the Detroit incident and knew
that their day of trial and danger had corae,
but, instead of repelling the unwelcorae vis
itors at the mouth of the cannon, the trustees
of the village met immediately and deter-
inined that everything should be done, not only
to aid the cholera suft'erers, but to protect their

CLEVELAND IN 1833, FEOM THE COUETHOUSB LOOKING WEST.

and was obliged to proceed on his way to
Buffalo. Before the steamer arrived off the
port at Cleveland half a dozen men had died
of cholera and had been thrown overboard,
whHe others were seriously ill. As it was
evident to the captain that he would not
have enough men left to navigate the vessel
to Buffalo, he steamed for Cleveland, and
early in the morning of June lo, tied fast to a

own citizens. A quarantine was estabhshed
and a hospital provided for strangers who
carae into the village, victiras of the disease.
In spite of aH these precautions the scourge
came, and for sorae tirae was quite destructive.
In three or four days after the "Henry Clay"
had been thoroughly fumigated, she left for
Buffalo. In the meantime the disease had
appeared in several scattered localities of the

48o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

city, its victims not having been exposed to.
those suffering frora the epideraic on ship
board. Just how many persons of the vil
lage were attacked is not known, but within
¦ a fortnight, when the disease was most viru
lent, sorae fifty or sixty fatal cases were re
ported. About the raiddle of October a cold
rain storm occurred, and soon afterward a
second cholera epidemic broke out raost un
expectedly. Fourteen raen were seized and aH
died within three days. No explanation could
be given as to the origin of this second out
break, and there were only surraises as to
the cause of the first epideraic. In 1834 Cleve
land suffered another visitation of cholera and
sorae deaths occurred in consequence. Al
though there was no concerted action on the
part of Cleveland's citizens to repel the "Henry
Clay," it is known that not a few excited peo
ple during the first epideraic of 1832 guarded
the shores of the lake both east and west,
armed with muskets, and with cannon planted
at various points, to prevent the landing of
any suspected vessels.
Incorporated as a City.
In March, 1836, an act was passed which
incorporated the city of Cleveland. This 6th
day of March, 1836, notwithstanding it
brought this honor to Cleveland, was not with
out its feature of humiliation ; for its old-time
rival, Brooklyn, under the high sounding nam.e
of the "City of Ohio," succeeded in attaining
municipal incorporation three days previous to^
the realization of this ambition by Cleveland.
Thus the City of Ohio becarae a full-fledged
municipality March 3, 1836, while Cleveland
yet remained a village.
As provided in the latter's act of incorpora
tion, the village council of Cleveland ordered
an election of oflicers for the new city, to be
held on the 15th of April, 1836, and after a
spirited canvass and the casting of 580 votes,
the following ticket was declared elected:
John W. Willey, raayor; Richard Hilliard,
Nicholas Dockstader and Joshua MHls, alder
men; Morris Hepburn, John R. St. John,

WiHiam V. Cra-vv, Sherlock J. Andrews, Henry
L. Noble, Edward Baldwin, Aaron T. Strick
land, Horace Canfield and Archibald M. T.
Smith, councilmen.
The city had been divided into three wards,
the voting place for the first being in the court
house; that of the second, in the lower part
of the "Old Stone" church, at the corner of
the public square and Ontario street, and that
of the third ward in the old academy on St.
Clair street. Thus, as has been rather quaintly
observed, the law, gospel and education fig
ured prominently in the first election of the
City of Cleveland. At the first meeting of

JOHN W. "WILLEY.
the city council, which was held in the court
house, April 15, 1836, Sherlock J. Andrews
was elected president of the council and Hen
ry B.. Paine, city clerk and city solicitor.
First Mayor of Cleveland.
John W. Willey, Cleveland's first mayor,
at the time he thus assuraed honors as the
head of the municipality, was thirty-nine year,";
of age. He is described as a man of fine
appearance, of slender build, with a keen
mind and much eloquence, both natural and
U-ained. In view c f his ability and his profes
sion, he was largely instrumental in framing
the constitution and by-laws of the future

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

481

metropolis. Piis duties were, in fact, both
strenuous and varied. He was obliged to sign
aH coraraissions, leases and permits, and also
to try all criminal cases. In the latter line
he assumed the usual duties of a justice of the
peace, his remuneration being the fees which
attached to his oflice. Mayor Willey was re
elected as mayor in 1837 by a very large
majority, and he died June, 1841, while he was
holding the position of presiding judge of the
Fourteenth District.

lake bank frora caving and sliding, and as a
raeans of remuneration allowing them to build
wharves and piers along the shore. It is not
known that anything definite was done under
this act, but afterward the city employed Col.
Charles Whittlesey, at a large expense, to pile
certain portions of the lake front. Afterward
when the railroads were built they continued
this system of piling.
Shipping Interests (1837).
It is a matter of record that at this tirae

Sjit''i;x>iiiiL;_r'£j TpHiEiiL

HAEBOE (from West Side of Eiver) IN 1849.
Shows government pier, side- wheel steamer ' ' Empire State, ' ' light-house and
the Point; vrinding roadway leading to top of light-house
hill. Light House street.

First Harbor Improvements.
Cleveland had already raade decided ad
vances in its shipping interests and had also
commenced the perraanent improvement of
its river channel and harbor. The former had
been inaugurated on a small scale by the gen
eral government as early as 1827, and the
first legislation introduced into the city council,
designed to protect the harbor, occurred in
January, 1837, when an ordinance was intro
duced providing for its log breakwater. An
act was passed incorporating the Lake Shore
Company and authorizing them to protect the

(1837) Cleveland's arrivals of lake marine, in
cluding sloops, schooners and brigs, numbered
about 907, and the steamboats carrying both
freight and passengers, 990. In 1837 com
menced a short era of hard tiraes, and frora
that year until 1840 there was really no in
crease in its population.
In November, 1839, Cleveland also received
a set-back in its first destructive fire — which
consuraed Outhwaite's soap factory and other
important plants of that day. It was, in fact,
the first fire which destroyed any considerable
section of its manufacturing districts.

Vol. 1—31

482

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Industrial and Commercial Revival.
By 1840, when the population of the city
was over 6,000, Cleveland began to revive
from the effects of the' panic, fire and all other
untoward influences. New iron institutions
were established, shipbuilding showed a
marked improveraent, and in 1845 ^ decided
impetus was given to her comraerce by the
opening up of the famous Brier Hill coal
mines in Mahoning county. In the previous
year also the Lake Superior region of iron
ore was first discovered, from a comraercial
standpoint. Thus two of Cleveland's main
sources of coraraercial importance and prog
ress were first tapped, and to this day the
receipts of iron ore' from the regions of the
northwest, and the shipment of coal from the
fields of the central west, constitute perhaps
her main clairas to coraraercial greatness.
First Telegraph Office.
On Septeraber 15, 1847, the Lake Erie Tele
graph Company was perraitted to run its wires
through the city of Cleveland, and on Sep
teraber 15, of that year, its first telegraph office
was opened. Pioneer Railways.
It was not until 1850, when the city's pop
ulation was soraething over 17,000, that the
first successful railroad was placed in opera
tion. On March 16, of that year, its city offi
cials enjoyed a ride over the first completed
section of the Cleveland, Colurabus and Cin
cinnati Railroad. Fifteen miles were covered
in twenty-seven minutes, and, very appropri
ately, the locomotive which drew the car con
taining the distinguished guests was named the
"Cleveland." A banquet at the city's leading-
hotel followed this historic trip, and during
the festivities it was pleasantly remarked that
the locomotive referred to, was the only "mo
tive" that could induce a man to leave Cleve
land. It must not be inferred that efforts had
not previously been made to establish rail
ways in Cuyahoga county. As early as 1834

the raatter had been so earnestly agitated that
the Cleveland & Newburg raHroad was finally
built. This "iron way" consisted of but four
miles of strap-rails, connecting the Cleveland
public square with a stone quarry in Newburg
township, and, after being used nearly four
years, was abandoned. About the same time
the legislature incorporated six other railway
companies, only one of which, the Ohio Rail
road, succeeded in accomplishing any building.
This line was built on piles and was therefore
known as the "stilt road," but after being
partially constructed westward from Ohio
City, the constructing and operating company
corapletely collapsed, leaving behind only
heavy liabilities and an opposing array of rot
ten piles.
With the completion of the Cleveland, Co
lumbus and Cincinnati railroad, in 1850, and
the opening to traffic and travel of the Cleve
land, Painesville and Ashtabula railroad, in
1852, the modern transportation facilities of
the city were firraly established, and from that
time raay be said to date the municipality of
today. Absorbs Ohio City.
In the formation of the city of Cleveland,
as we know it today, the first great accession
of territory was caused by its absorption of
its old rival, Ohio City. This event occurred
in 1854, the terms of annexation being signed
on June Sth of that year. H. V. WHson and
Franklin F. Bacchus were the representatives
of Cleveland and WiHiam B. Casfle and
Charles L. Rhodes, of the City of Ohio. The
latter raunicipality passed the required ordi
nance on the 5th, and the city of Cleveland
carried a similar ordinance through its coun
cil on the foHowing day. The public debt of
the City of Ohio was assumed by Cleveland,
with the exception of its liability for bonds
issued to pay its subscription to the Junction
Railroad Company. The city of Cleveland
had previously subscribed to the stock of a
number of railroads and, according to the pro
visions of the agreement between it and the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

483

City of Ohio, the new corporation was author
ized to expend the money it might realize from
this source in the improvement of public parks
or for other pubhc purposes. Cleveland raised
a large surplus from the sale of its land north
of Bath street, on the lake shore, to furnish
the right-of-way for the early radroads which
entered the city. The income from these
sources created a fund of ahout $1,700,000,
and in 1862 the legislature passed an act call
ing into existence a board of commissioners
to take charge of this fund. This is one of
the extremely rare instances in the civic his
tory of the United States where a city has
derived permanent financial advantages from
its railroad investments.
Territorial Expansion of City.
The new city increased quite rapidly frora
1854 to i860, the census of the latter year
showing a population of 43,838. The terri
torial annexation of Cleveland, after its ab
sorption of Ohio City, commenced in Febru
ary, 1864, when a portion of Brooklyn lying
north of Walworth run was brought into the
corporation, and three years thereafter
another portion of Brooklyn, as well as a
part of Newburg township, was annexed.
This addition of corporate territory extended
the line of the city westwardly to the old lim
its of the City of Ohio on the lake shore, and
embraced a large tract of land south of the
latter. In December, 1869, another large section
of Newburg township was annexed, but the
population of Cleveland was not materially
increased thereby, the chief stimulus to the
city being to its industries. The general cen
sus of 1870 indicated a population of 92,829,
and in 1872 a portion of the viHage of East
Cleveland, and further additions from the
townships of Brooklyn and Newburg were
made to the growing population. In the fol
lowing year a large part of the remaining
portion of Newburg township was annexed,
thereby extending the city limits beyond the

crossing of the old Newburg raHroad and
the Cleveland and Pittsburg line.
By December, 1873, the entire vHlage of
Newburg had been absorbed by Cleveland.
On June 27, 1892, the remaining territory of
East Cleveland was annexed to the city, and
on March 5, 1895, West Cleveland also lost
its identity as a village. In the same year,
April 30, Brooklyn vHlage was absorbed. In
December, 1903, the village of Linndale be
came a part of the city of Cleveland, and in
1905 the remaining territory from Newburg
township and the village of South Brooklyn
were absorbed, thus corapleting the present
raunicipal boundaries toward the south. In
the same year the viHage of Glenville, located
on the shores of the lake toward the northeast,
voted to becorae a portion of the great corpo
ration, and in 1910 the last addition to Cleve
land's territory was raade, when the beauti
ful suburb of Cbllinwood was absorbed.
By this last annexation, four square miles
were added to the area of Cleveland, and her
educational strength was increased by the
addition of one fine high school and four
gramraar schools. It is probable that the next
addition of territory will be the remainder
of East Cleveland toward the northeast and
the suburb of Lakewood toward the northwest.
Although there is eonsiderable local opposi
tion on the part of these suburbs toward an
nexation, it is likely that the rapid growth
of the greater city and the logic of events will
bring about their absorption.
Increase in Population.
The census of 1880 -showed that Cleveland
had a population of 160,146. Its population,
in 1890, was 261,353, and 381,768 in 1900.
In 1909 the estimate raade by the census bu
reau was 506,938. As the p>opulation of Cleve
land has increased on an average of 10,000
annually, during the last four years, it is safe
to say that at present there are nearly 520,000
people within its forty-two square railes of
territory.

484

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

U. S. Senators from the County.
Men who have served Ohio as United States
senators frora Cuyahoga county are Stanley
Griswold, Henry B. Payne, Marcus A. Hanna
and Theodore E. Burton.
Congressional Representatives.
Those who have represented this district in
Congress are as below :
1803-1812, Jereraiah Morrow, Warren
county. 1813-1814, John S. Edwards; died before
taking seat ; TrurabuH county.
1813-1814, Rezin Beall, Wayne county.
1813-1814, David Clendenen, TrurabuH
county. 1815-1816, David Clendenen, TrurabuH
county. 1817-1818, Peter Hitchcock, Geauga county.
1819-1822, John Sloan, Wayne county.
1 823- 1 833, Elisha Whittlesey, Trumbull
county. 1833-1836, Jonathan Sloan, Portage county.
1837-1840, John W. AHen, Cuyahoga
county. 1841-1842, Sherlock J. Andrews, Cuyahoga
county. 1843-1853, Joshua R. Giddings, Ashtabula
county. 1853-1860, Edward Wade, Cuyahoga
county. 1861-1862, Albert G. Riddle, Cuyahoga
county. 1863-1868, Rufus P. Spaulding, Cuyahoga
county. 1869-1872, Wm. H. Upson, Sumrait county.
1873-1875, Richard C. Parsons, Cuyahoga
county. 1875-1876, Henry B. Payne, Cuyahoga
county. 1877-1882, Amos Townsend, Cuyahoga
county. 1 883- 1 888, Martin Foran, Cuyahoga county.
1889-1890, Theodore E. Burton, Cuyahoga
county. 1890-1892, Tom L. Johnson, Cuyahoga
county.

1 893- 1 894, Tora L. Johnson, Cuyahoga
county. .
1895-1909, Theodore E. Burton, Cuyahoga
county. 1909- Jaraes Cassidy, Cuyahoga county.
Public Schools Systematized.
The coramencement of popular education
in the city of Cleveland has already been
briefly mentioned, but her schools, like those
of other cities in Ohio, were not really sys
tematized until the adoption of the constitution
of 1851. The grand work of the system was,
however, laid in the early thirties, chiefly
through the exertion and abilities of John "W.
Willey, afterward raayor of Cleveland, and
Harvey Rice, the latter of whora lived to see
the public schools of his city and state placed
on a broad and enduring basis.
In 1830-31 Mr. Willey was a raeraber of
the Senate and Mr. Rice of the House of Rep
resentatives, and they were the acknowledged
leaders in the promotion of the raeasure which
becarae a law, authorizing the sale of lands
in the Western Reserve for the support of its
public schools. Mr. Willey drew up the bill
and Mr. Rice was appointed agent to sell the
lands. The araount thus realized was about
$150,000, which was loaned to the state and
the interest paid to the counties of the West
ern Reserye, according to the enumeration of
children of school age in each county.
The state constitution of 1851 made it the
duty of the general assembly to "make such
provision by taxation, or otherwise, as with
the income arising from the school trust fund
will secure a thorough and sufiicient system
of coramon schools throughout the state.
Harvey Rice and the Scpiool Fund.
Mr. Rice thus describes his participation
in the forraation of this fund, which really
laid the foundation of the public school system
of the entire state of Ohio. "In 1830 I drifted
into politics, and was elected representative to
the legislature. Near the close of the session
I was appointed agent by that honorable body

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

485

to sell the Western Reserve school lands, some
fifty thousand acres, located in Holmes and
Tuscarawas counties. I opened a land office
at Millersburg, in Holmes county. The law
allowed me 3 per cent on cash receipts for
my services. In the first five days I received
from sales at public auction fifty thousand dol
lars, and my percentage amounted to fifteen
hundred dollars. This sudden windfall made
me, I then thought, almost a millionaire. It
was my first pecuniary success in life, and the
first time, after a lapse of eight years, that
I became able to pay ray college tuition, for
which I had given my promissory note." In
1852 Mr. Rice was appointed chairman of the
committee of schools of the state senate, and
on March 29 of that year introduced the bill
to provide for the reorganization and main
tenance of common schools, as provided by the
constitution. Among other merabers of the
convention were Peter Hitchcock, Jacob Per
kins and R. P. Ranney, representatives from
Trumbull and Geauga, and Sherlock J. An
drews and Reuben Hitchcock, frora Cuyahoga
county. Biography of Harvey Rice.
At this point, it is appropriate to make
hearty mention of the splendid services of
Harvey Rice in the cause of popular education
and to briefly state the facts of his life. As
collated frora his own auto-biography, he was
born at Conway, Massachusetts, June 11, 1800.
He was of New England and Puritanic an
cestry and had the misfortune, when he was
but four years of age, to lose his raother. Soon
afterward, his father discontinued house-keep
ing and placed the little boy in the care of
strangers, and, as Mr. Rice says, "Instead
of being brought up with parental care, I
brought myself up, and educated myself at
WiHiams College, where I graduated in 1824,
and then went west." He traveled from
WilHamstown to Buffalo by stage coach and
canal boat. His trip to Cleveland was made
by way of Lake Erie in a schooner, and after
a rough voyage of three days the boat cast

anchor off the bank of the Cuyahoga river on
September 24, 1824. At that time the entire
population of Cleveland did not exceed four
hundred. Mr. Rice states that he carae to this new
town with no other weapons than a letter of
introduction to a leading citizen, and a college
diploma printed in Latin, which authorized
him to claim the collegiate title of A. B. Thus
armed, the second day of his arrival he se
cured the position of teacher and principal
of the old Cleveland academy, which was
afterward used as headquarters for the fire de
partment, of the city. In the spring of 1826
the young man resigned his position in the
academy and went to Cincinnati, where he
continued the study of the law with Bellamy
Storer. Disappointed in his expectations of
being able to sustain himself during his stud
ies by teaching a classical school, he deter
mined to take passage on the "GaHipolis," a
steamboat whose ultimate destination was
Pittsburg. Instead of going to that city, he
remained at Gallipolis for sorae time, teaching
English grammar and delivering lectures on
that .subject, and then returned to Cleveland
where he was admitted to the bar., He com
menced the practice of his profession in part
nership with his friend, Reuben Wood, who
afterward became chief justice and governor
of the state. In the course of a few months
he married, and paid the poor clergyraan, for
his services, the last penny which he possessed
in the world.
As he philosophically reraarked raany years
afterward, "This left rae penniless, but I
thought a wife at that price cheap enough.
She proved to be a jewel above price. Soon
after my marriage I was employed by a gen
tleman, who had tired of the 'silken tie' that
bound him, to obtain for hira a divorce. If
I succeeded, he agreed to pay rae a hundred
dollars. I did succeed, and in the evening of
the same day the divorce was granted, he mar
ried another woman. The fee I received en
abled me to commence housekeeping."
Mr. Rice served as clerk of county courts

486

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

from 1833 to 1840. As stated, he accom
plished his great work in the cause of com
mon school education during the early fifties.
During the succeeding forty years his accom
plishments for the general public good were
beyond raeasure. In 1871 WiHiaras College
conferred on him the honorary degree of Doc
tor of Laws. During many of the later years
of his long and eventful life, Mr. Rice was
the president and moving spirit of the Early
Settlers" Association of Cuyahoga County.
His death occurred on the 7th of November,
1891, in the ninety-second year of his age.
The public schools of Cleveland, whose
progress and present excellence so largely
rest on the efforts of Mr. Rice, now consist
of seven high schools and more than ninety
grammar schools; about 1,900 teachers and
5S,ooo pupils. Over $2,000,000 annuaHy is the
amount expended on the cause of public edu
cation in this great city. The public school
property is valued at about $8,500,000.
Educational Items.
Cleveland was incorporated as a village in
1814. This corporation owned a school house
of its own in the winter of 1816. It stood
on St. Clair street, next the present Kanard.
It was built of logs, and was 24 by 30 feet,
inside dimensions. One of its extremes was
occupied by fireplace and chimney; the other,
enlivened by two windows of twelve lights
each, placed high; its front side, neatly set
in a frarae of railfence, was similarly glazed
and had a door in addition.
Sarah Doane taught the first Cleveland
school in 1800.
Irene Hickox, whose ability as a teacher
was noted in the Trumbull county chapter,
after having studied in the cast and finishing
her teaching in Warren, opened a girl's school
on Superior street, between the American
House and the Public Square. Miss Sara
Fitch and women of her condition and family
attended Miss Hickox's school. She married
Joel Scranton and kept house on Bank street
for a time afterwards, moving onto a farm

not far from the village. This part of town
was later known as Scranton's flats.
Lucretia Rudolph was one "of the memor
able 102 students attending the eclectic insti
tute at Hiram, Ohio, during its first term."
She attended this ¦ institution for five years,
was a splendid student; taught in the Cleve
land schools, Bronell street, priraary depart
ment. Cleveland's High Schools.
Governor McKinley once said that "Cleve
land established the first high school ever
established beneath our flag." He referred to
its Central High School, founded in 1846 and
opened in the basement of the Universalist
church. It was established to accommodate
the more populous and enterprising East Side,
and, in 1855, a few months after the annexa
tion of Ohio City, a free high school was or
ganized for that section, the West Side.
The interesting history of these two pioneer
high schools of Cleveland is given in the fol
lowing extract frora a paper prepared by David
P. Simpson, West Side High School (class
of '87), a few days previous to the alumni re
union of June 17, 1910:
"It is said that the first school of any kind
in Cleveland was founded when there were
three families, with five children aH told, in
the city. This school was, of course, before
the days of school taxation, and so not, prop
erly speaking, a pubhc school. Public senti
ment in 1821, howeyer, deraanded a budding
for school purposes, and the Cleveland Acad
eray was the result. This again was not a
public school. Not until 1836 did such a
school appear, the sarae year in which Cleve
land was incorporated as a city. Children con
tinued to corae to Cleveland and a school
board was organized and a school tax levied
to care for their educational upbringing.
High School Needed.
"As time passed the need of higher educa
tion became apparent, and in 1844, Charles
Bradburn, a member of the board of educa-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

487

tidn, urged the construction of a school build
ing where "algebra, geometry, raechanical phi
losophy, political economy and the raany other
branches of useful knowledge' might be
taught. This initial effort of Mr. Bradburn
faded, and though he was insistent in season
and out of season, it was not untH 1846 that
Mr. Bradburn's proposal, now enjoying the
active approval and support of Mayor Hoadly,
was carried into effect. This gave Cleveland
the first public high school in the state of
Ohio, and that school was called Central High
school, and was first located in the basement
of the Universalist church that was later con
verted into the Homeopathic Medical College.
This project for free high school education
met with determined opposition on the part
of many well-to-do people who could afford
to educate their children out of their own
private means; The masses of the people and
their leaders were just as determined on their
side, and after mass meetings and lobbying
trips to Columbus the friends of the ,free
high school were successful. Later the lot
now occupied by the Citizens Savings and
Trust Company, for which that company paid
$310,000 a dozen years ago, was purchased
for $5,000, and here the Central High school
was housed after temporary sojourns in a
wooden building and in the Prospect street
school building until the erection of its pres
ent building on East Fifty-fifth street becarae
a necessity, and the school family moved out,
leaving its building to be used for raany years
as Cleveland's public library.
"All the above is necessary to a proper.
understanding of the conditions out of which
the West High school grew. It will be well
to reraember, also, that the East Side in those
early days, as is the case at present, had a
larger population than what we now call the
West Side. (Ohio City was the name applied
to the West Side down until June, 1854, in
which year the sunset side of the city was
annexed to Cleveland. ) The greater and more
rapid growth of the East Side, or Cleveland,
had a very simple reason.

Old School Used as Dwelling,
"The Indian titles to land were earlier and
more easily quieted on the east bank of the
Cuyahoga than on the western side, and so set
tlement got a good start east of the river,
•and has maintained its lead ever since. But
though Ohio City did not have so many people
nor so many children as Cleveland, she never
theless had between two and three thousand
children of school age, of whora about a thou
sand were attending school. At the time of
annexation, i. e., in 1854, there were grararaar
schools on Penn, Verraont and Church streets,
one in a church building and one in the so-
called Seminary building, the last building
being still standing. It is in West Forty-fifth
. street, near Detroit avenue, and is used for
dwelling purposes by several families. Ohio
City in 1854 was also engaged in constructing
brick school buildings on Pearl, Kentucky and
Hicks streets, and so conditions were being
created which would soon caH for a high
school on the West Side, for grammar schools
graduate their pupHs and the "what next'
question at once suggests a high school.
"It should be recaHed at this point, too, that
since 1849, there had been what we should
now call, with our perfect classification, a non
descript school in the old Seminary building.
It was 'betwixt and between,' for it was doing
work in advance of the average graramar
school, but not on a level with that of a high
school. It was known as a senior school, and
since 1852 had been in charge of Mr. A. G.
Hopkinson. Mr. Hopkinson was a wide
awake Yankee scholar, and one of the few
among the early West Siders characterized by
a community parental instinct always so
marked on the other side of the river.
Hopkinson Gains Point.
"Mr. A. G. Hopkinson watched the plans
for the erection of the Central High school
with prudently jealous eye. His senior school,
now occupying part of the Kentucky school,
had among its raembers .some pretty good stu
dents, thought Mr. Hopkinson, and if the East

488

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Side was to have a high school, he said the
West Side should have one, too, and that he
knew the reason why. When the statement
was raade that the state law authorizing the
Central High schoof authorized only a school
and not schools in the plural nuraber, the path
now so profitable to corporation lawyers was
followed and the proposal raade that Cleve
land should abide by, and at the sarae tirae
dodge, the law of the state, and have only
one high school, but that a 'branch' of said one
high school should be erected on the West
Side. Mr. Hopkinson gained his point and
had his pupils take the exarainations nec
essary to prove their qualifications, and, if ray
raemory serves me right, only one out of the
two or three dozen applicants failed to pass
the test. The 'Branch' High school in narae,
but the reaHy independent West High school
in fact, thus came into being in 1855, was
housed in the Kentucky street school building
and had as its first principal A. G. Hopkinson,
to whose indefatigable endeavor it owes its
existence. "Prior to that time no free school of high
school grade existed on the west side of the
city, and the history of West High school
properly begins with 1855.
"Great conscientiousness characterized Mr.
Hopkinson's long term of service as principal.
Many raemoranda written in the school reg
ister in Mr. Hopkinson's handwriting and fol
lowed by his signature tend to show this, and
they also reveal other interesting things con
nected with the life of the school. Under date
of January 4, 1858, I find the following:
'Neither absent nor tardy, except on one occa
sion, when, if our clock was right (Mr. Hop
kinson was of sterling Yankee stock), I was
one rainute late.'
"Barring slight absences because of illness,
Mr. Hopkinson continued at the head of the
school, if I ara correctly inforraed, until 1872,
when health conditions required a change of
occupation. From that date he devoted him
self to the insurance business, in which son
and grandson have followed him, and contin

ued to interest hiraself in the welfare of the
West Side and Cleveland until his death in
1896. Many high school principals have
served Cleveland, but none raore faithfully.
"In 1861 the West High school and its prin
cipal raoved to their new horae, at the cor
ner of State and Ann streets, and facing on
Clinton street. In 1880 the average daily at
tendance at the West High school was 168,
and as Hicks, Tremont, Walton and Ken
tucky school continued to pour in pupils. Pres
ident J. D. Jones, of the school board, re
ported as follows: 'The West High school
very rauch needs better accomraodation. It
has been proposed to purchase additional land
adjoining the high school property and there
construct additional buildings. Another prop
osition is to remove the location of the school
further from the business portion of the city.
Whatever is done, there is need of sorae urgent
action in the matter.'
School Location Moved.
"The board, however, had already exceeded
the legal tax limit and nothing was done im
mediately, but such a condition cannot long
fail of attention, and consequently those of
us who had attended the 'Old' West High
school at State and Clinton streets moved in
the fall of 1885 to what we then called the
'New' West High, at the corner of Bridge and
Randall streets, which did service as such until
1902, when it was given over to the teachers
and students of the Normal Training school.
It underwent another transfer again a year
or so ago when it was remodeled and fitted
up as the home of the High School of Com
merce. One L.\rge Assembly Room.
"This building, at the corner of what we
now call Bridge avenue and Randall road, was
constructed at a cost of from $65,000 to $75,-
000 and contained fourteen session rooms and >
one large assembly room. The assembly
room, however, was used in a raanner very
different frora the way in which the assembly

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

489

room had been used in the 'Old' West High
school. At the latter place, as previously
intimated, the pupils spent their time in the
assembly room unless called away to smaller
rooms by recitations. When Central High
school went into its new building on Wilson
avenue, in 1878, this plan was no longer fol
lowed, for the pupils were put in various
session rooms, from forty to fifty in each,
each room being in charge of a so-caHed ses
sion room teacher, who kept track of his
room pupils and also taught his classes as
they came to himi, made up of pupils frora
other rooms as well as his own. Similarly
his own pupils would go from his room to the
rooms of other teachers for purposes of reci
tation. This plan did away with the confusion
of the large asserablage of pupils in the big
assembly room and reduced disciplinary diffi
culties in raany ways.
"This same plan of many session rooras and
one large assembly room, or auditorium, was
followed in the building at Bridge and Ran
dall, and pupils went to the assembly roora
only on special occasions or for the more or
less regular weekly rhetorical exercises.
"In the meantime, the school had been out
growing its quarters in the 'new' school. New
feeders were flooding it with students. Clark,
Waverly, Gordon, Willard and other city
schools, together with West Cleveland's
schools, becoming a part of the city school
.system, made so by annexation of West Cleve
land, were now demanding admission for their
graduates. Double sessions helped for a -time.
So a building on Vestry street gave terapo
rary relief, but pressure was not really re
moved until the building of Lincoln High
school in 1899-1901. Lincoln prevented" West
High from becoming a school of central pro
portions and also look a number of its faculty
members. Present Building.
"The erection of the Lincoln High school
could not remove the crying need of West
High for larger and more coraraodious quar

ters. A site was chosen on the edge of the
great 'Gordon pasture,' on Franklin avenue,
west of Gordon avenue, now called West Six
ty-fifth street. The present writer recalls go
ing with other grararaar school boys to the
very spot on which the building stands and
removing the virgin turf in the laying out
of a base ball diamond for the 'Quicksteps'
or some other equally celebrated team of those
days. To the present building on that site,
Mr. Johnston, the principal with the longest
terra of service, reraoved with his pupils and
teachers in 1902, and it is in this structure, at
Franklin avenue and West Sixty-ninth street,
that the coming reunion, or so-called diamond
jubilee — but let us recall that as a properly
organized high school. West High is really
only fifty-five years old — in this buHding the
coming reunion wiH take place."
Mrs. Avery — Scpiool Board Women.
Mrs. Catherine H. T. Avery is the wife of
Elroy McKenvree Avery. They were both
born in Michigan, and were married in 1870.
She was a teacher of good standing, and early
in the history of the Daughters of the Ameri
can Revolution becarae interested in it. When
Ohio passed its school law, she was nominated
by the Republicans for the position of raeraber
of the board of education ; elected and served
acceptably two years. Frora that time to this
Cleveland has always had at least one woman
on the school board. Mrs, Benj. F. Taylor,
widow of the poet, was elected in 1896 and
served six years. Mrs. May C. Whitaker was
elected in 1902 and served two years. Mrs.
A. E. Hyre was elected in 1904 and is still
serving. Mrs. Avery has always taken an active part
in these school elections, and is a splendid
campaigner. She is at present serving as
president of the board of school examiners.
That woraen could occupy this place was due
to the women who carae on to the school
board. The appointment was first made by
the director, but now it is made bv the school

490

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

board. Ohio passed 'a law for the appoint
ment of woraen on the board of public libra
ries, and Mrs. Avery was appointed to fill that
place. Sorae interpretation has been put on
the law which does not raake it raandatory,
and there is no one serving in that capacity.
Popular Education in the County.
The total nuraber of school districts in Cuy
ahoga county is 147, divided as follows : town
ships, 16; sub-districts, 12; and separate dis
tricts, 19. Throughout the county are twenty
high schools and 247 eleraentary schools,
taught by 2,240 teachers, 192 of whom are
men. The total valuation of school property
is nearly $10,000,000.
Western Reserve University.
Among the institutions of higher learning
most widely known are the Western Reserve
University, Case School of Applied Science
and St. Ignatius College. Altogether, there
are in Cleveland thirty colleges and profes
sional schools.
The Western Reserve University had its
origin in the Erie Literary Society, which
was incorporated in 1803. Later it was es
tablished as the Burton academy, in Geauga
county, and during 1822-24 was conducted by
the Presbyteries of Grand River and Portage,
in partial union with the Erie Literary Soci
ety. Until June 24 of the latter year it was-
under the jurisdiction of these two presby
teries, when a new union was formed with
the presbytery of Huron. In February, 1826,
the school was incorporated and in the fol
lowing year opened at Hudson, Summit
county. In the year 1880 Amasa Stone, of
Cleveland, offered $500,000 to bring the West
ern Reserve University to that city, provided
its name should be changed to Adelbert Col
lege of Western Reserve University, the narae
being given in raeraory of his deceased son,
Adelbert Stone. Mr. Stone's proposition was
accepted in September, 1881, and a site for the
college chosen between Euclid and Cedar ave

nues, the grounds facing Wade park. Mr.
Stone's endowment of $500,000 comprised
$150,000 for a building and $350,000 for a
permanent fund. Two buildings had already
been erected on the new location, and in 1882
Adelbert college was formally thrown open to
the public. Since that year there have been
added a physical laboratory, erected by Sam
uel Mather, a library building by Henry R.
Hatch, and a Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation building by Henry B. Eldred. The
distinct departments of the Western Reserve
University comprise Adelbert college. College
for Women, Graduate department. Medical
college. Law school and Dental school. The
Medical college, established for the education
of the so-called Regulars of the profession in
1884, is situated at the corner of Erie and
St. Clair streets and includes property valued
at some $300,000. The College for Women
was founded in 1888 and has its special fac
ulty, the courses being equal in every respect
to the curriculum of Adelbert college. The
Graduate department is also strongly main
tained, its courses leading to the degrees of
Master of Arts and Doctor of PhHosophy.
The Franklin T. Bacchus law School of West
ern Reserve University was founded in 1892,
its large stone building being situated across
Adelbert street from the college campus.
In moving the Burton Acaderay, excuse was
given that Burton was not healthy and the
men appointed to consider a new place were
recommended to look up Burton, Cleveland,
Hudson, Euclid and Aurora. Burton was a
high town, probably the raost healthful of all
and it seems strange that the end of this
college should have been Cleveland, which
point Was the least healthful at that time. Of
course, like all colleges at Hudson, it needed
raoney, and up to 1880 had little more than
$2,000, with College buildings worth $40,000.
The preparatory school was left at Hudson
until 1903. From 1872 until 1888 women were
adraitted to this college. At Hudson, girls
were few.
The writer reraerabers the ungentleiuanly

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

491

way in which Hudson College men spoke of
girl students. In one class particularly the state
ment was made, "'we have seventeen gradu
ates and two girls.'' Despite this fact, girls
continued to apply for admission, and after
the coHege was established in Cleveland twen
ty per cent of the students were women. At
this time the college was not very prosperous.
Undergraduates objected to the presence df
women and the inactivity of the college was
laid somewhat to women's doors. The truth
was that new professors were needed, and at
the time the institution ceased to be co-edu
cational a new president was elected with
good results. The Woman's College was
opened in 1888. John Hay and Mrs. Amasa
Stone made a liberal donation. In 1899 Mrs.
James F. Clark gave $100,000, and a Woman's
College was a reality.
The main library of the university contains
about 50,000 volumes, but its thousand stu
dents have also the free use of the Cleveland
pubhc library and the Case library, numbering
respectively about 150,000 and 60,000 volumes.
Since 1890 this great educational institution
has been served as president by Dr. Charles
F. Thwing, he being at the head of a splendid
faculty of over two hundred instructors.
Case School of Applied Science.
The Case School of Applied Science was
founded by Leonard Case, of Cleveland, whose
name is also closely associated with all educa
tional and philanthropic enterprises of the For
est City. In 1877 this public benefactor set
apart the lands which formed the first per
manent endowment in the establishraent of
this scientific school of national repute. Ten
years later the preliminary work of instruc-
in 1885 the school was removed to a site
tion was begun in Mr. Case's own home, but
on Euclid avenue, opposite Wade park. The
degree of Bachelor of Science is conferred,
npon the corapletion of any of the regular
courses of study ; an additional year earns the
student the degree of Master of Science, and
special degrees are also served in civil, me

chanical and mining engineering., The school
has a remarkably high reputation for thor
oughness, its faculty consisting of Dr. Charles
S. Howe, as president, and nine full professors
and twenty-five assistants. The number of
students is about 450. Closely identified with
the good work of the school is the Case li
brary, which is instaHed in the Caxton building
and contains, as stated, about 60,000 volumes.
This well-selected coHection of books origi
nated in 1846, the library being naraed after
Leonard Case, the founder of the school. In
1859 the original collection was consolidated
with the libraries of the Young Men's Library
Association and the Cleveland Library Asso
ciation, and since 1876 has been known under
its present name. It is estimated that the
property valuatio,n of the Case school is over
$2,000,000. The Case Scientific School was the result
of the desire of Leonard Case, Sr., and his
two sons, William and Leonard, to estabhsh
such a school. William and his father died
before this was carried out and the duty was-
left to Leonard. Although a great student
himself, he believed that literature culture
ought to be supplanted by schools where prac
tical things were taught, because, as the coun
try advanced, mechanics would have to be
educated. In 1877 the preliminary steps for
the foundation of this school were carried
out. He died in 1880 and Henry G. Abbey
carried out his designs. In 1881 the school
really began in the Case homestead, and in
1885 it occupied its new building near Adel-_
bert College, since which time it has gradu
ally increased. Laura Kerr Axtell and her
brother, Eli Kerr, had inherited a goodly sum
of money frora Leonard Case, and the forraer
deeded back one-half of her interest on her
death to the Case school. She also gave
$50,000 outright. This school has grown in
importance and there is now hardly a hamlet
on the Western Resei'Are from which some
boy has not found his way to the Case school
and thence to a good position in the world.

492

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

St. Ignatius College.
Like aH similar institutions under the con
trol of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius Col
lege, of Cleveland, has always maintained a
high reputation for good discipline and su
perior instruction. It was opened in 1886 and
incorporated in 1890. Its curriculum provides
for a classical course of study covering six
years, after which the student receives a diplo
ma of graduation, and an additional year in
mental philosophy secures hira the degree of
A. B. A distinguishing feature of this col
lege is its meteorological and sesraic observa
tory, under the direction of Rev. Frederick
Odenbach, S. J., who has a wide and enviable
scientific reputation, and is establishing a re
markably thorough and almost unique colle
giate department in connection with earth
quakes and other sesmic disturbances. The
entire nuraber of students in the college is
now about 350.
Cleveland Medical College.
Besides the medical college mentioned, as
a department of the Western Reserye Uni
versity, the Cleveland Medical College (Ho
meopathic) has existed for years. This is a
consolidation of the Cleveland Medical Col
lege and the Cleveland University of Medicine
and Surgery. Of special prominence in the
cause of higher education should also be men
tioned the Hathaway Brown school, and Ursu-
line academy and the Cleveland Norraal Train
ing School. The Public Library.
Established in 1867, it was naraed the Cleve
land Public School Library in 1883. In 1873
it was first housed in a block on the south
side of Superior street; was two years in the
Clark building on Superior street ; and in
1885 reraoved to the City Hall, where it re
raained four years, when it went into the Old
High School building on Euclid avenue, now
occupied by the Citizens Savings and Trust
Corapany. In the spring of 1901, when the
building was sold, the books were stored until

the fall, when a teraporary place was made
for them on Rockwell and East Third street.
In 1898 bonds to the araount of $250,000 were
sold for the erection of the perraanent library
building, but the plans were not carried be
cause the library wished to be in the group
plan. In the raeantirae the building was ineffi
cient, the departments being in different places.
There has been sorae relief in the establish
raent of the branch libraries, but stiH it is
hoped that some way may be found before
long to build an adequate handsome buHding.
The Woodland avenue branch came into ex
istence in 1904; St. Claire branch in 1905;
Broadway branch in 1906; Miles park branch
in 1906 ; Hough avenue branch in 1907 ; West
side branch in 1892 ; South side branch in
1897, and South Brooklyn branch in 1909.
There are now fifteen in aH. Andrew Car
negie has given $466,000 for the building of
various branches and has offered $83,000
more ; Rockefeller has given $40,000 for the
building adjoining Alta House, on East One
Hundred and Twenty-fifth street. Cleveland
is the eighth city in the United States, but fifth
as library center.
The history of the library work in Cleve
land would fill a volurae by itself, and William
H. Brett deserves untold credit for his splen
did management of the system. He is not only
thoughtful of the wants of the people of the
city, but is suggestive and helpful to the
libraries in the surrounding towns.
Western Reserve Historical Society.
Mr. Albion Morris Dyer, curator of the
Western Reserve Historical Society, in
"Orth's History of Cleveland." gives many in
teresting facts in regard to this society. He
says that it had its origin in the Cleveland
Library Society and was incorporated about
the middle of the last century. It owes its
origin legally to Case library.
Charles C. Baldwin is responsible largely for
the organization of the Historical Society.
"While an officer and trustee of the Cleve
land Library Association he formed a plan

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

493

of having departments devoted to these stud
ies, with especial charge of searching out,
coHecting and preserving relics, documents,
and other materials associated with these great
changes in the nature and order of things
about him." Judge Baldwin was supported
by Colonel Whittlesey. These plans were un
folded at a meeting in April, 1867. The his
torical part of the library was thus established
and ordered to be placed in the Society of the
Savings building. By-laws were adopted, the
first rule fixing the name, the Western Reserve
Historical Society, and defining the object of
the society: "To discover, to procure and
preserve whatever relates to the history, biog
raphy, genealogy, antiquities and statistics con
nected with the city of Cleveland and the
Western Reserve, and generally what relates
to the history of Ohio and the great west."
Donations immediately began to corae in.
Colonel Whittlesey was chosen president and
served until his death in 1886.
Colonel Charles Whittlesey.
No one person has ever been connected
longer, or more prominently, with historical
and archaeological research in the Western
Reserye than the late Colonel Charles Whit
tlesey, whose investigations and publications
have covered a remarkable range of subjects
with unusual thoroughness. He was a grad
uate of West Point; fought in the Black Hawk
war; in 1839 was connected with the first
Ohio geological survey; later made a thor
ough examination of the ancient earthworks
of the state, and in the late forties raa.de a
geological survey of what became the faraous
Lake Superior copper region. In the Civil
war he was colonel of the Twentieth Ohio
regiment and chief engineer of the departraent
of Ohio, on the second day of the battle of
Shiloh being in command of a brigade and
especially commended for bravery. After re
tiring from the army. Colonel Whittlesey again
turned his attention to the exploration of the
Lake Superior region and the upper Missis
sippi basin. In 1867 he organized the West

ern Reserve .Historical .Society and remained
its president until his death in 1886.
Leonard Case was greatly interested in the
organization and contributed some rare treas
ures to the museum and library. Judge Bald
win was the second president ; Henry C. Ran
ney, the third; L. E. Holden, the fourth, and
William H. Cathcart, the fifth.
The present handsome building was erected
in 1897-8. Constant effort is raade by the
president and the curator to gather from peo
ple on the Reserve original docuraents, let
ters and curios. It is surprising how descend
ants of the pioneers seera to disregard the
value of such things to history. Within the
last few years iraportant diaries and docu
ments have been burned or thrown on dump
piles, which would have been of great value
to science, literature and history.
County Early Settlers' Association.
The "Early Settlers' Association of Cuya
hoga County," to whose "Annals" the writer
is largely indebted for much of the most
interesting inforraation bearing on the pio
neer history of Cleveland, has also proved
a real educational force to the people of the
Western Reserve. The first steps which led
to its organization were taken by H. M. Addi
son, who, in the fall of 1879, published several
articles on the project in the Cleveland news
papers. Flis suggestion met with such en
thusiastic response that he circulated a call
for a public raeeting of the early settlers of
the city and county, with the result that on
Noveraber 19th the association adopted a con
stitution, and on the succeeding January 12
the following were chosen its first perraanent
officers: Hon. Harvey Rice, president; Hon.
John W. AHen and Hon. Jesse P. Bishop, vice-
presidents ; Thomas Jones, Jr., secretary, and
George C. Dodge, treasurer.
The Old Volunteer Firemen.
When Cleveland was incorporated in 1836
there were only three hand engines and one
hook and ladder corapany in its entire depart-

494

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ment. In 1840 a separate hose company was
organized and equipped, and with this addi
tion the citizens of Cleveland felt as if theii;
property and lives were comparatively safe.
The sources of water supply for the depart
raent were at first liraited to four or five
cisterns located at convenient street corners,
the Ohio canal and the Cuyahoga river. The
waters of the lake were not utilized until the
city water works were corapleted. Fire En
gine No. I had her home on Superior street,
just west of Water; No. 2 was located on
Seneca street and No. 3, a sraall rotary engine,
had no especial abiding place ; while No. 4 and
the hook and ladder apparatus were housed
on St. Clair street, on the grounds afterward
occupied by steara fire engine No. i and the
headquarters of the departraent. Old-timers
of Cleveland recall that there was always one
excepti(5n to the somewhat bitter rivalry that
existed between Cleveland and Ohio City.
This exception was the friendly feeling which
was aroused when either locality was endan
gered by fire.
"Smelling" Committee's Good Work.
The veterans of old Phoenix No. 4 espe
cially recall the tirae when they volunteered
to cross the city line and the river to help
in the work of extinguishing a fire on Whiskey
island, at the old Petrie distillery. It seems
that the rule prevailed in all the Cleveland
¦companies of those days that the roll call, upon
return from fires, raust determine who were
present, the absentees being fined if they had
no sufificient excuse. Engine No. 4, at the
distillery fire, took water frora the Cuyahoga
river, and was obliged to station itself in a
hog pen, which was obviously not the raost
cleanly spot in Ohio City. When roll call was
enforced, upon the return of the men to their
Cleveland quarters, several raerabers were seen
to fall into the ranks who were really not
in service during the fire; but their atterapted
deception was put to shame by the appoint
ment of a special comraittee (called the smell
ing comraittee), which soon discovered frora

the odor attaching to any particular member
whether his story was entitled to belief.
Traits of Early Companies.
Those who served for years in the ranks
of the pioneer companies, organized in Cleve
land prior to the coraing of its first steam
fire engine, give special characteristics to each
of the companies. No. i, for instance, they
say, was well drilled and efficient and com
posed of quite orderly men ; No. 2, comprising
largely mechanics and laboring raen, had more
vim and push than raost of the others, while
No. 4 had the reputation of containing more
blue blood than all the rest of the department
corabined. The hook and ladder company
were men of real nerve, a goodly share of its
merabership being of Scotch blood. Nos. 4
and 5 had especially high reputations for speed
and raany were the keen foot races between
these two, encurabered, as they were, with
long drag ropes. It required no little practice
to becorae an expert in managing the old hand
engines, and determining the proper method
in which to attack a vigorous fire. Under
the manageraent of Chief Engineer Weather-
ly, the boys were thoroughly drilled in every
detail which could possibly have a bearing
upon their efficiency. First, he directed com
petitive drills for trying the speed of the fire
men. All the available places for obtaining
water were numbered, and upon driH days it
was arranged that the Baptist church bell
should strike a given number, when the boys
would run pell mell, and the first engine
obtaining and throwing a streara was to get
a nominal prize for efficiency. Some limbs
were actually broken in these fierce contests,
but it is probable that the efficiency of the
department of those days was materially in
creased. First Steam Fire Engine.
The commencement of Cleveland's modern
department was raarked by the coming of its
first steam fire engine on November 11, 1862.
The next important steps taken in the prog-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

495

ress of its fire department were the installa
tion of the fire alarm and telegraph system
in October, 1864, and the launching of its first
fire boat in August, 1886. From that time
this department of the city government has
steadily advanced in efficiency, until now the
property and lives of Clevelanders are guard
ed by about thirty up-to-date fire engines and
about a dozen hook and ladder and hose com
panies. The headquarters of the department
are in the City Hall.
City W.vter Works System.
In Septeraber, 1856, Cleveland completed
what was then called its new water works
system, although at the present tirae it would
be considered quite antiquated. It was not
until 1870 that the first water works crib
was launched in the harbor, but the great tun
nel from the Kirtland street pumping station
was not completed untH 1903. This last work
was considered the culmination of Cleveland's
modern systera of water works, and through
this gigantic intake the city is now supplied
with frora 80,000,000 to 90,000,000 gallons
of water daily. The system of today further
comprises two storage reservoirs, one a low-
service reservoir at Fairmont street, and the
other a high-water service, at Kinsraan street.
The Fairraont reservoir is 605,265 square feet
in area, 20 feet in depth and has a capacity of
80,000,000 gallons, while the Kinsraan street
reservoir i§ 256,224 square feet in area, 23
feet deep and has a capacity of 47,000,000 gal
lons. The total cost of the water works sys
tem, from its inception in 1856 to the pres
ent time is over $10,000,000, the water supply
being distributed through raore than 550 miles
of mains, coming from the lake at an average
distance of one and one-half miles from the
shore. These, in general terms, are the lead
ing features of Qeveland's present water
works system, which both supplies its citizens
with pure water and is of such invaluable
assistance to the operations of its fire depart
ment.

Cleveland's Civic Center.
Much of the civic pride and architectural
grandeur of Cleveland are centered in and
clustered around its public square, better
known as Monument park, at the junction of
Euclid avenue and Superior and Ontario
streets. Its raost superb feature is the great
raonuraent dedicated to the raeraory of the
soldiers and sailors of Cuyahoga county, who
participated in the CivH war. Opposite is the
statute of General Moses Cleaveland, the foun-

SOLDIEES '

AND SAILOES'
CLEVELAND.

MONUMENT,

der of the city ; across another of its bounding
thoroughfares is a rugged naval cannon cap
tured by the intrepid Perry at the battle of
Lake Erie, and almost flanking the memorial
monument itself is a Confederate gun whicli
was captured by one of the brave batteries
which went from Cuyahoga county. Within

496

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the adjacent municipal territory are the grand
new federal and county buildings and the
Chamber of Coramerce.
Cleveland is the pioneer in the movement
which has spread througout the country for
the establishment of such civic centers as is
being formed around Monuraent park. With
her raagnificent City Hall, Public Library and
Union railway station of the future, this down
town district will hardly be surpassed in im-
pressiveness or beauty by any in the country.
The plan ultimately involves the grouping
of magnificent public buildings about the park,
which will extend from the principal business
thoroughfares directly to the lake, where the
grand Union station is to be erected. The
realization of this plan invokes an outlay of '
about $20,000,000.
Soldiers and Sailors' Monument.
As stated, the civic pride and patriotism of
Cleveland is now s)'mbolized by the Soldiers
and Sailors' Monument. Its erection was first
proposed by William J. Gleason at a raeet
ing of Carap Barnett of the soldiers and sail
ors' society, held in Cleveland, October 22,
1879, and at a grand reunion of ex-soldiers
and sailors of Cuyahoga county, held in Case
hall, October 30, 1879, a special coraraittee re
ported in favor of the erection of this rae
morial in the center of Monument park. Not
to go into unnecessary details, it is sufficient
to state that the monument was unveiled and
dedicated July 4, 1894, and that its completion
involved an expenditure of $280,000, raised
by public taxation.
The shaft of this raagnificent architectural
structure is 125 feet in height. The principal
features of the exterior of the monument are
described by the Monument commissioners
thus : "There are four realistic groups of
bronze statuary, representing in heroic size
the four principal branches of the service :
Infantry, ArtiHery, Cavalry and the Navy ;
not in the stiff and inartistic attitudes of dress
parade, but in fierce conflict, with worn gar
ments to accord, and the supple action of

men whose muscles are trained by rushing
through brush and swamps to capture breast
works. With this in view it was deeraed in
appropriate to have for a background to such
scenes a building in classical Gothic, Roman
esque or other popular style of architecture,
but instead to substitute a style raade up en
tirely of military and naval emblems. The
foundation of the column, or shaft proper, is
twelve feet square, around which is the table!
room, the four waHs of which are lined with
beautifully colored marble tablets on which are
engraved the names of 10,000 of Cuyahoga's
brave sons, who were wiHing to risk their aU
for their country. To have an ample space
from which to view these tablets necessitated
the planning of a room forty feet square, and,
to be properly proportioned, twenty feet high.
The walls are three feet thick. Surrounding
the building is an esplanade five feet above
the grade line and approached by circular
steps at the four corners. Upon the same are
built four massive pedestals, each nine by
twenty-one feet and ten feet high. To secure
a proper walking and standing space around
these pedestals and the necessary railings, re
quired the building of an esplanade 100 feet
square. To the top of the surmounting figure
above the carefully proportioned column and
building is, as stated, 125 feet.
"The steps and massive platforms compos
ing the esplanade are of red Medina stone,
polished to a smooth surface. The building
is of black Quincy granite, with Amherst
stone trimmings. The roof of this struc
ture is made of slabs of stone twelve inches
thick, ingeniously fitted together so as to be
absolutely watertight. Above the roof is a
connecting pedestal to the die of the column
in the forra of a bastioned fort with guns in
barbette, the projecting- bastions forming an
outline that blends with the sloping gables of
the building, making harmonious connections
between the coluran and the broad base of the
monument. "The die of the column is of .Amherst stone,
representing a section of a fortified tower.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

497

and is nine feet in diaraeter with projecting
moldings twelve feet. The shaft of the col
umn is of polished black Quincy granite in
ten blocks. At the alternate joints of the
shaft are six bronze bands, seventeen inches
in width, containing the naraes of thirty of
the most prominent battles of the war, com
mencing alphabetically at the top in the fol
lowing order: Antietam, Atlanta, Benton-
ville. Cedar Mountain, Chickamauga, Corinth,
Donelson, Five Forks, Fort Fisher, Franklin,
Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Kenesaw, Knox-
viHe, Missionary Ridge, Mobile, Monitor-Mer-
rimac, Nashville, New Orleans, Pea Ridge,
PerryviUe, Petersburg, Resaca, Richmond,
Shiloh, Spotsylvania, Stone River, Vicksburg,
Fort Wagner, Wilderness and Winchester.
The above list was compiled after correspond
ing with sorae of the most prominent his
torians and generals of the army.
"The bell of the capital is divided by eight
bent fasces, between which are the emblems
of the 'eight principal branches of the services
— infantry, cavalry, artillery, navy, engineers,
ordnance, signal and quartermaster. The in
fantry group, representing 'The Color Guard,'
was from an actual incident of the war and
depicts with vivid truthfulness, as the sculp
tor saw it, the gallant defense of the flag of
the 103d Ohio Infantry, at the battle of Re
saca, where the lion-hearted sergeant, Martin
Striebler, and his gallant guard of eight cor
porals, stood before the enemy's fire until they
were all kiHed or wounded. The artillery
group, 'At Short Range,' represents a piece
in action, fully manned, with an officer in cora
mand. The officer, v/ho has been looking with
his field glass, has not noticed his wounded
men, and pointing with his finger, says 'A lit
tle more to the right, Corporal.' The cavalry
group, 'The Advance Guard,' represents a de
tachment that has struck the line of the enemy.
The confederate soldiers were introduced in
this historical group to show to posterity what
they and their flag were like.
"The navy group, 'Mortar Practice,' repre
sents a scene near Island No. 10 on the Mis

sissippi river, where an officer and five men
are loading a mortar, preparatory to shelling
the intrenchments.
"Over the doors at each of the north and
south entrances are panels with the dates 1861-
1865. Over the north entrance is the Ohio
state seal, and over the south entrance the
United States seal, flanked by battle axes and
draped flags. The gables at the east and west
sides have, respectively, the badges of the
Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal
Legion, bordered with draped flags. In the
north and south gables in gold letters are en
graved : 'Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.'
"Upon entering the building from Superior
street, the visitor is struck with an effective
group of life size figures in a cast bronze
panel, seven by ten feet, representing the
'Emancipation of the Slave.' The central fig
ure, in full relief, is Abrahara Lincoln. On
the right hand of the president stand Salmon
P. Chase and John Sherman, the financial men
of the war period, and on the left are Ben
Wade and Joshua R. Giddings, who were Lin
coln's mainstay's in the anti-slavery move
raents. In the background, in bas-relief, are
represented the array and navy. The panel
on the west side of the shaft is called 'The
Beginning of the War in Ohio.' The three
central figures are the war governors,' Denni
son, Tod and Brough, flanked on the right by
Generals McClellan, Cox and Garfield, and
on the left by Generals Rosecrans, Hayes and
Gillmore. The panel on the south side repre
sents the sanitary commission, the Soldiers'
Aid Society and the hospital service. The
figures shown are Mrs. Benjamin Rouse,
president; Miss Mary Clarke Brayton, secre
tary; Miss Ellen F. Terry, treasurer; Miss
Sarah Mahan, clerk, and vice-presidents, Mrs.
John Shelley, Mrs. William Melhinch and Mrs.
J. A. Harris. The fourth panel is entitled
'The End of the War; or. The Peacemakers
at City Point.' The scene is where Lincoln
left his steamer 'River Queen' and went ashore
to visit Grant's headquarters. These bronze
historical panels are framed with molded col-

Vol. 1—32

498

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ored marble bases, with massive fasces at the
four corners, and heavy molded caps. Above
the panels and extending to the ceiling, the
shaft is encased in colored marble.
"In each of the four fasces are three large-
sized bronze medallions of prominent Ohio
comraanders, the. officers chosen being Hon.
E. M. Stanton, secretary of war; Generals
J. B. McPherson, James B. Hazen, A. Mc
Dowell McCook, Manning F. Force, James
B. Steadman, J. S. Casement, A. C. Voris, J.
J. ElweH, George W. Morgan, Emerson Op-
dycke and Dr. C. A. Hartman. Between the
arches of the windows on the east and west
walls are six niches in which rest bronze busts
of officers who were killed in action : Colonel
W. R. Creighton, Lieutenant-Colonel Mervin
Clark, Major J. B. Hampson, Captain Wm.
W. Hutchinson, Captain William Smith and
Captain W. J. Woodward. By a vote of the
coraraission, the bronze busts of General James
Barnett and Captain Levi T. Scofield were or
dered placed over the north and south doors,
the former in honor of his distinguished pa
triotism during the war, he having held the
highest rank of any soldier of our county ; the
latter in recognition of his brilliant services
as architect and sculptor, to the people of the
county and to the commissioners."
.Some of the details of the official descrip
tion are necessarily oraitted, but the quotations
given cannot but give a fair idea of the raag-
nificence and significance of this splendid trib
ute to the fidelity, even unto death, of the
soldiers and sailors of Cuyahoga county.
The Captured British Gun.
In the "Annals of the Early Settlers' As
sociation" have been preserved historic facts
both of the gun taken by Coraraodore Perry
from the British at the battle of Lake Erie,
and the Confederate gun, which was captured
by the Cleveland light artillery, not far from
Laurel HHl, West Virginia, during the cam
paign of July, 1861, under the command of
General Rosecrans. As ascertained from these
Bources, the British gun known as a "Long

32," was made at Woolwich Arsenal, Eng
land, about 1808, and was considered in those
days a powerful siege gun. It was first used
at Fort Maiden' in a battery planted to com
mand the raouth of the Detroit river and
when Coraraodore Barclay's fleet was fitted
out to give battle to that of Perry,' it wa.s
among the guns furnished him from this fort.
The gun, which is now planted opposite the
Soldiers' and Sailors' monument, was a bow-
chaser on the "Detroit," which was the flag
ship of the British adrairal. After the battle
of Lake Erie the guns of the "Detroit" were
taken to the city by that name. Fort Maiden
afterward gave place to docks and warehouses
and three of the guns which had been used
for various purposes were given to the city
of Detroit and placed in her public park. One
of these was finaHy presented to the Western
Reserve Historical Society and originally
stood near the monument which had been
erected to the meraory of Commodore Perry.
When the monument itself was removed to
Wade park the gun remained upon its pres
ent site.
The Captured Confederate Gun.
The Confederate gun was captured by the
Cleveland Light Artillery during the retreat
of the Confederates, after their left flank had
been turned by the tjnion troops at Laurel
Hill, West Virginia. Not raany miles away
at the ford of Cheat river, the enemy made a
stand to protect their supply train. After a
brief engagement, the artillery fire of the Con*
federates was silenced and, as the Union forces '
pushed forward, the special gun which had
given more trouble than all the rest of the
rebel artillery was taken possession of by the
Cleveland Light Artillery. The gunner who
was serving this rebel piece was killed by a
cannon shot while putting down a charge,
which was as far down as the trunnions when
he was shot to his death, his body faHing over
the axle of his gun. In recognition of the
bravery of the Cleveland Light Artillery, when
that coramand was ordered back to Ohio for

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

499

muster out, the commanding officer allowed
them to take with them this captured gun;
not only the gun, but the mules to whom had
been assigned the duty of bringing it into ac-
uion. For several years this old gun was used
to announce the news of a Federal victory ;
in 1870 it was turned over to the city of
Cleveland and since that time has found a
resting place in its public square.
First ^Military Organization.
The military history of Cuyahoga county
ijommences with the first militia muster, which
was held at Doane's corners, June 16, 1806,
,' Nathaniel Doane being captain; Sylvanus
iiurke, heutenant, and Samuel Jones, ensign,
iwith about fifty privates. As the surveying
(.arty was at Cleveland upon this date, and
iBiahy strangers were also attracted by this
.lirst muster, never had so many whites been
collected together in Cuyahoga county as on
this occasion.
"Clevelani> Grays" and Civil War.
It was not, however, until 1838, that a dis
tinctive military organization was formed in
the city. The "Cleveland Grays" came into
existence in that year. This was one of the
first companies to volunteer in the Civil war,
entering the service as Company E of the first
volunteer infantry. This command also took
a leading part in the dedication of the "Cleave
land" sfafue in 1888 and is still in existence
as a live military organization, occupying one
of the finest armories in the west. The "Cleve
land Grays" were soon followed to the front
by the famous Seventh Ohio regiment, which
was mustered into the service about two weeks
after the firing upon Sumter, and during the
entire progress of the Civil war, the city and
county furnished the Union cause eleven field
and staff officers. Three complete companies
of men were among other privates who were
drafted into the ranks. Many Cuyahoga
¦county men served in the Eighth Ohio in
fantry, and especially distinguished themselves
at Gettysburg. Two hundred and fifty men of

the Twenty-third regiraent were drawn from
Cleveland and had the honor of serving under
Sheridan at Cedar Creek, where he made his
famous ride to save the day at Winchester.
This regiment had the historic distinction of
being commanded by two colonels who after
ward became presidents of the United States.
After the battle of Bull Run, Cleveland raised
the Forty-first regiment, coraraanded by Cap
tain WiHiam B. Hazen, of the United States
army, and Company G of the Forty-second
regiment, commanded by Garfield, was chiefly
composed of citizens of Cleveland and Cuya
hoga county. Nearly 600 men composing the
One Hundred and Third regiraent and a large
portion of the One Flundred and Twenty-
eighth, which guarded Johnson's island, and
of the One Hundred and Fiftieth and One
Hundred and Sixty-ninth, which garrisoned
Washington in 1864, was largely composed
of Clevelanders. Many sharpshooters were
also drawn from her citizenship, and the Sec
ond cavalry, whose campaigns were chiefly
conducted in the southwest against Indians,
and Morgan's men, consisted of citizens of
Cleveland, many of whora were of consider
able social prominence. The First Ohio Light
ArtiHery, which went to the front on two
days' notice, in command of Colonel James
Barnett, and fired the first shot of the Civil
war at Phillippi, West Virginia, consisted al
most entirely of Cleveland soldiers. The
Sixth and Tenth Ohio cavalry and Nineteenth
and Twentieth batteries were also largely re
cruited in this county, and in the famous Fifth
United States Infantry, composed entirely of
colored men, v/ere fifteen enlisted men from
Cleveland. This regiment had the remark
able and significant distinction, during its
service in the Civil war, of losing 342 men,
killed and wounded, out of a total strength of
559. These scattering and incomplete state
ments will give only a fair idea of the achieve
ments of Cuyahoga county in the war of the
Rebellion ; but no statements, however full and
eulogistic, could hope to do the subject jus
tice.

CLEVELAND'S SADDEST LOCAL INCIDENT.
Eernains of President Lincoln lying in state, in the Public Square.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

50 J

One of the first centers for aiding the sol
diers was at No. 95 Bank street. This was
headquarters for one of the most successful
women aid societies in the United States, and
the women of Cleveland devoted the best of
their energy and their tirae to this relief work.
It had at one time 525 auxiliary societies in
adjacent territory, and there was no quarrel
ing and no disagreeraent in the ranks. In
five years the society coHected $130,^05.09 in
cash and $1,000,000 in stores, making a grand
total of $1,133,405.09. This amount was re
ceived mainly from contributions, though -the
excess over the million dollars was frora the
proceeds of exhibitions, concerts and the great
sanitary fair. The net proceeds of this fair
were $79,000.
No one not living at that time can iraagine
the amount of work done. These woraen
not only gave up their home life and all
pleasures, but raany of thera went to the front
themselves with supplies. They opened a sol
diers' home where sick and disabled soldiers,
going to and from the field, were given lodg
ing and meals. The money for this purpose
was aH arranged by the woraen theraselves.
The governraent gave them no aid. Alto
gether 56,420 soldiers received aid here, at a
cost of $27,000. These woraen also kept a
record of the soldiers, so that they could fur
nish inforraation for those wanting it, and
they had an employment agency, and secured
positions for 205 discharged soldiers. They
cared for the famihes of soldiers over and
over again, many of them being regularly
supplied with provisions, and when they were
all through they had $9,000 left, which they
used to settle war claims, bounties, back pay,
etc., free of charge to the claimant. It is a
pity to have to dismiss such a wonderful work.
as this in so few words ; but other details of
the splendid relief work of Cleveland women
are given in the general history. When we
hear woraen ought not to have a voice in gov
ernmental affairs because they cannot fight,
we feel like stating that if they cannot mainj
and kill their fellowraen, they at least can

bind up their wounds and help to raake them
whole.
Coaimencement of the Park System.
The grand systera of public grounds for
which Cleveland is so widely noted, comprise^
sorae 1,700 acres of beautified land and water
and consists of nine large parks and numerous
sraaller ones. Three of the former are on the
beautiful shores of Lake Erie. The system,
which, generally speaking, is semicircular in
form, is connected by thirty-five miles of
beautiful roadways and boulevards.
The coraraenceraent of this pubhc park sys
tera was the gift of Jeptha H. Wade, so promi
nent in the establishment of early telegraph
lines in this part of the country, of more
than eighty acres to the city. This tract of
land, which is now known as Wade park, is
located four and one-half railes frora Cleve
land on Euclid avenue and contains, as its
chief attraction, the Perry monument, which
was first unveiled in the public square during
September, i860, and reraoved to its present
location soon after Wade park was founded.
Here is also the beautiful statue of Harvey
Rice, father of Cleveland's public schools,
which was built by one-cent contributions
from pupils. The large pond in Wade park
is called Centaur lake and is a favorite re
sort, enjoyed by skating parties in the win
ter, and in the summer by lovers of boating.
Its other principal attraction is its "Zoo."
Jeptha H. Wade.
Jeptha TL Wade, founder of Cleveland's
first real park, was a native of Seneca county,
New York, born in 181 1, the son of a sur
veyor and civil engineer. Although in early
life he gave evidence of decided raechanical
business ability, he studied portrait painting
and earned considerable reputation as an art
ist. He also became interested in the new in
vention of the daguerreotype, but his atten
tion was diverted from the latter to that of
telegraphy. He opened a telegraph office in
Jackson, equipping the Hne along the Michi-

5,02

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

gan Central railroad, the first to be built west
of Buffalo, and later entered into the con
struction of telegraph lines in Ohio and other
western states. He is said to have been the
first to build a submarine cable, which he laid
under the Mississippi river at St. Louis, and
eventually he becarae the general manager of
the first iraportant consolidation of companies
under the well known name of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. Largely through
his efforts a transcontinental telegraph line
was completed to California, and upon the
consoHdation of the existing lines west of the
Mississippi, he was made the first president
of the Pacific Telegraph Company, which, in
turn, was consolidated with the Western
Union. Mr. Wade eventually became presi
dent of the entire system. This office he filled
with reraarkable energy and ability until 1867,
when he retired from active business. His
contributions to the progress of Cleveland did
not stop with his donation of Wade park, but
he erected at his personal expense a large
building for the Protestant Children's Home,
and otherwise contributed with generosity and
good judgment to numerous other charities of
both a public and private nature.
Gordon and Rockefeller Parks.
Gordon park, which lies along the shores
of Lake Erie, west of the forraer village of
Glenville, is the easternmost of the semicircu
lar systera of parks, which has already been
raentioned. Here is also the beginning of
the beautiful Lake Shore boulevard, which is
finely macadaraized and extends many miles
east into Lake county. The one hundred and
twenty-two acres covered by Gordon park are
tastefully laid out and coraplete facilities af
forded to lovers of bathing, boating and music.
The drives in this portion of the park system
are especially attractive. The site of the park
was donated to the city, in 1893, by William
J. Gordon.
Adjacent to Gordon park is Doane Brook
park, raore popularly known as Rockefeller
park. On Founder's day, July 22, 1896, the oH

magnate gave the city of Cleveland 276 acres
of land to complete its ownership of the val
ley of Doane Brook, which thus became the
binding cord of the entire systera of parks.
This beautiful stream of water flows for seven
miles through Cleveland's parks and finally
empties into Lake Erie at Gordon park. Doane
Brook, or Rockefeller park, consisting of over
800 acres, is considered by landscape archi
tects as the most beautiful in the entire sys
tera of public grounds. As Rockefeller gave
in addition to the land $260,000 to reimburse
the city for its previous outlays in securing
title to the valley of Doane Brook, his entire
donations in this line amount to about
$600,000. Within Cleveland's system is also Shaker
Heights park in the township of East Cleve
land, just within the city liraits. It was do
nated to the city in January, 1896, and con
sists of 279 acres, receiving its name from
the fact that in the early times its site was
occupied by a famous Shaker settlement.
.Edgewater park, the remaining link in Cleve
land's system, has a frontage of more than a
raile along Lake Erie and extends inland
about one-third of that distance. It became
city property in 1894.
In addition to these beautiful grounds un
der the control of the corporation of Cleve
land, there are a number of fine amusement
parks under private ownership, the most popu
lar of these is the White City on Euclid ave
nue, just west of the city limits.
Cleveland Cemeteries.
The first interment in Cleveland was thai
of David Eldridge. The surveyor's diary in
the first chapters of this work tell the detaHs
of his death and burial. The spot was on
the east side of Ontario street, at the corner
of Prospect, now East Ninth street. The old
est cemetery, now called Axtell street, is sup
posed to have been opened about 1800. In
t8oi 3,000 bodies were moved to Harvard
grove, the land having been sold to a railroad
company.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

503

Erie Street Cemetery.
In 1826 the Erie Street cemetery was laid
out. In 1871 the iron fence which surrounds
it was erected. Here are buried raany of the
men and women who were identified with
the early history of Cleveland : Jaraes Kings
bury and wife, Lorenzo Carter and wife, Seth
Doane, Zalraon Fitch, Abrahara Hickox, Peter
Weddell, Samuel Dodge and Levi Johnson.
An effort to do away with this cemetery, re
moving the bodies and using the lot for busi
ness purposes, is meeting with much opposi
tion on the part of old citizens and historians.
Monroe cemetery was opened in 1841 ; Lake
View cemetery was established in 1869; the
Riverside cemetery in 1876, and of the Catho
lic cemeteries there are St. Joseph, consecrated
in 1849; St. John's, purchased in 1855; St.
jMary's, located in 1861, and Calvary, opened
in 1893.
Lake View Cemetery.
Lake View cemetery, which contains the
Garfield meraorial. Rockefeller monolith.
Wade memorial chapel and the Hanna mauso
leum, besides being the last resting place of
John Hay, is located just east of Wade park
and south of East Cleveland. It is the largest
and most raagnificent cemetery in Cleveland.
Its grounds were first laid out in 1869 and
now contain over 200 acres.
The most stately and impressive tribute to
the dead in Lake View cemetery is the Gar
field memorial, the general form is that of
a graceful and magnificent tower, fifty feeL
in diaraeter. It is coraposed of Ohio sand
stone, its base consisting of a beautiful chapel,
whose principal feature is a lifelike statue of
the great president, the panels portraying
scenes in his grand and impressive life. The
figure represents the martyred president while
he was a raeraber of the House of Representa
tives. He has risen from his chair and is
represented in the attitude of commencing one
of his earnest and eloquent addresses to con
gress. In the chapel are also thirteen raemo
rial windows, representing tbe thirteen origi

nal states and especially applicable to the ca
reer of Mr. Garfield.
This splendid meraorial was forraally dedi
cated May 30, 1890, the society which pro
vided the means for its erection was forraed
eight years before, with Governor Charles B.
Foster, Ex-president Hayes and Senator Hen
ry B. Payne as its most prorainent raerabers.
Some $225,000 were finally raised, of which
Cleveland provided $75,000. President Har
rison, Vice-president Morton and Ex-presi
dent Hayes were present at the dedication.
The remains of President Garfield were
brought to Cleveland September 24, 1881, and
and after being laid under a canopy in the
public square and viewed with reverence and
sorro'iv by thousands of people of that city
until the following Monday, were finally'
brought to Lake View. Soon afterward the
raoveraent to erect the memorial was started by
the incorporation of what was known as the
Garfield National Monument Association. The
casket which contains the remains of the be
loved statesman and president can be seen in
the crypt below the statue. Not far away
are also the reraains of Mr. Garfield's beloved
raother. Riverside Cemetery.
Riverside ceraetery, which lies on the west
shores of the Cuyahoga, comprises 102 acres,
which have been in continuous process ot
improvement and beautification since 1876.
There also should be raentioned ^the West Side
ceraetery of 100 acres, situated in Rockport
township and laid out in 1895; Woodland
cemetery of 67 acres, platted in 185 1, first
interment in 1853, and Brooklyn ceraetery,
which becarae city property by the annexation
of the village.
Euclid Avenue Seventy Years Ago.
Cleveland's public thoroughfares of today
stretch through forty-two square raHes of area
for distances amounting to nearly 700 miles.
Such men as Leonard Case have spent a
large portion of their lives and generously

INTEEIOE OF GAEFIELD MEMOEIAL.

THE HANNA MAUSOLEUM.

/
STATELY MEMOEIALS IN LAKE VIEW CEMETEEY.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

D^D

donated their means in the creation of the
"Forest City," and Euclid avenue is probably
the best known residence street outside of
New York City.
The Euclid avenue of seventy years ago
is thus described, in 1894, by George F. Mar
shall, an old resident of Cleveland:
"Some one adequate to the task should
write the history of the architecture of Cleve
land, and give us the eras in which it assuraed
its multiform shape. Tf the Grecians, the
Romans or the Egyptians should find fault
with us when we intermix the Doric, the Ionic
or the Corinthian with Queen Ann or McGilli-
cudy, it is none. of their business. We will
buHd as we please and have our homes to suit
our conveniences, with plenty of closets and
ample verandas.
"Fifty-seven years ago my venerable friend,
Trurnan P. Handy, raade about the first de
parture in the line of going- out of town to
build a resident. Many of our people regard
ed it as a wild scherae to go so far frora his
place of business for a horae. He went away
up Euclid street, almost as far as Erie street,
and there he had erected an elegant raansion.
It is now a substantial and comely edifice, and
in the hands of the aristocratic Union Club the
face side has not been in the least disfigured
from its original make-up, standing a monu
ment to the taste of Hon. T. P. Handy. Soon
after Mr. Handy had gone so far out of town
for a residence, Irad Kelley and Peter M.
Wedded followed his example, and went still
farther out of town and built on Euclid street
substantial stone residences, each of which
has long since given place to raore raagnificent
edifices, keeping pace in architecture with the
modern idea. Then, also. Dr. Long thought
it best that he, too, had better abandon a city
home for one far in the country. He built on
K-insman street (now called Woodland ave
nue) a rare and stately home, with its taH,
fluted columns, which has all these years been
equally admired as that of Mr. Handy's.
"Turning our eyes westward, we can now
see that fine old mansion on Washington

street, built by the late Charles Winslow, and
now occupied by his son-in-law, C. L. Rus
sel, Esq., with its fluted columns, decorated in
more raodern colors, yet its face is as fa
railiar as it was fifty-seven years ago. On
the sarae street we no longer see the old raan
sion owned by E. T. Sterling, also adorned
with fluted Greek columns, after the style of
the Pantheon.
"We should never forget that in 1835 Dea
con Whittaker followed the Grecian order
and built a stately house at the foot of Water
street, which stands as a monument to the
venerable deacon, but in the present day the
surroundings are not as they were. Sorae
years later General Dodge followed the Greeks
and built for hiraself a horae on Euclid street
long before that thoroughfare was dignified
with the appellation of avenue. The early set
tler will not forget that the first mayor of
Cleveland had erected for his home a most
comely cottage on Michigan street, with the
proverbial Doric columns for its frontal adorn
ment; but that historic horae has long since
taken its abiding place fully a raile to the east
ward of St. Clair street. And now, while we
are on the subject of fluted adornraents, the
Payne cottage on St. Clair street, the early
horae of our honored ex-senator, stood for
years as a notable edifice worthy of any lord
or lady.
"Can we all caH to mind the day T. P. May
built his brick house at the head of Superior
street, on Erie, in order to head off the exten
sion of our main business street? Nor yet
the house George B. Merwin built at the head
of Prospect street on Hudson street, now
Sterling avenue?
"In casting our eyes back for Doric columns
in our city, that comely cottage situated near
where Bishop Horstraann's place now stands,
and so long occupied by J. B. Bartlett, for
so raany years city clerk, still has its exist
ence a little farther to the north on Muirson
street. In later years the venerable Jaraes
Farmer held to fhe Grecian order of architec
ture and erected on Superior street a residence

(Courtesy of S. P. Orth.)
CLEVELAND IN 1833 (Showing the Buffalo Eoad, or Euclid Avenue).

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

507

so closely in the shadow of the stately HoHen-
den that it loses a great share of its former
stately appearance."
The Modern Avenue.
A graphic writer of today thus describes the
same thoroughfare in terras which, although
somewhat general, are, nevertheless, very sug
gestive. "Bayard Taylor put on record that
glowing sentence 'which has ever since been
the Shibboleth of loyal Clevelanders, that 'Eu
clid avenue is the most beautiful street in
the world.' When he said that the avenue
stretched clear down to the square, an un
broken front of handsome houses embowered
in lawns as full of sheer delight as any Eng
land could furnish. Since then, trade has nib
bled away thcN fringe of the street, but if the
interested visitor will board an east-bound car
to Perry street, and then walk up Euclid
avenue to Case avenue, where he can find a
car again, he will acknowledge the present
truth of Taylor's words, and himself repeat
them. ' The massive houses, artistic in design
and solid in workmanship, may seem too se
vere at close range, but they stand far from
the rOad on a gentle ridge, from which the
emerald lawns sweep down to the street in
graceful curves. These stately homes are
typical to Cleveland. No other city has any
thing that equals their beauty and dignity."
When Cleveland's present plan of boule
vard improvement is completed, more than
thirty railes of handsome streets will com
pletely encircle the city on all but the Lake
side, connecting its superb system of parks.
Among the most stately and noted horaes of
Cleveland is that of John D. Rockefeller,
which is located in East Cleveland. It is oc
cupied and enjoyed by its owner only during
two or three of the summer months.
Cleveland's Arcades.
Cleveland's three arcades have proved to be
useful and ornamental. The one running from
EucHd avenue to Superior was completed in
1899 and cost $850,000. The Colonial, run

ning from Euclid to Prospect, cost $100,000,
and the Wm. Taylor, Son & Co. was erected
in 1905. Cleveland's Viaducts.
Cleveland's first viaduct was completed in
1879 at a cost of $2,25o,0(X), including right-
of-way. It is known as the Superior street
viaduct ; is more than 3,200 feet in length and
spans the river sixty-eight feet above its sur
face. In 1886 the Kingsbury run, or Hum
boldt street viaduct, was finished, at a cose
of $250,000; its length is over 800 feet. The
so-called Central viaduct, completed in 1888,
is (including its approaches) raore than a mHe
in length and cost $675,000. Besides these
viaducts, which connect the distinct sections of
the city, there are between seventy and eighty
large and raodern bridges in constant use.
The East Side of Cleveland.
The east side of Cleveland lies on a broad
plateau above Lake Erie, with Euclid avenue
stretching along the old Ridge and gently slop
ing toward the lake, and Vv'ade, Rockefeller
and Gordon parks set into it like variegated
gems. As a residential locaHty, this portion
of Cleveland now leads aU oth'ers in beauty
and transportation conveniences. Both Eu
clid and East avenues are magnificent thor
oughfares which bind this region of charm
ing parks and attractive homes.
Lying somewhat further out, but already
surrounded by many fine residences, is the
proposed Dugway Brook boulevard, which ij
to extend frora John D. Rockefeller's prop
erty on Euclid avenue, through a natural ra
vine of rugged beauty, to St. Clair avenue,
just east of East One Hundred and Tenth
street, and thence through the village of
Biratenahl to the lake. It is probable that no
part of Cleveland has seen a raore wonderful
growth within the past decade than the section
east of Fifty-fifth street, and certainly no
section is cleaner, or more free frora the smoke
which is a necessary evil of great industrial
centers.

5o8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The "Herald" and the Harrises.
The origin of the press of Cleveland has
been noted in the issue of its first newspaper,
the Gazette and Commercial Register, on July
28, 1818. The Cleveland Herald raade its ap
pearance oil the 1 8th of the following year.
Edwin Cowles, perhaps the most able journal
ist which Cleveland ever produced, learned his
trade in the office of the old Cleveland Herald
and araong the most prominent and popular of
its early editors was J. A. Harris, who be
came connected with that journal in 1837.
It was during this time that Mr. Cowles
was serving his apprenticeship as a printer
and boarded in the Harris faraily. His de
scription of the operations of the Herald in
those days, with the interesting personality of
Mr. 'and Mrs. Harris, is here reproduced :
"Mrs. Harris was a worthy helpraeet of her
husband when he tackled the Cleveland Her
ald in 1837, and for years was struggling to
make the venture a success. He boarded
nearly all of his employes, which was a cus
tora in those good old days, in order to keep
down expenses. It was my fortune to be one
of Mr. Harris' apprentices, and I boarded with
him along with the rest of the boys. I can
testify to the kindly care Mrs. Harris used
to exercise over 'her boys' and to her great
popularity among thera all. (Records of this
kind are found in alraost all private letters
of this kind — the pioneer woraan was a brave
one.) I first made his (Mr. Harris') acquaint
ance in the winter of 1838-9, when he was
seated at the 'Old Round Table' in his office
in the Central buHding, then located on the
present site of the National Bank building. [
had then commenced learning my trade, that
of 'the art preservative of all arts.' Mr. Har
ris was a man of extraordinary industry. He
was editor of the Herald, and his own city
editor, reporter, comraercial editor, financial
editor, mailing clerk and bookkeeper. In those
days the Herald was considered a great news
paper, and Mr. Harris a great editor. The
expense of publishing the Herald, including

everything, did not exceed eighty dollars a
week. The hand press turned out only 240
irapressions on one side per hour, equal to 120
sheets printed on both sides. The news was
received by raail carried in the old-fashioned
stage coach. They had no telegraph news, no
special dispatches, no special correspondents,
no staff of editors, and no lightning presses.
"Now, for the purpose of showing the con
trast between the Herald when I first knew
it and the papers of today, I will corapare it
with the Leader as a sample. My apology
for doing so is that I ara farailiar with the
cost of running it and with its detaHs. (Mr.
Cowles was at the time of writing editor of
the Leader, which was a rival of the old
Herald.) The weekly cost of publishing this
last named paper ranges from forty-two hun
dred to forty-five hundred dollars a week.
Its presses have turned out during the Gar
field funeral 500 papers per minute, printed
both sides, pasted, cut and folded. Its staff
consists of one editor-in-chief, one managing
editor, a writing editor, news editor, commer
cial editor, financial editor, railway editor, city
editor, telegraphic reviser and eight reporters.
In addition, the Leader has two correspon
dents stationed at Washington, who are con
sidered raembers of the staff. Scattered aH
over the country are nearly two hundred cor
respondents, who are paid for every piece of
news they send. Instead of waiting for a
stage coach to arrive with a later batch of
newspapers, from which to cull our news, as
Mr. Harris used to do, the night editor wHl
receive a dispatch from, say, New York, as
follows : 'Several failures in Wall street,
great exciteraent, how many words?' The re
ply would be, perhaps, 'Send one thousand.'
A dispatch from Cincinnati will be received
saying, for instance, 'A riot brewing. It prom
ises to be a serious affair. How raany words?'
The reply would be, 'Send full account.' Our
Boston correspondent raay send as foHows:
'Beacon street terribly excited. A girl of
wealth and culture eloped with her father's
coachman. How many words?' The answer

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

509

may be, 'Four hundred.' It is in this manner
the great modern dailies gather the news by
telegraph from all parts of the Union. Also
by means of the Associated Press news from
Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. Yet,
in spite of the diff'erence of circulation being'
in favor of the modern paper, as compared
with that of the Herald forty-five years ago,
Mr. Harris, as editor, was considered a far
greater raan than your hurable servant is as
editor of the Leader today. In fact, Mr. Har
ris was considered the biggest raan in the
city. Editors have rather degenerated in the
estimation of people, compared to what they
were forty years ago."
Edwin Cowles, Journalist.
For raore than forty years Edwin Cowles
was not only the dominant force in Cleveland

EDWIN COWLES.

journaHsm, but was acknowledged to be one
of the greatest editors in the country. Born
in Austinburg, Ashtabula county, September

19, 1825, he was descended from New Eng
land ancestry, the family line, on his grand
mother's side, coiping down from Perigrine
White, the first Araerican child born in New
England. In 1839 Mr. Cowles' father moved
to Cleveland and Edwin, then in his four
teenth year, was sent to school and also learned
the printer's trade. When he was nineteen
years of age he associate'd himself in the job
printing business with Timothy H. Smead.
and the firm of Smead & Cowles. continued
about nine 3''ears. Among other work done
by the office was the printing of the True
Democrat, an anti-slavery paper whose editor
and publisher so radically differed from each
other on political questions that often the
same paper would contain savage editorials on
opposite sides of the question. In the raidst
of this unique wrangle the brothers, Joseph
and James Medill, came to Cleveland and es
tablished the Forest City, a Whig paper. Not
long afterward the True Democrat and Forest
City were consoHdated with the job printing
office of Sraead & Cowles. Mr. Sraead not
long afterward retiring, left the consolidated
paper known as the Forest City Democrat in
control of the Medills and the Cowleses. This
was in 1853, and in the following year the
name of the paper was changed to the Leader.
In the following year the two Medills and
Alfred Cowles went to Chicago and purchased
the Tribune, thus leaving Edwin Cowles as
sole owner' of the Clez/eland Leader. In 1859
he also assumed its editorial management, and
from that time until within a few years of
his death, March 4, 1890, his life was virtu
ally a history of the paper. He was a man
not only of remarkable editorial ability, but
his business judgraent and acuraen were
equaHy strong. As stated, "He was a unique
personality in the newspaper world ; no man
in it is more widely known by reputation, even
if others had a more extensive personal ac
quaintance." He had a slight impediment in
his speech and his effort to talk added to his
real energy; made all associates feel — at least
momentarily — energetic.

5IO

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

In the winter of 1854-5, ^'^- Cowles was
one of those who, in the editorial room of the
Leader, took the initiatory steps which re
sulted in the formation of the Republican party
of Ohio. In 1861 President Lincoln appointed
him postmaster of Cleveland, the first Repub
lican who had ever fiHed that position. He
retained the office five years and was suc
ceeded by George A. Benedict, editor of the
Herald. During the first year of the war Mr.
Cowles suggested, through his paper, the
nomination by the Republican party of David
Tod, the War Democrat, for the governor
ship of Ohio. He took this bold course in
order to unite all the loyal elements in sup
port of the Union, and in 1863 suggested,
through the columns of ,his paper, the norai
nation of John Brough, both of whora be
carae noted as two of the three great War
governors of the Buckeye State. In 1866 Mr.
Cowles organized the Leader Printing Com
pany, and became its president. In 1870 he
also urged, through his paper, the building of
the great viaduct spanning the valley of the
Cuyahoga and connecting the two hill tops,
crossing what had been grimly christened, on
account of the raany railroad accidents, the
Valley of Death. The viaduct, as has been
seen, was not only built, but, according to
his suggestion, was completed by the city itself.
During the later years of his life Mr. Cowles
became heavily interested in the Cowles Alum-
inura Corapany, which was organized to carry
out the patents of one of his sons. His pro
motion of the interests of that corapany kept
him in Europe for several years and prevented
him from giving his active supervision to the
paper, which, however, remains as the great
memorial to the power and wisdom of his
life-work. The "Cleveland Plain Dealer.'"
The other great force in the local journal
ism of Cleveland is embodied in the Plain
Dealer, which was founded by J. W. Gray in
1841, The rather unattractive appearance of
the Cleveland of that year is thus given : "Su

perior, the main street, was unpaved. Pigs
rooted at the roadside where great canvas-
covered freight wagons, drawn by a half-dozen
horses with bells on their saddles and bear
skin covers on their heavy leather coHars,
were drawn up. The town pump was at Su
perior and Bank streets. A grove of oak and
walnut trees covered a part of the public
square. A white-washed fence was around
the court house. Loafers lounged in front of
the .stores and there were few homes east of
what is now East Ninth street.
"The founder of the Plain Dealer was a
brisk young lawyer and school teacher, who
came to Cleveland from New Hampshire, and
for more than twenty years he wielded the
editorial pen and conducted the newspaper
with honesty, sincerity and ability. In poli
tics the paper was Democratic, as it is today,
with decidedly independent proclivities. At
first it was an evening paper, bVit from the
commencement was published daily. During
the Civil war, the Plain Dealer, under the
management of Mr. Gray, was a stanch force
for the Union, but a bitter opponent of Lin
coln and most of his policies. The founder of
the Plain Dealer died by an accidental shot
from a pistol in the hands of his young son,
and with that ended the first period of the
newspaper's life.
Among the early writers of the paper, there
were a number of brilliant men whose repu
tation still survive. One of them is known
in national literature as "Artemus Ward," but
as a Plain Dealer editor was known as Charles
F. Brown. The old desk in the newspaper
office which he used to such good advantage
is stiH preserved in the Western Reserve His
torical museum.
In 1865 the Plain Dealer passed into the
hands of Major WHliam W. Armstrong, an
Ohio man who died about 1906. During his
administration, which continued untH 1885,
he twice changed the paper from an evening
to a morning journal.
In 1885, when the paper passed into the
hands of L. E. Plolden, the estabhshment of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

5"

the present morning and Sunday Plain Dealer
became permanent. In 1898 a contract was
entered into by Mr. Holden with Elbert H.
Baker, fof years connected with the Cleveland
Leader, and Charles E. Kennedy, former man
ager of the Plain Dealer, by which they agreed
for nine years to edit and publish the paper.
When this contract expired in 1907, Mr. Ken
nedy retired, and Mr. Holden made a like
contract with Mr. Baker, which still stands.
Soon after the Plain Dealer passed into the
hands of Mr. Holden the Cleveland Herald
was merged with it. At this time both raorn
ing and Sunday editions were established and
the evening newspaper (the Herald) continued
as a separate publication until its sale several
years a.go. On Sunday raorning, February
2, 1908, the building in which the Plain Dealer
had been published so many years was totally
destroyed by fire, together with most of the
printing material. Notwithstanding this ca
lamity", the Plain Dealer force was transferred
without confusion to the Cleveland News office
and at midnight of Sunday the paper was is
sued as usual in time to be distributed through
the early railroad trains to all parts of Ohio
and the country.
The Plain Dealer of today, it is needless to
add, is modern in every detail, its staff con
sisting of forty-five editors and reporters, with
hundreds of individual correspondents in dif
ferent parts of the country.
The Press was the first penny newspaper in
Cleveland, and either the first, or one of the
first, two or three penny newspapers in the
country. It was established by Edward W.
Scripps, November 3, 1878. The present ed
itors are H. N. Rickey, editor-in-chief; E. E.
Martin, editor; R. W. Hobbs, managing ed
itor. The Press is independent in politics, and
its circulation of about 160,000 copies per day
is said to be the largest per capita circulation
of any newspaper printed in this country; by
per capita circulation is meant circulation, as
compared with the population of the city in
which the newspaper is published.
Generally speaking, the on^ hundred news

papers now published in Cleveland cover every
specialty known to the journalism of today.
Among the prorainent publications of the city,
besides those mentioned, are the Advertiser,
News, Recorder, World, Anzieger and Wach-
tcr am Erie, the last two being especially in
fluential organs araong the Gerraans, There
are also about seventy weekly, bi-monthly and
monthly papers devoted to such subjects as
agriculture, manufactures, railroads, business
specialties, religion and science, and they are
printed in half a dozen different languages.
Industrial Ch.a.racter Early Fixed.
In classifying the activities of niost large
cities it is customary to speak of one of their
important divisions under the head of Com
merce and Industries ; but in the case of Cleve
land, the order of these must be reversed, as
for half a century her industries have far
overshadowed her commerce. -In x8o8 the
trustees of the infant town voted to make
donations of city lots, especially for the en
couragement of "useful mechanics who shall
actually settle and reside in said town.'' Men
tion has been made of several of Cleveland's
early industrial plants, but the foundation of
her great iron interests was not laid until
1840. In that year came into existence the Cuya
hoga Steam Furnace Company, whose plant
was not far from the present corporate limits
of Cleveland and was the first substantial en
terprise in that line to be found in the county.
It is probable that at that time there were nol
half a dozen establishments that had machin
ery propelled by steam within the corporation
of Cleveland.
Great Grain Market.
It should be remembered that in this period
of the city's history there was still a struggle
for supremacy between its industries and its
commerce, and that the promise seemed to be
that Cleveland was destined as one of the
greatest grain markets of the West. In fact,
it held that position for a time, and the wheat,

512

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

corn and oats that came hither by canal a!nd
were transshi])ped both east and west appear
to be unequalled both in quantity and quality.
First Steam Power Press.
In 1846 a local impetus was given to the
manufacture of steam machinery by the set
ting up in Cleveland of its first power press
under the management of M. C. Younglove.
This first steam press was placed in the Mer
chants' Exchange building and for sorae tirae
did all the work for the Herald and Plain
Dealer and other rival newspapers. It thus
widely advertised the advantages of steam
over hand machinery.
Iron Ore, Coal and Oil.
In the previous year the Brier Hill coal
raines were opened up, which within a few
years had a raarked stimulating effect upon
both the industries and commerce of Cleve
land, especially as about the same time the
first shipments of iron ore were raade from
the great Lake Superior region. In the fifties
the pioneer railroads of Cleveland were com
pleted, placing the city, with her growing
industries and commerce, in connection with
the wide territory of which she was the natural
metropolis. Greatly increased facilities were
therefore provided for handling both the iron
ore and the vast quantities of coal necessary
.for the operation of her industrial plants, so
that by 1861, which year also marks the com
mencement of the great industry of coal-oil
refining, there was no doubt whatever as to
the permanent supremacy of Cleveland's indus
tries over her comraerce. In 1865, 220,000
barrels of crude oil were received in this
city for the purpose of being refined, and
within the intervening forty-five years this
araount has been increased to nearly 4,500,000
barrels. Henry and William Chisholm.
No personal forces could be raentioned
which had a raore pronounced bearing upon
the founding of Cleveland's industries upon

their present firm basis than the Chisholms,
otherwise Henry and WHliam, the former, the
founder and president of the great Cleveland
RolHng MiH Company, for years the largest
establishment of the kind in the world. Henry
Chisholm was born in Scotland in 1822 and
carae to Montreal, Canada, a penniless car
penter of about twenty years of age. His skill
at his trade as well as his pronounced business
ability made hira, before raany years, a master
builder, and in this capacity he was first intro
duced to the Western Reserve, in connection
with the construction of the Cleveland break
water. In 1857, when Newburg was in its
prirae, he founded the firra of Chisholm, Jones
and Corapany — the nucleus of the Cleveland
Rolling Mill Corapany, which has eraployed
at various periods of its existence frora 8,000
to 9,000 men.
Early in the history of this great iron man
ufactory of Cuyahoga county, WiHiam Chis
holm, the inventor, joined his brother, Henry,
the two engaging for some years in the manu
facture of spikes, bolts and horseshoes. In
1871 they organized the Union Sttel Com
pany of Cleveland, which first eraployed Bes-
seraer steel in the raanufacture of screws.
The Chisholra brothers afterward devised new
raethods and machinery for the raanufacture
of steel shovels, spades and scoops, establish
ing a factory for the new industry. In 188,2
they began to make steam engines of a new
raodel, designed to operate the various trans
mitters for conveying coal and iron ore from
vessels and to railroad cars. In this line of
iron manufactures Cleveland early became
prorainent, and up to the present time her
plants have supplied much of this raachinery
required throughout the Western Reserve.
Charles F. Brush, Electrician.
Charles F. Brush, of Cleveland, is an in
ventor of international reputation, whose pat
ents in the field of electric lighting have not
only brought him personal fame, but have
been the means of establishing one of Cleve
land's greatest industrial plants. He is a

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

513

native of Cuyahoga county, born in Euclid in
1840 ; was educated at the University of Michi
gan and when a youth of fifteen was construct
ing microscopes and telescopes and devising
improvements for the lighting of city streets
by gas. After returning from college he fitted
up a laboratory in Cleveland and obtained a
fine reputation as a chemist, turning his atten
tion to electric lighting in 1875. He is the
acknowledged inventor of modern arc electric
fighting, and was the first to put it into prac
tical operation in 1876. Since then he has
produced more than fifty patents which have
become the basis of the great manufacturing
business conducted by the Brush Electric Com
pany, of Cleveland, of which he is president.
besides being a director in many other leading
industries. Mr. Brush was decorated by the
French government in 1881 for his achieve
ments in electric science ; was the recipient of
-the Ruraford medal in 1899; has been twice
honored with the degree of LL.D., and is a
meraber of the leading engineering and sci
entific societies of both the new and the
old worlds. Industries in 1870.
Two greater men who have figured in the
development of the industries of Cleveland
could not be mentioned than the above, and
to them is largely due the remarkable prog
ress of Cleveland in this field since 1870. In
that year the city .had sixty-seven raanufac
tories of iron Vi/hich had an aggregate capital
of $4,682,050 and turned out $6,497,579 worth
of products. Its thirteen flour mills had an
output valued at nearly $2,000,000, while itv
manufactories for the production of clothing
were yet in their infancy, producing only
$588,000 worth of goods. Altogether, Cu)ra-
hoga county had nearly 1,150 manufacturing
establishments, practicaHy aH of which were
within the city limits. In this line were thirty-
eight incorporated companies,, with an aggre
gate capital of $11,690,000. The total capital
invested in raanufacturing plants was $13,-

645,000 ; the hands employed numbered 10,000,
and the wages paid aggregated $4,539,000.
Industrial Growth from 1870 to 1900.
The decade frora 1870 to 1880 was one of
financial depression and therefore Cleveland's
industrial growth was not so pronounced dur
ing this period as from 1880 to 1890. In
1880 the city ranked fifteenth in manufac
turing in the United States, the capital thus
employed being $19,430,000; the wages paid,
$8,502,000, and the value of manufactures,
$48,604,000. During the succeeding ten years
the nuraber of establishments increased 40
per cent; the capital, 13.39 P^r cent, and the
value of raanufactured products, 74.5 per cent.
By the year 1900 Cleveland led all other Amer
ican cities in the production of merchant ves
sels, and was second only to New York in
the manufacture of woraen's and children's
clothing. The city was first in the produc
tion of wire and wire nails, of raalleable
iron and of hi,gh class automobiles. Accord
ing to authentic statistics of 1905, Cleveland
is running Detroit a close race in the raanu
facture of automobiles. Cleveland's total out
put is now valued at $4,256,000. In this
connection it is interesting to note that the
fir.st Araerican factory-raade "auto" was the
product of a Cleveland factory and came forth
as late as March, 1898.
Great Steel and Iron Center.
Andrew Carnegie has been quoted as say
ing that Cleveland is destined to become the
.greatest steel and iron center in the world,
both because of its transportation facilities
and its geographical situation. The output ot
steel and iron in 1905 formed more than 22
per cent of the total value of its manufactures,
v/hich araounted to $172,115,000. This esti
mate of the iraportance of that branch of the
raetal industries does not take into account
the output of the foundries and machine shops,
which, if taken into consideration, would ma
terially increase the percentage.

514

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

In the manufacture of children's and wom
en's clothing, knitted goods and hats and
raany other articles of a personal nature,
Cleveland still holds, a high rank among the
cities of the country, and it is almost needless
to say what her position is as regards the
refining of petroleura oil. As a whole, the
statistics which represent the present status
of her industries are as follows : Number of
establishments, 1,617; capital invested, $156,-
509,000; salaries paid, $8,308,000; wages paid
to 64,000 eraployes, $33,471,000, and cost of
materials, $97,700,000.
Women's Part in the Industries.
The part which women play in this intense
industrial life is thus condensed in a "Study
of Woraen's Work in Cleveland," made in
1908 by the investigation coramittee of the
Consumers' League, under the direction of
]\lrs. Florence Woolston :
"There are employed in Cleveland factories
and sweatshops over 210,618 persons, at least
15,500 of whora are women and girls. Cleve
land is said to produce greater diversity of
manufactures than any other American city.
It was estiraated in 1906 that 12,500 different
articles are made in its 3,740 shops. Cleve
land outranks all other American cities in pro
duction in more than nine lines of industry.
These are raainly the construction of steel
ships, raachinery, tools and instruraents.
Women are employed in shops of this kind to
a great extent. Those so engaged are usually
foreign-born Slavs. This city takes high rank
also in the manufacture of paints, oils and
chewing gum, all of which eraploy woraen and
girls to a considerable extent. In the raanu
facture of women's clothing, it is second only
to New York. Foreign-born persons make up
approximately 41 per cent of the city's total
population, and it is these foreigners who con
stitute the great majority of factory employes."
Manufactures in 1909.
According to the figures furnished by the
Cleveland Charaber of Commerce for the year

ending June 30, 1909, the total number of
manufactures in the city is 3,148; capital,
$171,539-925; wage earners, 75,855; wages
paid, $42,906,848; cost of materials, $100,-
778,813, and value of products, $211,489,753.
Shipping and Fish Industries.
Cleveland's great shipping industry is now
represented by five immense shipping yards,
which employ some 18,000 hands and turn out
150 iron and steel vessels every year. Nearly
all the shipping used in the iron ore traffic is
now owned in Cleveland, fully three-fourths
of the modern steel ships in service on the
great lakes being the property of local vessel
owners. The entire vessel tonnage owned in
Cleveland is valued at raore than $65,0(X),ooo.
and the 350 or more -vessels included in the
Cleveland customs district have a tonnage of
594,682. The fish industry of Cleveland is also vast,
the city itself still raaintaining its position
as the largest market for fresh and salted
fish in the United States. Its product in this
line is not far from 80,000 tons, nearly half
of this araount being what is popularly known
as lake herring.
There are few cities in the United States in
which labor is raore closely or strongly or
ganized than in Cleveland, and an irapressive
evidence of this fact is found in the dedication
May 14, 1910, of the thirteen-story building
erected by the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, from contributions collected from
the merabers of the order throughout the
United States. This is the first structure of
this kind ever erected solely by any branch
of organized labor, and the building wih cost
approximately $1,250,000, its location being on
the corner of Ontariy street and St. Clair
avenue, N. E, The idea of having its own
headquarters originated at the convention of
locomotive engineers at Columbus, in the
spring of 1908, and the salaried officers of the
brotherhood were authorized to buy property
and erect a permanent home in Cleveland.
Notwithstanding serious obstructions met in

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

515

the construction of the building, it is expected
that the building will be ready for occu
pancy July 15, 1910, when the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers will occupy what
has been generally recognized as the finest
labor temple in the world. The dedication
ceremonies occurred on the evening of May
14, in Central Armory, where about 5,000 per
sons, consisting of locomotive engineers and
their famihes, gathered to listen to the
speeches of Mayor Baehr, Governor Harraon,
former Governor Herrick and other notables.
In the midst of the irapressive ceremonies ten
der tributes were paid to the raemory of P. M.
Arthur, who so wisely guided the affairs of the
order for twenty-nine years. His widow, upon
this occasion, presented a speaking likeness of
her husband to the brotherhood, which will
find an appropriate and prominent place in
this temple dedicated to the best interests of
labor. Cleveland's Commerce.
The iron ore from the Lake Superior region
and coal from the fields of southern Ohio and
Pennsylvania and the gigantic output 01
Cleveland's manufacturing plants constitute
the bulk of the comraerce which is raoved by
her lake raarine and the railroads which radi
ate from the city. The comparative irapor
tance of the water and iron ways in the move
ment of this great bulk of manufactures and
raw materials is indicated by the following-
late figures: Freight received in Cleveland
by raH, 11,177,000 tons, and forwarded by the
same means, 7,171,000 tons; by lake, during
the same period, there were received 4,477,000
tons, and forwarded 3,841,000 tons. Thus the
freight which passed through Cleveland, as
moved by rail and lake, is in the proportion
of 8 to 18, in favor of the railroads. In
examining the figures bearing on the move
ment of coal through Cleveland, it is to be
noted that, although the annual receipts aver
age about 5,000,000 tons, the shipments
amount to but 2,500,000, thus indicating that
fully one-half of the coal received is con

suraed in local manufactories and households,
although the latter consuraption is compara
tively small. Cleveland's Harbor.
Prior to 1870 the entrance to Cuyahoga
river constituted about all of Cleveland's har
bor. The first important iraprovement was
the extension of the sea wall from the foot of
Waverly avenue to a point about 700 feet
beyond the shore line. The original wall was
constructed of timber, and about one-half of
this section of the harbor is still coraposed of
wood, with a sheet-iron facing, the balance,
however, being of solid raasonry. The ira
provements of the general governraent con
template a further extension of the harbor east
to Gordon park, four railes frora the mouth of
the Cuyahoga river, with converging arms
from the ea.st and west extensions of the old
breakwater, 1,000 feet out to sea. When aH
the improvements in contemplation are com
pleted some $10,000,000 will have been ex
pended and Cleveland will have a harbor three-
fourths of a mile wide and five railes long.
not to be surpassed in security by any on the
Great Lakes. The city dockage is over ten
railes in extent and is generally divided into
two classes — one for unloading iron ore from
the huge freighters of the Great Lakes, and
the other for loading coal for transraission
by raH. Cleveland's Railroads.
The opening of the first section of Cleve
land's first railroad, the Cleveland, Colum
bus & Cincinnati, March 16, 1850, has already
been described and in 1852 the Cleveland,
PainesvHle & Ashtabula road and the Cleve
land & Pittsburg line were opened for traffic.
while in January of the following year the
line from Cleveland to Norwalk and Toledo
was completed. It was not until February,
1854, that the first through train from Buffalo
reached this city over the Cleveland & Ma
honing railroad, and in the development of
the^e early lines into more extended systems.

Si6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

rauch of the energy of Cleveland's capitalists
and railroad raen was absorbed for the follow
ing quarter of a century.
In 1866, when Cleveland's. Union depot was
first thrown open to the public, it was pro
nounced the largest and best appointed rail
way station in the country. In May of the
following year the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern was established, this being the pred
ecessor of the great railway systems which
now furnish the city — both its industries and
great traveling public — with complete trans
portation facilities.
The six grand trunk railways, which now
place Cleveland in intimate connection with
every part of the United States, embrace a
mileage of 15,856 and are capitaHzed at
$1,170,000,000. There are six principal de
pots within the city liraits — the Union, situ
ated on the Lake front at the foot of Water
street, used by the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern; the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago
and St. Louis (Big Four) and Cleveland and
Pittsburg railroad (operated by the Pennsyl
vania company) ; Erie depot, Superior and
South Water streets, used by the Cleveland
and Mahoning line ; Western and Lake Erie
railroad, at the foot of Water street; New
York, Chicago and Lake Erie (Nickle Plate)
on Broadway ; Baltimore and Ohio on the cor
ner of Champlain and South Water streets ;
and the Euclid avenue station of the Cleveland
& Pittsburg railroad. These great systems
virtually absorb the bulk of the freight and
passenger traffic which centers and passes
through Cleveland, while the old Ohio canal,
with its four feet of water, which still stretches
from Cleveland to the Ohio river, more than
300 railes in length, is little more than a
meraory. .»
The Chamber of Commerce.
No institution in Cleveland is tj-pical of the
breadth and progress of its industries, its
V. coraraerce, its transportation facilities and its
civic honor and strength, except the Chamber

of Comraerce. The name fails to do justice
to the scope of its work and the vast benefits
which it is daily conferring on the pubhc. As
has been fairly suggested, it should be more
fittingly designated a Chamber of Citizenship.
Representing, as it does, the best ability of
Cleveland, it is a welcome adviser to the city
council and the State legislature, and there
is hardly a raovement for the developraent of
raanufacturing and coraraercial Cleveland in
which it has not participated. Through its
standing comraittees, it represents the manu
facturer, the wholesale and retail merchant,
the shipper and the transportation agent. It
has taken up sanitary problems, brought capi
tal and labor together, and, as a body of earn
est, conservative, intelligent citizens, oiled the
wheels of municipal progress in countless
ways. It is, in fact, Cleveland more truly
typified than any other association of its peo
ple. The necessity .for such a representa
tive body was early recognized, resulting in
the formation of a Board of Trade in 1848,
which was reorganized as a Chamber of Com
raerce in 1893. Its present raagnificent home
was dedicated in May, 1899.
Churches and Charities.
Cleveland's claim has never been seriously
disputed, to the effect that there is no city hi
the West which has a greater percertage of
houses of worship in proportion to its popula
tion, and that Brooklyn alone exceeds it among
all American cities. The western "City of
Churches" has about 350 church edifices,
among which are raany of architectural beauty
and significant historical association.
The first minister to appear among any
community in Cleveland was Rev. Seth Hart,
but as he was an agent for the Connecticut
Land Company, his tirae was mostly taken up
with business, rather than religious affairs.
Rev. Joseph Badger, the Connecticut mission
ary, preached in Cleveland at least as early
as 1801, and often visited the village there
after.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

517

Trinity Church.
Trinity Parish was organized at the resi
dence of Phineas Shepherd in 1816. Later
Rev. Robert Searle, the pastor of St. Peter's,
at Ashtabula, perfected it and preached for
the congregation. This Shepherd house was
of logs and stood at No. 230 Pearl street.
The first confirmation was in 1819. In 1827
a lot was bought of General Perkins, corner
t)f St. Clair and Seneca streets, for $250, and
a church was erected at a cost of $3,070. It
was known as "The Church" for many years,
and now stands at the corner of Euclid and
Perry. For a long time Richard Lord and Jo
siah Barber were the only male raembers
of Trinity church.
Old Stone Church.
. The First Presbyterian church, organized
Septeraber 19, 1820, held its first services in
the old log court house on the public square.
It is StHl farailiarly known as the Old Stone
church, the building which the society now
occupies standing on the site of the original
structure of 1834.
Catholics in Cleveland.
The first Catholic priest to hold service in
Cleveland was the Rev. Thoraas Martin, in
1826. Previous to the raaking of the canal,
there had been few foreigners and, conse
quently, few Catholics in Cleveland. Today it
has a large Catholic population.
In 1855 3. church was built in the vaHey
which conformed to the present Columbus
street. Among the raost iraposing churches of the
present is the St. John's Catholic Cathedral,
on Superior and Erie streets, in which is the
fine statue of Araadeus Rapp, the first Catho
Hc bishop of Cleveland. The first resident
Catholic priest of Cleveland was Father John
DiHon, who conducted services in 1837. and
on the following year Rev. P. O. Dwyer found
ed St. Mary's parish on the flats. When Bishop
Rapp took possession of the see in 1847, St.

Mary's church became a cathedral, the edifice
now occupied on the corner of Erie and Su
perior street being erected in 1852.
Jewish Organizations.
In 1839 the first Jewish organization was
established. This was followed by other or
ganizations, by divisions and consolidations
until now the Hebrews are exceedingly strong.
Their teraple stands on Willson avenue.
The Methodists.
In 1827 a Methodist class of five woraen
and two raen was organized. Andrew Tora-
linson was the leader. The same year a class
was forraed at Doane's Corners by eleven
woraen and nine raen.
Birth of the Epworth League.
The Epworth Memorial church is the suc
cessor of what was long known as the Central
Methodist Episcopal church, and in May.
1889, the world-famed Epworth League was
born in its auditorium. B. E. Helraan is
credited with being the chief founder of that
society, which has spread over so much of the
civilized world.
The first Baptist raeeting was held during
1832 in the old Acaderay. A society formed
the next year, with fourteen members.
Among other well known churches are the
Plymouth Congregational, founded in 1852,
and the Pilgrim church, of the sarae denorai
nation; St. Paul's Episcopal church, estab
lished in 1846 and distinguished for raany
years for the harraony of its choral and rau
sical services ; Woodland Avenue Presbyterian,
with perhaps the largest Sunday-school in the
city ; and the Church of the Unity, Unitarian,
which is the center of rauch intellectual life.
Araong the most magnificent of the churche=
lately erected in Cleveland, is that of the Eu
clid Avenue Presbyterian, on Euclid avenue
at the entrance of the College for Women, of
the Western Reserve University. It is of lime
stone and almost pure Gothic in its style of
architecture.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Early Women's Societies.
As soon as there is a church in any cora
raunity women sew for missionaries, but the
first union sewing society in Cleveland, organ-
• ized by woraen frora various churches, was in
1832. The feraale Charity Society of Trinity
Church was formed the day after Christmas
in 1837. The feraale Moral Reform Society
was organized in 1840. Seventy-seven years
ago a "Ladies' Union Prayer Meeting" came
into existence, while in 1830 Mrs. Rebecca
Cromwell Rouse organized the Ladies' Tract
Society of the village of Cleveland, which
was auxHiary to the New York Society.
Cleveland Protestant Orphan Asylum.
The Cleveland Protestant Orphan Asylura
was organized in 1852. Mrs. Stillman Witt
paid the. rent for a house at the corner of Erie
and Ohio streets. The house was furnished
by contributions. Eleven children found homes
there at the opening. Marine Hospital.
The oldest hospital, the Marine, was estab
lished in 1837. The grounds are bounded
by Erie, Lake and Muirson streets. In 1875
its buddings were leased by the Lakeside Hos
pital Association, but in 1896 reverted to the
government, and the institution has since con
tinued to be conducted for the relief of old
:md invalid searaen of the Great Lakes.
City Infirmary and Hospital.
Besides the hospital c6nnected with the
Western Reserve University, and the Cleve
land Homeopathic hospital already mentioned,
are St. Clair, St. Vincent, St. John's, the Ger
man Evangelical, the Cleveland General hos
pitals and the City Infirmary and Hospital.
the latter located upon a fine site of eighty
acres between Jennings avenue and Scranton,
and fifty-six acres between that avenue and
the Cuyahoga river. The buildings and
grounds are valued at $780,000, and 900 per
sons are treated daily free of charge. For
the maintenance of this grand institution $237,-
000 is expended annually.

Cleveland State Hospital.
The Cleveland State Hospital embraces
grounds in the southeastern part of the city.
comprising ninety-eight acres, and was found
ed as early as 1855. It has often 1,300 pa
tients at one tirae. Cleveland's Humane So
ciety, established in 1873, has stood as the
strong and disinterested protector of help
less children and animals. Its headquarters
are in the City HaH. The Western Seamen's,
Friend Society, organized in November, 1830,
still conducts its worthy charities through the
Bethel Horae, located near the river on Spring
street. '
Joseph Perkins, Philanthropic Reformer.
If any one individual were to be selected
above all others most representative of the
breadth and practical usefulness of Cleve
land's noble charities, no one could be more
safely presented than Joseph Perkins, known
for many years both east and west for his dis
interested efforts to reform the jail system'
of the country and further honored as the
father of the Ohio Board of State charities.
He was a son of General Siraon Perkins, one
of the real fathers of the Western Reserve,
and was born in Warren, Trumbull county,
July 5, 1819; graduated from Marietta Col
lege at the age of twenty, and, after assisting
in settling his father's estate in Warren, re
moved to Cleveland in 1852, where he spent
the reraainder of his life. He evinced re
markable ability as a banker and business man
and accumulated a fortune, after which he
sturdily set to work to devote his means and
his life to the highest ends of huraanity.
In 1867 Governor Cox appointed Mr. Per
kins a raeraber of the Ohio Board of State
Charities and the latter at once entered into
his work, not only with characteristic energy^
but with the advantage of being enabled to
devote almost his undivided attention to re-
forras connected with penal and charitable
institutions. He not only investigated deeply,
but thought profoundly, and, seeing a defect,
had the practical ability to thoroughly remedy

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

519

it. Finally he perfected a plan which was
accepted by the board, and becarae known
throughout the country as the Jail System of
the Board of State Charities of Ohio. Piis
aim, which he so thoroughly accomplished,
was to classify prisoners and avoid the danger
of throwing thera together proraiscuously, by
which even juvenile offenders were often con
taminated by hardened criminals.
After accoraplishing this rauch needed re
form, Mr. Perkins turned his attention to
the Infirmary systera of the State, accomplish
ing as thorough a reform in this department
as in the other. It was through him that much
of the oppressive restraint which had been
placed upon the insane was removed, and this
unfortunate class were given raore air and
outdoor work, which, in the end, iraproved
both their physical and raental health. His in
firmary plan, like his jail system, has becorae
a model for the country, and the best buildings
erected in the United States have been largely
in accord with his investigations and views.
He next planned and largely sustained an ad
mirable children's home. Notwithstanding all
these splendid works in the cause of state
charities and in the cause of reforras which
had a national apphcation, Mr. Perkins per
sistently kept himself in the background and
it was only through the insistence of his friends
that the board, as a whole, was not given the
credit for the investigations and reforms which
were conducted almost entirely through hira
and at individual expense. The death of this
admirable raan occurred at Saratoga Springs,
New York, August 26, 1885. His sons, Dud
ley and Joseph, and their chHdren, survive
him. The beautiful old homestead on Euclid
. avenue, where he and his reraarkable wife,
Martha Steele, of Virgina, graciously received
. their friends, has passed into other hands.
Mother of Woman's Christian Work.
,0f the woraen of Cleveland, Mrs. Rebecca
EHiott Cromwell Rouse for many years led in
the proraotion of its raost worthy charities.
She was a Massachusetts woraan, raarried at

the age of eighteen, and in 1830 raoved frora
her home in New York City to the Western
Reserve to engage in Missionary work. Mrs.
Rouse had been called "the raother of the
Baptist churches and founder of the Woraan's
Christian Work in Cleveland." In 1842 she
becarae the organizer .and president of the
Martha Washington society, from which
sprung the Protestant Orphan Association,
the oldest of the Protestant institutions of
Cleveland; of this she was the raanaging di
rector for years. During the Civil war she
was the leading spirit in relief work, being in
struraental in collecting and distributing
through various Aid Societies, $2,000,000
\vorth of hospital supplies for sick and wound
ed Union soldiers.
Other Notables of the County.
Among the faraous raen and woraen whose
personalities have been raore or less closely
connected with Cleveland and Cuyahoga
county raay be raentioned, besides those whose
sketches have been interwoven with the gen
eral history, the late John Hay, Lincoln's
biographer, and the Republican statesraan,
whose home was for some tirae in Cleveland,
and who died in New Harapshire, July i, 1905 ;
Constance Fenniraore' Woolson and Sarah K.
Bolton, the widely known authors ; the late
Hon. Marcus A. Hanna, the Republican leader
who succeeded Sherraan in the United States
Senate in 1897; Hon. Rufus P. Ranney, mem
ber of the Ohio constitutional convention of
1857, t'wice chosen to the Supreme bench of
the State, and during the last years of his
life a resident of Cleveland; John D. Rocke
feller, probably not only the, wealthiest raan
in the world, but the one whose narae has
been most largely associated with stupendous
gifts for the furtherance of higher education
and who has been a power in the beautifying
of Cleveland; John Henry Devereux, who
came to Cleveland frora Boston in 1848 and
was as prominent as any one raan, both in
the early history of railroad buHding in the
Western Reserve, in the supervision of raili-

EOCKEEELLEE 'S BOYHOOD HOME, CLEVELAND.

FOEEST HILL, NOW EOCKEEELLEE 'S CLEVELAND HOME.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

531

tary railways during the war of the Rebellion,
and in the regulation of the later great trans
portation systems ; and Reuben Wood and
John Brough, war governors of Ohio.
Governor Reuben Wood.
Governor Wood, who was a native of the
Green Mountain state, carae to Cleveland in
1818 when he was twent3f-five years of age.
He had already mastered his law studies and
at once entered into the practice of his pro
fession ; was three tiraes elected to the Ohio
state senate, ascended the bench of the Su
preme court in 1833 ; served as chief justice
from 1841 to 1844; was elected governor of
the state on the Democrat ticket in 1850, but
resigned to accept the position of consul at
^'alparaiso, Chili, and afterward became
United States Minister to that country. The
climate of Chili proved so enervating to the
constitution of the governor, who had so long
been accustomed to the raore bracing cliraate
of the north that he was obliged to return to
Ohio. "The tall chief of the Cuyahogas" then
retired to his farm near Rockport, Cuyahoga
county, passing the reraainder of his days on
beautiful "Evergreen Place." There he passed
away in 1864, in the midst of the most terrific
contests and terrible perplexities of the Civil
war.
Governor John Brough.
John Brough, the last of Ohio's three war
governors, was born in Marietta in 181 1 and
died in Cleveland during the last year of
the war. His death was hastened, if not di
rectly caused, by his excessive application to
the service of his state and country. Gov
ernor Brough's early life was spent as a printer
and editor at Athens and Marietta, Ohio, his
first public office being that of state auditor.
to which he was elected in 1839. As the state
was then still under the malign influences of
the panic of 1837, his task in the reorganiza
tion of the state finances was one which called
for the .soundest qualifications of business and
statesmanship. When he retired frora office in

1846 he had gained a reraarkable high repu
tation as a public officer, leaving, as he did,
the finances of the state in a prosperous and
sound condition. In partnership with his
brother, Charles, he then undertook the raan
ageraent of the Cincinnati Enquirer and raade
it into one of the raost powerful journals of
the west. At the sarae tirae he opened a
law office in Cincinnati, became one of the
most popular Democratic orators in Ohio, and
in 1848 retired temporarily from political life.
In 1853 he was elected president of the Madi
son and Indianapolis railway. Afterward he
removed to Cleveland; in 1861 declined the
nomination as governor on the Republican
ticket, but in 1863 accepted it from the War-
Democrat party. The arrest of Clement Val-
landighara for disloyalty and his banishraent
from the United States, with his subsequent
noraination by the Regular Deraocrats for gov
ernor of Ohio, brought forth frora Mr. Brough
such unflinching utterances in support of the
Union cause that the Republican party united
upon hira as its candidate. The result of this
political combination was his election by a
raajority of more than 100,000, the largest ever
given for any governor in any state up to that
tirae. Although irapetuous and strong-willed.
Governor Brough was at heart tender and
considerate, and in this crisis of the state's
affairs proved not only his remarkable bal
ance of character, but his true statesraanship.
No one ever questioned his honesty.
Leonard and William Case.
Among other notables of Cleveland, long
identified with epochal periods in its history
and with events which had a decided bearing
on its progress, should also be mentioned
Leonard and William Case, father and son.
The elder man, who was a Pennsylvanian,
had raoved to Warren, TrurabuH county, in
his boyhood, and after holding various offices
connected with the courts, was admitted to
the bar in 1814. He was subsequently col
lector of the sixth district, and in 1816 raoved
to Cleveland to go into the banking business.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

but failed, again practiced law and re-entered
politics. Frora 1821. to 1825 he was presi
dent of the village of Cleveland; was a mem
ber of the state legislature and assisted in the
location of the Ohio canal ; became the father
of City Beautification, and fixed upon Cleve
land its name of Forest City; headed the sub
scription list for the building of its first rail
way, and in the later years of his life rebuilt
his private fortune, and died, moreover, a be
loved and honored citizen, in his seventy-ninth
year. His son William, a native of Cleve
land, served for years in its council, was twice
mayor, was for some time president of the

F. Post in the Public of January 6, 1906. Tom
Johnson's ancestors were Virginians, the
first one arriving in this country in 1714. One
of these ancestors, Robert Johnson, who
moved to Kentucky, was a raember of the
constitutional convention in 1792 and of the
Kentucky legislature after statehood. Others
of the connection followed into Kentucky and
then on into Arkansas, and raost of them
.syrapathized with the south during the re
bellion. Albert W. Johnson, of Arkansas,
was on the staff of John C. Breckenridge and
Early. His wife, with her three sons — ^Tom
L., William L. and Albert L. — kept as near

THE T. L. JOHNSON EESIDENCE, CLEVELAND.

Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula Railroad
Corapany, and one of the founders of the
city water works. At the tirae of his death,
in his forty-fifty year, he was in the raidst of
the construction of the. Case block, then con
sidered the finest coraraercial structure in
Cleveland. Williara Case was a good, useful,
able, finely educated and warra-hearted man.
Tom Loftin Johnson.
The following sketch of Tom L. Johnson
is condensed frora an article written by Louis

to the father through the railitary service as
she was aHowed, and at the close of the war
they found theraselves in Staunton, Virginia,
absolutely penniless.
At this time Tom was only eleven years
old. He soon began work as a newsboy. He
early realized the power of monopoly. He
raanaged to keep all other people from going
into the business of selling newspapers. He
got fifteen cents for daily papers and twenty-
five cents for picture papers. Of course this
didn't last long, but he raade eighty-eight dol-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

523

lars. This was used to get the faraily to
Louisville. Here his father, already heavily
in debt, managed to borrow enough money to
operate his cotton plantation. This venture
was not successful. He moved to EvansvHle,
Indiana, and finally it was decided that Tom
would have to seek work, but his raother "was
obliged to wait for a cold day to give her an
excuse for wearing a crocheted hood of more
comfortable days," when she went to seek em
ployment for her son. She secured a place
for him in a rolling mill, and he began work
in 1869. He had had a little schooling, but
had been rather liberally taught by his father
and mother, both of whom were educated. In
Louisville he found a relative named Dy Pont
who had bought a little street railroad, and
during the suraraer he was offered a place in
the office. Here was begun his career as a
street railway magnate. In a few months he
was secretary of the company. He later be
came superintendent and served until 1876,
when he and two associates bought of Will
iam H. English, the Deraocratic candidate for
vice president of the United States, the In
dianapolis street car systera. Before this
young Johnson had invented a fare box, and
from this eventually he made about $30,000.
This Indianapolis system iraproved under his
manageraent. He raade his father president
of the corapany. He was treasurer. Mules
were used to ,draw the cars, and when John
son made the suggestion to use electricity his
associates disapproved and so he sold out to
them. He netted frora this Indianapolis ven
ture more than half a million dollars. In
1880 he bought a sraall line in Cleveland and
introduced some of the discoveries which he
had made ip Indianapolis. Then began the
great war with Mark Hanna. Johnson and
his brother Albert acquired interest in the De
troit street car system and in Brooklyn, but
in 1898 he withdrew frora the street car busi
ness. Through his street car interests he be
came aware of the money that could be raade
in steel rails, went into that business, made
money, and finally, in the financial depression

of 1903, these establishments were nearly
swamped. He married his fourth cousin,
Elizabeth Johnson. In the eighties, having
spent all his time and thought on money-mak
ing, he accidentally (on the train) bought
Henry George's "Social Problems," and later
read his other books, becarae a single taxer,
and has ' tried ever since to work out this
problera. He became a friend of Henry
George and together they decided that he.
should go into politics in order to help their
reforra. In 1886 he was living in New York.
He went to congress in 1888 and there he
fought for his single-tax principle, almost
alone. In 1901 he was norainated for raayor
of Cleveland and there for eight years he
fought out his single-tax principles. His
friends tell us that his adrainistration found
Cleveland the best governed city in the United
States. Enemies tell us he was extravagant,
self-seeking and unprincipled. A person in
terested in money-making cannot understand
how a raan could drop that fascinating busi
ness and try to raake the world a better place
for poor people. Such persons call Tom
Johnson a charlatan. He determined upon
securing three-cent fare for the citizens of
Cleveland, and the fight ran over years, but,
at this writing, although Tora Johnson's for
tune has largely disappeared, people pay a
lower fare than they ever would have paid
but for hira. No raan in Cleveland ever had
warraer friends, than has he. The loyalty and
the love which his fellow workers and asso
ciates show him is raost remarkable. Most
men who work with hira, love him. Those
who work against hira, hate hira. Last year
he was defeated for mayor and at present is
in rather delicate health. Some day Cleve
land will point in pride to Tom Johnson, as
they do now to Moses Cleaveland and Com
modore Perry.
Hon. Marcus A. Hanna.
Marcus A. Hanna was born in 1837 in New
Lisbon, Ohio. His father was a country phy
sician of good practice and IMr. Hanna never

HON. MAECUS A. HANNA,

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

525

suffered poverty and was not developed
through financial struggle as raany raen are.
His father took his faraily to Cleveland and
here Mr. Hanna attended college, enlisted in
the war, and iraraediately thereafter began the
buHding up of his business. He was a very
social raan, entertained largely in his horae,
and his wife, who was a daughter of Daniel
Rhodes, had tastes like his, so that their home
was a social center. He soon took an active
interest in politics and became socially asso
ciated with Sherman, Garfield and McKinley.
He was like a father to McKinley, helping him
over rough places and sharing his joys and
sorrows alike. When financial distress came
to Major McKinley, it was Mr. Hanna who
stepped in and helped out. The successful Mc
Kinley campaign was due largely to Mr.
Hanna. He never held but two political
offices — member of the school board of Cleve
land and the United States senatorship, al
though he v/as offered cabinet positions.
Among the raen of his political party he was
known as the leader. Among the disaffected
and the opposing parties, he was a boss. The
truth was he was both. He did not introduce
the boss .system into Ohio. That raust be laid
at Senator Foraker's door. But like all men
who have been successful in business, he was
determined as to the carrying out of his poli
cies. He died in Washington February 15.
1904, where he was serving as United States
senator. There was a funeral service in the
senate, attended by ambassadors frora almost
every country, and his body lay in state in
the Chamber of Coramerce in Cleveland. His
funeral was held at St. Paul's church on the
19th. President Roosevelt, Secretary Taft and
J. Pierpont Morgan were among the distin
guished men present. [For full details regard
ing the Hfe of the late senator the reader is
referred to the biographical department of this
work.]
Hon. John C. Hale.
The bench and bar of Cleveland and Cuya
hoga county have always presented a front

of strength, dignity and briHiancy to the legal
profession of the country. Among those well
worthy of mention is Hon. John C. Hale, long
presiding judge of the Eighth circuit court of
Ohio. A native of New Harapshire and
graduate of Dartmouth College, he came to
Cleveland in 1857, where he was adraitted to
the bar, iraraediately moving to Elyria, Ohio,
where he formed a partnership with W. W.
Boynton. Mr. Hale was afterward prosecut
ing attorney of Lorain county, register of
bankruptcy and member of the Ohio consti
tutional convention of 1872. He was elected
to the bench of the court of comraon pleas in
1877, serving until 1883; then returned to
Cleveland, associated hiraself again with Judge
Boynton (whose career upon the bench had
also 'been raost noteworthy), and in the fall
of 1892 ascended the bench of the circuit
court, which he has so adorned with hi^
learning and personal character.
Hon. Daniel R. Tilden.
Hon. Daniel R. Tilden, late judge of the
probate court of Cuyahoga county, was a son
of Connecticut, who passed all his adult life
in Ohio and died at Cleveland, March 4, 1890,
in his eighty-second year. After practicing
at Ravenna, Portage county, for a number of
years, he raade Cleveland his horae in 1846.
In 1854 he was elected judge of the probate
court and thus served for thirty-three suc
cessive years, retiring frora the bench in 1888.
Cuyahoga county never had a better judge or
a raore honorable man.
General Mortimer D. Leggett.
General Mortimer D. Leggett, as a boy of
fifteen, moved from his New York horae to
Montville, Geauga county, and after gradu
ating frora the Teachers' Acaderay at Kirt
land, taught for a tirae before raastering the
law. In 1844 he was admitted to practice ;
becarae an M. D. and located in Akron, where
he assisted in creating the famous school law,
and organized the first system of graded
schools west of the Allegheny mountains. He

^26

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

achieved a high narae both as a lawyer in
practice and theory; settled in ZanesviHe, of
whose schools he was superintendent, and
during the Civil war raised and comraanded
the Seventy-eighth Ohio regiraent, rising to
a brigadier-generalship and serving bravely
under both Grant and Sherman. In 1875 he
resigned frora the office of coraraissioner of
patents, to which President Grant had ap
pointed him four years before, and settled in
Cleveland, where he becarae prorainent in the
affairs of the Brush Electric Corapany, the
Cleveland PubHc Library, the Cuyahoga
county Soldiers and Sailors' Monument Asso
ciation, and in numerous other moveraents
dear to the pride and heart of the Forest City.
General Leggett's death occurred January 6,
1896.
Literary Women.
Araong the early woraen of note in Cleve
land was Sarah Coolidge Woolsey. She was
born in a residence which stood near the
Amasa Stone's residence. She was fond of
artistic and antique furniture, sketched and
painted very well, successfully cultivated flow
ers, but is best known as a writer of stories
for children. She contributed much to "St.
Nicholas" and other periodicals of that tirae.
Another Cleveland woman to obtain a good
deal of fame was Constance Fenimore Wool-
son. She was a grandniece of Fenniraore
Cooper, and ranked very near the top of story
writers of her generation. "Anne" was one
of her raost popular novels and had a large
circulation. Lydia Hoyt Farraer, a raeraber of the
faraous Hoyt faraily, was also a writer of chil
dren's books, her works being largely of a
biographical order. Her ability was recog
nized by Gladstone, and she really was a
genius. Sarah K. Bolton was one of the raost tal
ented and best known women in Cleveland.
She was a graduate of the seminary founded
by Catherine Beecher, was associated with
literarv people and removed to Cleveland at

the time of her raarriage. She was identi
fied with philanthropic and Christian work in
that city; was one of the editors of the Con
gregationalist in Boston. She spent much
tirae in travel, knew personally Jean Ingelow,
Robert Browning, Miss Mulock, Frances
Power Cobb and others. Mrs. Bolton wrote
many stories for children and contributed to
at least forty publications. Sarah Fitch.
No history of Cuyahoga county would be
complete without mentioning Sarah Fitch, who
from early womanhood was actively interested
in all charitable work — particularly those
which had a Christian sentiraent attached to
thera. The reports of humane. Christian,
philanthropic and like works in Cleveland con
tain stateraents of the immense amount of
good she did during her life time.
Martha Steele Perkins.
Mrs. Martha Steele Perkins was one of the
most intellectual, refined and conscientious
woraen Cleveland ever had. Her great grand
mother, Betty Washington, was a sister of
General George Washington, and her grand
father. Colonel Howell Lewis, was the only
one of the nephews mentioned in George
Washington's will. Her father, Robert Steele,
a Scotchman, died when she was six years
old and her mother moved to Marietta, Ohio,
in order that her children might be weH edu
cated. They had lived in Culpepper, Virginia.
She married Joseph Perkins and resided in
Warren until 1851, when the family moved
to Cleveland and both she and her husband
became active citizens in the truest sense of
the word. She continued her work as long
as her health permitted.
Mary Perry Payne.
The marriage of Henry B. Payne to Mary
Perry, a descendant of the comraodore, gives
luster to local history. Mrs. Payne's love for
learning and liberality to art, her public spirit
and lovely character raake for herself a warm

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

place in the hearts of Clevelanders. Her
grandson, Harry Payne Whitney, raarried
Helen Hay, the daughter of John Hay and
the granddaughter of Araasa Stone, and thus
was united two of Cleveland's oldest faraihes.
Villages Outside of Cleveland.
East Cleveland, iraraediately joining the cor
porate limits of the larger city, has a popula
tion of about 2,700, and although a separate
corporation has really no distinctive character.
Berea, on the other hand, twelve railes
southwest of Cleveland, which has a popula
tion of more than 2,500, is known through
out the country as the headquarters of one of
the greatest quarry industries in the raiddle
west. Of late years this industry has declined,
with the unusual growth of the ceraent in
dustry and its application to constructive work
of all kinds. The Berea sandstone industry
is almost confined to the manufacture of
grindstones, which, in fact, has always been
its chief specialty. The founder of this in
dustry, John Baldwin, also established the
Baldwin University at Berea. It is estimated
that fuHy three-fourths of the inhabitants of
Berea depend upon the quarries for their sup
port. Baldwin University was founded in
1846. In 1858 a Gerraan departraent was
established, which was reorganized in 1864 as
the German Wallace College, in honor of its
most liberal patron, Jaraes WaHace. The con
solidated institution, known as Baldwin Uni
versity and Gerraan Wallace College, is under
the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Berea has two English newspapers, the
Clarion and the Enterprise Advertiser (the lat
ter founded in 1868), and two German rehg
ious journals, naraely : Deutsch-Amerikanische
Zeitscrift and Kirche, the latter edited and

published by the faculty of Nast Theological
Seminary. Chagrin FaHs is a thriving industrial vil
lage about eighteen railes south-of-east from
Cleveland, its prosperity being founded upon
a considerable water-power at this point,
caused by the faH of the river of about 150
feet. Several iron foundries, paper mills,
wooden-ware factories and other plants are in
operation at Chagrin Falls, and as it is situ
ated on the Wheeling & Lake Erie RaHroad
its facilities are adequate for distributing the
products of its factories. Two good news
papers are also published, the Exponent,
founded in 1874, and the Republican, estab
lished in 1897.
Bedford, a village of some 1,500 people,
twelve miles southeast of Cleveland, is situ
ated* on the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Pitts-
bui;g. Fort Wayne & Chicago railroads. Its
principal industry is a thriving chair -factory,
and the place is of sufficient iraportance to
have sustained a well edited newspaper, the
News-Register, since 1891. Bedford early had
a free library. It was established by William
O. Taylor, father of Hon. V. A. Taylor.
Just northeast of the recently incorporated
village of ColHnwood are the pleasant summer
resorts known as Nottingham and Euclid.
EucHd township, in the northeastern part of
the county, was one of its earliest settled sec
tions, and the little village of Euclid enjoys
the distinction of having erected upon its site
the first frame raeeting house with a spire ever
built upon the Western Reserve. The erec
tion of this house of worship occurred in 1817.
The township was first settled by surveyors
under General Cleaveland — Josepih Burke and
family, in 1798, and Tiraothy Doane and
faraily, in 1801.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

ASHTABULA COUNTY.

To tell the story of any people is a task, but
when those people lived at the beginning of
the last century ; when they were brave and
thoughtful and honest ; when they fought their
raother country who was willing to wrest their
lands frora thera ; when they encouraged re
ligion, developed schools ; when they hurried
frightened slaves through their territory to
places of safety across the lake ; when they
gave up their sons on the southern battle fields ;
when their sons and daughters becarae famous
in art, science and literature — how can the tale
be told in a few words!
To tell it all would fill raany voluraes. The
author has decided therefore to write of the
early days largely and any interested student
can coraplete the story from the newspaper
files and official records which are to be found
in the county court house.
White raen were in Ashtabula county felling
timber hundreds of years ago ; India'ns roamed
the forest, and fought battles where prosper
ous towns now stand ; raissionaries, explorers
and soldiers walked on the sands of the lake
front on their way east and west many years
before the Connecticut Land Corapany existed,
or Moses Cleaveland and his party of survey
ors halted, began the running of the first line
and built their first house.
Mr. and Mrs. Jaraes Kingsbury, who soon
followed the surveyors, passed the winter of
1796 and 1797 in one of the company's cabins.

and here occurred the first birth and the first
death in the county.
"Mary Esther (?)" County.
Ashtabula county was erected February 10,
1807, and comprised all those portions of
Trumbull and Geauga counties lying north of
township, 7, east of range 6. It was organized
in 181 1 and between these dates was attached
to Trumbull and Geauga. It is not only the
largest county of the Reserve, but of the state.
It is nearly as large as Rhode Island and could
well be a little nation itself. It received its
narae frora its river which the Indians caHed
Ashtabula, raeaning "raany fish." It is said
Moses Cleaveland wanted to name the river
Mary Esther. If his desire had been very
great there seems to be no reason why he
should not have done so, since he was for the
time being "monarch of all he surveyed."
It is well, however, in view of the part Ash
tabula county has taken in northern Ohio his
tory that the Indian narae was adopted. It has
had for years a large nuraber of delegates in
congressional conventions, and as "grand old"
Ashtabula, or "d— d" Ashtabula, it has been
an ally or an eneray. Neither of these terms
could be appropriately given to Mary Esther.
Again, who could think of Giddings or Wade
representing the county of Mary Esther.
Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury stayed only one
winter in the Conneaut region. They proved
528

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

529

themselves to be good citizens and lived long
in Cleveland. The First Home Builders.
The first people to buy land with a view of
building up horaes within the boundaries of
oresent Ashtabula county, were not from New
England, but from Delaware county. New
York. They were Alexander Harper, William
McFarland and Ezra Gregory. They named
their new horae "Harpersfield," either for their
leader, or the town they left, or both.

bags of corn. Once the ice broke through,
wetting the provisions and theraselves,
but William rescued the grain, carried it
into the woods, whence he had ordered his
brother and friends to precede him, and build
a fire. When he reached them with the pro
visions, his clothes stiffly frozen, he found they
had succumbed to the cold and were lying
down, asleep. He built a fire, aroused them,
dried the grain and himself, and all reached
home safely.
"Thomas Montgomery and Aaron Wright

EIVEE SCENE AT T'HE ASHTABULA OF TODAY.

They began their journey March 7, 1798,
and arrived the last of June. Their trip. was
one of the raost tedious ones of which we have
record. Why they did not at several different
points turn round and go home, we cannot see.
In the following winter — that of 1798-99 —
they suffered great hardships, and carae near
perishing frora hunger. At tiraes they only had
six kernels of parched corn for each person.
Howeyer, Colonel Harper had two strong,
willing boys, Jaraes and Williara, who went
to Pennsylvania and brought on their backs.

settled in Conneaut in the spring of 1799.
Robert Montgomery and family, Levi and
John Montgomery, Nathan and John King,
Samuel Barnes and family came the same sea
son." Howe tells us that twenty of thirty In
dian cabins were standing when the settlers
arrived. If this were true they were built in
the winter of '97, because none of the sur
veyors mention any buildings except those
constructed by the company. Howe also tells
the story of an Indian girl saving the life of a
young white man prisoner by pleading for hira

530

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

as he was tied to the stake. She not only plead,
but paid furs and a sraall sum of money as
well. He observes : "An act in the lowly In
dian maid which entitled her narae to be
honorably recorded with that of Pocahontas
among the good and virtuous of every age."
The author is inclined to believe that this
visionary tale was exactly like that of Poco-
hantas. In Howe's day it was not known to
be a myth. Joel Thorp and Family.
In May, 1799, Joel Thorp and his wife,
Sarah, of Milford, Connecticut, carae to Dor-
¦set. Her uncle at Pittsburg gave her a horse,
which the wolves destroyed. Like the other
emigrants of that year, they fed short of pro
visions and Mr. Thorp left the faraily to go
twenty railes into Pennsylvania for food. The
oldest child was eight and there were two
younger. Sarah Thorp at first dug roots, upon
which they subsisted. The oldest son, Basil,
having seen sorae kernels of corn between the
logs, spent raany hours trying td secure thera
without success. The resourceful raother be
thought her to open a straw bed and the few
grains of wheat she found were boiled and
eaten. Still no father. Finally, when it
seemed as if they raust perish a wild turkey
flew into their potato patch and while it was
rolling in the dirt she crept over the logs and,
although her weakened hand trerabled, she
killed it with her gun and saved herself and
her babies.
Mrs. Thorp raarried three tiraes and, as so
ciety believed that women who were not mar
ried were disgraced, we concluded that the
historian who has so carefully handed down
this fact did so to show that she received a
reward of merit.
"Granny" Beckwith, He.roine.
In 1803 Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith, with two
little girls, lived in a cabin on the Ashtabula
river about a mile from the mouth. Mr. Beck
with was not very strong and in January of

1804 he went to Austinburg, .where they had
previously Hved, for provisions. When he did
not return at the appointed tirae, his wife
locked her daughters in the house and went
to raeet hira. She walked all the way to Aus
tinburg without finding hira and, having
aroused her friends, part of thera hurriedly re
turned to the Ashtabula cabin, unlocked the
doors, built the fire aind fed the children, while
others found the lifeless body of the father and
husband in the snow where, losing his way, he
had perished.
Alone in the wilderness, without corapanions
or property, Mrs. Beckwith supported herself
and her faraily partly by ferrying travelers
across the streara and helping thera in many
ways. She had a pair of cattle and with a
yoke chain and rope, she ferried foot passen
gers across the creek when the creek was open.
Usually teams could cross on the bar at the
raouth of the stream, but when freshets came
and washed away these bars, then she ren
dered service with her ferry. She lived to be
ninety years old, and the pen falters when the
author records that, although greatly beloved
and fondly called "Granny Beckwith," she
was obliged to spend her last days in the poor-
house. Titus Hayes, of Hartland.
In 1798 Titus Hayes, of Hartland, came to
the Reserye to join the surveyors. He was a
man of great energy and intelligence and de
voted to his dog, who accompanied him on his
journey. While waiting for the aniraal to re
turn" frora a hunt, June 21, 1798, he carved
a beech tree, and it is recorded, on good au
thority, that this mark was there nearly a
hundred years. He must have been an en
thusiast, for the sarae authority says that as he
entered Wayne township he swara the Pyma-
tuning creek. When he landed on the western
bank he said he thought it a raost beautiful
spot and decided to locate there. This he did
later. All the tales of the early settlers are not sad

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

531

ones ; nor were they devoid of huraor. Henry
Brown and Sophia Ladd, of East Haddam,
came to Rome in 1809 on their wedding jour
ney. Their tribulations of travel were no
worse than of those who had preceded them;
but they had their troubles, such as the break-
mg down of their wagon. Sophia apparently
did not like the new country, but Henry did,
and tried to keep up her spirits. He used to
flatter her in order to cheer her up, but she
was not so shallow as to be diverted. She
said that in offering her an inducement to
<;ome, he had promised her that she should
never wash her hands in cold water. When
she felt fault-finding she rerainded hira of this,
and at last he told her that she need not, aH she
had to do was to warra it.
These pictures of early life in Ashtabula
county show us how the early home life began
and under what conditions it grew. The sub
sequent years brought farailies into different
townships, and these isolated people were rein
forced by new comers till now, in the great
county as tourists spin along, in a touring car,
they are never out of sight of a dweHing. The
farmer is prosperous, the merchant successful
and the industries wonderful. As one views
the unloading of mountains of ore at Ash
tabula harbor, it seems incredible that 114
years ago there was not a home, not a church,
uot a school, not a domestic animal, not an acre
of cultivated land, in this whole great county.
Just forests, and Indians, wild aniraals and
.streams. First and Last Emigrants.
Conneaut was the first township to have
¦emigrants and Hartsgrove was the last. A de
fective title was the cause of the latter's delay.
When the boundaries of the county were set
tled, Morgan was the largest township, Ash
tabula the smallest.
Postmaster-General Granger.
Gideon- Granger, postraaster general under
Thomas Jefferson, was financially interested

in the Western Reserve. He owned land in
several sections. He raarried Miss Pease, sis
ter of Seth, one of the surveyors, and Calvin,
who was one of the Reserve's first and raost
briHiant judges. The latter settled at War
ren, then the capitol of the Reserve. Other
faraily connection Granger had scattered
about and this fact together with his position
led hira to establish and to develope the postal
services throughout this new country and to
give it political advantages. His connection
with Ashtabula county, however, was the
closest. He naraed No. 11, range 3, which he
owned, Jefferson, for the President, and early
made up his mind to locate the county seat
there. It was surveyed in 1800 and Eldred
Smith, Mr. Granger's agent, erected a cabin
on Mill creek in 1804. He also raade a clear
ing, sowed wheat, and cut a bridle path to
Austinburg that year. In 1805 the settlement
really began. In 1806 what is now the public
square was cleared of trees. The selection
of a county seat is seldom located without
trouble. Sometimes there are nothing raore
than words ; sometimes there is bloodshed. In
northeastern Ohio the raodern course was fol^
lowed. Jefferson, the County Se.\t.
Austinburg openly deraanded the county
seat and undoubtedly there were others "with
hopes," but as General Granger offered to
build a brick court house and log jail, pro
vided it should be in his township, Jefferson
became the county seat. Timothy Caldwell
was sent from Washington to superintend the
construction of the building. Bricks were
raade from the ground where the present pro
bate ofiice and jail stands. The excavation
raade a large hole which soon becarae a pool,
and here the boys of the vicinity learned to
swira, Platt R. Spencer being, araong thera ;
and here men whose names appear in this his
tory bathed.

532

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

First Court House.
The first court house had two stories. On
the first floor was the court room. It had four
huge fireplaces which raust have, made people
corafortable, at least in the later part of the
day. Pioneer horaes were never warra in the
morning and pioneer faces and backs, warm
at the same time. The second story was di
vided into several rooms and was reached by
an outside stairway. The building was com
pleted in 1811, the outside stairway was cov
ered in 1825, and the building was in use
twenty-five years.

ried Phoebe Spencer, the sister of Platt R.
Spencer), whose apothecary shop was in the
building, to go to the cellar to draw him some
high wine, that being, the only thing of an
alcoholic nature on hand; and, although he
promised to stand on the stairs and hold the
candle in his eagerness to be refreshed, he
forgot his proraise, as raany thirsty raen do,
and followed the proprietor into the cellar.
An explosion occurred, the house burned and,
in his excitement, the judge ran through the
viHage calling "high wine," instead of fire.
Today, inside of Ashtabula county, no in-

THE COUET HOUSE OF TODAY.

The Judge Mixed His Nouns.
There were no accoraraodations for the raen
who assisted Mr. Caldwell in the construction
of the court house. He, therefore, built a hotel
for thera. It was really two log cabins, with
a roof connecting them, and stood just north
of the building being constructed. Under this
roof, on suramer evenings daily, the workmen
told stories and quenched their thirst and later,
the lawyers who followed the circuit, did the
sarae. Grog was dispensed here as at all
taverns and here one night a judge over-per
suaded Dr. Elijah Coleman (who later mar-

toxicating liquor is allowed to be sold, and
nobody calls "high wine" for fire; and no
judge who indulged hiraself to excess would
have his name recorded in history — but such
were the liberty loving grandfathers.
The first frarae hotel was built by Mr. At
kins in 1820. It was first known as the Jeffer
son House, and stiH does duty under the name
of the Beckworth House.
Ashtabula's jail was erected soon after the
court house, and, like most of the Reserve's
first jails, had a debtor's prison.
Jefferson of today is a facsimile of many

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

533

New England towns. This is noticeable to all
visitors and strangers. Not only are the houses
like those of Massachusetts, but habits of the
older residents, home life and intellectual in
clinations, are distinctly New England. It has
been caHed the Concord of the West.
Disastrous Southern Migration.
Gideon Granger seemed to combine with
good judgment certain visionary qualities. To
establish a county seat in his township was
astute; to encourage men from Virginia and
Maryland to locate there with a view to rais
ing tobacco was clearly not practical. He
had been in Philadelphia when the seat of gov
ernment was there and in his mind's eye saw
just such a city on the Reserve. In 1805, he
made a map of the city after the Philadelphia
plan and named the streets for Philadelphia
streets. This map was shown Southern men
and they were induced to emigrate. The
intention was that they should raise tobacco,
which was supposed oould be readily sold to
the Indians who dearly loved the weed. They
were savages.
As this party left Pittsburg and got further
away from civilization, they were filled with
fear. When they reached Warren, which was
then the raost thriving hamlet on the Reserve,
they made such reraarks as to offend the
worthy denizens. They boasted that they
would soon leave this forsaken country behind
them and be in their own lovely town. War
ren people undoubtedly laughed in their sleeves,
since Jefferson was well known. In the last
of their travels they unfortunately broke a
goodly amount of crockery and, not wanting to
appear in their new home with sraashed
earthenware, they stopped outside and threw it
away. When they reached their destination,
their spirits registered zero, and in the course
of time all retraced their steps save one —
Lisle Asque, who settled, as he supposed, in
Jefferson township. However, when the lines
were really drawn, he found himself in Lenox
and was the first settler in, that township.

This episode of the southern emigrants was
an unpleasant one and expensive for both the
men and 'the promoter. Mr. Granger recom
pensed thera in raany a way, and yet both sides
were dissatisfied. As long as there are men,
and land, and money, the story of "Claud Mel-
not" in one shape or another will be acted over
and over again. All that came of this tobacco
venture was the erection of two or three cabins
and a great storehouse.
Residents of early counties universally
growled about the county seat. Ashtabula was
no exception. The soil about Jefferson was
the average soil of the Reserve. The people
on the lake shore were used to sand, and when
they neared Jefferson, in the spring and faH
seasons, floundered in mud if they were on
horseback and broke down if they were driv
ing, the terms applied to Granger's town were
not complimentary. Many people believ.ed that
the high ground about the court' house was
raade frora raud scraped from besmeared feet.
Judges and Noted Cases.
The first presiding judge of Ashtabula coun
ty was Benjarain Ruggles. Aaron Wheeler,
Ebenezer Herwens and Soloraon Griswold
were associates. Ezra Kellogg was the clerk ;
David Hendry, treasurer; James A. Harper,
recorder; Nathan Strong, sheriff, and Ezra
Kellogg, prosecutor.
The first act was the organization of the
June terra of court. Two cases were ready
for trial — one for assault and battery, the de
fendant being discharged, and one for debt,
in this the plaintiff was given seventy dollars.
Peter Hitchcock acted as prosecutor.
The second court house of which Williara
Smith, of Kinsman, was architect, was burned
and raany valuable papers and documents were
lost. As it was not totally destroyed rauch of
the material was used in rebuHding the present
structure. No one has ever been executed in Ashtabula
county for crime. Gardener, the only man
hung in Trumbull, was buried here. Possibly

534

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the raost noted trial for raurder in the county
was that of Lewis Webster. He was charged
with raurdering Mr. Harrington; was once
convicted in Ashtabula county, once in Trum
bull, and at the third trial in Trumbull was
acquitted. This trial cost Ashtabula an enor
raous sum.
The present officers of Ashtabula county
are : Judges of coramon pleas court — J. W.
Roberts, Jefferson; A. G. Reynolds, Paines
ville ; probate judge — Charles C. Babcock,
Jefferson ; clerk of coramon pleas court — ^J. H.
Copp, Geneva; sheriff — B. W. Peck, Rich
mond; auditor — Frank Fortune, Jefferson;
recorder — H. K. Brainard, Ashtabula; treas
urer — B. E. Thayer, Conneaut; prosecuting,
attorney — F. , R. Hogue, Ashtabula ; surveyor
• — J. S. Matson, Ashtabula; coroner — H. J.
Austin, Geneva; county commissioners — F. T.
Coughlan, Conneaut ; J. C. Rodgers, Cole
brook ; R. C. Young, Ashtabula ; infirmary
directors — E. E. Cook, Saybrook; Richard
Gane, Andover; W. H. Fitch, KingsvHle.
Charles Lawyer, Jefferson, is state senator and
G. W. Mooney, Austinburg, representative.
First Births in the County.
Rorae — WHliam Crowell; a daughter.
Plymouth — David and Mary Polly Burnett ;
son, 1808.
Lenox — Lisle Asque ; daughter, 1810.
New Lyrae — Joseph and Elizabeth Miller ;
son, 1811.
TrurabuH — Daniel Woodruth ; chHd.
Sheffield — John and Ruth Woodbury ; a
daughter, Loderaa Clark.
Williarasfield — Captain Charles Case ; son.
Wayne — Jacob and Dorothy Fobes ; son Al
vin. Conneaut — Child to James Kingsbury.
Second recorded birth ; really the first among
the real settlers ; daughter of Samuel Bemus,
named Amelia.
Hartsgrove — Mr. and Mrs. George Alder
man; a son.

Harpersfield — Holly and Hannah Tanner;
boy, 1799.
Saybrook — First child born, 1810; Zadoc
and Cyntha Brown, son Williara.
Morgan — R. H. Stephens ; July 5, 1803.
Monroe — Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Talbott ; son,
Joseph. Dorset — John Sraith; daughter, 1821.
Colebrook — Halsey and SaHie PhiHips;
daughter, Mary, 1822.
Andover — Zodoc and Laura Steel; son,
1809. His parents went to WiHiarasfield in
order that his mother might have care at his
birth. The first child born in Andover was a
daughter, Miriam, to Rufus Houghton, 1804.
Jefferson — Mr. and Mrs. Michael Webster;
Poly Maria, 1806.
Ashtabula — Enoch Fuller; daughter,. Julia
Montgomery, 1806.
Denraark — Peter and Phoebe Knapp;
daughter, Laura, 181 1.
Orwell— Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Paine ; daugh
ter, Lucinda, 1820.
Kingsville — Walter and Araanda Fobes;
daughter, Octavia, 1805.
Pierpont — Edward Spear; child.
In raany of the printed records of births the
mother's name is not given at all, while in
many places we read : "Thomas Jones (or
whatever it was) was the first child born in
¦  , a girl had been born earlier." Surely
woraen, old and young, counted for little on
the Reserye a hundred years ago.
First Deatpis in Ashtabula County.
Jefferson — Sarauel Wilson.
Conneaut — Sarauel Beraus; coffin made by
Aaron Wright, who cut the boards himself.
Used nails which he obtained from a wrecked
boat, and made paint from the ashes of straw.
Harpersfield — Colonel Alexander Harper,
1798. Geneva — Infant of Jessie Wright.
Morgan — Sylvester Wilcox.
Monroe — Baby of Jonatl-yan Harrington,
1805 or '06.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

535

Dorset — Abitha Sutliff; kiHed by a falling
tree. Colebrook — Leander Phillips ; son of Sara
uel, 1824.
Andover — Mrs. Dorothy Houghton, wife of
Rufus, 1816.
Rome — Wife of John Crowell, 1808.
Lenox — Mrs. Sybil House, 1818.
New Lyrae — First adult death, was that of
an old lady naraed Bailey.
Trumbull — Leonard Blackman, 1819.
Sheffield— Mr. Mendall, 1817.
WiHiamsfield — Child of Anson Jones, 1809.
Wayne — Thankful . Fobes, 1805. Her hus
band, Simon Fobes, died three days later.
Windsor — Eli Porter, 1801. Episcopal
service. Hartsgrove — Son of Mr. and Mrs. George
Alderman. Plyraouth — Widow of a Mr. Hanon.
Denmark — Rachel, daughter of Daniel
Knapp, 1 8 10.
Agriculture and Industries.
According, to the last report of the State
Board of Agriculture, Ashtabula county pro
duces 685,173 pounds of butter in horaes and
192,582 pounds in factories ; while 195,838
pounds of cheese were raade in homes and
1,673,421 in factories. 1,034,010 dozen of eggs
were produced and of these only 50 dozen w.ere
shipped outside of the state. Although Ash
tabula is not a raaple sugar county, in the
year 1908 there were 264,488 raaple sugar trees
standing, from which 33,795 pounds of sugar
were produced and 73,731 gallons of raaple
syrup. This county produced 17,831 pounds
of honey. In 1907 there were 762,100 pounds
of grapes gathered. In that year 74,616 bush
els of apples were raised ; 4,287 bushels of
peaches; 1,681 bushels of pears; 1,322 bushels
of pluras. In 1907 Ashtabula county farraers
sheared 42,589 pounds of wool.
In the year 1907 Ashtabula had 52 raanufac
tories, and the total araount of money paid out
in' wages that year was $526,228.40.

Grist Mills.
With all the privations of the early settlers
none was greater than that occasioned by the
non-existence of grist < raills. The settlers
had plenty of meat and alraost the first thing
they did before raising their houses was to
plant garden, but the greater part of the year
they were obliged to subsist on bread food
raade from wheat and corn. Most of the first
comers fashioned a hand mill which had a
hollow stone, another fitting in it, worked by
sweep, soraething after the manner of an old
weH, but as this was run by hand the labor
was very hard and slow. Most of the early
residents of Ashtabula, when it was possible,
took their grain into Pennsylvania. The first
mill on the Reserve for grinding grain was
at Youngstown and the second was the New-
burgh Mill.
Mills were erected at the following places
at the following dates : Ashtabula, 1818 ;
Jefferson, 1809, by John Shook, on Mill Creek;
Conneaut, 1806, by Aaron Wright; Harpers
field, soon after 1803, by Ezra Gregory; Mor
gan, 1808; Monroe, 1810; Rome, 1820, by John
Reid; Richmond, 1852, by Mr. Bower; Pier
pont, 1817 ; Sheffield, 1827 ; Austinburg, 1801,
by Ambrose Huraphrey — Said to be the first
one ; Wayne, about 1820.
Saw Mills.
Jefferson, 1810; Austinburg, 1801, owned by
Judge Austin; Monroe, 1807, by Jacob Paden;
Colebrook, on Mosquito creek; Rome, 18 18,
by E. C. Dodge; Plyraouth, 1808, by Thoraas
Gordon; New Lyme, 1814, by Joseph Miller;
TrurabuH, 1828 ; Cherry Valley, by Elisah
Giddings; Sheffield, 1827; Williarasfield, 1814;
Wayne, 1808; Windsor, 1800, by Solomon
Griswold ; said to be the first saw mill ; Harts
grove, 1829; Morgan, 1803; Pierpont, 1817.
Here is given a list of towns in Ashtabula
county, with the reasons for their naming:
Ashtabula — No. 13, range 3 ; was called
Ashtabula from the river Ashtabula, which
was naraed by Algonquin Indians. The word

536

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

means "many fish" and these waters were un
doubtedly well filled with lake fish at the
spawning season.
Andover — No. 9, range i ; supposedly naraed
frora New England town.
Austinburg — No. 11, range 4; naraed for
Judge Eliphalet Austin, one of the first owners
and the leader of the first group of settlers.
Cherry Valley — No. 9, range i ; was naraed
by Josiah Creery, because of the large nura
ber of cherry trees growing on the bank of
the creek.
Conneaut — No. 13, range i ; naraed from
river which was called Conneaut by Iroquois
Indians. This meant the same as Ashtabula,
"raany fish."
Dorset — No. 10, range 2,; first called Mills-
ford for Judge Isaac Mills, an early settler.
By legislative act 1849, ^^ was changed to Dor
set. Why that name was chosen is unknown
to the author.
Geneva— No. 12, range 5 ; naraed by Levi
Gaylord of Harpersfield, frora Geneva, N. Y.,
because the latter town was the prettiest town
be passed through on his journey in 1806.
Harpersfield — No. 11, range 5; named for
the Harper family, members of which were
early settlers.
Hartsgrove — No. 9, range 5 ; named origi
nally Matherstown. Mr. Mather claimed to
own the land but after legislation which re
sulted in giving title to Wm. Hart it becarae
Hartsgrove. Jefferson — No. 11, range 3; named for
President Jefferson by Gideon Granger who
was Postraaster General under Jefferson.
Kingsville — No. 13, range 2; first called
Fobes Dale in honor of Captain Walter Fobes.
This becarae Fobes Tale, which name did not
please citizens. For a time it was known as
Norwich, but as this was not satisfactory, Mr.
Kingsville, who was neither owner of land
nor a resident, offered four gallons of whiskey
to have the town named for him, and it was
so done.
Lenox — No. 10, range 3 ; first called Millers-

town for Ashur Miller, who owned rauch of
the township. 1813 changed to Lenox, prob
ably for Lenox, Massachusetts.
Monroe — No. 12, range i ; naraed for Presi
dent Monroe.
Morgan — No. 10, range 4; was named from
John Morgan who first bought the land from
the Connecticut Land Corapany.
New Lyrae — No. 9, range 3 ; originally
called Lebanon, but finally New Lyrae, be
cause sorae of the earlier settlers were from
Lyme, Connecticut.
Orwell — No. 8, range 4; first known as
Leffingwell, for one of the founders. Christo
pher Leffingwell. In 1826 narae changed to
Orwell. Pierpont — No. 1 1 , range i ; named for Pier
pont Edwards, who originally owned the land.
His son, John. Stark Edwards, settled early
in Trumbull county, and was the first county
recorder of the Reserve.
Plymouth — No. 12, range 3 ; probably for
Plymouth, Connecticut ; possibly for Plymouth,
Massachusetts. Richraond — No. 10, range i. The bounda
ries of this town changed more than most of
the townships and it was called Jefferson for
the reason Jefferson was then Denraark; then
Pierpont, for the reason Pierpont was then
Richmond. Rome — No. 9, range 4,. was first called
Richmond ; later name changed, presumably
from Rorae, New York.
Saybrook — No. 12, range 4; first called
West Matherstown for Mr. Mather, who was
the supposed owner ; then Wrightsburg and
later for Saybrook Connecticut, from which
town several of its settlers came,
Sheffield — First called East Matherstown
for Sarauel Mather, but in 1820 called Shef
field, frora Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Trumbull — Possibly for the first county of
the Reserve ; probably for Governor Trumbull
of Connecticut, for whom the county was
named.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

537

Wayne — Named for General Anthony
Wayne. WiHiamsfield — Naraed for General Joseph
Williams, who owned a large part of its land.
Windsor — First settlers were of the family
of Griswolds who lived in Windsor, Connecti
cut. First M.arriages.
Ashtabula — Catherine Braddock and Bev
erly Star.
Andover — Polly Carpenter and Artemus
Smith. Conneaut — Aaron Wright and Anna Mont
gomery. Colebrook— Cleora Phillips and Asahael
Canfield. Dorset — Mr. Griffin of Morgan and "widow
of Abitha Sutliff." Woraen were surely such
rehcs in early days that their own naraes are
not used even after their husbands died.
Hartsgrove — Fred Alderraan and Ann Bur
gess, 1828.
Harpersfield — William Harper and Miss
Robinson, 1808.
Jefferson — ^Jonathan XVarner and Nancy
Frithy, 1807.
Lenox — Sallie Randall and Nicholas Miller,
1810. New Lyrae — Susan Peck and Calvin Knowl
ton. Morgan— J. B. Battell and Lydia P. Gellett,
1803. Monroe — George Ferguson and Maria Har-
fington. Plymouth — ^Julia Hubbard and Walker
Richmond. Richmond — Nicholas Knapp ahd Elvira
Rockwell. Rome — Jerusha Crowell and Erastus
Flower. Sheffield — Miss Mendall and Major Moore,
1817. Trumbull — Ezra and Laura Griffin ?
Wayne — Philemia Brockway and Samuel
Fobes.

WiHiamsfield — Samuel Tuttle and Lois
Leonard, 1812.
Windsor — Jonathan Higley and Kesiah
Griswold, 1806.
Ashtabula County Towns in 1837.
The following taken frora the Gazetteer and
Travelers' Guide of 1837 is interesting by
coraparison :
"Andover, a postoffice and township in the
southeast corner of Ashtabula county adjoin
ing the township of Kinsraan in Trumbull
county. There are several mills in the town
ship, and it is rapidly improving. Population
estiraated at 800.
"Ashtabula, a township in the county of the
same name, in which is also situated the bor
ough of Ashtabula. The township is one of the
largest in the county, extending from the
lake shore about 8 railes south, and five railes
east and west, embracing the original sur
veyed townships 12 and 13 of range 3, West
ern Reserye lands, and containing 26,216 acres
of land, and valued in the assessraent at $126,-
366. The harbour at the raouth of the Ashta
bula river is in this townsliip.
The town or borough of Ashtabula, lies on
both sides, but chiefly on the west side of the
Ashtabula river, about two miles frora its
raouth, at the crossing of the great east and
west raail route. It was incorporated in 1827.
Here are eight or ten stores, several taverns,
two churches, and other buildings in propor
tion. That part of the town on the east side
of the river is soraetiraes called east Ashtabula.
"Austinburg, a flourishing post township
of Ashtabula county. It was organized in
1812, and called after Eliphalet Austin, Esq.,
one of the early settlers of the county, and the
flrst in this towpship. It contain a church
for Presbyterians, a store, two flour mills,
three saw mills, one oil mill, one woolen raanu
factory, two fulling mills, tyvo carding raa
chines," etc. Distance, six railes west from
Jefferson, and 192 northeast from Columbus.
It contained 771 inhabitants at the census of

538

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

1830. Present population estimated at 900.
There are 15,638 acres of land assessed for
taxation; valued at 57,529 dollars.
"Cherry Valley, a post township of Ashta
bula county; organized in 1828. It was so
called from the numerous cherry trees grow
ing on the borders of a sraall stream, which
rises near the north part of this township, and
flows into the Beaver river. It is bounded on
the east by the township of Andover, west by
New Lyrae, north by MiHsford and south by
Wayne. About half the township is rolling
land, the balance quite level and excellent for
grazing. It contains about 400 or 500 inhabi
tants, one store, eight mechanics' shops, four
saw raills and nine school districts. The ex
ports are principally neat cattle, beef, pork,
butter and cheese ; and the inhabitants being
industrious, enterprising and frugal, are be
coming wealthy and independent. Eight years
since there were but twelve farailies in the
township. Distance fourteen railes southeast
of Jefferson, and 192 frora Colurabus.
"Conneaut — This is one of the several towns
on the lake shore, which by reason of the
iraproveraent in the harbor, has grown into im
portance within the last few years. It is
situated in the northeast corner of the state,
nearly adjoining the Pennsylvania line, and
coraraands an extensive trade. There are three
churches, eleven taverns, one printing office,
a bank, being a branch of the Miarai Exporting
Company, etc. In regard to the business
transactions of the place, we make the fol
lowing extract from a petition presented by
the citizens to the last General Asserably, pray
ing for the establishment of an additional
bank: "There are in Conneaut, twenty-four houses
engaged in raercantile pursuits.
"The following is a stateraent of the araount
of imports and exports, to and from this port
during the past season, as compiled from the
shipping bills and books of forwarding mer
chants : Exports — Sawed luraber, 1,124,067
feet; pipe staves, 250,000; g:rain, 24,;

bushels ; pork, beef, flour, etc., 10,849 barrels ;
glass, 3,947 boxes; coal, 81 tons; cheese, 25
tons; butter, 46 tons; fruit, 150 tons; cast
iron, 200 tons. Iraports — Merchandise, 21,101
tons or 147,707 barrels bulk; salt, 5,230 bar
rels; pine lumber, 95,000 feet; gypsum, 150
tons ; white and lake fish, 346 barrels ; lime
stone, 508 tons ; burr mill stones, 29 tons.
"The following is the nuraber of arrivals
and departures, as taken from a register kept
at the port : Arrivals — Vessels, 275 ; steam
boats, 760. Departures — Vessels, 265 ; steam
boats, 759 — There are owned at this port,
seven schooners, the tonnage of which in the
aggregate is, three hundred and ninety-one
tons. Two others of the largest class are now
being built. There is also one steamboat owned
here of 375 tons burthen. A new stearaboat,
the Constitution, was recently launched, of five
hundred tons burthen, and the keel of another
is already laid of the sarae size. There are
five flouring mills in operation, an extensive
steam saw mill, connected with a ship yard,
is now being completed, and an extensive iron
foundry in operation. There are now under
contract to be erected the ensuing season,
eighty dwelling houses, which number will
doubtless be increased to frora one hundred
and fifty to two hundred, besides nuraerous
stores, etc.
"Colebrook, a township in Ashtabula county
was forraeriy called by this narae. It is now
called Phelps.
"Denraark, a post township (postoffice the
same name) in Ashtabula county, lying im
mediately east of Jefferson, and about 204
railes frora Columbus. It was organized in
1815, and had in 1830, 169 inhabitants, one
grist and two saw mills. It is fifteen miles
southeast from Ashtabula, and seventeen from
Conneaut. The postoffice is supplied by a
maH route from Flarmonsburg, Pennsylvania,
to Madison.
"Geneva, a post township in the north
western corner of Ashtabula county, on the
southern shore of lake Erie, 190 railes north-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

539

east of Colurabus. It has one store, one grist
miH and three saw mills ; and contained 771
inhabitants at the census of 1830. It now
returns about 16,000 acres of land on the tax
Ust. "Harpersfield, a flourishing post township,
situated in the western borders of Ashtabula
county. It is one of the oldest and first settled
townships in the county. It was so called
after a family of the narae of Harper, who
were the proprietors and first settlers. Grand
river runs across it, a little south of the raid-
die, frora east to west. It is all divided into
farms of 100 acres each ; and generally settled.
Here are one store, two flouring raills, two saw
miHs, one fulling mHl, and two forges, where
considerable quantities of bar iron are raade.
Near the northwestern corner is the flourish
ing village of Unionville, situated partly in
this county, and partly in Madison, in Geauga
county. Distance, ten miles west of Jefferson,
and 188 northeast frora Columbus. Popula
tion at the census of 1830, 1,145.
"Hartsgrove, a township and postoffice of
the same narae, in Ashtabula county, organ
ized in 1830, and so called frora R. W. Hart,
Esq., of Connecticut, the original proprietor.
It returns near 16,000 acres of land for taxa
tion. "Jefferson, a post town and seat of justice
for Ashtabula cotmty. It is situated in the
center of a township of the same name, and
contains a brick court house of forty by fifty
feet area, a printing office, from which is pub
lished a weekly paper, three stores, three tav
erns, and an academy. It was so called by the
late Gideon Granger, then a principal pro
prietor, in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the
third president of the United States. It is
situated on Mills creek, about ten railes frora
the lake shore, thirty-five northerly from War
ren, in Trumbull county, and 200 northeast
from Columbus. North Latitude 41 degrees
45 minutes. West longitude 3 degrees 50
minutes. "Kingsville, a post township (postoffice

sarae name) in the northeastern quarter of
Ashtabula county, 200 railes northeast frora
Colurabus. It was so naraed in honor of Nehe-
raiah King, Esq., an early settler in the county.
It is a wealthy and populous township, and
contains several raills, carding raachines, etc.
It returns about 14,000 acres of land on the
tax list, and has about 1,500 inhabitants.
"Lenox, a township (postoffice same narae)
in Ashtabula county, fifteen railes south of
Ashtabula harbor, on the leading road to
Pittsburg, thirty railes north of Warren, and
four railes south of Jefferson, the county seat.
It contains about 550 inhabitants, 100 dwelling
houses, one grist mill, four saw mills, one
store, one tavern, etc. It returns 15,447 acres
of land on the tax list.
"Monroe, a post township in the eastern
borders of Ashtabula county. It is seven
miles long frora north to south, by five broad
east to west. The postoffice is called Kelloggs
viHe. This township was organized in 1848.
It contains four flouring raills, six saw mills,
a fulling mill, carding machine, etc. It is so
named in honor of James Monroe, late Presi
dent of the United States. It contained 862
inhabitants at the census of 1830.
"Morgan, a post township of Ashtabula
county (postoffice same name) containing 479
inhabitants at the census of 1830. It lies a
few raHes southwest of Jefferson, the county
seat, and about 160 miles northeast of Colum
bus. It contains about 600 inhabitants, 100
dweHing houses, two stores, two tanneries, one
carding raachine, two clothiers shops, one
turning shop, one blacksmith shop, one cab
inet shop, one coopers shop, one shoe shop,
one grist raill, five saw raills, one tavern, three
school houses, one church, one physician and
two clergymen. The principal streams are
Grand river, passing northerly through the
western section of the township, and Rock
creek, a branch of Grand river, passing north
westerly a little south of the center of the
township. The township is five raHes square,
intersected by the Trumbull and Ashtabula

540

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

turnpike, two other roads running parallel
with the turnpike, and three roads running
east and west, crossing the turnpike at right
angles. There are two daily mails in coaches.
"New Lyrae, a post township in the interior
of Ashtabula county. It was organized in
1813, by the narae of Lebanon: which narae it
retained until 1825, when it was changed to its
present one, in reraerabrance of Lyrae, in
Connecticut, frora whence many of the inhabi
tants originally carae. Here are three saw
mills and one store. At the last census it
contained 484 inhabitants. Distance, about
150 miles northeast from Columbus.
"Orwell, a post township (postoffice same
narae) in the southwestern quarter of Ashta
bula county, situated immediately south from
Richfield. It was established in July, 1826;
and contained 106 inhabitants at the last cen
sus. Distance, about 180 railes northeast frora
Colurabus. It returns 5,014 acres of land for
taxation. "Pierpont, a post township in the eastern
border of Ashtabula county, adjoining the
Pennsylvania state line, 210 railes northeast
frora Colurabus. It was organized in 1818;
and so called after the late Pierpont Edwards,
of Connecticut. At the last census it contained
Q.'jy inhabitants.
"Richraond, a post township situated in the
eastern borders of Ashtabula county. It was
organized in 1828, and contained 187 inhabi
tants at the census of 1830. The south and
east part of the township is thickly settled.
It now contains a postoffice called Leon, about
300 inhabitants, sixty dwelling houses, one
store, one tavern, and four school houses.
The office is in the southwest corner of the
township, fourteen railes south of Monroe vil
lage, and ten southeast of Jefferson, the county
seat. Mails, daily, on the route frora Conneaut
to Beaver, Pennsylvania.
"Rorae, a post township (postoffice sarae
narae) of Ashtabula county, forraeriy called
Richfield. Distance, twelve or fifteen miles
south by west Jefferson, and 180 northeast

from Colurabus. Here are three saw raills, one
flour raill, and a store. It contains 351 inhabi
tants. "Saybrook, a ,post township situated in the
northern borders of Ashtabula county, on the
southern shore of lake Erie, 195 railes north
east of Colurabus. It was called Wrightsburg,
until the year 1826, when its narae was
changed to Saybrook, after the town of that
name in Connecticut, frora whence raany of its
inhabitants came. It was organized in 1816.
It contains one store, three taverns, a saw
mill, carding machine, etc. Population at the
last census 627.
Sheffield, a township of Ashtabula county,
organized in 1820. It was called after Shef
field, in Massachusetts. It has two flouring
mills, and three saw raills ; and contained
450 inhabitants at the census of 1830. It lies
east of and adjoining Ashtabula township,
on Ashtabula river, and returns 14,736 acres of
land for taxation.
"TrurabuH, a township in Ashtabula county,
ten railes from Jefferson, and about 190 north
east of Columbus. It was organized in 1825,
and contained 112 inhabitants at the last cen
sus. Taxable land, 16,178 acres.
"Wayne, a post township of Ashtabula
county, twenty miles southeast frora Jefferson,
and nearly 200 northeast of Colurabus. It was
named after General Anthony Wayne. It con
tains a flouring miH, and three saw miHs.
Population at the last census, 661. Taxable
land, 15,486 acres.
"WiHiamsfield, a post township (postoffice
same narae) in the southeast corner of Ashta
bula county, twenty miles southeast from Jeff
erson, and nearly 200 northeast frora Colum
bus. It was organized in 1820, and contains
two stores, three saw raills and a flouring miH.
It formerly constituted a part of Wayne town
ship. At the last census contained 528 in
habitants. "Windsor, a flourishing post township (post-
office same name) and the southwesternmost
in Ashtabula county, lying iraraediately north

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

541

pf Mesopotamia, in Trumbull county, twenty-
four miles southwest frora Jefferson, and
nearly i8o northeast of Colurabus. It was
organized about the year 1810; and was so
called frora Windsor, in Connecticut. It con
tains one store, two flouring mills, and three
saw mills ; and had 666 inhabitants at the last
census. Here is also said to be a quarry for
grindstones." Early Settlers by Towns.
The following is a list of the early settlers,
the date of their arrivals, and the towns they
settled in:
Rome, Elijah and Pheobe Crosby.
Trumbull, Holly Tanner, 1799.
Andover, Zodoc Steel, 1808.
Morgan, Nathan and Asa Gillett, 1801.
KingsvHle, Eldad and Samantha Harring
ton, 1803.
Windsor, George and Elisa Phelps, 1799.
New Lyme, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Owen, 1803.
Monroe, Colonel Stephen Moulton, 1799.
Denmark, Peter and Pheobe Knapp, 1809.
Hartsgrove, George Alderraan, 1822.
Plymouth, Williara Thorapson and Mr. M.
C. Gallic, 1804.
WiHiarasfield, Charles Case and son, Zophar,
1804. Lenox, Lisle Asque, 1807.
Orwell, A. R. Paine, 181 7.
Pierpont, Edward Speare, 1798.
Cherry Valley, Nathaniel Hubbard, 1818.
Ashtabula, Thomas Hamilton, 1801 ; first
family George Beckwith.
Geneva, Theobald Bartholeraew.
Jefferson, Michael Webster, 1804.
Harpersfield, Mr. and Mrs. Harper, 1798.
Saybrook, Joseph and Rhoda Hotchkiss,
1809. Wayne, Titus Hayes, 1798.
First Schools.
Jefferson — First school just west of the old
Jonathan Warner place.

Conneaut — First school in 1802 in a cabin
at the mouth of creek ; Mr. Loomis, teacher.
Harpersfield — First school held in 1802 in
log school house; Elizabeth Harper, teacher.
This was the first school house erected in the
county. Geneva — First school house, (log) 1807 or
1808; possibly as late as 1810. Margaret
Gaylord, teacher.
Saybrook — First school house 1815 ; Adaline
Gates, first teacher.
Austinburg — First school held in log barn
on Austin farra. Betsey Austin, teacher, re
ceived no pay. First school house, made of
planks and raud chimney, 1802.
Monroe — First school held in Colonel Mil
ler's cabin, while he was' absent, Laura Ford,
of WiHiarasfield, teacher. First log school
building (KelloggsviHe) 1814, David Niles,
teacher. Kingsville — First school in Walter Fobes
house in 1806, Rebecca Cowles, teacher. Held
here for four years, when Thomas Cook taught
at bend of Conneaut Creek. First log school
house was not erected until 1812.
Dorset — Sarah Houghton taught the first
school in 1823. The building was of logs and
she was paid nine dollars for three raonths.
Colebrook — Cleora Phillips in 1822 taught
the first school. The building was of logs and
she received one dollar a week in wheat.
Andover — The barn of Frances Lyraan
served as the first school building in 1814.
Dorothy Houghton was teacher.
Rorae — First school held in John Crowell's
residence, 1809. Next year a log house
erected. Lucinda Crosby, teacher — School
house erected next year.
Plyraouth — First school house erected 1810.
It was taught by Warren Mann.
Lenox — Log school house erected 1818;
Asaneth Waters, teacher.
New Lyme — First school 1812, teacher,
John Lee.
Richmond — Laura Ford"first school teacher,
about 181 1., 1826 log school, house erected.

542

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Trumbull — The first school house erected in
1829; teachers name unknown; second teacher
Mehitable Madison.
Orwell — First school house was of logs,
erected 1822 ; Lydia C. Wolcott, teacher.
Pierpont — Lucy Huntly was the first
teacher. Log school house erected 1813 or
1814. Cherry Valley — First school taught by Mrs.
Hannah A. Clark. She was a seamstress as
well as a teacher, and plied both trades at once.
Sheffield — Clarissa Cassell taught the first
school in 1819; log cabin.

stood at Jefferson and South Ridge; Julia
Hubbard, teacher. First school at Center in
1815; Sarah Booth, teacher; held in Amos
Fisk's barn.
Ashtabula county in 1908 paid its teachers
$169,380.47. The expenses for schools for
that year in the county amounted to $385,-
347.99. There were 14,750 children of school
age and 193 schoolhouses.
Grand River Institute.
Religion and schools were closely aHied in
the early days of the Reserye. Most institu-

J. ¦.ii/;tf£JuD'ir:^.fc''-''l'i/ii-»jRJItj:iii. OLD BEIDGE AT MECHANICSVILLE.

Williarasfield — First school erected in 1808,
presumably of logs. Mrs. Babcock was the
teacher. She had a baby a few raonths old.
This the big boys helped her to carry to school,
and here it slept in a sap-trough cradle.
Wayne — Keziah Jones taught first school in
1809. Joshua R. Giddings was one of her
pupils. Windsor — First school 1804 or 1805 was
held in a blacksraith's shop. Next year a log
house was erected. Keziah Griswold, teacher.
Hartsgrove — Parraelia Frazer taught in a
log building in 1829.
Ashtabula — First school house in Ashtabula

tions of learning were supported wholly or
partly by churches, or ardent individuals in
the church. Women served, cooked and saved
in order that the young men might be educated
for the ministry, and these dapper beneficiaries
when educated early and often preached from
Paul's text "Let women keep silent in the
church." The religious revival of 183 1 helped to
bring about the establishment of "The Ashta
bula County Institute of Science and industry."
It was duly incorporated on the Grand River
near the Harpersfield line, which place was
later appropriately naraed Mechanicsville.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

543

Here Dr. O. K. Hawley and Joab Austin
owned a grist raill, a saw raill and an oil mill.
They proposed to establish a school which
would teach young men how to work and how
to do business, that is, they proposed to estab
lish a manual training school and business
college in connection with the institute. This
property was turned over and the school begun.
Students flocked there, thirty coraing at one
time from overcrowded Oberlin. The school
flourished, but the students did not make a
success of operating the mills. Finally Joab
Austin gave twenty-five thousand dollars,
probably in land, to the institute, on condition
the authorities established it in his end of the
town. This was done in 1836 and the narae
changed to Grand River Instiute. In 1840 a
woman's department was added, and since that
time the school has been co-educational.
When the union, or public schools, became
established the institute suffered greatly. It
was reorganized however on the basis of a
private boarding school and it has been suc
cessful and done an immense amount of good
since. The mills property early given to it was
sold and the proceeds invested, and frora time
to time it has received gifts, so that it is well
endowed. It has eight acres of carapus, and
three buildings. Earle W. Harablin is princi
pal. The institute has sent out about five
thousand students and many noted raen and
women date their success to this substantial
school.
Jacob Tuckerman's Good Works.
The following interesting contribution to
the history of the Institute is contributed by
Florence S. Tuckerman, daughter of Jacob
Tuckerman, principal frora 1868 to 1882 :
"Jacob Tuckerraan's earliest ancestor was
called one of the Mayflower Tuckerraans, who
later lived in Boston on the Coramons. His
immediate ancestor, whose name is uncertain,
ran away from the Boston home to Connecti
cut and never coraraunicated with his faraily

afterward. He or his descendants accurau
lated a large fortune and owned various raills.
Jacob's own father, Isaac, was born in a rich
home in Sterling, Connecticut. Lafayette's
army was received under a tree on his estates.
Isaac refused to go to Yale College, because
he felt that a rich raan's son did not need an
education. Jacob was born in Sterling, Con
necticut, July 31, 1824. The faraily raills
burned do'vyn and, losing a large portion of his
wealth, his father moved to Potsdam, New
York, in 1825. Jacob was very fond of sports.
He used to run away frora school to go in
swiraraing. His own raother had died when
he was five years old. One day his stepmother
noticed him shivering behind the stove. .Soon
after some lumbermen told of his swiraraing
to the bottom of a deep pond for an ax they
had dropped, for which they had given him a
half dollar. No doubt he was severely pun
ished for this sin, for he was made to go to
school, and chafed under the Puritanical train
ing. "Isaac Tuckerman again burned out in Pots
dam, New York, emigrated to Orwell, Ohio,
in 1836. Here Jacob was on fire with all boy
ish desires. He attended a primitive circus
and practiced riding his father's horses around
the pasture, standing, on their bare backs. Out
side influences made hira discount his step-
raother's kindliness. The runaway blood of
his Boston ancestor was in his veins. He
greatly admired the stage driver, who carae to
town twice a week, cracking a long whip over
four prancing black horses. The stage driver
took a fancy to him. He arranged to run
away with the stage driver farther west, set
ting the time for a particular day. The night
before he was to start he was working at
something he considered particularly hateful,
expecting it to be for the last tirae, when a
raan carae driving into the yard. He had as
fine a horse as the stage driver.
" 'Good evening, my boy,' he said, 'I hear
you are going to run away. I advise you not

544

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

to do H.' And then he drove out of the yard
as fast as he carae in.
"Jacob said to hiraself, 'I rather guess I
won't go toraorrow. I guess I won't go for
a week ;' and then he did not go at all. 'It was
the fine horse that did it,' he always said after
ward. "Jacob's father, true to his distaste for
books, did not want hira to go to school. His
idea at that tirae seeraed to be raerely to re
cover the raoney he had lost. It was his step-
raother who carae to the rescue. He often
said she was the raaking of hira. She used
to go out where his father was working and
seat herself on a log and argue with hira.
" 'Jacob raust g.o to school,' she said.
" 'No, I can't spare him,' he replied.
" 'But he raust go to school,' and, woraan-
like, she had her way.
"So, in 1839 he went to Kingsville Academy,
studying winters and working summers. At
KingsvHle he was converted. Frora this tirae
on his journal is full of his rehgious experi
ences, and his one desire seemed to be to serve
God and man. He taught in Saybrook in 1840
and in Rorae Academy in 1845-6. He went
to Oberlin as a senior in the teacher's course
in 1847-8. His Austinburg students will re
member how he often told thera in chapel that
he was the only one taking that course and
how he overturned the prograra for the other
Greek students. In consequence, the students
did not like to have hira in the class and it was
necessary for him to get his lessons perfectly
to be tolerated. In his Kingsville journal he
had written, 'I raust get these Greek verbs bet
ter.' At Oberlin he studied late at night, untH
he knew his Greek by heart. However, his
father's illness called him home in the spring
and he never went back for his diploma.
"In 1848-9 he taught in Monroe, Michigan.
On April 23, 1849, he married Elizabeth Ellin-
wood, whose father, son of a gentleman who
had bought untitled lands in America and
carae to Ohio to retrieve his fortunes. Her
grandfather, Thoraas Ellinwood, was one of

the coramittee to send a protest to George III
about the Starap Act. Her grandfather on her
raother's side was Dr. Daniel Fuller, twenty
years member of the assembly of New York.
Sixteen Fuller cousins served in the Revolu
tionary war. They were descendants of the
Millers, deacons of the old Congregational
church of Torringford, Connecticut, for a hun
dred years, and of Thankful Allen, sister of
Ethan Allen. Elizabeth's father had the old
New England love of learning. He was
versed in Hterature and science, particularly
geology. All of the faraily wrote poetry.
Elizabeth was a fine 'scholar and had attended
Kingsville Acaderay when Jacob was there,
and studied under him in the Rome Academy.
"In 1850 Jacob Tuckerman was elected
county superintendent of schools, in which
capacity he served until 1852, when he organ
ized Orwell Academy. He was called to the
professorship of mathematics in Farmers'
College, College HiH, Ohio, in 1857. The
youngest man of the faculty, he was elected
president of Farmers' College in i860. He
was made captain of Company I, Nineteenth
regiment Ohio militia, in Harailton county,
July, 1863, and elected raajor of the sarae regi
raent September, 1863. Both commissions
were signed by Governor David Tod. He was
given a sword for saving Cincinnati after Mor
gan's raid. On account of HI health, he re
signed his presidency of Farmers' College in
1867 and organized the State Sunday School
Union, in which he worked tiH 1868, when he
went to Austinburg as principal of Grand
River Institute. In 1882 he raoved to New
Lyme, where he died February 5, 1897, just
as the bell was ringing for the chapel exercises
he so dearly loved.
'Tt would be impossible to enumerate all
of the pupils under his instruction, but here is
a summary of most of the students of Grand
River Institute and New Lyme Institute.
There was no class to graduate from Grand
River Institute until 1870, though he went
there in 1868. The number of students is the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

545

entire nuraber of separate students during each
school year: GRAND RIVES INSTITUTE.

Total

Years.

• Graduates.

Attendance

1869-70

5

240

1870-71

7

1871-72

10

1872-73
II
252
1873-74
9
284
1874-75
II
326
1875-76
9
344
1876-77
10
284
1877-78
9
341
1878-79
II
313
1879-80
17
291
1880-81
II
226
1881-82
10
206
130
NEW LYME INSTITUTE.
3.107
Total
Years.
Graduates.
Attendance
1882-83
4
261
1883-84
12
302
1884-85
II
287
1885-86
7
239
1886-87
14
248
1887-88
14
273
1888-89
6
281 .
1889-90
7
238
1890-91
15
264
1891-92
13
268
1892-93
16
215
1893-94
8
225
1894-95
10
227
1895-96
18
227
1896-97
17
172 3.555
"Jacob Tuckerman was a charter raeraber
of the Scottish Rite Free Masons of Cincin
nati, but his raost earnest life was in his school
and church. He was an elder in the Presby
terian church of College Hill, Ohio, a stanch
supporter of the Congregational church of
Austinburg, Ohio, and an elder in the Pres
byterian church of South New Lyme, Ohio.
"Two things his faraily hold in veneration :
One, that he refused to go to Jefferson, Ge
neva, Ashtabula and Youngstown, when called
to those places, because he felt bound by his
contract with the board of trustees at Grand
River Institute ; another, that he maintained a
high course of study instead of trying, to amass
a fortune. At the recent commencement at
Sraith College the differentiation between a
feraale serainary and a college was stated to
consist originally in the study of Greek. Pro
fessor Tuckerraan maintained a course of
study in Greek and Latin, paying a relatively
high salary for sraall classes. The course he
gave his seniors in logic, psychology and But
ler's analogy produced in thera a superior char
acter. For his excellent teaching of these sub
jects he received the degree of Ph. D. from
Wooster University."
Physicians of the County.
The debt which the early people of Ashta
bula county owed the men and women who
ministered to their physical needs never was,
nor could it be repaid. To be sure little was
known of surgery. Physicians had no chance
to hear lectures or consult with men more
learned than theraselves. Diseases were not
understood and people died needlessly, as we
know in the light of later knowledge. Yet the
early doctor denied hiraself rauch, endured
rauch, received little pay and saved lives, alle
viated suffering, and was, possibly, the most
useful of the settlers.
Among the early physicians the following
names have been preserved :
In Conneaut, Dr. John Venere.
Harpersfield, Dr. Nathan B. Johnson
(1808). First doctor in Morgan, Dr. Isaac Ried.
Dorset, Dr. Day; had his office in the first
tavern opened in 1838.
Colebrook, Dr. Porter Day.
546

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Denraark, Dr. Willis.
Andover, Dr. Perry Pratt.
Rorae, Dr. Baird.
Lenox, Dr. Z. Smalley.
Richraond, Dr. E. B. Linn.
Trumbull, Dr. Nelson Eastman.
Sheffield, Dr. Eaton.
WiHiarasfield, Dr. Anson Hotchkiss (1815).
Windsor, Dr. Ebenezar K. Lampson (1810).
Hartsgrove, Dr. .Hiram Morgan.
New Lyrae, Dr. Fuller (1829).
Pierpont, Dr. Jacob Vosburgh.
Early Ashtabula, by H. L. Morrison.
The tendency of people today is not to keep
historical data of rural localities. For this
reason we give here in full an article written
by H. L. Morrison for the Ashtabula Beacon
Record, January 28, 1901. Mr. Morrison and
his wife, who was Nancy Castle, were both in
terested in historical incidents. Mrs. Morrison
was a granddaughter of John and Rosa Wat
rous, who came to Ashtabula early in 1800
and were most substantial citizens. Mr. Mor
rison did rauch to build up the present city
of Ashtabula, and his sons, W. H. and F. R.,
are active business raen. He says : "At what
in now known as the Harbor, at the west end
of what is now Walnut street, a few rods
beyond the east line of Saybrook township,
stood a two-story frarae house owned and
occupied by Captain Araasa Savage, who was-
by trade a boss ship builder, his business being
to design and build vessels for the lakes, He
had a large faraily of sons and daughters.
One of the daughters raarried a Mr. Parmelee,
another married Captain Nathaniel W. Brown,
and one Captain J. C. Beebe. Louisa never
married. Of the sons there were Jaraes, Linus,
Edward, Chauncey, Araasa, Jr., and John IT.
The only ones now living, I think, are John
and Araasa. The latter raarried a Miss John
son and several years ago eraigrated to Michi
gan. John H. is in New York.
"Chauncey resided for several years at
Bloomfield and died within the last few days.

There are several descendants of the third and
fourth generation now living in this vicinity,
araong whora are E. W. and C. W. Savage and
Mrs. L. J. Fargo of this city.
"Eastward frora Captain Araasa Savage's
home lived his son-in-law Mr. Parraelee, who
also had a large faraily of children.
"There were at this tirae no other houses
west of the Starkey place. East of the Starkey
place, on the north side of Walnut street, there
stood a sraall house built by Israel G. Shaylor
and owned and occupied by Abisha Lawton.
"Next east stood a house built in the spring
of 1836 by one Kelsey, who flourished for a
few years as justice of the peace.
"Next east of hira was the home of Joshua
C. Beebe, then came Captain N. W. Brown's
home. Next to this was a frarae house in
which lived Major Henry Hubbard; then carae
what was known at that tirae as the Fitch
house and lot, now owned and occupied by H.
S. Strickler.
"Then came an old building forraeriy occu
pied by various parties but which was at that
time used as a lodging, place for the hands em
ployed on the harbor work. It has long since
been torn down.
"During the summer of '36 Amos C. Hub
bard erected a frame building about opposite
the present residence of P. H. Cheney, in
which he opened a store.
"On the extreme south side of the street
stood the Ohio Exchange, a brick building
erected in 1834 or '35 which is now the Point
Park hotel.
"On the south side of the street there was
built in the suramer of '36 two sraall frame
houses. One was occupied, I think, by Mrs.
Pratt, mother of the late Charles and WiHiam
Pratt, and the other by the mother of the late
Captains Gersham and Calvin Thayer.
"The land was cleared to the brow of the
hill down which passes Bridge street. All south
of that was a dense forest.
"There was no street on the west side ex
cept Walnut street and the lower end of Lake.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

547

Walnut street led to the very brow of the steep
hill below which are now the P., Y. & A.
tracks. Down this hill was a stairway for
pedestrians. The road for tearas turned to the
right about where Hulbert street intersects
Walnut street, and passing around the brow
of the hill, back of where the buildings now
stand on Bridge street, and going down back
of where is now the St. Charles hotel, it finally
/cached the level of the docks and warehouses
near what is now called the Haskell dock,
owned by the Pennsylvania company. Near
the top of the hill back of the St. Cha,rles hotel,
there was a limekiln, where lime was burned.
"At the foot of the hill, just south of the old
A'ellow warehouse, then used by Hubbard &
Co., there was a float bridge raade of several
long timbers and covered with planks, and its
buoyancy was sufficient so that loaded tearas
crossed. "On the east side the bridge reached the
shore just above where is now Devney's ship
yard. On the east side of the river just by the
end of the bridge and north of it, stood another
yeHow warehouse, also owned by Hubbard &
Co. ; north and close to that stood an old ware
house, the first erected at Ashtabula harbor.
Below that a short distance stood the ware
house of Martin Watrous, on the ground now
occupied by George Close's laundry.
"The first governraent work ever done on
the harbor was in 1827, when piers were built
out into the lake and finished out a little be
yond the old lighthouse crib, a few tirabers
of which are still to be seen. The first light
house was erected in 1834 or '35 and prior to
its erection a light was displayed by hanging
a lantern at the top of a twenty-foot pole that
was erected on the end of the pier.
"Down on this east pier, Shubal Mowry kept
a sort of boarding house and grocery. Just
below Mowry's, Jaraes Post built a warehouse
almost at the water's edge in the suijiraer of
'36, and in the spring of '38 Shubal Mowry
erected a building down close to the water's
¦edge, beside the pier, that was intended for a

hotel. It was, very near corapletion and the
family had moved into it, when it took fire and
burned to the ground in May. It was after
ward rebuilt and again burned.
"Off to the eastward, toward Fort HiH, and
on the edge of the swamp, Arteraus Lamb had
built a smaH frame house which was occupied
by his family and conducted as a boarding
house for the raen who worked on the docks,
afterward known as the Seth Belknap place.
"Up at the terraination of the old TrurabuH
and Ashtabula turnpike at the harbor, now
known as Colurabus street, near the angle raade
by Front street, so called, and on the south
side, stood a two-story frarae building with a _
row of columns one story high in front, and
a porch, in which a hotel had been kept for
some years. It was built by Williara Whit
man, who was its first landlord. He was
father of the late Philip Whitman and grand
father of Horace and Harvey, who now live on
the east side.
"In 1835 the hotel was kept by Artemus
Lamb, and during years following by various
parties, among whom were Slade B. Hale,
Joel H. Thomas, a man by the narae of John
son, who carae frora Cleveland and bought it,
and later by one Devine. By the building of
the Lake Shore road, the business of the Har
bor was very rauch lessened and the hotel fell
into decay and was finally torn down.
"Passing eastward and up to the present Co
lurabus street hHl, on the south side, there
stood a brick dwelling and a farra of seventy
acres. The house was erected by Winthrop
Watrous and sold in 1836 to sorae Buffalo par
ties for $9,000.
"Next east and south of that was the resi
dence and farra of WiHiara Watrous. Still
farther south on the north side, and nearly op
posite the brick residence of John Harraon,
stood a frarae dwelling at one tirae occupied
by one Beckwith.
"Quite a distance farther south from this
place, on the east side of the road, stood the
residence of Aaron L. Field. His farra con-

548

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

tained about 275 acres lying on both sides of
the road and was the original location of
Gideon Leet. It had fallen into the possession
of sorae Warren parties and was bought frora
thera by Mr. Field, to be paid for in cheese at
4^ cents a pound. Mr. Field was a very
energetic, industrious and econoraical raan and
he paid for the farra according to the agree
raent. The only survivors of the iraraediate
faraily of Aaron Field are Eliza and Albert
of the Fisk House. Mr. Field was a township
trustee for many successive years and was uni
versally respected as a man of judgraent and
integrity. "Next south of this place was what was
known as the John F. Brown farra. He was
called for short "Corker" Brown, an appella
tion derived frora his calling, which was that
of ship caulker. Brown was the father of a
large faraily, one of which was Mrs. Elizabeth
StHes, who was notable for having been during
the latter years of the Civil war a Union spy,
and who did some good work for Uncle Sara.
She died not long ago at the W. R. C. Home
in Madison.
"On the west side and a little way off frora
the road, was what was known as the Mc-
Kelvy farm, on which there lived one Haines,
father of Mrs. McKelvy. As has been before
mentioned,' he deeded the farra to the only
daughter of McKelvy and wife.
"Between John F. Brown's and the top of
the Harmon hiH, lay what was called Edwin
Harmon's farm. On the west side, just before
reaching the top of the hill, stood the cooper
shop of Warren Manley. He never married
and was a very straightforward, upright and
good citizen. Next south of Mauley's shop
was a building, that was erected for a store and
occupied at one time for that purpose by Will
iam Whitman. '
"Next south, at the top of the hill, stood
and still stands a small frame building used
as a toll gate house on the TrurabuH and Ash
tabula turnpike. It was afterwards used as a

bakery by a raan naraed Kneeland, and, with
the addition of a wing on the north side, it has
since served as a teneraent house.
"Returning to the Lake road leading east
frora Colurabus street: On this road lived
Jaraes Lockwood and faraily who occupied a
house quite a distance frora the road, on the
bank of the lake. It was afterward owned by
one Hanna and sold by hira to Sheldon Har
raon. It stood on where is now the cleared
land between Woodland Beach and Harmon
parks, and a depression still shows where the
cellar was dug.
"Farther east on the north side was the farm
and residence of Aaron Harraon, father of
John Harmon of the east village, and of Eze
kiel who resides in New York.
"Below that was the home and farm of
James Lockwood, Sr., and still farther east
lived Hardin D. Harmon, also a son of Aaron ;
Captain William Lent and several families of
Shepards, the latter being Peletia's and his
sons Lewis, Orson, Charles, Oren and Loren.
The last two named were twins and were
known in that day as the "Two Jacks.'' All
of the men of the Shepard family followed the
lakes and none of them lacked natural ability.
"Returning to a point near the homestead
of Aaron Harraon was the road that leads
south to the vHlage common on the east side.
On this road lived Fredus Sweet, Guerdon
Beckwith and, a litle farther south, Eli Hol
comb. "Passing south, at a point where the Lake
Shore tracks cross the road, there was on the
east side a little farm of about ten acres in a
long, narrow strip, on which stood a log house
in which lived one McFarland. When the
Lake Shore road was put in, it ran through
that farm diagonally and the company bought
the whole piece. There were no more houses
on that" road. The Middle road was then
opened but a little way east, and on that lived
the faraily of Justus Markham.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

549

Congressmen From the County.
Men representing, the district of which Ash
tabula county is a part in the congress of the
United States :
1813 to 1814, Rezin BeaH.
1814 to 1817, David Clendening.
1817 to 1819, Peter Hitchcock.
1819 to 1823, Jonathan Sloan.
1823 to 1838, Elisha Whittlesey.
1838 to 1859, Joshua R. Giddings.
1859 to 1863, John Hutchins.
1863 to 1880, James A. Garfield.
1880 to 1893, Ezra B. Taylor.
1893 to 1898, Stephen A. Northway.
1898 to 1904, Charles Dick.
1904, W. Aubrey Thomas, now serving.
Religious Institutions and People.
It is believed that Ashtabula county as a
whole does not support churches as substan
tially as do some of the other counties of
which we are writing. Of this however we
are not absolutely certain. In the beginning
it started out well. Then all the churches were
Protestant and of New England denoraination.
Today, however, the Roraanists are strong in
the port towns, and the people from the north
of Europe have a number of churches.
The earliest missionary on the Western
Reserve was the Rev. Joseph Badger, who is
mentioned often in the general history and in
the counties as well. He resided in Ashtabula
county, as did the Rev. Harvey Coe and rela
tives who labored for the church.
First Western Reserve Church.
To Ashtabula county belongs the credit of
erecting the first church in the Western Re
serve. This was at Austinburg, in 1801. In
this county also was established the first week
ly communion west of the Allegheny raoun
tains. Such coraraunion was held at St. Peter's
parish in Ashtabula city, which was the first
Episcopal parish organized in Ohio. The Rev.
Roger Searle, the first rector, naraed the

church for the parish which he left in Con
necticut. Although the Rev. Joseph Badger
was a Presbyterian, or Congregationalist, his
daughter Sarah raarried John Hall, a graduate
of Yale, a self-educated raan who devoted his
lifetirae to study. A few years after his raar
riage he becarae converted to the Episcopal
faith and was several tiraes rector of St.
Peter's. Of course, his wife, Sarah, became
an Episcopalian too, for in those days wher
ever the husband worshiped, there worshiped
the wife also. "Thy people shall be ray people
and thy God ray God" was true then as to the
letter. Never was it true as to the spirit, for
the people of others is not raine, and ray God
is ray own, not others. The records of St.
Peter's church are most interesting to students
of this northeastern county.
St. Peter's established the first weekly cora
raunion of any church in the United States.
At times this has been disputed, but it is now
acknowledged. It is the oldest Episcopal
church holding continuous services in Ohio.
It was org,anized in 1816. It was among the
first churches consecrated by Bishop Chase.
The church at Boardman was organized in
1809, but has not had continuous services.
First Ohio Diocesan.
The first diocesan convention in Ohio was
held at Windsor, where Solomon Griswold and
his interesting family were supporters of the
church. The southern diocese was not created
till 1875. This Mr. Griswold was one of the
first associate justices of the court of coramon
pleas and the man of whom the story of "High
Wire" is told in the early pages of this chap
ter. It wasn't necessary in those days for a
churchman to be a teetotaller.
Pioneer Baptist Association.
The first Baptist association organized in
northern Ohio was the Grand River, since
called Ashtabula. The preliminary meeting
was held at Madison in July, 1817, and the

550

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

first regular meeting at Geneva, October 15,
1817. Notes on Church Topics.
The foHowing notes gathered from reliable
sources are given here:
First religious service of which we have any
record was the funeral serraon preached by
Josep.h Badger at the funeral of Samuel Wil
son, of Washington. Rev. Badger preached
here later and the Methodists held a class as
early as 1807.
First society was the Baptists of Jefferson
and Denmark, who united. Joshua Wood-
worth was the rainister and the date 181 1. At
the end of eleven years Denmark went by it
self. The Methodist organization was per
fected in 181 1 with six merabers.
A church was built in 1837 ^t about the tirae
of the erection of the Congregationalists'
edifice. The father of Senator Theodore E. Burton
was a rainister of the Congregational church.
Conneaut.
First religious meeting in Conneaut at the
residence of Aaron Wright in 1800. First
church, 1818, on Ridge road between Con
neaut and Amboy. Congreg,ational church
organized at the horae of Robert Montgomery,
1819. BuHding begun in 1826 and finished in
two years. Mr. Badger organized the society
on a plan of the Union, that is Congregational
or Presbyterian. Baptists, in 1831, organized
in school house on the South Ridge. First
church erected in 1842, finished in 1844. Meth
odist class formed in Conneaut township at
Amboy, 1823. In Conneaut village about five
years later ; St. Mary's Catholic church in
1861. The first parsonage in the Erie conference
was built in Geneva 1827, on the South Ridge
road. It was about a raile and a half from
town. The first Methodist raeeting house was
built at Ashtabula in 182 1. It was caHed the
Block church.

Harpersfield.
First serraon, by Mr. -Badger, 1800. "First
church >of logs, 1804/ The first frame church,
1830. This was a Baptist raeeting house.
1836, Union church. This is still in use and
in good repair.
First Methodist class in this township was
at South Harpersfield. Saybrook.
First services in this town were held by the
Methodists, 1816. Austinburg.
The early residents of Austinburg were un
usually religious. In 1800, when the three
farailies of the township lived far apart, they
held regular services. As new people came,
these services were continued and were usually
held at Judge Austin's residence.
The first sermon preached in this township
was in 1801, and in that year a church was
formed and a building, erected, as stated above.
Bodily exercises referred to in the general his
tory accompanied the early revivals of this
church. Andover.
The first church of Andover, i8i8, was
Presbyterian, and the first church organized
at the Center was Congregationalist. The date
of the latter was 1832.
Rome.
The first sermon preached in Rorae was at
the house of Elijah Crosby, by Rev. Jonathan
Leslie. First church organized by Rev. GHes H.
Cowles, 1818.
Plymouth.
First church organized in this town was the
Episcopal, 1826. All denorainations have since
used their houses.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

551

Lenox.
Methodist forraed a class in this township in
1825. Baptist formed an association in 1849.
New Lyme.
First sermon preached by Rev. Giles H.
Cowles, 1812. Free Will Baptists organized,
1826. Richmond.
Methodist class organized in 181 1. The
second organization was Baptist, but services
had been held in homes long before this.
Trumbull.
First sermon preached by Rev. Giles H.
Cowles, 1819.
The first organization was of the Metho
dists, who held raeetings in school houses till
1855. The organization of Disciples was per
fected in 1859.
Orwell.
Rev. Giles H. Cowles preached the first ser
mon in this township in 1820. Two years later
the Methodists forraed a class. They erected
a church in 1845. Presbyterians perfected
their organization in 1831 and Baptists in
1832. Pierpont.
Methodist class forraed in 1810. In 1823
Presbyterian church, by the Revs. Cowles and
Woodruff. In 1840 a buHding was erected which was
used by all denominations, and later becarae
the Pierpont Acaderay. Cherry Valley.
Methodist class organized in 1845. Church
organized in 1840. Sheffield.
As early as 1824 the Methodists organized
a church, a class having raet long before that
in school houses.

Rev. Edmond Richraond organized the Bap
tist church in 1835, the Free Will Baptists or
ganizing three years later.
Williamsfield.
As early as 1807, Rev. Joseph Badger and
John Leslie preached in a log cabin at Wil
liamsfield. Church organized in 1816 by Cowles and
Leslie. The Methodists early had a class., and in
1820 erected a log raeeting house.
Wayne.
First services in the house of Joshua Gid
dings, about 1806.
The Methodists organized in 1822. First
meetings held in houses. First church built
in 1840.
The Congregationalists organized, 1816.
Windsor.
First serraon preached at Solomon Gris
wold's home in 1802.
First church erected. Episcopal, 1816. It
was called Soloraon's Temple from Soloraon
Griswold. The church of 1832, half a mile
west of the center of Windsor, was dedicated
by Bishop Mcllvaine.
The Methodists had a class as early as 18 12,
and erected their first church in 1827.
Hartsgrove.
First religious raeeting of which we have
any record was held in a log cabin in 1830.
First church, Methodist, 1820.
Rev. Giles Cowles preached at Austinburg
and Morgan in 1810.
First church was raade of logs with
puncheon floors. Hogs upset the raeeting
house. First frarae church on the Reserve erected
in 1824. This was opposite the old log church
and was a very pretentious building. It was
made of white oak and had a gaHery all round
it ; a tower, a belfry and a spire. It took near-

552

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ly a week to raise it. Ebenezer Church broke
a bottle of whiskey on the spire.
Morgan.
First religious services held in November,
1802, by Joseph Badger at the residence of
Captain John Wright. Regular services there
after. Rock Creek.
The first church of Rock Creek was a Pres
byterian, established in 1819; Methodist, 1822;
Disciples, 1824.
Monroe.
First regular religious meetings were held
in 1804. Joseph Badger was the minister and
these meetings were held at houses.
Kingsville.
First church was erected in 1821 by the Con
gregationalists. In 1810 they had held services
in residences.
The Methodists held their raeetings in a
school from 1831 to 1834.
Dorset.
The first church was the Methodist and
their classes were held in houses in 1825. StiH
in existence. Colebrook.
First serraon preached in Colebrook in 1820.
The first church organized was Congregational
and the second, Methodist. Denm.^rk.
Elder Joshua Woodruth preached the first
sermon in Denraark.
First church was erected in 1832, on land
belonging to Peter Knapp.
The Baptists organized the first church in
1812.
The Birth ( ?) of Mormonism.
The following is quoted because it relates
to Ashtabula county. A history of Morraon-

ism is given in the earher chapters of this
work. "In 1809 to 1813, one Solomon Spaulding
was engaged in business at Conneaut, and not
being in robust, health, he spent much of his
time at writing, a kind of work for which he
possessed considerable talent. Being well edu
cated, he entertained opinions on various sub
jects that were interesting to his acquaintances.
He wrote a book entitled "Manuscript Found,"
which he was desirous of publishing; in fact,
he submitted it to a printing firm in Pittsburg,
from whose custody the manuscript years
afterward mysteriously disappeared. From
the strongest circumstantial evidence it is be
lieved that Spaulding's writings — somewhat
altered — served as the basis or substance of
the Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith
claimed to have found underground on a hill
side at Palmyra, in 1827 ; and also that Sidney
Rigdon was the medium through whom
Spaulding's manuscript found its way to
Joseph Smith. It is not the purpose to trace
the chain of evidence, nor to relate the history
of Morraonisra. These facts have been stated
solely for the purpose of noting that on the
Reserve Morraonisra took the first step in its
course." Newspapers.
The early newspaper of Ashtabula county
followed eastern papers as to raake-up and
character of reading raatter. They had little
local news.
Citizens were supposed to keep track of
their neighbors' affairs quite as weH, or better,
than the editor. The columns were filled with
essays, accounts of travel and political news of
Europe. The Ashtabula- Recorder was the oldest
paper in the county. It was launched in 1823.
Asa W. W. Hickox and John A. Hiclcox were
owners. That fall Ozias Bowen, a practical
printer, became a member of the firra in the
place of John A. Hickox. He withdrew the
following year and Asa W. W. Hickox and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

553

A. S. Park were owners. Later Hugh Lowry
owned it and in 1826, after three years' exist
ence, it died. These raen, Messrs. Hickox,
Park and Lowry, continued in the printing
business. Hickox, although a printer, vi^as al
ways poor and unsuccessful, although he lived
about fifty years after the Recorder was estab
lished. The stateraents raade in some his
torical sketches of Ashtabula county, namely,
that Deacon Hickox died in the county in
firmary, the author does not credit. That so
earnest a citizen should have had such an end
ing to an honorable life does not seem possible.
In response to a letter asking for facts about
Mr. Hickox, Henry H. Hall, of Ashtabula,
writes : "I am nearly seventy-four years of
age. In ray boyhood days Deacon Hickox
lived in East Ashtabula. I knew him well. He
had a son, quite an old boy, they went every
Sunday raorning to the Baptist church in this
city, the boy following the old gentleman in
their walk. It's one of ray early recollections.
The records of the Baptist church in this city
.«how that on Deceraber 24, 1824, he was a
committee to draw up articles of faith ; on the
following day was appointed clerk and served
as such 1827-30, 1831-3 and 1838-43. On
April 29, 1848, he asked for a letter for hira
self and wife Anna ; also for his sons Carlos
and Alonzo, as they were about to remove from
Ashtabula." Messrs. Park and Lowry later were inter
ested in the lournal. When the Recorder died
I)eople missed it, as we often do departed
things, and in August, 1826, the Western
lournal was born. It was published by R. W.
Griswold, whom the writer supposes was the
owner. In November, 1827, Park and Terrill
bought it and published it until 1838, when
Hugh Lowry becarae proprietor. Mr. Lowry
was a peculiar character. He was very
bright, uneducated, standing rather aloof frora
the world, and he added to his newspaper duty
his own housework. His two brothers, Robert
and Samuel,' helped him. The author does not
know whether they wer^ helpers in both

branches of work, or only in that departraent
which is supposed to be man's doraain. We
rather infer Hugh alone was the queen of
the horae, since Robert indulged too frequently
in the wine which is red. Housekeepers sel
dom do that. It is hardly fair to make this
record, however, because Robert did not stand
alone in this class in his county.
In 1829 the Western Journal was enlarged
and the narae Ashtabula substituted for West
ern. Under that name it existed for two years
when it was discontinued because of Mr.
Lowry's failing health.
At this tirae the people in Conneaut wanted
a newspaper, or probably sorae raen in Con
neaut thought they could raake money from
a newspaper, and they bought the press and
the printing, material and established the Salem
Advertiser, of which O. K. Knapp was editor.
In 1853 W. C. Howells and J. L. Oliver
bought this and raoved it to Jefferson.
The Conneaut News-Herald came into ex
istence January i, 1907, being a consoHdation
of the Conneaut Daily Post-Herald and the
Conneaut Evening News. It is published by
the Conneaut Printing Company, Walter E.
Putnara, general raanager.
It will be seen by consulting the foregoing
dates, that The Advertiser had a longer life
than the papers of its tirae. In the raeantime
several papers were started in Ashtabula coun
ty. In 1834 there was the Democratic Free
Press; in 1833, the Ashtabula Republican; in
1852, the Ashtabula Democrat. Another short
lived paper of later date was the Ashtabula
Jeffersonian, 1870.
The Geneva Times, established in 1866 by
H. FI. Thorp, was edited by Warren P. Spen
cer. Two years later it was sold to Spencer
and Carey A. Vaughn. At this time it was
enlarged. In 1873 Mr. Vaughn sold his half
to Henry W. Lindergreen, and Mr. Spencer
continued the publication. Mr. Spencer be
longed to the faraous Spencer family. Laura
Rosamond White, who has studied the history
of Ashtabula well, says that Mr. Spencer "was

554

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

an ideal editor" and "that he had blended in
his nature the poetical and practical. He had
solid judgment, with a vein of humor. His
paper, according to data, was for a long while
a helpful factor and prominent feature on the
Western Reserve."
The Geneva Weekly Free Press was estab
lished in 1876, and in 1899 J. D. Field bought
it of Ferd Lee and Nate Hawley. Mr. Lee
had owned it, or an interest in it, for about ten
years. The ' Daily Free Press was established in
1900 by J. D. Field and in 1901 he also bought
the Times and consolidated both subscription
lists under the narae of the Daily Free Press-
Times, discontinuing both weeklies.
The Ashtabula Sentinel was the oldest and
best known paper in Ashtabula county. In
1832 thirteen raen forraed a corapany for its
publication. There certainly was no super
stition in this deal. Among, the early editors
were O. H. Fitch and James Graham. In
1837 Messrs. Parkman and Fassett bought the
paper, but Mr. Fassett continued with it only
about a year. Mr. Park had charge of it about
seven months, when Mr. Fassett (Henry)
bought the property and edited the paper until
1839. The next year O. H. Fitch was editor
and the succeeding year Mr. Fassett resumed
his duties. He continued to be the editor for
many years. S. S. Fassett was associated with
him as publisher. At one time S. S. Nellis was
connected with the paper and for five or six
raonths Mr. Hendry took his place. Frora No
veraber, 1844, to March, 1848, A. and S. Hen
dry were publishers, the latter being editor.
J. Burton was printer. In 1848, Henry Fassett
and Company bought all the interests and J.
A. Giddings, a son of Joshua R., became
editor. In 1 85 1, Henry Fassett, who it seeras from
the records was unable to divorce himself frora
his property, succeeded Giddings as editor and
sold a half interest to W. C. Plowells, the
father of Williara Dean and J. A. Flowells,
and some member of this illustrious family

was connected with the paper, as publisher or
editor, or both, until 1909 ; that is, nearly fifty
years. It then becarae the property of E. C.
and R. D. Larapson.
The Jefferson Gazette was founded in 1876
by Daniel Lee & Son, who later sold their in
terests and went to Geneva, where they found
ed the Geneva Free Press. The Gazette was
purchased in 1883 by E. L. Larapson and has
since reraained in the Larapson faraily. Later
E. L. Lampson sold a half interest to his
brother, R. D. Lampson, and after making
some iraproveraents the former owner bought
the half interest of his partner and assumed
the. full control. R. D. Larapson went to War
ren, where he organized the Warren Daily
Tribune. In .1896 E. C. Larapson leased the
newspaper business frora his father and has
since been the editor of the paper. In 1902
he purchased the Jeff.erson Gazette from E. L
Lampson, and changed it from a weekly to a
tri-weekly. In 1905 E. C. Lampson sold a
half interest to R. D. Lampson, who becarae
the business raanager. The plant was de
stroyed by fire on June i, 1906, but before the
walls of their three-story brick building had
fallen E. C. & R. D. Larapson had rented
rooms and while their plant was still blazing
had left the village for Cleveland to buy a new
publishing outfit. Two days later the Gazette
appeared as usual. The newspaper is now
housed in a fine two-story brick block, belong
ing to E. L. Lampson, and has a large and
satisfactory country business. On October
7, 1909, E. C. & R. D. Larapson purchased the
Ashtabula' Sentinel plant and good will and
now publish the newspaper frora the Gazette
plant. The incorporated stockholders of the
Lampson Printing Corapany are E. C. Lamp-
son, R. D. Lampson, E. L. Lampson, Pearl
Lampson and Isabelle Larapson.
The second oldest paper in Ashtabula coun
ty, the Ashtabula Telegraph, was started in
1852 by N. W. Thayer. W. E. Scardale was
the editor. In 1853 it became the- property of
John Booth. It was not paying property, and

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

555

in 1855 people who had advanced money to
have it continued were dissatisfied, and Messrs.
WHlard, Hendry and Morrison bought it. So
anxious was everybody to have it succeed that
creditors gave up their claims to these raen
provided they would run it. This was agreed
to. R. W. Handford was editor. In 1856 James
Reed bought the paper and after many years
of hard work he made it a financial success.
In 1873 his son became his partner. In the
foUowing year the paper was enlarged and
had a long and useful career. In later years
it was sold to Scott & Rennek and is now pub
lished by the Ashtabula Printing Corapany.
The Conneaut Citizen was started in 1871.
C. G. Guffey was editor and proprietor. In
1873 it was raoved to Jefferson. Soon it be
came the property of A. F. Sperr,y, and Mr.
Sperry began the publishing of the Ashtabula
Nerofs. Four years later, it was enlarged, N.
C. Hawley purchased a half interest which he
sold to E. J. Griffin and A. F. Sperry.
In 1852 the Western Reserve Farmer and
Dairyman was published at Jefferson and
merged into the Ohio Farmer.
A Democratic paper was published in 1877
by Sherraan, Rote and Fardon, with Henry
Apthorp editor.
In December, 1872, J. S. Morley and D. S.
Calkins started the Enterprise at Andover.
The latter was editor. This continued for ten
years, when Mr. Morley re-equipped it and
Mr. Coffin became editor. ,The following year,
1875, Mr. Morley became sole raanager, and
six months later he sold the stock and closed
out the business.
The Andover Citizen was established in
1882. At different tiraes it has been owned
by J. S. Morley, Messrs. Bond and Mont
gomery, James Dow, Dow & Johnson, F. V.
Bos'worth and N. G. Richardson (present pro
prietor). It has been Republican since 1896.
So far as the author knows the only paper
published or edited by women in Ashtabula
county was the Plea for the Oppressed. This

was short-lived and was issued in the cause of
anti-slavery. The talented Betsey Cowles was.
editor. When Mr. Virgil P. Kline, of Cleveland,,
was asked by the author whe,ther he edited a
smaH paper in 1859-60, which was issued frora
the Gazette ofiice, he replied : "Yes, 1 will plead.
guilty to being one of two boys who, when we
were about sixteen years old, published, for a
year, what was known as the Young Amer
ican, at Conneaut. My boy and college cora
panion, now the Hon. O. M. Hall, of Red
Wing, Minnesota, was ray associate. He con
tinued it for a year after I dropped out,
changed its poHtics, and made it a better
paper." The Ohio Luminary shed its first light in
Jefferson. It was an anti-Mason paper.
Mr. Allen, of Conneaut, was one of the
raost energetic newspaper men the county has
ever had. The credit of founding the Re
porter was due to hira. At one tirae he and
Mr. Finch issued from the Gazette office The
Budget, a daily paper devoted to the troubles
in Canada. Mr. Allen used to walk to the
Harbor each night to get the news which the
vessel "the Bridget" brought in.
Visions of Printer Howells.
William Dean HoweHs in an article pub
lished this year, 1910, in Harper's Bazar, on
his boyhood, says : "I was really living by my
handicraft of printer, which I loved and re
joiced in; but there was the future, which did
not fail to recall itself to me at times, and
trouble the visions which swam round me in
the long afternoons when I was distributing
my case; I do not know what golden hours
the operator of a linotype raachine ,raay now
know ; I will not deny thera ; but I doubt if
he is ever so rapt from the sense of work as a
compositor might be fifty or sixt)' years agO'
when he was renewing the sources of his next
day's work. It was a mechanical employment,
yes, and it involved the sharae which still waits
on handiwork, but I was no raore conscious

556

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

of the flying types than the pianist is of the
throbbing keys. If I could again be trans
ported so far from rayself, I would be glad of
the sarae raeans ; but, perhaps, one must be
nineteen or twenty for the full effect of the
raagic; the force of that is not increased by
the increase of the years to seventy-three."
Newspapers Now Published.
The following is a list of papers now pub
lished in the county:
The lefferson Gazette, E. C. Larapson,
editor; R. D. Lampson, manager.
The Ashtabula Sentinel, E. C. Larapson,
editor; R. D. Lampson, manager.
The Beacon Record and the Ashtabula Tele
graph are published by the Beacon Record
Printing Corapany, P. C. Remick, president
and raanager, and W. W. Totheroh, editor.
W. W. Scott, who was business raanager of
the Beacon Record, died about the tirae this
volurae was written.
The Democratic Standard, C. A. Corbin,
editor. The Ashtabula Independent, E- J. Hancock,
editor. The Amerikan Sanomat and Suometar,
August Edwards, editor.
The Free Press-Times, Geneva, J. D. Field,
editor. The Conneaut News Herald, F. A. Churchill,
editor. The Andover Citizen, N. G. Richardson,
editor. The Orwell Nezvs Letter, Hal Olds, editor.
The Rock Creek Signal, H. W. Miller,
editor. The Amerikan Sanomat, owned by August
Edwards, is a Finnish paper, published in Ash
tabula. It has existed under its present name
since 1897. Before that it was called Yhdys-
waltain Sanomat, which dates back to 1884. It
is a weekly and has a good circulation.
Probably the latest paper to be issued in
Ashtabula county is the Evening Independent,
which began September 4, 1909. It is inde

pendent in politics; a daily; has a large cir
culation, and E. J. Hancock is editor and gen
eral manager.
The News-Letter, of Orwell, was established
the last day of July, 1890, by Charles J. Olds,
who was its first editor and owner. In 1894,
Hal W. Olds became owner and editor. It is
a weekly and Republican. At one time the
Orwell Item was edited by A. R. Woolsey.
The Democratic Standard was established in
November, 1876, by Dan J. Sherman, of Ash
tabula, and R. O. Rote, of Geneva. These
two men were also the editors. In 1891 Mr.
C. A. Corbin, then superintendent of the
Kingsville schools, bought out Sherman and
Rote and edited the paper until 1893, when
the Standard Publishing Corapany was
forraed, Mr. Corbin continuing as editor. From
1893 to 1898 this firm published a daily, but
it had to be abandoned as there were not
enough Democrats in the county to support a
paper.
Town and Township Notes.
In 1808 a township, including the present
Kingsville, Sheffield, Plymouth and Ashtabula,
was forraed which was naraed Ashtabula. Hall
Sraith,who owned a portion of land which
"extended northward below the Lake Shore
depot and westward to the northern end of.
West street," built a log house which he used
as a residence and a store. In 1813 he built
a frarae house which is used as the present
Children's Horae.
Premium on Motherhood.
Nehemiah Hubbard was the first permanent
settler in Ashtabula, and Mrs. Joseph Kerr,
who was the mother of the first white child
born in that town, received fifty dollars from
Mr. Hubbard as a premium.
First Ashtabula Merchant, Hall Smith.
Mr. Smith's store was the first store in Ash
tabula. He had so raany interests that he bor
rowed a large araount of money at the West-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

557

ern Reserve Bank, and in the depression which
followed the war of 1812 he becarae so in
volved that he executed a deed of trust to John
Kinsman, of Kinsraan. Later John Kinsman
sold the property to his nephew, Frederick
Kinsman, whose horaestead now stands on the
beautiful Mahoning avenue in Warren, and
Frederick proceeded to plot this ground and
it was known as the Kinsman's flats. Part
of it was rented for farms. It sold very slowly
and as late as 1848 Car so Crane, who was
visiting a relative, purchased the land for
$6,000. It is sad to relate that this Mr. Hall Sraith
who had done so rauch for the iraproveraent of
the town and was a man of ability should have
lost his raind and his money, and died in the
county infirmary in 1864. He was the last
person buried in the old cemetery on Division
street. High Prices of 1855.
The Ashtabula Sentinel, of Jefferson, under
date of February, 1910, says: "In an account
book kept by the late W. K. Titus, of Jeffer
son, in the year 1855, recording his local trans
actions from the wholesale firm of Betcher,
Mead & Titus, of New York, are found a num
ber of items of interest and the naraes of
former prominent men of this vicinity.
"Some of the prices also indicate that the
cost of living in 1855 was a great deal more
strenuous than it is in 1910.
* * * * * *
"Three and a quarter yards of blue cloth to
Abner Kellogg for $17.88. Bleached sheeting
sold at 16 cents per yard.
"A keg, of gunpowder to Aaron Watrous
for $6.
* * !j: * :(: *
"A quantity of band iron to C. C. Wick at
4 cents per pound.
"On February 17, 1855, he sold to Senator
B. F. Wade at wholesale $49.09 of goods con
sisting of one box of raisins for $4.50, two

boxes of sperm candles for lighting his resi
dence, $26.40; one box of Imperial tea for
$13.50 and twenty-five pounds of Java coffee
$4.69. Coffee was as cheap then as now.
"A barrel of raolasses to Robert Riley for
40 cents per gallon.
"To another custoraer: a dozen collars for
$2.50, two cravats for $5.50, three silk hand
kerchiefs for $3.38 and six pairs of socks for
$1.50. "B. F. Wade bought some black cloth on
February 20, 1855, and paid $8 per yard for
it. On the same day Congressman Giddings
bought $101.26 worth of goods, paying 10
cents per pound for a barrel of sugar, sorae
coffee, tea and two boxes of sperra candles."
An Indian Scare at Conneaut.
The Indians in Ashtabula were in the be
ginning very friendly whh the whites, but
when the war of 1812 carae on the inhabitants
of Conneaut were quite as afraid of their for
raer friends as they were of the British. Seeing
a boat approaching one afternoon, one of the
settlers gave an alarra and soon the cabins were
deserted and the frightened people, largely
woraen and children, reraained in the woods all
night. They knew their village was to be
burned and that probably they would be raassa-
cred. Next raorning they returned to find
everything unraolested. It turned out that the
boat was frora Erie, carrying persons who
were thinking of locating there, but when the
captain found he was frightening the inhabi
tants he went on toward Cuyahoga.
Ashtabula Schools.
The first school house built in Ashtabula
stood .at the juncture of Jefferson and South
Ridge. The first teacher was Julia Hubbard,
the second, Achsah Nettleton. The first school
at the Center was taught by Sarah Booth, in
1815. It was held in Araos Fisk's barn, which
had been done off as a store roora. In 1816
school was held in Freeman's HaH, Rev. John
Hall teacher. In 1830 Richard Roberts as
sisted Mr. Hall. In 1821 there was a private

558

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

school "on the Square in the East village."
This was burned in 1826.
In 1832 the Ashtabula Academy was incor
porated. This was managed, as were all acad
emies of that time, by a company of gentle
men. The incorporators were Matthew Flub-
bard, Russell Clark, R. W. Griswold, W. W.
ileed, Amos Fisk, Philo Booth and Gad Love-
land. For twenty years the youth of Ashta
bula coramitted dull pages to raeraory, worked
out intricate suras, had their spelling raatches
and their geography and singing. Mary Ann
Fuller and Miss M. E. Marsh were araong
the early teachers. In 1851 a new buHding
was erected, which cost nearly two thousand
dollars. This was three stories and the
Masons and Odd Fellows occupied the upper
floor. As St. Peter's was, and is, an influential
parish, it was not strange that it should early
have a parochial school. This was established
in 1 85 1. The rector of the church and other
clergymen taught, and the assistants were
woraan. In 1856 the pubhc school systera was
established, and since that time the schools
have been among the best in Ohio. At present
they have, aside frora the classical; scientific,
commercial and manual training courses.
Ashtabula schools are most excellent. The
last report of the school coramissioners (1908)
shows the total value of the school property to
be $550,000. The enumeration of children of
school age in Ashtabula, in 1908, was 3,263 ;
pupils enrolled for that year, 2,502.
Ashtabula Soldiers' Monument.
On the lawn beside the city hall in Ashtabula
is a monuraent which bears this inscription :
"Erected in raemory of the soldiers and .sailors
of the Civil war, their mothers and wives by
Jaraes Lewis." The raonuraent is of gray
Vermont granite, surmounted by a bronze
eagle. It was dedicated Decoration day with
appropriate services and entrusted to the care
of the Paulus Post of the Grand Array of the
Republic. This is one of the few monuraents
-dedicated to the women of the war, as well as

to the men, and it is not to be left in the care
of men to be ruined by the elements when there
shall be no Grand Array Men; the raonuraent
will be cared for by the woraen, since any loyal
woman can be a raeraber of the Woraan's Re
lief Corps, while only those who were really en
listed are eligible to raerabership in the Grand
Army of the Republic.

f

SOLDIEES' MONUMENT, ASHTABULA.
The Terrible Railroad Dis.\ster.
Many people in the United States who
know nothing of this country, nor of its larg
est town and river, are acquainted with the
name because of the terrible railroad disaster
which occurred December 29, 1876. A fast
express train, running over the Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern west, was precipitated
into the river by the breaking of the bridge. It
was a bitter night, the earth covered with snow
and ice. At least eighty people perished, five

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

559

dying after they were rescued. Sixty-three
were wounded, and those who survived suff
ered torture from the shock. The citizens did
everything they possibly could in caring for the
injured and taking care of the bodies of the
dead. Prorainent officers of the road in Cleve
land and eminent physicians frora that city
were soon on the scene. P. P. Bliss and wife
were the most widely known people who lost
their lives.
The coroner's jury found that this bridge
had not been properly constructed and cen
sured the railroad corapany whose engineers
had passed upon it, after the inspectors had
visited it, as provided by law. Undoubtedly
graft entered into the construction and sorae
men, for raoney's sake, caused all this fearful
destruction of precious lives. '
One of the things for which the United
States is justly criticised is the lax way in
which our laws provide for the punishraent of
railroad officials and employees who are re
sponsible for the deaths of travelers. If these
same men had waylaid, robbed and kHled, these
same passengers, they would have .been pun
ished ; sorae of them might have been hung.
Other Ashtabula Items.
Froiri the record gathered and preserved by
H. L. Morrison, we learn that Seth Thayer
came to Ashtabula about 1805. He was a sur
veyor and a saHor and in a few years brought
his family and settled on what is known- as
Woodland Beach park. His granddaughter,
Phoebe Bart, becarae a raissionary for the
Episcopal church and died on the west coast of
Africa; Gideon Leet, settled in 1806, on what is now
Columbus street. He kept a tavern and was
Ashtabula's first postmaster. He was chosen
to four public offices in 1808 — naraely: over
seer, fence viewer, supervisor of highways and
justice of the peace.
David Burnett, Josiah White, David White
and Samuel White carae in 1806 and settled at
what is now known as Plyraouth. They were
additions to the coraraunity.

An early settler, Enoch Fuller is reraera-
bered particularly because his wife bore "the
euphonious narae of Karenhappuch." He had
a large faraily of daughters whose descendants
still live on the Reserve. His son Josiah was
a stage driver, later a liveryman and finally
settled on a farra in Saybrook. He was a great
Mason, went to the conclave at San Francisco
and was the life of the party.
In 1804, Matthew Hubbard, of Trenton,
New York, as agent for Neheraiah Hubbard,
started for the Western Reserve. Three years
before, Thoraas Harailton had built a cabin
on the west side of the river near the raouth,
but he had not reraained long. Mrs. Beck
with, as we have seen, lived here, but the Hub
bard family was the first substantial family to
take up its residence within the liraits of the
present town, and frora that day to this sorae
raember of the Hubbard family, bearing the
Hubbard name, has been a resident of the city.
Rossetta Luce Gilchrist, M. D., is one of the
distinguished women citizens of Ashtabula
county. She now practices her profession in
Ashtabula, and her faraily belonged to the
county. Her father was one of the seven raen
who voted for the Giddings' Abolition ticket.
Dr. Gilchrist is not only a physician, but an
author as well, having written several books
which have received a good deal of attention.
She has a good practice and a fine standing in
the coraraunity. The Present City of Ashtabula.
Ashtabula is by far the largest and raost
prosperous city of the county. Including the
harbor, which is a city of itself, there is noth
ing corapared to it on the lake shore of the
Western Reserve east of Cleveland. It is like
-the ordinary western city in the way it is laid,
its buildings constructed, its business carried
on. It has retained alraost none of its early
Puritan appearance, although araong the old
settlers raany custoras and beliefs are still re
tained. Unlike raost of the towns in Ashtabula
county, it has a large population of foreigners

=;6o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

frora the north of Europe and in politics is
often Deraocratic.
Hon. H. L. Morrison in the Beacon Record
of Ashtabula, January 28, says, "The first gov
ernment work ever done on the Harbor was
in 1827, when piers were built out into the lake
and finished out a little beyond the old light
house crib, a few tirabers of which are still to
be seen. The first lighthouse w-as erected in
1834-35, and prior to its erection a light was
displayed by hanging a lantern at the top of a

ment submitted to congress a nuraber of im
portant statements, among which are the fol
lowing, :
Number of vessels arriving in
the year 1908 1,129
Number of vessels departing 1,114
Total nuraber of net tons of
coal handled

Total nuraber of net tons ore
handled

2,421,371.83,378,822.7

POET 01' ASHTABULA IN 1873.

twenty-foot pole that was erected on the end of
the pier."
The population of Ashtabula city in 1909
was 19,000 ; its area, eight and one-half square
miles. Its citizens claira that it raises the larg
est quantity of winter vegetables under glass
of any place in the United States. More large
boats come into Ashtabula harbor than in New
York or Philadelphia. It has natural gas,
electric lights, local and interurban street cars,
good water supply, paved streets, good parks,
public library, fine Y. M. C. A., unexcelled
schools, and a first class hospital.
In making an investigation for the improve
ments for Ashtabula harbor, the War Depart-

Total value of freight handled $18,649,733.36
Total registered tonnage, ves
sels entering and departing
1908 5.729,470
Total registered tonnage, ves
sels entering and departing
1909 11,486,219
An increase over last year of nearly a hun
dred per cent.
Enormous Ore Port.
W. Frank McClure, one of the most valued
associate editors of the Western Reserve his
tory, has contributed the following: "In the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

S6i

early days of the industry the ore at Ashtabula
was taken in wheelbarrows frora the vessels to
the docks. Vessels carried as few as three
hundred tons, which is interesting in compari
son with the cargoes of eleven thousand to
twelve thousand tons which now enter the port
in ships of frora 500 to 600 feet long. The
ore at this port is now removed from ships
by mechanically operated buckets, some of
which hold fifteen tons each. These buckets
'-emove the ore from the vessel with practically
no shovelers at work in the hold. Thousands
of men were eraployed at Lake Erie ports but
a very few years ago in the cargo compart
ments of the vessels, filling the sraall buckets
by hand. A vessel is now unloaded at Ashta
bula at the rate of more than two thousand
tons per hour. Coal is dumped in car-dump
ing machines by the carload and the cars hold
fifty tons each. Gravity yards take the place
of locomotives in switching.
"The greatest ore-carrying railroads in the
world have their northern terminals at Ashta
bula and Conneaut, and perhaps Cleveland
might be included in the list. One hundred
car trains go south from Ashtabula harbor to
the furnaces, and the railroads are spending
large amounts in double-tracking, reducing
grades and other improveraents to further
facilitate the traffic.
"Historic Fort Hill at Ashtabula harbor has
recently been leveled to the ground to raake
room for new docks. Both the Pennsylvania
and the Lake Shore companies are spending
milhons in dock improveraents, yards and new
machinery on the lake front. The governraent
has spent much in new breakwater outside the
harbor. "Work has just begun on a new shipyard of
the Great Lakes Engineering Company at
Ashtabula, which is to cost in the neighbor
hood of twO' raillion dollars, together with the
shops to be built, it is said. Ashtabula's live
Chamber of Coraraerce had much to do with
securing this industry.
"Conneaut harbor is also equipped with

nuraerous raodern ore-handling machinery and
for a tirae, in fact, led all other ports in this
respect. It was here that the first automatic
ore unloaders were erected, and this was made
a thoroughly model port from a raechanical
standpoint, Andrew Carnegie taking particular
interest. in its developraent.
"Ashtabula's ore traffic last year araounted
to raore than eight raiHion tons. Recently this
port has becorae, through the opening of the
new Franklin & Clearfield railroad, a shipping-
point for hard coal frora iraportant Pennsyl
vania fields." Geneva's Early Settlers.
Geneva was one of the spots on the lake
shore which attracted the early eastern settler.
At that time it was included in the township
of Harpersfield and was not set apart until
1816. In 1805 the first emigrants appeared, the first
party being Theobald Bartholomew, his wife;
Abigail, his brother's widow, and, of course,
their children. These first comers were stal
wart people, all three of them. They were
ready for anythiiig which might corae to thera,
since nothing in the new horae could equal
their experience of the old. The stories of
their past undoubtedly helped to while away
many tedious hours of their "fellow towns
men,'' for Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew had been
captured by Brandt in 1778, the night before
the attack on Fort Charlotte, and although re
leased without harra they traveled in the snow,
carrying their babies and arousing the inhabi
tants to their danger. Mr. Bartholoraew had
been a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and
Mrs. Abigail Bartholoraew was one of the per
sons inside Fort Charlotte at the tirae of the
attack, and had helped to defend it. The true
tales which they related were not ordinary
ones, and their descendants are proud of their
achievements. Levi Gaylord, who reached Geneva in 1806,
was widely known throughout the Reserve in
his time. As a boy he served with the Revo-

Vol. 1—86

562

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

lutionary forces and saw Washington, Lafay
ette and like officers. He was a sterling charac
ter and had great influence for good during his
lifetime. He was a representative in the Ohio
legislature in 1817, when the territory in
cluded most of the counties lying on the lake.
His granddaughter, Parthenia Gaylord, raar
ried Warren P. Spencer, the editor and nephew
of Platt R. Spencer, and thus were united two
of the oldest and raost influential families.
From early times the tone of Geneva life has
been high. Schools have been exceHent, desire
for culture great and, on the whole, the moral
and mental atmosphere above the average.
Town of Conneaut.
Conneaut was one of the first towns settled
in Ashtabula county, Thomas Montgomery
and Aaron Wright were the pioneers. They
were frora Harpersfield, New York, and had
expected to settle with friends at Harpersfield,
but when they passed through Conneaut they
were so pleased with the place they stopped.
Their settling was the easiest of the pioneers,
because they occupied the two houses which
the surveyors had built and found land which
had been worked both by the Indians and
Stowe, who had charge of the provisions of
the surveying party. As early as 1786, a
squatter naraed Halsted was in East Conneaut
very near the state road. He, the Kingsburys
and surveyors had preceded Aaron Wright, but
they were not actual settlers.
Conneaut was first called Salem. The first
house was erected by Mathew King in 1799 on
the north bank of Conneaut creek.
A Hunter's Adventure.
One of the most interesting events occurring
to a resident of Conneaut was the adventure
of Mr. Sweatland, who lived near the mouth
of Conneaut creek. It was from this creek
which the Seneca Indians named Conneaut,
raeaning "many fish," that the town took its
name. Mr. Sweatland was a great sportsman
and delighted in taking deer. He and a neigh

bor, Mr. Cousins, arranged that the latter
should go into the woods with his dog, start
the deer towards the lake, and that Sweatland
should capture it from his dug-out. On a cer
tain fall raorning this prograra was partially
carried out. Mr. Cousins chased a lusty stag
into the water and Sweatland began chasing
it in his clurasy boat. So intent was the man
on capturing the aniraal, and so strong was the
latter, that before he realized it the hunter was
far out into the lake. The stag turned for the
shore and when the raan attempted to follow
he found a high wind had arisen and that he
could raake no headway against it. He could
still see the shore, but could not attain it. He
was young and brave and strong and did not
despair, and was buffeted about for thirty ( ?)
hours and then landed on the Canadian shore
forty miles from any inhabitants. Although
pretty well exhausted, he raanaged to reach
a haralet, was fed and cared for, and later took
passage for Ashtabula Harbor, and upon his
arriving home learned that his funeral sermon
had been preached and his wife donned mourn
ing garments. Conneaut Harbor in 1850.
In 1850, Conneaut Harbor was an active
place. As sorae of the largest ships on the
lake were built here, the getting out of the
luraber for the same was quite an industry.
IMr. A. L. Webster, of Danville, IHinois,
writes : "About 1850 Conneaut Harbor was the
scene of quite an activity in shipbuHding. Some
of the best vessels sailing the lakes were buih
in the Conneaut shipyard, and Conneaut was
the horae of scores of lake captains, whose
names were farailiar from Buffalo to Chicago.
The writer recalls the names of Captains C. W.
Appleby, M. Capron, L. B. Goldsmith, Har
rison Perry and Charles Howard, Cyrenus
Blood, Jaraes Tubbs, Andrew Lent, Orange
Capron, Captain DeWolf, Wiard, Foster,
Travers, Wood ; and there are many more. In
those days the regions about the Harbor were
covered with great piles of lumber, as Con-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

563

neaut was considerable of a lumber raarket,
many vessels being engaged in the trade. I
mention these items of Conneaut's early his
tory, as I have never lost ray interest in the old
Ohio home." Conneaut, frora the day of its
beginning, has grown steadily and the raHroad
interests there have added greatly to its suc
cess. Giddings' Recollections of Conneaut.
Joshua R. Giddings, in a speech raade in
1853 at Wayne, speaking of coraing to the
Western Reserve, said : "We reached Conneaut
on June 16, a day rendered raeraorable by the

found an Indian wigwara. Here we halted for
the night. It was near the close of a beautiful
day in June, just as the sun was casting its last
lingering rays upon the tops of the trees on the
high grounds east of us, that we unyoked our
oxen and took possession of the desolated wig
wara. Here we ate our suppers, and found our
first night's lodging in the township of our
future residence. Ours was the first wagon
that crossed the Pyraatuning in Wayne, and
the sixth faraily that settled within its terri
tory. The next raorning, being June 25th, we
resuraed our journey." They finally raade
their horaes in Wayne.

OEE DOCKS AT CONNEAUT.

total eclipse of the sun. Coraing down the old
sah road which ran near the center of the first
range of towns nearly to the south line of Wil
liamsfield, we cut a road across the farm now
occupied by Captain Stanhope, and reached the
Pyraatuning at the point where the bridge on
the south road in Wayne now stands. Here
we descended to the low bottora lands, and fol
lowing, down the streara untH we passed the
mouth of the sraall creek which empties in
from the west, we forded the creek ; then turn
ing to the right, we crossed the small streara
and ascended a handsorae plateau, where we

Conneaut Schools.
The acaderay at Conneaut in 1846 was in
excellent condition. Mr. L. W. Savage and
Miss Mary Booth were the principals. Con
neaut schools have very high standing and the
lately erected building is a raodel one. The
enuraeration of school chHdren in 1908 was
1,884 and the number of pupils enrolled that
year 1,405. The Kingsville Academy.
The KingsviHe Academy, opened in 1836,
was for more than a third of a century the

564

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

leading school in northeastern Ohio. Araong
the raen attending there, who afterwards be
carae known, were Judge A. W. Tourgee and
Hon. J. C. Burrows. Mrs. Susan Osborne was
the first principal. She was a woraan of ex
traordinary ability ; a writer of prose and verse,
and contributed to the literary weeklies and
magazines over the pen name of "Lily Lindes-
wood." Girl Huntress and Mail Carrier.
In 1800 Solomon Griswold, a widower with
six daughters, arrived in Windsor, having been
long delayed en route. This was a gay house
hold and the daughters, all of thera, seeraed
efficient. Fanny, the fourth, was rather in
clined to man's work. She was an excellent
shot, carried her gun with her when she went
any distance into the woods, and the leather-
covered trunk and her shoes, which she took
with her when she went east to school, were
raade frora the skin of a deer which she had
kHled. She once shot seven wild turkeys. She
carried the raail between Windsor and Austin
burg, following the patch between blazed trees.
She and her sister, Ursula, raised fruits and
vegetables. They also walked eight miles to
church and it is recorded that "they did not
disturb the services by coraing in late."
Civil War Monument at Windsor.
One of the attractive spots in Windsor is the
Soldiers' Monument which was dedicated June
13, 1908. This was erected to the soldiers and
sailors who were in the war of the Rebellion.
Twelve years previous to the date of erection,
the woraen of Windsor decided that a raonu
raent should be raised for the soldiers of their
town and, after toHing hard, they raised a few
hundred doHars and — what raost people raise
when they start in on iieyv projects — that is,
opposition. After a tirae Mr. Erastus Gris
wold raade a house-to-house canvass and pro
cured the reraaining subscription, the shaft
costing a thousand dollars. When the raonu
raent was unveiled, Mr. Griswold pulled the

string and was really the hero of the dayr. Be
it to the credit of the Windsor people, that on
the base of the raonuraent Windsor woraen
were given the credit for the work they did.
Governor Luce, of Michigan, was born in
Windsor. *
Township 'OF New Lyme.
The township of New Lyrae was purchased
for fifteen cents an acre. It was then owned
by Connecticut and sold to the Connecticut
Land Corapany in 1795. The first settler was
Mr. Joel Owen. When Mr. Owen and his
family arrived in Noveraber, 1803, they found
six Indians encaraped on their land. They all
lived peacefully together, and Mr. Owen was
seven years in the town before there was an
other arrival.
Certain lands in the township were fertilized
by pigeons which resorted there in great num
bers, roosting in the second-growth timber. On
this land the first settlers raised 600 bushels of
corn in the ear to the acre.
Mrs. Tuckerman, in writing of New Lyme,
says, that when Elijah Brown and companions
started west the women and children occupied
wagons drawn by horses, and in the center
were beds for the children, and in a basket
"swung up to the cover of the wagon was the
infant six weeks, old, son of Rurasey and Mary
Ann Reeve." It is said that the raother of
this baby when they started was sickly, but
gained strength all the way. Mrs. Elijah
Brown was especially skilled in weaving straw
hats. Mrs. Judge Deraing said she remem
bered seeing her mother mount her horse with
a string of twenty-three hats hanging down
each side of her, arid a large roll of cloth
fastened on behind. She was taking them to
Austinburg, to trade thera for necessities.
Mrs. Hurlbert's Recollections.
E. L. Larapson writing interestingly in the
lefferson Ga-zettc frora Washington, says:
"The other day I took a stroll over to The Zoo
and just as I reached the entrance of the great

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

565

government park where Uncle Sam keeps and
cares for the animals gathered from every
clime I met John Hervey, of Chicago, a former
Jefferson boy, who has won farae and success
in writing about the noblest of all animals, the
horse. The first bunch we came upon was sorae
twenty deer, grazing on a hill side. It was at
this time that Mrs. G. E. Hurlbert, who vvas
with me, became decidedly interested. 'Why,'
she said, 'my father killed 499 of those pretty
creatures in the woods along Grand River in
Orwell and vicinity, as shown by the record on
his old powder horn. The first stove he ever
had in his house, he secured in exchange for
dried venison.' Her mother had ridden on

Orwell was the township first drafted in the
drawing of the Land Company. Moses Cleave
land was one of the owners.
Andover and Its Famous Springs.
The people of the Western Reserve were ex
ceedingly undemonstrative. That was part
of their inheritance. Andover is very near the
state line. Epsyville is very near. Some of the
younger people of Andover preferred to go to
church at Epsyville, because the church raem
bers and attendants greeted them so warmly
and the whole air was sunnier.
Andover is a thriving town because of its
railroads and its mineral springs. On one hun-

ANDOVEE BAND ABOUT 1856.

horseback from Orwell to Warren through the
woods, with a babe in her arras and carried a
bag fuH of deer-skin mittens, which she had
made and taken there to trade for household
suppHes. So the deer carried Mrs. H. back to
chHdhood days, but we soon came upon three
yak, an aniraal soraething like a buffalo, and
here again this girl of eighty suraraers was re
minded that the boys of today did not have
warm buffalo robes to wrap-up their sweet
hearts in when they went for a winter's sleigh-
ride as they did when she was a girl."

dred acres underlying the village is found three
layers or stratas of sea sand, separated by rock,
and each being well supplied with abundance
of the finest of pure water. The first or upper
strata, ninety feet below surface, shows the
following analysis :

Calcium Oxide

88

5-2

Magnesium Oxide

29

1-7

Sodium Oxide

29

1-5

Sulphuric Acid

17

I.O

Chlorine

25

1-5

566

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

SiHcon Oxide 8
Iron and Aluminum None
Total Solids 305 1.8
Oxygen consuraed by moist
combination i o . 72
Free Araraonia o . 05
Albuminoid Ammonia o . 05
Nitrites None
In probable combination:
Sodium Chloride 41 2.4
Sodium Sulphate Trace
Calcium Sulphate 29 17.0
Calcium Carbonate 135 8.0
Magnesium Carbonate 61 3.6
Iodine is also found in quantity, and is an
iraportant healing eleraent discovered only in
two other of the great health-giving springs
in America. Salt is also evident in its com
position and it is also highly charged with
magnetisra, quickly magnetising any steel im
plement or tool. For years the effect of the use
of this water has been marked in the great age
reached by residents of the locality. Since 1904
the waters have been developed, bath houses
erected and most satisfactory results attained.
This gives the Western Reserve a prominence
to health seekers found in few other places.
Joshua R. Giddings.
The naraes of Giddings and Wade are so
closely linked together in the minds of people
today that one is seldom spoken of without the
other. They sleep together in the picturesque
ceraetery in Jefferson. They were the two raost
noted citizens Ashtabula ever has had. They
were partners at law shared the sarae political
fate, stood for the same moral questions and
it seeras appropriate that as they lived to
gether their bodies should rest together. They
differed in temperament and in ability, but
each was a great soul, working out the pro
blems of his own life, as well as the great
problems of the nation. Joshua R. Giddings
belonged to the sarae family that did Na
thaniel Hawthorne and Rufus Choate. He
was born in Athens, Pennsylvania, but when

six weeks old was carried to Canadaigua then
the output of civilization by his faraily, where
he lived until he was ten. Joshua Giddings,
the father, taking his oldest son, pushed on
into northern Ohio and took up land in Wayne
township. It is pitiful to record that when he
was an old man, when he and his family had
given the better part of their lives to the im
provement of this property, it was lost because
of poor title and the failure of a certain party
early interested in it.
In 1806 Mr. Giddings brought his entire
family to the township where he and his son
built a cabin and cleared a bit of land; and
here Joshua R. really began life. In his eastern
horae he had learned his alphabet and possibly
had a little instruction, but of this we are not
sure. His son-in-law, Hon. George Julian,
who married his youngest daughter, Laura,
said he only attended school a few weeks in all
his life. "He studied late at night by the fire
light in his father's cabin, or at spring time by
the blazing, light of the sugar camp." When
he was grown he was six feet and two inches
tall, and when raatured weighed 225 pounds.
He was a good woodsman ; liked to hunt and
fish, although left-handed, engaged in the
sports of that time and continued his interest
in those which came after. He loved music
and bought the first piano which carae into
Jefferson. He not only did his portion of the
work for the famih', but that of the coraraunity
as well. When a raere boy he enlisted in the
war of 1812 and was in battle. In 1813 he and
Marvin Leonard raade a bier of round poles
on which the body of John Inman was carried
three miles for burial.
From the very beginning of his Ohio life he
had a great longing for books and learning.
Every volume he could get hold of he read and
re-read. He walked railes through the forests
to borrow or to see a book which contained
soraething he wanted. Every raoraent he could
snatch frora work he applied to study or read
ing. The winter he was nineteen years old he
was teaching. By great raanagement he was
able to attend the school kept by Henry Coe in

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

567

Vernon, Trumbull county. In 1818 he sur
prised his friends by declaring his intention of
studying law. He was laughed at and dis
couraged, but this did not deter him. Finally
two of his brothers offered him the needed
money and with three shirts, two pair of stock
ings, four white neck cloths, two pocket hand
kerchiefs and seventeen dollars in cash, he
started on a forty-mile walk to the horae of
Hon. Elisha Whittlesey in Canfield.
Mr. Whittlesey was one of the greatest, if
not the greatest, lawyer of his time. To be un
der his instruction was the same to a youth of
that time as to attend the Harvard law school
at this. He had raade no previous arrangement
with Mr. Whittlesey, but was gladly received.
By the best of management he finished his
studies and was admitted to the bar. He had
no office, no library, no clients, but about this
time Laura Waters, who, having been born at
Grandbury, Connecticut, had raoved to Gus
tavus (an upper township of TrurabuH), carae
into his life, which raore than recompensed him
for any of the other things he lacked. They
were married. She was an unusual woman.
At the age of fourteen she began teaching
school, supporting herself and at the same time
saying enough money to buy a sraall flock of
sheep. One authority says she sold these and
with the money Joshua bought his first law
books. Another authority says Joshua cut
down timber on the Mann farm in Andover to
buy them.
In Giddings life we do not have to make the
record which is so often made in the lives of
other great raen. If he had ever had any sor
rows except those of his faraily ; if no one had
never abused him and maligned him outside of
his family, his indeed would have been a sweet
life. For at his own fireside love came in the be
ginning and stayed there. He had eight chil
dren, and because of his public life the care of
this family devolved largely on his wife. She
was capable, resourceful, courageous and gen
erous. Who knows how rauch of the success
of Joshua R. Giddings was due to Laura

Waters? For so it has been, so it is and pos
sibly so it always will be that raen, great and
sraall, forge ahead in life's work because of the
contributions which the woraen make to them.
Which took the most courage, to bear and rear
children alone mid the discomforts of pioneer
life, or to stand in the hall of congress plead
ing, for the redemption of a down-trodden
people? Which is the most stimulating — the
cry of the baby, or the hiss of the eneray? Is
there a single reader of this volurae who can
truthfully say he would rather have had the
place of Laura Waters than Joshua R. Gid
dings ?
Together these two moved on. Both suc
cessful. He soon acquiring a large and lucra
tive practice;, and she having comforts accord
ingly. The vigor 'with which Joshua R. Giddings
practiced his law was astonishing, and the
stories of some of his early cases are fascinat
ing. During his separation from his faraily
its merabers were ever present in his raind.
After a hard fighting day at the capitol, we
find hira in his roora printing letters to his
youngest children because they could not read
writing. In one of his letters to his wife he
says, "I' send a letter to Laura Ann which you
must let her open herself." He bought for his
granddaughters the first raelodian which was
in Jefferson. It is still in the possession of his
faraily in the horae of his son, which is half a
raile north of the court house.
At the end of ten years Mr. Giddings was
employed in alraost every case of importance
in his vicinity. In 1831 he forraed a, partner
ship with Benjarain F. Wade and this con
tinued for a number of years. In 1826 he was
elected a representative in the Ohio legislature
and served one terra with great distinction. He
ran for the senate in 1828 and was defeated.
So successful had he been in practice that in
1836 he considered himself able to retire.
About this tirae he lost a good deal of raoney
in land and never again fully retrieved his for
tune. At this date he was rather delicate in

568

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

health frora dyspepsia. In 1838 he was elected
to a seat in congress, raade vacant by the
resignation of Elisha Whittlesey. He was then
forty years old and he served in that body for
twenty-one years, during the stormiest time
our country has ever seen. When he entered
he was a Whig ; when he retired he was a Re
publican. In 1838 he first started by coach to Wash
ington, ending his trip on the Baltiraore &
Ohio railroad, araong the passengers accora
panying him was Tom Corwin. When he took
his place in the house of representatives John
Quincy Adams was serving, and these two raen
later stood side by side, at first as the only rep
resentatives, and later, as the leaders of the
AboHtion party. The close friendship of
Adaras and Giddings lasted untH the end.
When the forraer was stricken with apoplexy
in the house, Giddings was near him and stayed
by him to the end. During those last hours
Adaras said to hira: "I have raore hope frora
you than any other man." Many years later
Giddings said substantially the same to Sum
ner. It seemed cruel that knowing of the at
tachraent of Adaras and Giddings, Speaker
Winthrop should not have appointed the latter
as one of those to officially attend the funeral.
When a raan appointed could not go, the place
was tendered to Giddings, who refused, giving
his reasons. He, however, went to Massachu
setts at that time as a private citizen.
Giddings had been an ardent admirer of
General Harrison and was greatly disappointed
when he went to call upon hira to find that
Harrison was displeased with hira for some
late speeches he had made, and really treated
him rudely. Giddings never returned to visit
him. As soon as he was well established in
congress he becarae a power. As he was
younger than Adaras, all the rage which the
southern raerabers and northern syrapathizers
felt was visited upon him. ITe was insulted,
threatened, challenged, socially ostracised, and
still he swerved not. In the midst of hot de
bate, congressraen insulted hira and he openly
defied them. His friends expected him to be

killed, but he never shared their feelings. In
the twenty-third congress Adaras and Giddings
were fighting alone. "The press of his own
party did not sustain hira and comraon cour-
¦ tesies usually extended to members of congress
were denied him." Later, after he had long
served as chairraan of the committee on claims,
he was removed and given seventh place on the
coramittee on revolutionary pensions, which
had no business and did not raeet.
Mr. Giddings' son, "Crash," who was with
his father at one tirae in Washington, wrote
to his brother "Add" a boyish account of one
of these scenes. "Father liked to have had a
fracas the other day. White Thompson, of
New York, was speaking on Utah and father
asked him about the difference between po-
lygaray there and in the south. Thereupon, La
Mar, of Louisiana, carae around where father
was sitting, with his fists clenched, swearing
and damning that "the old curse should be
stopped." Father watched him pretty close
and when he was within about six feet of hira
he told him (without taking his feet off the
desk) to go back to his plantation and make
his slaves humble. It was useless trying to
scare him. Thereupon, La Mar started back
like a good boy and never stopped till he got
to his seat."
In 1842 when the censure upon him was
passed by a vote of 125 to 69 (seven merabers
frora Ohio voting against hira ) he resigned his
seat and returned to his district. As soon as
he entered he was approvingly received and
almost unanimously re-elected. Five weeks
from the time he left congress, he -was back at
his duties. The letters which Mr. Giddings
wrote home duririg all the years of absence
throw so much light on the situation. He tries
to allay the fears of his wife in all ways. He
was extremely particular about wearing clean
Hnen. In one letter he says he spent raost of
three days trying to get recognition in the
house and so intent was he on this that he
forgot to change his shirt, and he adds that he
hopes the family wHl not follow the example
of congress and censure him. So it was that

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

569

Ashtabula furnished the raost powerful young
man that the Abolition cause had. In,i85i and
1852 an atterapt was raade to get rid of Mr.
Giddings in gerryraandering the state. The
result was exactly opposite. Not only was he
elected, but Edward Wade, of Cleveland, a
brother of Benjamin F., was elected. Mr.
Wade and Mr. Giddings' opinions were the
same on the question of slavery.
Giddings' congressional life closed with the
thirty-fifth congress. At that time he had the
respect of all the leaders in the north. Care
fully kept in his son's horae are letters frora
Lincoln, Clay, Sumner, Garrison, Pillsbury,
and so on. Lincoln appointed hira consul gen
eral to Canada, Lincoln and Seward signing
the commission, and at Toronto he stayed till
his death in 1864. In 1859 and i860 he lec
tured on the general subject of slavery and
stumped for Lincoln. He also bought the first
safe in the county, and when the Ashtabula
Farmers Bank (the first bank of the county)
was organized he loaned it to them until they
could purchase one. It has ever since stood
in the old Giddings office. It locks with a huge
key. In the office at the side of his house at
his death was raaterial with which to write his
tory. These papers his granddaughters are
reading and arranging. In the library are his
books; also a lifelike bust, made by John
Quincy Adams Ward; a cane frora the wood
of the ship "Amistad" which carried the slaves
who mutinied; the chair of Speaker Henry
Clay presented by congress ; a beautiful silver
service given him upon his retireraent frora
congress. Its inscription reads "Presented by
104 merabers of the thirty-fifth congress to
Joshua R. Giddings, as a token of their respect
for his raoral worth and personal integrity."
During the late winter of 1910 the writer
went to Jefferson to obtain certain information
for this history. Calling at the horae of Mrs.
J. A. Giddings where she, her two sisters, her
two daughters and two grandchildren live, she
was allowed to take certain papers and books
to her roora at the hotel. Here she began to
study before the sun was down, and here she

continued to read till long after midnight. Then
finding herself so enthused with the spirit of
suppressing wrong, of standing for right, of
fearing nothing, that she wanted that very
minute to start out and increase her labors for
womankind. Even when she had rubbed her
eyes and realized that the town lay deep in
snow, that street cars were stalled, that to go
and do was impossible, her desire did not di
rainish. If to read of the deeds of a raan who
lived nearly a hundred years ago produced
such an effect, no wonder that those whora he
led were inspired, fearing nothing, ventured
all and gained everything.
Giddings Family Letters.
"On Noveraber 24, 1838, I took leave of my
faraily and friends and started for Washing
ton City. The roads were bad and the travel
ing uncorafortable. I passed the night princi
pally in an open wagon, with only one com
panion. He was a young raan from the state
of New Harapshire, just out of coHege, going
west to seek his fortune. He intends teaching
school and appears to think he shall shed a
flood of light on these western backwoods
men. "November 28 five of us chartered a coach
frora Wheeling to Frederick, in order that we
raight not be crowded. Soon after dark we
ascended the western ridge of the Allegheny
raountains, called Laurel Ridge. On its top
we found good sleighing,, although there was
no snow iri the valleys. We took tea about
sunset at what is now called Brownsville, for
merly known as Old Red Stone Fort. It was
anciently a frontier fortress. I had no tirae
to look over its ruins. During the night we
passed over the faraous battleground of Brad-
dock's defeat. Indeed, it is said that the grave
of the gallant, but unfortunate Braddock, was
located within the present bounds of the na
tional turnpike. ' In the afternoon we passed
through the village of Cumberland, on Cum
berland creek, near where old Fort Cumber
land is situated. To this place General Wash
ington retreated with the reraains of the British

570

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and American forces after their defeat under
General Braddock. This place was for sorae
time a frontier post. At a village called Han
cock we first struck the Potoraac and had also
a view of the Chesapeake & Ohio canal. We
dined at a small village called Clear Springs
and reached Frederick City at about 8 o'clock
in the evening. Here we remained until the
next morning.
"November 29: Soon after breakfast we
were joined by a number of raerabers of con
gress who had traveled night and day, only
stopping to eat their raeals. Araong them I
was introduced to a gentleman by the name of
Crockett — a man farailiar to most of our Amer
ican people ; for I think few araong us are ig
norant of the biography of David Crockett,
who was the father of the gentleraan just
naraed. His father was truly an eccentric man,
yet the son apepars to possess few of the lead
ing traits of character which distinguished his
father. He appears like a modest, unassum
ing man, and is said to be very amiable in his
character and disposition. He spoke with great
veneration and affection of his father.
Estimate of Tom Corwin.
"Thomas Corwin, of Ohio, also forraed one
of the corapany that overtook us at Frederick.
He is a raan of raediura size, well built, dark
coraplexion and black eyes. He was born in
the lower walks of life and up to the time he
was two and twenty probably never thought
of rising frora obscurity. In 1812 he was a
wagoner in the northwestern array, nineteen
years of age. At that time it is said his unri
valed wit and the brilliancy of his imagination
used to draw around him the lazy throng dur
ing the long evenings, and he then prided him
self as rauch probably on attracting the notice
and adrairation of tearasters and soldiers as he
now does in standing, forth as one of the most
brilliant orators in the councils of the nation.
He read law at the age of twenty-five, soon
rose to the standing of an erainent lawyer,
was elected to the state legislature and is now
a representative in congress. He ranks as one

of the ablest debaters in the house of repre
sentatives.
Swept Along at Fifteen Miles- an Hour.
"At II o'clock (a. m.) about 120 passengers
seated in three cars, carrying frora forty to
sixty passengers each, started upon the Balti
more & Ohio railroad for Washington. The
cars are well carpeted and seats cushioned. We
had also a stove in each car, which rendered
thera corafortably warra. Thus seated and
while sorae were conversing, others reading
newspapers and sorae from loss of sleep in
traveling, were sleeping in their seats, we
swept along at the rate of fifteen miles per
hour. We passed a beautiful flourishing little
village called Elicotts Mills, where rauch is
done at the manufacture of iron, cotton, wool
and the like. The Potapsco affords at this
place extensive water power which is here used
for the purpose of raanufacturing. At the
usual hour our candles were lighted and we-
presented the appearance of the drawing, roora
filled with guests traveling by land, at the rate
of fifteen miles per hour. At about 7 o'clock
we arrived at Washington. The moment we
stopped we were surrounded on every side with
runners, porters, hackmen and servants. One
calling to know if you would go to to Gadsby's,
another if you would go to Brown's, another
if you would take a hack, etc. They are a
great annoyance and the police ought to inter
fere to prevent it."
President Van Buren Described.
In another entry the writer thus describes
President Van Buren : "We found the presi
dent sitting at a circular table engaged in con
versation. He rose and greeted us pleasantly.
He is small of stature, low forehead, very bald,
with eyes sunk far back in his head. His gen
eral appearance is not prepossessing. To the
casual observer he would present .the appear
ance of a man of ordinary character. Nor are
you aware of evidences of extraordinary intel
lect until you look him square in the face,
when you are at once impressed with a con-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

57i

sciousness of his shrewdness and intelligence.
He converses fluently and rapidly."
President's Reception January i, 1839.
Here follows an account of the New Year's
day reception at the president's house January
I, 1839: "New Year's day is universally ob
served as a holiday at Washington. From
long continued practice it has becorae a custom
for the president's house to be thrown open
on the first day of each New Year. All feel
free to go and pay their respects to hira. Frora
12 to 3 o'clock it is his custora to receive. As
the clock struck twelve we started out. The
hacks and coaches and carriages of all sorts
were in motion, all moving to the coramon
center of attraction. On the sidewalks were
men, woraen and children, all wending their
way towards the president's. As we ap
proached the road for a great distance and all
that part of the public grounds allotted to such
use was filled. We entered with the moving
mas%at the front door and passing on with the
crowd through the vestibule, we entered the
receiving room. There, about the center of the
room, stood the president. As we approached he
gave his hand to each, and with a gentle shake
you were pushed past him and another took
your place. I pronounced the name of ray
friend. He, too, shook hands and we passed
¦along with the raass of huraan beings from
the receiving roora into the faraous East Roora,
immortalized by Colonel Benton's noted letter.
This is a spacious room, eighty feet by thirty,
furnished in the most perfect style of Araer
ican luxury. Near the center of the room stood
the Hon. Henry Clay receiving the hearty
salutations of all true Whigs. He appeared
to enjoy much raore of the real confidence and
love of the people than did the President. The
marine band was stationed in the large vesti
bule and as the doors were all open we en
joyed the rausic. Here were foreign ministers
dressed out in all their gew-gaws of stars and
orders of knighthood. Attaches and military
officers were distinguished by their warlike
trappings and flaming uniforms. The high

and low, rich and poor, learned and ignorant,
virtuous and vicious, all mingled together here
on this national gala day.
A Call on John Quincy Adams.
"By invitation we next called upon our ven
erable ex-president (John Quincy Adaras).
In a retired mansion we found him and his
wife, surrounded by some dozen friends who
showed by their countenances and conversa
tion that they had called in reality to pay their
respects to this great raan whose name will
hereafter fill the brightest page of Araerican
history. In a large and comfortable drawing
room with his matronly (wife) lady, her sister,
a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, we
found him. No noise or bustle interrupted that
expression of good wHl which we all felt
towards him. His countenance glowed with
benevolence and kindness to the friends around
him< We were introduced to the raerabers of
his faraily, sat awHHe and after sorae interest
ing conversation we left, feeling that we had
seen a speciraen of true greatness connected
with genuine Republican siraplicity.
Mr. Adams belongs to no local district, to no
political party — but to the nation and to the
people. He is elected by his district in Massa
chusetts ; comes here with his family during
the sessions of congress. While in the house
of representatives he consults with no one,
takes the advice of no one, acts in concert with
no one and holds himself accountable to no
one — but to the nation. He belongs as much
to the former age as to this; perhaps he may
be said to be the connecting link between the
forraer generation and this one now in active
life. j|i ^ sN Hs * ?
He was, strictly speaking, educated a poli
tician and has continued in political life from
his youth up to this tirae. He is said to have
spent more than twenty years of his life at
foreign courts. He is about five feet eight
inches in height, well built, very bald, low fore
head and nothing about the shape of his head
indicates unusual talent. * * * In con-

572

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

versation Mr. Adaras referred to his youthful
adventures during the Revolutionary war and
said that whHe going to France in 1778, at the
age of thirteen years on board an American
frigate, they were chased and fifed upon by a
British ship, and he recounted the adventure
with much glee and spirit. He said he crossed
the Atlantic twice afterwards in a French ship
during, the war. He told me his age was
seventy-two years in September last."
Giddings on Clay.
I also find this description of Henry Clay,
then a senator from Kentucky, and at the
height of his popularity : "On entering the sen
ate chamber we took our seats nearly in front
of Mr. Clay, who was to reply to the member
then speaking (Mr. Benton, of Missouri). Mr.
Benton was said to have been somewhat per
sonal in his remarks. All eyes were bent on
Mr. Clay while the other senator was yet
speaking. In the meantirae news had gone
abroad that this raighty orator was expected
to speak, and a tide of spectators were moving
at all the avenues of the gallery. When Mr.
Clay arose every eye was fixed on him. The
gallery, filled to overflowing, was silent, some
seated, some standing and sorae on tiptoe
stretched their necks to their utraost capacity,
in order to have a raore perfect view of the
raan who was to address thera. Every senator
turned his chair so as to sit facing hira. The
president of the senate turned round so as to
have a full view of hira. while a breathless si
lence pervaded the whole auditory both above
and below.
"When Mr. Clay coraraenced speaking his
voice was slightly treraulous, but its rausical
tones seemed to charm every ear. He com
menced by referring to the personal attacks
that had been raade upon hira and the charge
that he was opposed to the welfare of the new
states * * * Having disposed of the
slander of his enemies, he then commenced on
the arguraent of his subject. Sentence after
sentence was rolled upon an alraost breathless
audience who appeared whclly intent on the

speaker, and his subject untH his voice be
came louder and more distinct. The grave
senators appeared as iramovable as so raany
statues. All in the gallery appeared fixed as
the work of a sculptor. As he drew near the
close of his speech he appeared to have just
coraraenced, and when he sat down none ap
peared to think he had occupied but a few
minutes in the delivery of his speech, but on
looking at ray tiraepiece I found that nearly
two hours had elapsed from the coraraence
raent to the close of his reraarks. When he
resuraed his seat the question was put and to
the utter astonishraent of his friends it was
carried by a majority of three. A thriH of
approbation ran through the gallery. The sen
ators of the Whig party smiled. The Admin
istration raerabers looked astounded. The
spectators slowly withdrew and the senate ad
journed."
Benjamin F. Wade.
"They made his grave near the heart of his
life-long home, and set at his head a granite
shaft, less enduring than the influence of his
deeds for truth, justice, freedora and his
country's good."
These words carae from the heart of one
of the thousands who admired and loved the
great and rugged Benjamin F. Wade, for
eighteen years an honored United States sena
tor from Ohio, a life-long charapion of free
dora in every form and one whose last public
act was to represent his country on the com
mission to report on the proposed acquisition
of Santo Domingo — the first decisive step
taken by the nation in protecting the rights Df
weaker people in southern America and teach
ing thera the nobility of a republican govern
raent. His part in the work of that commis
sion was in line with his learning, his sound
judgment, his great farae and his splendid
character. At the age of more than three
score years and ten, with his beloved wife,
he returned to the siraple white frarae house
in Ashtabula — -tree-buried and surrounded by
araple grounds, and so long his dear horae —

-^#^'

wmimwiiimmimi

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESE,RVE

573

and there died as grandly as he had lived, his
last day on earth being March 2, 1878.
One who had free access to his horae, so
characteristic of Benjamin F. Wade, thus des
cribes it: "Everything about him is like the
man — plain but substantial. In the lot near the
house stands his office, or 'den,' as the family
famiharly term it; and here, for more than
thirty years, when not in congress, Mr. Wade
has passed most of his time. Entering it with
the senator, we found two rooras, the floors
lined frora floor to ceding with cases filled
with books. This library contains nothing but
public documents, maps and charts, and is the
most coraplete in the country, erabracing all
inforraation concerning the governraent frora
its foundation to the present day. 'Nile's Reg
ister,' 'Madison's Notes,' 'Knox's Report,' and
many other books long since out of print, can
be found there. A carpet, lounge, an old-
fashioned arm chair, a few comraon chairs, a
table and sorae raaps on the wall, coraplete the
furniture of the rooras, which seeraed dreary
and lonely enough in their isolated solitude."
Dreary and lonely though they raight have
seemed to an outsider, it was this very seclu
sion in which, through the printed page, the
eloquent voices of other great Araericans spoke
to hira and by which were forged the states
manlike, rugged utterances which made hira
the idol of his country, state and nation.
Whatever Senator Wade found to do was
accomplished with his whole raight and soul,
and as his energy was reraarkable, as well as
his power of self-control, every stroke of his
hammer brought not only a spark, but tended
toward, the fashioning of a definite object.
Whether defending the interests of Ashtabula
county as its prosecuting attorney, fighting
against slavery in the Ohio legislature and the
national senate, or representing the United
States in the southern seas, he spared no effort
to perform faithfully the duties which came to
him and to honor both the office and himself.
Throughout his entire active career, he stood
forth as one who performed great deeds with
apparent ease, and never failed to throw

around the smaller affairs of life that dignity
and significance which raarks the grand soul,
Senator Wade was a native of Massachu
setts, born in Feeding Hills parish, October
27, 1800. His father was a Revolutionary sol
dier, who considered his duty as a patriot un
finished until he had. fought the battles of his
country from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. Mr.
Wade's mother was the daughter of a Presby
terian clergyman and a woman of both fine
and forceful character, and it was under her
patient and loving tuition that he learned to
read and write. The boy's hunger for books
partially corapensated for his lack of early
school advantages, so that when he was eight
een he was really better inforraed than raost
of his companions of that age. Up to that
period in his life, he had no other experiences
to his credit than those connected with the
farm homestead. When eighteen, howeyer,
he started for Ohio with a bundle of clothing
on his back and seven dollars in his pocket.
A heavy snow-storm halted his tramp in Ash
tabula county, where he decided to reraain
until the following spring. He spent that
winter cutting wood at fifty cents a cord, and
(at night) in reading through the bible. But
spring, suraraer and another winter passed,
and the young raan was still in Ashtabula
county, chopping, logging, grubbing, reading,
studying, and teaching; and the last although
he had never attended school for a single week
of his life. Benjarain F. Wade next raade six
trips to New York as a cattle driver, taught
for a winter in Albany, and in the following
spring and suramer shoveled dirt for the Erie
canal. As Governor Seward once said in the
United States Senate, Mr. Wade was "the
only American I know who worked with a
spade and wheelbarrow on the great improve
raent." Surely, characteristic of the future
statesraan — independent and deterrained, and
bravely fighting his own battles.
At the end of his suraraer's work on the
canal the young man returned to Ashtabula
county, taught school the next winter and in
the, following spring coraraenced to study law

574

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

in the office of Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, being
soon afterward elected a justice of the peace.
In 1828, after two years of hard study, he was
adraitted to the bar. The next open step up
ward was his election to the office of prosecut
ing attorney of the county. As an active
Whig he was then sent to the Ohio State Sen
ate and becarae the leader of what was then the
minority party. While serving in that body,
he took a prorainent part in abolishing the law
permitting imprisonment for debt; inaugu
rated the war against the Ohio "Black laws,"
and took a firm stand against the adraission of
Texas into the Union, declaring : "So help rae
God! I will never assist in adding another
rod of slave territory to this country." As this
position was then in advance of that held by
his party he was defeated for re-election, but
returned after the interim of one terra. At
this session Mr. Wade pressed through the
bill which founded Oberlin College on the
principle' of equal education, regardless of
color, and led the revolt in the State of Ohio
against the resolution of Congress, denying
the right of the people to petition for the aboli
tion of slavery. From 1847 to 185 1 he served
as president judge of the third judicial district,
and in March of that year, while a case was
pending before him, he heard the firing of
cannon in the streets of Akron which pro
claimed that the Ohio legislature had elected
hira to a seat in the United States Senate.
Benjarain F. Wade announced hiraself as an
especial foe to slavery at the coraraenceraent
of his career in the United States Senate, and
it was during his fierce conflict with that in
stitution, and all of its supporters, that his
raost raeraorable public act was perforraed.
He reported frora the coraraittee on territories
the first provisions prohibiting slavery in all
the territories of the United States. His out
spoken utterances and indifference to personal
consequences earned him the bitter enmity of
the extreme southern leaders, who, upon sev
eral occasions, threatened to "call him out,"
with no other effect upon the Honorable Sena
tor from Ohio than to draw out the answer.

"come on." Of the value of his services as a
raeraber of the coraraittee on the Conduct of
the War no adequate estiraate can be raade.
He was a very pillar of the Union and a trum
pet to its cause, inspiring hope, courage and
faith. It was near the close of the thirty-ninth
congress that Senator Wade was elected presi
dent pro tem of the senate, and it is almost cer
tain, had President Johnson been irapeached,
that he would have been elevated to thte chair
as chief executive of the nation. But that
was not to be, and on the 4th of March, 1869,
he retired frora the upper house of congress as
a great and beloved Araerican statesraan.
Two years afterward his government ap
pointed hira a place on the Santo Domingo
commission, and later as a special comrais
sioner to report on the feasibility and advan
tages of the proposed Union Pacific Railroad
to the Pacific coast. The results of his in
vestigations and recommendations on both of
these national questions have classified him as
a father of the republic of Santo Domingo and
of Araerica's first transcontinental railroad.
This furnished a fitting addition to the raighty
sheaf of his life's harvest, and he raight well
retire with contentraent to his quiet old horae
in Ashtabula.
In 1840 Mr. Wade, was united in raarriage
to Miss Caroline Rosecrantz, of Middletown,
Connecticut. The two sons of this union are
Jaraes F. and Henry B. Wade, both connected
with the United States array. The forraer has
attained high rank in the railitary service.
During- the Civil war he advanced frora a
first lieutenancy in a United States Cavalry
regiraent to the rank of brevet brigadier gen
eral, and at the outbreak of the Spanish-
American war was a full brigadier general in
the regular army. He served in that conflict
as a raajor general of volunteers; was head
of the Cuban evacuation commission in 1898;
served in the Philippines in 190 1-4, command
ing the railitary division covering the islands
during the last year of that period; com
manded the Atlantic division from 1904 to

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

575

1907, and was honorably retired from the mili
tary service, by operation of law, on April
14th of the latter year. He now resides in his
fathers home. Here are at present his wife, his
daughter, whose husband is in the array, and
his grandchildren.
After an active life of a warrior. General
Wade and his faraily seera to think there never
was any spot more inviting than this home of
their honored father and raother.
Giddings and Wade.
The comradship between Mr. Giddings and
]\Ir. Wade was raost beautiful. The early let
ters show such frankness, such perfect under
standing, that it is no wonder their friendship
was firra and everlasting. Before Mr. Gid
dings began his public life, and they were in
partnership, their earnings were substantially
in common, which ever needed the raoney most
had it. Then no one considered the absence
of raoney as any disgrace. Few had any and
hke the shoes of the foreraother, whoever
needed them most had thera. The following
letter is characteristic of the great Ben Wade
that it is given in full: Jefferson, Jan. 12, 1841.
"Dear Joshua : — I am at present in a squeak
for a little cash. If you could help me to a
hundred dollars or so, it would be a great
God-send. No news here. Nothing- yet done
in our legislature worth mentioning. We do
not expect much frora you this session, but
when old Tip takes the helra, backed by raa
jorities 'in both branches, we shall hold you to
your proraises. I have been so disgusted with
the scramble for ofiice that I have concluded
to hold up. I can live without, and when I
cannot, I had rather look to the law for sup
port than to the nation, as I hold a town
pauper as honorable as a national pauper.
Give the Southerners h — 11. All well in these
diggings. "Respectfully yours, &c.
"B. F. Wade.
Hon. j. R. Giddings.

Bluff Old Ben and the Sl.we Boy.
E. L. Lampson of Jefferson, who for the
past fifteen years has been Reader in the
national house of representatives, in his lec
ture "Under Three Speakers," tells this inci
dent: "One day, Galusha A. Grow of Penn
sylvania, who had been speaker of the house of
representatives early in the Civil war period,
said to me: 'Mr. Lampson, I served in con
gress with your fellow-townsman, Joshua R.
Giddings, before the war. On one occasion,
Mr. Giddings and rayself were walking arra in
arra, down Pennsylvania avenue, when we saw
an hundred slaves, holding on to either side
of a long rope and being marched to an auc
tion block on an island in the Potoraac. This
was less than half a century ago.' Continuing,
Mr. Grow said: 'One morning, I was stand
ing in the rotunda of the capitol and near me
was that other great anti-Slavery leader, from
your town, bluff old Ben Wade, talking with
Bob Toorabs and a coterie of pro-Slavery sen
ators, when along carae a colored boy, some
fourteen years of age, and handed Mr. Wade a
subscription paper, asking for money with
which to buy his freedora. The senator looked
at the paper and then turning to the boy said :
"My lad, we are opposed to buying and selling
people, up where I live. Why in hell don't
you run away ? Here is five dollars ; take this,
and run like hell the first chance you get."
Edward, Brother of Benjamin F.
Edward Wade, the younger brother of B.
F. Wade, was a raan of unusual raind. When
but a boy he wrote an arithmetic of a good
deal of raerit which unfortunately was burned.
He came to Ashtabula with his family in 182 1
and, although he early left the county, he was
always more or less identified with it. He
served as congressman frora the Cleveland
district frora 1853-1861. He was an early
Abolitionist and found this belief raade hira
very unpopular in congress. He suffered a
little of what his early friend, Joshua R.
Giddings, suffered. He was in the lower house

57C

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

at the sarae time that his older b'rother was in
the upper. He married Sarah Louise, daugh
ter of Judge Q. F. Atkins. They had no
childrep, but adopted two, the daughter be
coraing, the wife of Henry P. Wade, who now
lives in Chicago. His second wife was Mary P.
Hall, whose raother belonged to the Kirtland
faraily so active in the early days of the West
ern Reserve. There were no chHdren by this
raarriage. Mrs. Wade long survived her hus
band, living into .the nineties. She was de
voted to her nieces and nephews, the children
of Turhand K. Hall, and left thera a fortune
at her death.
Hon. a. j. Riddle.
Hon. A. J. Riddle was one of the lawyers
of Ashtabula county who was greatly inter
ested in its history. He was successful in his
practice, was elected to congress and spent
the latter years of his life in Washington. He
wrote several novels, the one receiving the
greatest attention was "Bart Ridgley." He
was a great adrairer of Giddings and has writ
ten a nuraber of short biographies of this great
statesraan. He lived to a good old age and
always kept up his interest in his horae county.
The Howells Family.
For nearly fifty years sorae raerabers of the
Howells family have been residents of Jeffer
son. They have been public spirited and use
ful citizens. Williara Cooper Howells was '
born in Wales. His family was in corafort
able circurastances, cultured, of Quaker de
scent and Swedenborgian belief. .When Will
iam was not a year old, in 1809, his parents
raoved to Manhattan Island and lived in that
part of New York for a nuraber of years,
soraetiraes up the Hudson, soraetiraes in the
city. Later they went to Loudoun county,
Virginia. It seeras strange to- find thera in
1813 in Jefferson. They possibly became in
terested in this county through Gideon Gran
ger. The father, Joseph, was ingenious, in
dustrious and raade a good living in Jefferson,

since he not only knew how to manufacture
woolen cloth, but could raake drawings for raa
chinery. Between the tirae the family left
England and arrived in Jefferson they had
exhausted all their resources.
Joseph Howells and his wife yvere cultured
and refined people and although they were in
the wilderness their children were well taught.
When Williara was twenty-one the faraily re
raoved to Wheeling. He learned the printer's
trade and published a monthly and a weekly
paper without great success. In 183 1 he
married Mary Dean of Columbiana, Ohio. It
will be seen that his raost illustrious son got
his narae from both father and raother. He
loved his profession and no raatter what dis
couragements he met, he continued it. He
lived in St. ClausviHe, Mt. Pleasant, Chilli
cothe, Harailton and Colurabus. When he was
forty-five, in 1852, he becarae editor* of the
Ashtabula Sentinel and he, and his sons, and
his grandson have continued to edit that paper
for nearly fifty years. He was journal clerk,
and afterward official reporter in the legisla
ture, performing well its duties; was elected
to state senate in 1863, and in 1874 was ap
pointed United States consul at Quebec. He
had five sons and three daughters. Joseph
continued to have editorial management of the
Sentinel until within a few years, when he was
appointed consul to Turk Island. At his de
parture his son continued the work.
Williara Dean was born at Matthews Ferry,
Ohio, in 1837. The faraily all helped financi
ally and we are told that William Dean set
type till eleven o'clock at night and was up at
four a. ra. carrying papers. This was when-
the faraily was at Dayton. His first salary was
four dollars a week, which he earned as com
positor on the Ohio State Journal. Frora his
earliest years he wrote verses and set them up
himself for his own pleasure. Clean of Hfe,
steady of purpose, he progressed frora the
little printer boy to the writer of verse for
the Atlantic Monthly, etc., raaking acquaint
ances of raen of his profession. He was ap-

FIISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

577

pointed consul to Venice in 1861, staying till
1865 and becoraing editor of the -Atlantic
Monthly in 1866. He is at this writing the
best known and raost largely read author of the
United States. We people of the Reserve are
justly proud of him. He has ever been a phil
osopher and has taught altruism through his
works. He is a strong advocate of woraan
suffrage, being a meraber bf the Men's Asso
ciation for Woman Suffrage of New York
City. The weakest part of his writings are his
woman characters. The author has longed to
have him portray a woraan with the charac
teristics of his splendid Welsh grandraother,
his own beautiful raother ; his sister-in-law
(Eliza Howells) who is such a help-mate to
his "brother Joe," or his own wife — anyone
being stronger than his strongest character.
Mr. Howells is full of tenderness and it is
beautiful to see and hear him and his brother,
Joseph, as they talk over their boyhood days.
They worshiped their raother and in a per
sonal letter to the author William Dean says:
"My mother was the heart of the faraily. I
dearly loved her, and whenever I went away
from horae it was with the foreboding and
realization of horaesickness which was occas
ioned by longing for her. She had a certain
great warrath of raind which supplied any de
fect of culture, but for a new country she had
been fairly well schooled. She expressed her
self from her heart with great natural poetry
and she fully shared the intellectual and spirit
ual life of my father. Together they
formed our church and our academy. When
we went to Jefferson we had nothing but the
household staff and our strong right wills, and
we all worked hard to pay for the printing
office and the dwelling house we had bought
on credit; but her long hard toil wore ray
mother out. She did all our household work
till my sisters grew old enough to help her
and she died, at fifty-seven, after all was paid
for. Sometimes we had the 'hands' frora the
ofiice to board and she worked to save the

greater wages they must have been paid other
wise * * * We were very happy in the
horae which she knew how to create for us.
An inexpressible tenderness, a devout honor
for her fills rae as I speak of her. I could not
have wished to have had another sort of a
raother. I do not believe there was ever a
better woraan. It is raore than thirty years
since she died, but I still dream of her .^mong
the living who visit rae in my sleep, and I
dreara of her often."
Platt R. Spencer, of Writing Fame.
The Spencerian writing, systera originated in
Ashtabula county. Caleb Spencer, a revolu
tionary soldier frora Rhode Island, and Jer
usha Covell of Cape Cod, raarried and moved
to New York State where eleven children.
were born to thera, ten of whora were boys.
The father died in 1806 and four years later
the raother raoved to Jefferson and the sons
found horaes and work in Ashtabula county.
Phoebe, the daughter, raarried Dr. Elijah Cole
raan. Platt R. was the youngest. From his
very childhood he loved to write, but he was
seven and a half years old before he owned
a sheet of paper, He had to send to a neigh
boring town from his New York horae for this
paper and it meant as much to him as all the
school books of a year now mean to an ordin
ary school boy. When he was twelve years
old he was at school in Conneaut furnishing
copy for the scholars. He wrote very good
verses and made heroic efforts to get an edu
cation. Once he walked twenty railes bare
footed over a frozen road to get an arithraetic ;
had nothing to eat but a raw turnip which he
found, and being too diffident to ask for a
night's lodging slept in a barn.
Before he was twenty years old he had origi
nated and adopted the system of writing
known thereafter as the Spencerian. He con
tinued to teach and first published copy slips
in 1848. In 1859 he put these slips into copy
book forra, and in 1861 he revised this systera
and that is the one which has been used ever

Vol. 1—37

578

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

since. As he pirogressed in his teaching he
went to other cities, and in Pittsburg estab
lished a school which afterward became the
Duff CoHege, and in Cleveland his pupils es
tablished the Bryant, Lusk & Stratton Cora
mercial College of Cleveland. As he grew
older his sons took up the work and people
became familiar with it throughout the United
States. The Spencerian School at Washings
ton probably taught penmanship to raore gov
ernment clerks than all the other schools of
that city.

well known citizen of Cleveland and her niece,
Jennie, the noted temperance and philanthro
pic worker of that city. Mr. Spencer fully
appreciated his talented wife and caHed her
his guardian angel."
Colonel Robert Ingersoll.
Another distinguished citizen of Ashtabula
was Colonel Robert Ingersoll. His father was
a preacher and an Evangelist of considerable
note in Ashtabula for a short tirae. He lived
chere in 1841. Robert was then eight years

5Pi IB'"'"
*** jm xsp
•rt^ ^ .««

^^ iv

FIEST SPENCEEIAN WEITING SCHOOL, GENEVA.

Mrs. Spencer and the Dutys.
Platt R. Spencer had the fortune to be born
of an energetic able woraan and his wife,
Persis Warren Duty, possessed great executive
ability, business sense and gracious raanner.
His success was due quite as rauch to her as to
himself and the training and inheritance which
she gave his sons were invaluable. Her
father, Ebenezer Duty, was one of Ashta
bula's pioneers. He raade the first bricks in
the county according, to the record of Mr. H.
L. Morrison. He was an astute raan and
helped to try cases before justices of the peace.
Mrs. Spencer, was one of the early school
teachers. Her brother was Andrew Duty, a

old. The Ingersoll horae still stands on Main
street and is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. J. P.
Robertson. Mr. Robertson was a trustee in
the church when Mr. Ingersoll lived there, and
still continues to hold that office. The Rev.
Mr. Ingersoll was very strict in discipline ;
made his children learn the catechism; insist
ing on their eating grahara bread ; did not
allow his chHdren to wear good clothes. So
far as we know Ingersoll's first speech was
raade in the little church at Ashtabula when
he was but a small boy and he becarae fright
ened, like raost sraall boys, broke down and
did not finish his speech. It was not until his
heart was stirred, after he lived in Illinois;

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

579

with the injustice shown such people as Tom
Paine, that he developed oratorical powers.
The family at one time lived at Madison, Ohio.
Quintus Atkins.
Among the earliest and most respected citi
zens of Ashtabula county was Quintus Atkins.
His long, life was filled with such activity that
mnumerable short stories could be written
from it. At the threatening of the war with
France and England, though but a lad he en
listed and was stationed near New Haven. He
came to Morgan in 1802, just as Ohio was
assuming the responsibilities of statehood. He

country about Sandusky made them give it up.
They returned and Mr. Atkins was again a
mail carrier ; first county sheriff ; was one of the
mounted volunteers about Sandusky in the war
of 1812 ; served a second tirae as sheriff, and
lived in Jefferson ; lost all his fortune in canal
building, by the dishonesty of his partner;
was interested in the early furnace corapany
at Madison, described at length in Lake
county. In 1839 he raoved onto the Edward
farra near Cleveland and there he and his wife
died. They lived together forty-nine years.
He had been in all sorts of things, and did
thera all well.

INGEESOLL'S BOYHOOD HOME, ASHTABULA.

was young and worked for two families which
had preceded him, and in due tirae fell in
love with the daughter of one of thera, Sarah
Wright, and raarried her.
He was one of the early mail carriers and
had the experiences of other mail car
riers of the Reserve. He was of a religious
turn of mind, and under the influence of
Joseph Badger he and his wife started from
Austinburg down the Grand river on a raft he
had made. Mr. Badger was with thera, as was
also their little daughter, who when grown
lived at Geneva. She was then Mrs. George
Turner. This raissionary work lasted less than
two years. , The unhealthy condition of the

How THE Tea Box Was Emptied.
James Christy, born in 1806, located in
Rome in 1817. He was a rather peculiar
gentleman and kept his own house. His neigh
bors borrowed rather extensively of hira and
he finally took a box and filled it with tea.
When he was asked for a borrowing of tea
he took it frora this box. When it was re
turned he put it back in this box. After a
tirae the box had no tea. He had raade the
deraonstration which he expected to make.
When he died he left his money to the county
commissioners for the advancement of educa
tion in his county, and it is now used for the

580 ^

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Christy School of Pedagogy in connection with
the Grand River Institute.
A Stanch "Mother," Without Children.
One of the most reraarkable characters of
Ashtabula's early history was Elizabeth Mar
shaH, who was born in Verraont. When she
was fifteen years old she rode a horse to a
magistrate with John Barnes and became his
wife. Soon they left Cortland, New York,
where her childish home had been and settled
in Trumbull. Here they lived happily for a
few years, when he died and was laid to rest
on the spot which she later gave to the town
ship as a cemetery. Having had no children
she was sad and lonesome, but occupied her
time doing all kinds of farm work ; she drew
her logs with her horses and tried to do that
which she and her husband together were wont
to do. Samuel Bullis, believing her to be a
proraising partner, induced her to raarry hira
and be a mother to his three children. This of
course she did and they built and kept the
tavern known as the Center House. Howeyer,
this second husband was ugly and abusive and,
as is usual with such characters, very super
stitious. Sometimes the only place where she
would be safe was in the ceraetery, and raany
a night did she lie all night on her first hus
band's grave. After a time she ceased to be
patient and they separated and for many years
they were not together. Then he returned to
her, begging her to take care of him and she,
woman-like, did it. Women who have to sleep
on their first husbands graves now-a-days refer
the miscreants to the Masonic homes or like
institutions when they return, but Mrs, Barnes-
Bullis lived as did her generation. She had
no children of her own, but brought up several
and was the nurse and raother of the vicinage.
It is recorded that she assisted at the birth
of raore than a thousand children. She was
married the third time in 1863, to Henry
Coggswell and died a widow when she was
ninety-four. If she had much sorrow she
lived so long she had raany joys.

The Cowles Family.
The Rev. Doctor Giles Hooker Cowles and
Sallie White, his wife, were related to sorae
of the oldest, raost noted, raost substantial
people of New England. He was a preacher
in Bristol, Connecticut, for eighteen years.
Mrs. Austin, the wife of the pioneer of Austin
burg, was not satisfied at having occasional
preaching in her coraraunity where the first
church was organized. She therefore started
east on horseback to obtain a minister. She
was a wise woman. She did not approach the
minister, but closeted herself with his wife.
The result was that the Rev. Mr. Cowles came
to Austinburg, looked the field over and with
his faraily reraoved there in 181 1. He had
eight children, raost of whora distinguished
themselves and helped in the making of the
history of the Western Reserve. His oldest
son, Edwin Weed, was one of the most able
doctors of the Western Reserve. He practiced
in Mantua, Cleveland and Detroit. He was
the father of Edwin Cowles, the father of the
Cleveland Leader, and the father of Alfred
Cowles who was the business manager of the
Chicago Tribune. Betsey Cowles.
The youngest child of the Rev. and Mrs.
Cowles was Betsej', who was an infant when
the family moved to Austinburg. Her Hfe
was quite as vigorous and remarkable as was
her father's, her brother's, her nephew's. An
ardent student, she early began to teach and
was so far as we know the first to teach kinder
garten on the Western Reserve. It was then
called /'Infant School." As was the custora
of the tiraes, when her father died he left his
property to his sons, requesting thera to sup
port Cornelia and Betsey. Even at that early
day, Betsey shuddered at the thought of sup
port and went to Oberlin to prepare herself
for teaching. She graduated in the third class
in Oberlin and started out in the world. She
said "Providence did not seera to open any
door for rae, so I pushed one open for my-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

581

self." She taught in the southern part of the
state for three years and then took charge of
the feraale departraent of the Grand River
Institute as principal. She becarae an ardent
anti-slavery agitator and the national speakers
of that association were often in her horae.
She herself made forceful speeches. Her sis
ter, Cornelia, was as .interested as she.
It has been said that Joshua R. Giddings and
Benjarain Wade were the leaders of the AboH
tion raovement in Ashtabula county, but that
Betsey Cowles created the sentiment and crys
tallized it. Not only did the slaves attract her
attention, but she was one of the early advo
cates of the political enfrachiseraent of woman.
At the National Suffrage Convention in Salem
in 1850, she presided. As we read, we know
her to have a forceful character, and what is
true of all women with such a character, is
true of her. Her love for her faraily was ex
treme. She and her sister Cornelia were in
separable, and the death of the latter almost
crushed her. Entries in her diary show this :
"Six years and forty-five weeks since dear
Cornelia left us. The Lord is my helper."
Another line: "Six years and forty-seven
weeks since the light of our house went out.
Do they love there still ?"
Hon. O. H. Fitcpi.
Hon. O. H. Fitch figured conspicuously in
the early history of Ashtabula county. He had
been educated and studied law in the East,
but having the western fever, removed to
Cleveland and then to Canton. His parents
wished to make their horae with hira, but
preferred the northern part of the state be
cause so raany New England people resided
there. He then went to Ashtabula where he
lived the rest of his life. His acts are noted in
several places in this chapter. He married
in 1835 Catharine M. Hubbard, daughter of
Williara Hubbard. He was justice of the
peace, raeraber of the legislature, prosecuting
attorney, newspaper raan, banker and con
nected with the Araerican Association for the

Advanceraent of Science. He was for years the
ruling elder in the Presbyterian church. In
i860, his son, Edward H. Fitch, became asso
ciated with him in business.
Henry Hubbard.
Mr. Hubbard was a substantial citizen of
Ashtabula. He took charge of the postoffice
upon his arrival in 1825. His brother was
postmaster. He was early associated with the
improvements of Ashtabula harbor, and in
1832 was made postmaster there. He was one
of the men interested in the Ashtabula and
New Lisbon Railway Company and through
out his whole life was public-spirited and suc
cessful. His wife was Julia A. Hurlbert, of
Oneida, New York. A beautiful portrait of
her is now in the possession of Mrs. Lewis
Amesden, adopted daughter of Henry Hub
bard. Horace Wilder.
In 1827, there carae to Claridon, Geauga •
county, Horace Wilder, whose sister Mrs. Tay
lor lived there. Very shortly Mr. Wilder
moved to Ashtabula county and was admitted
to the bar in 1828. He married Phoebe Cole
man, who was the daughter of Elijah Coleraan,
the man who kept the drug store in the hotel
at Jefferson which was burned. Mr. and Mrs.
Wilder moved to Conneaut in 1837, and she
died in 1847. He never reraarried. He was
prosecuting attorney of the county, represen
tative, coramon pleas judge and was supreme
judge of the state in 1864. In 1863 he formed
a partnership with E. H. Fitch in Ashtabula,
and reraoved to Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1867.
He was an Episcopalian.
The Burrows Brothers.
Williara Burrows and Maria Smith were the
parents of several reraarkable raen who figured
in Western Reserve history. They were of
English and Scotch descent, had lived in New
York and Pennsylvania, and finally raoved on
to the Western Reserve. Sylvester Sraith

582

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Burrows, born in 1826 in New York, studied
medicine in Pennsylvania, and graduated at the
Michigan University. He settled with his
family, which had raoved to Geneva from
Ashtabula, in 1852. Here he practiced his pro
fession with success aH his Hfe. His brother,
J. B. Burrows, was judge of the court of
comraon pleas for many years, and later judge
of the circuit court. He is at present Mayor
of PainesvHle, and another brother, Hon.
Julius C, is United States senator from Mich
igan. He once taught school in Jefferson.
Woman Artists of the Reserve.
One of the artists of the Reserve was Caro
line L. Ransom who, although born in Newark,
Ohio, was in her infancy brought to Kirtland
by her parents who finally established a home
in Harpersfield. As a girl, she proved an apt
scholar in mathematics and the classics, grad
uated at the Grand River Institute, apd was
later president of the women's department.
When a young woraan she had a desire to be
corae efficient in art and after raany vicissi
tudes went east and becarae a raeraber of the
faraily of Horace Greeley's sister, Mrs. Cleve
land. Here she first studied landscape painting
under eminent professors, but upon their
recoraraendation decided to do portrait work.
She was at one tirae a pupil of Huntington and
under his instruction painted the portrait of
Joshua R. Giddings, which for many years
hung in the old hall in the capitol. The frame
is now being repaired and will be placed in the
capitol when done. It is said this picture was
the first one which congress ever purchased
frora a woman artist. Her portraits of Gov
ernor Huntington and Governor Cox were
bought by Ohio and now hang in the capitol —
the former in the governor's room and the lat
ter in the relic room.
Miss Ransora at different tiraes had studios
in New York, Cleveland and Washington. In
the latter city she surrounded herself with in
fluential friends. Social gatherings at her
house were of the highest character. The pic

ture which she considered her raasterpiece was
a portrait of General Thomas, with the battle
field of Chickamauga in the background. This
she offered to congress at a large price and the
senate passed a bill to purchase it, but the
house did not confer. A little later a bHl of
like nature wis passed by the house, but in
turn failed to pass the senate. She lived the
latter part of her life hoping to dispose of this
picture to the governraent and upon her death,
early in 1910, it came into the possession of the
government through her wilh It is now in the
capitol and will be hung. Her coloring was
good, but her drawing was faulty. She was
artistic, but not a great artist.
By wiH she also left four pictures to the His
torical Society, one of thera being that of
Wade. Cornelia Strong, who married Sarauel Fas
sett, was an artist of a good deal of ability. She
painted the "Electoral Coraraission," which
was purchased by congress and now hangs in
the east corridor gallery floor of the senate.
Her price for this picture was $10,000, but
congress considered that too high and bought
it for rauch less. Samuel Fassett was a suc
cessful Chicago photographer, but the great
fire destroyed his property and the family
moved to Washington where he had a clerk
ship. They had seven beautiful chHdren, and
although it was sometimes hard for the family
to have what they needed, Mrs. Fassett never
lost her sweetness or her fine looks. At the
tirae of her death she had a commission to
paint ivory miniatures of the presidents' wives
to be exhibited at Washington.
Albion W. Tourgee.
Albion W. Tourgee was born in Williams-
field in 1838. He later lived in Kingsville, and
at the time of the war, being at the Rochester
University, he enlisted and was wounded in the
first battle of Bull Run. He was the lieu
tenant of the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio
and was confined several months in Libby
prison. His first wound gave him a good deal

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

583

of trouble and after the battle of Chickamauga
he was discharged. He held office in North
Carolina, being at one time judge of the su
preme court. He was one of the men dubbed
"carpet bagger" by southerners. His stay in
the south, however, profited him much, for he
wrote several novels; "A Fool's Ertand" and
"Bricks Without Straw" brought hira raoney
and fame.
Stephen A. Northway.
Stephen A. Northway was the second repre
sentative in congress which Ashtabula county
had. His boyhood spent in Orwell had raany
hardships and discomforts. He was a good
student, good teacher and able lawyer. He held
the office of prosecuting attorney, state repre
sentative and national representative. He was
affable and friendly, and one of the raost
popular raen that ever lived in the county. His
wife, Lydia Dodge, was a true companion and
his daughter, Clara, rendered him rauch assist
ance in his professional life. These three peo
ple had rauch joy and rauch sorrow and they
bore it together.
Judge Woodbury.
Judge H. B. Woodbury was a native of Kel
loggsviHe, having been born in 1831. His edu
cation was obtained at the public schools.
When he was seventeen he began studying law
with his father and was admitted to the bar in
- 1852. He was a member of the last constitu
tional convention and made a very capable
common pleas judge. His mother was one of
the most self-sacrificing and capable woraen
Ashtabula county has ever produced. In the
early days they were exceedingly poor and
Mrs. Woodbury was so self-sacrificing that it
i^ recorded she "raore than once fainted frora
work and hunger after dividing her last loaf
with an unfortunate neighbor."
Darius Cadwell.
Darius Cadwell, born in Andover in 1821,
did not suffer quite the hardships of sorae of

his companions. He was weH educated, was
a successful lawyer, was representative in 1856
and 1857, and senator in 1858 and 1859. Dur
ing the war he was provost raarshal for the
Nineteenth district. He raoved to Cleveland in
1 87 1, was elected coraraon pleas judge and was
highly esteeraed. His wife, Ann Eliza Watrous,
was a very unusual woraan and their lives were
exceedingly happy. Their daughter, Clara,
raarried a Mr. Hubbard and resided in Ashta
bula raany years. George W. Gould, a cousin
of Jay, married Betsey Hubbard and lived in
Geneva in 1833.
Paul Howland.
Hon. W. P. Howland's father, Paul, came
to Pierpont in 1812. Here W. Perry was born
in 1832. He was studious and successful as a
teacher and a lawyer. He was elected prose
cuting attorney and represented Ashtabula
county in the legislature. At the time Judge
Ezra B. Taylor was elected to congress Mr.
Howland was a forraidable candidate. His son,
Paul, naraed for the grandfather, Paul, now
represents the Cleveland district in congress.
Henry Fassett.
Henry Fassett, one of the able newspaper
men in Ashtabula, was born in Canada, but
came to Ashtabula when he was eighteen. He
was one of the owners of the Ashtabula Sen
tinel in 1837. After a time he moved to
Newark, Ohio, when he became owner and
editor of the Sentinel. He held several oifices
and among thera that of probate judge and in
ternal revenue collector.
The Son of John Brown.
John Brown, who lived in raany places for
short. tiraes on the Reserve just prior to his raid
on Harper's Ferry- raade West Andover his '
headquarters. On the creek road in Cherry
Valley was a cabinet raanufactory, and here he
stored his rifles and other raaterial. His son,
bearing his narae, Hved in Cherry Valley. He
was ordered to appear before the United States

584

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

senate and give evidence. This he refused to
do, and the residents of the vicinity, expecting
violence, organized theraselves foj the protec
tion of Brown and his friends.
Three Talented Reserve Women.
Dr. Susan Edson, a distinguished physician
who nursed President Garfield during his last
illness, was one time living, in Kingsville, Ohio,
and although her professional life was spent
largely in Washington, she always considered
Ashtabula her horae.

Although Edith M. Thomas was born at
Catham, Medina county, she was educated at
Geneva Ohio Norman Institute and really lived
there until a few years since, when she moved
to New York. She is foremost araong Araer
ican poets and is always accredited to the
Western Reserve.
Rachel Foster Avery, the noted woraan
suffrage advocate, is connected by raarriage
with the Western Reserve. Cyrus Miller Avery,
her husband, was the grandson of Mrs. Na-
hura Miller, of Ashtabula.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MAHONING COUNTY.

When the surveying party, under Moses
Cleaveland, had celebrated its arrival on the
Western Reserve, the surveyors iraraediately
set out to run the north and south lines. It
was early in July, and the raerabers of the
party were more or less joyous as they left
the lake with its blue waters and invigorating
air. As they proceeded southward they en
countered so many difficulties that when they
had gone half the distance they were discour
aged and disgusted. The timber was very
heavy and consequently the ground was wet
and oozy. When swamps became impassable
for the commissary department the surveyors
were left to wade, wallow and work, while
the provisions went a round-about way. Often
at the end of a hard day's work these worn
and bedraggled men waited long and impa
tiently for their cook and food. As they waited
they were unprotected and rain drenched thera,
and mosquitoes feasted upon thera. It was
but natural that the picture they had drawn
of this beautiful new Connecticut was fading
away when they neared the present Mahoning
county line.
Tpie Surveyors Entering the County.
Just on the edge of Trumbull county they
had a distant glimpse of Pennsylvania and
for the first time they could look over the
tree tops. From this time on their journey
was raore pleasant. .\s they neared the forty-
first parallel they heard the tinkling of a bell
and concluded that a settlement was near. Ea
gerly they. sought to find it but failed. How

ever, it was there and the settler would have
welcomed the young raen frora the east with
open arms if they had only followed their in
clination and the cowbell. As it was, they con
tinued their journey south and set a post on

ilAHONING COUNTY COUET HOUSE.
the corner of township one, range one
(Poland), and then started on their return
trip. When they struck the river they were
delighted to see so ''goodly a stream." They
had penetrated on into the woods until it

585

586

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

seeraed as if they were alraost lost in the for
est, and here was a streara large enough to
take thera away if they had seen fit to go.
They found some Indians in carap on this
river, who told thera that many boats went
back and forth; that Beaver, a little town,
v/as not so very far away and that there they
could get all sorts of supplies. This informa
tion also added to their corafort and when a
few hours later they met- the surveyors, who
had run another line, there was rejoicing and
undoubtedly a jug was emptied.
The First "Comers."
These first surveyors were not the first men
who had visited Mahoning county. Probably
not so raany missionaries or soldiers or ex
plorers had been in this vicinity as had gone
along the lake shore between Buffalo and
Cleveland, but raany trappers and traders had
passed through the valley, and no one knows
how raany years Indians were following the
path from this point to Cleveland and San
dusky. These savages had a vHlage on the
land where the Baltiraore & Ohio station
stands, having cleared the land on that bend
and on the hiHside opposite. However, as
was their habit, they had abandoned this place
and sraaH trees and other growth had corae
on, raaking it necessary for the pioneers to
clear again. Indians had a village, or rather
a suraraer stopping-place, on the edge of the
swamp .south of East Federal street.
There were several squatters in Mahoning
county before the coraing of the Connecticut
Land Corapany, but their stay was short, and
they simply made a livelihood for themselves
and are in no way connected with the devel
opment of the county.
The Salt Springs Tract.
As a rule, attempts at inventions and dis
coveries are made over and over again with
final success, but the Salt Springs tract, as
far as raoney making was concerned or as far
as good salt was concerned, never was a suc

cess, although a great nuraber of raen tried
to make it so. It is undoubtedly true that
raore than half the residents of Youngstown
do not know it ever existed. The Indians
made salt here, and white men frora Penn
sylvania erected rude cabins, where people
bringing their utensils lived, whHe they boiled
tlie water for the salt. When the cabins were
vacated the Indians lived in them, so that
the Salt Springs tract had raore people in it'
in the twenty years preceding the settlement
of Mahoning county than did any other spot
on the Reserve. A full account of this inter
esting tract is given in the Trumbull county
chapter and the stateraents will not be re
peated here. It consisted of 24,000 acres and
was the only land sold by Connecticut previ
ous to the forraation of the Connecticut Land
Corapany. Sarauel Parsons, a judge, purchased this
tract, carae to see it, and was drowned in
the Beaver river on his return horae. There
was sorae litigation about the sale when the
Connecticut Land Corapany took over the
Western Reserve, but the right of the Par
sons heirs was finally acknowledged, and a
portion of this property laid aside for them.
This portion of it was owned later by George
Parsons, of Warren, who was not connected in
any way with the original purchaser.
A firra by the narae of Duncan & Wilson
employed men to carry produce to Detroit
and one of the stopping places was this Salt
Springs tract. Here one of their employees,
who was guarding the stores kept in one of
these cabins, was murdered by the Indians in
1786. During the Revolutionary war General
Harmer, who was in charge of the American
forces at Pittsburg, ordered this carap dis
banded because he thought the salt boHers
were in sympathy with the British. He was
wrong in his surmise.
Although this Salt Springs tract was not
properly within the liraits of the present Ma
honing county, its operations had effect upon
the settlements in that county, later and are

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

587

mentioned here for that reason. Pennsylvania
people traveling back and forth became fa
miliar with Youngstown and the vicinity, so
that it was better known to thera than any
other land on the Reserve.
James Hillman, First Settler.
The first settler, James Hillnian, was often
at the Salt Springs tract. He was employed
by Duncan and Wilson to carry their mer
chandise to the lake and at different tiraes had
quite a caravan accompanying him. In 1786
he had ten men and ninety horses. The only
buildings which these people could occupy
(except such as they could erect themselves
from bark and which stood no longer than
one season and were burned down usually by
the Indians as soon as the traders were out of
sight) were the cabins at Salt Springs and the
houses erected by the Moravians at the mouth
of Tinker's creek. Although these Moravian
missionaries had wintered around the north
western part of Ohio and possibly east of the
Cuyahoga. on the lake shore, we have no raa
terial evidence that they were ever as far
south on the Reserve as Youngstown. How
ever, the deserted cabins at Tinker's creek
were used by the traders and a little later Dun
can and Wilson erected a cabin or two near
the mouth of the Cuyahoga. Jaraes HiHraan
was in their employ for some time, and was
later their Beaver agent. He staid there two
years and returned to Pittsburg, when he be
came a trader on his own account. He and
his wife loaded canoes and paddled up the
river, exchanging their produce with the In
dians, and as soon as they had sold out they
returned for another cargo. They did not
make as long trips as they had for Duncan
and Wilson, but they worked leisurely and
often .spent sorae time in one place. They thus
becarne very well acquainted with the Indians.
James HiHraan, who could speak the Seneca
language, knew their habits, and as he was
always perfectly straightforward in dealing
with them no man in the Mahoning valley was
ever held in such esteera by the red men as wa^

he. Because this was true, later he was able
to render great service to the people of old
Trumbull county, and especially to the people
of Youngstown.
When Colonization Succeeded.
In the settlement of this country, the Eng
lishman brought his wife and his faraily to
the coast of New England, and the faraily and
community life began, and the state was es
tablished. The Virginia colonists raade fail
ures over and over again until they brought
with them their wives, and homes were made.
So it was with the settleraent of this Mahoning
valley. Men had tramped back and forth
through the woods; people had been mur
dered ; nothing was settled, nothing established
in Mahoning county and the vicinity until
Mrs. HHlman took the lot which Mr. Young
had offered her and began raaking a home in
the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hillman were
poor; at the tirae of her marriage she had no
shoes. But then that was not so bad as it
seems, because for many years raost women of
this county had only one pair of shoes, and
these they saved for visiting, for raeeting and
for very cold weather. Mrs. Hillman had
no children and her house was the place where
all people stopped. All strangers were enter
tained, and really to her quite as much as to
James Hillman hiraself is due the credit of
the establi-shraent of the city of Youngstown.
She lived to be eighty-three years old, dying
in 1855. She is remerabered by many people
in the county who as children knew her.
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. HiHman were
first interred in the old cemetery. Wood street,
but later were mo'ved to Oak Hill cemetery,
and the inscriptions on the stones read as fol
lows :
In Memory of
Col. James Hillman.
Born Oct. 27, 1762;
Died Nov. 12, 1848 ;
Aged 86 Years, i Month,
15 Days.

588

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

In Memory of
Katherine,
Wife of James Hillman.
Died Aug. 7, 1855,
Aged 83 Years.
James Hillman Averts Massacre.
Jaraes Hillman was a remarkable raan. He
grew frora an uneducated, uncultured trader
to a legislator ; to a leader in the coraraunity.
He lived to a goodly age and was respected
very highly by aH who knew him. In fact,
it was due to him that the people of Warren
and Youngstown and vicinity were not massa
cred. The killing of the two Indians at Salt
Springs so aroused the Indians in the neigh
borhood that if Mr. Hillman had not gone to
thera unarraed, although accompanied by Mr.
Randall, laid the case before thera and taken
the precaution which he did to have a confer
ence later at Youngstown, there is no doubt
that the Indians would have arisen against
the comraunity. Of course, we do not know
whether they would have succeeded in carry
ing out their plans, but if the Indians of the
further west, who hated the encroachment of
the white raen, had joined with thera it raight
have been that the inhabitants of the valley
would have been wiped out entirely.
Howe and most of the people of his tirae
blamed the white men in the Salt Springs case,
and believed that the trial which occurred at
Youngstown was not a fair one, that the
judges were partial, etc. ; but Leonard Case,
Sr., vfho was a very just raan, and who took
up the evidence carefully and investigated for
himself, said later that there was no doubt that
MacMahon and Storrs killed the Indians in
self-defense. The trial was held at Youngs
town undoubtedly, because Jaraes HiHraan
lived there, although the county seat at that
tirae was at Warren.
How All Depended On Hillman.
It is quite reraarkable in reading old letters
and manuscripts and printed docuraents to

find how raany people depended upon Jaraes
HiHraan for aid and for advice. When Ben
jarain Tappan, who settled Ravenna, was tak
ing his goods frora Hudson to his township,
one of his oxen was bitten to death by flies,
and we find that the first thing he did was
to go iraraediately to James Hillman at
Youngstown. He had no raoney, although his
father was well-to-do. The records say that
Mr. Hillman sold him an ox on credit and at
the usual price. Alraost all references to this
transaction dwell on the fact that HHlraan did
not raise the price on Tappan because of his
dire distress. And so it was from almost
every settlement in the lower part of the
Western Reserve — it was James Hillman who
could tell people what to do, how to do it and
when to do it, and he was able to do this be
cause of his great heart, just ideas and his
long experience with the country.
No Hillman Memorial.
James HiHraan served in the Revolutionary
war ; was under Colonel William Rayen in the
War of 1812; was justice of the peace before
and after the war. Although he accumulated
sorae property which debts and unprofitable
business transactions swept away, he recov
ered, and owned several pieces of property in
Youngstown ; sometimes a farra, soraetiraes
town property ; and for several years was pro
prietor of a popular hotel. It seeras reraark
able that there is no raonuraent or raemorial
of any kind erected to preserve the raemory
of this man and his good wife. One unim
portant street in the southwestern part of town
bears his name. If only some stone marked
the location of his first cabin, people of this
vicinity would not seem to the historian quite
so thoughtless and unappreciative. John
Young has a monument, in the narae of a
great town, although he did little but manage
his business well, while Jaraes Hillman was a
real benefactor. The Daughters of the Araer
ican Revolution are atterapting to have a
raeraorial tablet placed in the court house.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

589

John Young, Founder of Town.
John Young was born in New Hampshire ;
migrated to Whitestown, New York, where in
1792 he raarried Mary Stone White, (cora
monly called Polly), the daughter of Hugh
White, who owned land as an early settler
around Whitestown'. So great were White's
possessions that he gave a large farm to each
of his eight children, raost of whora settled

near hira. He was a judge and died about the
beginning of the war of 1812.
John Young becarae possessed with the
western fever, and when the Connecticut Land
Company was forraing he reserved, in his
name and that of Philo White, a township.
Whether the two owned it entirely, or whether
there were others interested, is not certain.
Anyway, Mr. White took very little interest in
it. The purchase was raade late in 1796, and
early in 1797 Mr. Young and Alfred Wolcott,

his surveyor carae to No. 2, range 2, and be
gan plans for its settleraent. This was the
first township on the Reserve surveyed and set
tled by the owner. To be sure Mr. Kingsbury,
Mr. and Mrs. StHes and Edward Paine had
spent the winter at Conneaut and Cleveland,
but they did not own these townships, and did
not at first settle on their own land.
While the surveyors were laying out the
town. Young busied himself in cutting the
brush, sowing grain and entertaining, the peo
ple passing through, as well as those who
carae to buy land.
Meeting of Hillman and Young.
Upon Young's arrival in the new country
he put up sorae sort of a covering for hiraself
and his corapanion and one evening, as Jaraes
Hillman was paddling down the river, on his
way to Beaver, after a trading trip he saw
smoke rising, which he knew was not smoke
from an Indian camp. Wanting to investigate
as to who was in his domain, he anchored and
went ashore, introduced himself and spent the
evening. Now it happened that he had not
disposed entirely of his cargo. He had sorae
whiskey left. The price of a gallon of whiskey
was a deer skin and half that amount was a
fawn skin. Mr. Young, was delighted to meet
HiHraan, because he knew all about the coun
try, and because he was a genial man ; and
Hillman, of course, was glad to see white men.
At length something was said about celebrat
ing the event of the raeeting. Mr. Young
proposed that he buy this whiskey and that
the three have an evening of it ; whereas, Mr.
HiHraan said this really was his territory and
these were his guests, and he would furnish
the whiskey. Howeyer, Young insisted and
handed over the deer skin which he had spread
for his bed ; and therefore gave up his sleeping
place and his comfort for something to stim
ulate the inner raan. This is not related as an
unusual thing, however, for raen before hira
and raen since his time have denied themselves
of precious things for a little enjoyment with

590

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

trouble thereafter. Fortunately, none of these
men were quarrelsome and they had a beautiful
tirae that night on the banks of the Mahoning.
The new comers were told rauch about the
country. Whether they were able to reraem
ber it or not is not known. However, Hillman
urged them to go down to Beaver and spend
Independence day (Fourth of July) as the
people of Beaver were going to celebrate in
the good, old-fashioned way. Mr. Young and
his surveyor had but just arrived, and it seeras
rather strange to us of these hustling and
bustling tiraes that they should feel they could
leave their business and accorapany HiHraan ;
but they did. Before the end of the visit,
they had persuaded Hillman and his wife to
take up their residence in Youngstown.
The Youngs Return to New York.
Mr. Young brought his wife and two chil
dren to Youngstown in 1799. That year his
son William was born, and in 1802 his daugh
ter Mary. In 1803 they returned to Whites-
town and lived upon their farra, although
Mr. Young, did not do any farra work. He
became interested in construction and super
intending of the roads of that country.
. Could Not Take "No."
Wra. Law, Jr., in his "journal," now the
property of H. K. Morse of Poland, says:
"May 8th — At evening I arrived at Mr.
Young's, New Connecticut.
"May 9th — Made a sraall excursion with
Mr. King into the woods to see the country
and get a turkey or deer. Soon found our
selves tired of such work, and returned with
hunter's luck ; dined at Mr. Young's ; then
went to Mr. Stephen's and petitioned for
board and lodging, till Mr. Kirtland should ar
rive. They refused, telling us they had not
rauch provisions and no accoraraodations. I told
them I could not receive 'No' for an answer.
I carried in my portmanteau ; turned ray horse
into the woods, and then started with a raan
to take a look at our land. Traveled three or
four miles and returned at dark much fatigued.

To mention about accoraraodations in the
woods would be unnecessary trouble. It was as
it was good enough, however. I started early
with the raan again and traveled not less than
two or three and twenty miles which took
us till dark before we got in, tired enough. I
was not used to such tramps. Determined
however to accustom rayself to thera. In the
course of the day, the raen saw two bears ;
shot at one of thera, but raissed it. We saw
a turkey or two and no other garae.
"May nth — I kept near home, being very
soar and dull.
"Sunday, the 12th — Spent in writing and
reading.
Short Chat With Lusty "Bare."
"May nth — Set out with a raan to clear up
the garden and cut house logs, but a raan
wishing to look at land, I went out with him
into the woods. We had not proceeded far
before we perceived a fine bare with three
cubs which ran up a tree; and the old one
fled. We beat off one with a pole. Then the
man with rae shot another ; and I shot a third :
so we were victorious. I then agreed to meet
the raan the other side of the creek near Mc-
Farland's. So I struck through the woods for
my horse. I soon found myself bewildered. I
clem up and down banks and came to the same
place. I then considered a rainute; then clem
up another bank and behold ! four or five rods
forward sat a fine lusty bare. I held a short
chat with him, not having a gun, and bid him
good-speed. Proceeding I found ray horse.
I then proceeded to Mr. McFarland's and there
spent the evening agreeably."
Young's Cabin at Warren.
It is not true that John Young ever lived
in Warren. His residence there was tempor
ary. There was a clearing, in the bend of the
Mahoning river where the South Main Street
bridge is. Here Young sowed wheat, erected
a log-hut, and when he had harvested his crop
stored it in the house. When snow came he

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

591

transported it to Youngstown. This Young
cabin was used by raen going back and forth
from Pittsburg to the lake and by the early
comers to Warren. It stood about where the
home of Charlie Wannaraaker now is, and was
one of the first farras purchased.
First Land Buyers at Youngstown.
Frora the records of Turhand Kirtland, who
was agent for John Young, we find that
Josiah Robbins bought land in Youngstown in
1799; Jaraes HiHraan, 1801 ; John Rush, 1802;
WiHiara Rayen, 1802 ; Caleb Baldwin, 1802 ;
Henry McKinney, 1802; John Bissell, 1802;
and Alfred Wolcott, 1803.
Discovery of Youngstown Water-Power.
Isaac Powers and Phineas HiH were assis
tants to Alfred Wolcott, the surveyor, and the
story is told that one morning in 1797, as they
were out prospecting 'they walked along, the
Mahoning ri-yer until the^' carae to the mouth
of a creek and then turned in. They had not
proceeded far before they came across a rocky
ledge frora which the water was tumbling at a
great rate. Nothing did the pioneers want
more than water-power, and these men con
cluded that they would buy this section of
land. The fall was twenty-seven feet and at
that time there seemed to be an inexhaustible
supply of water. Of course, there was much
more then than now, because at that tirae the
Mahoning river was navigable as far as New
ton Falls. In fact, at least twenty-five years
later the legislature declared the river nav
igable as far as Warren. Mr. Powers had
already selected his land, and so it was agreed
that Hill was to apply to Young for this. Mr.
Powers was a mill-wright and together they
were going tp enter into business. Upon their
return to Young's cabin, they began talking
about negotiating for a certain bit of land and
Mr. HHl asked to purchase a certain lot.
Either he showed his anxiety about the prop
erty, or Young was a very astute man, because
the latter immediately suspicioned that there
was something about the land which was valu

able and refused to sell it to Hill without hav
ing seen it. Thereupon Hill told him of the
water-power there, and, after they had exam
ined it, HHl was aHowed to buy it, provided
he would erect a saw-raill and soraething
which would grind corn within eighteen
raonths after the signing of the contract.
First Mills Erected.
Abraham Powers built a rude cabin in the
vicinity and he and his son took the contract
for building the miH. Of course, this was a
very crude affair and ground slowly and un
evenly, but still it was better than nothing.
It was in the construction of this mill that
powder was used in blasting for the first time
on the Reserve. The saw-miH was of the old
fashioned water-wheel pattern, which artists
love to paint, but which no raan today would
run. The stone for this raill was dressed by
Abrahara Powers, and it was found in the
heart of the city, near where Holmes street
crosses Lincoln avenue. It was the kind of
stone known as "nigger-head." Isaac Powers
and John Noggle secured the timber for the
raill frora the woods on the creek.
Well-Placed Confidence.
It was while these two young raen were
cutting the wood for this raill that two Indian
women came along with a pappoose strapped
to a piece of bark. They looked at the men
a few moraents, set the pappoose against a tree
and departed. In the raiddle of the afternoon
they returned, bringing with thera the car
cass of a deer which they had kHled. They
took up the baby and proceeded on their jour
ney. Apparently they trusted the workmen,
and it was all right, because the baby did noth
ing but sleep and laugh as it lay tied to a tree
in its rude cradle.
First Marriages in the County.
Alfred Wolcott married Mary GHson of
Canfield, in February, 1800. This was the
first raarriage of Western Reserve people, but

592

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

because there was no rainister the service was
perforraed in Pennsylvania. Miss Gilson be
longed to the pioneers of Canfield. Her broth
er was the first raail carrier out of Canfield.
.The first raarriage recorded on the Western
Reserve was that of Stephen Baldwin and
Rebecca Rush. They were raarried in No
veraber, 1800. Sitehy vs. Young.
Daniel Shehy was a well educated Irishraan
who raet John Young at Albany, N. Y., after
he carae to this country, and was persuaded
by Young to corae to the Western Reserve.
He was assistant surveyor to Isaac Powers.
Mr. Shehy selected two thousand acres of
land. Four hundred of this was in the east
part of Youngstown, and on part of it his
relatives still live. The other portion was
south of the river. He raarried Miss Jane
McLain, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, who
was in every way a partner for him. She was
of Scotch descent. Mr. Young, like raany
other raen interested in western land, was hon
est but had a "business eye." When, there
fore, Robert Gibson offered him fifty cents per
acre raore than Shehy had offered. Young
wished to sell it to Gibson and refused to give
.Shehy a deed. This would have been exasper
ating to any raan, but it was especially so to
Shehy because of his temperament. He there
fore proceeded to threaten Young and was
imprisoned in the first jaH in TrurabuH county,
at Warren, being the first prisoner in that jail.
He was tried and fined. As we have seen, he
vvfas an orator and the ringleader in the quar
rel about the alien vote in the county-seat case.
Jane Shehy was quite as deterrained as was
her hu,sband to obtain the land which he had
bought, and she proposed certain plans which
really brought Mr. Young to terras. Her hus
band twice journeyed to Connecticut to try
to adjust matters, and after applying to the
land company he finally got a deed to the four
hundred acres. ITe was held in esteera by his
cotemporaries and his narae is not only per

petuated by posterity, but a city street is
named for hira.
First Western Iron Manufactured.
The first iron which was raanufactured west
of the Alleghany raountains was smelted in
a little furnace on Yellow creek near Struth
ers. Men worked then frora twelve to four
teen hours daily to turn out from two to five
tons of iron.'
First Sermon of the Reserve.
The first sermon which was preached to
any white men on the Western Reserve was
preached by Rev. William C. Wick in 1799.
The Two Youngstown Traits.
Now it seeras strange that these two begin
nings, of industry and religion, have been fol
lowed out to a great degree in Mahoning
county to this da)'.
The industrial growth of the city of
Youngstown, beginning with a little, crude
furnace, up to the present tirae, is one of the
most phenomenal things of the times. And
there are probably in Mahoning county more
church-going people, in proportion to the pop
ulation, than in any other county. This is
not saying that the people of Mahoning county
are raore spiritual, or raore intellectual, or any
thing of that kind; but it is saying that the
old-fashioned religion seeras to be deeper in
the hearts of Youngstown people, particularly
in the hearts of business raen, than in the
hearts of people of other communities. Men
abide by the letter of the law, attend church
services and assume responsibility in connec
tion with church affairs. In no other city on
the Reserye could Billy Sunday convert so
raany people, and in no other city could so
many raen becorae railHonaires within a few
short years. Surely raen have applied busi
ness principles to their religion, and it is to be
hoped they have applied religious principles
to their business.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

593

Judge Turi-iand Kirtland.
Among the. early raen interested in the de
velopment of the Western Reserve was Tur
hand Kirtland. He was here in 1798, 1799
and 1800. He was agent of the Connecticut
Land Corapany and helped John Young lay
out Youngstown; and he surveyed the town
ships of Burton and Poland. It was in the
latter place that he raade his horae, although
he raised crops and had interests in Burton.

4 .(Warren), up to' the present Mahoning ave
nue, off toward Burton, and thence to Grand
river. In the agreeraent for cutting the road frora
Salt Springs to No. 10, range 8, the Morse
notes show : "It is agreed, in raaking the road,
that they cut and clear entirely one rod wide
and level the ground by filling up the hoHows
and plowing down the hillocks, so that carts
may safely pass it. They are to raake bridges

EBMAINS OF THE "OLD FUENACE" ON
YELLOW CEEBK.
(First iron manufactory -west of the Alleghanies.)

We find hira going back and forth frora one
of these towns to another and reporting the
condition of his crops. Records show the
active part he took in all public affairs. He
laid out the second road on the Reserve,
which ran frora Poland to the raouth of the
Grand river. This was in 1798. The first
road, known as the Girdled road, ran from
Conneaut to Cleveland, but the Kirtland road
ran from Youngstown, along the Indian path
to Salt Springs, thence through No. 4, range
Vol. 1—38

over all hollovifs, gulls and runs of water,
where a string-piece twenty-five feet long
will reach across, which is to be considered
as cause-waying. They are to causeway all
ground that is not passable without, with good
timber not less than ten inches thick, nearly of
that size, or so as to be nearly even at the top.
The foregoing is considered as coraing within
the price raentioned in the agreement." The
contract further agrees that where a road runs
on the hillside and must have timber put in

594

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

by the bank of a brook or river on one side,
and cut out on the other, there must be extra
pay- Judge Kirtland was the great-grandfather
cf Miss Mary L. W. Morse. She has col
lected and preserved diaries and papers of this
grandfather, having published the former.
Probably no one in INIahoning county has raore
old records and knows raore facts in regard
to the settleraent of Youngstown and vicinity
than does Miss Morse. A large share of the
original raaterial given in this chapter was
obtained from her.
Turhand Kirtland was state senator in
1814; justice of the peace for twenty years,
and obtained his title as associate judge. He
acted as agent for Williara Law and through
out the early entries of the diary his name is
often mentioned. Suddenly it is dropped and
no raention whatever is raade of hira. We
therefore concluded that sorae disagreeraent
took place, but both men were wise enough
to keep it quiet.
He was rewarded in his lifetime for his
work, as he accuraulated a handsome property.
His children were Jared P. ; Henry T., who
married Thalia Rebecca Fitch for first wife,
and her sister Mary, for his second ; Billius,
who married Ruthanna Frame; George;
Emma, who raarried Richard Hall, and Nancy,
who raarried Elkanah Morse.
Judge Kirtland Kept His Head.
Harvev Rice says that John Blackburn and
Nancy Bryan were raarried by Turhand Kirt
land, a churchraan, in Poland, in 1800. In
regard to this Poland wedding, Mr. Rice says
of Turhand Kirtland : "He yielded to the
force of circumstances and consented to offi
ciate. A stool , covered with a white table
cloth and a prayer book lying upon it was
brought and placed before hira. As he was
about to proceed a guest proposed that the
whisky bottle should first be passed around,
which was done; and while the party were en
gaged in taking a hurried sip of the 'O-be-

joyful' someone mischievously inclined pur
loined the prayer book which contained the
forraula to be used in solemnizing raarriages.
Kirtland, though somewhat disconcerted, ap
preciated the situation, directed the happy pair
to stand up before hira and take each other
by the hand, when he asked, 'Are you agreed
to becorae raan and wife ?' They responded
'Yes.' 'Then,' said he, 'I pronounce you
henceforth man and wife and bid you go on
your way rejoicing.' "
Old-Time Bonds.
Here is given a bond, to show how papers
were drawn at that time :
"1798, August i.
"Articles of agreement made between WiH
iara Law and Turhand Kirtland of the state
of Conn, and John Struthers, Jr., of the state
of Penn. Witness — that Law & Kirtland hath
sold to Struthers two lots or parcels of
Grounds situated on the Mahoning River in
No. I of the first range of the Conn. Reserve
(so called) viz. Lots No. 21 and 22, together
with the appurtenances, and the parties are
hereby bound to raake out as an araple a deed
in every respect as the state of Conn, hath
given to the Conn. Land Co. at the expiration
of 2 years from this date on the following
conditions (viz.) : — the party of the second
part agrees to the parties of the first part
$106.25 in 30 days from date and $371.87 in
one year and the like sura of $71.87 in 2 years.
"And it is also agreed and mutually under
stood that the party of the second part shaH
erect on Sd Township of No. i a good finished
Corn Mill ready to grind by the first day of
Dec. 1800. John McFarlane,
Jack Go well, Jr.,
William La\\',
Turhand Kirtland,
John Struti-iers, Jr."
In 18 1 1 Turhand Kirtland "agrees to lease
his Poland farm to John Reeves for 100 gal-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

595

Ions of good, whisky yearly." This does not
mean that Judge Kirtland himself absorbed
100 gallons of whisky, but that in those -days
whisky was raoney.
First Births in County.
The first raale child born in Youngstown
township was John. Swager. The first feraale
child was a daughter of Robert and Hannah
Stephens. When today we know that the
women of Youngstown are paying taxes on
miHions of dollars worth of property; that a
woman is president of the Library Board;
that they are the raanagers of rauch of the
philanthropy and reforra work done in the
county, it is hard for us to realize what an
insignificant part they played in the records
of the country of the early day. Very often
if the first child born in a community was a
girl the records say "the first male child born
was  ;" adding, "there had been a girl
born before this." In the case of Mahoning
•county it is not known whether the male child
was born before the feraale, but so unirapor-
tant was the birth of the feraale child that
her narae is not given. She was siraply the
•daughter of Robert Stephens.
First Death in Youngstown.
The first death in Youngstown was that of
Samuel McFarland. He was a music teacher
and was only twenty-eight years old. His
funeral was largely attended and he was buried
in the old graveyard, and the stone, which
was erected in 1811, was reraoved later to
the new ceraetery.
Youngstown Founded.
First there were the cabins in the neighbor
hood of Spring Common. Then the log cab
ins of the first farms began to dot the hillside
and the valley. Skins began going down the
river, and supplies coming up. Iron began to
be smelted, grain ground and logs sawed.
Land became more valuable, as it was found
how fertile it was. The early settler had all

he wanted of one thing, naraely, wood. Peo
ple were cold in winter only because houses
were too open and only one fireplace was built.
Soon houses began to grow up around the first
little clump of cabins and civic life, although
crude, was lived. The letter carrier made his
appearance, as did the stage driver, and the
tavern keeper. Coal was found. Canal boats
glided through the town and Youngstown
was established.
In 1802 the town plat was recorded. In
1810 Youngstown was the third township in
population on the Reserve. Warren had 875
inhabitants, Poland 837 and Youngstown 773.
Most of the early elections were held in the
tavern of WiHiam Rayen, but after 1813 at
different public houses until 1850, when the
town hall was built.
First Newspaper.
The first newspaper published in Youngs
town was the Mahoning County Republican.
It was originally a Deraocratic paper and
, Ashael Medbury was the editor. Before that
time Youngstown depended upon Warren for
its newspapers, but as the newspapers in the
early days contained a compilation of essays
and foreign correspondence rather than news,
they were not as iraportant as they are now
adays. First Cemeteries.
As stated, there were two ceraeteries in
Youngstown, both near the present Wood
street, one where the present court house
stands and the other east of the Elk clubhouse
between that and Phelps street. At one tirae
when the bodies were being reraoved sorae
children were coraing, down Wick avenue.
They had been at school, and seeing thera re
raoving the bodies, of course stopped to watch
thera. One young girl, Rachel Wick, daugh
ter of Caleb, stood by a coffin and asked the
man whose body that was. He said it was
Jaraes Tayler's. There was nothing but a
skeleton ; she remembers the bones. Many

596

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

years afterwards she married the son of James
Tayler. At the tirae the court house was built the
Youngs were opposed to asking for the land
on which the court house was to stand, be
cause they said that John Young gave it to
the city for a burying ground and for no other
purpose. This objection, however, was given
no attention. Men of phHanthropic thought
reraoved the bodies which were unclairaed ; so
as far as is known, no bodies were left on this
spot. Mr. and Mrs. HiHraan were buried in
the oldest of these ceraeteries.
County Seat.
When TrurabuH county was organized
Youngstown expected to be made the county
seat. From letters and diaries we learn that
there was no question in the minds of men of
the vicinity. Judge Kirtland states in his
diary that "he must go to Youngstown to
raake final arrangeraents in regard to the
county seat."
Prominent Men of the County.
The people of Youngstown vicinity were
religious and financiaHy prosperous, but they
were not politicians. The county has had one
governor, David Tod ; one lieutenant gover
nor, Asa Jones; three or more merabers of
congress — Whittlesey, Woodworth and Ken
nedy ; one comptroller of the treasury, Robert
W. Tayler; one suprerae judge, George Tod.
But in the long years of its life, with its large
population, we find it has had very few raen
in national and state politics. Soraehow, poli
tics has not proven as seductive as has busi
ness. At the time of the erection of the county
Cleveland Was too feeble a post to think of
demanding the county seat. This was true
of the towns along the lake. The young Yale
graduates, born of cultured and intellectual
parents, who had settled in the neighborhood
of Warren, were so well equipped inteHect-
uaHy that they received the appointraents to

the larger offices when these appointraents
were first raade. When, therefore, the people
of Youngstown and vicinity signified their
desire for the county seat, they found the in
fluences were too great to be overcorae.
When, however, Youngstown really deterraines
to do a thing, it is apt to do it. This is
true, more or less, of most people, but others
do not deterraine so often. For years and
years the county seat war went on. Whenever
there was a new adrainistration, whenever
there was a new public building to be erected,
the smoldering flre burst into flame. At times
at public gatherings, the question of county
seat was fought out in contests. Youngstown
horses raced against Warren horses ; Youngs
town men raced against Warren men;
Youngstown people hated Warren people col
lectively, and vice versa.
The organization of Geauga county, in
1805, brought forward the question again,
and because the northern part of TrumbuH
was gone, Youngstown claimed to be nearer
the center of population. Warren kept some
lobbyists at Colurabus to look after its claims,
and Gideon Granger, who was associated in
national politics and connected by raarriage
with several families in Warren and vicinity,
added his influence to the Warren side. It is
noted that in the early days, as stated before,
the educated man was the politician and the
politician was the power. In other words,
the able raan at first ruled the country, and
he was followed by the man who, education
or no, made of hiraself a politician, and it was
this raan who ruled the country. Today the
politician is the product, as a rule, of the cor
porate interests, and, although the early poli
tician often did harm, the last stage of prog
ress (?) is worse by far than the first. In
the beginning raen, we are told, did great
things for the love of country. Tirae may have
magnified this soraewhat, but today raen who
are in politics are not thinking of the country
but of the group of raen who elevated them
to position. However, it's all well in working

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

597

out, for the harder the taskmaster drives, the
louder the servant bewails ; the louder the cry,
the sooner relief wHl come.
The "Alien" Question.
In 1808, when Ashtabula and Portage coun
ties were erected) Warren no longer, with any
degree of truth, could claira to be the geo
graphical center. Consequently she looked
about for some other way to carry her point,
and raised the question that many aliens were
allowed to vote in an election, the result of
which was to influence the county seat ques
tion. This was true, but as long as the aliens
/oted for Warren, the capital had not seen
the sinfulness of it. It was after they began
going into Youngstown, and siding with the
Youngstown people, that the legality was ques
tioned. Leonard Case, of Warren, and William
Chidester, of Canfield, as justices, took the
testimony in the case brought to throw out
the "ahen vote." This was one of the raost
extreme cases ever tried in this region and
undoubtedly, but for the wisdom and gentle
ness of Leonard Case, raight have resulted in
harra. Sorae of the Irishraen refused to tes
tify until they were threatened with jaH.
When all 'was over, it was looked upon as a
disgraceful and uncomfortable affair. Daniel
Shehy, with his oratorical powers and high
temper, was anything but pacifying to his
countryraen. The adding of the lower tier of
five townships in Ashtabula county to Trum
bull resulted advantageously for Warren.
After a time these townships were handed
back to Ashtabula. This shifting about caused
much indignation on the part of the people
living in those townships and many were the
jokes cracked over the "horaeless" predica
ment of Windsor, Orwell, Colebrook, Wayne
and Williarasfield. Canfield Has an Inning.
The war of 1812 so absorbed the rainds of
people that the county seat question seeraed

uniraportant. Although the old court house
at Warren was gradually going to decay, the
people knew if they asked for a new one the
county seat war would be renewed. Finally,
however, in 1840, the raatter could no longer
be held in abeyance. The southern part of
the county iraraediately rebelled. The legisla
tors from Trumbull county were elected on
the platforra of county seat reraoval. Youngs
town asked to have the county divided, pro
posing Warren for one county seat and
Youngstown the other. Canfield asked that
ten southern townships of TrurabuH county
and five of Colurabiana raake a new county.
It was Youngstown people who had raade the
fight for the new county frora the very begin
ning; yet when this new county was finaHy
erected, Canfield becarae the county seat.
Never were Youngstown people more sur
prised. Of course Warren was glad and may
have "lent a hand." Such affiliation always
happens in like cases. It was not generally
understood then, nor is it yet, that this result
was due to Elisha Whittlesey and his asso
ciates, who had political influence.
Canfield proraised to donate a suitable lot
and to give $5,000 towards a public buHding.
A lot belonging to Eben Newton was substi
tuted for the $5,000 and $10,000 was raised
by private subscription. Work was begun in
1848 and the wording of the law, which pro
vided for the county seat, was such that Can-
field people considered the question settled
forever. However, Youngstown raen had
never given up their deterraination to win,
and when they found that its citizens paid
half the taxes of the county; had more than
half the litigation of the county; that it was
becoraing a railroad center and an industrial
city,, their chances grew. Even their old
enemy, Warren, carae to their aid, not frora
a Christian spirit — for even if persons do have
Christian spirit, raunicipalities do not — but be
cause their lawyers and business raen disliked
the long drive they were obliged to take when
doing business in Canfield. They had heard

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the toot of the locoraotive and the horse's trot
seemed slow.
County Seat Question Finally Settled.
Finally in 1872 the question came up in
earnest. It was not settled until it had gone
through the courts and the word permanent
was decided to raean "without any intention
of changing" ; that it did not raean that
the legislature could not raake such provision
for Mahoning county as it could for all other
counties — that is, change the county seat when
it seeraed advisable to do so. The question
was presented to the electors of the county
and of course the result was favorable to
Youngstown. In 1874 the sum of $100,000 for the erection
of buildings had been subscribed, and the
-building comraittee increased this to $200,000.
The city in that same year gave to the county
two lots on the corner of Wick avenue and
Wood street, which were valued at $40,000,
the county paying ten dollars for the same.
This land had been given to the city by
Thomas Young for a ceraetery, and when it
was no longer used for that purpose, the
Young heirs clairaed it, which fact added
trouble to the situation. The question was
not finally decided untH 1879. The buildings
erected at that tirae have done service until
this date, when a fine new court house is
being erected. The county seat war in Ma
honing county is settled forever.
Last County of the Reserve.
Mahoning county was the last erected on
the Reserye and the eighty-third in the state.
It carae into existence in 1846. Five of its
townships were taken frora Colurabia county,
those below the forty-first parallel, are not
considered in this history. The other ten town
ships are — Milton, Jackson, Austintown,
Youngstown, Coitsville, Berlin, Ellsworth,
Canfield, Boardman and Poland.
Tpie County's Name.
The name is of Indian origin. Its exact
meaning is not known. Sorae authorities says

it means "winding" ; others, "beautiful meae^-
ow," while Howe says it signifies "the lick,"
or "at the lick." This raay be true, because
of the salt springs. At any rate, it has a
musical sound and the good judgraent of
the naraers has never been doubted. Another
account translates the name as "way to mar
ket" (way to Pittsburg), and gives the pro
nunciation as "Mauming."
Attractive Physically.
Because of the mines and the coal and iron
industries, the idea is rather prevalent that
Mahoning county is unattractive physically.
This is not true. It is rolling. It has several
streams which are swift-running. The Penn
sylvania hills can be seen frora it. It is quite
well wooded and, although perhaps not the
raost attractive of the Western Reserve coun
ties, it at least stands high in the ranks.
The City (5f Youngstown.
Youngstown was incorporated in 1848; ex
tended its liraits in 1850, and became a second
class city in 1867.
As soon as a traveler leaves Girard, going
east, he knows he is approaching a city. A
certain bustle, a certain air overtakes him.
In a moraent or two he sees the great smoke
stacks, sees the suburbs, hears the rurable ;
and there he is !
Industri.vl .\nd Commerci.vl Youngstown.
Youngstown is a center of the iron and
steel industry, there being located here what
are among the largest of the iron and steel
producing and finishing plants in the United
States. These include the Ohio and Union
Works of the Carnegie Steel Corapany; the
Brown-Bonnell and \'alley Works of the Re
public Iron & Steel Company, and the Youngs
town Sheet and Tube Company. These three
industries give employment to an aggregate
of about 15,000 workmen.
Besides these larger industries there are
foundries and machine shops, engine builders.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

599

boiler works, and, araong diversified indus
tries, the Republic Rubber Works, reinforced
concrete plant, electric light plant and manu
facturers of electric bulbs; carriage raanufac
turers and the General Fireproofing Corapany
engaged in the raanufacture of raetal furnish
ings, the product of which finds sale through
out the world.
Additions are constantly being raade to pre
sent plants, notably by the Republic Iron &
Steel Corapany, which has in the course of
construction at Lansingville, a suburb of the
city, another large steel and finishing mill, be
sides several open-hearth furnaces.

cial management and promotion, a nuraber of
raen who are quoted above the raillion-dollar
mark, and several who are placed in the ranks
of the raulti-millionaires.
In 1907 the tonnage, comraercial and indus
trial, of Youngstown amounted to 15,000 tons
per year. In that year 15,000 men were em
ployed in the various industries and the pay
¦ roll was a raillion dollars a raonth. Two and
a half raillion dollars' worth of new buildings
were erected in that year. These facts are
vouched for by the Chamber of Coramerce.
In 1907, 165 establishraents making, a report
to the Labor Bureau stated that 17,375 males

A MANUFAt^TUEJNG SECTION OP YOUNGSTO"WN.

The industrial conditions of Youngstown
are considered to be among, the most pros
perous of any of the industrial centers of the
United States, having here least of labor trou
bles, a raanagement liberal and experienced.
The rapid growth of Youngstown along in
dustrial lines has been contributory to its rapid
growth in population, which will be nearly 85
per cent of an addition in ten years. Every
facility as to location, shipping, water supply,
labor supply and residence location is offered
by Youngstown.
There are also in Youngstown, engaged ac
tively in its industrial, coraraercial and finan-

were eraployed, 473 females in Youngstown;
number of superintendents, salesmen and of
fice help eraployed, 969 ; capital invested, $20,-
012,902 ; araount paid in wages, $11,740,012.25.
In 1907, there were in Youngstown four
teen establishraents for raaking bread and bak
ery products ; two carriage and wagon facto
ries ; six cigar establishraents ; twenty-six
clothing houses ; two flouring mills ; four foun
dry and machine shops ; two glass and glass
ware ; two harness and saddlery ; four struc
tural and architectural iron ; three limestone
and plaster, sand and cement ; two malt liquors ;
two mattresses and pillows ; eight photograph

6oo

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

establishraents ; eight printing and binding, ;
five roofing ; two rubber goods ; ten sash, door,
luraber and interior finish ; two soda and min
eral waters ; seventeen steel, iron and tin ; six
stone, cut, sawed and artificial ; six tinware, I
sheet iron and galvanized iron.
Youngstown in 1837.
It may be interesting to know what a travel- -
ers' guide, called the Ohio Gazette, pub
lished by Warren Jenkins, says of this booming
city in 1837: "Youngstown, a flourishing post
township, on the Mahoning river, fourteen
miles southwestwardly from Warren, on the
great road leading, frora that town to Pitts
burg, in Pennsylvania. Here are five mer
cantile stores and a postoffice. It was so called
after a Mr. John Young, formerly the owner.
The settlement commenced in 1797. Population,
1383. Distance, 165 miles northeast from Co
lurabus. It is the raost populous township in
the county of TrurabuH, It returns 15,000
acres of land on the tax list."
Mill Creek Park.
The natural beauty of the region of the
creek flowing into the Mahoning west of
Youngstown attracted two of the first settlers,
Phineas Hill and Isaac Powers, and they
walked up the creek and discovered the Falls.
Water-power was as eagerly sought for at
that tirae as gold, and these men erected a
raill ; hence the name Mill Creek Park.
The Mill Creek valley was a favorite place
for the Indians who tramped back and forth
on their path between Pittsburg and the north
west. It is believed that in summer they
camped on the flats just over the cliff from
Idora Park, and that they had a "winter den"
just east of that plat. Colonel Foster, who owned
this ground, afterward found stones and char
coal and other evidences which led students to
believe that there had been a pit on that spot
in which the Indians warmed theraselves by a
fire. Colonel Foster's father, Jonas, who came
to Youngstown in 1825 frora New York City,

reraerabers that Peter Lanterraan, the father
of Gerraan Lanterraan, hired Indians to work
on his farra.
Lanterman Mills and Mrs. Lanterman.
AH visitors to MiH Creek Park notice the old
raill there, but raany of thera do not know
that this was for raany years called Lanter
man Mills, the falls, Lanterman Falls, and that
Gerraan Lanterraan and his wife were among
the raost substantial and vigorous of the early
Mahoning, county people.
Mrs. Lanterraan was Sallie Ann Woods and
was a sister of Dr. D. B. and Dr. John R.
Woods, of Warren. She has spent nearly her
entire life in Youngstown township. She was
raarried to Gerraan Lanterraan in 1842. The
frame residence and the historic mill were
begun in 1844. The son of Mr. and Mrs.
Lanterraan, Dr. John Lanterraan, was weH
known in his profession. In the later years of
his life he was interested in Colorado mines
and died there in 1898. Mr. Lanterraan has
been dead sorae years, but Mrs. Lanterraan's
children and grandchildren have been with her
and near her raost of her life. The Lanterraan
mill, which was built in 1846 and operated un
til 1888, was bought by the park comraissioners
at that time. The Pioneer PavHion was
erected by James Eaton in 1821, as a woolen
factory, and used later as a store room in con
nection with the charcoal furnace built by Dan
iel Eaton.
The Mill Creek water-power was used not
only to run the grist raills, but a saw-raill was
run there, a furnace and an ax factory ; so
that the spot was at one time quite an indus
trial center.
In this wooded ravine picnics were had and
holidays celebrated for a hundred years before
it was realized that it was a park. Mr. Volney
Rogers conceived the idea of improving it,
and since that time he has devoted much of
his tirae and thought to this work. Youngs
town people appreciate his services to a greater
degree than is usual in such cases.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

60 1

A description of this park with its ten
miles of drives, its eleven bridges, its lake,
creek, hiHsides and woods, would give no idea
of its real beauty. One must see it to know
that some of its natural beauty is not excelled
by any park in the country. Up to this tirae
nearly half a million dollars has been expended
on it. Cohasset Lake.
The lake, called "Cohasset" in Indian lan
guage, signifying "a place of pines," has a
surface of twenty-eight acres. It was raade
possible by the construction of a stone dara.
Not only do pleasure seekers visit this park.

they had celebrations here about the big boul
der which lies in the valley. The tale is told that
at one time there were 3,500 Indians there, and
that raany of' them were killed by falling trees
and lightning. The bodies of these raen were
buried about where the present Hazleton fur
nace is. This park will someday be developed
into a beautiful place.
Wick Park.
Another park very near the city is Wick
Park, which was presented to the corporation
in 1889 by Hugh B. Wick, on condition that
it be used for park purposes. This was one of

but so many unusual plants grow there that
botanists study it, and the geological forma
tions are such as to have the attention of
both state and national geologists.
East End Park.
In addition to MiH Creek Park, Youngstown
has East End Park, which extends along, the
valley of Dry Run, part of it lying in Coits-
viHe. The land was purchased two years ago
for about twenty .thousand dollars. Here many
years ago, Indian tribes used to go for their
supplies of corn and salt. The corn grew weH
in this fertile river bottora. It is supposed that

the raost beautiful wooded spots in early
Youngstown; it is now well cultivated and it
will not be long until it wiH be almost in the
heart of the city. It contains forty-eight
acres.
The Wick Family.
Hugh B. Wick was born in Youngstown
in 1809. In 1828 he was a merchant in Brook
field, Trumbull county. In 1837 he reraoved
to Lowellville. In 1839 he returned to
Youngstown, where he lived the rest of his
life. He was actively engaged in the iron in
dustry and in banking.

6o2

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Henry Wick was one of Youngstown's early
merchants and probably has the largest nura
ber of descendants living of any of the pio
neers. He was born on Long Island and
raoved to Morristown, New York, where he
raarried Hannah Baldwin, the daughter of
Caleb. Mrs. Wick was a great reader. She
had a raost beautiful garden, and sorae of her
needle work is preserved by her great-grand
daughters to this day. She took her son's
wife into her faraily exactly as she did her
own daughters.
M.-\honing Valley Historic.-\l Society.
The men who carae early frora New Eng
land were instructed in the New England way
of keeping, diaries, records and books of that
kind. If these had been preserved by their
descendants, rauch information would have
been added to the history of this interesting
part of northeastern Ohio. About thirty years
after TrurabuH county was organized, people
began to realize the importance of these docu
ments and' in different localities made arrange
ment to preserve thera.
In 1840 the people about Youngstown dis
cussed the advisability of forraing a historical
society. Nothing, however, was done in re
gard to this until 1874 when the Mahoning
\^alley Historical Society was organized. John
"M. Edwards was exceedingly interested in this
question and did rauch to promote and perfect
it. For several years men and women frora
the adjoining counties gathered in Youngs
town on the tenth of Septeraber (anniversary
of Perry's victory), where the older people
gave their rerainiscences and addresses and
relics were brought and information delivered.
All this material was gathered and published
in a book, known as the "Mahoning Valley
Historical Collection." The volume does not
pretend to be anything but an unedited collec
tion of facts. It is very valuable now, and
as tirae goes on, it will grow raore so. Sev
eral counties in the Western Reserve, inspired

by the sarae desire, raade collections of val
uable inforraation. These collections in some
cases were dissipated, after the interested peo
ple died, and others were lost by fire. There
is now a historical society, of which Joseph
G. Butler, who is interested in the past and
present aff'airs of Youngstown, is president.
First Successful Iron Furnace.
Robert Montgomery was a son of the Rev
olutionary soldier, who was at one time a raem
ber of the Continental congress. He followed
his father's profession, that of surveying.
While in the western part of Pennsylvania, in
connection with his business, he went up the
Mahoning river and visited Youngstown.
About i8i6vhe purchased land at the raouth
of Dry Run where he lived all his life. His
second journey to Ohio was about 1805, when
he planned for the building of the furnace on
Yellow Creek. This furnace was on John
Struthers' land; the two entered into partner
ship and the furnace was put in place about
1807. This was the second furnace in north--
ern Ohio, but it was the first successful one ;
for, as we have seen, the Heaton furnace was.
raore or less a failure. Mr. Montgoraery was
twice raarried, his first wife living only a
short tirae. His second wife was Louisa M.
Edwards, widow of John Stark Edwards ;
great granddaughter of Jonathan Edwards and
his first cousin, once reraoved. Their chil
dren were Robert J\l. ; Caroline, who married
Moses Hazelton, and Ellen Louise, who mar
ried Samuel Hine.
Mrs. Montgomery was a woman of sterhng
worth. Much is written of her in the Trum
bull county chapter. Her son, William Ed
wards, lived out his long life in Youngstown.
ITis hospitable horae was on Mahoning ave
nue, and here he and his wife (who was Mary
Manning) and his daughter, Louisa, lived hap
pily for raany years. ;Mr. and Mrs. Edwards
both lived to a good old age.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

603

Rev. Thomas Barr, Pioneer Minister.
Rev. Thomas Barr, who was in later life
interested in the history of the Western Re
serve, and a minister of good standing in
Cleveland, came to Youngstown in the spring
of 1800. His wife was a very pious woraan
and she was glad to find that Mr. Wick had
organized a church. Mr. Barr's father in
tended hira to be educated for the ministry,
but as he was soraewhat immoderate in youth
and not inclined in this direction, his guardian
thought there was no use in trying; so he
had him learn a trade. But after a tirae he
became converted and studied for the min
istry, to the great joy of his wife. Two of
his sons were rainisters. _
Old Times in Youngstown.
Judge WiHiam Rayen's house was the finest
in the village of its tirae. It stood on the site
of the present Parraelee block. The house of
Charles Dutton stood where the Bissell block
now is.
Ashael Medbury published The Ohio Re
publican in a house on the site of the town
hall. His nearby neighbors were Stephen
Burnett, E. G. and I. F. Hollingsworth, John
and Robert Grierson, Robert Wallace and
Daniel Coats. Medbury was a farmer and
distHler besides being an editor. Burnett was
a gunsmith, hunter and fisherman. The Hol-
lingsworths and Griersons were merchants,
and AVallace and Coats were grocers. About
that tirae there were three hotels in the town.
The Mansion House, built by Daniel Morley
and kept by Lewis Murray. Lewis was the
father of Robert, the' attorney. Norraan An
drews was a late proprietor. He was a father
of Chauncey, WaHace and Norman Andrews.
The second hotel "was on the northeast cor
ner of the Public Square and Federal street.
It was kept by Captain Jaraes Richart, father
of Major Richart, of the Sixth Ohio Volun
teer Infantry and the late Captain Daniel
Richart." The other hotel was kept by Will

iara H. Ross and stood on the east side of the
Square. At one time the miller who ran the Mill
Creek raill had the raisfortune to have his
house and his wife and four children who
were in it swept away bythe breaking of the
dam. The wife's body was foUnd at the mouth
of the creek.
Joseph Barclay drew the plans for the
Spring Comraon bridge. His brothers, Rob
ert and WHliam, built the bridge.
The old Rayen warehouse was at Spring
Common, where the Pennsylvania depot now
is, and was kept by John Kirk. This building
was followed by one in which S. K. Shed at
one tirae and John Jehu at another tirae kept
a store. Charles Barclay, in speaking of General
Grierson, says : "General Benjarain Grierson,
who raade his mark in the late war of the Re
bellion, was a citizen of our village. He and
Professor Isaac White originated the town's
first brass band, which enlivened every con
vention and Fourth of July celebration. I
reraeraber the big time they had on the Fourth
of 1844. There was a grand parade and ban
quet. The ladies carried little silk banners.
Toasts were offered and the Warren guards
proclaimed liberty and independence through
the voice of their brass cannon. T. H. Mills,
Dr. Theodatus Garlick, Joseph G. Haney,
Charles Barr, John D. Wick, Hugh and Paul
were the coraraittee."
One of the places frequented by the old
Canal driver was the Empire's store. Just
west of this store the Olive Branch, owned
by General McLain, was printed. Jaraes
Healey lived in the house -west and this was
the horae of the McCurdy faraily for many
years. The handsome old house belonging to the
Boardman faraily had an underground pas
sage to the well. This was to enable the peo
ple in the house to get water in case the
Indians attacked thera.
The old homestead of Chauncey Andrews.

6o4

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

which is ¦still standing on Frederick street, is
one of the oldest houses in Youngstown. It
was built by Mr. Laughridge.
Mr. Bissell, of Connecticut, built the house
in which Dr. Manning lived so long. It was
a hotel and has lately been torn down.
Where the Valley mill now stands was
Caleb Wick's sugar camp. Rachel Wick Tay
lor, when a little girl, remembers walking
after the raan as he gathered the sap. When
she got tired he let her ride on his shoulders,
so he had two sap pails and a child to carry.
Horaer Hine was one of Youngstown's early
prosperous citizens. He had a handsorae
house, which stood on the brow of the hill
where the bridge near the Lake Shore station
now is. Judge Rayen's store was at the cor
ner of Holraes and Frederick streets. His
house was lOO feet west of that and pro
jected out into the street. When it was torn
down, the street was straightened.
Caleb Baldwin's house stood about where
McKelvey's store is now. In the raemory of
many of our readers. Dr. T. Woodbridge lived
in it. It was then an old brick house.
The Presbyterian church stood between the
Elk's club and the court house.
Schools were held at one tirae in raany par
lors of houses which were not used, and the
children had the privilege of playing in the
vacant parts of the house during recess. There
was a log schoolhouse which was where the
Tod House now stands.
The leather shop, of which William W.
Bonnell is now proprietor, is one of the old
est stores in the city. His grandfather and his
great-uncle had a shop there in the old days
of Youngstown.
Mrs. William Hitchco.ck was Nancy Peeb
les, of New Castle. Mr. Hitchcock carae from
Connecticut. John Young's granddaughter married a
navy officer and was acquainted with sorae
Youngstown people who lived in Washing
ton, Mrs. Rachel Taylor says she met her
and at that tirae she was drawing three pen

sions. Three of the men of her family had
served in different wars.
The McCoys kept a hotel on the northwest
corner of Federal and Market streets. Jairies
Reno raarried a McCoy. This was always a
popular place. In the days of the McCoys
the young people were welcome there, as they
also were in the days of the Renos.
A daughter of John Stark Edwards married
Mr. Whitney, the raan who invented the cot
ton gin, or who is supposed to have invented
it. Now they say a woraan in Massachusetts
invented it. For more than sixty years Mr.
Whitney's sons were raanufacturing this gin
at a little place in Connecticut known as Whit-
neyfield. Jared Kirtland, a brother of Turhand, Hved
in an old frarae house at the bottora of the
hill in Poland. He had no sons, but five
daughters. Judge William Rayen.
Judge Williara Rayen was identified with
the progress of Mahoning county. It was at
his house that the first public raeeting was
held and .the first township ofiicers elected in
1802. He was colonel in the war of 1812.
He was an associate judge in 1840; was presi
dent of the board of public works of the
state. He was one of the incorporators of the
Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Company;
stockholder in the Cleveland & Mahoning Rail
road Company ; president of the Mahoning
County bank. He was one of the raost in
dustrious men of this section and, besides
serving in public capacities, developed his
farm, had select cattle and sheep, and as a
farmer stood almost at the head of that occu
pation on the Reserve. He was a very large
man, strong, courteous, full of huraor, particu
lar about his dress ; by some thought to be
"proud"; carried a gold-headed cane. He was
the head of the faraily and his household was
managed on business principles. This raight
have been hard for those who lived with him,
but rauch was accomplished that way. He was

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

605

outspoken. He was not religious, but his
wife was, and he fitted up a roora for her in
a store building which could be used for re
ligious purposes, as she desired.
Judge Rayen had no children of his own,
but still, unlike raany people so situated, felt
that the education of the young was a very
important thing. He therefore made provi
sion by will for the maintenance of a high
school, which has since been operated in con
nection with the public schools and which is
well known in educational circles as the Rayen
High School. •
Charles Carr, in the Leader, says: "Judge
Rayen had a double house near Spring Cora-
m.on, where the first settlers found lodging
and shelter until they could set up cabins of
their own — Dr. Dutton, who cleared out a
piece of forest land in what is now Dutton
AHey; Caleb Baldwin, Henry Wick and Au
gustus Hine, residents. Daniel Shehy was
located in Edgewood street, then the old
road."
Dan "Eaton," Not "Heaton."
Dan Eaton was originally Daniel Heaton.
He had his name changed by the legislature.
It is said he' did this because he was unsuc
cessful in an election on account of people
speHing his narae Eaton instead of Heaton.
He carae to Poland in 1800, erected the fur
nace described in another place about 1805,
and sold his furnace, with his ore rights, for
$5,600. He moved to Niles and entered into
the iron business there with his brother, part
of the contract of the sale at Youngstown
being that the iron made in the furnace should
be dehvered to him. He and his brother made
iron stoves, etc. In 1825, with his brothers,
he built the first mill in Youngstown on Mill
creek. He was a very peculiar man, unsettled
in his religious views. In his younger days
he was a Methodist and in later years a Spir
itualist. He had pronounced views on many
matters and sent a petition to congress in
1847, requesting the passage of a banking bill.

He was a great' temperance man, and organ
ized the first teraperance society known in
this region, in 1811. In 1813 he was a senator
from TrurabuH county and in '1820, a repre
sentative. He died in Youngstown in 1857.
Ashael Medbury, First Editor.
Ashael Medbury was the editor and proprie
tor of the first paper in Youngstown. He was
born in Rhode Island in 1799, reraoved to
New Yorkj where he taught school, and was
raarried in 1827. In 1830 he came to Youngs
town, where he engaged in the iron business.
He founded the Ohio Republican, afterward
the Mahoning Sentinel, and was in the news
paper business for raany years. For fifteen
years he was a farmer in the neighborhood of
Youngstown. He was elected justice of the
peace, was postmaster of Youngstown in 1839,
and in 1843 'was elected to the legislature.
General James H. Ford.
J. H. Ford was born in PainesviHe in 1829 ;
raarried Arabella Starabaugh in 1850. He
built the Brown, BonneH & Company's works
and was an operator of coal. In 1862 he
raised a corapany and was afterward ap
pointed colonel of the Second Colorado Cav
alry, which he coraraanded during the war.
He was a brevet brigadier general, receiving
this title for meritorious service during Price's
raid. At the close of the war he came to
Youngstown with the firra of William Tod &
Co.. He died in 1867. He was the father of
Sarah, James, Tod and John Ford.
Dr. Garlick, Noted Scientist.
Dr. Theodore Garlick, one of the pioneers
of Youngstown and who lived in Bedf oid to
a great age, was the first man in the United
States, possibly in the world, to hatch fish
artificially. He also took the first daguerreo
types that were taken in the United States,
and was a surgeon and a physician of great
merit. In the arts and sciences he was a
leader of his dav.

6o6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The Grant Family.
The Grant family was identified more or
less with the history of the Western Reserye,
but largely with Portage county. Howeyer,
mention is made of them here because they
resided for a time in Mahoning county.
The grandraother of Ulysses Grant died in
Deerfield in 1805. There was quite a faraily
of children and the husband did not know
what to do with them. He went to Youngs
town and the children, Susan and Jesse, lived
with George Tod, and Margaret and RosweH
with Jaraes HiHraan. Of course it was Mrs.
Hillman and Mrs. Tod who cared for these
motherless children. In those days all people
residing in a faraily did a certain portion of
work, so that even a minor worked enough to
provide his own keeping. But the care of the
children, the sewing and the mending and
the general bringing up fell upon the women
of the household. At that tirae there was
hardly a faraily that did not have a dependent
person in it ; which added to the duties of sew
ing, washing, baking, spinning, weaving,
and nursing perforraed by woraen. People did
not live as long, raedicine and surgery were in
their infancy; and when the person who sup
ported the faraily was taken away, the woraen
and children were scattered araong relatives
and friends. The sarae was true when the
raother was taken away, as was the case of the
Grant children. Roswell Grant could not
speak too highly of the happy times he had
in the Hillman horae ; and Jesse Grant, the
father of Ulysses, spoke of Mrs. Tod with the
greatest of tenderness.
Tpie Learned Dr. J.vred P. Kirtland.
Jared Potter Kirtland, J\I. D., LL. D., was
born in Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1793, and
died in East Rockport, Ohio, in 1877. He
was a student from his earliest years. He
entered the medical coHege at Yale in 1812,
being the first student to matriculate at that
institution ; in 1814 was in the raedical depart
raent of the L^niversity of Pennsylvania; prac

ticed medicine in Wallingford in 1817, and re
moved to Durham, Connecticut, where he
practiced until 1823. He then came to Po
land. In 1837 he moved to the farra west of
Cleveland, and, although he was always a
farmer, he continued to be a student. He
made a study of natural life; collected varie
ties of fresh-water shells and studied the hab
its of the fish of the lakes and rivers. He
knew the wild plants and was farailiar with
the geological forraations of the state. He
collected, specimens of birds and studied the
habits of bees. So intelligeilt and industrious
was he, that in 1848 he had charge of the nat
ural history departraent of the survey of the
state of Ohio. Sorae of the material which he
prepared was published in Boston. He be
came a raeraber of the legislature in 1827 and
served in that capacity several terras. He was
professor of theory and practice in the raed
ical college of Ohio ; had the sarae position
offered hira at Willoughby, and afterward
held the chair named in the Western Reserve
College of Cleveland. He was president of
the Ohio State Medical Society. Nothing
was too small in the way of nature study for
hira to pay attention to, and he delighted to
receive and answer coraraunications in regard
to all such raatters. His oldest daughter raar
ried Charles Pease, who was a son of Judge
Calvin Pease and Laura Grant.
First Western Reserve Lemons.
At the time of one of the pioneer reunions,
Mr. Kirtland, in writing of John M. Edwards,
says that he finds from his father's diary that
on July 1st, "John Atkins, an old salt, returned
to Poland with mail frora Pittsburg, the then
nearest postoffice. There he obtained two
lemons frora another sailor who had turned
pack-horse man. T. Kirtland and Atkins im
mediately started with the lemons in charge
for Burton. They were probably the first
lemons used on the Western Reserve. These
leraons were used in celebration of the Fourth
of July at Burton. They were mixed in a
milk pan of punch." It is possibly well that

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

607

the pioneers of those days had a little sorae
thing stronger than lemon. Otherwise, the
drink on this Independence Day would have
been little short of spring water.
Robert W. Tayler and Family.
Hon. Robert W. Tayler carae to Youngs
town when he was six years old. He was
born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1812.
He was rather fond of study and when he
was only twenty-one years old was elected
assessor of TrurabuH county. While doing
this work he also studied law and became
prosecuting attorney. He was a commissioner
of the Mahoning County bank; in 1855 was.
state senator; 1859, state auditor; 1863, comp
troller of the United States treasury. He
died in 1878. His first wife was Louisa
Woodbridge, sister of Timothy, and to them
were born seven children. Robert Walker
Tayler, who is now judge of the United States
district court of the northern district of Ohio,
has acquired greater distinction than any of
his other children. His second wife was
Rachel Kirtland Wick, the daughter of Caleb
Wick. They had seven children. Their son
Wick has been a raember of the Ohio legis
lature.
John Stambaugh, Successful and Kind.
John Starabaugh was one of the most suc
cessful of Youngstown's business raen. He
early became interested in the coal and iron
business with the Tod faraily, and to his busi
ness manageraent is due largely the fortune
which carae to the Tod faraily and to hiraself.
He went to Europe in the interest of the iron
and coal business in 1871, as weH as at later
times. Mr. Stambaugh was a raan of peculiar
exterior, but exceedingly kind and sympa
thetic. It was he who donated the land and
assisted his sister. Belle Starabaugh Ford, in
the opening of the city hospital. He had re
markable standing for integrity and personal
honor. He died suddenly in New York City
in 1888.

John M. Edwards, Public Man.
John M. Edwards was a grandson of Pierre-
pont Edwards, who was one of the original
proprietors of the Western Reserve. He was •
a great-grandson of Jonathan Edwards, the
eminent theologian. He therefore was a
nephew of John Stark Edwards and a con
nection of Robert Montgoraery. Probably no
man in this vicinity ever had more interest
in the history of the Western Reserve than
did Mr. Edwards. He collected a vast amount
of material, pamphlets, newspapers and the
like. He was one of the chief movers in the
organization of the Mahoning Valley Histori
cal Society, giving raost of his tirae to the
editing of the raaterial which carae in at the
time of the reunions. He was a graduate of
Yale College, adraitted to the bar of Connec
ticut and to the circuit court of the United
States. He came to Youngstown in 1832, but
soon removed to Warren. He was admitted
to the supreme court in 1838, editor of the
Trumbull Democrat in 1840, and United States
district court coraraissioner in bankruptcy ;
raade a very creditable run in 1842 for con
gress against Joshua R. Giddings. Moved to
Canfield in 1846 where he lived until 1864.
He was clerk of the senate in 1864 and 1865,
and a long time justice of the peace of Youngs
town. He was editor of the Mahoning Index,
and wrote all his later life for different peri
odicals. His wife, Mary P. Crail, was an artist
of great ability. His daughter, Henrietta F.
Casper lives in Denver. His son, Henry W.,
a very successful raerchant in Philadelphia,
died before hi,s father.
James Mackey, .vn Early Surveyor.
One of the early surveyors in Youngstown
was Jaraes Mackey. He was born in 1829.
His father was a Scotchman who settled in
Pennsylvania and carae to Ohio in 1805. He
was associated with Robert Montgoraery in
the building of the Yellow Creek furnace. He
was a partner of Williara Rayen in raercantile

6o8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

business in 1816 and becarae a farmer in
1823. He kept up his surveying through his
whole life. He was township trustee, justice
of the peace, township clerk, county corarais
sioner, state legislator, county treasurer, etc.
The son, James, followed the father's pro
fession of surveying after an academic educa
tion. He helped in the construction of the
first street railroad in Youngstown. He was
president of the company for several years, and
served a long tirae as trustee of the Rayen
school.
The Truesdales and McNabs.
An influential faraily which settled early in
Poland was the Truesdale family. They carae
in 1802. In 1813 they bought a farra in Aus
tintown. Here John, the father, died in 1819
and was buried in the old Poland ceraetery.
His widow, Hannah Robinson Truesdale, died
in Ellsworth in 1849 and was buried in the
old Austintown cemetery. As Mrs. Truesdale
outlived her husband thirty years, more is
known of her than of her corapanion. , It is
recorded that she was a woman of remarkable
strength of character, sound judgement and
piety. Of course, the latter is true; for most
people of those days were pious, and all were
pious when they grew old. It seems she was
fond of books all her life, and those she read
"were ponderous voluraes printed in large type,
of a style prevailing two hundred years ago,
with bindings that would bear constant use for
ages. These books were part of the luggage
she brought with her from Ireland."
When living in Poland the Truesdales occu
pied the farm which was later owned by
James Duncan. The Austintown farm was
in the family for a long time.
One of the sons of John and Hannah Trues
dale, naraed John, was the father of Jackson,
who became a successful physician and is now
retired and lives in Youngstown.
Charles R. Truesdale's father was Alexan
der, the son of John, and he is also a resident
of Youngstown and one of the most success

ful lawyers of that city. He served creditably
in the Civil war and after his discharge edu
cated himself and became a lawyer.
Another old faraily in Poland was the- Mc
Nab. Jaraes McNab was a Scotchraan. He
and his wife, Mary Lattiraar, carae to Poland
about 1800, bought and cleared a farm, a por
tion of which is now the horae of James
McNab. Jaraes was the grandson of the orig
inal Jaraes. Several other grandsons live in
Youngstown. M. Carey McNab is a prorai
nent lawyer of that city and George is in the
raercantile business.
The Founder of Struthers.
John Struthers, for whom the town was
naraed, settled in Poland in 1799. He had
two accomplished daughters, DrusiHa and
Eraraa. The older one was engaged to be
married to a Pennsylvania youth and, in going
to the postoffice for her letters, had to row
across the streara. On one of these errands,
the two sisters in a boat were swept away
down the Mahoning and drowned.
Hon. George Mygatt.
Hon. George Mygatt was one of Mahoning
county's early settlers. He was born in Dan
bury, Connecticut, 1797, and came to Canfield
with his father in 1807. He was a clerk in
his father's .store until he was twenty and then
he went to Warren as a clerk in the Western
Reserve bank. Here he became a merchant
in Corapany with Ashael Adaras and later had
the business himself. In 1834 he had become
so prosperous that he devoted himself entirely
to finance and was connected with the bank
at Norwalk, at Painesville and at Cleveland.
In all panics he seemed to have such a calra
judgraent that his banks did not suffer loss.
He was elected representative to the legisla
ture. He raarried Eliza Freeman, of the pio
neer Freeman family of Warren, and spent
his last days with his daughter, Lucy Mygatt
Backus, of Cleveland.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

609

Elizabeth Pitney.
Elizabeth Pitney, the wife .of Caleb Bald
win, was married in 1775. Part of her raar
riage portion, pewter platters, were raolded
into bullets for use in the Revolutionary war.
She was a grandraother when she carae horse
back over the mountains to Youngstown early
in the i8oo's. When her great-great-grand
son, Henry Kirtland Wick, was christened, she
would not ride in the carriage, but walked and
carried the baby a quarter of a mile. Her
husband, Caleb Baldwin, was the first elder of
the first Presbyterian church in Youngstown.
First Presbyterian Church.
The first Presbyterian church in Youngs
town was forraed in Septeraber, 1799. Before
the church edifice was built, the services were
held in the grove where the present First
Presbyterian church now stands, and in cold
weather in Caleb Baldwin's log house. It was
at that tirae the largest in the village. The
church was raised and the roof put on, and
before cold weather the door was hung and
a window put back of the pulpit. This build
ing stood near the center of Wick avenue and
in front of the present First Presbyterian
church.
Norman Andrews and Family.
Norraan Andrews carae to Vienna when he
was five years old. He later settled in Brook
field. He was the father of Laura Ann, who
becarae Mrs. Williara G. Moore ; Chauncey
H., Lawrence G., Wallace C, Phoebe R., Sa
villa P. His first wife was Julia Huraason
and his second wife, Lucia C. Hutchins. The
latter was a relative of Judge John C. Hutch
ins, of Cleveland.
Laura Ann's husband was commonly called
Rorey O'Moore and was a very witty lawyer.
Chauncey H. was one of the raost successful
business raen of Ohio. He operated in raines,
iron and railroads, and left a large property.
His wife and two daughters survived hira.
His granddaughter, Marie Louise Logan,
granddaughter of General John A. Logan, has
just married a titled foreigner.

Governor David Tod.
David Tod was born in Youngstown in
1805. He was the son of George Tod, of
whora so rauch is written in this history. The
raother of David Tod was Sallie Isaacs, and
her sister was the wife of Governor Ingersoll,
of Connecticut. Although George Tod was
a talented raan, his wife was equally as tal
ented, and raany of the genial characteristics
which Governor Tod had were those which he
inherited from his mother. David Tod had
an ordinary school education and attended the
old academy in Geauga county. He studied
in Warren and was admitted to the bar in
1827. He was then but twenty-two and was
nearly one thousand dollars in debt for his
schooling. He commenced his practice with
Hon. Matthew Birchard.
David Tod had a musical voice and cora
raanding presence and a genial teraperaraent.
Fie was so successful that he early paid off
his debts and repurchased the old Brier HHl
farm, which had been sold. When he was
twenty-seven years old he raarried Maria
Smith, daughter of Justice Smith, of Warren.
He had seven children — Charlotte, John,
Henry, George, William, Grace, Sallie. Char
lotte was naraed for her grandraother, Char
lotte Sraith, who, by the way, was one of the
stanchest and raost businesslike woraen of the
Reserve. She raarried August V. Kautz, of
the United States array. All of Governor
Tod's children are now dead except the young
est. Miss Sallie, and Grace (Mrs. ArreH).
Governor Tod was a Democrat until i860,
when the slavery question caused hira to turn
Republican. He was postmaster at Warren
under Jackson and Van Buren ; was senator
in 1838. He practiced law until 1844, when
he moved on his Brier HiH farm and began
the development of the coal land, as we have
seen in other places. In this year he was nom
inated by the Deraocrats for governor and de
feated. In 1847 he was appointed as rainister
to Brazil by President Polk and served four
and one-half years and when he left the coun-

voi. 1—39

6io

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

try was presented with a silver service. His
two youngest children, Grace and Sallie, were
born in Brazil.
Governor Tod was first vice president of the
Charleston convention in i860, and favored
the noraination of Douglas. When the con
vention adjourned to Baltiraore after the split,
he took the chair and supported Douglas,
Caleb Gushing staying with the southerners.
His syrapathies, of course, were with the
north and he was very active in the early war
days. He presented uniforms to Corapany D,
of the Nineteenth regiraent, and was generous
in his contribution to the war fund. In 1861
he was elected governor by an enormous ma
jority, 55,000. His duties were exceedingly
onerous, but President Lincoln said of him:
"Governor Tod of Ohio aids me raore and
troubles rae less than any other governor."
How RuFus Spalding Helped David Tod.
Hon. Rufus P. Spalding said: "In the
spring of the year 1823 and just after I had
coraraenced 'housekeeping' in Warren, the
seat of justice of TrurabuH county, I visited
Hon. George Tod, presiding judge of the cora
raon pleas, at his residence on Brier HHl, in
the vicinity of Youngstown. -He lived in a
log house upon a tract df land of 160 acres,
which he had contracted to purchase of Gen
eral Siraon Perkins at three dollars an acre,
but which he was unable to pay for, as he had
a wife and six children to support, while his
salary was no raore than $1,100. But there
was no lirait to the hospitality of the family.
I spent the night at the house, as I frequently
did. In the course of the evening the judge
and his daughters sang several songs for ray
arauseraent, and at last the judge said to me
with a somewhat boastful air, 'Mr! Spalding,
all of ray children are singers ; they can sing
well. Where is David? Do sorae of you call
David.' Very soon a young raan some fifteen
or sixteen years of age, dressed in a suit of
homespun, with a broad-brimraed felt hat on
his head, entered the roora and, bowing re

spectfully to the judge, asked him what he
'wished hira to do.
" 'My son,' said he, 'I have been singing and
your sisters have been singing for Mr. Spald
ing, and I have tolci him aH my children are
singers. Now I want you to show him how
well you can sing.'
"The young raan, without raoving a rauscle
of his face, by way of evincing emotion, im
mediately struck up the old tune of Mear,
with the words,
"Old Grimes is dead.
That good old soul;
We ne'er shall see him more.
He used to -wear his long-tailed coat
All buttoned do-wn before."
"Again he bowed and left the room, when
his father said to me with much apparent
feeling, 'Mr. Spalding, there is raore in that
boy than coraes to the surface. Oh, if he
could only be developed !'
"Said I, 'Why do you not then send him to
school and thus give him a chance for devel
opraent?" "The reply was, 'I am so poor I cannot
afford to do it.'
" 'Send hira up to Warren,' I said, 'and so
long as I have anything to do, he shall share
it with rae.'
"The offer was accepted, with the stipula
tion by the judge that he should feel at liberty
to send rae occasionaHy from the products of
his farra such articles as would be useful to
ray family.
"In this manner David Tod left his father's
log cabin at Brier Hill and entered upon a
course of study that within ten years enabled
him to pay up his father's contract with Gen
eral Perkins and raade him the proprietor of
the valuable coal raines that laid buried in that
tract of land and ultiraately gave to the coun
try the patriotic War governor of Ohio in
1861 and '62."

,HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

6ri

George, Tod.
George Tod, who was one of the best of
the early lawyers, was born in Connecticut in
1773. He, his wife, two children, Charlotte
L. and Jonathan I., carae to Youngstown in
1801, he having visited it the year before.
From the very beginning he took a prominent
place in the new country. He was the first
prosecuting attorney the Western Reserve
had. He was therefore rauch interested in
the trial of the first raan indicted for murder.
He was territorial secretary under Saint
Clair; township clerk in 1802; state senator
in 1804-05. He astonished his Youngstown
friends because he did not fight for the re
moval of the county seat. He undoubtedly
realized that at that tirae Youngstown was too
much at one side to be the proper place.
In 1806 he was elected supreme judge and
was major in the war of 1812. In 1815 he
became president judge of the court of com
mon pleas, and held the office fourteen years.
He saw the beginning of the judiciary of the
Reserve and helped to make it as it was for
many years. Mention is raade of hira in raany
portions of this work.
An atterapt was raade to impeach the judges
of the supreme court at the tirae Judge Tod
was holding office. This was a most interest
ing case and the details of it will be found in
the chapter on Trumbull county. The trial
resulted in establishing the fact that the court
had the power to declare laws unconstitu
tional. George Tod married Sarah Isaacs, of New
Haven, Connecticut, and she was in every way
a helpmeet. He was so rauch away frora home
that double duty fell upon her. She was a
mother to all who carae near her, and once
when one of her babies was lying in a cradle,
an Indian, "Spotted John," happened along,
picked up cradle and all and carried it into
the woods. Of course she was nearly frantic,
but her husband advised her not "to raake any
fuss about it," since he believed the Indian

was playing a prank. This turned out to be
true. She was an ardent Methodist.
The Tod log cabin was an attractive place
when the daughters were at horae. Mrs. Tod
used to tell how rauch she enjoyed the loaf of
bread which Mrs. Caleb Baldwin sent her the
night the Tod faraily reached YoungstoWn.
It is hard for us, who can now step out and
buy bread within a few rainutes, to realize that
then a baked loaf was such a luxury.
JuHa Tod, the daughter of George Tod and
the sister of David Tod, lived at Brier Hill.
She married Jaraes H. Ford, and here her
granddaughter, Sarah Ford Garlick, was
born. Dr. Timothy Woodbridge.
One of the forceful characters and success
ful physicians of early Youngstown was Tim
othy Woodbridge. His raother was a
daughter of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. The
descendants of Jonathan Edwards seeraed to
gather in and about Youngstown. The doc
tor's father, John, was a tanner who lived in
the state of New York, went to PhHadelphia,
married there, and in 1807 came to Youngs
town from Baltiraore. He bought the tan
nery of Joseph Townsend. The grandfather
of President Grant was in his eraploy. John
Woodbridge was a colonel in the war of 1812.
He died in 1844.
Timothy studied medicine with Dr. Man
ning, went to Brazil with Governor Tod's
faraily as their physician and brought Mrs.
Tod and the chHdren home at the end of the
first year. He married Isabella McCurdy, a
sister of the late Dr. John and Robert Mc
Curdy. They had two children, Robert and
Anna. The latter is now Mrs. Charles Morse,
son of Henry R. Morse, of Poland.
Dr. Woodbridge raarried Mrs. Sarah E.
Brewer, of New London, as a second wife.
His sisters were Elizabeth, the wife of George
Tayler, a prorainent Warren banker, and
Louisa Maria, who raarried his brother, Rob-

6l2

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ert W. Tayler, and was the raother of Judge
Robert W. Tayler. Louisa Maria died early,
and Mr. Tayler married Rachel Wick, daugh
ter of Caleb. George Tayler died in middle
life, and Elizabeth, his widow, married Peter
Kline, of Churchill. Governor A. W. Jones.
Asahel W. Jones spent raost of his life in
Youngstown. He was born in TrurabuH
county and has now retired to his farm at
Burg Hill. He was one of the most success
ful law3'ers in the vaHey, and accuraulated a
fortune from his profession. He read law at
Warren and was admitted to the bar when
he reached his majority. He was prosecuting
attorney and was elected governor in 1895-
1897. He was first raarried to Annette J.
Palraer in 1861, and to Louise Brice, of Ober
lin, in 1891. His only son, Williara, died
,some tirae ago, while his daughter, Kate, is
fhe wife of Professor Robert King, of Wa
bash College, Indiana.
Mr. Jones was always interested in local
affairs. When a boy was a meraber of the
Warren fire corapany and in 1868 vice presi
dent of the first fire corapany organized in
Youngstown. Hon. George Francis Arrel, formerly
judge of the court of coramon pleas, and for
many years a prominent raeraber of the Ma
honing county bar, has been in active prac
tice at Youngstown for over thirty-five years.
Mr. Arrel was born October i, 1840, on his
father's farra in Poland township, Mahoning
county, Ohio, and is a son of David and Mar
tha (Moore) Arrel.
John Arrel, the grandfather of Judge Ar
rel, was born in Franklin county, Pennsyl
vania, of Irish parentage, and came to Ohio
in 1800. He participated in the War of 1812.
David Arrel, the eldest son of John and
Martha (Stewart) Arrel, was born in Poland
township, Mahoning county, Ohio, May 6,
1803, and his noble life was devoted to agri

cultural pursuits in that locality. In 1830 he
raarried Martha Moore, who died in June,
1872, Mr. Arrel surviving her until 1888.
They had these children : Williara, Margaret
(wife of James Pence), John and George
Francis. George Francis Arrel spent his boyhood and
early youth on his father's farm and prepared
in the local schools for Westminster College,
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, to which in
stitution his father sent him when he was
eighteen years of age. There he was gradu
ated in general literature, science and mathe
matics, in June, 1865. He then engaged in
the study of the law at Warren, Ohio, until
the fall of 1866, when he entered the law depart
ment of the Albany Uni-yersity, where he grad
uated in 1867. In August of the same year he
was admitted- to the bar and in ]\Iay following
located for practice at Youngstown. In 1870
he was elected city solicitor and served in that
office for four successive terms ; in 1880 he
was elected to the comraon pleas bench, in the
second sub-division of the ninth judicial dis
trict, on which he served until February 9,
1887. Since retiring from judicial life he has
continued his private practice, which includes
a large amount of railroad and corporation
work. Since January i, 1906, he has been
senior raember of the law firm of Arrel, Wil
son & Harrington. The firra has convenient
offices in the Dollar Bank Building, Youngs
town. On October 18, 1876, Judge Arrel was raar
ried to Grace Tod, who is a daughter of that
beloved and honored son of Ohio, the late
Governor David Tod, of whora a sketch will
be found in this work. Judge and Mrs. Ar
rel have two children, David and Frances
Maria. They have a beautiful horae situated
at No. 124 Lincoln avenue, Youngstown.
The Morse Ancestor.
John Morse, the ancestor of the Morse
faraily of Poland, was in Connecticut as early
as 1639. He was a meraber of the general

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

613

court for several sessions, and was one of the
incorporators of Wallingford. He lived to a
great age, 103 years, and there is no record of
any_ Connecticut raan or woraan living longer.
In religion he was one of the "old lights."
In Barber's "History of Wallingford" we
read : "April 25th voated that no young man
shall go in the upper gallery to sett there under
18 years old. Also that John Morse and
Eleazer Peck be desired to looke to ye boyes
on the Sabbath Day that they keep good order
evenings." It also appears that John Morse coraplained
of witchcraft, for in the WaHingford history
occurs this : 'Tf any raan or woraan be a
witch ; that is, hath or consulth with a farailiar
spirit, they shall be put to death. In a trial
for witchcraft, Daniel Craft as attorney in
behalf of our sovern lord the King, arraigned
Winifred Dunham and wife, both of Walling
ford, for having familiarity with Lapham, the
enemy of God and Mankind, and by his aid
doing raany arts, by mysteriously hurting the
bodies or goods of sundry persons, namely, of
John Morse, Joseph Roys and Ebenezer Clark
with divers others to the great daraage and
Disturbance of the Public Peace." Miss
Morse says : "There was considerable excite
ment and rauch controversy over this trial and
the jury returned the verdict, 'There has been
proved such a thing as witchcraft but not
against said parties.' "
Elkanah Morse.
Elkanah Morse, who was born in 1790 and
died in 1849, was grandson, several tiraes re
moved, of the first John. He came to Poland
township in 1814. He was a raan of great
energy and many resources. He married
Nancy Kirtland in 1818 and thus became con
nected with the pioneer faraily. Records at
his time were not kept as carefully as were his
father-in-law's, and hence it is not usually
known how vigorous and successful he was.
He watched opportunities as they came and
changed his business accordingly. At one

tirae he manufactured bone combs, and at
another had a large and prosperous broom
factory. This broora shop stood at the pies-
ent garden gate, facing the house on the Morse
place. It consisted of two houses, one back of
the other, and a long shed (nearer the chicken
house) for ,storing. One of these houses is
nov^ occupied by Mrs. Jaraes Cleland, and the
other by the Haynes barn.
The corn was stored in the lower floor and
brooras made above — probably twenty-five
dozen per day — were taken over the entire re
gion. Wheeling was an objective point, so
that at one time Mr. Morse had a factory at
Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio, and an
other in Canada, opposite Detroit. The corn
was raised near at hand. The Puritan tend
ency of the times is illustrated when we learn
that when there had been a long wet spell
delaying corn-setting, and it suddenly cleared
off on Sunday, all hands turned out and cut
corn; they were arrested for breaking the
Sabbath. Carried Furs to New Orleans.
Mr. Morse, with other men, built a boat at
the mouth of Yellow creek ; went down the
Mahoning, the Beaver and so on to New Or
leans, carrying produce for sale. At one time
they carried tinner's tools and, as they floated,
made tin-ware, which they sold en route. At
another they took a load of bear skins.
Strange, was it not, that they did not realize
that New Orleans people would not care for
furs ? Being unable to dispose of them in that
southern city, they sailed in a large boat to
New York, where the furs were sold and sent
to France. Brooms and Oysters Exchanged.
At one tirae they carried a load of brooms
to Curaberland, where men with loads of oys
ters raet them. They exchanged, brought the
oysters to Poland, where raen from Detroit
bought them to take to that city. At another
time we see that this man shipped seventy-five
hogs to Detroit. At another, one hundred
barrels of cider. He went up to the lake and

6i4

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

got barrels of white fish, exchanging them
for salt. He was always interested in the
river and lake business, and it was due to this
fact that he met with financial losses, for a
vessel loaded at, Detroit destined for Buffalo
was shipwrecked near Erie and the cargo
which it contained was lost.
In 1849 Elkanah Morse crossed the plains
to California, and upon his return was seized
with cholera on the plains and died. His first
wife was Nancy Kirtland, of WaHingford,
Conn., daughter of Turhand Kirtland. Two
of their children lived many years — Lois
Mansfield, of Buffalo, and Henry K., of Po
land. Nancy Kirtland died at her old horae in
Wallingford, where she had gone in search of
health. Mr. Morse married for his second wife
Comfort EHza WaHer.
H. K. Morse, Pioneer and Horticulturist.
Probably no man in Mahoning county was
more interested in the history of the Western
Reserve than was H. K. Morse, who died in
1909. He was the grandson of Turhand Kirt
land and the son of Elkanah Morse. He at
tended school at Ravenna, Burton, Detroit
and Alleghany College. It was from one of
these places that he and his brother Henry
were brought home to see Gardiner hung in
Warren. Most boys at school at that time
came horae, their fathers thinking they would
never have another chance to see a hanging;
and few of thera ever did.
Mr. Morse was a clerk in the Kirtland,
Mansfield store in 1840 and postraaster in
1843 and 1844. In 1852 he had a store of his
own. He was in the milling business and his
miH, after the railroads were established, was
moved to Youngstown, became the jproperty
of Isaac Powers and stood on Wick avenue at
the Erie tracks.
When Mr. Morse was a young man, he went
east to buy goods for his father's store. He
was returning with seven hundred dollars'
worth of watches in his trunk, when at Wills

creek, Maryland, a locomotive on the Mt.
Savage Mine railroad emptied its fire box,
frightening the horses attached to the coach
ahead of hira and they ran away, overturning
the stage. By almost superhuman strength,
Mr. Morse and his driver lifted the coach
onto its wheels and found that a man had
been crushed under it. Looking in his pock
ets it was found that he had money and that
his name was Vincent, frora West Virginia.
Mr. Morse and a passenger carried hira to a
nearby house and were surprised to find that
the people objected to having hira there. How
ever, they tore the clothes from the bed, laid
him down and ran after their coach. They
were surprised to find that it had gone off
without thera, and Mr. Morse ran three railes
after it. He literally wore out the soles of
his shoes. He outran his companion; finally
hired a carriage and two horses at an inn
and overtook the stage at the foot of the
mountains. No one on the stage knew that
his trunk was filled with watches and he
found them undisturbed. A few years ago
he was riding in this vicinity and was telHng
this story to a corapanion, when he looked
out of the window and said, "There is the
very place now."
One of the most pleasant days the author
of this work had in collecting material was
the one which she spent at Mr. Morse's home.
He was full of information, sorae of which
she has used in this history. He told her of
a hunting trip of two days and two nights
which he took when he was twenty-five years
old. He covered one hundred railes. His
dog. Old Ring, kept on the trail and was
at the finish when the fox was captured; but
he was ruined, for never after that could he
run raore than two or three hours at a time.
Mr. Morse said, "I started at 2 o'clock one
morning and had nothing to eat till after noon,
when I stopped for a glass of milk." The
writer interrupted with, "How foolish you
were to spend time to eat." "I admit it showed
weakness," he replied. Foxes when being

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

615

hunted would go araong flocks of sheep in
order that the dogs might not trace them, and
Mr. Morse is sure that foxes jurap frora cattle
tracks to cattle tracks in order not to be
traced. Mr. Morse rented the old Acaderay place
about 1858 at three dollars an acre, and this
was the beginning of his nursery. He was
twice raarried. His first wife was Mary Lynn
Wick, who was the widow of Henry Wick.
Of the four chHdren born to hira, Charles J.,
Edwin K. and Mary L. W. survive. He was
a cultured man, industrious and active to a
great degree, until within a few raonths of his
death. He was a graduate of Meadville Col
lege and a student all of his Hfe. He loved all
beautiful things in art and nature, was skillful
in cabinet-raaking and a fine draftsman, and
one of the raost successful horticulturists in
the county.
The Baldwins.
Caleb Baldwin carae to Youngstown in 1799
and WHliam "Wick also came before 1800.
Whether it was his father-in-law or her
preacher brother, Williara, who induced him
to continue west is not surely known; prob
ably the former. He was a successful busi
ness man- and most of his descendants, both
men and woraen, inherited this quality. His
children were Caleb Baldwin, Thoraas L., Bet
sey and Lerauel.
Caleb Baldwin raarried Rachel Kirtland and
they had three children. Two died ; one, naraed
Henry K. His second wife was Maria Adelia
Griffith, and they had two children.
Rachel K., named for the first wife, now
eighty years old, is living in Washington. She
had a large family of children, raost of whora
live near her. She married Hon. R. W. Tay
ler and her only son, Wick, now lives in
Youngstown. Hannah married Charles D. Arras and their
six daughters, Mrs. Martin Bonnell, of Cleve
land; Mrs. Harry Bonnell, of Youngstown;
Mrs. A. H. Rice, of Youngstown ; Mrs. Caro

line Arms, Youngstown; Mrs. H. M. Robin
son, Pasadena, and Mrs. Wilford Arms, -of
Youngstown, all are living. Henry K. lives
in Youngstown and has no children, whHe
Laura, Caleb, Charles and Eliza are deceased.
Caleb B. Wick, the father of this farady,
was nine years old when he reached Youngs-"
town, and he lived the rest of his life there.
He reraerabered the bits of ground burned off
by the Indians and that wild animals were
seen running about in what is now the busi
ness part of the town. In 181 5 he went into
partnership with Dr. Henry Manning.
The Arms Family.
Among the business raen of Youngstown
in the early forties were Myron I. Freeman
and Charles D. Arms. They were aH born in
Sodus. Myron I. Arms raarried Eraily War
ner, a daughter of Jonathan. He, too, was a
raerchant and had interests in other lines of
business. He died during the war, leaving a
young faraily.
Mary, who raarried Henry Wick, son of
Hugh B., has children and grandchildren.
Warner, who married Fanny Wick, daugh
ter of J. D., has chHdren and grandchildren.
Myron I., who married Elmira Hitchcock,
has children.
Eraily, who raarried Dr. George Peck, has
children. Jane, who married a Mr. Hoeffer, of Cin
cinnati, has children.
Harriet, who married Charles Booth, also
has children.
Freeman was a raerchant, but had interests
in the coal business. His first wife was Eraily
Parsons, or Sodus. Their children were Free-
raan, who only lived to be four years old, and
Caroline L., who raarried Tod Ford, son of
Jaraes and Anabell. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford
died coraparatively young, leaving two boys.
Freeman and Tod. There are three grand
children. Freeman Arms raarried in 1865,
Emily Wick, widow of John Dennick Wick.
She was Emily Lippincott before her mar-

6i6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

riage and had four children, William H.,
James L., John D. and Fannie, who married
Warner Arras, the son of Myron T.
Charles D. Arras, the youngest of the broth
ers, raarried Hannah Wick, and the list of
their children is given in the Wick faraily
sketch. They had six daughters, two grand
daughters and one grandson, Charles Arras,
son of Annie and Harry Bonnell ; and one
great-grandson. Judge James Brownlee.
Judge James Brownlee, who was born in
Scotland, was for many years an influential
citizen of Poland. He carae to America in
1827, and three years later his father bought
a tract of land where Yellow creek joined the
Mahoning river. Mr. Brownlee married Re
becca Rumin, of Pennsylvania, and built a
residence above his father's. He was greatly
interested in the events which led up to the
war and was a stanch Union raan. He held
several public offices and died in 1879. Of his
three children Flic resides in Norwalk and
Kate in Toledo. When she was in her teens
she raarried Isaac R. Sherwood and becarae
interested with him in the newspaper business.
She was a brilliant girl and has been so placed
throughout her life as to be able to develop
herself and keep up with the world. She has
written some poetry which has attracted wide
attention, and is a very clever writer of prose.
She and her husband always have been cora
panions in the world's work, as well as in the
horae. He is at present a representative in
congress and she shares his honors.
A Village School of 1810.
It would be idle to attempt a history of the
Youngstown schools in this limited space.
Like all other communities, the early schools
were supported by patrons who paid teachers
in home-raade goods and provisions. Mr.
Jared P. Kirtland in a letter says: "In June,
1810, I took charge of the district school in
tho village of Poland, consisting of sixty

scholars, which I taught until late in Septem
ber, in a log house on the public square.. I
soon learned that Joseph Noyes, a forraer
schoolmate of raine, had charge of a similar
school in Youngstown. It occupied a log
building on Main street, next adjoining Mr.
Bryson's log store, near where Caleb Wick
formerly resided. Mr. Kirtland and Mr.
Noyes consulted alternate Saturdays. Mr.
Kirtland believed that reading, writing and
spelling were taught as well then as in his
later years. The author is sure spelling was.
Mary Tod, daughter of George, attended this
school. The girls wore dresses cut after the
Shaker pattern and with stripes colored with
madder, indigo and hickory bark around the
bottom." A Subscription School.
Jabez P. Manning was school teacher for
$1.75 a raonth for each scholar and the people
furnished wood. The contract made it com
pulsory for the people to have thirty-five schol
ars. Among the subscribers to this school
were George Tod, father of Governor Tod;
John E. Woodbridge, father of Timothy;
Henry Wick, son of William and father of
Caleb and Hugh; Philip Starabaugh, grand
father of John and Henry; Henry Manning,
grandfather of Henry Garhck, and WiHiam
Rayen. Divided into School Districts, 1826.
The town was divided into school districts
in 1826. At this tirae, of the 206 heads of
families, twelve were woraen.
The R.vyen School.
The Rayen School, of Youngstown, has
been and is a reraarkable institution. Judge
William Rayen left by will money which was
used in raaintaining it. Frora this school hun
dreds of boys and girls have gone into suc
cessful business life, and hundreds into col
leges and universities and higher institutions
of learning.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

617

Present Status of Schools.
According to the school report of 1908, the
value of school property in Mahoning county
was $1,322,130. This does not represent at
all the value of. the school property at the
present tirae, as building has been going on
almost constantly ever since.
In 1908 there were 409 teachers employed
in Mahoning county. In the township dis
tricts thirty-five teachers are men, eighty-nine
women. In eleraentary and high schools, sep
arate districts, forty-four raen, 236 woraen,
five not classified.
More of the Heaton Furnace.
In 1805, possibly the following year, James
and Daniel Heaton erected a furnace on Yel
low creek,*which was soon in active operation.
In, this was smelted the first iron made west
of the AHeghanies. It seeras as if sorae power
must have guided these raen to this spot be
cause lying in the creek and along its banks
was kidney ore, and very near was limestone,
while the ground was covered with the kind
of timber which raade good charcoal. Here,
then, was all that was necessary to smelt iron.
They had no hoisting raachines, and conse
quently they built a stone stack against the
side of the hill and the raaterial was taken
to the top 'of the hill and dumped in. This
stack is StHl standing on Mill Creek hillside
arid the picture of it is here shown. The ap
paratus for producing the blast was similar
to that which produced the coluran of water
in the early furnaces. This miH was not very
successful financially, partly because the iron
was not as uniforraly good as it should have
been, partly because one side of the stack was
made of earth, that is, the hillside.
James Heaton, who was a pretty good busi
ness man, seeing that this furnace was not
paying, transferred his interest to his brother
Daniel, and built a furnace at the mouth of
Mosquito creek., in Niles. His operations in
the primitive furnaces of TrurabuH county are
given in the TrurabuH county chapter. Scat

tered about the Western Reserve as keepsakes
are rude irons and kettles, which were raade
frora the iron of this first furnace.
Third Furnace.
Robert Montgoraery, who raarried trie
widow of John Stark Edwards and whose
family has been influential in the Mahoning
county history, built the third furnace in the
county about half a mile below the Heaton
furnace on Yellow creek. None of these early
furnaces were really financially successful.
At the time of the depression of the war of
18 12 they were closed down.
First American Blast Furnace.
Of course these men did not know that
lying in the ground very near their works was
excellent bituminous coal, which could be used
in the manufacture of iron. Men who fol
lowed thera did know this, and the first blast
furnace in Araerica for the raanufacturing of
pig iron using biturainous coal was at Lowell.
The coal industry sprang up later, and at one
time the coal of the Mahoning valley was the
best soft coal that was on the market.
Other Youngstown Furnaces.
The Eagle furnace was built in 1846 by
Williara Philpott, Jonathan Warner, David
Morris and Harvey Sawyer. It was located
northwest of the city liraits of Youngstown
and southeast of Brier Hill. The coal which
was used for it was dug right there on the
property of Dr. Manning. James Wood &
Company the next year built a furnace in
the neighborhood of this and David Tod fur
nished the coal for it frora his Brier Hill mine.
He later bought this furnace and it became
famous as the Brier HiH Iron & Coal Com
pany. In 1859 fhe Grace Furnace, No. i, and
the next year the Grace Furnace, No. 2, were
built by this company, and in 1854 Crawford
& Howard built the Phoenix; ;and in 1856
Charles Howard built the Falcon. These two
mills afterwards becarae a part of the Brown-

6i8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Bonnell Corapany. In 1859 and i860, the
Himrod Furnaces, No. i and No. 2, were
built, and in 1868 No. 3 Himrod was built.
In 1867 and 1868 Hazelton, No. i and No. 2
were erected by Andrews & Brothers at
Hazelton, and they became a part of the An
drews Brothers & Company. In 1879 a fur
nace on Crab creek was operated by the Ma
honing Valley Iron Company.
First and Second Rolling Mills.
The first rolHng mill erected in Youngs
town was in 1846. It was probably the first
raill of the kind that used bituminous coal on
the Reserve. A nuraber of the early Youngs
town men were the stockholders, including
Henry Manning, WiHiara Rice, Henry Heas-
ley, Hugh B. Wick, Henry Wick, Jr., Caleb
B. Wick, Paul Wick, Jaraes Dangerfield,
Harvey Fuller, Robert W. Tayler, Isaac
Powers and James McEwen. None of these
men were practical iron raen, and although
the company was not a failure, it was not a
great success. In 1855 Joseph H. Brown,
William Bonnell, Richard Brown and Thomas
Brown purchased the raill for $25,000. This
was the beginning of the faraous Brown, Bon
neH & Company.
The second rolling mill in Mahoning county
was built in 1863. It was caHed the Enter
prising Rolling Mill. Somehow this name did
not suit the workmen and the narae of "Little
MHl" was given to it. This plant was after
wards owned and operated by Cartwright,
McCurdy & Company, and WilHam B. Hazel-
tine and William R. Parmelee were later con
nected with it.
Bituminous Coal of the County.
In the annals of the early settlers associa
tion of Cuyahoga county we read that during
the winter of 1836 and 1837 Mr. Upson, of
Talmadge, sent to the city "for a trial wagon
of biturainous , coal, a seam of which had
cropped out on a hiHside on his farm, and he
was anxious to see if he could make use of it
as a fuel. A gentleman then living where the

Weddell House now stands — it raay have been
T. M. Wedded hira.self ventured to make a
trial of the coal. The neighbors got an
idea of what was going on and they looked
in apparent dread at the house where the
black smoke curled out of the chimney, and
when the sulphurous furaes carae down to the
ground they held their nostrils and raade up-
their minds at once that such stuff would
breed a pestilence, and they would have none
of it in theirs."
As soon as the Ohio and Pennsylvania
canal was opened Governor Tod sent a boat
load of coal to Cleveland for trial in lake
steamers. To the surprise of raost people it
worked well and soon there was a ready mar
ket for it. At that time it was caHed stone
coal. Men in Mahoning county rnade huge
fortunes for those days out of this product
of the earth.
Besides limestone and the two kinds of
coal, the upper and lower strata, there are un
derlying Mahoning county conglomerate
rocks in which are found a number of salts.
These corae to the surface in the iron springs
in Howland and in the Salt Springs in
Weathersfield. The veins were seldora more
than four feet thick and the deposit was 150
feet. It was coraparatively free from sulphur
and raade few ashes and was especially good
for smelting purposes. Over a bed of black
coal about two feet in thickness lay a band
of shale iron ore ten inches thick and covering
this was another layer of coal nearly three feet
thick, which was of inferior quality. This
vein ran into Trumbull county and was the
Mineral Ridge coal which found such splen
did market. The coal in Poland which was
used in the furnaces was known as nodular.
Of course there was so much wood in the
vicinity of the early furnaces that no attention
was paid to the coal at first. Gradually they
learned how to mine it, used it for domestic
purposes and then for industrial purposes.
At one time the raen employed by the coal
companies were a little army, but now the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

619

mines are practically exhausted. The indus
trial report of 1907 says that in that year 162
workmen were eraployed in coal raining in
Mahoning county. This includes all sorts of
work, drivers, engineers, etc., and shows how
nearly finished the coal raining industry of
this county is.
In the settHng of the Western Reserve, the
Germans and the Irish played an iraportant
part. This is treated of in the first pages of
this history. But another nationality added
its strength to the social and industrial struc
ture also, and this was the Welsh. The first
Welsh settlement was raade at Brier Hill in
1847, and there had been very few there be
fore that time.
One of the early and influential Welshmen
was Evan Davis, the father of John M., who
came to Brier Hill in 1859. He lived for
sometime on Governor Tod's farm; later
bought land near, and there his family and
descendants have lived since.
Evan Morris was one of the early coai
diggers and developed into an operator. He
was interested in the Mineral Ridge, Weath
ersfield and Churchill mines and had a beauti
ful home in Girard, where he died.
WilHam Philpott, of the famous Eagle fur
nace, was a Welshman.William Richards.
WilHam Richards was also one of these suc
cessful, brainy Welshmen. He purchased a
farm near Girard in 1851, where he did black
smithing. He became manager of the Eagle
furnace in 1853 and two years later was man
ager of the Wood furnace. He was interested
in other miHs and furnaces in the valley and
accumulated a goodly fortune, had a large
family of children and during his later years
resided in Warren. The fortune which he
gathered was largely swept away in the panic
of 1873. S. A. Richards.
The oldest son, S. A. Richards, ordinarily
called Allan, is one of the most expert, prac

tical and successful iron raen of the valley. He
is possibly the oldest operator now living who
understands the old ways as well as the new.
He and his sons have just retired from the
iron business and have farras north of War
ren on the River road.
After the failure of WiHiam Richards &
Company in Warren, S. A. Richards becarae
superintendent of the Cleveland Iron Cora
pany furnace and stayed there until 1878. He
then was in the iron business in West Virginia
for a year, when he entered the eraploy of
Edgar Thompson Company at Braddock. In
1880 he was superintendent of the blast fur
nace at the Illinois Steel Corapany at Joliet.
Here he stayed five years when he went into
the coraraission business in Chicago, where he
continued for seven years. He was then, in
1892, in Duluth in charge of the Duluth fur
nace. In 1893 in connection with W. C. Run
yan, he leased the Sharon furnace; in 1896
purchased the Struthers furnace.
Mahoning County Mails.
The mail route was established in 1801 in
Mahoning county, and for fourteen years it
went through Warren to all parts of the Re
serve. Eleazer Gilson contracted to carry the raail
every two weeks for two years at a rate of
$3.50 a raHe, a distance of sorae fifty raHes or
raore frora Canfield. His son did most of the
work. It is written of young Gilson that
"whenever he appeared he was always saluted
with a hearty shake of the hand and a multi
plicity of inquiries as to who was sick, who
dead, or recently arrived; and What does the
Doctor say? and When was the baby born?
As a matter of fact, the post boy carried more
news in his head than in his raail bag."
H. K. Morse said: "The mail route was
Pittsburg, Beaver, Darlington, Poland, Can-
field, Ellsworth, Fredericburg, Palmyra.
Edenburg, Camelsport, Ravena, Hudson,
Cuyahoga Falls (or Twinsburg) and Cleve
land."

620

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Turhand Kirtland writes to Gideon Granger
in May i6, 1809, that he will agree to carry
mail from Pittsburg to Warren for two years
at $600 provided one horse only will be
necessary ; if two have to be used, he will have
to have $150 per year more, or he will carry
it for $1,400 for both years.
Young.stown's First Postmaster.
Calvin Pease was the first postmaster in
Youngstown. In 1819 the Ashtabula and
Trumbull turnpike was constructed and
coaches ran as far as Poland in 1824. Charles
Barr, afterwards a citizen of Youngstown,
raade the first bodies of the first coaches on
the Western Reserve, while Aaron Whiting,
of Conneaut was the first projector of the
stage coach line.
Pioneer Collections.
Most interesting stories of the pioneers are
told in the Collections of the Mahoning Val
ley Historical Society, and as these tales real
ly give'raore idea of real history than do facts
stated by themselves it is worth one's while
provided one is interested in history, to read
them carefully.
Killing and Grave of Captain Pipe.
Abrahara Powers, who lived in Westraore
land County, Pennsylvania. foHowed, with a
nuraber of companions, a party of Indians who
had murdered a family in the winter of 1778,
one child alone escaping. There were seventy
men in the party. They pursued the Indians
to the raouth of the Big Beaver, then up the
Mahoning and they saw an Indian vHlage on
a site of land near Youngstown. It seems
almost irapossible that this should be the very
spot of land which Abrahara Powers and his
sons later owned. They could not overtake
the Indians and usually caraped a considerable
distance behind them.
The raan in charge of this Indian village
¦was known as Captain Pipe, and he fired on
the white raen and was finally killed by them.

It turned out that he and his daughter were
the only people in the town and that she was
behind a log loading his guns while he fired.
He continued to fire after he was shot. They
carried the squaw to Salt Springs and held a
council of war, but having heard that there
were a thousand Indians collected at San
dusky, concluded that they would better go
no further. So they returned to Pittsburg and
there released the squaw. Two years later
Abraham and Isaac Powers found the bones
of this Indian in about the spot where he was
shot. They cut down raost of the trees, but
allowed one of thera which stood near his
grave to stand, and the last writer knew it
was still standing on the south bank of the
Mahoning, directly opposite the raouth of Dry
Run. This story is vouched for by Williara
Powers, the son of Isaac and grandson of
Abrahara. The County's only Execution.
Only one person has ever suffered death
penalty in Mahoning county. The victim, a
young innocent girl who was walking on the
roadway in the vicinity of her horae, was out
raged and murdered. The shocked com
munity behaved in good temper, but aH felt
the worst punishment was none too severe.
The following, furnished by Miss Anna
Morse, librarian of the Youngstown library,
is from the history of the police department
of Youngstown, Ohio: "On January 21,
1876, occurred the revolting murder of Lizzie
Grumbacker by a tramp who gave his narae as
Charles M. Sterling. The raurder occurred
on Loveland Hill, between Haselton and Po
land, and Dan Arnold, who at that tirae was
deputy to Marshal Owen Evans, was assigned
on the case. Dan captured his raan at Board-
man the next day and brought him to Youngs
town and locked him up. The preliminary
trial was held before Justice McKee in Excel
sior Hall, The unique idea of charging' ten
cents adraission was adopted and enough
raoney was collected to defray the expense of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

621

the hall to raake a purse of some forty-eight
dollars for the parents of the murdered girl.
Sterling had two trials. The first, which
was held at Canfield, then the county seat,
resulted in a disagreeraent of the jury. The
second trial was held at Youngstown and the
murderer was found guilty and executed in
the county jaH on April 21, 1877."
Fifty Cents Fine for "Profane
Swearing."
The following frora the Kirtland Manu
scripts is given here to show how much better
our ancestors kept sorae commandraents than
do we:
Complaint Against John Liddle, 1825.
The State of Ohio, Trumbull Co.
To any Constable of the County aforesaid
Greeting :
Whereas, coraplaint has been raade before
me, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for
the County Aforesaid, and upon oath of
George StHson, of Boardman township, and
Co. aforesaid, that John Liddle, of Poland, did
on the evening of the 19th day of Dec. at and
abought his house in Boardman — John Liddle
did threton of fighting and Profainity Swair
and commit a breach of the law and peace of
theStateof Ohio — Therefore in the narae of the
State of Ohio to coraraand you that you take
the said John Liddle if he be found in your
Co. or further jurisdiction and hira safely keep
so that you have his body forthwith before rae
or sorae other Justice of the Peace to answer
and to be further dealt with according to the
law. Given under my
Hand and seal in
Boardman.
2oth Dec. 1825. Asa Baldwin,
Justice of Peace,
Turhand Kirtland.
Cost, $1.67^.
Received 27th Dec. 1825 50 cents to pay
over to James Moody, Treasurer of Bordman
Township, for a fine collected of John Liddle
for profane swearing.
Received of Turhand Kirtland, Justice of
the Peace. — Asa Baldwin.

Whisky Consigned to David Hudson.
Readers will reraeraber that David Hudson
was declared by the Rev. Mr. Badger to be
araong the few real religious raen of New
Connecticut, hence this entry in the Kirtland
notes book is startling to teraperance people of
today :
"December, 16, 1808. — Esquire Purplin —
Sir : — Please deliver to the bearer sixty-six
gaHons and two-thirds of a gallon of whiskey
on sight and I will account therefor,
"David Hudson.''
Backwoods Courtship.
In the "Meraorial to the Pioneer Woraen of
the Western Reserve," Rachel Wick Tayler
says : "In 1804 two young lawyers frora
Connecticut, John Stark Edwards and Horaer
Hine, rode from V/arren to Painesville to lo
cate a state road. Just before reaching there
Mr." Edwards dismounted, took off a pair of
buckskin breeches which protected a better
pair. "Mr. Hine asked, 'What are you doing?'
"Mr. Edwards replied, 'There is a pretty
girl up here.'
"The pretty girl was Mary Skinner, who
had lately corae frora Connecticut with her
father's faraily. In the fall of 1807 Mr. Hine
won the girl and brought her to Youngstown
to live." She was highly educated and kept
up her reading even though she was in the
"back woods." She was very fond of her
garden and her horae was an ideal place. She
lived to be ninety-four years old.
First Ohio Agricultural Society.
Youngstown claims the distinction of hay
ing organized the first agricultural fair and
county society in Ohio. This was in 1818 or
1819. The first fair of this association was
held in Warren and Hon. John F. Beaver was
the president. Aniraals entered for the pre
miums were tied to the trees in the park and
produce was spread around there, while

322

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

quilts, (pin cushions wc suppose), home
made cloths, and things of that sort were hung
inside the court house awaiting their award.
In 1847. the Canfield Fair Association was or
ganized. Hon. Eben Newton was the first
president. Both of these agricultural societies
exist to the present day' and are successful in
stitutions, both financially and for the purpose
for which they were organized.
Although from the beginning Mahoning
county was engaged in manufacturing, agri
culture took a prorainent place. For a time
there seeraed to be a race between the two, but
now the industrial output is so phenoraenally

lating library prior to the passage of the
school Hbrary laws of the early forty's. This
law provided for certain nurabers of books
for each school district throughout the state.
In every coraraunity there are stHl some of
these books in existence in horaes or free li
braries. In 1870 Miss Julia A. Hitchcock and Miss
Pierson had charge of 168 voluraes of such
school books, in the school superintendent's
office. They saw what everybody now knows
that most of the books thus supplied were not
fitted at all for children. Reuben McMillan
assisted them, and they gave an entertainment.

EEUBEN McMillan FEEE public LIBEAEY, YOUNGSTO-WN.

large that the farraer seeras raore or less lost
sight of. That is the way it appears, but it is
not so. Men who have made successes in
other businesses now are beginning to study
farming for profit.
The agricultural report of 1908 says that
Mahoning county is estiraated as having
harvested 13,117 acres of wheat, 15,322 acres
of corn ; the wheat producing nineteen bushels
to the acre, and the corn 27.
Reuben McMillan Free Public Library.
Youngstown, unlike raost towns of its size
on the Reserye, raade no effort to have a circu-

The $100 which they realized they expended
for suitable books. Like entertainraents were
continued for sorae years. The board of edu
cation, furnished a roora and a librarian, and
the library was thus kept up. In 1875 a li
brary association was forraed, largely com
posed of teachers and raembers of the board
of education. In 1878 the rooms of the board
of education in the First National Bank block
became the horae of this association. Books
could be drawn at that tirae on Saturday eve
nings. In 1880 the association was incorpo
rated with Reuben McMillan, Dr. F. S. Whits-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

623

lar, Dr. J. S. Cunningham, Sarah E. Pierson
and Julia A. Hitchcock incorporators. The
association and board of education worked to
gether. The association loaned its books to
the board and the board contributed $300 a
year, paid all expenses except the librarian's
salary, and gifts and donations were turned in
on these expenses. It was not until 1890 that,
through the efforts of John H. Clark, a law
was passed providing for a tax levy for li
brary purposes. The money thus procured
was not sufficient to meet deraand and raore
was raised by subscription. The board and
the association continued to act together until
1892. The library was in the Reel & Moyer
block until 1891. In 1870 they had 164 vol
umes; in 1 89 1, 3,608; in 1898, 14,000.
Because Mr. McMillan had been so interest
ed in the library and had given so rauch tirae
and attention to it, at a social meeting of his
friends in 1897 it was suggested by Mrs. Mc-
Elevey that the library be naraed for hira.
This was enthusiastically done. Of Mr. Mc
MiHan Mr. Clark wrote : "A man who sought
neither wealth nor honor save as these were
to be found in the faithful doing of his duty.
He spent a long life for meager salary in
training the youth of the city to live the high
est intellectual life. When his name was
chosen for the Hbrary, it was because his gen
eration chose to honor and revere that type of
manhood which finds its best expression in
that high stern-featured beauty of steady de
votedness to duty."
In 1898 money was raised by subscription
to purchase the Richard Brown homestead on
Market street. The building was dedicated to
library purposes the following year. In 1908
the library was raoved to the corner of Wick
and Rayen avenues. Miss Anna Morse, the
present librarian, was influential in inducing
Mr. Carnegie to donate $50,000 toward this
new buHding, which is just about completed,
and the entire cost of which wiH be $150,000.
It is a beautiful buHding, well equipped in

every way. At present Dr. Ida Clark is presi
dent of the association.
It seems from the very beginning women, as
well as raen, have given service to this library
association. In no association in Youngstown
has the principles of equality been worked out
as it has here. Dr. Clark, in her annual report,
says: "I cannot here withold the word of
praise so justly due to our efficient librarian.
Miss Morse, who, with the aid of her staff,
is really responsible for such excellent results."
It is to be regretted that there is not room to
give the list of all who have given up time
and raoney to Youngstown's library.
Youngstown Humane Society.
For a nuraber of years Youngsto'wn had a
society for the prevention of - cruelty to ani
mals and children. John A. Ladd was the first
agent. The main society' was organized in
1895. Dr. S. R. Frazier was president; Rich
ard Morgan, agent. The Glenwoods Chil
dren's Home was the result of the work of this
society. From the beginning women have
been on the board of directors of this associa
tion. The organization at this writing is do
ing good work.
Opera House Company.
The Opera House Corapany was organized
in 1872, William Powers being president.
The Park Theater was built in 1901.
Mayors of Youngstown.
1850 John Heiner.
185 1 Robert W. Tayler.
1852 Stephen F. Burnett.
1853 WiHiara G. Moore.
1855 WiHiara Rice.
1856 Thoraas W. Sanderson.
1857 Reuben CarroH.
1862 Peter W. Keller.
1863 John Manning.
1863 Thoraas Wells. (To fiH a vacancy,)
1864 B. S. Higley.

624

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

18671872 187418761880

1884-18851886-18871888-1891I 892- I 895
I 896- I 899
1900- 1903
1903-19051 906- 1 907
1908-1911

George McKee.
John D. Raney
WilHam M. Osborn.
Matthew Logan.
William J. Lawthers.
Walter L. CarapbeH.
Sarauel A. Steel.
Randall Montgoraery.
I. B. Miller.
E. H. Moore.
Frank L. Brown.
Williara T. Gibson.
Frank L. Baldwin.
Alvin W. Graver.

State Senators.

Samuel Huntington,
Benjamin Tappan
George Tod •¦
George Tod
Calvin Cone
George Tod
George Tod
Calvin Pease
Daniel Eaton
Turhand Kirtland
Eli Baldwin
John W. Seeley
Eli Baldwin
Samuel Bryson
Henry Manning
Eli Baldwin
Thoraas D. Webb
Williara xiipley
Ephraira Brown
Leicester King
David Tod
John CroweH
Eben Newton
Sarauel Quiraby
John T. Beaver
Fisher A Blocksora
John I. Tod
Ira Norris
Robert W. Tayler
J. D. Cox

1803 1803
1804 1805
1806-9 181018111812 18131814
1815
1816-7 1818-221822-31824-51826-71828-9
1 830- 1
1832-31834-71838-91 840- 1
1842-3 1844-51846-71848-50 1852 1854
1856-8 i860

Samuel Quiraby
Eben Newton
George F. Brown
L. D. Woodworth
Lucien C. Jones
Jos. R. Johnson
Henry B. Perkins
A. D. Fassett
John M. Stull
E. A. Reed
L. C. Ohl
John J. Sullivan
Benjamin F. Wirt
Benjamin F. Wirt
Thomas Kinsraan
Thoraas Kinsraan
David Tod
David Tod

18621864
1866
1868-701872-4
1876-8
1880-21884-6 18881890
1892-4
1896-8 1900
1902 19041906
19081910

State Representatives.

Ephraira Quiraby, March i, 1803.
Ephraim Quiraby and David Abbott, De
cember 5, 1803.
Amos Spofford and Horaer Hine, 1804.
Jaraes Kingsbury and Homer Hine, 1805.
John P. Bissell and Jaraes Kingsbury, 1806.
Jaraes Montgomery and John W. Seeley,
1807. Richard J. Elliott and Robert Hughes, 1808.
Richard J. Elliott and Robert Hughes, 1809.
Aaron Collar and Thoraas G. Jones, 18 10.
Samuel Bryson and Thoraas G. Jones, 181 1.
Benjamin Ross and Samuel Bryson, 1812.
Benjarain Ross and Sarauel Bryson, 1813.
Wilson Elliott and Jaraes Hillman, 1814.
Williara W. Cotgreve and Sarauel Bryson.
1815. Homer nine and Henry Lane, 1816.
Edward Scofield and Eli Baldwin, 1817.
Edward Scofield and Henry Lane, 1818.
Henry Manning and Henry Lane, 1819.
Daniel Eaton and Elisha Whittlesey, 1820.
Thomas Howe and Elisha Whittlesey, 1821.
Jaraes Mackey and Cyrus Bosworth, 1822.
Jaraes Mackey and Cyrus Bosworth, 1823.
Homer Hine and Ephraira Brown, 1824.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

625

Eli Baldwin and Ephraira Brown, 1825.
Henry Lane and Roswell Stone, 1826.
Titus Brockway and WiHiam Ripley, 1827.
Titus Brockway and William Ripley, 1828.
Jared P. Kirtland and George Swift, 1829.
Benjarain Allen and Richard Iddings, 1830.
Calvin Pease and J. P. Kirtland, 1831.
Benjamin AHen and Jedediah Fitch, 1832.
W. Johnson and T. Robinson, 1833.
J. P. Kirtland and W. A. Otis, 1834.
F. R. DeWolf and EH Baldwin, 1835.
Seth Hayes and Tracy Bronson, 1836.
J. C. Woodruff and Tracy Bronson, 1837.
Thoraas Howe and Tracy Bronson, 1838.
Thoraas Howe and Isaac Powers, 1839.
Peter Allen and Josiah Robbins, 1840.
John Briggs, 1841.
Jacob H. Baldwin and Nathan Webb, 1843.
Henry Manning and Ashael Medbury, 1843.
Buell Barnes, 1844.
Buell Barnes and Henry Boyd, 1845.
Joseph Truesdale, 1846.
Joseph Truesdale and John Harrington,
1847. James Moore, 1848.
David Flouston, 1849.
George Pow, 1850.
Joseph Montgomery, 1852.
Jacob Musser, 1854.
Joseph Truesdale, 1856.
S. H. Gilson, 1858.
Jesse Baldwin, i860.
Robert M. Montgomery, 1862.
Reuben Carroll, 1864.
Joseph Bruff, 1866.
George W. Brooke, 1868-70.
C. F. Kirtland, 1872.
Sheldon Newton, 1874.
Joseph Barclay, 1876.
Robert Mackey, 1878.
Thomas H. Wilson, 1880.
William B. PoHock, 1882.
Alexander Dickson, 1884-6.
Lemuel C. Ohl, 1888.
Lemuel C. Ohl and John R. Davis, 1890.
John R. Davis, 1892.

RandaH Montgoraery, 1894.
Randall Montgoraery and W. R. Stewart,
1896. W. R. Stewart and Wick Tayler, 1898.
Hugh A. Manchester, 1900.
Williara F. Maag and W. J. WiHiams, 1902.
R. C. Huey, 1904.
W. J. WiHiaras, 1906.
RandaH H. Anderson, 1908.
Population of County and County Seat.
The population of Mahoning county in 1840
was 21,712; 1850, 23,735; i860, 25,894; 1870,
31,001 ; 1880, 42,871 ; 1890, 55,979, and 1900,
70,134- In 1900 Sebring had a population of 387,
Thorn of 374, Poland of 375, Lowellville of
1,137, Canfield of 672, and Youngstown of
44,885. In 1846 Youngstown had 1,200 inhabitants;
i860, 2,759; 1870, 8,075; 1880, 15,43s; 1890,
33,220. Youngstown Railroads.
The Cleveland and Mahoning railroad was
chiefly financed by Warren people, although
David Tod, of Youngstown, was one of the
directors. In 1856 cars ran through to Youngs
town. The A. Y. & P. railroad, begun in
1870, was sold to the new company in 1878.
The Ashtabula and Pittsburg is operated by
the Pennsylvania Company under a lease of
99 years. In 1880 the New York, Pennsylva
nia and Ohio Company raade a lease for 82
years of the old Atlantic and Great Western,
which had previously leased the Cleveland and
Mahoning. The charter for the Atlantic and
Great Western was raade in 1851 and pro
vided for a road from Franklin to the Penn
sylvania line. It was to be 246 miles long.
The Painesville and Youngstown raHroad
was organized in 1870, and cars were running
three years later from Painesville to Chardon.
The road was completed to Niles in 1874.
The Atlantic and Great Western was built as

Vol. I — 40

626

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

a broad gauge and the Painesville and Youngs
town as a narrow gauge. Both of these
gauges were finally changed to standard, for
obvious rea.sons. The Painesville and Youngs
town is now a part of the Baltiraore and Ohio
system. With the leasing of the New York,
Pennsylvania and Ohio the trains on the raain
branch which forraeriy had not touched
Youngstown (in the early days Youngstown
people going to New York had to come to
Warren or Leavittsburg to raake connection)
ran through Youngstown, so that now the
road between Leavittsburg and Shenango, al-

MiLTON Township.
The townships in the northwest part of Ma
honing were so long attached to TrumbuH
that they really seera more a part of it than
they do of Mahoning. Milton is the extreme
township, and although the first settlement
was made about 1803, and for sorae years
after Price's Mill was a flourishing haralet, it
has grown little. The reason for it having
been a wide-awake place in the beginning was
the water power. At an early date several re
spectable Indians lived in Milton and were on
most friendly terms with the white people.

WEST FEDEEAL STEEET, FEOM PUBLIC SQUAEE, YOUNGSTO'WN.

though the branch line, is practically the raain
line. The Pittsburg and Lake Erie road, running
frora Youngstown to Pittsburg, connects with
the Erie and makes the third road running
from Cleveland to Pittsburg which touches
Youngstown. Many trains frora the raain line
of the Pennsylvania road now run, via Alli
ance and Youngstown, to Pittsburg, while the
Lake Shore has a branch frora Ashtabula to
Pittsburg ; so that at present Youngstown has
as fine railroad facilities as any city of its size
in the state.

Although in many parts of the Reserve women
early fought the drinking of whisky, Mrs.
Vanetten ran a distillery in Milton, while her
husband was in the War of 1812, and it is said
she could raake a larger araount of whisky
frora a certain amount of grain thkn could
her husband ; and that it was good whisky, too.
Berlin Township.
The township of Berhn is said to be the most
picturesque in the county. It was very late
in being settled and little is known of its early
history, Garett Packard w^s the first white

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

627

settler. Having lived in the vicinity, in two
or three townships, he finally decided on Ber
lin as his home. He was an invalid, had raany
chHdren and for several years after he took
up his residence his faraily was the only one
residing in that township.
A reraarkable thing occurred at Berlin in
the slavery days. Mr. Robinson, a Presby
terian minister, visited Jesse Garretson, a
Quaker merchant, and spoke on slavery in Mr.
Garretson's house. He was frora Salera and
found little syrapathy in the coraraunity. He
expected to preach and to establish the argu
ment that the Bible did not endorse slavery,
but the townspeople decided that he should
not be allowed to do so. After a hard strug
gle, he was captured, stripped and tarred and
feathered. His clothes were then put on hira
and he was driven to a point near Canfield,
where he was left in the road, but found his
way to Mr. Wetraore's house. Of course, this
instance helped to strengthen the slavery cause
and to add to the reputation of Mr. Robinson.
Ellsworth Township.
The first faraily to settle in Ellsworth was
James Reed's. He, however, lived but a little
time in the township. He raoved to Canfield.
Captain Joseph Coit, however, was long
identified with the township and is really
thought of as the first settler. He was un
married, but in his log cabin he entertained
newcomers and travelers very comfortably.
This cabin was erected in 1804. His first trip
was raade to the Reserve in 1803, in corapany
with Moses Cleaveland, and he was eraployed
by General Perkins as a land clerk in his
office. He served as tax collector for Trum
buH county, county surveyor, county comrais
sioner and the later part of his life was cora
missioner for Mahoning county. He raarried
Elizabeth Mygatt, daughter of Lucy Mygatt.
No. 2, range i, was named for Daniel Coit,
who purchased the township from the Con
necticut Land Company in 1798. He was.
never a resident of the township. General
Simon Perkins was his agent.

Amos Loveland was the first perraanent set
tler. He was a raeraber of the surveying party
of the spring of 1798 and brought his family
to the township in the spring of 1799, having
left Chelsea in December the year before. His
wife was Jerairaa Dickerson and she lived to
be ninety-three years old.
John P. Bissell, another one of the survey
ors, carae to the township in 1800. He, with
his faraily of three sons and six daughters,
early raoved to Youngstown. It is supposed
the wife accorapanied them, but of this the
records "sayeth not." His daughter, Mary
Kyle, resided upon her father's farm during
her lifetime. She lived to be eighty-three.
The first death in Coitsville was that of the
son of John Bissell.
Rev. WHliam Wick, the first rainister of the
Western Reserve, purchased a farm in Coits
ville near the state line, and lived there until
his death in 1875. He was a native of Long
Island and carae west in 1800. Mr. Wick
was the father of eight sons and five daugh
ters, and lived to preach 1,522 serraons and to
raarry fifty-six couples, in a country which
was comparatively a wilderness. He died in
1815 at the age of forty-seven. "The richest
legacy which he left behind him was a nuraer
ous progeny of Wicks, which still continue to
burn with a light that cheers not only the
happy valley, but through other regions of
our common country."
Jackson Township.
No. 4, range 2, of the Western Reserve was
named for the seventh president of the United
States. The village of this township was
known as North Jackson. None of the first
settlers were from Connecticut. They were
Scotch or Scotch-Irish and carae frora Penn
sylvania. Sarauel Calhoun, who located in
1803, passed his entire life there. And raost
of his children did likewise. Andrew Gault
and William Orr came about the sarae year,
and they were followed by Sarauel Riddle.
These four, with Jaraes Staraford and Joseph
^Iclnrue, were the taxpayers of 1803. The

628

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

sum of their taxes was $3.07. Of course, all
of these raen had families and the wives and
daughters shared the privations.
The first birth was that of the son of An
drew Gault. The first raarriage was jMargaret
Orr to John Ewing. The first death was Mar}-
Orr. The early church of this township was that
of the Covenanters. It was organized in 1818.
The oldest burial place in the township be
longed to this denomination.

Austintown had the advantage of sorae oth
er rural portions of the county in that the
Niles and New Lisbon railroad was built in
1869, After coal was used up, the people
were occupied in agricultural pursuits, and
now the eastern part of it has raany suraraer
horaes belonging to Youngstown.
Boardman Township.
Boardman was settled b)- a raember of the
Connecticut Land Company, Elisha Boardman.

THE MYGATT HOMESTEAD, CANFIELD.

Austintown (No. 2, Range 3).
There are stories told to the effect that in
the early days Indians had lead raines in this
vicinity. And on the old Fitch farm the early
settlers found an Indian burying ground. Part
of Mineral Ridge is in this township and coal
was mined here until it was exhausted.
In 1803 there were twenty-six taxpayers in
the township, but unfortunately little or noth
ing has been preserved of the early history.
People of the vicinity were religiously inclined
and the Covenanters, Presbyterians and Bap
tists were early organized. Adamson Bentley,
of Warren, and Walter Scott, of Pittsburg,
organized a flourishing Disciples church in
1828, at the tirae of the revival.

He carae in 1798, brought a number of men
with him, together with two yoke of oxen and
some implements. The township was early
settled and as a rule the citizens were pros
perous. They were not all Connecticut peo
ple, but, like other townships, had a sprinkling
of Pennsylvania. St. James* Episcopal church
was organized in 1809 and is believed to be
the oldest Episcopal church in Ohio. Services
have not always been regularly kept up. It
was attended by many residents of Poland
and nearby townships.
Canfield Township.
The township of Canfield was owned by a
nuraber of raen who, in .1798, sent Nathaniel

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

629

Church to allot the property and comraence
improvements. It was early settled by estima
ble people. It was first called Campfield by
the surveyors because they camped there, but
later this was changed to Canfield, in honor of
Judson Canfield. Much has been written
about Canfield in different parts of this work.
A biography of Elisha Whittlesey, the raost
distinguished citizen of this village, appears
in the TrurabuH county chapter. It was writ
ten by his great-granddaughter, Virginia Reid.
In the story of the county seat reraoval, bits
of its history are, of course, given.
Corafort Mygatt carae to Canfield in 1807.
He had four daughters, two sons and two
step-sons. Henry Stiles, one of Warren's
early merchants, was one of these step-sons.
Mr. Mygatt had a store in Canfield, the firra
being known as Mygatt, Canfield & Fitch.
This was the second perraanent store on the
Reserve. In 1846 a printing office was established in
Canfield, and as soon as the county seat was
really located the Mahoning Index, a Demo
cratic paper, was issued. Among the editors
of this sheet was John M. Edwards, who aft
erward moved to Youngstown. The plant
was entirely destroyed by fire. In 1852 the
Mahoning Sentinel was established. This was
likewise a Deraocratic paper. This was con
tinued until i860, when the owner, at that
time John M. Webb, moved it to Youngstown.
After it had gone Mr. Whittlesey, realizing
that Canfield ought to have a paper, assisted
in starting The Herald. John Weeks was the
editor and it was Republican in politics. The
changes as to proprietors and editors were
made often until 1865, when. Mr. Fitch
changed the name to The Canfield Herald.
In 1870 it was enlarged; in 1872 sold to Mc
Donald & Son and became The Mahoning
County News. Later, it was called the News-
Democrat, and in 1875 Rev. W. S. Peterson
bought it, but soon reraoved from Canfield to
Warren. In 1877 the Mahoning Dispatch, in
dependent in politics, was established by H.

M. Fowler, father of C. C. Fowler, the pres
ent publisher. Araong the raen of later years
who have distinguished themselves are Judge
Francis G. Servis and J. M. Nash.
At one time Canfield was a center for law
students. Some of the most famous lawyers
of this vicinity studied with Elisha Whittlesey.
The second permanent mercantile establish
ment of the Reserve was located at Canfield
in 1804. Zalraon Fitch and Herraan Canfield
were the proprietors.
In the early slavery days Rev. M. R. Rob
inson went to Canfield to lecture on slavery
and was rotten-egged. His son protected him
soraewhat by holding an urabrella over hiih. .
Mrs. Orpha Truesdale and Mrs. Rachel Tur
ner, one on each side of hira, escorted him
down the aisle to protect him from the men
who were ready to tar and feather him.
Among the early settlers of Canfield were
Phineas Reed, Joshua Hollister, Nathan
Moore, Jaraes Doud, Mr. and Mrs. Eleazer
Gilson. James Truesdale, who settled in Canfield in
1830, was a tool raaker and made the first pair
of shears for shearing iron ever used in the
Mahoning valley.
The first church in Canfield was built in
1820. It was Congregationalist.
The first death was the youngest child of
Champion Miner, who came in 1798.
First mail agent was Mr. Gilson.
Poland Township.
Township i, range i, first called Fowler's,
was finally named Poland, because some of
the settlers syrapathized with the Polish people
of the old world. In the beginning this was
one of the raost important townships in the
county. It did more business than Youngs
town and the characteristics of its inhabitants
and its physical features make it attractive still.
Much of the history of this township is given
in the biographies found in this chapter and
in the notes and journals of Turhand Kirtland
and the Morse faraily. Johnathan Fowler,

630

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

who married Miss Kirtland, was the first set
tler. He early kept a tavern.
In 1830 the Siamese Twins were at this
hotel. It was then kept by Bidwell. Mrs.
Bostwick Fitch was Bidwell's daughter. She
and her sister waited on the table. Mrs. Bid-
well superintended the cooking. The Twins
liked Poland .so well they stayed a week. John
Hunter, in having a discussion with them,
called them frauds. One of the twins knocked
hira down. He was arrested, stood trial and
was fined $5. This trial created a good deal

began teaching the higher branches in 1830.
Five years later a pupil of his, John Lynch,
opened an acaderay in a building which he
erected for the purpose. This was not a finan
cial success and at the end of ten years was
discontinued. In 1849 Bernard Ford Lee, a
student of Allegheny College, opened a school,
and about the sarae tirae another one was
opened beyond the creek. Mr. Lee employed
good teachers, three of whom were women,
and the Poland Union Seminary was properly
bearun. A little later in annual conference the

S'W ALLOW HOUSE (OLD HOTEL), POLAND.

of attention because both men had to be ar
rested and both tried.
In 1804 WHliam Law gave the inhabitants
of Poland land for public square and burying
.ground. This township took on quite a New Eng
land air from the beginning. A library was
established in 1805 by Judge Kirtland and
existed until 1844.
Poland Union Seminary.
In many localities on the Western Reserve
were creditable institutions of learning, known
as acaderaies or seminaries. The one at Po
land early took high rank. Rev. Mr. Bradley

jNIethodists endowed the school and the local
Methodist church erected a new building.
Although the intention of the Erie Meth
odist conference was good, it was not able to
secure all of the money it had promised and
this had to be made up by citizens and by
tuitions. In- 1862, through the liberahty of
friends of all denominations, the Poland Union
Serainary was chartered. Through the secur
ing of $10,000 this school came under the con
trol of the Presbyterians, although it was
really not sectarian. Ida M. TarbeH was once
a teacher here, and here William McKinley
got the raost of his education.
The foHowing history of the congregation

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

631

of Poland frora its organization to the present
time is compiled frora the records of Presby
terians of Erie and Hartford, now Beaver,
and frora the presbytery of New Lisbon, to
gether with a brief rainute that had been kept
of its organization in the congregation itself.
The congregation was organized on May 3,
1802, by the Rev. Williara 'Wick, pastor of the
congregation of Youngstown and Hopewell,
and a raember of the presbytery of Erie. The
following named persons were present at the
organization : William McCombs, Isiah Walk
er, WHliam Carapbell, Thomas Love, John
Gordon, WHliam Buck, Tho Gordon, Jaraes
Adair, Jesse Rose, John Jordan, William Dun
lap, John Hineman, John Truesdale, Robert
Smith, John Arrel, John Blackburn, John Mc
Combs, and others not now reraerabered.
On the 23rd of October, 1804, Nicholas Pet-
tinger was installed pastor over the congrega
tion of Poland and Westfield. On the 20th
of March, 1810, Mr. Pettinger obtained leave
of presbytery to resign the pastoral charge of
the congregation of Poland, and on the 25th
of October of that year Rev. Alexander Cook
was appointed to supply the pulpit one-third
of his time, until the next raeeting of presby
tery. He continued to supply the congrega
tion until April, 1812. On the 26th of June,
1815, Jaraes Wright, a licentiate of the Ohio
presbytery, was ordained and installed as pas
tor of the congregations of Poland and West-
field. On the loth of January, 1832, he ac
cepted a call for his entire time from West-
field. On the nth of January, 1834, John
Scott accepted a call for two-thirds of his tirae
from congregation of Poland, and on the i6th
of the same month was ordained and installed
pastor of the congregation of Poland and
Liberty. On the 13th of April, 1836, Mr.
Scott was dismissed from Poland and Liberty.
1837 — Mr. WiHiam McCombs supphed the
congregation of Poland during most of year.
1839 — June 25, 1839, the presbytery of New
Lisbon met and ordained and installed Edwin
Nerin pastor over the congregation of Poland.

1841 — April 20, 1841, Mr. Nerin was dis
raissed frora congregation of Poland.
1 84 1 -3 — The Rev. Jacob Avon supplied con
gregation of Poland most of time from 1841
to 1843.
1843 — September, 1843, the congregation
of Poland and Liberty caHed Rev. Joseph
Kerr, of the SteubenvHle presbytery.
1843 — November 21, 1843, ^r. Kerr in
stalled pastor over congregation of Poland
and Liberty.
1854 — April 26, 1854, Mr. Kerr disraissed
frora Poland.
1854 — November 19, 1854, Rev. Algernon
Leydney (Sydney) McMaster installed in Po
land.
Notes from Hannah Smith (82 Years).
The following heretofore unpublished notes
relate to Poland people and are therefore given
here :
"Samuel Smith's father came here (Po
land) in 1802 frora Franklin county, Pennsyl
vania; bought his land frora Turhand Kirt
land and paid three doHars per acre. His
raother told him the old Indian trail was
through the present luraber yard and a gun-
flint had been found there. (Another Indian
trail was through Francis Henry's land.) The
nearest settleraent was at Edinburg; canoe to
Gellon creek, to hunting ground. All the land
in this township was sold by 1804 and this
was the first township to be well settled (ow
ing probably to grist and saw raills being very
early established here).
"The first log church was built in 1804
(about) ; the first frarae in 1826. S. S.mith's
father had the contract for building 'and board
ing the carpenters. Mr. S. and sister were at
the time attending school at the district school
on the green, kept by Emily Hickox. He re
ceived three whippings in succession one day,
cause never known, and was about to receive
a fourth when Mary Kirtland (Pease), who
had in the raeantime had a "fall-out" with
Polly Hall (Wade), said he was not the guilty

632

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

one; sp Polly took the last whipping in my
place. "The frarae church was out in thfe center of
the green. The bell was bought by the con
gregation as a whole, by subscription. Tur
hand K. gave the green for the church or
school. The first white woraan in this town
ship was Mrs. Riley. First white male, Ebe
nezer Struthers ; born in Struther's HiH at the
old Brownlee place. About three houses in
Poland when his father arrived in 1802. Many
wild aniraals, deer, bear, etc. His uncle, Rob
ert Sraith, went to New Orleans on flatboat;
walked home from Cincinnati ; was arrested
in Warren county as a supposed murderer, but
as no scar could be found on his forehead was
released." "Early in the raonth of February, 1803, I
started on horseback frora Watertown, Litch
field county, Connecticut, for Ohio. I carae
by way of New York, New Jersey, Easton,
Harrisburg, Beaver and Poland to Vienna.
In those days it was custornary to get up by
early Hght in the morning and ride a few mHes
before breakfast. No stirring traveler thought
of taking breakfast at the same house where
he lodged.
"At Pittsburg I stopped at the Black Bear,
then the only tavern in the place.
"The next day I crossed the Monongahela
and came to Beaver ; then I had great difficulty
in getting across the Ohio on account of the
ice. The ferryman kept rae waiting a long
time, so that I had to stay all night on the
bank of the river at a house with one roora
and no bed but the floor and ray own blanket.
"The next day I came to Poland and put up
at a tavern kept by Jonathan Fowler. He
wanted to hire me for a year, but I went to
Vienna first.
"From Vienna I returned to Poland and
hired out to Fowler for eleven dollars per
month for eleven months, as farm laborer,
bar-tender and clerk. He carried on the only
general store then on the Reserve, and had in
addition a large farm. During the time I was

with him I raade one trip to Burton, Paines
ville, Cleveland, Northfield, Hudson and
Franklin, around to Poland again. At Hud
son, Esquire Hudson had part located a lot
of land, but had not yet settled.
"At Cleveland, there were, I think, but three
or four houses. There were no bridges on the
entire trip except the natural one at Franklin,
and generally no path but Indian trails, and
not a house in the entire country traveled,
save in sorae of the towns above raentioned.
Poland was at that time the largest settlement
on the Reserve, there being about forty fami
lies. Three of these were Yankees, the rest
Scotch-Irish frora Pennsylvania.
"These latter were a pretty rough, hard lot,
so far as custoras and raanners were con
cerned. A common amusement among them
was to get together to shoot at a raark for
whisky, and always wound up with a free
fight in which all or nearly all engaged. "When
they had exhausted these wild sports, they
raounted their horses and rode up to the tav
ern door for their 'stirrup cup,' which they
always drank on horseback — an old country
custom, I ara told.
.' "They were generally a powerful, muscular
set of raen, and, but for their wild habits,
good-enough citizens, though uneducated and
uncultivated. "Our three Yankee farailies had some edu
cation and in time gave a character to the set
tleraent that it held for a long time.
"At this time Fowler had the reputation of
keeping the best house on the Reserve, and
consequently had all of the best traveling com
pany at that tirae in the country. Among the
regular guests at his tavern were Judge Calviii
Austin, Jud,ge Pease, I. S. Edwards, Judge
George Tod, Esquire Bissell, Cane Cleveland.
Dr. Charles Dalton, Asahel Adaras, WilHam
Lan, General Andrew Hull, Turhand Kirtland
and WilHam Stark (a grandson of General
Stark, of Bennington battle fame) .
"Most of these gentlemen were land agents
and owners of large tracts of land. They were

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

^?,Z

all of them men of energy and intelligence and
have left their mark in the new world they
helped to create in the wilderness. Their cus
tora was to be out in the woods for weeks,
surveying and selling land and to meet by
previous appointment at Fowler's. They
played cards, got up dances, drank sorae whis
ky and generally had a good time. None of
them ever got drunk to my knowledge. Some
of their amusements in these later tiraes would
be called pretty rough ; but then the backwoods
Hfe deraanded rougher sports than our raore
refined life would tolerate.
"Nothing low or raean was ever practiced,
nor would it have been allowed among the
party, for a fairer, more honorable set of men
I never met." Women's Rewards.
The following shows what wages were paid
women in the early days of the last century

and how it was "becoming" for all relics to
prefix the title widow:
1812. Widow Burgis Aect. of Mrs. (Tur
hand) Kirtland's Spinning.
Stocking yarn, 22 cts., 6j4 per cut $ .37/4
Spinning sew thread -37^
To spin Cotton and Wool, 20 cts. at
I2j4 per cut 2.50
To cheese cloth, 2^4 yds. at half
quarter, 40 cts. yd. i.io
To weaving 40^^ yds. of a nine hun
dred at 15 cts. yd. 6.72
To stocking spinning silk or cotton fine,
3 dozen out of the pound and
doubled and twisted it 3.00

$14.4214

CHAPTER XXX.

PORTAGE COUNTY.

Possibly no county on the Western Reserve
has a raore creditable, a more stable, a raore
interesting history than has Portage. It was
organized in 1807, but reraained attached to
Trumbull until the next year. The townships
in the county then were Franklin, Deerfield,
Aurora, Hiram, Springfield and Hudson. The
township of Franklin was owned by Mr. Olm
sted, and Hke the owners of all the townships
he was desirous of having the county seat lo
cated there. He proraised to donate land for
the erection of a court house if the corarais
sioners would decide for Franklin, and he
urged General John Campbell, an influential
man, to talk it over with the comraissioners.
He went back to Connecticut, died there and
left no provision in his will for the county
buildings and consequently Ravenna was
raade the county seat, as it was the geograph
ical center. In 1840, when Surarait county was
founded, the two western tiers of townships
were put into that county.
Name and Natural Features.
Portage county was naraed from the path
which lay between the Cuyahoga and the Tus
carawas, No one knows how long this path
had been traversed before the first settlers
of Portage county arrived. Indians had used
it, of course, as had traders between Pittsburg
and Cleveland who raade use of water routes.
The southern part of the county is lower
and the soil heavier than the northern part.
The northern part is rolling, somewhat sandy,
and in the northeastern corner, pudding-stone

rock is near the surface and at Nelson Ledges
is raany feet out of the ground.
Highlanders of the County.
The northern part of the county was in the
beginning settled by New Englanders. These
families intended settling at Cleveland, having
heard raore of Moses Cleaveland than of any
of the other landowners, but when they felt
the sharp lake winds, saw the yellow drifting
sand, they retraced their steps and rolled up
their logs for their horaes on the highlands
of Hirara, Nelson, Mantua, etc. 3ilanv of these
families were from the Berkshire districts
of Massachusetts and they loved the hills and
the grass and the trees. They had not been
brought up to look at blue water, and white
caps, nor to hear the dashing of waves. For
fully seventy-five years, this pure strain of
New England blood lived in this tier of town
ships.
Pennsylvania Dutch and Germans.
The people of the southern portion of the
county were at first from New England, but
the second comers were largely Pennsylvania
people with a goodly sprinkling of Germans.
Part of the latter were real Germans, but raost
of thera Pennsylvania Dutch. There was a
small per cent of Irish and Scotch, but the
start was really made with New Englanders
and Pennsylvanians.
The Germans were good- citizens; indus
trious, frugal, law-abiding. They cultivated
their land, and sold vegetables, fruits and

634

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

635

crops as soon as there was any market for
them. As late as 1865 the author remembers
seeing in Ravenna, Gerraan women from the
lower townships, carrying baskets of huckle
berries on their heads as they went from door
to door seHing them. The daughters of some
of these families went out to service and raade
most excellent cooks and housekeepers. Their
descendants are found among the best busi
ness men of the county.
The Scotch-Irish.
Today money is the great power, but in
the first days of Portage county education
was power. Throughout the Western Re
serve the men, who in the beginning becarae
the leaders in professions, in politics, in relig
ion, in business, were the educated men, raany
of whom had their degrees frora Yale and
Harvard. The New Englander, as stated
elsewhere, was a serious, soleran citizen,
wholly undemonstrative, but upright in char
acter. His Scotch-Irish companion was like
wise undemonstrative, but was witty and
brought to social gatherings his wit and
humor. Contrary to the general belief, it was
the Scotch-Irish and not the New Englander
who established the churches of Portage
county. It is not at all Hkely that any of the French
soldiers or explorers, who traveled the lake-
shore before the coraing of the settlers, were
ever in Portage county. It was too far south.
Trappers and traders were here temporarily
on their way from Pittsburg to Detroit. In
dians, of course, roamed the whole county
and settlements were still in existence in vari
ous parts, particularly along the old Indian
path, when the first settlers arrived. These
Indians were friendly with the women and
faraihes, but preceding the War of 1812 and
soon thereafter they disappeared.
Abram S. Hone'y First Settler.
The first settlement in Portage county was
made in 1798, at Mantua, by Abrara S. Honey.
It was raidway between Cleveland and Youngs

town. He erected a log cabin, cleared a spot
of ground, and put in a sraall crop of wheat,
which was next year harvested by his brother-
in-law, Rufus Edwards. His first neighbor
was William Crooks, who made a clearing and
built a cabin not far from hirn. Mr. Crooks
lived in Mantua until 1854. He was eighty-
five when he died.
Benjamin Tappan, Jr.
The raost distinguished of the first settlers
was Benjarain Tappan, Junior, who in the
suraraer of 1799 started with an employee,
named Bisby, to settle in township 3, range 8,
which belonged to his father, Benjamin Tap-
pan, Senior. As we read of these pioneers we
wonder, in the first place, why those of them,
like young Tappan, who was well educated and
well surrounded should leave horae when he
knew, in a measure, what hardships awaited
him. Of course, with men who had farailies
and no raoney, the low price of land and the
stories of its fertility were seductive, but for ¦
an educated youth the situation was entirely
different. Then, when these men had started
and began to meet almost insurmountable ob
stacles, why they did not retrace their steps,.
is far raore mysterious than why they came.
Mr. Tappan's journey was raade by boat. At
Gerundicut Bay, New York, he fell in with
David Hudson, 'whose adventures are nar
rated in the Surarait county chapter.
Meets Hudson and Harmon.
Hudson became a passenger in Tappan's
boat and they all went on to Niagara, where
they met Elias Harmon and ' his wife in a
small unseaworthy boat. The Harraons were
bound for Mantua. Under the raost favorable
circurastances, early travelers found it ex
treraely difiicult to carry their boats and bag
gage around Niagara Falls.
The Tappan party, because of ice in the
river, had an unusually serious tirae. After
they were fairly on the water, they were in
constant danger, and when the ice had passed
and they paddled along the southern shore of

636

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Lake Erie day after day, they suffered from
storms. Finally one of unusual severity drove
them on the shore of Ashtabula county, where
Harmon's boat was destroyed and he pro
ceeded on foot. Tappan and Hudson continued
their journey by water, and when they had
gone down the Cuyahoga as far as they could
go they landed at the place now caHed Boston,
in Sumrait county.
Mr. Tappan's Hard Luck.
Here Tappan pitched a tent to cover his
goods, left a raan in charge, and, taking the
oxen which he had brought all the way with
hira and which he had hitched to a boat
or sled which he had constructed, he pro
ceeded to Ravenna and established hiraself in
the southeast corner where Mr. Neill's horae
now is (a picture of which is here given) . He
was obliged to cut his own road and proceed
very slowly, crossing the Cuyahoga at Stand
ing Rocks. He returned to Boston for the
remainder of his goods, only to find that the
man he had left in charge had deserted, going
over to Mr. Hudson's settleraent, and that
thieves, undoubtedly Indians, had stolen the
goods remaining. Loading up the fragments
he started for Ravenna. The weather was
very hot. Early recorders of Tappan's ex
perience say that one of his oxen died from
heat, but later evidence shows that many of
the animals, particularly cows and oxen,
which died in the early days, did not perish
frora heat but frora the poisonous bites of
swarras of flies, and we feel sure that that was
the fate of Mr. Tappan's ox. Even this last
stroke of iH luck did not discourage hira. No
wonder he was in later life a successful man.
Help from Good James Hillman.
Upon Tappan's return to Ravenna, Bisby
was given a corapass and was directed to go
to Erie to secure a loan of raoney frora the
coramandant at the Fort. That he was suc
cessful in this trip was undoubtedly due to
the fact that Benjamin Tappan, Senior, was

known to be a man of raeans and standing.
During Bisby's absence young Tappan pro
ceeded to Youngstown to consult Jaraes HiH
raan, as did raost people who at this time
lived in this vicinity. He got what he wanted
at the hands of HiHraan; syrapathy, encour
ageraent and a new ox. Over and over again
do we read in different narratives of Tappan's
adventures that notwithstanding his predica
ment, Mr. HiHraan let hira have this ox on
credit and at the usual price. Have most men
in most times so taken advantage of the mis
fortunes of others that when anyone does not
take such advantage it is written down in
history? All these misfortunes raade it ira
possible for Mr. Tappan to put in any crop,
or to build any house, and it was nearly
January before he had a cabin. Through the
suraraer and late fall he had lived in a tent,
and a bark shack, and all winter he had to
depend upon the Indians for his meat, and
settlements far way for his other food.
The Woman Behind Him.
That he did not give up at this juncture was
prabably due to the fact that back in New Eng
land Nancy Wright, his promised wife, was
waiting impatiently for his return. It was
the following suramer that he brought her on
to his horae in the woods and, as the story
goes, they lived happy thereafter. At last he
was established and his subsequent Hfe was
successful.
Awful Trip of The Sheldons.
It seems as if the journeys of the first set
tlers were perilous and dangerous. In 1799
Ebenezer Sheldon arrived at Aurora and chose
lot 40 for a home. He employed Ehas Harmon
and his wife to' help him and they raade a
clearing. The Harmons moved to Mantua
and Sheldon returned to Connecticut. In the
following spring he, his wife and six children
left Suffield for their home "out west." They
had a comfortable wagon drawn by oxen arid
brought horses with them. In the beginning

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

637

their journey was uneventful, but at Warren,
when they were apparently almost through,
they found the roads very bad, and in passing
through a dense woods a storm overtook thera,
tiraber falling about thera in such a way as to
literally hera them in. They were obliged to
stay all night and in the raorning chop their
way out. This experience was an awful one,
since they expected every minute that they
and their aniraals would be killed. They, how
ever, proceeded with safety to Ravenna and
then to Aurora.
Capt. Caleb Atwater's Party.
The second settleraent was raade at Atwater
early in 1799. The party was lead by Capt.
Caleb Atwater, the land was surveyed, and
the raen returned to the east with the excep
tion of Asa Hall, who with his wife stayed
through the winter. They were the only peo
ple in the township for two years.
First Child Born.
Here in this lonesorae horae in the woods.
Portage county's first child was born. Little
do we realize what it raeant to be a pioneer
mother. Nowadays the birth of most chil
dren is planned for with the greatest care.
As a rule the raother's work is light ; attention
is given her health; she avoids, if possible,
nervous strain, and nurse, physician and fam
ily do all that is known to medical science to
aid her. But in Portage county's first days
— alone, without chloroform, without surgeon,
with a husband and a squaw or a Deerfield
neighbor. Portage county's first baby was
born. No wonder most forefathers had two
wives; raany of them three; some of thera
four! No wonder woraen were bed-ridden
and crippled for years at a tirae. Pioneer life
was hard for men, but it was next to death
for woraen. This baby was called Atwater,
for Capt. Caleb Atwater, and while the father,
who was a great hunter, roaraed the woods,
his raother watched hira in their cheerless
little hut.

Mr. Hall Moves Away.
After a while the condition grew too lone
sorae for Mr. Hall and, of course, then the
family was raoved. They settled nearer their
Deerfield friends on the edge of the township.
For two or three years the only other person
living in Atwater township was David Bald
win. Deerfield's First Settler.
The first actual settler in Deerfield was
Lewis Ely, who came with his faraily in July,
1799. Early in 1800 his son Alva, John Carap
bell and Joel Thrall walked from Connecticut,
reaching the township in March. They suf
fered many hardships, especially when they
struck the snow in the raountains.
First Marriage in County.
John Campbell did not know that his hard
experiences were soon to be forgotten in his
joys. In that very year he raarried Sarah,
the daughter of Lewis Ely. This was the first
marriage araong white people recorded in
Portage county.
As there were no rainisters in that neigh
borhood, Calvin Austin, of Warren, was asked
to perforra the raarriage service. Justice Aus
tin was a little fearful of this task because he
did not know any marriage service. Calvin
Pease offered to teach hira the proper forra.
These two men did not sit down before a good
log fire and prepare for this wedding, but as
they walked twenty-one miles through the
woods in that drear November, one taught and
the other learned part of the Episcopal service.
Pease had a great sense of humor, and was a
tease withal. When, therefore, Mr. Austin, in
the presence of the asserabled guests and in a
dignified raanner, repeated the service conclud
ing with "I pronounce you man and wife, and
may God have mercy on your soul," a ripple
of merriraent was noticeable and Mr. Pease
was convulsed.
Young CarapbeH became a very influential
citizen in the county. He resided in the neigh-

638

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

borhood all his life. Campbellsport, at one
tirae a raost thriving village, was named for
him. He was an efficient officer in the War
of 1812, receiving the title of general.
Portage County's First Bride.
It is recorded in the "Meraorial to the Pio
neer Women of the Western Reserve" that
during the War of 1812 General Carapbell
"either was wounded or fell iH and returning
as far as Sandusky was unable to reach home.
His intrepid wife, upon learning of his condi
tion, mounted her horse, set out alone through
tde wilderness to succor her husband. Find
ing that he could not be cared for comfort-
.ably in Sandusky, she had hira placed upon
her horse and then led the aniraal all the way
back to Ravenna."
The great-granddaughter of Portage coun
ty's first bride remembers that when the latter
was nearly eighty years old she was tall,
straight and always carefully dressed. She
wore a dark brown front piece over her white
hair and under her white cap. Her dress of
dark delaine had pink roses, a fichu-like cape
of the same color was about her shoulders and
a touch of white at her throat. She was sober
of face, quiet of manner and never held or
kissed this great granddaughter. People did
not show inward love in outward expression
then. If they had, this pioneer would never
have done rauch else but caress her descend
ants, for she had eleven children of her own
and a host of grandchildren and great grand
children. Several of her descendants still live
in Portage county.
The Mills Family.
The sons of Ezekiel MiHs, of Becket,
Massachusetts, were araong the first settlers in
the northern part of the county. There were
three brothers — Delaun, Asahel and Isaac. At
the tirae of their arrival at Youngstown, the
northern part of Portage county was being
surveyed under Amzi Atwater, and, being out
of raoney, they were glad to engage as axe
men in the surveying party. Isaac was not

married and after a time went back east.
Delaun settled on the road running west from
the center of Nelson, and Asahel on the road
running north and south.
They All Stopped at "Mills."
All the old diaries of early travelers who
went to Burton, Painesville, etc., contain such
statements as these : "Stopped at Mills for
dinner;" or "fed horses at Mills;" or "stayed
several days at Mills."
It was Delaun who kept this hotel, or rather
tavern, and a merry place it was sometimes
for the backwoods country. Grog was served
here, as everywhere, and raany a happy even
ing was spent by travelers, and later, by trav
elers and neighbors, in this old log house
which has long since disappeared.
The Mills family carae in 1800 and they
were the only inhabitants of the town up to
1803. Delaun received the title of captain and
was a most successful hunter of both aniraals
and Indians. He was Portage county's Daniel
Boone. The wonderful stories of his ad
ventures have raade the eyes of raany a child
open wide. The second generation of this
family were all Methodists. It is not hard for
the author to close her eyes and hear the rather
sweet voice of Albert Mills (the son of Isaac,
who came in 1805), oldest of Isaac's sons,
himself then old, leading the Sunday school at
the center of Nelson, and singing "There will
be something in Heaven for children to do."
Delaun and Asahel Mills came to Nelson in
1802 and Isaac in 1805.
Homer Mills was a son of Henry Mills.
Henry Mills was born north of the Center
ceraetery in 1803, and Horaer was born on
January 22, 1837.
Pretty Lakes of Portage County.
The early streams of Portage county were
fuller at all seasons of the year, and the lakes,
of course, were likewise deeper. These lakes
were full of fish, and furnished food for the
early settler and sport for his son and grand
son. They are now, however, weH fished out.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

639

but are still attractive, and on their banks are
many cottages where people have temporary
suramer horaes. A raajority of Portage coun
ty's lakes are in Franklin township. These
are Stewart Ponds, Twin Lakes, Pippin and
Brady. In Rootstown is Muddy Lake, a small
portion of the northern part lying in Ravenna
township. Ward's Pond, Muzzy's Pond and
Sandy Lake are also in Rootstown. Fritch's
Pond lies in Suffield. The lakes are fed
largely by springs. As mentioned before, the
lower part of Portage was swampy, and, as
the land was cleared off, sorae sraall ponds
dried up and were filled with vegetation. Here
berries grew in abundance, and here was
found peat, which was used for fuel. At
one tirae a good deal of this raaterial was pre
pared and sold in Ravenna. It was pressed
into blocks.
Undoubtedly the nuraerous lakes of Portage
were originally a part of Lake Erie, but in the
gradual rise of the land, were cut off frora
that body.
The Court House Water-Shed.
The ridge which forras the water-shed in
northern Ohio does riot lie parallel to the lake.
It begins in the southeastern part of Ashtabula
county and runs southwest across the north
west corner of TrurabuH on to the center of
Portage, westward through Medina, then down
into Crawford, etc. It was the tradition araong
the children in Ravenna that the water which
ran south frora the court house went into the
Ohio river and that which ran north went into
Lake Erie. Whether this is exactly true or
not, the author does not know, but it is very
nearly so.
'The Indians of The County.
The Indians found in Portage county, when
the settlers came here, belonged to the tribes
of Senecas, Ottawas and Chippewas. Bigson
was the chief of the Senecas, living in Streets
boro town.ship. He was a powerful raan and is
reported to have been honest and upright and a

good friend. It was one of his sons, John
Mohawk, who shot Diver. There was a set
tleraent of peaceful Indians in Windhara town
ship about where the Mahoning station
now is. The Indians of this northern section
roaraed over the hills of Hirara and Nelson,
and when there was trouble the "Devil's Den"
and like places at Nelson Ledges afforded thera
special protection. They feared Capt. Delaun
Mills and despite the fact that they were noble
red men, they often ran quickly to secrete them
selves in these rocks. They found protection
in severe weather under the over-hanging
ledges and soraetiraes pitched their tents there.
What was true of the other counties through
which the old Indian patch from Beaver to
Sandusky and Detroit ran was true of Port
age. Indians singly and in groups passed back
and forth on this path and parties of them built
teraporary villages and resided soraetiraes as
long as a year or two in one spot, but just
previous to the War of 1812 they began to
disappear and at the close of the war they
never returned in any such nurabers or for
any permanent settlement.
Old Roads of the County.
The old Indian path so frequently referred
to in this work entered Portage county in
Palmyra township, and passed through Edin
burg, Ravenna and Franklin. When the first
settlers came, it was a hard, weH-traveled road
and no one knows how long it had been used.
Benjamin Tappan cut the first road in the
county in order to get to his possessions, and
there was a sort of a road cut about the same
time frora Atwater to Georgetown. Asa Hall,
and Caleb Atwater were araong the men who
cut this road. It was forty railes in length and
ran across Atwater aud Deerfield. Ebenezer
Sheldon cut a road in 1799 from the center
of Aurora, northwesterly, to a path which led
to Cleveland. The Mills brothers early cut a
-oad in Nelson — either in 1799 or 1800. The
Ravenna-Burton road was laid out in 1802,
but it was not finished for some time after-

640

FIISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

wards. This led through Shalersville and
Mantua. In 1802 there was a road from
Warren to Cleveland, which touched Hirara
and Mantua. In 1805 a road frora the center
of Ilootstown ran to that which connected
Cleveland with Pittsburg, and then continued
to Edinburg.
Araong the first of the roads constructed in
the county were those which led to the mills,
because the settlers had to get grain ground.
One of these was surveyed by Arazi Atwater
in 1805, and ran frora his home to Garrett's
Mills ; the next year there was one running

through the country, you will realize that you
are riding along by a stream and then you
leave it and corae to it again. These straight
lines were raade, of course, to save time.
[The question of paths, of roads, of stage-
roads and of the canals of the Western Re
serve are treated in the early part of this work.]
Coal ("Palmyra Lump.")
At the time of the formation of Portage
county, more than half of it had coal under
the surface at varying depths. There is coal
formation under Hirara and in Mantua; also

BUILDING ON SITE OF THE TAPPAN HOME, EAVENNA
(Where first eourt was ordered held)

from his home to Aurora. After 1808, the
cutting of roads became more frequent, and
although hardly any of thera exist today ex
actly as they were, still they occupy substan
tially the sarae place. In the early days, roads
would sometimes run around a swamp, and
in after years when the clearing away of the
trees had dried the swamps, the roads would
be straightened. In the beginning, to save
labor Indian paths were followed, and those
more often lay along the waterway. When the
country was settled, these were straightened
also. If you think of it when you are driving

in parts of Shalersville, Ravenna and Wind
hara. In the southern part of the county —
that is in Paris, Charleston, Palmyra, Deerfield,
Brimfield and Suffield — the coal was thick,
good and easy to mine. The United States has
produced anywhere but little bituminous coal
better known than "Palmyra Lump." These
mines were sraaH and have been worked out,
as have the raines of TrumbuH and Mahoning.
However, in ordering coal the people in the
southern part of the Reserve still order
Palmyra coal from the dealer, and he sends
thera whatever he has handy.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

641

First Court in the County,
The first court in Portage county was held
August 23, 1808. Calvin Pease presided.
WiHiam Wetmore, Aaron Norton and Arazi
Atwater were the associate judges, and David
Hudson was appointed foreman of the grand
jury. The house of Benjamin Tappan had
been chosen as the place for holding this court,
but it burned the night before, and so Portage
county, like its mother, Trumbull, held its first
court with the sky as a roof. The afternoon
session was held at the home of R. J. Thomp
son. Whiskey was everywhere, as we have
seen in this study of the Western Reserve, and
before the day was over it was so apparent,
as showij by the hilarity of some of the at
tendants, that Samuel Taylor was arrested and
fined five dollars for conterapt.
Among the cases of that day was one of
Zebina Wetherbee vs. ,John Haymaker and
George Hayraaker. There were two indict
ments brought by the grand jury; one was
against William Simcox for maliciously inter
rupting a religious meeting in Franklin town
ship. It seems what Simcox did was to go
hunting, when people going and coraing from
church could see and hear him. He pleaded
guHty to breaking the §abbath and was fined
$1.50 and costs ; $6.50 in aH.
Stories About Pioneer Lawyers.
There are no set of raen about which such
good stories are told as the early lawyers.
The writer when a little girl used to sit even
ing after evening and listen to lawyers tell
tales on each other. One of the early tales
told of Portage county's justice was that of a
man found guilty of breaking the Sabbath.
He was sentenced to jail for six hours. At
that time there was no jail. The early lawyers
were most of them poor, and they did not mind
being joked about their poverty. They talked
freely about the financial condition of each
other and there was very little pretense in any
of them.

Came to His Meals Promptly.
At one tirae a nephew of John Brown was
a student in the ofiice of Ranney and Taylor.
Michael Stewart lived at the sarae boarding
house as Brown did. One day when young
Taylor was looking out of the window he saw
Stewart, who was rather porapous and digni
fied for a young man, coming down the street.
He then asked his student a. question, "Brown,
how is Stewart getting on?" Meaning, of
course, how was he getting along at his pro
fession. Brown replied, "All right, I guess;
he comes to his meals regularly." ,^
Would Not Support Naked Christians.
One of the raost unique figures of the early
Portage county Bar was Jonathan Sloane.
Very little was known about his early life. He
came to Ravenna as the agent of the Tappans,.
and because of this position and his own (^era-
peraraent, he was as well known as any of the
early citizens. Nuraberless tales are told about
hira, all of a huraorous touch. At one tirae a
foreign missionary appeared in the town and
delivered some addresses on his work in the
Sandwich Islands. His interesting tales at
tracted the attention of Ravenna's citizens. Mr.
Sloane, although not fanatical, was rather re
ligious. He attended these raeetings and had
made up his mind to subscribe liberally to the
work. Attending a session for that purpose,
he listened to the missionary describe the life
of the people on the Island and how they went
without clothes. Mr. Sloane interrupted him
with this question, "Do they wear clothes
after they become Christians?" The raission
ary acknowledged that they did not. The
thought of naked Christians did not strike
Ravenna's early attorney very favorably, and
wrapping his cloak about hira, he withdrew
from the raeeting, and the converted Sandwich
Islanders received none of his money.
First Settlers of Portage County.
Atwater — Mr. and Mrs. Asa Hall, 1799.
Aurora — Ebenezer and Lovey Sheldon, 1799.

Vol. 1—41

642

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Brimfield — John Boosinger, 1816.
Charlestown— John and Sarah Campbell,
spring of 1800.
Deerfield — Lewis Day and Horatio Day,
1799. Edinburg — Eber Abbott, 181 1.
Franklin — ^John and Sallie Haymaker, 1805.
Freedom — ^Charles H. Paine, son of General
Paine, Painesville, 1818.
Garrettsville — Col. John Garrett, 1804.
Hirara — Elijah Mason, Elisha Hutchinson
and Mason Tilden, 1802.
Mantua — Abraham L. Honey, 1798; also
first settler in county.
Nelson — Delaun, Asahel and Isaac MiHs,
1800. Palmyra — David Daniels, 1799.
Paris — Richard Hudson, 181 1.
Randolph — Bela Hubbard and Salmon
Ward, 1797.
Ravenna — Benjarain Tappan, Jr., 1799.
Rootstown — Ephraim Root, 1800.
Shalersville — Joel Baker, 1806.
Streetsboro — Stephen Myers, Jr., 1822.
Suffield — Royal Peas, 1802.
Windham — EHjah Alford, Jr., Oliver Al
ford, Ebenezer, Ohio, Messenger and Nathan
H. Messenger, 181 1.
First Marriages.
Atwater — Josiah Mix, Jr., and Sallie Mat-
toon, 1807.
Brimfield — Abner H. Lamphare and Miss
Sophia Moulton, 1819.
Charlestown — Sallie Coe and Martin Camp,
1816. Deerfield — John Carapbell and Sarah Ely,
1800. Edinburg — Greenbury Keen and Betsey
Hitchcock, 181 7.
Franklin — Christian Cackler and Theresa
Nighman, 1814.
Freedom — Wakeman Sherwood and Harriet
Randy (daughter of Rufus), 1825.
Mantua — Rufus Edwards and Letitia Wind
sor (married by Amzi Atwater), 1803.

Nelson — Enoch Judson and Anna Kennedy,
1804. Palmyra — Benjamin McDaniels and Betsey
Stevens, 1805.
Paris — William Bradford and Betsey Hud
son, 1813.
Randolph — Bela Hubbard and Clarissa
Ward, 1806.
Ravenna — Charles Van Horne and Phoebe
Herrimon, 1803.
Rootstown — Ashure Ely of Deerfield and
Lydia Lyraan, 1803.
Shalersville — Mr. Hezekiah Hine and Miss
Mary Atwater, a sister of Arazi Atwater, 1810.
Streetsboro — Frederick Nighman and Par
raelia Van, 1826.
Suffield — Alpha Wright and Lucy Foster,
about 1804.
Windham — Dr. Ezra Chaffee and Polly
Messenger, 1812. First Births.
Atwater- — Atwater HaH, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Asa Hall, 1800.
Aurora — Oliver Forward, son Cromwell,
1804. Brimfield — Mr. and Mrs. Alpheus Andrews,
son Henry Thorndike, 1817.
Charlestown — Mrs. John Baldwin, son John
W., 1813.
Deerfield — Mrs. Alva Day, daughter Polly,
1800. Edinburg — Lerauel Chapraan, daughter,
1815. Franklin — John and Sallie Hayraaker, son
John F., 1807.
Freedora — Charles H. Paine, daughter Em
eline, 1820.
Hirara — Edwin Babcock, son of Simeon
Babcock, 181 1.
Mantua — Eunice, daughter of Elias Har
mon, 1800.
Nelson — Asahel Mills, daughter Dianthea,
1801. Palmyra— E. Cutler, daughter Emeline,
1802.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

643

I Randolph — Sophronia Upson, daughter of
Arad Upson, 1803.
Ravenna — Mr. Boszor, a daughter, about
1803. Rootstown — ^John McCoy, son of Sarauel
McCoy, 1802.
Shalersville — Lucinda, daughter of Joel
Baker, 1808.
, Streetsboro — Child of Samuel Walker, 1823.
Suffield — Rebecca, daughter of David Way,
1803. Windham — Daughter of Warehara Loorais,
1812. First Dea-ths.
Atwater — Maria Strong, daughter of Wil
liam Strong, 1808.
Aurora — Rhoda Cochran, daughter of Sam
uel Cochran, 1806.
Brimfield — Infant child of Captain Uriah
Sawyer. Charlestown — Brayton King, 1812.
Deerfield — Betsey Rogers died of rattle
snake bite.
Edinburg — Mary J. Eddy, daughter of Alan
son and Rachel Eddy, 1819.
Franklin — Eva Haymaker, mother, or step
mother, of the first settler.
Freedora — Emeline Paine, daughter of
Charles Paine, 1820; two years and a half
old, scalded.
Hirara — Wife and child of John Fenton,
1811. Mantua — Anna Judson (given arsenic by
mistake), 1804.
Nelson — Infant child of Asahel Mills, 1802
or 1803.
Palmyra — Son of John Tuttle, Senior, 1805.
Paris — Susan Cox, wife of John, 1814.
Randolph — An unknown raan assisting
some surveyors died of heat and whiskey,
1797 ; Mrs. Clarissa Ward, first person known,
1804. Ravenna — Little son of Benjamin Bigsby,
rattle-snake bite, about 1800.
Rootstown — Young raan named Davenport,
1800.

ShalersvHle — Edward Crane, son of Simeon
Crane, 1809.
Streetsboro — First adult death, wife of Solo
mon Carlton.
Suffield — Orestes Hale, son of Samuel Hale,
1805. Windhara — Miss Lucy Ashley, 1812.
First Schools.
Atwater — In a Ipg school house at the cen
ter, 1806-7; Mrs. Alraon Chittenden, teacher.
Aurora — School house in the Square at the
Center; Sarauel Forward, Jr., teacher, 1803-4.
Brimfield — Opened by Jeremiah Moulton in
his own house; and continued through the
winter of 1818.
Charlestown — Log school housie at the Cen
ter in the suraraer of 181 1 ; Sophia Coe, teacher.
Deerfield — Presided over by Robert Camp
bell, 1803.
Edinburg — Log house of Araasa Canfield,
1818; teacher, Clarissa Loomis, of Charles
town. Franklin — Abner H. Lamphare, teacher; in
a sraall cabin erected by Mr. Rue in 1811.
Freedom — Taught in a frarae building at
Drakesburg; E. W. Ranney, 1835.
Hirara — School in a log house, taught by
Benjamin Hinckley, in 1813.
Mantua — At the house of Arazi Atwater, in
the winter of i8p6, by John Harmon.
Nelson — At the Center, 1804 ; Hannaii Bald
win, teacher.
Palmyra — South part of township ; Betsey
Diver, teacher.
Paris — At the house of Richard Hudson,
1819; teacher, Betsey North. This was a pri
vate school. First pubHc school next winter
(log school house) ; Daniel Leavitt, teacher.
Randolph — Log school house, stood on the
west of the bridge over the creek ; Miss Laura
Ely, teacher.
Ravenna — In log house near Tappan's set
tleraent ; teacher, Miss Sarah Wright, 1803.
Rootstown-— Taught in a cabin at the Cen
ter ; Samuel Adams, teacher, 1807 or 1808.

644

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ShalersviHe — Opened at the Center, 1810;
Miss Winter, teacher.
Streetsboro — In the northwest corner of the
township, 1826; Clarinda Case, teacher.
Suffield — First school of nine pupils; Har
vey Hurlbert, teacher, 1807.
Windham — First school taught in the house
of Alpheus Streator, by Eliza Streator and
Rebecca Conant, "week and week about." Log
school house erected in 1812.

Franklin — Among the first men to preach
sermons were the Revs. Shewell, Shadrack,
Bostwick and Joseph Badger. Who was the
first is not known.
Freedora — Joseph Treat and David L. Coe
organized first church at the house of David
Larkeom, 1828.
Hirara — All of the early denominations sent
occasional preachers to Hiram. The Baptists

(Courtesy ol Journal Publishing Co.)
THE OLD WOOLEN MILL, GAEEETSVILLE.

First Churches and Sermons.
Atwater — Rev. Mr. Ely preached regularly
in 1806.
Aurora — First serraon in Ebenezer Shel
don's house, 1802.
Brirafield — Presbyterian, 1819.
Deerfield — First serraon by Henry Shewell,
1802. Edinburg — First serraon by Rev. Nathan
Damon, 1812.

and Congregationalists early had congrega
tions. Mantua — First church was a Methodist ; or
ganized, 1807, by Rev. R. R. Roberts; log
house. Nelson — First preaching by Asahel Mills.
First church organized at the house of Johann
Noah; Baptist; preacher. Rev. Thomas G.
Jones. Palrayra — Rev. Shewell preached the first

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

645

sermon ; Methodist circuit rider. First church
organized, 1813 ; Presbyterian.
Paris — First rehgious event, "Bush meet
ing," 1817; Welch congregation, 1835.
Randolph — 1806 raeetings held at the house
of Oliver Dickinson; Methodist class formed
about 1808.
Ravenna — First services were Episcopal,
held by Seth Day, Dr. Isaac Swift and Daniel
Dawley, about 1816.
Rootstown — Organized by Rev. Giles H.
Cowles, 1 8 10.
Shalersville — Who preached for the first
time in Shalersville township is not known, but
the first church organized was the Congrega
tional, 1818.
Windhara — Early settlers organized thera
selves into a I Congregational church before
they left Connecticut; held service first Sun
day they arrived, 181 1; first serraon preached
a month later, August.
First Saw Mills.
Atwater — Owned by Captain Hart, 1805.
Aurora — Run by Septiraus Wittar.
Charlestown — Built by the first settlers, near
the Center.
Deerfield — Grist mill, owned by James
Laughlin, 1801 ; first water-power raHl in the
county. Edinburg — Erected by Carapbell and Eddy,
1816. Franklin — Grist raill buih by the Haymaker
family, 1807.
Freedora — Owned by Elihu Paine, 1828.
Garrettsville — Saw and grist raiU, owned by
Col. John Garrett, in 1805.
Hirara — BuHt by Lerauel Punderson, 1807
(grist raill).
Mantua — Erected by Rufus Edwards, 1799,
grist mill ; first saw mill by the Dresser famHy,
1818. Nelson — Owned by Colonel Garrett, both
saw and grist miH, 1805.
Randolph — Saw and grist miH in 1808,
owned by Josiah Ward.

Ravenna — Alexander McWhorter owned
grist mill, 1802.
Rootstown — Saw mill on creek north of
Center, owned by Ephraim Root, about 1808.
Shalersville — Owned by Stephen Mason,
i8i2; in 1814 added a grist miH.
Suffield — Mill erected at Fritch's, about
1805. Names and Proprietors of Townships.
Atwater — Township i, range 7; naraed for
Captain Caleb Atwater; settled, 1799.
Aurora — Township 5, range 9; named
Aurora in honor of the only daughter of Major
Spofford, surveyor of the Connecticut Land
Company. Brimfield — Township 2, range 9 ; first called
Swaraptown because it was so swarapy; later,
Beartown, because of the bears which lived
in the swamps. Its third name was Green-
briar. Then it was called Wylestown for John
Wyles, who owned a large part of its land. It
was later called Thorndike, for Israel Thorn-
dike, who bought part of the land from Wyles.
Fie offered to give a public square at the Cen
ter for the narae. He, however, did not fulfill
his contract, and finally it was naraed Brira
field, in honor of John Wyles, who lived at
Brirafield, Masachusetts.
Charlestown — Township 3, range 7; was
called Hinckley up to the tirae of 1814, when
it received its present name.
Deerfield — Township i, range 6; naraed for
Deerfield, Massachusetts, in honor of the birth
place of the mother of Lewis Day, Senior, set
tled early in 1799.
Edinburg — Township 2, range 7; settled in
181 1. Part of it was bought by John Camp
bell and Levins Eddy, and from the latter the
township took its name, for Edinburg was
formerly Eddysburg.
Frankhn — Township 3, range 9; naraed
Frankhn ; upper haralet caHed Carthage — low
er haralet, Franklin Mills. These two com
bined in one under the name of Kent, for
Marvin Kent.

(Courtesy of Journal Publishing Co.)
THE OLD GAERETT EESIDENCE, GAEEETTSVILLE

JOHN CAMPBELL HOUSE, CAMPBELLSPOET, BUILT IN 1800.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

647

Freedom — Township 4, range 7; settled in
1825 ; first called North Rootstown, in honor
of Ephraira Root. In 1825 it was made a
separate township and the name "Freedom"
is supposed to have been suggested by Mrs.
Paine, to whom the raatter was referred, she
having been the first feraale to enter the town
ship. It is said that she first suggested "Lib
erty," but, as that narae was too comraon, it
was changed to Freedom.
Garrettsville — Naraed for Colonel John
Garrett, 1804.
Hiram — Township 5, range 7. The original
proprietors were all Freemasons, and, on the
suggestion of Col. Daniel Tilden, named the
town that was-to-be, Hirara, in honor of the
King of Tyre.
Nelson — Township 5, range 6; settled in
1800. Palmyra — Township 2, range 6 ; settled in
1799. Paris — Township 3, range 6; settled in
181 1 ; first called Storsboro.
Randolph — Township i, range 8; settled in
1797. Previous to its settlement it was owned
by Col. Lemuel Storrs, of Connecticut, and it
was naraed for his son, Henry Randolph
Storrs. Ravenna — Township 3, range 8; called
Ravenna supposedly from- Ravenna, Italy ; set
tled in 1799.
Rootstown — Township 2, range 8 ; settled in
1800 ; named for Ephraim Root, who original
ly owned it.
Shalersville — Township 4, range 8; settled
in 1806; naraed for Gen. Nathaniel Shaler, of
Middletown, Connecticut, who drew this sec
tion at the tirae of dividing. It was at one time
called Middletown.
Streetsboro^rTownship 4, range 9; named
for Titus Street, a raember of the Connecticut
Land Corapany ; settled in 1822 ; last township
organized in the county.
Suffield — Township i, range 9; named for
Suffield, Connecticut, the home of the owners.
It was called Peastown, at one time — for Royal
Peas.

Windham — Township 4, range 6; settled in
1810. It was first caHed Strongsburg for
Governor Strong. The settlers, however, did
not like Strong's politics — he was a Federalist
— and they changed the name to Sharon. In
1820 it becarae Windhara, for Windhara, Con
necticut. Pioneer Agricultural Society.
The first agricultural society was organized
in 1825. Joshua Woodward was president,
Elias Harmon, first vice-president; Williara
Coolman, treasurer ; and Johnathan Sloane,,
auditor. The first fair v/as held in October of
that year, and Seth Harraon received the
premium for the best crop of corn. He raised
a hundred bushels frora one peck on one acre
of land.
In 1839 the association was organized under
the state law for such societies, with William
Wetraore as president. It kept its first narae.
Portage County Agricultural Society. The
first fair under this organization was held in
the court house in October, 1841. Like meet
ings were held the following four years.
The legislature again passed some laws in
regard to such societies in 1846, and the Port
age County Agricultural Society framed its
rules accordingly. Fairs were held each year,
but there was no special meeting-place. In
1859 twenty acres of land east of Ohio and
south of the present grounds were rented and
used for twenty years.
Several tiraes in the history of the asso
ciation it has looked as if it could not continue,
because of the financial losses. At one time
Horace Y. Beebe and a few enterprising citi
zens raised a subscription and paid off the debt.
In 1879 the present grounds were rented. The
association has continued to hold its raeetings
each year, but in 1909 the buildings were
burned and there was talk of abandoning the
raeetings. Mr. Dan Flanna, who lives at Cot
tage Hill farra, raade an offer to put into the
association $10,000, provided the county would
raise a like araount and rebuild and re-estab
lish the association. This offer was accepted

648

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

and there will be no fair in the year of 1910,
but in 191 1 the new regirae will begin.
Horticulture and Floriculture.
Portage county has always been interested in
horticulture and floriculture. Scattered around
through the Reserve were raen and women in
terested in the culture of flowers, but in Port
age county the interest was exceedingly strong
and for many years it has had a society whose
meetings were largely attended and whose re
sults were good. Horace Y. Beebe was presi
dent of this society. He and his family have
always been interested in flowers and his son,
WHliam Beebe, has probably spent raore hours
cultivating his garden and his flowers than has
any other raan in the county, who is not a
professional farmer. Wherever he lives or
whatever his condition, he always has flowers
about hira.
Old and Modern Cheese Making.
Portage county was one of the first cheese
counties of Ohio. In the early days cheese
was made in tubs on the floor and the over
burdened housewife nearly broke her back
stirring the curd. Then came square cheese
vats on saw-horses; then the improved tin-
lined tanks, with attached arrangements for
heating ; and when this home-made cheese was
in great demand the neighborhood factory ap
peared, the farmer sold his milk and the cheese
vat and press took its place in the garret, be
side the loom and spinning wheel.
The Call to "Split Oven Wood."
A. B. Griffin, of Ravenna, in 1880 wrote a
series of articles on "Then and Now." He
says in speaking of the old brick oven : ""'No
man now living, who when a boy, was obliged
to furnish fuel for the brick oven, will ever
forget that fact while memory lasts ; for if
there was any one thing that a boy dreaded
more than another, unless it was the brisk ap
plication of the birch twig or the oiled strap,
or pounding clothes, or picking up stones — it
was the call to split oven wood ; and yet when

he saw the nice bread and pies corae out of
that oven, stearaing hot, and espied the delic
ious turnovers, baked especially for hirn, he
forgot for the time the dreaded oven wood."
Tinder Box and Candles.
The tinder box was a tin box well filled with
burned, cotton cloth. This stuff was set on
fire by a spark frora a file or a flint. This
was a rather uncertain and troublesome way
of getting a fire, but it was the only way, un
less neighbors were near.
It was customary to burn only one candle in
a room, unless there was company, when the
number was doubled. In school houses and
churches candles had to be snuffed, and usually
sorae dapper young man was either appointed,
or self-appointed, to do the snuffing. It was
a joy to such a young raan to walk around
a raeeting house and replenish the light; par
ticularly was this true, if young ladies were
present so that he could show his skillfulness.
Many a youth in his erabarrassraent has cut
the wick too low and put out the candle, and
had to suffer frora the jeers of his corapanions
and the snickers of the girls. In sorae ill-
regulated families the snuffers got lost, or
broken, so that almost every person learned to
skillfully snuff the candle with his or rather
her fingers. This had to be done quickly in
order to grab off only the part which was
burned and could be easHy detached. It was
quite an art. None of us could do it today.
None of us want to.
Learning to Eat "Love- Apples."
When tomatoes first raade their appearance,
they were known as "love-apples." People had
to learn to eat them, just as people of the later
day learn to eat olives. A public raan of this
vicinity, who when a boy drove sorae cattle
down to the Ohio river, saw a row of "love-
apples" on the window and appropriated one
for hiraself. He ate it and was soon so sick
to his storaach that he lost the dinner which
he had bought with his hard-earned raoney.
Now frora the beginning of the season to the

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

649

end he likes tomatoes on the table. Thought
then, as well as now, was powerful in physical
things. In speaking of the clothes that boys and
girls wore in the early days of Portage county,
Mr. Griffin says : "Boys did not wear 'mulley
pants' — ours had legs to them ; we never wore
holes in our stockings with our knees."
Delicious Remedy for Colds.
As we look over the raedicinal reraedies we
are .astonished at what they used, how they
used it, and the result. Having lived for sorae
time now in the past, the author of this work
feels very proud that she received the treat
ment which was given to the pioneer for colds ;
that is, molasses, butter and vinegar simraered
together and taken hot on going to bed. She
used to long and pray to have a cold, and she
regrets to record that her prayers then as now
usually reraained unanswered. This reraedy
was so delicious ! At the tirae she took this con
coction her stocking with the foot-side next to
her throat was wound around her neck. It sel
dom took but one application of the medicine
and the stocking to cure a cold. In fact, on
waking in the morning, the first thing she did
was to swallow to see if the sore was gone, and
she bemoaned the fact that it always was. To
be sure, the stocking was a woolen one knit
by her grandraother, but she still recommends
the remedy as a good one.
Stoves as Church Desecrations.
Much has been said in the local history of
the church quarrels which arose from
the introduction of rausical instruments into
churches, but very little is said about the dis
satisfaction caused when stoves were brought
into churches. Before that, people had shiv
ered through the services, only a few having
foot stoves — raost of thera having no heat
at all. It was supposed by the conservatives
that stoves would desecrate the house of God.
The pioneer raen and woraen were so in
dustrious that nobody can find any fault with
thera, but it does seem as if they wasted a

goodly lot of time which raight have been spent
in sleeping, reading or in visiting, in discuss
ing such subjects as free agency, total deprav
ity, modes of baptisra and foreordination.
In the early days all married women and
babies wore caps. The result was that almost
every woraan wore caps the raost of her life.
We have a record of girls who married at
fifteen and were wearing caps at sixteen.
The great back logs which filled the fire
place were roHed up to the door and pulled
into the house by a horse. That was before
the day of Brussels carpets, or polished wood
floors.
Punishments of A B C Scholars.
Mr. Griffin says : "One of the raodes of
punishment meted out to the ABC scholar
was cutting off the ears as short as a horse's
ear, a scene never to be forgotten by those
who witnessed it.
" 'Mary, I see you are whispering again.
Corae up here. I raust have one of your ears.'
Poof Mary walks slowly to the raaster, cry
ing, and with her tiny hands to her ears. The
raaster begins sawing away with the back of
his penknife blade. She proraises she wiH not
whisper again an(l the master saves the ear
this time.
"Other scholars were required to hold the
horizontal ruler, or stand on the floor facing
the school with a split quill or stick astride the
nose. This was interesting, especially when
the handkerchief was missing; if not raissing,
it required skill to use it to advantage. The
still larger boys received — when they, merited
it — an interest in the black mark systera. In
this system each offense entitled the offender
to a black raark which was duly placed opposite
his name. When five marks were received
the offender was entitled to receive a vigorous
birch dressing. The culprit was required to
furnish the weapons in person, generally three
in number. After procured, the master ran
thera through hot ashes so as to make them
tough. Then the school was placed on dress
parade to witness the scene."

650

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Curious Baldwin Papers.
Ralph Baldwin, son of Cornelius and the
grandson of Stephen Baldwin of Nelson, has
kept a large nuraber of curios and papers be
longing to his father. They are raost inter
esting to look at.
One dated Deceraber 24, 1808, is signed by
Isaac Mills. It is for $2.23 — state and county
taxes for a year.
There are several receipts signed by Ezra
Booth for raoney collected and turned over to
the proper a-ujhorities in Nelson, who were
interested in the Library Society.
The receipt signed by Benjarain Fenn, under
date of January 23, 1821, to Stephen R. Bald
win shows that Fenn received six bushels of
wheat in payraent for five raonths schooling
in the year 1819 and 1820.
Another receipt reads : "Received of
Stephen Baldwin $13.00 for the Anti-slavery
cause, to be paid to Rev. E. Weed, at Oberlin.
Windham, July 5, 1857, H. C. Taylor."
The following is of interest : "This may
certify that Stephen Baldwin, for the consid
eration of $98.00, received to our full satis
faction, is the rightful proprietor of a pew
No. 7 in the Congregational meeting house in
Nelson, to be holden by hira, his heirs and
his assigns forever.
"Nelson, Sept. 17, 1825.
"Hezh. p. Hopkins,
Joshua B. Sherwood,
Jeremiah R. Fuller,
Eber Mansfield,
Coraraittee."
County's Area and Population.
When the county lines were finally drawn,
the area was four hundred and ninety square
railes. Below is the table of population of the
county for the last ninety years :
1810, 2,905 i860, 24,208
1820, 10,093 1870 24,584
1830, 18,792 1880 27,500
1840, 23,107 1890, 27,868
1850, 24,419 1900, 29,246

Newspapers of the County.
In 1825 the Western. Courier and the West
ern Public Advertiser was established in
Ravenna. The editor was J. B. Butler, of
Pittsburg. He did very good business from
the beginning and two years later it was sold
to Williara Coolraan, Jr., and C. B. Thorapson.
The next year, in 1828, Jaraes Walker bought
an interest. Mr. Thorapson died in 1829. In
1830 The Courier became the Democratic
organ of the county. At one time Mr. Harsha
owned an interest, but he retired in 1831 and
left Mr. Coolraan sole proprietor again. In
1832 John Harraon bought the paper and
edited it till 1836, when Selby and Robins of
Ravenna bought it, and raised the subscription
price to $3.00, but it did not prosper and Mr.
Harraon took control again. In 1838 it ceased
to live.
In 1830 Lewis L. Rice began to publish the
Ohio Star. Cyrus Prentice and Jonathan
Sloane backed this proposition financially. In
1834 Laurin Dewey succeeded Mr. Rice and
the Star was the local organ of the Whigs of
Portage county. In 1838 Lyman Hall bought
an interest in the Star and became ths senior
partner. When Dr. Dewey was elected sheriff
of the county, he sold it to Mr. Hall. Mr.
Hall sold to Root and Elkins, and A. L. Lewis
became editor. In 1840 Elkins bought out
Root, he soon retired, and William Wadsworth
owned the property. Lewis continued to be
editor until 1843. Dewey and Wadsworth con
tinued to be proprietors until 1844, when
Wadsworth bought out Dewey, and Lewis
again became editor. In 1845 Lewis bought an
interest in the paper, but in 1847 Wadsworth
bought hira out. In 1849 Lyman W. Hall
bought the Star. In 1852 he enlarged it and
remained editor until 1854.
The Western Reserve at this time was"^n
an unsettled condition. Then newspapers
stood decidedly for sorae political party and
the parties were so mixed up, or rather the
people were so divided into new parties, that
altogether it was hard sledding for newspaper

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

651

men. The Ohio Star becarae the Portage
County Democrat.
There was a small paper published by
John Harmon and issued frora the Courier
office-in 1835, called the Watchman. John B.
King, Rufus Spalding, Joseph Lyman and
Ashael Tyler started the Buckeye Democrat
This was intended to fill the place whieh the
Courier had occupied. It did not live a year,
however. Lyraan W. HiH, in 1840, published the
Western Resen'e Cabinet and Family Visitor.
It was enlarged in 1842 and discontinued in
1843. It was the history of Portage county
papers, at least, that whenever they raised
the subscription price, or enlarged the paper,
the result was disastrous.
The Plain Dealer, with Mr. Canfield as ed
itor and pubHsher, was started at Ravenna in
1844. It was weak in the beginning and never
grew strong.
Sarauel D. Harris, so long and weH known
as an editor, and Roswell Patterson, issued
the Portage Sentinel in 1845. In 1851 Batter-
son, because of poor health, retired frora the
paper, and Mr. Harris becarae proprietor. In
1852 he sold it to Alphonso Hart and R. E.
Craig. In 1854 the narae was changed to the
Weekly Portage County Sentinel and was en
larged. The next year Mr. Hart was sole
proprietor. In 1856 James W. SoraerviHe
owned part interest. In 1857 SoraerviHe
bought out Hart. In 1862 the paper was dis
continued. In 1848 the Portage County Whig was es
tablished by John S. Herrick. In 1853 its
narae was changed to the Home Com^panion
and Whig, and in 1854 it lost its identity in the
Ohio Star.
The parents of the Portage County Demo
crat were the Ohio Star and the Hom,e Com
panion and Whig. The Democrat was first is
sued in 1854. HaH, Herrick and Wadsworth
owned it. When the Republican party was
established the Democrat becarae its organ.
Two years before this, that is 1856, Mr. Wads
worth had withdrawn frora the firra, and in

1859 Mr. Herrick sold it so that for raany
years Lyman Hall and Son owned the paper
and ran it successfully. L. W. HaH was an
able raan and his paper was a good one. Since
the paper was a Republican and had the name
of Democrat, the Halls were urged continu
ously to change its narae. They disliked to do
this because of sentiraent, but little by Httle
the word Republican crept in. First in sraall
type in the head, afterwards at the head of the
editorial coluran. In 1876 its narae was
changed to the Republican .Democrat. For
some reason in the early 70's it was no longer
a financial success, and in 1878 L. W. Hall and
Son made an assignment to J. D. Horton and
C. A. Reed. Halsey R. W. Hall was then ed
itor, and continued as such until 1882, when
he raoved to Minnesota and Arthur Mosley
succeeded hira. It is now owned by the Ra^
venna Republican Publishing Company and
A. D. Robinson is president and manager.
In 1878 the Portage County Republican was
issued, with J. H. Fluhart as editor; in 1882
the Republican Democrat Company bought out
the Republican and in 1883 the paper became
known as the Ravenna Republican.
The Deraocratic Press had a long and hon-,
orable career. It was established by Sarauel
D. Harris in 1868. He was one of the early
editors. Mr. Harris had had experience on the
Courier, the Ohio Star and the Democrat; so
that his paper was a success. Since his death,
it has been edited by his son of the same name.
S. D. Harris should be particularly men
tioned in this history, since he was an able
newspaper raan ; the founder of the Demo
cratic Press and for a long lifetime associated
with the welfare of Ravenna. He was bom
in Ravenna township in 1816. His father was
S. D. Harris, of Connecticut, and his son, as
stated, bears the sarae name. His raother was
Lucy S. Kent, daughter of Zenas and sister of
Marvin. He worked in the Western Courier's
office as long as it lived. He and Roswell
Patterson, the first husband of Martha F.
Dodge, published the Sentinel, a Democratic

6S2

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

paper, in 1845, ^nd later he bought Mr. Bat-
terson out. In 1868 he issued the Democratic
Press, and this has been published ever since.
In 1859 Dr. Alonzo Dewey estabhshed the
Omnium Gatherum, the first paper of Kent.
W. W. Beach was the editor. The narae was
not very satisfactory and in two months was
changed to the Family Visitor. This name
only lasted a few raonths, when it was called
the Literary Casket. How this paper lived at
all, under such a narae, is not known, but it
did not live in a very high raanner, and in
1865 it was called the Saturday Review. Ap
parently the trouble was not in the name, for
it did not prosper any better under the new
narae, and in October of 1866 it became the
Commercial Bulletin. Later it was called the
Saturday Morning Bulletin, and afterwards the
Saturday Bulletin; so that this paper had eight
naraes, for it was finally known as the Bulletin.
In 1873 Mr. Dewey sold out and W. J. A.
Minich purchased it. The first thing he did
was to change the narae to the Kent Saturday
Bulletin. The Kent News was established, in 1867, by
L. D. Durban & Corapany. The office was in
charge of his son, but the paper was not pros
perous. A. C. Davis and Richard Field estab
lished the present Kent News. In 1882 the
News Company bought it and Paul B. Conant
becarae editor and publisher. In 1883 O. S.
Rockwell began the editing of the paper. It
has been enlarged, the office is well equipped,
and it is a strong Democratic paper.
Warren Pierce owned the first newspaper
in Garrettsville. It was called the Garretts
ville Monthly Review. The office stood about
where the postoffice is. Mr. Pierce was a
practical printer and did his own press-work
and his job work. This Reviezu was discon
tinued at the end of a year and a half. In
1867 he established the Garrettsville Journal,
which has always been successful. In 1873 he
sold it to Charles B. Webb, who enlarged it.
It is at present owned by the Journal Publish
ing Company, of which C. M. Crane is presi
dent and George H. Colton vice president.

Railroads of Portage County.
Portage county had one of the earliest rail
roads. The act allowing the building of the
Cleveland and Pittsburg was a special one
passed in 1836, but nothing came of it. Sev
eral other acts followed, which applied to this
road, but in 1850 the Pennsylvania legislature
authorized the Cleveland and Pittsburg Rail
road Company to extend its line into that state.
Further action was taken, in conforraity with
the Ohio railroad laws, and the line from
Cleveland to Ravenna had its tracks laid in
the fall of 1850. The last rail was laid iii
March, 185 1, and the last spike was driven
near Hudson on March 10. It was on that
date that the first passenger train went from
Ravenna to Cleveland and returned.
The early locoraotives were alraost always
naraed for one of the raen who had been raost
efficient in proraoting the road; but this one
was naraed Ravenna.
This road connected at Ravenna with the
canal-boat running to Beaver, and frora Beaver
people took a steamer to Pittsburg. It took
twenty-six hours to go to Pittsburg in this
way, and it cost $3.50, including meals on the
boat. The construction of this road was the be
ginning of the end of the canal business. As
soon as the Cleveland and Mahoning road was
built, running frora Cleveland to Youngstown,
passengers frora that section deserted the canal
as they had in Portage county, and soon
freight, as well as passengers, was being car
ried by the railroad.
The Cleveland and JMahoning Valley rail
road ran through sorae of the townships of
Portage county. The Atlantic and Great
Western railroad caused unusual interest in
Portage county. In fact, Marvin Kent, who
was for many years president of it, gave his
time and enthused his friends on the subject,
and it was incorporated in 185 1. Enos P.
Brainard was president of the company for
nearly ten years, and because of his interest
the county was interested. It took a long time

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

653

to get this road under way and the work was
really begun at Jamestown in i860. In 1862
the line was completed frora Warren to Ra
venna; trains were running between those
points ; and the same year the telegraph office
was opened, and in January of the following
year the last rail connecting the eastern and
western part of the work was laid. In Febru
ary the first accommodation train between
Meadville and Ravenna arrived.
Three corapanies made up the Atlantic and
Great Western and the consolidation occurred
in 1865. It was broad-gauge, and in that way
was not a success. But not for this reason did
it go into the hands of a receiver. It was
leased and then again went into the hands of
a receiver. The Erie Railroad Company re
leased it in 1870, and in 1871 it was sold and
the old narae of the Atlantic and Great West
ern Company was used. In 1874 it was again
in the hands of the receiver, and in 1880 was
sold and its narae changed to New York, Penn
sylvania and Ohio. Then it was that the gauge
was reduced to the standard. In 1883 the
New York, Lake Erie and Western leased it
for ninety-nine years. It now belongs to the
Erie systera.
Two or three other railroads touched the
county in several places. The Connotten goes
through Suffield, Brirafield, Franklin and
Streetsboro. It is now called the WheeHng
and Lake Erie Railroad Corapany and is under
the control of the Wabash systera. The Cleve
land, Youngstown and Pittsburg goes through
Deerfield and Palmyra, and touches Paris. The
Baltiraore and Ohio has a branch which runs
through Franklin, Ravenna, Charleston and
Paris. Garfield, Really of Portage County.
Although Jaraes A. Garfield was born in
Orange and his body Hes in Cleveland, the
larger part of his life was spent in Portage
county. Here he studied and taught ; here be
carae president of the college; here was his
first horae; here he raarried and raised chil
dren ; and from this county he went into state

and national politics. It, therefore, seems as
if the raost which is to be said about him in
this history should be said in the chapter de
voted to Portage county.
Abrahara Garfield and his wife, Eliza, lived
in Orange, he dying in 1833. His oldest
daughter was twelve, and there were three
younger children. The farm was unpaid for
and only thirteen acres of it was cleared. Sym
pathetic friends and neighbors told Mrs. Gar
field that she could never pay off her indebt
edness and that she had better give her chil
dren away, for, without them, she raight be
able to support herself. This advice she did
not follow. Life to her, without her children,
was not worth while. She sold all the farm
except thirty acres, paid her debts, and she
and her children planted corn, potatoes and
other necessary eatables. They raade fence,
did all sorts of heavy work, and then, when
the day's work was over, she sat by the candle
light and sewed for her neighbors. For raak
ing a pair of pants and a vest she received
seventy-five cents. Thus she raised her fam
ily, and those of us who knew her in her old
age and saw her sweetness and the strength
of character in her face, could not but feel
that she was as great as the illustrious son she
bore. Little did she then know that James
would stand in the great east porch of the
capitol, and, in loving appreciation, after taking
the oath of office, kiss her in the presence of
thousands and thousands. He reraerabered the
struggle she had to rear hira, and it seeras as
if all the way along he was helped largely
through the self-denial and sympathy of
woraen. Whether or no he realized this we
do not know, but we do know he did not con
sider woraen inferior to raen. His wife pos
sessed great inteHect and loved study as did
he, and Almeda Booth, his friend, assisted him
in his early study, and it is supposed furnished
him money to finish his studies in WiHiams
CoHege. A schoolhouse in which he taught in 1850, at
Orange, was remodeled, used as a residence,
and is still standing. An autograph album be-

654

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

longing to one of the granddaughters of one
of the school directors of that tirae has the
foHowing: "James A. Garfield commenced
keeping school November ii, 1850, ending
February 26, at $15 per raonth; three and a
half raonths, $52.50."
Garfield carae to Hirara in 1851, and lived
there tiH 1877; then moved to Mentor. He
was not twenty years old when he entered
the Eclectic Institute. During two terras of
his life at Hiram, he was janitor of the build
ing, made the fires, swept the floors and rang
the bell. With all this extra work he man
aged to keep at the head of his class and was
its valedictorian. He taught school and stud
ied by turn. He always looked forward with
pleasure to getting back to Hiram. He loved
its religious atmosphere, and in a letter to a
friend he says, "Though a man have all knowl
edge and have not the love of God in his heart
he wHl fall short of true excellence."
That one sentence was the key-note of Gar
field's character. He was the most loving and
friendly of any pubhc raan the writer has ever
known. In every haralet in his district were
people who looked forward to his coraing to
the political conventions as they would to a
loved member of their family. In all such
hamlets, he has been seen with his arm around
some man-friend, talking enthusiastically,
pleasantly and cheerfully. At first people used
to think he did this for political reasons, but
soon they learned to know it was his nature.
He probably called more people by their first
name, and he felt he had a right to, than any
other public man on the Reserve. He pos
sessed one quality to a larger degree than any
other person the writer has ever known, and
it has always seeraed strange to her that this
never was commented on by his biographers.
He was absolutely forgiving. He was so for
giving that he could not remeraber, unless it
was a great offense, either the wrong done
him or who did it. Of course, he had his
enemies in most towns, as men who occupy so
high a place surely would have, and when his
friends in that town would tell him that cer

tain parties there were his eneraies, and for
political reasons must be cut, he would really
try to remeraber it, but when he reached the
town, if he saw this old friend, he iraraedi
ately forgot all about it until admonished by
his political backers.
Mr. Garfield early displayed the ability for
debating, and it is recorded that at Hiram,
when he was very young, he overthrew in de
bate Joseph Treat, who they were wont to
call Infidel Treat. In the suramer of 1852,
wanting to earn sorae money, he stayed in
Hirara and helped A. S. Kilby build his house.
For work as a carpenter he received seventy-
five centSj a day and board. He was a strong,
hearty raan, and well fitted for this work.
Garfield was never ordained to the rainistry.
Many of the early Disciple preachers were not.
He held revivals and added a great raany mem
bers to his church. He baptized people, mar
ried people and read funeral services. He first
preached in Hiram in the winter of 1853-54,
and for a number of years in churches near
by. After his return from Williams College,
he studied law and entered, as a student, the
office of WiHiarason & Riddle in Cleveland.
He lectured for Hirara College.
Alraeda Booth, in writing to Jaraes A. Gar
field, then a student at Williaras College, under
the date of February, 1856, says : "Brother
Hayden thinks you are raorally bound to come
back here, but I think the raoral obligation
resting upon him is quite as strong to give up
the management to you if you do corae. I
know you can never endure to work under
him, for it is ten times as irksome to rae as
it was before I went away. Jaraes, would you
risk to come here and see what you can do
with the school? It certainly is a good loca
tion, and I know you would succeed, if you
were not erabarrassed by dictation or manage
raent." It was after this that he became prin
cipal of the Institute.
He was in Hiram on the 4th of February,
1881, for the last time. On that occasion he
said: "Today is a sort of burial-day in many
ways. I have often been in Hirara, and have

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

655

often left it; but, with the exception of when
I went to war, I have never felt that I was
leaving it in quite so definite a way as I do
today. It was so long a work-shop, so long
a home, that all absences have been temporary,
and involved always a return. I cannot speak
of all the ties that bind me to this place. There
are other things buried beneath this snow be
sides dead people. The trees, the rocks, the
fences and the grass are all reminders of
things connected with my Hirara life. * * *
May the time never come when I cannot find
sorae food for mind and heart on Hirara HiH."
As president of the Eclectic Institute, Gar
field was a success. The school came into
prominence and advanced under his direction.
In regard to Mr. Garfield's early student
Hfe at Hiram, Mr. Munnell is on record. In
writing to F. M. Green, who wrote the his
tory of Hirara College, under date of Decem
ber 23, 1881, he says:
"Dear Sir: In compliance with your re
quest, I send you the following fact co.ncern-
ing Garfield as a student. I belonged to the
first faculty of Hirara College — the Eclectic
Institute then — and in Noveraber, 1850, heard
the first lesson ever recited within its waHs,
and, therefore, knew the general irapression
made by the noble student when he first ap
peared upon the carapus, and, especially in
the professors' rooms.
"When he arrived, he had studied a little
of Latin gramraar, but had done nothing in
the way of translating. I had no class to suit
him in eleraentary Latin, one being behind hira
and another far in advance. He resolved at
once to overtake the advanced class, provided
I would hear his recitation after class hours,
which I readily agreed to do. Teachers all
know that an average lesson for an ordinary
student, beginning 'Caesar's Comraentaries,' is
half a page, while carrying on the usual num
ber of other studies; but, on no occasion did
Garfield come into said recitations without
three pages of 'Csesar,' or six ordinary les
sons, and then could go on further if I had
time to hear him. His method of getting a

start, as he afterwards told me, was resolute
and deterrained. He went to a secluded place
in the college with his 'Caesar,' dictionary and
grararaar, and undertook to translate the first
paragraph of half a dozen lines by writing
down every Latin word, and under it every
definition of that word, till he found the one
that raade the best sense, and when he had
fairly made out, 'All Gaul is divided into three
parts,' he thought his triumph had begun ; and
when he had corapleted the whole paragraph,
he said he 'just knew that he knew it.'
"This was in line with aH his after studies,
for he always sought a conscious victory over
every difficulty. Truly yours.
"Thomas Munnell."
Synopsis of life: He was born in Orange,
1821 ; graduated at Williaras College, 1856;
studied and practiced law ; Ohio senator, 1859-
60; colonel, 1861 ; brigadier general, 1862; on
Rosecrans' staff, 1863; in congress, 1863-80;
elected to United States senate, 1880 ; did not
take his seat, because elected president; assas
sinated July 2, 1 88 1.
Strange it was that a division in the political
party which he had served so long should have
raade Garfield's death possible. The conten
tion of "stalwart" or "half-breed" was enough
to fire an insane raan to corarait an awful
deed. The suramer of 1881 was one of ten
sion for the nation. Daily buHetins frora the
bedside of the dying president were read in
every haralet, and when the life had gone out
interest turned to Charles Guiteau, whose trial
and execution in the early winter followed.
'Twas a sad ending of a joyous, happy life.
The widow and five chHdren are still living,
all prosperous and happy. The first child was
nicknamed Betsey Trotwood, because he hoped
she would be a boy. He playfully called her
Trot. She died early and is buried on Hiram
HiH. Probably no campaign was ever more hotly
contested than was that of 1880, and no raore
exciteraent attending, unless it was those of
1840 and i860. The great raass meetings at

656

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Warren, when Grant and Conklin, of the Stal
wart wing, spoke and afterwards visited Men
tor, was the turning point. Probably no presi
dent had so raany delegations visiting hira, al
though he was at an inaccessible place, and,
although he spoke in Gerraan soraetiraes, and
on all subjects, he never raade any statement
which erabarrassed his party.
Almeda A. Booth.
Undoubtedly the greatest woraan the West
ern Reserve has produced was Alraeda A.,
the daughter of Ezra and Dorcas Taylor. She

ALMEDA A, BOOTH.
was born in 1823, on a farm west of the cen
ter of Nelson, and there lived till she was
twelve years old. From the very beginning of
her life she showed intellectual and moral
strength. At an incredible age she puzzled
her teachers with questions and lost herself
in her Greek grararaar. In 1835 the family
raoved to Mantua where they lived for thirty-
five years.
F. M. Green, who wrote the "History of
Hirara College," says : "Few woraen of nobler

character, purer life, or better mental equip
raent, have ever lived. During all of her term
of service at Hirara the light of her soul illu-
rainated the classroom and the social walks of
the students. It is difficult to institute a com
parison between her and others of her genera
tion. She had a distinct individuality and an
alraost divine personality. No one who ever
carae in contact with her can forget her. Even-
terapered, an empress in her power to con
trol, a conqueror of every will that seemed to
her to stand in the way of true progress, she
was undisputed mistress of all who came
within the sphere of her influence. Her early
pupHs regarded her with almost as much rev
erence as the devout Roraanist does the Virgin
Mary. Her sweet. Christian spirit, made raore
fragrant by the sorrows of her life, permeated
with its riches the history of Hirara school
and social life for a full quarter of a century."
Mr. Garfield., who was associated with her
so long, and knew her so well, in his address,
June 22, 1876, at Hiram, shows such a sympa
thetic insight into her life and character, as to
raake his estiraate particularly valuable to
those who would know her as she was known.
The lesson and legacy of her life, left to her
friends and to Hirara, are felicitously ex
pressed by her appreciative biographer: "Her
life was so largely and so inseparably a part
of our own, that it is not easy for any of us,
least of all for me, to take a sufficiently dis
tant standpoint from which to raeasure its pro
portions. We shall never forget her sturdy,
well-formed figure; her head that would have
appeared colossal but for its symmetry of pro
portions; the strongly marked features of her
plain, rugged face, not raoulded according to
the artist's lines of beauty, but so lighted up
with intelligence and kindhness as to appear
positively beautiful to those who knew her
weH. "The basis of her character, the controHing
force which developed and formed it, was
strength — extraordinary intellectual power.
Blessed with a vigorous constitution and ro
bust bodily health, her capacity for close, con-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

657

tinuous and effective < mental work was re
markable. "It is hardly possible for one person to know
the quality and strength of another's mind
more thoroughly than I knew hers. From
long association in her studies, and comparing
her with all the students I have known, here
and elsewhere, I do not hesitate to say, that
I have never known one who grasped with
greater power and handled with more ease
and thoroughness, all the studies of the col
lege course. I doubt if in all these respects
I have ever known one who was her equal.
She caught an author's raeaning with remark
able quickness and clearness ; and, raastering
the difficulties of construction, she detected,
with alraost unerring certainty, the most deli
cate shades of thought.
"She abhorred all shams of scholarship, and
would be content with nothing short of the
whole raeaning. When crowded with work,
it was not unusual for her to sit by her lamp,
unconscious of the hours, till far past raid-
night. "Her powers were well balanced. When I
first knew her, it was supposed that her mind
was specially adapted to mathematical study.
A little later, it was thought she had found
her fittest work in the field of the natural sci
ences ; later still, one would have said she had
found her highest possibilities in the languages.
"Tier mind was many-sided, strong, cora
pact, syrametrical. It was this symmetry and
balance of qualities that gave her such ad
mirable judgment and enabled her to concen
trate all her powers upon any work she
attempted. "To this general stateraent concerning her
faculties there was, however, one raarked ex
ception. WhHe she enjoyed, and in some de
grees appreciated, the harmonies of rausic, she
was alraost wholly deficient in the faculty of
musical expression. After her return frora
college, she deterrained to ascertain by actual
test to what extent, if at all, this defect could
be overcorae. With a patience and courage
I have never seen equalled in such a case, she

persisted for six months in the attempt to mas
ter the technical mysteries of instrumental
music, and even attempted one vocal piece.
But she found that the struggle was nearly
fruitless; the music in her^ soul would not
come forth at her bidding. A few of her
friends will reraeraber that, for many years,
to raention 'The Suwanee River' was the sig
nal for a little good-naturefi raerriment at her
expense, and a reminder of her heroic attempt
at vocal and instrumental music.
"The tone of her raind was habitually log
ical and serious, not specially inclined to what
is technically known as wit; but she had the
heartiest appreciation of genuine humor, such
as glows on the pages of Cervantes and
Dickens. Clifton Bennett and Levi Brown will
never forget how keenly she enjoyed the
quaint drollery with which they once pre
sented, at a public lyceura, a scene from 'Don
Quixote'; and I am sure there are three per
sons here today who will never forget hovw
nearly she was once suffocated with laughter
over a mock presentation speech by Harry
Rhodes. "Though possessed of very great inteHec
tual powers, or, as the arrogance of our sex
accustoms us to say, 'having a mind of mas
culine strength,' it was not at all masculine in
the opprobrious sense in which that term is
frequently applied to women. She was a raost
womanly woraan, with a spirit of gentle and
childlike sweetness, with no self-consciousness
of superiority, and not the least trace of arro
gance. "Though possessing these great powers, she
was not unraindful of those elegant accom
plishments, the love of which seems native to
the mind of woman.
"In her earlier years she was sometimes
criticised as caring too little for the graces of
dress and manner ; and there was sorae justice
in the criticism. The possession of great
powers, no doubt, carries with it a contempt
for raere external show. In her early life
Miss Booth dressed neatly, though with the
utmost plainness, and applied herself to the

Vol. 1—42

658

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

work of gaining the more enduring ornaraents
of mind and heart. In her first years at Hirara
she had devoted all her powers to teaching
and raastering the difficulties of the higher
studies, and had given but little tirae to what
are called the raore elegant accorapHshments.
But she was not deficient in appreciation of
all that really adorns and beautifies a thorough
.culture. After her return frora Oberlin, she
paid raore attention to the 'mint, anise and
cummin' of Hfe. During the last fifteen years
of her life, few ladies dressed with more se
vere or elegant taste. As a raeans of personal
culture, she read the history of art, devoted
rauch tirae to drawing and painting, and
acquired considerable skill with the pencil and
brush. "She did not enjoy miscellaneous society.
Great crowds were her abhorrence. But in a
small circle of congenial friends she was a
delighted and a delightful corapanion.
"Fler religious character affords an addi
tional illustration of her reraarkable combina
tion of strength and gentleness. At an early
age she becarae a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and continued in faithful
and consistent relations with that organization
until she united with the Disciples, soon after
she carae to Hiram.
'T venture to assert, that in native powers
of mind, in thoroughness and breadth of schol
arship, in womanly sweetness of spirit, and
in the quantity and quality of effective, unself
ish work done, she has not been' excelled by
any Araerican woraan. What she accora
plished with her great powers, thoroughly
trained and subordinated to the principles of
a Christian life, has been briefly stated.
"She did not find it necessary to raake war
upon society in order to capture a field for the
exercise of her great qualities. Though urg
ing upon woraen the necessity of the largest
and most thorough culture, and deraanding for
them the araplest means for acquiring it, she
did not waste her years in bewailing the sub
jection of her sex, but eraployed thera in raak
ing herself a great and beneficent power. She

did far more to honor and exalt woman's place
in society than the thousands of her contem
poraries who struggle raore earnestly for the
barren sceptre of power than for fitness to
wield it.
"She might have adorned the highest walks
of literature, and doubtless might thus have
won a noisy fame, but it raay be doubted
whether in any other pursuit she could have
conferred greater or more lasting benefits upon
her fellow-creatures, than by the Hfe she so
faithfully and successfully devoted to the
training and culture of youth. With no greed
of power or gain, she found her chief reward
in blessing others.
"I do not know of any man or woman, who,
at fifty-one years of age, had done more or
better work. I have not been able to ascer
tain precisely how long she taught before she
came to Hiram; but it was certainly not less
than fifteen terras. She taught forty-two
terras here, twenty-one terras in the Union
School at Cuyahoga Falls, and, finally, two
years in private classes ; in all, nearly twenty-
eight years of faithful and raost successful
teaching, to which she devoted the wealth of
her great faculties and admirable scholarship.
"How rich and how full was the measure
of gratitude poured out to her, frora. many
thousands of loving hearts ! And today, from
every station of life, and frora every quarter
of our country, are heard the voices of those
who rise up to call her blessed, and to pay
their tearful tribute of gratitude to her
raemory. "On my own behalf, I take this occasion to
say, that for her generous and powerful aid,
so often and so efficiently rendered, for her
quick and never-failing sympathy, and for her
intelligent, unselfish, and unswerving friend
ship, I owe her a debt of gratitude and affec
tion,. for the payraent of which the longest term
of life would have been too short.
"To this institution she has left the honor
able record of a long and faithful service, and
the rich legacy of a pure and noble life. I
have shown that she lived three lives. One of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

659

these, the second, in all its richness and full
ness, she gave to Hirara. More than half of
her teaching was done here, where she taught
much longer than any other person has taught ;
and no one has done work of better quality.
"She has reared a raonuraent which the en
vious years cannot wholly destroy. As long
as the love of learning shall here survive; as
long as the light of this college shall be kept
burning; as long as there "are hearts to hold
and cherish the memory of its past; as long
as high qualities of raind and heart are hon
ored and loved araong men and woraen — so
long wHl the name of Almeda A. Booth be
here remerabered, and honored, and loved."
General Garfield said of Almeda Booth in an
address which he raade at Hirara in 1876 : "I
came to the Eclectic in the faH of 185 1, and a
few days after the beginning of the term, I saw
a class of three reciting in raatheraatics —
geometry, I think. They sat on one of the
red benches, in the center of the aisle of the
lower chapel. I had never seen a geometry;
and, regarding both teacher and class with a
feeling of reverential awe, frora the intellectual
height to which they clirabed, I studied their
faces so closely that I seem to see thera now as
distinctly as I saw thera then. And it has
been ray good fortune, since that tirae, to claim
them all as intiraate friends. The teacher was
Thoraas MunneH ; and the raembers of his class
were William B. Hazen, George A. Baker and
Almeda A. Booth."
The WiHiara Hazen referred to was General
Hazen, who distinguished hiraself in the War
of the Rebellion and was the first head of the
Signal Service.
Congressmen From Portage County.
The following is a list of raen who have
represented Portage county in congress.
At first there was but one for the whole state
and then, as divisions were raade, the terri
tory becarae liraited with the growing popula
tion. At present. Portage county is in the 19th
district and although there have been changes
in the boundaries of this district on the east.

north and south. Portage has always remained
in that historic district:
William H. Harrison, Hamilton county,
1 799- 1 800.
WiHiam McMillan, Hamilton county, 1800-1.
Paul Fearing, Washington county, 1861-3.
Jereraiah Morrow, Warren county, 1803-13.
Jonathan Edwards, TrurabuH county, 1813,
(died before taking seat).
Rezin Beall, Wayne county, 1813, (resigned
sarae year).
David Clendenen, TrurabuH county, 1813-17.
Peter Hitchcock, Geauga county, 1817-19.
John Sloan, Wayne county, 1819-23.
Elisah Whittlesey, TrurabuH^-county, 1823-
1833- Jonathan Sloane, Portage county, 1833-37.
John W. Allen, Cuyahoga county, 1837-41.
Sherlock J. Andrews, Cuyahoga county,
1841-43. Daniel R. Tilden, Portage county, 1843-47.
John Crowell, TrurabuH county, 1847-51.
Eben Newton, Mahoning county, 1851-53.
George Bliss, Sumrait county, 1853-55.
Benjarain F. Lighter, Stark county, 1855-
1859. Sidney Edgerton, Surarait county, 1859-63.
James A. Garfield, Portage county, 1863-79.
WHliam McKinley, Jr., Stark county, 1879-
1881. Ezra B. Taylor, Trumbull county, 1880-93.
Stephen A. Northway, A.shtabula county,
1893-98. Charles Dick, Stark county, 1898-1904.
Williara Aubrey Thoraas, TrurabuH county,
1904 — 1910.
Senators from the County.
The following raen have served in the
senate from Portage county, either when it
was attached to other counties or since it was
alone :
Sarauel Huntington, 1803; Benj. Tappan,
1803-1804; George Tod, 1804-1806; Calvin
Cone, 1806-1808; David Abbott, 1808-1812;
Peter Hitchcock, 1812-1816; Aaron Wheeler
and Alraon Ruggles, 1816-1818; Aaron

66o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Wheeler and John Carapbell, 1818-1819; John
Carapbell and Alraon Ruggles, 1819-1820;
Jonathan Foster, 1820-1822; Jonathan
Sloane, 1822-1824; Aaron Norton, 1824-1825;
Elkanah Richardson, 1825-1826; Jonathan
Sloane, 1826-1828; Darius Lyman, 1828-1832;
Chauncy Eggleston, 1832-1834; Darius Ly
man, 1 834- 1 835 ; Frederick Wadsworth, 1835-
1836; Daniel Upson, 1836-1838; Gregory
Powers, 1838-1839; Siraon Perkins, 1839-
1840; EHsha N. SiH, 1840-1842; John E. Jack
son, 1842-1844; Wm. Wetmore, 1844-1846;
Asahel H. Lewis, 1846-1848; Lucian Swift,
1848-1850; Darius Lyraan, 1850-1851 ; Ran
sora A. GHlett, 1852-1854; WiHiara H. Upson,
1854-1856; Oliver P. Brown, 1856-1858;
George P. Ashraun, 1858-1860; Jaraes A. Gar
field, 1 860- 1 862; Lucius V. Biene, 1862- 1864;
Luther Day was elected in 1864 but resigned;
Alphonso Hart succeeded hira, serving till
1866; N. Y. Tibbals, 1866-1868; Philo B.
Conant, 1868, resigned sarae year; William
Stedman, served till 1870; Henry McKinney,
1870-1872; Alphonso Hart, 1872-1874; N. W.
Goodhue, 1874-1876; Marvin Kent, 1876-
1878; David D. Beebe, 1878-1882 ; S. P. Wol
cott, 1882-1886; George W. Crouse, i^
1888; J. Park Alexander, 1888-1892, iJ
1900; George H. Ford, 1888-1890; E. L.
Lampson, 1892- 1894; Friend Whittlesey,
1894-1898; James R. Garfield, 1896-1900;
George Seiber, 1900- 1902 ;  Harris,
1902-1906; Charles Lawyer, 1906-1910; N. O.
Mather, 1906-1910. Representatives.
The following persons have been members
of the house of representatives :
Jaraes Pritchard was in the legislature and
really represented the present part of Portage
county in 1799-1801 ; Edward Payne, 1801-
1803; Ephraim Quinby and Aaron Wheeler,
1803 ; David Abbott and Ephraim Quinby,
1803-1804; Araos Spofford and Horaer Hine,
1804-1805 ; Horaer Hine and Jaraes Kings
bury, 1805-1806; John P. Bissell and Jaraes
Kingsbury, 1806- 1807; John W. Seeley and

Jaraes Montgoraery, 1807-1808 ; Abel Sabin,
1808-1809; Benj. Whedon, 1809-1810; Elias
Harmon, 1810-1812; Rial McArthur, 1812-
1815; Moses Adams, 1815-1816; Darius Ly
raan, 1816-1820; Jonathan Sloane and Jaraes
Moore, 1820-1822; George B. DePeyster and
Joseph Harris, 1822-1823; George B. iDe-
Peyster and Jaraes Moore, 1823-1824; Will
iam Coolman, 1824- 1828; Van R. Humphrey,
.1828-1830; Thoraas Earl, 1830-1832; George
Powers, 1832-1833; Roan Clark, 1833-1834;
Amos Seward, 1834-1835; Joseph Lyman,
1835-1836; Williara Quinby and Thomas C.
Slireve, 1836-1837 ; Solomon Day and William
Wetmore, 1837-1838; Elijah Garrett and
George Kirkura, 1838-1839; Rufus P. Spald
ing and Ephraira B. Hubbard, 1839-1840;
Jason Streeter and Hiram Giddings, 1840-
1841 ; John Streeter, 1841-1842; Thomas
Earl and Sarauel H. Pardee, 1842-1843; Phil-
man Bennett, 1843-1844; Robert F. Payne,
1844-1845; David Mcintosh and Thomas
Shreve, 1845-1846; Luther Russell, 1846-
1847 ; William Coolraan and Amos Seward,
1847-1848: George Sheldon, 1848-1850; Lorin
Bigelow, 1850-1851 ; Lorin -Bigelow, 1852-
1854; L. W. Cockran, 1854-1856; Erasmus
Needham, 1856-1858; Cyrus Laughlin, 1858-
1860 ; William Steadman and A. H. Squire,
1860-1862; David L. RockweH, 1862-1864;
Samuel E. M. Kneeland, 1864-1866; Williara
Steadman, 1866-1868; Reuben P. Cannon,
1868-1872; Joseph Conrad, 1872-1874; OrvH
Blake, 1874-1878; Charles R. Harmon, 1878-
1882; Egbert S. Woodworth, 1882-1884;
Aaron Sherraan, 1884-1885 : Friend Whittle
sey, 1886-1889; Egbert S. Woodworth, 1890-
1891 ; R. B. Richards, 1892-1896; Harry L.
Beatty, 1896-1899; WiHiara H. Craft, 1900-
1905 ; William Grinnell, 1906-1910.
Schools of the County.
The general information in regard to the
schools of the Western Reserve is given in the
early chapters of this work.
R. C. Brown in his History of Portage

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

66i

County, says : "Up to this time ( 1831 ) women
were not eligible as school teachers, for we
find that an act was passed Deceraber 23, 183 1,
allowing the directors to eraploy feraale teach
ers, but the directors had to signify in writing
to the school examiners that it was the desire
of the inhabitants of said district to employ
'a female teacher for instructing their children
in spelling, writing and reading.' The exam
iner was then empowered to give the lady a
'special certificate' to teach those branches. It
is unnecessary for the writer to comment on
this injustice. He takes it for granted that the
most of men wHl agree with hira that this
discrimination against women was a grievous
wrong and unworthy of this great common-
•wealth." When we reraeraber that the great
est teacher Portage county ever had was a
vyoraan, Almeda A. Booth, the injustice of
this seems preposterous.
Noah and Jesse Grant.
Noah Grant and his wife located in Deer
field. He had a tannery in the suramer and in
winter went around among the farraers mak
ing shoes of the leather which he tanned in
suraraer. He did work for the Indians and
'syas on very good terms with them.
Noah Grant was an eastern man, raarried,
and had two children. He left the oldest one
in Connecticut with relatives and, coraing west
stopped in Pennsylvania, where he married and
carae to Deerfield to live, bringing Peter, a -son
by his first marriage, with him. Peter had
natural business ability and becarae a prosper
ous raan. When things went bad with the
faraily he could always help out. The .second
Mrs. Grant died in Deerfield and is buried
there. Noah, not knowing what to do with his
raotherless family, went to James Hillman in
Youngstown, who kindly took care of Roswell
and Margaret. Jesse and his other sister were
taken into the faraily of Judge Tod.
Jesse Grant never failed to praise Mrs. Tod
for her kindness. Judge and Mrs. Tod were
people of sraall means and this was a generous

act. Jesse Grant says in a letter : "David Tod
and Frank Thorne and myself were the leaders
of all the mischief : so says Master Noise"
(probably the school teacher). Jesse Grant
left Judge Tod in 1810 and returned to Deer
field. In 1815, when he was twenty-three years
old, he had a tannery in Ravenna. This build
ing stood near the site of the Presbyterian
church on the northeast corner of the street.
For many years after his departure a little sign
leaned against the old building on which were
the words : "Jesse Grant, Tanner." In 1821
he sold his tannery and raoved to a town on
the Ohio river opposite Maysville, George
town, where he married. Here his son, U. S.,
was born. He often paid visits to Portage,
Trumbull and Mahoning counties, and possibly
the writer was too young to judge, but when he
was the guest of her father and mother, she
considered him a garrulous old gentleman,
with a goodly amount of pride in his son.
Beebe and Carter at the Lincoln
Convention.
' In the convention which nominated Lincoln,
Horace Y. Beebe was a delegate, and upon
organization became secretary of the Ohio
delegation. Hon. D. K. Carter was chairman.
As long as there was any hope for Chase, the
Ohio delegates stood for him. On the last
ballot Lincoln was within four or five votes
of the nomination. The Ohio delegates con
sulted, and Carter announced that five of
Ohio's votes would be cast for Lincoln. This
was followed by other states, so that he had a
majority, Horace Y. Beebe, D. K. Carter and
Robert F. Paine were among the five which
changed their vote. Lincoln appreciated this
and when he went to ^Vashington for his in
auguration the train stopped at Ravenna and
took on Mr. Beebe. More than a thousand
people were at the station to see the awkward,
hore=t lllinoispn who, save Washington, be
came the most illustrious president of the
United States. D. K. Carter was later raade
judge of the Court of Claims at Washington

HIEAM COLLEGE, OETGINAL BUILDING.
(From F. M. Green's "History of Hiram College.")

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

663

and Mr. Paine, United States district attorney
for Northern Ohio.
R.'^VENNA AND FUGITIVE SlAVE LaW.
At the "Horae Coming" of 1910, in Ravenna,
WiHiam R. Day, judge of the Supreme Court
of the United States, in his address said : "The
generation with which ray raeraory begins were
mostly the children and grandchildren of Yan
kee pioneers. They cherished as a most precious
heritage the meraory of those who had braved
the dangers of the wilderness and subdued the
new lands to the cultivated fields and thriving
towns which raake up the transplanted New
England of the West. Like their ancestors
they were possessed of the New England con
science, and for principles in which they be-
Keved would follow a cause even to the stake.
"I suppose the raost irapressionable period
of a human life is in the years when one is
old enough to appreciate and hear for the first
time the things which interest mankind in their
daily life and aspirations. My raost vivid rec
ollection of Ravenna erabraces the period just
preceding and running through the Civil war.
The people of the Western Reserye were pro
foundly stirred by the agitation of the question
of the right to extend human slavery to the
then newly settled territories of the Union.
Under the leadership of such men as Wade,
and Giddings and Storrs, the majority of its
people were strong in their denunciation of the
growth of the slave power, and firm in their
deraand that the new states should be free.
Who that witnessed will ever forget the in
dignant protest against the enforceraent of the
Fugitive Slave law evidenced ' in the great
meeting in Cleveland in 1859, upon the occa
sion of the Federal prosecution of the Oberlin
professors and others who had aided to free
dora a fleeing slave from Kentucky. Ravenna
furnished a large part of the great throng
which asserabled in the public square in Cleve
land to denounce a law which raade slave-
catchers of freeraen. The history of that case
is an interesting chapter in the anti-slavery

struggle which preceded the war of the rebel
lion. The appeal to the Supreme .Court of
Ohio to set free the prisoners held by the Fed
eral authorities, because the Fugitive Slave
law was claimed to be unconstitutional, carae
within a single judicial vote of setting the
coraraonwealth of Ohio in opposition to the
interpretation of the Federal Constitution by
the Supreme Court of the United States. We
may stop to enquire, had Ohio's court changed
by one vote, would the people of Ohio in the
spirit of opposition to slavery then prevaHing,
have declared for arraed opposition to Federal
authority, and would the beginning of the war
have been north instead of south of Mason and
Dixon's line? Probably not, but this much is
certain, that when we read the resolutions
passed and the speeches of the leaders made
at that meeting, in Cleveland in 1859, declaring
for the rights of the states as against what was
deemed Federal usurpation, we raay have raore
charity for those people of the South, who
were reared to believe the doctrine that a state
raight nullify an obnoxious federal law and
that this union of states was but a compact
dissolvable at the will of its coraponent
meinbers. ¦'We have heard some things in recent days
of the impropriety of criticising judicial de
cisions. A perusal of the speeches made in
denunciation of the then recent Dred Scott
decision at the raeeting in 1859 makes the
modern criticisra appear pale and ineffectual.
The raore recent reflections upon judicial con
duct, corapared with the fierce denunciation of
that decision by the fiery orators of 18.59 is, to
borrow a figure used by one of the clergyraen
on the Reserve when coraparing previous
legislation upon the subject of slavery, to the
act of 1850 'as a raint julep to a dose of raolten
lead.' The influence of that decision, which its
internal history shows was believed by those
who participated in it to be a raeans of forever
settling the vexed question of slavery in the
territories, and reraoving it frora public agita
tion as a factor of danger to the Union, shows

664

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the futility of expecting that any judicial de
cision will thwart the American people in their
deterraination to adopt a policy which they
believe to be right. Not that other decisions
may be reversed, as was that, in the fiery ordeal
of war. But true it is, that a Constitution
which carae from the people, can be amended
by the people, and will be when enough of them
are convinced that it ought to be.
"Among the anecdotes of the Civil war it is
related that a Yankee soldier upon one of those
occasions when the approaching arraies were
within talking distance of one another, called
out to a Confederate soldier, 'Johnny, what are
you fighting for anyhow?'
" 'I ara fighting,' said the Confederate, 'for
the right to take ray slaves into the territories
under the Dred Scott decision.'
"Had the question been returned in kind, the
Union soldier might have answered : 'I am
fighting for the supremacy of John Marshall's
decisions, that the federal authority is within
its sphere the suprerae law of the land, and to
make the government fraraed by the constitu
tion in fact an indestructible union of indes
tructible states. Fortunately today this ques
tion is forever settled ; and whatever perils
await us, whatever vexing problems the future
holds, they will be solved by a United country
'now and forever one and inseparable.' "
Lincoln's Visit to Ravenna.
"The slavery debate led to the civil uprising
of the north, and the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the presidency. How vividly the
scene coraes back to raemory recalling the visit
of that great raan to Ravenna in February,
1861, on the way to his first inauguration; the
gathering at the station, the reverberating
echoes of the guns of Cotter's battery in the
welcoming salute; the appearance of the tall
forra of the newly-elected president on the
platform of the car, and his quaint sugges
tion that if he tarried too long at the various
stopping places he would not get to Washing
ton until after the inauguration. And then
the anecdote, not merely for the sake of a

story, but bringing horae to the people the
necessity of united action in the then impend
ing crisis, when he said : 'There are doubtless
sorae here today who did not vote for me, but
I believe now we all raake coraraon cause for
the Union. And, now on this point I raay tell
an anecdote : Patrick carae to rae the other
day, and said he : "Mr. Lincoln, I want to
shake hands with you ; but I did not vote for
you, sir." He told rae he went for Douglas.
"Now," said I, "I will tell you what to do. If
we all turn in and keep the old Ship of State
frora sinking on this voyage, why there may
be a chance for Douglas on the nextj but if
we let it go down now, neither he nor anyone
else will have a chance to sail in it again."
Now, was not that good advice? I thought
it was ; but I cannot talk to you any longer-^
as I said before, I can only say. How do you
do, and goodbye.' Who was wise enough
then to foresee that we looked into the face of
one whose patient strength and gentle but pre
vailing wisdora were to lead this dation
through four years of deadly strife to final
triuraph for the Union."
Hiram College.
Although Hirara College, from its forraa
tion, was well known by the people of its
vicinity, it was not until the noraination of
Jaraes A. Garfield to the office of president
that its reputation becarae national. The rise
of the Disciple denomination, after a religious
revival, was phenoraenal. The followers of
Alexander Campbell in 1828 carae to Warren;
held their raeetings in the court house; inter
ested the Baptist rainister, Mr. Bentley; held
meetings in that church, and not only cap
tured the congregation, but the rainister and
the meeting-house as well. In fact, when they
were through with their mission, there were
less than a dozen members of the congre°-a-
tion who had not been converted to the new
faith. ,
Many of the early preachers, like the preach
ers in other denominations, were raen who had
become interested in the spiritual part of re-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

665

Hgion and had not been educated, for the min
istry, or, in fact, Educated at all. When the
church in northern Ohio was under way, the
denomination suffered the sneers of the people
because of the ignorance of sorae of the
preachers. This was one of the facts which
led to the forraation of a college under this
denomination. Alexander CarapbeH, realizing
this condition, had founded Bethany College,
in the pan handle of Virginia, in 1840.
In the very beginning the Disciple rainisters
and their foHowers used to gather purposely
to discuss matters pertaining to the church,
and from this beginning a yearly raeeting was
established. At the yearly raeeting held in
Russell, Geauga county, Ohio, in 1849, the
question of establishing a school was brought
up and a meeting appointed for June 12, to
be held in the house of A. L. Soule. At that
meeting, Mr. Soule was raade chairman and
it was found that the delegates who were gath
ered there were in favor of considering the
subject and inviting the different churches to
send delegates to a future meeting. Three of
these raeetings followed — one in North Bloora
field, August 2nd, the second at Ravenna, Oc
tober 3rd, and the third at Aurora, Noveraber
7th. At this last raeeting thirty-one churches
were represented by as many delegates.
The question of education was at this time
a very live one on the Western Reserye. Hud
son and Oberlin colleges were progressing, and
Ohio's pubhc school laws were becoming very
popular. At the beginning of this discussion
in RusseH it was decided that the school ought
to be founded, and at each meeting the inter
est grew until the Aurora meeting was a very
lively one. Flere was a set of people who had
thrown aside creeds and dogmas and were
trying to live the simple truth, as Christ had
presented it, but when the question of whether
they should establish a college or a school, and
where it should be located, was considered,
feeling ran quite as high as it does in a polit
ical convention. Six towns had petitioned for
the school, and the delegates were divided in
regard to accepting any. These towns were

Newton Falls, Hiram, Shalersville, Aurora,
Russell and Bedford. The discussion lasted
throughout raost of the day and "rose at tiraes
to a point where Christian forbearance was
stretched to a dangerous tension." Finally it
was deterrained to decide the location by bal
lot, and this balloting went on into the night.
A few of the delegates who grew weary went
home. Finally, Carnot Mason, either because
he believed Hirara could not win or because he
disliked the contention, withdrew Hiram's re
quest. His earnest, gentle speech, as he with
drew his application, raade such an irapres
sion on the delegates that it reacted to Hiram's
advantage. There were raany bubbling springs
on the hillsides of Hirara at that tirae, which
provided excellent water, and this and the fact
that it was one of the highest points of the
region, also entered into the decision.
Although raany of the men interested would
have liked to have raade a college in the begin
ning, they realized that it was wiser to have
a school instead — a school where young raen
and woraen of the neighborhood and of the
church could learn the branches which they
raost needed, or most wanted, without having
to go through the whole course, as they would,
raore or less, in a college. The religious side
was brought forth strongly in this institute,
as it was in those days in all institutes of learn
ing. Isaac Everett, one of the most able of
the early rainisters, suggested the narae of the
Western Reserve Eclectic Institute. It was
incorporated by the legislature in 1850, but it
really was begun before it was incorporated.
The building coraraittee consisted of Pelatiah
AHyn, Jr., Zeb Rudolph, Carnot Mason, Jason
Rider and Alvah UdaH. Alvah Udall, because
of his business ability, was raade chairman of
the coraraittee.
To show how raen from the beginning of
tirae have had sentiraent, although that char
acteristic is erroneously laid to the doors of
women alone, I quote from Green's "History
of Hirara College." In speaking of a meeting
of the building comraittee, he says: "This
raeetnig also adopted a seal for the institution

HIEAM COLLEGE AND CAMPUS.
(From E, M. Green's "History of Hiram College,)

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

667

the design of which was a vignette; a dove
with an olive branch in its beak, its wings
half raised, resting on the open Bible, with the
motto, 'Let there be light.' "
Thomas M. Young reluctantly sold a very
nice section of land in Hiram to the men in-^
.terested in this college, and it was plotted,
seven acres being reserved for the campus.
On one portion of this Young land was stone
which was used for the foundation of the
building. A good share of the work in con
nection with the construction of this first in
stitution was voluntary. Pelatiah AHyn and
Zeb Rudolph did the carpentering; bricks
were burned on the farm of Alvah Udall, and
merabers of the comraittee gave their thought,
their time and their raoney to the work. There
were very few brick structures on the Western
Reserve at this time. Wood was so plenty
that it was used in aH building. However,
this building had the lower story of reddish
sandstone and the upper part of brick.
The college was- opened in 1850. There
were eighty-four students and three teachers.
Disciples, who gathered in great nurabers on
that date, had a thanksgiving service, after
which the congregation proceeded to the new
buHding, where appropriate exercises were had
and the college was really opened.
From the very beginning it was co-educa
tional, and probably in no school in the coun
try has the real spirit of co-educational train
ing been more fully demonstrated than here.
As a rule, people who have attended this insti
tute have been people of small raeans who had
to econoraize and to whora an education raeant
capital. Araong the early teachers were able women,
and possibly the ablest teacher that Hirara has
ever had from the beginning was Almeda
Booth. A sketch of her life is given else
where. To her, powerful as she was in raorals
and intellect, was due the fact that it raattered
not whether a pupil was a girl or a boy. It
was only that it was a pupil.
When the writer was a little girl, she heard
sorae older people talking about the nonsense

of educating boys and girls in the sarae
schools. One raan said: "I do not want my
son to go to a school where he may become
entangled with sorae girl and early contracts
to raarry her." Most of the people in the
party were on this gentieraan's side, but finally
an influential man of the party said: "WeH,
for my part, I would rather my boy would
go to a school where he will raeet decent, re
fined girls, even if he should marry one of
thera, than to go to a school with boys and
becorae acquainted with young women of an
entirely different sort, none of whom he would
think of raaking his wife, or of telHng his
raother he knew them."
Long after that the writer investigated, not
exhaustively, however, the question of mar
riage among the students at Hiram, and she
found that raany of them did marry; and,
although there were undoubtedly sorae un
happy marriages from that institute, as there
have been unhappy marriages everywhere, she
herself does not know of any Hirara College
raan and woraan who are unhappy in that raar
riage. Among the different reasons for en
dorsing co-education in the school, F. M.
Greene says that "co-education does away with
rowdyism, hazing and raany other disorders."
This is a pretty good endorsement.
President Hayden and Early Teachers.
Amos Sutton Hayden, Thomas Munnell and
Mrs. Phoebe Drake were the first teachers of
the Eclectic Institute. It was not long before
the number of scholars was greatly increased
and new teachers were added. There is not
space here to give their names nor the names
of the people who early contributed to the
success of the college.
President Hayden was an unusual man and
the right person for the beginning of this in
stitution. He had taught at Bethany and held
the position of president until 1857. He
taught in other places in Ohio, and when he
retired he lived at CoUamer. He died in 1880.
He was only thirty-seven when he became
principal. Thomas Munnell was a graduate of Beth-

668

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

any, an honored man, a good public speaker
and a corapetent teacher. It is said he had the
eleraent of leadership araong the scholars, and
he had certain courteous southern ways which
were very valuable in teaching the descendants
of the Puritans.
The Eclectic Institute became a college, Au
gust 13, 1867. A coHege was really added to
an academy.
President B. A. Hinsdale, in his historical
discourse of 1876, said: "Hiram has never
been a hatching or moulting ground for isms
and new-fangled notions." There is sorae
thing very funny in a leader of the Disciple
church fearing new-fangled notions, because
it was only such a little tirae preceding this
utterance of Mr. Hinsdale's that the whole
world had called the Disciples new-fangled.
President Hinsdale.
B. A. Hinsdale, the third president of the
college, was perhaps the best known and the
greatest man connected with the Institute, Mr.
Garfield excepted. He was a thorough stu
dent, a splendid teacher and an unusual writer.
He was a minister and a good lecturer, but he
was not really popular as a preacher. He
talked over the heads of people and was not
emotional. He spent his early life on a farm,
was a splendid physical speciraen of raanhood,
and his raotto frora the beginning to the end
of his life was "Work." Probably no raan
connected with Hirara CoHege did as rauch
work as he. When he left Hirara he was
principal of the Cleveland schools ; was then
elected to a chair in the University of Michi
gan, and this he filled to the time of his death.
He was an ardent student of the history of the
Western Reserve, and admonished his students
to study that history, since from it they could
learn so much of real life, sa^-ing that nothing
about it was too sraall to consider.
Lack of Boarding Accommodations.
One of the disadvantages which the men
who built Hiram College foresaw was that
there would not be room in the village for the

students, providing the college was a success.
Not wanting this to hurt the school, farailies
took in all the students they possibly could
raanage, and cases are known where pantries
were turned into bed-rooms, and three or four
people occupied rooras that were not at all
large. Some of the families of Hirara were
exceedingly cultured, and students were very
fortunate to get into these horaes. This was
true of Zeb Rudolph's, and students appreci
ated a chance to live with hira. He could read
Greek and Latin ; sorae raembers of his family
were faraihar with French, and it was really a
center of culture. The sarae was true of John
Buckinghara's horae and sorae others.
Hirara College was enlarged in 1888, and
between the period of 1883 and 1888 there
was rauch talk of reraoving it. There are some
people connected with the Disciple church who
StiH think it was a mistake that it was not sent
to a place where there were railroad facilities
and larger advantages.
Presidents Zollars and Bates.
President E. V. Zollars entered upon the
work at Hiram College when he was forty-
four years old. He had good business sense ;
vi'as called at the time when the college needed
just such a person, and raade a great success
of his administration. He had been a student
at Bethany, had taught ancient languages
there and had experience in the financial work
of the college. He was well equipped for the
position at the tirae he was called to it, and the
institution profited by his industry. He is at
present at the head of a strong coHege of the
church in Oklahoma.
Minor L. Bates is at present president, and
the college continues its usefulness.
William J. Ford, son of John A. Ford, who
had been one of the early trustees, was for
years connected with the Board of Trustees
of Hirara College. He probably served a
greater number of years than any other one
trustee. For many years he was the financial
agent, and at one time collected $50,000 for
the endowment fund of the school. All

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

669

through the record of Hiram College we find
his narae and an account of the work he did.
In November, 1866, he reported that he had
raised $16,775 towards the endowment fund
of the coHege.
¦ First Court Houses and Jails.
_ In 1804 John McManus erected a house for
JBenjamin Tappan, which stood on the farra
that was known for many years as the Marcus
Heath farra, about one raile east of Ravenna.
This was the place which was designated for
the holding of court. The record is not very
clear on this, but it is believed that the house
was burned down the night before the court
was held and that it was held out of doors
somewhere, but just where is not certain. The
comraissioners had their first meeting in the
house of Robert Eaton in 1808. This house
was standing in 1880, as was the residence of
R. J. Thorapson, erected two and one-half
railes southeast of Ravenna. This was used
for both court and jail until the public build
ings were erected in 1810.
Judge Tappan donated four lots fof public-
uses — 22 and 78 for school sites, and 52 and
208, for churches. These lots have been so
used, and the Grace Episcopal church is now
standing on one of them.
William and John Tappan agreed to erect
the court house at their own expense and to
buHd a log j,ail two stories high, and in ex-
' change for this work they were to take the lots
given by Benjamin Tappan for the use of the
county. It is believed that in sorae way Judge
Tappan did give land to the county, through
sorae exchange or soraething, but there is
nothing of this on any record anywhere. The
buildings were corapleted in 18 10.
The court house was frarae and stood a
little northwest of the present buHding. When
the old court house was reraoved, it becarae
the property of Sarauel Harrison, who raoved
it on the ground where the Riddle carriage
factory stands. Then it was purchased by
James Clark & Co., who used it for a carriage
shop ; it was later owned by N. D. Clark, and

finally becarae the property of Merts & Riddle.
It stood there until 1871, when it was burned.
The first jail v/as built of logs and the sheriff
lived in it. It stood southwest of the present
jail. It has been true of the history of aH
court houses that they are not rauch raore than
built until they are unfit for the purpose, and
this was true of Ravenna's first couft house.
It was necessary to build an additional build
ing for some of the county officers, and this
building stood about where the present court
house is. It was torn down and the raaterial
was used in constructing the third court house.
In 18 19 a new jail was corapleted.
Zenas Kent had the contract for building
the second court house. ' It was corapleted in
1830 at a cost of about $7,000. It was a two-
story brick building ; large pillars in front and
a cupola on top. The court roora was in the
second story and the county offices in the first.
The third jaH was erected in 1836. Ebenezer
Rawson had the contract. Some trouble arose
between the comraissioners and the contractor,
which delayed the building, and it was not
completed until 1840, when William Staniff
finished it.
The present court house was built in 1881.
The total cost was nearly $53,000. A fire
lately destroyed sorae of the records, but the
building has been repaired.
Executions in the County.
In August 1814, Epaphras Matthews, a ped-
ler who traveled through this part of the coun
try, was killed by a man traveling with hira,
named Henry Aunghst. Aunghst had pur
posely accorapanied the pedler with the in
tention of raurdering hira for his raoney. Fin
ally when at Carapbellsport the opportunity
was right, and he took a beech stick frora the
fence of John Carapbell and struck a blow
which killed him. Throwing his body into the
woods, he made his way to Ravenna and then
to Pittsburg, where he was pursued by Robert
Eaton and Lewis Ely, who followed traces of
him until he was captured in a blacksmith's
shop in Center county, Pennsylvania. He was

(Courtesy of Hinman & Stedson.)
OLD COUET HOUSE AND JAIL, EAVENNA. (Taken Memorial Day, 1865)

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

671

brought back, tried, and executed on gallows
erected on Sycamore street, near the comer of
Spruce. He confessed his guilt. This execu
tion created great excitement. The militia,
under the command of Colonel Solomon Day,
of Deerfield, was on guard. Asa K. Burroughs
was sheriff; Williara Coolraan, WHliam Era
ser and Almon Babcock his deputies About
1800 people witnessed the execution.
Desirable Sight for School Children.
Anybody who desired could see executions
in those days and it is told that Trumbull
county parents whose children were away at
school sent for them to return, in order that
they raight not raiss the chance of seeing a man
hung, and the sarae was probably true of
Portage. Aunghst was buried at the foot of
the scaffold and that night his body was dug
up, probably by sorae young doctors, but they
were pursued and dropped their "precious bur
den" at the corner of Oak and Meridian streets.
The next night a party of Gerraans, (Aunghst
was a Pennsylvania Dutchman) took the body,
with intention of sinking it in Mother Ward's
pond to keep it from the doctors. They were
pursued and made to bring it back to the court
house, where it had lain the night before. It
was finally re-interred in the first grave, and
when this grave was opened a few years ago
the skeleton was found in a pretty good state
of preservation. How About the "Seven-Eighths?"
The next person to suffer the death penalty
was David McKisson. He and his father Sam
uel were accused of kilHng Mrs. Katherine
McKisson, the wife of Robert. Samuel was
the father and David was the brother. Samuel
was at first accused, but he was an old raan,
and as the blow which was dealt her was a
terrific one, suspicion was aroused against
David. Sarauel was first tried but found not
guilty. It is supposed that David had quar
reled with his brother and his wife, because he
wished to raarry Lucinda Croninger, Mrs.

McKisson's daughter by a forraer raarriage,
and had been refused.
David was found guilty and sentenced to be
hung on the ninth of February, 1838. The
gallows was erected on the corner of Prospect
and Walnut streets near the Disciple church.
He never admitted his guilt. Between two and
three thousand people witnessed the execution,
and the Ohio Star says : "We are very sorry
to say, at least one-eighth part were females."
of course, it was a terrible thing that one-
eighth of the audience to see a man struggling
with death throes should be woraen ; but what
about the seven— eighths ? Had they no feel
ings to be hurt? Was such a scene uplifting
and inspiring to thera?"
Murder of Rhodenbaugh.
Perhaps no raurder trial ever occasioned as
rauch interest and exciteraent as did that of
John Rhodenbaugh. Mr. Rhodenbaugh lived
about three railes frora Kent. While going
horae frora the latter place in October, 1865,
he was set upon by two men named .Cooper
and Berry, who soraetiraes drank too heavily
and, like raany raen when in this condition,
talked about raoney. These raen had been with
hira in the saloons and knew that he had some
raoney. It was supposed that they did not
intend to kill hira. Cooper was a young raan ;
Berry was an older one ; and Cooper struck the
blow. Berry cautioned hira not to strike too
hard. It was a long hard-fought fight. Cooper
was tried first and was convicted of murder in
the first degree. Berry was sentenced to the
penitentiary for life, and Cooper was executed
in 1866 near the jail.
Ravenna's Leading Characters.
William R. Day, the son of Judge Luther
Day, graduated from the University of Michi
gan in 1870. He was adraitted to the bar and
practiced in Canton untH 1886; in 1889 was
appointed United States district judge for
Northern Ohio by President Harrison and in
1897 was assistant secretary of state under

672

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

McKinley. In 1898, he becarae secretary of
state and negotiated the treaty of peace with
Spain at the close of the Spanish-American
war. In 1899, he was appointed United States

¦WILLIAM E. DAY
circuit judge and in 1903 was made justice of
the United States supreme court by Roosevelt.
Dr. A. W. Axorn was born in 1835. He re
ceived his education in Pennsylvania where his
father was a farmer. He studied raedicine
also in Pennsylvania, but was unable to finish
because of poor health. He finished his edu
cation at Jefferson Medical College, Philadel
phia, and Michigan University. He continued
to practice in Ravenna until his death, 1891,
having' started there with his brother. His
wife was Elizabeth Fletcher.
One of the early and forceful characters
at the Portage county bar was Jonathan
Sloane. He was born in Massachusetts in
1785. Tie was educated and studied law in
Massachusetts, coming, to Ravenna in 1816.
He was prosecuting attorney of the county ;
was a representative in the state legislature,
and in 1832 was elected to congress and served

two terras. He never was very strong physi
cally. He never raarried, and lived in the
horaes of Dr. Lyraan CoHins and J. H. Leth-
ingweH at different tiraes. He was interested
in the early sale of lands of the Western Re
serve. He is buried in the Maple Grove ceme
tery at Ravenna.
Darius Lyraan carae to Portage county in
1 814. He was a substantial citizen and held
a nuraber of offices of trust. He was prose
cuting attorney, served two terms in the legis
lature and was an anti-Mason candidate for
governor, but was defeated. Mr. Lyraan en
joyed a good practice, being at one time a part
ner of Luther Day. As late as 1850 he was
again elected to the state senate and becarae
probate judge in 1855. His son Professor Da
rius Lyraan, who so long held an iraportant po
sition in the treasury department, was one of
the finest of characters. He was gentle, sympa
thetic and a great linguist, speaking several lan
guages and reading several raore. At the tirae
of the issuing of "The Bible for Learners" by a
nuraber of Dutch scholars, Mr. Lyraan wanted
so much to read it that he applied himself and
mastered the language enough to read the
book in six weeks. He was then in his sixties.
One of the prominent settlers of early Trum
bull county, whora people of this day also knew
was Daniel R. Tilden. He was born in Con
necticut about 1807. He saw the British
weigh anchor and disappear frora New Lon
don in the War of 1812. When he was eigh
teen years old he went to Virginia to enter the
banking, house of an uncle, but did not Hke
the business and came to Northern Ohio in
1828. He early becarae justice of the peace
and prosecuting attorney, and was probate
judge in Cleveland for more than thirty-five
years. Colonel Royal Taylor lived to be ninety-two
years old. Coming to the Western Reserve in
1813, he did his first work here in a neighbor's
sugar camp ; then went to Aurora and worked
in the brick-yard, and with the first $15.00
which he received he purchased sixty acres of

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

673

land in Solon. He did any kind of work to
help support his raother and her family. The
boy studied and attended school when he could,
learned the printer's trade, and pursued it in
New Lisbon, Ohio, for sorae tirae. He finally
studied law in the office of Jonathan Sloane
and in Van R. Huraphrey's office, and in 1822
taught in Kentucky, marrying Rebecca San
ders of that state in 1824. He retumed to
Northern Ohio and at different times lived in
Aurora, Russell and Twinsburg. His first
wife died in 1836 and he raarried Sarah A.
Richardson, a cousin of John Brown, having
five children by his first wife and by his second,
seven. He married Mrs. Annetta Hatch of
Ravenna for the third wife. Mr. Taylor held
many important civil positions.
Colonel Williara Frazer came to Ravenna
from Geneva, New York, and started a jewelry
store and saddlery. Among the old premiums
still in existence awarded by the early agricul
tural association is one to him for a leather
trunk. In his early life he was one of the
most fearless men of the vicinage. He cared
for sick and unfortunate travellers who hap
pened along, and was beloved accordingly ; also
nursing cholera and small-pox patients whom
others fear to be near. Once a traveller died
suddenly of one of these diseases. There were
no papers upon his body that showed who he
was. Colonel Frazer and some others made a
grave and buried him. The Colonel was
greatly troubled by the thought that the friends
would not know what had been the traveller's
fate, and as they had not looked for pockets
in his underclothes, he insisted upon opening
the grave. This was done and sure enough,
there was the man's address and a goodly bit
of money in his undershirt pocket. His faraily
were very nice people of Pittsburg, who, as
soon as notified, came for the body.
Colonel Frazer served as deputy sheriff and
United States marshal of this district. He
took the first newspapers published in the
county and kept files of them. These at his
death went to his son Homer and have been

presented to the Western Reserve Historical
Society in Cleveland.
Colonel Frazer was at one time the joker of
the village and raany are the tales told of hira.
He scarcely threw away a stick or strap
which carae in his way and his house and shop
were a museum at his death. A traveller
stopping at the Folger house was arausing
sorae listeners by telling of a raan in a town
he visited who was very saving. Williara Fol
ger, or the proprietor, said: "We have a raan
here who has everything under the sun. I
would be willing to bet that you could not ask
hira for a single thing which he could not
furnish." The traveller laid five dollars on the
desk, and Mr. Folger raatched it. The travel
ler then went to Colonel Frazer's store, on the
corner of Meridian and Main streets.
"Colonel Frazer, have you a second-hand
pulpit?" he asked.
"Why yes," replied the Colonel, "how did
you corae to know of it."
He then explained that when a Ravenna
church was being done over he disliked to see
the pulpit split up, and so brought it to the
shop and stored it.
The Colonel used to rise very early in the
morning and, sitting outside his store at three
or four o'clock one suraraer raorning, he heard
a man hurrying down the street to catch the
train, which in the stillness of the morning
could be heard approaching. As he ran by the
Colonel said "Hallo!"
"What do you want ?" asked the gentleman,
stopping. "Nothing," replied the Colonel.
"Well, what in hell did you holler hello when
I was going by, for ?" roared the man.
"Why did you go by as I hollered hallo?"
retorted the Colonel.
'Twas by hard sprinting that the man caught
his train..
Colonel Frazer married Anna A. Campbell,
daughter of Gen. John Campbell and Sarah
Ely — ^the first people to be married in Portage
county. The latter was a member of his family

Vol. 1—43

674

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

for raany years of her widowhood. The
Frazers had a large family of children, three
of whora are stiH living — Martha F. Dodge, of
Ravenna; EHza F. Barnes, of Grinnell, Iowa,
and Williara A., of San Francisco. His oldest
son, Horaer, who died a few years since, passed
his entire life in Ravenna, being most familiar
with the early history of Portage county.
One of the best known physicians in Portage
county was Joseph Waggoner. He was born
in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1821. His early
life was spent on a farra and that he iraproved
the school opportunities he had is evident be
cause at eighteen he began teaching. He pre
pared for college at the SteubenviHe Acaderay,
but because of'deljcate health did not enter.
He studied raedicine in the Cleveland Medical
College. He located in Deerfield in 1847 and
began practice in Ravenna in 1863. He died
in 1897. His son, George Waggoner, followed
his father's profession.
John L. Ranney was born in Massachusetts
in 1815, and raoved to Freedom in 1824. He
read law in Jefferson with his brother, Rufus
P. Ranney, and Benjarain F. Wade. He began
his practice at Ravenna, forraing a partner
ship with Daniel R. Tilden. He was success
ful in business, although hindered soraewhat
by coraparison with his briHiant brother. John
L. ran for congress in 1858 on the Demo
cratic ticket. He helped to organize the first
national bank of Ravenna and was its presi
dent throughout his life-time.
Hon. Alfonso Hart moved frora Trumbull
county to Ravenna, purchasing of .Samuel D.
Harris the Portage County Sentinel, and con
ducted this paper for three years, during which
time he read law and was admitted to the bar.
In 1863 he formed a partnership with Mr.
Reed; was prosecuting attorney from 1862 to
1865, state senator frora 1864 to 1866, and -
again, from 1872 to 1874. Mr. Hart was
presidential elector in 1872 and lieutenant gov
ernor in 1873. He moved to Cleveland and
thence to Hillsboro, from which place he was
elected to congress. He has resided in Wash
ington ever since, but has continued his inter

est in his horae town, being one of the principal
speakers at the Horae Coming of 1909.
Atwater Township.
Captain Atwater, Captain Merrick and Asa
Hall, with their families, arrived in Atwater
in 1799 and built log houses near the Center
In the fall, they aH returned to Connecticut,
except Mr. and Mrs. Hall. This was a hard
winter for these two adults, shut off from all
the world, surrounded with the cold, snow and
ice, with the woods full of aniraals and In
dians. The nearest neighbors were in Deer
field. It is said that Mrs. Hall used to do
very fine needle work and spin and weave ex
ceedingly well. She is known to have been
sitting at the loora with a baby tied to her
apron string. In the "Pioneer Woraen" we
read that she once labored long and vigor
ously to pay for a calico dress which cost fifty
cents per yard, and when it was brought home
it was put in a bag with indigo and ruined.
The chronicler is very" kind in not saying who
did this dreadful thing.
The next year David Baldwin and his fara
ily settled in Atwater and these two farailies,
although five railes apart, were coraforted be
cause they had neighbors. They were the only
inhabitants of the township.
Later came Joseph Baldwin, and it was frora
the faraily of Baldwins that the Baldwin apple,
so well known now, was naraed.
A good story is told of Massey Hutton,
whose husband John and eleven children carae
to Atwater frora South Carolina in 1818. She
was a Quakeress and a woraan of strong char
acter. "In 1819 they planted potatoes at the
proper tirae, but about the sarae tirae their
food supply became exhausted, and the hus
band, a raan who was never in haste, started
for Georgetown, Pennsylvania, the nearest
point, to obtain supplies. Failing to return in
proper time and starvation seeraing inevitable,
having only a very small amount of raeal on
hand, she conceived the idea of taking up the
potatoes, paring thera thickly, replanting the
parings and eating the potatoes, thus satisfy-

THE SHELDON HOMESTEAD

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

675

ing the hungry children and having a crop of
potatoes besides." It was an ingenious thought
which prorapted this action.
Atwater is an attractive township, rolling,
rich and highly cultivated. At Liraaville, one
of the viHages, are some pretty old houses, the
doorways being so artistically constructed that
Pittsburg architects journeyed there to make
copies. First Settled Family.
Hannah Spires of Deerfield writes: "As
there have been raany inquiries as to who was
the .first child born in Portage county, I will
say that Atwater Hall was certainly the first.
In the early spring of 1798, Captain Atwater
of Wallingford, Connecticut, brought with
him to Atwater, J. Merrick, Peter BunneH,
Ashael Blakesley and Asa Hall, for the pur
pose of building a saw-raill on Yellow creek,
in order to facilitate the coraing of settlers the
next year; and Mrs. Asa Hall came along as
cook for Captain Atwater's work hands. The
mill was built half a raile north of what is
now the Center road, between Atwater and
Deerfield, and a few rods west of the town
ship line between Atwater and Deerfield. It
was kept in running order until 1841 or 1842,
when it was accidentally burned. The At
water party returned to Connecticut that fall,
but as garae was plentiful, Asa Hall and.wife
remained in a log cabin about eighty rods
southwest frora the mill, near where the blazed
trees raarked the highway through the wilder
ness, raaking a path from Deerfield farther
west. "That is where I have always understood
Atwater Hall was born, in the early part of
1800. I visited the spot when a little girl,
with my grandraother — I think in 1838 — and
she, being a near neighbor of Jason Hall for
four years, had the story of the first invasion
of Atwater from them; and I have no doubt
it was correct, as Jason Hall was a, son of
Asa and brother to Atwater.
"As for descendants, the faraily. have all
been gone frora here many years. Atwater

went west first ; then Asa, Jr., after he buried
his wife here (no children). Jason and family
left Atwater for Mercer county, Ohio, in 1839
or 1840, and I am not sure but the mother
went with them, for I never heard of her death
and she lived with Jason. The remains of the
old cabin could be plainly seen as late as 1850.
"I have spent almost my whole life within
half a mile of the site of the old raiH and saw
it burn down." Aurora Township.
This township. No. 5, range 9, belonged to
David, Ebenezer and Fidelia King — Ebenezer
Sheldon, Jr., Gideon Granger and John Leav-
ett having sub-interests. It was naraed Aurora
for Major Spofford's daughter. He was sur
veyor for the Connecticut Land Corapany.
Ebenezer Sheldon first visited Aurora in
1799 and, with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Elias
Harraon, buHt a cabin and cleared a bit of
ground. Mrs. Harraon was the first woman
to be in the township, but when winter came
on she and her husband went to Mantua and
Mr. Sheldon to Connecticut; so the real in
habitants, the Indians and wolves, were unmo
lested during the cold months. The following
spring Mr. Sheldon, his second wife Lovey
Davis and six children came to their new
horae. Their house was on lot 40, two and a
half railes east of the Center. Aunt Lovey,
as she was called, brought a willow stick with
her from the east and planted it, and it be
came a great tree. It was said of her that
she was of commanding size, possessing great
strength of character, and was of lively, buoy
ant disposition, and was the best looking
woraan in town. This last might not have
been as much of a compliment if it refers to
the year 1800, for woraen were few in that
region. It was their daughter Hulda who
married Arazi Atwater, of Mantua, and as
there was no clergyman her father read the
service and pronounced thera raan and wife,
and they went walking to their new home four
railes away. A year from that tirae the father
was appointed justice of the peace by Governor

676

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Tiffin, and he had his appointment dated be
fore this wedding in order to raake it legal.
There are many people living today who knew
Arazi and Hulda Atwater and have been in
their comfortable horae.
A story of unusual interest is retold here
to illustrate the hardships of the early set
tlers. John Cockran, of Blandford, Massachu
setts, who had bought land in Aurora, was
taken sick on the trip west, and his party hur
ried on their journey in order to reach Buf
falo, where he raight get raedicine and help.
His wife and one daughter reraained with him
while the two other girls proceeded with the
company. Rhoda was helpless frora rheuma
tism and rode on a bed all the way, her sister
Laura acting as her nurse. A raan naraed
Mills was engaged to bring the girls to Au
rora. He compelled Laura to walk a good
part of the way. Day after day she uncom
plainingly trudged along, hungry and tired
and with blistered feet. One night Mills un
hitched the team and with his wife disap
peared, leaving the girls alone in the dense
woods four miles north of Burton. Laura
was taken sick in the night, but fortunately
the next day was better. He returned and
took them to within twenty-five miles of
Aurora, as he had promised, and left them in
a settler's cabin. Laura, but a chHd, realizing
the condition she was in, confided to the peo
ple in the cabin and asked to be aHowed to
work for food for herself and her sick sister,
until she could communicate with her people.
At that time there was a boat on the Cuya
hoga river, between Mantua and Burton,
which carried grain to be ground. The cap
tain's syrapathies were aroused and he offered
to carry the girls to Mantua. It seeraed that
this experience was hard enough, but as soon
as they had reached their new horae they
learned that their father had died at Buffalo.
Their raother bravely came on to them and
lived nineteen years of her life in that neigh
borhood. The crippled Rhoda died in 1806
and was the first person buried in Aurora.
Laura married Stephen Cannon and was one

of the most brave, skiHful woraen that was
ever in Portage county. The amount of weav
ing credited to her seeras irapossible. One
day she rode fifty-two railes to get raedicine
for a sick person. Wolves foHowed her during
that ride, but she accoraphshed her raission.
The township was organized in 1807.
Sarauel Foward was the first school teacher.
Leppinius Withe erected the first grist miH in
1813. As early as 1819 Aurora cheese was shipped
to distant points, and in 1898 it was said that
more cheese was shipped from Aurora station
than from any railroad station in the United
States. Samuel Bissel, of Twinsburg, said that in
1806 his father moved his family to Aurora
and that he reraerabers well Rev. Joseph
Badger, who preached in Aurora as early as
1801. His father, although not a professor of
religion, really kept a rainisters' hotel. Samuel
said the children in the faraily liked Mr.
Badger because he told such good stories.
Rev. Badger, in his diary, under the date
of March 22, 1804, says : "Preached in Au
rora to fifteen souls. Alas, stupid as the woods
in which they live!" It seeras he was either
too busy or too disgusted to continue his serv
ices, and the "stupid souls" met in homes,
read sermons, sang songs and prayed until
1809," when a missionary, Mr. Darrow, per
fected a church organization, and the next
year it took the form of the Union, but was
really Congregational.
In 1 818 there was a Methodist class and
active work was continued until 1845, ^^d con
tinued till 1871. The Disciple church was or
ganized in 1830; the church buHt in 1837, de
stroyed by fire in 1855 ; new church buHt that
sarae year and rebuilt in 1872. In this church
James Garfield and B. A. Hinsdale preached
with raore or less regularity for a tirae. Rev.
Arazi Atwater, grandson of the pioneer, was
regular pastor.
Thoraas Barr, who later becarae so inter
ested in the history of northern Ohio, was a
preacher at the Bissel horae. He preached

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

677

without notes and was very social and liked
by everybody, including children.
Sarauel Huntington, who distinguished him
self in so raany ways, lived in Aurora for a
little tirae, raoving thence to Warren. The
town was organized in 1807. The first saw
raill was erected on the Chagrin river, near
Squire Sheldon's house. In 1810 Jaraes Bald
win opened a store in the bedroora of his
father's house. He sold calico at a dollar a
yard. At an Aurora reunion, in 1899, a family
Bible belonging to the great-great-grandfather
of Louisa M. Hurd was shown. At the raas
sacre of Wyoming this raan was too old to
carry arms, and was put on a horse and sent
with the women and children through the
swamps to New Jersey. He carried this Bible
under his arm all the way.
The first larap was brought to Aurora in
1854 and was a great curiosity. In those days
oil was called coal-oil, just as later coal was
called stone-coal.
Warren Forward was an Aurora raan, who
was postraaster at Buffalo, a lawyer in Pitts
burg, a raember of congress, secretary of the
United States treasury under Tyler, and rain
ister to Denraark.
Judge Van R. Huraphry and Henry Mc
Kinney both lived in Aurora. Royal Taylor
lived in Aurora. His history is given else
where. He was the first state pension agent.
Hon. Charles Harraon was one of the best
known and best beloved of the pioneers. He
was twice elected state representative. Dr.
Worthy Streetor, who is well known in Cleve
land as a doctor and railroad builder, was an
Aurora raan. Henry Hawkins, who lived in
Ravenna raany years, later raoving to Cleve
land, and becoming auditor of Cuyahoga
county, and who died very recently when in
the nineties, came from Aurora. Ransom A.
Gillett, who kept hotel in Ravenna and after
wards was a noted hotel man in Cleveland,
was frora Aurora. Jaraes Converse, the rail
road king of Texas, was born and raised in
that town. A. M. Willard, who painted

"Yankee Doodle" and the "Minute Man," and
won a wide reputation as a railitary painter,
was an Aurora boy.
Victoria and Tennessee Claflin began their
interesting career in Aurora. Their subse
quent history is well known to the pubhc.
Victoria is dead, but Tennessee is now Lady
Cook. Her husband is dead and she comes to
America each year. She has rauch raoney.
Victoria was the brighter of the two, had a
good deal of oratorical abihty and an active
brain. Clara Morris' grandmother resided in Au
rora for years, and when Clara was a bare
footed raaiden she played with the Httle girls
in the neighborhood. Brimfield Township.
Brirafield was first called Wylestown in
honor of John Wyles, of Brirafield, Massachu
setts, who owned the northern half of the
township. When organization took place it
was naraed Thorndike for the proprietor who
owned the southern half. For this name,
Israel Thorndike agreed to give a public
square, but when asked to deliver the goods
he refused to do so. The citizens therefore
petitioned the court to change the name, and
in 1830 it became Brimfield. It was late when
this township was settled, and some of the
early citizens carae frora the nearby vicinity.
Henry Thorndike, a nephew of the proprie
tor, had the seHing of the land, and Arba
Twitchel carae with young Thorndike and
made a clearing half a raile north of the cen
ter. Arba Twitchel was unraarried and had
been employed by the Thomdikes in New
Hampshire. He was the one who really made
the first iraprovement in the township. John
Boosinger cleared the land where the court
house and jail now stand, and in 1816 moved.
to Brirafield, it was a wHderness and when he
was obliged to go to court he had to leave his
wife and two babies in the little hut for two-
days and nights. The woods all around the
house were filled with bears and wolves and the
only defense the faraily had was a dog. The

678

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

wolves crowded around this cabin at night and
howled all night, and if it had not been for the
dog they certainly would have walked in the
dooriess doorway. Boosinger was a hard
worker and cleared a great deal of land. He
lived to be fully ninety years old.
Henry Thorndike brought his family with
hira and was a substantial citizen with fine bus
iness abHity. His brother, Israel, followed
hira and raarried a daughter of Martin Kent, of
Suffield. Mr. Thorndike was very anxious to
have his township iraproved and he offered to
give eighty acres of land to the first child born
in the township. Alpheus Andrews, who lived
in Rootstown, hearing of this offer chopped his
way from Rootstown to Brimfield — there were
no roads then — and settled at the center. In
three raonths from that tirae a son was born
to hira and he demanded the eighty acres from
Mr. Thorndike. They did not agree right
away as to location and before they had de
cided the baby died. Mr. Thorndike therefore
tried to get out of his bargain, but Mr. An
drews said that it was not his fault that the
child died, so they coraproraised on forty
acres. The first adult death in Brimfield was that
of Porter Walbridge. He was not of a very
religious turn of raind, and in those days it was
very sinful not to be orthodox. When the An
drews' baby died, Mr. Andrews would not
allow his body laid away in the regular cerae
tery, saying, that the DevH would probably
corae for Walbridge and raight raake a mistake
and get in the wrong grave. The child was,
therefore, buried in Rootstown.
In 1818 Israel Thorndike and Edward
Thorndike had a nail factory. It was on the
little stream where the saw raill used to stand.
Swedish iron was used in the raanufacture.
This had to be brought frora New York to Al
bany, thence to Buffalo by wagon, Cleveland
by lake, by wagon again to Brimfield. Of
course little money could be raade after all this
expense of getting the material had been met.
Dr. A.'M; Sherman is authority for the state

ment that this was the first nail factory in the
State. The first church organized was the Presby
terian in 181 9, the first sermon having been
preached in Henry Thorndike's log, house.
The Methodists organized in 1823 and built
a church in 1836.
Four Baptists organized a church in 1836.
Soon thereafter a meeting house was erected.
In 1837 ^ Universalist church was built.
' Cpiarlestown.
This was owned originally by John Morgan,
but becarae the property of Samuel Hinckley,
of Northampton, Massachusetts, and bore his
name till 1814, when it was organized.
John Campbell, who is referred to in several
parts of the Portage county history, built a
house on the corner of Charlestown, Edinburg,
Rootstown and Ravenna. He becarae Hinck
ley's agent. General Carapbell went east;
raade an agreeraent with thirteen raen who
were raerabers of a land corapany to the effect
that if they did not build a cabin on the land
and clear five acres within five years they
forfeited their right and in addition raust pay
five dollars. Hinckley, Fairchild, Noble and
Parsons forfeited their contract and the $400
thus acquired was used to build a town house,
which becarae church and school house.
The Corners was later known as Campbells
port, and in the early canal days was a thriving
hamlet. It is still a beautiful spot and the road
way runs on and near the old towpath for
sorae time.
Charlestown was little settled before the
War of 18 1 2, but in 181 5 there were thirteen
farailies. ,
The first marriage was- that of Martin Camp
and Sallie Coe.
First birth was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Johili
Baldwin, 1813.
First death, Brayton King, son of John, in'
1 8 12.
First orchard set out by Charles Curtis im
1812. He bought two hundred apple trees ofi

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

679

John Harmon, of Mantua, for twenty bushels
of wheat.
First school, 181 1, taught by first bride,
Sophia Coe.
The first saw mill was located half a raile
east of the Center.
This township, like Windhara, had a church
alraost before it had a settler, as the church
was organized before the first party left the
east. The Methodists organized in 1824. They
often raet in barns, as the school house was
used by the Congregationalists. They finally
built a church at the Center, which was un
roofed by wind in 1850. It was not used there
after. ' The M. E. Church was organized in 1824.
When the schoolhouse was occupied by the
regular Congregational appointments, raeet
ings were held in barns, soraetiraes in raid-
winter, the woraen sitting on bundles of grain,
the raen standing during the service. A sraall
brick church was built on the southwest cor
ner of the public square. The first M. E.
minister to reside in town with his faraily was
Rouse P. Gardiner.
There are some beautiful suburban horaes
in Charlestown, and the township is so near
Ravenna and its interests so close to Ravenna,
that its history is alraost a part of it.
Deerfield Township.
Township i, range 6, was owned by Gideon
Granger and Oliver Phelps. The latter held
two-thirds. It was naraed for Lewis Day's
horae town. He with 'Horatio Day, reached
Portage county in June, 1799. Lewis had
bought land of Phelps, as had Lewis Ely.
These raen were distant kin and before they
carae to the new country, and ever afterwards,
they and their families were the closest of
friends. Mrs. Ely (Anna Granger) was a
relative of Gideon Granger.
In February of the following year carae
John Campbell, Joel Thorp and Alva Day, as
we have seen elsewhere. Alva Day and Lewis
Ely made a dug-out and started for Virginia

to obtain supplies. Mr. and Mrs. Ely had been
alone in the township during the winter and
were in want of food. This trip was a hard
one, and when ready to return they found that
they could not row up strearii and were
obliged to hire an ox-team to carry their
purchases. They were gone three raonths and
undoubtedly it was during this tirae that Sarah
Ely learned to love John Campbell, the newly
arrived. As we have seen elsewhere, their
wedding was the first in the county.
As an old woman, Sarah Ely Campbell was
dignified and gentle; not so, we are told, was
she as a child. She delighted to push over the
papooses, which the squaws left strapped to a
board outside the door when they called. These
Indian babies naturally, when wrongside out
and upside down, cried lustily; and, as they
were not so given to crying as white babies
were, much confusion followed.
Alva Day becarae associate judge and was
an officer in the War of 1812. Their daughter
Polly was the first child born in Deerfield, and
the first girl born in Portage county.
In 1799 Deerfield had the only wagon- road
west of Canfield. This township was so near
the settleraents at Youngstown and Warren
that it filled up rapidly. At first carae the New
Englander ; then the Pennsylvanian, the Vir
ginian and the Marylander.
Daniel Diver, with a large faraily, carae in
1803. In 1806 a nuraber of Mohawk -Indians were
in carap at Deerfield. John Diver, a son of
Daniel, was accused of having been unfair in a
horse-trade with one of these Indians and John
Nicksaw tried unsuccessfully to persuade
Diver to take back the horse.
The Indians, therefore, followed up the
white raen, who were enjoying theraselves at a
party at Lewis Day's house. They were drink
ing rather heavily and they tried to induce
John Diver to corae outside and talk with
them. This he did not think wise to do and
his brother Daniel, seeing the Indians standing
outside, accosted them in a friendly raanner,

68o

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

shaking hands with thera all, but as Soon as he
turned to go into the house one of the Indians
shot hira, blinding hira for life, although he
'lived raany years thereafter. They all ran ex
cept the raan who shot, the Mohawk. The In
dians fled, the white raen pursued and carae
upon them near Boston; killed Nicksaw and
returned to Deerfield with Bigson and his two
sons. The squaw escaped frora them and is
supposed to have died frora the cold. The
Indians were taken before Lewis Day for ex
amination. They were acquitted and the Mo
hawk who did the shooting escaped.
It is related that Edward Bostick, when he
was past eighty years old, "rode on horseback
to Philadelphia, thence to Connecticut and
back to Ohio by the way of New York."
Robert Campbell was the first school teacher.
Rev. Bostwick, a noted circuit rider, lived in
Deerfield when not in the field. He was a
powerful preacher.
The first church organized was the Metho
dist in 1803 or 1804. The early famHies of
Days and Elys were its pillars. They did not
have a log church, but in 1818 erected a frame
building. This denomination erected another
building in 1835, and still another in 1872.
The Presbyterians organized a church in
1816 and the Disciples in 1828.
Deerfield figured in early history, and is best
known now by the splendid coal which it put
on the market some years since.
Rootstown Township.
Rootstown was naraed for Ephraira Root, of
Coventry, Connecticut, who was one of the two
original owners of the town. He was a grad
uate of Yale College, educated as a lawyer, and
was a man of capacity and note. His father
was suprerae judge of the state of Connecticut
and had been a member of the house of repre
sentatives of that state. At one tirae he was
considered the wealthiest man in Hartford. He
was jovial and quick at repartee. None of the
early proprietors of the townships of Portage
county was raore popular than he. He was ex

ceedingly honorable, but had a fondness for
grog, which grew upon hira with years. Grog
then was what it is now, and his health was ira
paired and his fortune soraewhat dissipated.
The year 181 1 was the last time he was in
Ohio. Young Davenport who assisted him in the
survey, died and was buried here. He was the
first person to die in Rootstown.
In the spring of 1801 Mr. Root, who had
sowed wheat the year before, returned, bring
ing with him his brother David. This brother
became a permanent settler. They chose to
clear a place on lot 6 because it was near the
old Indian path. They built a log house which
was, of course, the first in the township.
Nathan Muzzey, of whora We have read, did
the carpentering on this. He lived to a good
old age and died in Rootstown. The story is
told of Muzzey that he was disappointed in a
love affair, and on every building or fence he
built he carved the narae of Emraa Hale.
Muzzey Lake was naraed for him.
The Root house was a good deal better than
many of that day, because the logs were hewn.
There were so few people in the country at that
time that when a faraily carae to a township
their neighbors assisted thera in erecting their
horaes. One faraily carae from Hudson, one
from Atwater and one frora Nelson, to assist
in the raising of Root's house. The house was
used for a faraily residence and also for a
tavern. The next comers were Henry O'Neil and
Samuel McCoy, Irishmen from Pennsylvania,
who settled on lot 3. They made their houses
together, but afterward McCoy moved to the
place where there was a spring which now
bears his name. He had the only distillery
which ever was in Rootstown.
John McCoy was the first child born in the
township and he received fifty acres of land
frora Ephraira Root.
Araong the next settlers were Michael
Hartle and Franklin Carris. The next year
Frederick Carris' son John came, bringing

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

68 1

with hira Arthur Anderson. They both helped
Mr. Root to clear the land.
The first raarriage was that of Ashur Ely,
of Deerfield, to Lydia Lyraan. They had to go
to Hudson to be married, since that was the
nearest place they could find an official.
Among the early settlers were the Chap-
mans and the Reeds. In 1805 more members
of the Chapman family came.
Rootstown seems to have been first settled
by a pair, trio or quartette of brothers. In
1806 came Alpheus, Thaddeus and Samuel
Andrews. In that year also Mrs. Ward, a fear
less, energetic woman, capable of great phy
sical endurance, weH fitted in these respects to
be a pioneer, also carae to the township. She
could do a man's* work at logging and took
long journeys on foot. She carae alone, leav
ing her husband in Ireland. She settled on lot
18 and becarae farailiarly known as "Mother
Ward." The little pond near her horae bore
until recently the narae of Mother Ward's
Pond. The first corn in Rootstown township was
planted in the spring of 1801 by Ephraira and
David Root. The Mills brothers put in a crop
in the sarae year in Nelson.
David Root was a teacher and his school was
in a dwelling near Carapbellsport. The first
public school of Rootstown was taught by
Samuel Andrews in 1807. Miss Polly Har
mon was the 'second teacher.
The township was organized in 1810 and
from the beginning, Indians were plentiful.
After the townships in lower part of Portage
county were well settled there was an influx of
people frora Pennsylvania. They raade splendid
citizens, were frugal, hard working and raade
good farraers. They carae frora Pennsylvania
ancestors and built good barns before they
really built their houses. Their descendants
are still scattered about through Portage coun
ty. Of course, almost all of the German is
rubbed off, as most of the Yankee is rubbed off
of the New England young people.
S. B. Spellman was one of the early justices

of the peace. His wife was a particularly
bright woman and seeraed to have more of a
judicial mind than he. Therefore, when he
wanted to know what the law was, in order to
make certain rulings, he read it to her and she
told hira what it raeant. She was the grand
raother of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller.
Rev. Giles H. Cowles organized the Congre
gational church of Rootstown in 1810. There
were fourteen merabers, seven raen and seven
woraen. The first Methodist church organized
in the township was organized by Father
Henry Shewell. The first class was organized
at his own house in the year 1815. He was
blind. The first Catholics carae to Rootstown in
1832. In 1866 they built their o-wn frarae
church. The United Brethren held a series of
raeetings in 1872 and 1873 and a church was
forraed frora this. The first teacher in Roots-
town was Mrs. Ephraira Chapman, who taught
her own children and those of Mr. O'Neil in
the winter of 1804.
Streetsboro Township.
Town 4, range 9, was owned by a nuraber
of the Connecticut Land Corapany, araong
thera being Titus Street, for whom it was
naraed Streetsboro. Street thought that the
land in this part of the country was going to be
very valuable ; so he did not sell it early and
it was one of the last townships in Portage
county to be settled. Lerauel Punderson was
his agent. He did not live there long, and
Arazi Atwater, of whora we have read so often,
succeeded hira. He lowered the price of the
land from six to two dollars per acre, and the
tdwnship immediately began to fill up.
The first settler was Stephen Myers, Jr., who
came in 1822. He was a distiller and con
ducted his business for six years. When a
township had been delayed in settling often, the
first settlers came frora townships round-about.
They had learned how to raanage the cutting
of the timber and were anxious to take up
larger tracts of land. This was true of Streets-

682

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

boro. Street realized that he had made a mis
take in holding back the land so long, and con
sequently made a proposition to the corapany
which was building the stage-road from Cleve
land to Wellsville, in which he offered to give
eight hundred and forty acres of land if they
would put the road through the township. This
brought many settlers and was a wise business
proposition. Streetsboro was the last township organized
in the county. Of course Garrettsville was
reaHy not a township, although it was after
ward made into one. It had belonged to
Hudson, Summit county, to Aurora and Man
tua, Portage county, and in 1827 its present
boundaries were established.
Streetsboro seemed to have a great influx
of poor people. All over the Reserye there
was so rauch land that when people were desti
tute they moved onto new land, erected cabins,
soraetiraes only of bark, and depended upon the
woods for their food. As a rule, however, they
would get into destitute circurastances and then
the settlers, who had a hard enough tirae to get
along themselves, were obliged to help them
out because no one could see anyone starve.
Of course in the beginning this was not so bad,
but it became an old story, and the overseer of
the poor was an iraportant man in the early
days. For sorae reason or other, possibly be
cause it was the last township settled in the
county, Streetsboro had raore than its share.
The overseer of the poor warned these people,
and, when sorae of them would not go, threat
ened to sell thera to the highest bidder. They
usually scattered, but in one case a woraan in
this township was sold for twelve dollars for
two raonths.
The first person born was the first person to
die; whether it was a boy or girl, whether it
was named or not, is not recorded. It was a
child of Samuel Walker. Frederick Nighman
and Parraelia Van were the first bride and
groom. The first teacher was Clarinda Case and she

did not teach tHl 1826. She taught school and
cooked for her father and boarders.
Mr. Street gave a cemetery to the town and
the newer ceraetery is called Evergreen.
Edinburg Township.
Williara Hart, of Saybrook, Connecticut,
capitalist, who bought rauch land on the West
ern Reserve, was the proprietor of Edinburg.
Soon after John Carapbell reached this coun
try, he and John Eddy bought this township
and it was naraed Eddysburg — later called
Edinburg. The first settler was Eber Abbott,
who was early injured by a faHing tree and
never thereafter was able to work hard. He
raoved to Ravenna later and lived there the
reraainder of his life. Leirtuel Chapraan, Jr.,
who carae with his family in the fall of 1811,
having looked over the ground the year before,
was the earliest settler who was identified with
the town. His daughter was the first child
born there.
Richard M. Hart, a nephew of William, was
also araong the first comers.
In March Mr. and Mrs. Justin Eddy and
Mr. and Mrs. Alanson Eddy came in sleighs
and soon discarded their improvised shed for
log houses. It was in the new kitchen of Alan
son Eddy that the first wedding in the township
occurred. Betsey Hitchcock was the bride and
Greensbury Keene, the groom.
Clarissa Loorais, of Charlestown, taught the
first school.
The township was organized in 1819.
Richard Hart and Justin Eddy were the first
justices of the peace.
Polly Clark (afterward Mrs. Seth Day) was
one of the Hvely Misses of the township.
The first serraon was preached by Rev.
Nathan Daraon in 1812. It was eleven years
before a Congregation church was formed.
In 1826 a Methodist class was formed and P.
D. Horton, father of J. D. Horton, occasionally
preached to the settlers. A church edifice was
erected in 1834 ; furnished in 1837 ; remodeled
in 1866.

(Courtesy of Journal Publishing Co.)
THE OLD EED SCHOOL HOUSE, GARRETTSVILLE

(Courtesy of Journal Publishing Co.)
THE OLD WOOLEN MILL, GARRETTSVILLE

684

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The first saw-raiH was built in 1816, on Bar
rel Run, and Campbell and Eddy, of Edinburg,
owned it.
As far as we know, the first -vvoman's club
on the Reserve, at least in Portage county, was
forraed in Edinburg. The woraen of the
neighborhood raade it a rule to meet once a
week in one of the horaes. They worked very
hard during the week, and on this day they
took their work and visited, and possibly im
proved themselves by reading.
Melinda, Tuttle Gilbert, who was born in
1823, says: "I reraeraber when I was quite
young that my father built a house in the
woods a mile from where we were then liv
ing. One afternoon father and mother and we
children went to see the new house, father
carrying the twins on his shoulder in a two-
bushel basket. The next week they raoved
into the house which had then neither doors
nor windows. I shall never forget the howling
of the wolves that night and the effort raade
to keep thera off. The next day the doors and
windows were added and there was no further
trouble." Edinburg is a beautiful township. Its soil
is very fertile and its crops of grain and fruit
are enorraous.
Freedom. Township.
Town 4, range 7, was the last of the regular
townships to be organized. Garrettsville alone,
which is irregular, carae after it. Freedora,
like Paris, had a reputation of having very
poor land, but when this was cleared it proved
to be very fertile. In the beginning the land
about the Center was low and wet. The first
settler was not frora a far-away town, but from
Hirara. He was a son of General Edward
Paine, of whom we have read in the early parts
of this work, and married a daughter of Elijah
Mason. Their cabin was finished in 1818, and
for four years they were the only inhabitants.
In 1822 came Mr. and Mrs. Thoraas John
son, with eleven children. What would a
woman of today think of raaking a new home
for eleven children? As there were then no

street cars, no automobiles, no dynamite, and
few raicrobes, the greater worry was caused
by the want of vegetable food.
A separate township was created in 1825.
In a chivalric spirit, Mrs. Paine was asked to
narae it. Her idea was a broad one. She did
not narae it for herself, or her horae town.
She first suggested "Liberty," and finally chose
"Freedora." Is it not strange that Freedom's
first woraan citizen, who lived alone in the
forest, who laid into the virgin earth the first
dead body (her baby Emeline) and who gave
birth to the first child of the township, should
have been considered so rauch of a chattel that
she did not need a narae?
We know now that Freedora would still be
a wilderness, if no women had been allowed to
enter it.
Rufus Ranney was one of the earlier settlers
and his daughter Harriet was Freedom's first
bride. Her husband was Wakeman Sher
wood. The first postmaster was Elijah W. Ranney.
The first justice of the peace was Araariah
Wheelock. Elihu Paine built the first saw-raill in 1828.
The first church (Presbyterian) was organ
ized at A. C. Larkcorn's home, in 1828. Their
first raeeting house was built in 1835. Before
that, services were held in the horaes of the
merabers. A pretty church was later erected.
When a child, driving with her parents from
Ravenna to Nelson, the writer waited with
great impatience till the white church in Free
dora carae in view. It looked then so much
larger and whiter than the capitol at Washing
ton twenty years later!
The Methodists organized a class in 183 1.
Enoch Drake's barn was the first place of
meeting. Seven years later a fine house was
built at Drakesburg.
It was in this part of the township that the
first school was held, E. W. Ranney being
teacher. The public square at Hartford was given by
Thomas Lloyd, of Hartford, Connecticut.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

68s

Freedora has reradined an agricultural town
ship, but it has always done its share of county
work, and sustained its portion of county re
sponsibility. Garrettsville.
In 1804 John Garrett, of Delaware, reached
Hirara township, which then included what is
now Mantua, Freedora, Windham, Nelson,
Shalersville and Hiram. He bought his land

people were well treated from the very begin
ning. Abrahara Dyson, his wife, two sons and
daughter accorapanied the Garretts, this
daughter afterwards marrying Ira Hulet, who
lived for raany years on several farras in Nel
son. These pioneers camped on what is now
Main street.
So necessary was a grist-mill to a settlement
that soraetiraes before houses were built raen

E. GAEEETT

MES. ELBANOE GAEEETT

from a company of men who owned the entire
area of Nelson. His deed called for three
hundred acres of land, including the water-
power on the creek and he paid $1,313 for it.
Aside from his family, he brought a negress,
ten years old, and a raulatto, . six years old.
They becarae free when they were eighteen
years of age.
One of the servants belonging to Mrs. Gar
rett naraed Flora, married Thomas Henes, a
colored raan, and they raade their horae in
Mantua. Ravenna, Garrettsville and Mantua
were three townships at least where the colored

began dararaing streams. This was true of
Mr. Garrett. Very soon Mill creek was
dammed and the saw-mHl in operation, and not
long after a grist-raill was erected. Dyson
was a blacksraith, and he used to repair the
firearms of the Indians.
Eleanor Garrett.
John Garrett died in 1806 and his widow
Eleanor, with her three sons, assumed > the
business and the responsibilities of the husband
and father. Mrs. Garrett was an exceptional
woman. She really felt herself to be the

686

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

mother of the settlement, and her home was
the stopping place for all. Howeyer, she was
like raost of the pioneers and had a great long
ing for "back horae" ; and twice she went to
Delaware on horseback. She was a great
Baptist and the first meetings of that denomi
nation were held in her house. Her husband
had given land for a church and she worked
untiringly for the erection of the house. When
the congregation introduced a bass viol into
the meeting she left the hoyse.
The ceraetery in Garrettsville was given by
John Garrett in 1805, and the first interraent
was that of his son, Josiah. The Park cerae
tery was bought in 1876. The ladies of Gar
rettsville and of Nelson and Hirara township
have taken a great interest in ceraeteries and
have accoraplished much in beautifying them.
It is supposed that the first school-house in
Garrettsville was on the corner of North and
Maple avenues. Of course it was of logs.
There was another school-house on Center
street opposite Park ceraetery. A school dis
trict of Hiram had a school-house at the inter
section of South and Freeman streets. The Red
School House, the best reraerabered of the
early buildings erected in 1841, and the pres
ent High School stands on its site. It was
considered a very pretentious building of its
time. When the village was incorporated, a
special school district was erected.
The first postmaster of Garrettsville was
Eleanor Garrett. She had charge of the office
in 1834. Mail then only came once a week
from Parkman, through Nelson and Freedom,
to Ravenna. It was at first carried on horse
back. Village Incorporated.
When Garrettsville was settled there was no
road of any kind. There was an Indian trail,
* from Conant's corners in Windhara to Hirara
Rapids, where there was a vHlage of Wyan
dotte Indians. Although Garrettsville had this
early beginning, it was not an incorporated
village until 1864, and it was not until 1874
that the village was set off as a township. In

the early days the residents of Garrettsville
had to go to Hirara or Nelson to vote, which
was so inconvenient that few did their duty in
this direction. Garrettsville Newspapers.
The first newspaper published in Garretts
ville was called The Western Pearl. Its date
was 1836. It was a semi-raonthly. It was a
literary paper and did not last long. Dr. Ly
raan Trask was the editor.
In 1862 a sraall monthly gotten out by War
ren Pierce, under the name of the Garrettsville
Monthly Rcvieiv, which was Hkewise short
lived. The Garrettsville Journal was first published
in July, 1867, by Warren Pierce, who con
tinued it until 1873, when he sold it to Charles
B. Webb. In 1905 Mr. Webb, because of ill
health, was obliged to give up work and Myers
and Snow bought the paper and the next year
the Journal Publishing Company was formed
and D. G. Myers becarae editor and manager.
It is now a corapany, of which C. M. Crane is
president. He is also editor of the paper.
The Saturday Item appeared in 1885. It
was a weekly and a spicy little sheet. It lived
five years.
The first store in Garrettsville was that of
Hazen and Garrett. It was of logs, of course,
and stood at the corner of the present Main
street and North avenue. It was opened in
1820. John B. Hazen was the father of Still-
man H. Hazen, and consequently an uncle of
General WiHiara B. Hazen. David J. Garrett
was a son of John Garrett, the founder.
The writer reraerabers the first time she
gazed upon the waterfall over the stone ledge
at Garrettsville. It seeraed to her that the air
rising was as cold as ice and she wondered if
it was possible that Niagara Falls, of which
she had heard so much, could be larger than
this, or if the water above and below could
run swifter.
The eldest daughter of John Taber who
carae to Garrettsville in 1833 was the first wife
of Dr. A. M. Sherraan.

HISTORY DF THE WESTERN RESERVE

687

Energetic Men and Women.
There are nuraberless stories told of the
energy, executive ability and industry of the
early women of the different counties. Sarah
Ann Pinney, who early came to live in Martin
Mauley's family in GarrettsviHe, seeraed to
have natural business ability. She picked up
chestnuts, with which she bought her first
apron. When she was seven years old she knit
her first stockings, and, as did raany others,
carried thera until she nearly reached the
church before she put thera on. When she was
twelve years old, she raade a cheese her
self, curing it, and when it had seasoned prop
erly, (and in those days cheese had to season
a long tirae) she carried it on horseback to At-
wood's store and sold it for a pair of gloves.
Garrettsville has always had a business air
and woraen, as well as raen, frora an early day
have been good raanagers. The women of the
fifties and sixties' carried their butter, eggs,
sugar, feathers, etc., to stores and exchanged
them for drygoods and groceries. Few were
the raerchants who could "do" these woraen,
if they had cared to do so.
Garrettsville at this writing is a village of
horaes, and raany people doing business in
Cleveland live there.
Franklin, or Kent.
Franklin township was the first to be organ
ized in the county.
In 1803 Benjarain Tappan, who raade a road
through the township when he carae from
Hudson, xbuilt the first bridge over the creek
near "Brady's Leap."
The Haymaker Family.
The first settler was John Hayraaker. He
was a Gerraan from Pennsylvania. He had
stopped in Warren for a tirae and raany years
after Ephraira Quinby's daughter married one
of the family. The Hayraaker faraily con
sisted of the wife Sally and three chHdren. A
cabin, which had first been used by the sur

veyors and later by the Indians for theraselves
and their houses, was cleaned and becarae the
first horae in Franklin.
The following year, 1806, John's father,
Jacob, and brother George, arrived. Jacob
built a house, where later Kent's mills was
erected. In 1807, Frederick, another brother, ap
peared. He bought a goodly bit of land in the
northern part of the township. He is the best
remembered of the famHy, because of his
cleverness and education. He had been Aaron
Burr's private secretary and knew all of Burr's
plans, as did no other raan, but to his death
nothing could raake hira divulge thera. In
later years he raoved to Trumbull county and
his son, Jesse, married Abbie, the daughter'of
Samuel Quinby. Franklin Mills.
This whole faraily was an industrious one.
They put up the first raill, 1807 — crude to be
sure ; but they were so willing to accoramo
date customers that they did a fine business and
the hamlet became known as the Mills, and
then as Franklin Mills. There was another
settleraent near it called Carthage, but its name
was finally lost in Franklin Mills.
The Haymakers were not only the first set
tlers, but the first business raen of the town
ship. The first birth was that of a Haymaker —
John F,, son of John and Sally; and the first
death, Eva, the wife of Jacob and mother of
John, George and Frederick. Sally lived to be
one of the oldest citizens of the township,
ninety-four years of age.
Not only did the raill figure in naraing of the
first settleraent, but when Jacob Reed, of
Rootstown, bought the property of Haymaker,
it was called Reedsburg. In 1816 the original
nanie was restored.
Frora alraost the beginning, Franklin Mills
took on an industrial air, aside frora the grist
raiH. In 1818 a woolen factory, a dye-house,
a hotel, and a cabinet shop were put up.

688

HISTORY OF' THE WESTERN RESERVE

Early Time Manufactories.
In 1822 there were a tannery and a glass fac
tory, a saw-mill and an ashery. In 1824 there
was another glass factory and in 1831, a grist
mill, saw-raill, forge and trip hararaer, as well
as a herap factory. Axes, scythes and pitch
forks were raanufactured, and these were not
nearly all of the early "works."
Price and De Peyster were enterprising citi
zens. Mr. Price was killed by having a grind
stone fall ori hira, and a freshet carried away
their miH and fairly destroying, the property.
In 1832 Zenas Kent and David Ladd bought
the De Peyster property for seven thousand
dollars. To be sure, the mill was gone, but the
land and water-power were left. This was
improved and Mr. Kent, who had bought out
Ladd, disposed of his for $75,000 and Pome
roy and Rhodes, for $40,000. People were
wild over speculations, and all would have
been well if soraething unforeseen had not
happened. It's always this "unforseen" which
ruins. The Land Company transferred its in
terest to the Silk Company. The latter built
a bridge, made a fine stone dam, and the canal
people appearing friendly and interested really
diverted the water power to Akron. Insol
vency followed hoped for success. Zenas Kent
was not daunted and when the property carae
to sale Henry A. and Marvin Kent bought it.
This faraily raade every effort to restore busi
ness and it finally carae through Marvin's
efforts in securing the present Erie road. This
history is given under railroads in Portage
county. Although the narae Carthage had disap
peared, the Upper and Lower Village had been
substituted for it and Franklin MHls. In 1863
these consolidated towns were naraed Kent, for
Marvin Kent. One of the divisions ended
here, so that the employees of the shop, to
gether with the trainmen who raade their
horaes there, added greatly to the population
of the village.
Marvin Kent was a native of Ravenna and
was born in 1816. He attended the academy

at Talmage and developed into a strong busi
ness man. He was at one tirae state sena-
¦ tor. He was better known in connection
with the projecting of the Atlantic and Great
Western Railroad than was any of the other
coramissioners. He died since the author be
gan this work, being over ninety-two years
old. His son Williara has taken his place in the
business and political life of the city. He is
identified with the newspaper business, the
banking business and several other things.
John Brown, of Ossawattomie, the Abo
litionist of world-wide farae, was born in Tor
rington, Connecticut, in 1800; carae to Hud
son, Summit county, when five years of age,
and worked on the farm and in a tannery with
his father, Owen Brown. When he was thirty-
five years old he was in Kent and built or
bought a house to be used as a boarding house,
but he did not so use it, although others have.
He raoved to Pennsylvania, but returned to
Ohio in 1836. From Ohio five of his sons went
to Kansas, where their father joined thera in
1855. The story of his atterapt to free the
slaves, his arrest, iraprisonraent and execution
are weH known.
The story of Captain Brady and his leap
is about on a par with the story told about
Israel Putnam, Pocahontas and William Tell.
The latter two have been relegated to fiction,
but Putnara and Brady still belong in the class
of real things.
Captain Samuel Brady lived on Chartier's
creek. He was a very powerful man physically.
About 1780 a number of Indians from the
neighborhood of Cuyahoga Falls had gone
south into Washington county in what was
then known as the "Cat Fishing Camp." They
had murdered and plundered and raade nui
sances of theraselves until finally it was de
cided that they must be put out. Brady led the
party which pursued them, but as the Indians
had a start the white men could not catch
thera. At Ravenna they separated into two
parties and Brady's men also divided. Brady
was in the party which was to go to Indian

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

689

Village lying on the Cuyahoga river in the
townsliip of Northampton. He and his men
expected to slip unnoticed into the village, but
the Indian's ear was a ready ear and there was
no surprise. As the number of Indians was
four times that of the whites, Brady's only
chance was to run. He ordered his men to
separate and each one try to save himself.
Brady's size and strength were the envy of
the red men and they were more anxious to
catch him than any of the rest. When Brady
reached the Cuyahoga where the banks are
very high and only twenty-two feet apart (the
spot is now a few feet above the bridge at
Kent) he knew that he must either clear this
'river by jumping, or be captured. He made
the jump successfully and held himself to the
side by bushes till he finally crawled up the
rocks. The Indians were perfectly astonished
when they saw him on the opposite bank. He
was still within shooting distance. They did
not want to kill hira; they longed to torture
him. However, none of them could jutnp as
he did, and in going around he gained on
them. Reaching, the' pond which riow bears
his name, he jumped in, swam quietly a long
way and hid under a log. The Indians hunted
hun hours, but as they knew he hurt himself
in jumping they concluded that when he
plunged into the water he drowned. Strange
to say, none of the members of his party were
hurt in any way by the Indians. Altogether it
was a most miraculous escape.
S. P. Hildreth, in "Sketches of Pioneer His
tory," writes: "At 11 a. m., I took a seat in
the raailcoach for Poland, TrurabuH county,
Ohio, thirty-eight miles northerly from Bea-
verstown. Directly on leaving Bridgewater
and crossing a small stream on a neat bridge,
we began to ascend a long, steep hill, called
Brady's Hill. It took its name from an in
teresting, border adventure which occurred
near its base in early times — about the year
1777. "Captain Samuel Brady was one of that
band of brave men, who, in the trying days of

the Revolutionary war, lived on the western
borders of Pennsylvania, exposed to all the
horrors and dangers of Indian warfare. He
held a coraraission frora the congress of the
United States, and for a part of the tirae 60m-
manded a corapany of rangers, who traversed
the country below Pittsburg bordering the
Ohio river. He was bom, as I learn from
one of his sons, in Shippensburg, Cumberland
county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1758, and
must have reraoved when quite young across
the raountains into the valley of the Monon
gahela to have becorae so thoroughly versed
in woodcraft and Indian adventiires. He was
over six feet in height, reraarkably erect, and
active in his moveraents, with light blue eyes,
fair skin and dark hair.
"In personal and hand-to-hand conflict with
the Indians he is said to have exceeded any
other raan west of the raountains, excepting
Daniel Boone. Several interesting, sketches
were published in the Blairsville Recorder, a
year or two since, detailing sorae of his ad
ventures, which in the hands of a Weeras
would raake a most interesting volume. At
the period of this event. Captain Brady lived
on Chartier creek, about twelve miles below
Pittsburg, a stream rauch better known, how
ever, to pilots and keelboat men of modern
days, by the significant name of "Shirtee."
He had becorae a bold and vigorous back-
woodsraan, inured to all the toils and hard
ships of a borderer's life, and very obnoxious
to the savages frora his nuraerous successful
attacks on their war parties, and frora shoot
ing them in his hunting excursions whenever
they crossed his path or carae within reach of
his rifle. He was, in fact, that which many
of the early borderers were, 'an Indian hater.'
His hatred was not without cause — his father,
one brother, wife and two or three children
having been slain by the savages. This class of
men seem to have been more numerous in the
region of the Monongahela than in any other
portion of the frontiers, which doubtless arose
from the slaughter at Braddock's defeat, and

Vol. 1—44

690

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

the numerous murders and attacks on defense
less families that followed that defeat for many
years. Brady was also a very successful trap
per and hunter, and took more beaver than any
of the Indians theraselves.
"In one of his adventurous trapping excur
sions on the waters of the Beaver, or Mahon
ing, which so greatly abounded in the animals
of this species in early days that it took its
name from this fact, it so happened that the
Indians surprised him in his camp and took
him prisoner. To have shot or tomahawked
him on the spot would have been but a sraaH
gratification to that of satiating their revenge
by burning hira at a slow fire, after having run
the gantlet in presence of all the Indians of
their village. He was therefore taken alive to
their encarapraent, on the right bank of the
Beaver, about two railes frora its raouth. After
the usual exultations and rejoicing at the cap
ture of a noted enemy, and the cereraony of
the gantlet was gone through with, a fire was
prepared by which Brady was placed, stripped
naked, and his arras unbound. Around him
the Indians forraed a large circle of raen,
woraen and children, dancing and yelling, and
uttering all raanner of threats and abuse, that
their sraall knowledge of the English lan
guage could afford, previous to tying him to
the stake. Brady looked on these preparations
for death, and on his savage foes, with a firm
countenance and a steady eye, raeeting all their
threats with a truly savage fortitude.
"In the raidst of their dancing and rejoicing,
the squaw of one of their chiefs came near
him with a child in her arras. Quick as
thought, and with a presence of mind with
which few mortals are gifted, he snatched it
from her and threw it into the midst of the
flames. Horror-stricken at the sudden trans
action, the Indians siraultaneously rushed to
rescue it frora the fire. In the raidst of this
confusion Brady darted frora the circle, over
turning all that carae in his way, and rushed
into the adjacent thickets with the Indians
yelling at his heels. He ascended the steep side

of the present hill amid the discharge of fifty
rifles, and sprung down the opposite declivity
into the deep ravines and laurel thickets that
abound for some miles to the west. His
knowledge of the country, and wonderful ac
tivity and strength, enabled hira to elude his
enemies, and reach the settlements on the south
side of the Ohio.
"He lived many years after this escape, and
gratified his hatred by killing numbers of his
foes in the several encounters which ensued.
The hill near whose base this adventure was
achieved still goes by his name, and the in
cident is often referred to by the traveler as
the coach is slowly dragged up its side. In
looking down upon the laurel thickets which
still cluster round the rugged cliffs of sand
rock, and by their evergreen foliage perpetu
ate the memory of Brady, I fancied I could still
hear the shriH whoop of the savage, as he
pursued with desperate energy his escaping
foe." The first school in Franklin was taught by
Abner H. Lanphare in 1815. The first school
house erected in 1817, was also to serve as a
church. The Presbyterian church, organized in 1819,
had a regular pastor in 1825. A brick church
was built in the thirties and another one in
1858. A Methodist class was formed about 1815.
In 1822 it was on the circuit; first meetings
held in the school house. In 1828 the Metho
dists fitted up a sraall building, which was
really the first church in Franklin. A church
was built in ,1840.
The Disciples organized in 1827, when peo
ple were so stirred over the "new religion."
The Episcopal church was established in
1835- The Baptists had a few members in 1835,
but did not grow rauch. They were organized
in 1875.
The Universalists organized in 1866. They
have a nice church. Rev. Andrew WHson has
long been interested in this church as pastor.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

691

Mantua Township (Town 5, Range 8).
Mantua was the first township reached by
the pioneers. The main owners were David
Fidelio and Ebenezer King, and Gideon Gran
ger had a small interest in this township, as
he had in so many others.
Abraham Honey in 1798, built a hut, part
on lot 24, cleared a small portion and sowed
wheat. He did not stay, and after wandering
a little in that part of the county, settled in
Cuyahoga county. It is not known whether
he intended to settle at the tirae. At all events,
his brother-in-law, Rufus Edwards, carae dur
ing the next year and harvested his wheat,
which, was probably the first in the county.
Edwards had a grist mHl in 1799.
Elias Harmon was one of the best known of
the first settlers. Although he started in Feb
ruary, 1799, he did not reach Mantua untH
the 1 2th of June. He settled in Mantua that
fall, having spent the summer in Aurora. His
daughter Eunice received fifty acres of land
for being the first child born in the township.
She ran very close to second place in the
county. Atwater Hall was the first child born
in the county, and PoHy Day, of Deerfield, was
second, unless Eunice Harmon antidates her;
the author believes she does, although the
records are not sure.
It was in Mantua that Arazi Atwater settled,
his place known to all the early settlers, and
he is reraerabered by raen who are living today
as being a genial, intelligent, successful raan.
His narae appears raore often in the early his
tories of the Western Reserve than any of the
other surveyors. This was because he was
with both surveying parties and because he
becarae a settler and prosperous citizen. The
present Mantua station stands on their old
farm and part of their house was converted in
to a hotel.
Amzi Atwater was exceedingly honorable
and honest. During, one season, when wheat
and grain was plenty in Portage county and
vicinity, and there was almost a famine in

Medina county, men who were speculating
came to him to buy his wheat. Knowing that
they wanted to sell it to the settlers in those
counties, he refused to sell and made arrange
ments to dispose of his himself to those people
at an ordinary profit. In 1802 there was a tan
nery owned by Moses Pond, which was oper
ated for ten years, David Ladd then established
a regular tannery. Moses Pond was a valuable
settler. It was he who introduced sheep into
the township and also apple seeds. The first
saw raHl was not erected until 1818. In the
early twenties there was a glass factory in
Mantua, which later was reraoved to Kent, and
at a centennial celebration in Aurora a glass
bottle blown by Jonathan Tinker, who worked
for David Ladd. Frora 1810 to 1824 Mantua
had a distillery. It was owned by different
parties. WiHiara Russell was the proprietor
for the greatest nuraber of years.
For ten years there was an ashery, 1818 to
1828. In 182 1 David Ladd had a brick yard.
In 1825 the Rogers brothers owned a
tannery. The first tavern was of logs, and Jonathan
Atwater was the owner.
Mantua has never had any business which
paid its citizens better than potato raising. In
season trainloads are shipped frora this point.
It is seldora that the Methodists are early
in their organization, but they were in Mantua.
A class was forraed in 1807; first raeeting
house erected in 1820. This was of logs and
was burned in 1838. A new one was ira
raediately constructed.
The Congregational church was organized in
1812, The Baptists organized in 1809, but the
Disciples succeeded in capturing it, as it did
raany others. This church was reorganized in
1850. - The Spiritualists have been numerous in
Mantua. The Catholics have a congregation here,
which is rather unusual for a rural district.

692

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Albert G. Riddle.
Albert G. Riddle was a native of Geauga
county. When his father died he was appren
tice to Seth Harraon, who lived in Portage
county, and his biography is given here for that
reason. He returned to Geauga county in
183 1, studied law and was admitted to the bar ;
was a raeraber of the Ohio legislature in 1848
and 1849, and then raoved to Cleveland. He
was naturally a radical and was much inter
ested in the slavery question. He was United
States Consul to Matanzas in 1863 ; finally
went to Washington to live and was John
Surratt's lawyer. He was preceptor in the
Howard University, and wrote novels which
dealt with the life of Northern Ohio. He was
a close friend of both Giddings and Wade.
Nelson Township.
Town 5, range 6, was originally part of
Hiram. Uriel Holraes was the largest owner
in this territory.
We have mentioned in several other parts of
this work the Mills brothers — Delaun, Asahel
and Isaac. The first two named were raarried
and had children and all three started for this
county. When they got as far as Youngs
town, the wives and children were left ahd the
raen proceeded westward. Since Delaun had
but eighteen cents, it was fortunate they raet
Mr. Holraes, who wanted helpers in his sur
veying party. He engaged them and they
worked under the direction of Amzi Atwater.
WhHe the Captain was working with the sur
veying party and scaring the Indians, his wife
was working in a hotel, earning her board and
that of her three children during all the sum
mer. Ashael stayed in Youngstown that win
ter, but the Captain and his faraily went to
Nelson. He cut a roadway frora Warren to,
let the wagon through; before that there had
only been a blazed path.
Delaun remodeled the cabin which the sur
veyors had used and began making, his home.

It is supposed that Mr. Holraes gave hira one
hundred acres of land for settling there. In the
next spring, the brother, Ashael, settled on the
north and south road and it is supposed his
land was given to hira also. Delaun's house
was just west of the center where the home.
of P. C. Freeman now is.
Delaun Mills was a raost powerful raan and
was likewise absolutely fearless. Probably no
man on the Western Reserye was so much
hated by the Indians as was he and no man's
life was in danger so often as was his. The
stories told of him are quite equal to imaginary
tales told of Indian hunters. Most of the in
forraation in regard to the Mills family used
in this work was taken frora an address de
livered at the Mills family reunion at Nelson
Ledges, in 1879, by Professor George Colton
of Hirara College. Professor Colton was born
in Nelson and married Clara Taylor, daughter
of Edwin and granddaughter of Elisha, one of
the early settlers. Professor Colton's father
was Belden and his mother was a Tilden. The
family lived at the Corners about a mile
and a half west of the Center. Her
brother Henry's farra adjoined hers and
the Taylor farra adjoined the Tildens' ons
the west, while the Couch farm was across
the way. This neighborhood was an intel
lectual center. A meraber of congress in the
eighties said if he really wanted to know what
the political situation was he had to talk with
raen of this vicinage. Lucius Taylor, one of
the sons of Elisha, was a cattle buyer and was
possibly the best known of any of the neigh
bors, his business taking him into all parts of
the county. He was a genial man, with a fund
of good stories and an inveterate tease. His
uncle, Ferris Couch, was at one tirae sheriff
of the county and his grandfather, Elisha Tay
lor, was elected the first justice of the peace,
although he refused to serve. Of all this New
England neighborhood there is not one of the
name left and the only raan of that circle who
dwells upon his old farm is George Pritchard
who, with his wife "Aunt Era," still resides at

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

693

the Corners of Hiram and Nelson, near where
the old chair factory was once located.
The general stateraent that the early settlers
suffered raany hardships does not mean much
to us, but when we read that Delaun MiHs
sowed turnips the first year and that he and
his family lived upon turnips and meat. They
had no corn, no potatoes and no flour. In the
the spring of 1801 wheat was sown and from
three pecks of seed forty-three bushels of
wheat was harvested. This Captain Mills
loaded onto a sled drawn by oxen and started
for the miHs on MiH creek. The sleighing was
,good, but before his grist was done and he had
started home a thaw began. When he was
ready to leave Youngstown the water had
frozen. His oxen were not shod and could
not stand up. He therefore stopped, made
an ox frame so that they could be shod and
then resumed his journey. The thaw had
made the river rise and when he reached War
ren, as there was no bridge, he could not cross
without wetting his flour. He therefore
placed stakes in his sled, put chains^ on top,
making a rack, and when his grist was on top
of that it was beyond the reach of the water.
He mounted one ox and thus brought hiraself
and his food through without daraage. He had
been gone three weeks; his wife was fearing
he had been killed by the Indians, and as his
children had been without flour so long they
did not like bread.
Dianthia Mills was the first child born in
Nelson. She was a daughter of Asahel.
Professor Colton says : "The Captain was in
the habit of opening each spring a sugar camp
south of the center road, under the ledge. Dur
ing- 'run' the whole faraily Hved at the carap,
Mrs. Mills going occasionally on horseback to
their horae for supplies. On one occasion she
found at the house an Indian who insisted upon
riding with her to the carap. She protested;
but the horseback ride was a treat which the
Indian did not seem inclined to forego, and, in
spite of her protests, he seated himself on the
horse behind her. He enjoyed the ride to

camp greatly, but how she enjoyed it tradition
does not say."
Since the Mills brothers came to Nelson
there has always been some of the faraily living
there. Nelson Center is one of the raost at
tractive of the rural centers. It has a raonu
raent to the soldiers, two nice churches, a town
hall and centralized school.
The early settlers were generally Connecti
cut people. A beautiful township it is, too,
with its rolling surface and its' view of the
Hirara hiHs to the west and the Pennsylvania
hills to the east. East of the Center is an up
heaval of rocks known as "The Ledges." This
is coraposed of pudding-stone rock standing
on ends, with caves between and all covered
with thick woods. A little streara raakes a
long water fall and in suraraer this is as cool
and attractive a spot as anyone could wish
to see. If there had been a streara of any
size in the vicinity, or if a railroad was near
by, this would have been one of the resorts of
this part of Ohio. It is now a stopping-place
for automobile parties on their way back and
forth frora Cleveland.
While his brother was fighting the Indians
and doing that sort of an act, Asahel MiHs was
giving raore attention to doraestic affairs. He
preached the first serraon in the township and
he and all the faraily were attached to the
Methodist church. Rev. Thoraas G. Jones, of
Sharon, who organized so inany Baptist
churches on the Western Reserve perfected an
organization here. It was called Bethesda in
1808. The first school was at the Center, and the
teacher was Hannah Baldwin. Delaun Mill's
brother, Oliver, was one of the early teachers
and it is said that he was the only one of the
early Mills who cared anything about learning.
There was a social Library Association very
early in Nelson ; probably as early as 1820.
Orders in the possession of Ralph Baldwin
belonging to his grandfather, Stephen Bald
win, and signed by Birdsey Clark, Thomas
Kennedy and Ezra Booth, committee, show

694

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

that assessment was raade and paid for the
raaintenance of this library. The books were
stored at the Center of Nelson, or in the house
of the Rev. Mr. Fenn, and people who were
arabitious to learn, or who loved reading for
arauseraent, walked miles to borrow these
books. Among the early settlers of Nelson was
Stephen Baldwin, who carae to the township
in 1803. He lived in a hunter's cabin on the
ground where the Methodist church now is,
and but for the aid of Indians raight possibly
have starved. The next spring he bought sixty
acres of land, part of which is located on the
Nelson Ledge territory. Here they lived in
a log house. He procured his education, as so
many boys of his age did, studying by the
light of hickory bark, and continued always to
be interested in education. He was one of the
leaders of the anti-slavery raoveraent in North
ern Ohio, being very rauch interested in the
Portage county Anti-Slavery Society, and was
one of its fourteen raerabers. He was an active
meraber of the Congregational church of Nel
son, but because of his anti-slavery sentiraent
was threatened with excoraraunication. At one
tirae he was raobbed for speaking, his senti
raents in Garrettsville, the men attacking hira
using rotten eggs. A party of men once lay
wait for him to tar and feather hira, but by the
raerest accident, having business in another
part of town, he returned horae another way.
Nelson Bearse, Horatio Taylor, Elisha Taylor,
Garret Gates and Orrin Sraith rallied to his
support and saved hira much persecution.
Cornelius Baldwin of Nelson lived at the
foot of the Ledge for many years. His father
was Stephen and his grandfather was Stephen.
His son Ralph is a teacher and lives in Warren.
Ralph Baldwin is very much interested in all
historical things and cherishes a great
many curios. He has a chair with wooden
pegs which was made about 1803 and a mouse
trap made of cedar which was gotten about the
sarae year; a wooden canteen frora the war
of 1812, and an old lantern which was brought

from the East. He has nuraerous papers' and
letters frora old settlers and araong. thera is a
receipt frora Elisha Garrett. He has three
whiskey bottles ; one with an eagle and morn
ing glories on it, dated 1800; one with General
Jackson's name on it, 1812, and the other with
an eagle, stars and clasped hands. He has a
fine collection of old china, among them a
Clews with the words "warrantes Stafford
shire" upon it. This is called the rose and
hawthorn pattern and is supposed to be among
the rarest china of the old kind.
Gen. William B. Hazen was a Nelson boy.
On one lot nearly two miles west of the Center
four raen became judges. Two of them were
the sons of Benjarain F. Brown and another
was Judge Ezra B. Taylor, now living in War
ren at a very advanced age, and Duane Tilden
of Cleveland.
The year 1802 raarked the settlement of
Hiram Elijah Mason, Elisha Hutchinson and
Mason Tilden took up their land there. Mason
ind Tilden were frora Connecticut and Hut
chinson was a New York man. The Masons
were long identified with the township.
In 1830 there was a chair factory near
Pritchard's Corners, which was a lively place.
Many "hands" were eraployed and some of the
chairs manufactured were very pretty. There
was scarcely a housewife in Nelson who did
not have sorae of these chairs, the backs of
which were ornamented with fruits and
flowers, the design, of course, being raore or
less conventional and the colors rather light.
For durability they could not be surpassed.
Palmyra Township.
No. 2, range 6, was practically owned by
Elijah Boardman.
David Daniels, who received one hundred
acres of land, came in 1799, and the township
was among those earliest settled. Daniels was
frora Connecticut, and raarried a cdusin of
Governor Meigs. He was active in business,
but died in 1813. Mrs. Daniels lived to be
eighty-three years old.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

695

Ethelbert Baker arrived in the autumn, Will
iam Bacon carae in 1800 and the farailies of the
two raen joined thera in 1802. Bacon's son-in-
law, E. Cutler, carae that year. Araasa Pres
ton, who carae as early as 1804, was a great
snake-hunter, and the story is told that his
raother hated snakes and loved to hunt them
as much as he did. Even after she got too old
to see thera, she stiH went after the "varmints."
In addition to the Connecticut people and the
Pennsylvania Dutch, sorae of the settlers of
Palrayra township were frora the upper south
— Virginia and Maryland.
The first child born was Eraeline, daughter
of E. Cutler; date 1802. The first death was
that of a son of John Tuttle. The first raar
riage was that of Benjarain McDaniels and
Betsey Stevens. The first tannery was estab
hshed in 1810, a little south of the Center. The
first frarae house was buHt in 1824. The first
school was taught by Betsey Diver, a daughter
of the raan who was shot by the Indians and
blinded. There were a great nuraber of Indians in
Palmyra when the first settlers arrived. There
was an Indian viHage about one mile west of
the Center. They stayed there until the dif
ficulty between John Diver and Mohawk and
then they disappeared.
The township of Palmyra was the one in
Portage county in which was found an excel
lent quality of coal in large araounts.
The coal of Deerfield was good, too. The
character of the township of Palrayra and
sorae parts of Deerfield was quite different
frora other townships at that tirae, because of
the presence of so many foreigners who were
miners. Florus B. Plimpton was a native of Pal
myra. His family carae frora Connecticut in
the early part of the nineteenth century. Florus'
father died before he was born and he worked
on his father's farm in Hartford ; was a stu-^
dent in Allegheny College and began his work
as a journalist in Warren. His wife was Cor^
delia A. BushneH, of Hartford. He was in the

newspaper business in Michigan, at Ravenna,
and at Palmyra, New York, and became the
editor of the Pittsburg Dispatch in 1866. He
was on the staff of the Cincinnati Enquirer and
a close friend and associate of Murat Halstead.
He wrote poetry of more than ordinary raerit.
Paris Township.
Nuraber 3, range 6, (originally a part of
Palmyra) has the high-sounding name of
Paris. Three raen who owned rauch land in
the Western Reserve were part owners of this
township — Lerauel G. Storrs, Henry Charapion
and Gideon Granger. It was first called
Storrsboro. The land of this township, which bears the
narae of the French capital was little thought
of in the early tiraes, being swampy and
muddy. There seemed to be a certain amount
of clay in the soil which had a peculiar
stickiness. •The first settlers were from Huntington
county, Pennsylvania. Richard Hudson and his
wife came in 181 1. Both he and his wife died
within seven or eight years. Their son-in-law,
John Bridges, was the second settler.
The first school in the township — a private
one, of course — was taught at the home of the
first settler, and Betsey North was the teacher.
There were very few scholars. The first public
school was taught by Daniel Leavitt.
Uncle Richard Hudson went at the settle
raent in the right way; built his house, sowed
his crops, planted his orchards, and if he had
lived to the great age which many of the pio
neers did, he would have had a handsorae prop
erty. The first child born in the township was that
of Elijah Hawley.
The first saw-raill was erected by Alexander
and Titus on the Mahoning river.
There is so little told of the early women of
Portage county that it is interesting to know
that Mrs. Williara Case, whose husband kept a
tavern, when left a widow was considered a
very strong-minded person. She was greatly

696

FIISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

in favor of Senator Jackson for president and
did as much work for him as any man in the
township, except that she was not allowed to
cast her vote for hira.
In 1835 Mr. McClintock established a hara
let on the Mahoning which was a lively place
during the canal days. It was known as Mc-
Clintocksburg.
Randolph Township.
Town I, range 8, (Randolph), belonged
largely to Lemuel Storrs and Henry Chara
pion. Colonel Storrs purchased the interest of
the others. He was a fine raan, of whora we
have read much, and was a member of the
Connecticut Land Company. Amzi Atwater
and Wareham Shephard ran the boundary of
this township. Bella Hubbard and Salraond
Ward were among the first settlers. They
came in the year 1802, coming from Connecti
cut by ox-cart. Salraond Ward was very rawch
interested in the township and made a good
raany trips back and forth to the east. On the
fourth one he never returned and it was sup
posed that he was either drowned or raurdered.
The first death in the township was in July,
1797, when a raan assisting Atwater and Shep
hard was killed either frora the effects of the
heat, over-exertion or too rauch whiskey.
Marcus Spelman came to Randolph in 1816.
His father dying early, he made his home with
his uncle, Btiel Spelman, in Rootstown, and
here he raarried. After his raarriage he raoved
to a farra near Edinburg center. He taught
school and became greatly interested in the
church and anti-slavery work. He was deacon
in the Rootstown Congregational church for
forty years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Spelman lived
to be ninety-one years old. The home which
she made for her family was the home of
many travelers and particularly was it a "stop
ping place" for preachers.
The first child born was Sophronia Upson.
Bella Hubbard and Clarissa Ward were the
first to be married, the date was 1806. It was
from this family that the Hubbard squash was

named. It is recorded that she used to tell her
husband that he had to marry her, or none, as
no one in the township would have him. This
was because there was no unraarried person in
the township.
Tiraothy Culver began keeping tavern in
1804. His place was a financial success, not
because so raany people "put up" there as that
the Indians drank his fire-water. Mr. Culver
and Calvin Ward erected the first distillery in
1808. The first grist-raill was erected in 1808 and
Josiah Ward was the proprietor. ¦ The first
cider mill was built the next year and cider
brought a higher price than did whiskey.
Randolph was certainly the first township
in which there was a co-operative club. In the
early years of 1803 Calvin Ward, Harris, Hub
bard, Davis and Weston lived together and
Sally Bacon kept house for thera. In the sum
mer of 1805 these raen built a school house and
made a rocking chair for the teacher, Laura
Ely. First distillery was owned by Calvin Ward
and Tiraothy Culver.
Josiah Ward was the first real settler, 1808.
He also had the first cider mill.
Sylvester Turner was the first tanner, 181 1.
Carapbellsport was the trading point for
Randolph in the early days.
Congregational church, organized in 18 12,
and erected a house twenty years later.
Methodist class formed, 1814.
Baptists organized, 1819.
Disciples organized in 1828, taking raerabers
frora other churches ; built church in 1884.
St. Joseph's church (Catholic) established in
1829. Shalersville Township.
Town 4, range 8, which was owned by Gen.
Mathew Shaler of Middletown, Connecticut,
was in the beginning called Middletown, but
later Shalersville. The first settler was Joel
Baker. It is said that he and his family slept
in a hollow log until they could rear their

HISTORY OF THE 'WESTERN RESERVE

697

cabin. They had , chosen the spot which is
now the center of ShalersviHe. Like most
first settlers, Mr. Baker and his faraily were
lonesome, but Mrs. Baker is reported to have
had great endurance and patience. The next
settlers were Mr. and Mrs. Siraeon Crane.
They were Connecticut people but had lived a
little tirae in Canfield, Trumbull county.
The first election in this county was in 1812
at the tirae of the organization. Joel Baker's
daughter, Lucinda, was the first child born in
the township. The first wedding was that of
Hezekiah Hine, who raarried Mary, the sister
of Arazi Atwater.
The eccentric Muzzey, of whora we read in
the Rootstown chapter, was one of the early
settlers of Shalersville. The first school was
opened in 1810 at the Center, Miss Witter of
Aurora being the teacher. It was like all the
other school-houses described in the various
places in this work ; built of logs, with greased
paper for windows, great fire-place and high
benches. Williara Coolman. the ancestor of D. C.
Coolman, arrived in 1810.
Gen. David Mcintosh was one of the best
known of Shalersville's citizens.
The Congregational church was organized
in 1810; Disciples in 1850.
The Methodists for years held their services
in the churches at the Center.
Shalersville in 1850 was a flourishing town
and contained a store which rivaled any in
Ravenna. Suffield Township.
Suffield was owned largely by Benejob Kent.
Royal Pease was one of the chief smaH owners
and the township, until its organization in 1818,
was known as Peasetown. Mr. Pease came in
1802, but the town was very slow in filling
up. He was literally in a wilderness, the near
est people being five miles distant. There were
no roads but, like other settlers such as he, he
built his cabin and put in his crops. The

next year Benjarain Baldwin carae, and Elikin
Merriraan, and David Way. The little daugh
ter of the latter was the first child born in the
township. Benjarain Baldwin, who lived in
this township, brought with him some apple
seeds, and from this orchard he raised the
apples which bear his name.
A goodly nuraber of Pennsylvania Germans
helped to make up the inhabitants of this town
ship. Among these was John Fritch, for
whom Fritch's pond was named. This was
one of the sources of the Little Cuyahoga
river. Fritch constructed a dam and erected
a mill, and frora that tirae people continued to
come frora Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in
about the proportion of one of the former to
three or four of the latter.
The Fritch dara caused stagnant water and
illness, so the raill constructed theron had to be
abandoned. This spot was always a place for
sorae kind of raid or factory. Jaraes Sheilds
had a grist-raill, Daniel Harper a carding shop,
David Ely a saw-raill, David and Samuel
Eddy, a pottery, and G. W. Fritch, shortly
after the war, erected a saw-raill.
The Germans of the township were so fru
gal and so industrious (by the way, do any of
us remeraber a word in our German reader or
story-book raore often used than "arbeit")
that this township, after their coraing, was
beautifully cultivated. They raade their Gerraan
cheese, peddled fruits and vegetables, and
turned everything into raoney. Like the
Quakers, their descendants did not wear their
clothing, nor use their language, but retained
their characteristics.
Orestes Hale, the son of Sarauel, died of
smallpox in 1805.
Alpha (properly naraed) Wright and Lucy
Foster were the first to be married. Every
raeraber of the household was an asset in those
days; otherwise, how could Moses Adams, a
widower with a large family, have married
Sarah Packer, with six children?
The thriving town of Mogadore lies on the
western line of this township.

698

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Windham Township.
Windhara was not settled quite. so early as
sorae of the other townships, but it was settled
in a very substantial fashion. A party left
the Berkshire Hills in 181 1, and, before taking
their departure, secured their letters frora the
Congregational church of Becket and organ
ized a church of their own which should exist
in their new horae. This organized church-
body held its first raeeting in July, 181 1, in a
log cabin. It soon had a building, erected and
as soon as feasible replaced the log one with
a frarae. What was true of the early woraen of Wind
hara, was true of other townships, of course,
but it is said that there was no place where
they could get a pin, needle, thread and like
things, nearer than Pittsburg, in the beginning.
Later they went to Warren, and when Deacon
Isaac Clark opened up a little store in Wind
ham, they were delighted. His wife was the
purchasing agent and raade trips back and
forth to Pittsburg on horseback to buy the
goods. Town 4, range 6, was principally owned by
Governor Caleb Strong, of Massachusetts. A
party of New England people, raostly frora
Berkshire county forraed a company and pur
chased the township. Dillingham Clark put in
$6,000 which entitled hira to about one-fourth
of the township. The town was called
Strongsburg in honor of the governor. Four
young men preceded the party — Elijah and
Oliver Alford, Ebenezer Owe and Nathan
Messenger. They walked, their baggage be
ing carried in a sleigh. The descendants of the
Alfords now live upon part of the land which
he purchased.
The first wheat sown in Windham was
sown by Col. Benjamin Higley on the land
which the Alfords had cleared, and it is said
that on the four acres he raised 100 bushels of
wheat the next season. Elijah Alford re
turned to Connecticut and at the end of two
years re-located in Windhara.
One of the early settlers was Warham

Loorais. He was a light-fingered gentleman
who lived in Nelson, and was not rauch ad
mired by Windhara people. He raoved to
Mantua and from that township was sent to
the penitentiary, serving a sentence of twelve
years. He counterfeited money.
Change of Names.
The owners of this township began to come
and it was not long until Windhara was one
of the finest townships in the county physically,
and had the finest society. It was originally
in the township of Hirara, and in 1S13 the
name was changed frora Strongsburg to
Sharon, Governor Strong having become poli
tically unpopular. In 1820 the township was
named Windham, undoubtedly for Windham,
Massachusetts. The first living child born was a daughter
of Warehara Loomis. As is usUal with old rec
ords, her narae is not given. It was sufficient
in those days to be "the daughter of."
In 181 1 Dillingham Clark gave land for a
cemetery. The seven people who were buried
in this spot, were, in 1817, moved to the pres
ent burying ground.
The first school in the township was taught
by the daughters of two of the early residents
— Elijah Streaton and Rebecca Conant. They
taught alternate weeks. This was the winter
of 181 1-2-3 and in the fall of the latter year
a school-house was erected and a goodly num
ber of scholars attended.
Windham was one of the townships which
had an early library association. In 1824 100
volumes were collected. In 1851 new interest
was aroused and there has been a library as
sociation in the township ever since.
The first mill was that of Jacob Earl and
Benjamin Yarle. It was a saw-mill. The
first barn was that of Nathan Birchard, near
the spot where the main line station of the Erie
railroad in Windham now stands. For con
venience, this station is called Mahoning.
Here, when the early settlers came, was an
Indian village. An orchard was also found

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

699

there which was reported to have been planted
by the Indians. Frora this point the red men
hunted in the townships north of thera, and
one of their favorite hiding places was Nelson
Ledges. It was in these hunts that the Indians
came in contact with Captain MiHs, of whora
they were so rauch afraid.
Hiram Township.
Hirara is one of the most beautiful town
ships in the Reserve. From its hills the scen
ery is most picturesque. It is 1300 feet above
sea level. Its people are prosperous, its homes
substantial and, although some people call it
"sleepy," it impresses the author as having
an air of refined respectability and at the same
time, romance. Most of its history is given
under the topics "Hiram College," "Garfield,"
or "Almeda Booth."
EHjah Mason, Elisha Hutchinson and Mason
Tilden arrived in 1802, looked over their pos
sessions and returned home.
John Flemings was the first real settler. He
came in 1802, but did not remain long.
The Masons, Tildens and Hutchinsons re
turned the next spring and raade iraprove
ments. It was the Masons who gave Silver
creek its narae. The young Masons did not
like the county and persuaded their father
to purchase a Verraont farm. This raove dis
couraged Tilden and both Hutchinson and
Flemings sold their lands. The latter sold his
land to Richard Redden, who, with Jacob and
Sarauel West, had worked for the Masons
and Tildens. Redden's father and faraily carae
out in the suraraer and they spent the winter.
RusseH Mason, son of the owner, finally con
cluded to corae.
It seeras as if the question of settling Hirara
was a hard one, for Mason did not arrive until
1806. The first inhabitants were Irishmen and
Pennsylvania Gerraans, all of whom were poor.
Finally Hiram stock began to rise in New
England and with their coming, real growth
began.

Hiram was named by the Free and Ac
cepted Masons for Hiram of Tyre.
The first child born in the township was
Siraeon Babcock, son of Edwin.
The first death was Mrs. Fenton, who died
at the tirae her child was born.
The old farm where WiHiara B. Hazen lived
and which he owned until within a few years
of his death, if not all his Hfe-time, was a few
years since bought by Frank Freeraan, who
was the son of Samuel Levitt Freeraan.
The Freeraans were an old TrurabuH county
faraily and facts about thera are found in that
chapter.
Smith and Rigdon Tarred and Feathered.
The people of Hirara tarred and feathered
Rigdon and Sraith, who were in Hirara at the
tirae of the Morraon agitation. Several stories
have been told as to why this was done. The
truth is that they received this treatraent be
cause they were Morraons, because they had
interested the people of that vicinity in their
belief, and because some of these converts had
decided them tb be frauds. This was before
the days of polygamy. It was largely a quar
rel araong different religions in the beginning,
later because it was believed the new followers
were to be deceived.
Mason Tilden, now over ninty years old,
who was born in Hirara, says Smith was taken
frora his bed in a log. house standing just back
of the so-called Joseph Smith oak, and that
Sidney Rigdon was taken frora the Stevens
house, to be treated to their respective coats
of tar and feathers.
The Stevens house is located about two raHes
southwest of Hirara College. In the early
days of Morraonisra Joseph Sraith, its founder,
lived for a time in this house and thus it was
the headquarters of the Mormon church. In
March, 1832, a company was formed of citi
zens of Shalersville, Garrettsville and Hiram,
which proceeded to execute their vengeance
on Sraith and Rigdon. One room in the house
is stHl caHed the "Revelation Room," because

700

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

here on the night following, Sraith clairaed to
rhave received a revelation instructing- hira to
depart for the West. Zeb Rudolph.
Zeb Rudolph, the father of Mrs. Garfield,
was a man of quiet calm nature, and when
the word was brought to hira that his son-in-
law had been nominated for the presidency,
instead of rejoicing as most elderly raen
would, he hesitated a few moraents and then
said: "I hope no harm will corae frora it."
One of the early settlers of Hirara was
Chauncey F. Black, afterward Governor of
Pennsylvania. His father was Jeremiah S.
Black and Judge of the Suprerae Court from
1851-57. He was a member of Buchanan's
cabinet. Alvah Udall was one of the strongest men
connected with the history of Hiram, and Hi
ram CoHege. It would seera strange that he
had so rauch to do with the building of this
college when he was not a professor of re
ligion. Men living today who knew his father,
Sarauel UdaH, who carae to Hirara in 1818,
say that Samuel was a stronger character than
Alvah, but the writers of the present day seem
to differ with this stateraent.
F. M. Green, in his "History of Hirara Col
lege," quotes a letter of Mrs. Lucretia R. Gar
field to Prof. A. C. Pierson. It is as follows :
"The first coraraenceraent exercises were held
under the apple trees of an old orchard which
reached over the northeast corner of the Eclec
tic grounds. A stage wap built around one of
the largest trees, and decorated with whatever
we were able to get frora the scant flower
gardens of that tirae. Seats for the audience
were improvised in the usual way — boards
resting, on chairs and blocks. No admission
was charged, as the chief purpose was to call
together as raany people as possible to show
what we were doing. I do not think the
audience was large ; still a g-ood many carae.
I do not reraember, but I think the music must
have been only vocal, as I think there was no

rausic teacher or an instrument those first two
terras. "It was a perfect day, bright and cool,
and had you not given the date as May, I
should have said it was a perfect day in June,
and we were all in that state of exaltation
which belongs to the beginnings of new enter
prises. The women of this coraraunity loaded
a long table with appetizing viands, and opened
their houses in the largest hospitality their
accoraraodations would permit. This public
table became a burden when it grew evident
that many carae merely for the 'loaves and
fishes' ; and it was abandoned. The memories
of those days, almost half a century away,
seera to belong to another world when the en
thusiasra and arabitions filled heart and souL
The details of the commencera,ent exercises are
entirely lost to rae. I could not have told you
that I took any part in thera, and don't remera
ber the subject of ray poor little essay, nor
anything about the 'Colloquy.' Like a woraan,
I have a rather vivid recollection of the dress
I wore — that's all."
Ravenna Township.
Ravenna (town 3, range 8) was naraed for
Italy's Ravenna,, but no one knows why, nor by
whora. It was owned by Luther Loomis,
Calvin Austin, Ephraira Robbins, Nathaniel
Patch and Stephen W. Jones. This land
changed hands several tiraes, and that owned
by Mr. Loorais and his friends was bought
by Benjarain Tappan, Sr.
As we have seen in other parts of this history
Benjamin Tappan was the first settler, coming,
in the summer of 1799, with David Hudson
and meeting with all sorts of misfortunes en
route. Part of his goods were stolen ; a man
who was to accompany him deserted him at
Hudson ; one of his oxen died frora the bites
of flies in the woods between Hudson and
Ravenna. When he arrived in Ravenna he
sent a raan accompanying hira to the coraraan
dant at Erie, and he himself went to James
HiHraan, at Youngstown, to purchase another

(Courtesy of Hinman & Stedson.)
OLD FEEDER DAM, CUYAHOGA RIVER, RAVENNA

702

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

ox. He was so late in getting, back to his
"horae" that he could not get in any crops, and
winter was upon him before he was prepared
for it. He, however, buHt a log cabin and
got into it before the freezing weather was
upon hira. There was only one other settler
in the county and that was Mr. Honey of
Mantua. Tappan's cabin was not done before
winter, it was in the southeast corner of the
township. He laid out the township in 1808.
As early as 1808, Bowery, Oak, Walnut and
Sycamore streets were laid out. The first
building is supposed to have been erected by
Josiah Woodward in the spring of 1808. This
stood nearly opposite the store which John
Beatty and son so long ocupied,
David Thorapson built a house on Chestnut
street, and here in 1810, a son was born, who
was given a lot by Benjarain Tappan for being
the first child born in the township.
Like most founders of a town, Mr. Tappan
gave a cemetery lot to the township and it was
located on Chestnut street nearly opposite the
early horae of Henry C. Ranney. Seven or
eight people were buried here and their bodies
were afterwards reraoved. Araong thera were
Mrs. Patterson, the raother of Mrs. Epaphorus
Mathews, who was murdered by Henry Aun-
gst. Robert Carapbell, the son of Gen. John
Campbell, was also interred here. His body
was removed to Campbellsport, and the most
of the others to the other cemetery. The pres
ent ceraetery was chosen in 1813.
The first school house was erected where the
residence of the late Lois Judd stood and the
teacher was Achsah Eggleston. It is said that
Maj. Stephen Mason, when he was sheriff in
1813, taught school in the court house, and
when he was obliged to go away the school had
to be closed.
The court house yard was cleared in 1807.
"It raay be of interest to sorae to learn what
prompted that particular clearing at that tirae.
Mrs. Tappan, who was the better business raan
of the two, said to her husband, 'This is the
place for the county seat; now clear off the

ground as fast as you can and have something
to show the coramissioners when they come.
Franklin (Kent) is ahead of us in settlement,
and they will try to get it.' Because of the
energy displayed by Mrs. Tappan, Ravenna
becarae the county town for 'Old Portage.' "
Ravenna in 1837.
In the "Gazetteer for 1837" we find the
following :
"Ravenna, a township of Portage county,
in which is situated the seat of justice. It is
a singular fact that in this township (which
is only five miles square) there are good mill
sites on two streams, one of which empties
into the Atlantic through the Gulf of Mexico,
and the other through the Gulf of St. Law
rence. It is a fine agricultural township, and
will have the Mahoning canal passing east and
west through its center, affording extensive
water-power. It returns 16,000 acres of land
for taxation.
"Ravenna, a flourishing post-town and seat
of justice for Portage county, situated on the
township above named, on a small branch
of the Cuyahoga river, 35 railes southeasterly
from, Cleveland, 25 miles north by east frora
Canton, and 135 railes northeastwardly frora
Columbus. It contains 7 stores, 3 taverns. 15
or 20 mechanics shops, 5 lawyers, 3 physi
cians, 2 clergyraen, 3 churches, i academy, a
splendid court house (cost $8,000) and a jail.
It is expected that the completion of the
Pennsylvania and Ohio, or Mahoning canal,
will materially benefit this town."
As we have seen elsewhere, Benjarain Tap-
pan was the first resident of Ravenna, but
raany of his immediate followers were Ger
mans. About the time the Tappans located
Benjarain Bisby settled there, and his wife
was the first woraan to live in Ravenna town
ship. It was their son who died from a bite
of a rattlesnake and was the first to be buried
in the township.
Elizabeth Boszor was the first white eirl
born in Ravenna township. Her aunt, Matilda,
married Henry Sapp, and they carae to Ra-

(Courtesy of Hinman & Stedson.)
SOUTH SIDE PUBLIC SQUARE AND CHESTNUT STREET, RAVENNA

704

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

venna in 1803. Their home had been in
Hagerstown, Maryland. Mrs. Sapp had seen
George Washington.
Robert CarapbeH was Ravenna's first jew
eler. In 1822 the Congregational church of Ra
venna was estabhshed. This has been a rather
historical congregation. There is now not liv
ing any person, so far as we know, who was
a member of the church or the Sunday-school
at the tirae of its organization.
Two years later (1824) the Methodist
church was organized, and the Rev. Ira Eddy,
one of the best of the early Methodist
preachers, led the service every four weeks.
The church of Disciples was organized in
1827, when the missionaries, of which we have
spoken so raany times, were laboring here.
The Universalist church was in existence some
time before they had an edifice ; that is, prior
to 1842.
The Grace Episcopal parish was organized
in 1865.
In 1839 a large nuraber of Kentucky people
came to Ravenna.
In 181 1 Josiah Woodward came from New
York and raade a dara across Break Neck
creek. Here he erected a raill, but the obstruc
tion to the running water brought malaria and
the people protested, and when they could do
nothing with him they went at night and de
stroyed his dam. Of course he was outraged
and moved to Franklin; however, with him
the sickness disappeared.
"The oldest buHding in Ravenna is the one
on the southeast corner of Main and Chest
nut streets, and the next oldest is a yellow
barn standing in the rear of WHHam Kinney's
house on the corner of Main and Meridian
streets. The first was a tavern which was put
up by Mr. Greer. The barn was erected by
General John Carapbell, who kept a tavern at
CarapbeHsport." Zenas Kent kept a store in Ravenna for
many years, which stood where the Second
National bank now stands. In 1825 a terrible
had storra passed over Ravenna, breaking

windows and destroying property, and it was
said that there was not a bit of fence left
standing within its path.
A two-story frarae court house was built
in 1810, a frame jail in 1819 and a brick court
house in 1830.
The first grist-raill was built in 1802.
The first school was taught by Miss Sarah
Wright, a sister of Mr. Tappan.
The first church (Congregational) was or
ganized in 1822 by Rev. Chas. B. Storrs.
The first mayor of Ravenna was O. P.
Brown, elected in 1853.
The first paper was started in 1825, called
the Western Courier.
Union schools were organized in 1853 and
D. D. Pickett was superintendent for twenty-
three years.
Eliza Frazer Eyans, who was the widow
of Captain Eyans and a daughter of Colonel
Frazer, held the position of postraistress in
Ravenna. No Ravenna woman has since been
given so iraportant a place. This was given
because of family and political influence and
because her husband lost his Hfe in the Civil
war. There are many beautiful suburban homes
in Portage county, the raost attractive of which
is Dan R. Hanna's. His grandfather, Daniel
P. Rhodes, originally owned it, and Mr.
Hanna has reraodeled the picturesque old stone
house, and beautified the grounds and added
stock. It is on a hHl, and is approached by a
circuitous drive which leads one, in June, to
a raarvelous yard of flowers. Mr. Hanna is a
son of the late Marcus Hanna and does busi
ness in Cleveland.
Oldest Coach Company in the County.
Ravenna has grown greatly in civic improve
raents and in industrial concerns in the last
few years. It has the distinction of being
the horae of the oldest coach and hearse com
pany in the United States. This corapany was
established in 1831 by W. D. Clark & Com
pany. In i860 Merts & Riddle bought it and
in 1890 the Riddle Coach and Hearse Com-

iz;
>o
OWOw
o <O
oOo

vol. 1—45

7o6

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

pany purchased the business. This corapany,
through all panics and aH inflated tiraes, have
had one policy which they have carried out.
They have always put the very best raaterial
into their work, and the result is their car
riages and hearses are sold aH over the United
States. Charles Merts, so long connected with
this firra, died since this work was begun.
Other industrial concerns in Ravenna are
the A. C. Williaras Company, Ravenna Lamp
Works, Annevar and Redfern MiHs, Brown
ing Foundry Company, Manhattan Electric
Supply Corapany, Buckeye Chair Company,
Johnson Paper Box Corapany, Standard Knit
ting Corapany.
Two things stand out very plainly in the
raind of the author of this work in connec
tion with Ravenna. These she saw with her
childish eyes. One was a large stone which
stood at the foot of Meridian street on Bow
ery. This was the place where all the chil
dren of the neighborhood used to gather to
play, and frora which one of thera at least fell
every day onto the hard ground. That stone
was responsible for raore bruises than any one
thing in the township of Ravenna.
The Old Glass Factory.
The other thing that she remembers was the
glass factory. Ravenna children never seemed
to go to the glass factory in the winter, but
always in the suramer. How hot it was. Yet
she and her playmates stood around that old
furnace watching the raen roll the raolten
glass into balls, blow into the long pipes and
then put the cooling material into molds. They
staid patiently, hoping that the blowers
would raake a bad bottle ; for when they did, it
was usually handed out to the children. If so
favored, they waited for it to cool and canied
it horae as one of their treasures. Sometimes
if the blower was good natured, probably hav
ing little folks at home, he would blow a Httle
basket or some unusual ornament made of
glass, in the old factory which stood west of
the Pennsylvania tracks on Bowery.
Ravenna is one of the towns which has dera

onstrated the fact that a town can own its
own water works with profit to all parties.
There is a street car line running to Akron
and first class train service to Cleveland.
When we remember how the Germans
drank their beer, how the early fathers were
often in their cups, it's hard to believe that
Portage county does not allow intoxicants to
be sold within its liraits. The author is sure
the old Gerraans, if they were here, would use
a word equivalent to "raollycoddle," but she
is equally sure that the Portage county fore
raother, who suffered because of the guzzling
tendencies of the raen, would say "Araen," or
at least "Selah!"
Ravenna's Distinguished People.
A history of Portage county would not be
complete without the mention of John C.
Beatty, who has lived in Ravenna since Aug
ust IO, 1855. He was born in Bristol, Penn
sylvania, February 4, 1833, and came to Ra
venna on August 10, 1855. He has been a
raerchant in that city from that date to this.
He married Hetty Day, the briHiant daughter
of H. L. Day, who was at that tirae one of
the foreraost raerchants of Portage county.
Hetty Day was one of the handsomest women
that Ravenna has ever had. She had four
children and died May 19, 1869. Some
tirae later Mr. Beatty raarried his brother
.Harry's widow, Mary L. Beatty. They had
three children, two boys, who died in infancy,
and Jane, who raarried the Rev. Mr. Tor-
rence and now lives in Detroit. For raany
years Mr. Beatty stood at the head of the Re
publican party and almost all raen who held
office during that tirae were indebted to iiini
more or less for their positions. He was a
personal friend of Garfield and McKinley. Mr.
Beatty served as county treasurer in 1874-8,
and was postmaster of Ravenna in 1890-4.
For ten years he was a raeraber of the Girls'
Industrial Horae, and was honored with mera
bership on the school board for thirty years.
He is a man of fine character and a stanch
and true friend.

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

707

H. Warner Riddle, Sr., a large coach and
hearse manufacturer of Ravenna, Ohio, was
born on the 8th of February, 1838, at Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania. His father, Hugh Riddle,
was a well-known contractor and a native of
Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent, while his
mother, Elizabeth Thornberg, born in Pennsyl
vania, was of Gerraan stock, and whose an
cestors lived for raany generations in this
county. Mr. Riddle received a coramon school
education, and at the early age of fourteen
years he was apprenticed to a manufacturer of
carriages in his horae city, and remained in

J. C. BEATTY
this position for four years. After complet
ing his apprenticeship 'he went to Cincinnati,
where he was employed until i860, thoroughly
acquainting himself with all the details of the
business, which he has continuously followed
all his life.
In i860, deciding to enter into business of
his own, Mr. Riddle settled, at Ravenna and
formed a partnership with Charles Merts, un
der the firm name of Merts & Riddle. This
partnership lasted until 1890, when The Riddle
Coach & Hearse Company was organized,
which concern at tbe present writing eraploys
a large force of skilled raechanics. Mr. Riddle
is the president of the company whxh bears his

narae, and associated with hira are his two
sons, his son-in-law and a nephew, all of whora
are partners in the enterprise founded by hira.
He is the owner of raany buddings in this
city, and is looked upon as one of the lead
ing and raost public spirited citizens of his
community. He was married in 1866 to EmHy
H. Robinson, and is the father of four children,
two sons and two daughters.
D. C. Coolraan was born in Ravenna in
1828. His mother died when he was young,
and he was left to care for his older sisters.
He did not finish his college course at Alle
gheny because he joined the engineer corps
and began work at his profession. His first
work was done on the Cleveland & Pittsburg
Road. He helped to survey the old Clinton
Air Line. In 1856 he was in the engineering
department of the A. & G. W., and reraained
there tiH 1869, when he organized the Dia
mond Window Glass Corapany. He remained
in this business until 1893, when he was ap
pointed postmaster by Grover Cleveland. He
and his wife (who was Elizabeth C. Cole
man) were raarried in 1849, had six children —
one, Clinton H., of Texas, surviving. Mr. and
Mrs. Coolraan now li-ve at Clinton Terrace, the
horae of their nephew, Williara H. Beebe.
If D. M. Clewell had chanced to live in a
great city his narae would now be known far
and wide as is Wanamaker. He was a nat
ural raerchant and he raade a great suc
cess in his business in his town. He was born
in Canfield in 1837, and for forty-six years
after he removed to Ravenna was identified
with all the activities — business, social and
political — of the county. He was president of
the Portage County Building and Loan Asso
ciation and for eleven years a member of the
Ravenna School Board. He raarried Mary
Beebe, the daughter of Horace Y. Beebe, and
their life was an unusually happy one. She
died some years since. Mr. Clewell and his
daughter's (Mrs. Wagner) faraily have lived
together the last few years on the corner of
Meridian and Bowery streets.
Hon. Jos. D. Horton was one of the raost

7o8

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

respected and beloved of Portage county citi
zens. His father, Peter D., was one of the
early rainisters of the Methodist church, and
his raother was Hannah Couch, who came to
Nelson with her sister, Mrs. Elisha Taylor.
>Mr. Horton was a student and an excellent
lawyer. From childhood he had delicate health,
and this prevented hira from accepting several
offices of trust offered him, as well as from
entering the race for others. He was one
of the best lawyers the county ever had. He
was a meraber of the constitutional convention
of 1870, serving on the judiciary committee.
His mother died early, and he lived part of
the time in the faraily of Elisha Taylor, being
a partner of Ezra B. Taylor through raost of
his professional life. He raarried Fanny
Finley, of Detroit, and had five children, two
of whora are living Peter, of Sharon, Penn
sylvania, and Fanny, in Warren.
Dr. Isaac Swift is well remerabered by
raany of Ravenna's citizens today, though few
of them knew him as a»young man. He was
born in 1790, in Connecticut, and his father
was in the Revolutionary war, as were raost
of the fathers of that tirae. His parents hav
ing died young, he began the study of medi
cine in New York City and began practice in
New Jersey. Concluding to go West, he took
his belongings and started on horseback.
After traveling a thousand miles, he became
ill at Ravenna and by the time he had recov
ered he did not care to look farther. He and
Seth Day had a store, part of the stock being
drugs. Dr. Swift continued to practice and manage
the prescription part of the business. He
practiced and was in business in Ravenna
most of his life. He raarried Eliza Thorap
son, the daughter of Richard Thompson, in
1818. They buHt the home on Chestnut street
five years later, and here he lived till 1874.
This home was a social one and Mrs. Swift
was a lovely woman. Their daughters, Mrs.
Morrison and Mrs. Waite, still reside there,
and the granddaughter. Miss Waite, lives

there also. The old house is largely at it was
in early days and is very attractive.
E. P. Brainard moved to Ravenna in 1846,
having been elected the year before to the
office of county treasurer. He was born in
New York state; settled at Cuyahoga FaHs in
1834, where he followed his trade, that of
harness raaking. In 1836 he married Margaret
WeHs, daughter of 'John F. Wells, of Ra
venna, and they lived two years in Randolph
before coming to the county seat. He and his
brother-in-law were in the hardware business
until 1852. He was cashier of the Franklin
Bank of Portage; treasurer of the Atlantic
and Great Western Railroad untH 1864, and
secretary and director of the company at dif
ferent tiraes. He was connected with many of
the enterprises of Ravenna in the fifties and
sixties ; was always interested in education and
for a number of years was president of the
Board of Education.
N. D. Clark, who was born in Tallraadge in
1814, was one of Ravenna's best known citi
zens. For thirty years he was a/ successful
raanufacturer of carriages and buggies. He
then becarae connected , with the old Portage
County Branch Bank, and when that was
raerged into the First National Bank of Ra
venna was elected president. He held this
ofiice frora 1867 to 1885. His wife was Sarah
Rawson, of Ravenna.
Horace Y. Beebe was one of the respected
citizens of Ravenna. He was born in Middle-
field, Connecticut, in 1834; lived at Cuyahoga
Falls and then raoved to Ravenna, where he
was deputy clerk under George Kirkara and
seven years under William Colman. In 1853
he became connected with the bank of Rob
inson King & Company and held that posi
tion until his son, Williara H., was old enough
to take it, and the latter has served in that
capacity for fifty years. He was a delegate
to the convention in i860 which nominated
Lincoln, and his vote was very iraportant in
that convention. When the train which took
Lincoln to Washington went through Ra-

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

709

venna, they stopped to take Mr. Beebe. He
accompanied Lincoln to Washington and was
there for his inauguration. His daughter,
Mary, raarried D. M. Cewell and his grand
daughter, Mary, married Dr. George Wagner.
(A sketch of Dr. George Wagner appears
elsewhere. )
Portage county has furnished one judge
of the supreme court of the state, Luther Day.
He was born in Granville, New York, and
numbered among his family connections some
of the Revolutionary soldiers. He had a
common-school education and prepared for
college at an acaderay. His education was
stopped because of his father's death. From
the time he was fourteen until he was twenty
he worked on the farm and in the saw-mill
and when he had his father's debts paid, he
began working his way through college by
teaching. In 1838 his mother moved to Ra
venna and he went there for a visit, expecting
to return and complete his college course.
However, he did not carry out his intention,
but commenced the study of law under Rufus
P. Spalding and was admitted to the bar in
1840. He was elected prosecuting attorney
three years later and married two years after
— ^that is, in 1845 — the daughter of Judge
Spalding. She was a granddaughter of Hon.
Zepheniah Swift, chief justice of Connecticut.
He died on a visit to some friends in Trumbull
county and was buried in* Warren. Mrs. Day
died in 1852. Four years later the judge mar
ried Miss Barnes, of Lanesboro, Massachu
setts. She was a mother to his three children

and had a large family herself. In 1863 he
was elected to the Ohio senate, and in 1864
judge of the supreme court. He served a sec
ond terra, and was -renominated for the third
in 1864, but the state going democratic, he was
defeated. He was one of the commissioners
who revised the statutes of the state. Judge
Day was an ardent Methodist. His children
are all successful. His oldest son has had a
raost honorable career, having been common
pleas judge and a meraber of McKinley's cab
inet, and is now on the supreme bench.
Among the early residents of Ravenna, a
nuraber carae frora Nantucket. There was
some reason why these people who had fol
lowed the sea chose Ravenna for their home,
but no one seeras to know what the cause was.
Among thefn was Isaac Brayton. He was
born at Nantucket and followed the sea until
1833, when he was elected to the legislature.
He was acquainted with Horace Mann and
possibly, because of him, became enthusiastic
in the public school system. At all events,
upon reaching Ravenna he was of great help
in establishing the high school there. He was
associate judge and after he moved to New
burg was elected a representative of the Ohio
legislature. He died in Ravenna.
A Ravenna woraan who attained national
reputation was Mary Ann Brayton Wood-
bridge. She early became interested in the
temperance question, was identified with the
State Association and for many years was
national treasurer.