300 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY gave her a horse which she rode the rest of the way, and which the wolves soon destroyed. They located on a beaver dam near the center, and built a log house in May, 1799. Towards the first of June, Mr. Thorp started to the nearest mill, in Pennsylvania, 20 miles away, with only a pocket compass for a guide, and, staying longer than expected, the family were famishing, when the mother's watchful eye saw a wild turkey pass the door. Waiting for it to wallow in the dirt, she shot it with the last charge of gunpowder in the house. Another time she shot a large bear in a huge wild cherry tree near the house, and the 'bear-tree', as it was afterward called, is still kept in memento in the county, in cabinet specimens, furniture and canes. Mrs. Thorp died in Orange, Cuyahoga County, in November, 1846, then Mrs. Gardiner. "The next family, named Cowles, came in 1812, and built near the Thorp place, and their house afterwards was used for school and church. "Mrs. Asa Richardson and family came in 1818, and lived here alone three years. Her husband's brothers, Elijah and Cheever Richardson, came from Vermont in 1822. The first religious meetings were held in Mrs. Richardson's house. The formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church is due to these families. "Charlotte Cottrell was married to John Smith, in Worthington, Mass., and came to Dorset Feb. 8, 1821, just three days after the first tree was cut down on their farm, and lived three months without seeing a woman. The wolves would chase their dog around the cabins nights and kept a continual howling. In 15 years she moved into their brick house, a few feet from the log one, which was occupied by John C. Smith, when married to Mary Ellen Smith, of Boardman, and Mrs. Alexander H. Smith (Mary A. LaFever) lived near. Here, July 16, 1821, Mary B. Smith, now Mrs. Chester Chapin, was born, and, we think, the first white child born in Dorset. She recalls many scenes ; one of picking berries on one side of some blackberry bushes while a big bear was eating from the other side. "This year brought Abitha Sutliff and family, Jan. 9, 1822. Mr. Sutliff was killed by a tree, and Mrs. Sutliff was left with four sons. She married Mr. Griffin in 1824, and was the first widow and first bride in Dorset. "In March, 1822, Nathaniel Bassett, from Dalton, Mass., came to Dorset. Mrs. Bassett spun, wove cloth and braided hats. They raised flax and flocks and supplied the family with clothing. She was the first Disciple in town to join the church. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 301 "Elizabeth Cole came at that time and soon married Lyman Larabee, and, like her sister, Mrs. Bassett, toiled in the forest to make a home. She was an accomplished teacher. "June, 1822, brought the Rev. Joseph Winch and family and two brothers, and they soon organized a Disciple Church. "Mr. and Mrs. Abijah Winch returned one evening from a meeting to find their house in ashes, and their little son, Philo, two years old, burned with it. "Mr. and Mrs. Walter Marsh and family settled on the next farm to the Winches. "In 1823 it was determined to have school, and Miss Sarah Houghton was hired at 75 cents a week, and came on horseback. She liked it so well that she married Austin Burr, Esq., and was afterwards connected with every good work. She rocked eight babies in a log cradle made by her husband and is the only woman who ever killed a deer here. "The year 1828 brought Erastus Ridgecomb and wife and Nathaniel Hubbard and family. Mrs. Joseph Y. Hadlock, a daughter of this couple, tells of an exciting experience her mother had one day with a bear, which was trying to carry off a pig. Her frantic efforts to frighten Bruin away were unsuccessful and he got away with his prize. "Mrs. Levi Hubbard and three daughters, Lucy, Sarah and Lorinda ; Mrs. Purcell, Mrs. Rowley, Mrs. Jack and two daughters, Mrs. R. Thompson, Mrs. Newcomb and daughter, were all residents here about that time. Mrs. Calvin Steward, who was Delaney Whelpley, lived on the Leon road. Mrs. Samuel Fox and daughter, Lorainey ; Mrs. Aaron Wilson and four daughters, Marietta, Betsy, Eunice and Priscilla, took an active part in society when here; also Mrs. Narro, an English lady, and Mrs. Franklin, who went to Kirtland with the Mormons, many of whom lived here for a few years prior to settling in Kirtland. "John Greenwood came in 1830, with his wife and daughter, Betsy. Betsy taught school and soon married Alonzo Garlick. "In February, 1831, Lucy C. Edwards (Mrs. Anson K. Garlick) came. Their home here on the Andover road was a 'way station' on the 'Underground Railroad'. "Mrs. Daniel Garlick soon became famous as a nurse and her son, Thaddeus, was one of the organizers of the Cleveland Medical College. "Mrs. David Sage was the first woman to keep postoffice here, which 302 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY she did in the tavern stand many years later, when her husband started West, money and all, and was never again heard from. He left her with nine children. "The year 1832 brought the family of James Collins, who lived here about 40 years. Their house was the 'little aristocrat' of the town, for it had a boughten doorlatch and string. "Mrs. Nathan Phillips lived to be over 90 and saw old log houses give way to modern homes. "Mrs. Richard S. Davis was a cultured singer. Her rich, sweet voice, with that of Mrs. Thomas Conant, made rich melody, when accompanied by their husbands. "Mrs. James Loveland, Mrs. James Rathburn and Mrs. Joseph R. Allen were residents." Marsh Woods.—In the southeastern part of Dorset Township the pioneers found a marsh, through the center of which there was an embankment that divided the water. The marsh was maintained by springs, and from it flowed little streams, those from the south body flowing into Pymatuning Creek, while those from the north side flowed northward, reaching the rivers that flowed into Lake Erie. This township was thickly wooded, and the "Dorset Woods" were famous far around for the good hunting they afforded, even well into the present century. At this writing, however, the woods are about cleared out. First Events.—The first birth in Dorset brought a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, in 1821. The first death from natural causes was that of Elijah Richardson, in 1830. The first church organization was formed in 1825, of the Methodist faith. Meetings were held for a long time at the homes of members, until the membership would warrant the construction of a meeting house. John C. Smith established the first store, in 1857. Mr. Smith was first in numerous ways that marked progress for the town. In 1840 he built the first saw mill, which combined also a grist mill ; in 1842 he put up a cider mill, and in the meantime he constructed the first "improved" road, by turnpiking the highway from Dorset to Leon. He also built the first brick house, and the first town hall. The village cemetery property was donated in the early years of the town's existence by Austin Burr. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 303 George Phillips opened the first tavern, in 1838. The first road opened through Dorset was one running diagonally from Jefferson across the township. In one of the early years of the previous century, it is related, a Mrs. Thomas Collins, while out riding, stopped her horse to give him a drink at Mills Creek crossing of the highway, and, without intent for the future, she stuck a willow whip that she had been carrying into the ground beside the creek. It took root and from it grew a mammoth willow tree that was a landmark and attracted attention of passers for many years. Dorset has its share of prosperous farming and dairying business. The big milk depot, of which mention is made in a separate story, said to be the largest in the world, is a possession toward which the residents point with pride. Dorset "Forty-Niners".—When the California gold excitement, in 1849, reached this section of the country, it found a responsive chord in the minds of numerous Ashtabula County residents, and not a few answered the call by "pulling up stakes" and starting out for that then faraway part of the country during the succeeding few years. The trip that today is made in four or five days by train, in ease and luxury, and that was accomplished this year in the light of one day by airplane, then required months of hard traveling, privations and general discomforts, to say nothing of the occasional trouble with Indians and four-footed enemies. Of those who braved the long journey overland, in hope of being lucky enough to share in the great riches that were coming to a few, was a party made up in Dorset. The varying fortunes of some of that party, which included men, women and children, are told in the following story related by the venerable Joel Peters, 91 years of age, a resident of Dorset today and probably the last survivor of that little company that started out so bravely and hopefully. Mr. Peters dictated the account of the journey especially for this work. It follows : "The party of "Forty-Niners' of which I was a member left Dorset on March 4, 1854. The personnel included Solomon Bassett, Calvin Larabee, James Loveland, Joel Loveland and his wife and two or three children, Esther Coon, Joseph Allen, Jack Clark, 'Old Man' VanNetton, Charlie Patchin, Tim Patchin and the writer, Joel Peters. I was then 20 years old and the youngest 'man' of the party. Our means of conveyance for the 304 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY entire party, baggage and equipment, consisted of one wagon, hauled by one team of horses. We assembled on what is now the 'McConnell Corners', about one mile south and three-fourths of a mile west of Dorset Center. We went first to Orwell, and from there to Wellsville, on the Ohio River. There we boarded a boat and went down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, up the latter river to the Missouri, and up the Missouri to Fort Independence, which is now Kansas City. We camped in a schoolhouse near this fort for about two weeks, having been advised to wait for the grass to get a little start on the plains before we started across. Then we started straight westward and stopped next at Weston, a small frontier town, which was the end of civilization this side of Salt Lake City. We resumed our journey about May 1, being then out from home two months. As we had only the one wagon and team, the men had to walk all the time. One night when we had pitched our camp 200 or 300 miles beyond Weston, another cross-country outfit came along and halted a short distance from us. They had about 300 head of cattle and plenty of horses and supplies. They hailed us in a sort of joking way, asking if we would not like to have something to ride. That set me thinking, and that night, while the party were completing the arrangements in camp, I suggested to the Patchen boys that the three of us might fare better if we were to tie up to that other outfit, provided we could make such arrangements with the man in charge. The idea seemed to hit them just right, and it was agreed that Charlie Patchin should go over and see if he could get us annexed to the newcomers. He came back with the information that they would take one, but not all of us. I let the matter rest over night and in the morning sent Charlie back again. After some argumentation with Tom McGlannahan, the 'boss', Charlie finally induced him to take all three of us in his party. So we gathered up our blankets and any other personal possessions, which were not at all numerous, and bade good-bye to the Loveland outfit, taking our departure with the larger party. The two Patchin boys and I arrived in the Sacramento Valley about the 20th of September, and we left the McGlennahan outfit and went up the Feather River to look for work. I got a job with a man named Prescott Hobbs, while the Patchen boys went farther up the river before they found employment. I continued working along the Feather River for some time, but the Patchens went over into Shasta County, prospecting, and, from what I heard, they found a rich deposit. I never saw them again. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 305 "Bassett, Larabee, Allen and Miss Coon were the only ones out of the remainder of the original party who had the stamina to stick it out till they at last landed in California. I learned that the day after the Patchin boys and I left the party, the Lovelands, Clark and VanNetton turned back. Bassett died in the Santa Clara Valley, Larabee went north into Oregon, where he died, and Allen returned to the East, landing back in the old home town in 1866, and dying here in 1890. He and I were the only ones of the number who reached the coast who ever again saw Ashtabula County. I have made several trips across the continent. I came back from the first expedition in 1872, much richer in experience, and the quest for gold was not without reasonably good results. I stayed about two years, then went back to California and stayed until 1893, when I returned, for the last time, and have lived here ever since. I am now in my ninety-second year, and have forgotten many of the interesting details of the first trip across, but have given you the main facts. It was the good fortune of our party to escape any unpleasant encounters with the Indians, and in other ways we were quite fortunate. I have never been sorry that I made the first venture into the new far West. I believe I am the last living member of that party who left here in 1854." First Murder Trial.—In the last week in May, 1854, Lyman Sutliff, an eccentric resident of Dorset, disappeared from his home. Neighbors at first thought he had gone away for a time and would return, but later their suspicions were aroused by actions of Horace Haynes, one of Sutliff's nearest neighbors, so a systematic search of the vicinity was made, with the result that several days after the disappearance the body was found buried in the deep woods, not far from the home of the deceased. Freshly upturned earth, about where the depot building now stands, attracted attention, and evidence was found that the body had been buried there and later disinterred and moved to the more secluded spot where it was discovered. Examination revealed that the man had been shot in the back. Haynes was arrested, and held to the grand jury, but the only convicting evidence that could be placed against him was the possession of a yoke of oxen that Sutliff had owned. Haynes was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary. The facts incident to the death of Sutliff never came to light. This trial was the first ever held in the county for a capital crime. (18) CHAPTER XXI. GENEVA TOWNSHIP. ORGANIZED IN 1816-FIRST WHITE MAN-GENEVA VILLAGE ORGANIZED-FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE-STREAMS-INDUSTRIES-HISTORIC SPOT-PLATT E. SPENCER-FIRST SHOT OF CIVIL WAR. In the year 1816, on March 22, the records of the county commissioners bear the following entry : "Resolved, that all that part of Harpersfield Township north of the north line of No. 11, in the fifth range, to the lake, be set off from that township and erected as a separate township, to be known by the name of Geneva, and that the first township election be held at the dwelling house of Loren Cowles, on the first Monday of April next." That was the inception of the town of Geneva, third in size and importance, commercially, in the county of Ashtabula. Prior to this enactment Geneva had, together with Trumbull and Hartsgrove, been a part of the township of Harpersfield. Theobalt Bartholomew is believed to have been the first white man who cast his lot as a permanent resident of the territory now constituting Geneva. He came from New York state in 1805 and selected as his future home a location near the bank of Cowles Creek, on the South Ridge road, where he spent the remainder of his days, which amounted to many years, during which he took prominent and influential part in the growth and progress of the new land. Bartholomew's first neighbor was one Elisha Wiard, who located near the first settler. Following him, within a few years, came James Morrison, Sr., and Levi Gaylord,- successively, who also located their homes on the South Ridge road, and it looked, for some years, as if that immediate locality was to become eventually the center of population of that section. Gaylord, who was known by the prefix "Major", early became active in local politics and held some of the desirable county. offices, and was also representative for this district in the State Legislature for one term. - 306 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 307 Among the early settlers were the families of John and Robert Lambert and Benjamin Custin, who located in this vicinity in 1807, but remained only a couple of years and then moved on to Harpersfield. Elezear Davis, Dr. Nathan B. Johnson and Noah Cowles were among those who colonized the South Ridge prior to 1808. During the few years subsequent to that date, the settlement was augmented by the addition of the families of Squire B. French, John Ketcham, John, Benjamin and Jacob Bartholomew, Rev. Jonathan Leslie, Samuel Quinton, Abisha Lawton, and Truman Waykins. By this time the attractions of the North Ridge road had been noted by a few families who had settled thereon. They included those headed by Samuel Thompson, Norman Webster and Harvey S. Spencer. Still another section, the shore of the lake, was also being colonized by several settlers, including families of Barzillia N. Spencer, John Austin, James M. Morse, Jacob Hall and Strowbridge Morrison. On June 6, 1866, the county commissioners passed favorably on a petition signed by residents of Geneva Township praying for incorporation proceedings, but it was not until the following spring that organization was effected. On March 2, 1867, an election was held, which resulted in making Dennis Thorp the first mayor of Geneva village. W. E. Proctor was elected "recorder", and Anson Smith, Salmon Seymour, Benoni Webb, Charles Talcott and Nelson Brigham constituted the first council. Eliphalet Mills was Geneva's first postmaster. The office was in his store. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1807 or '08. The educational advantages of Geneva were about on a par with those of other villages up to 1868, when the need for more room became pressing and the board of education asked for a special tax levy to raise the necessary money to erect a building suitable to the needs, not only for that time, but for many years to come. This action resulted in the erection of a school building that, in size and appointments, was second to none in the county. The building was of brick, 75 feet long by 40 feet in width, and four stories high. Two creeks of respectable volume, and Lake Erie, constitute the waterways of Geneva village and township. Cowles Creek, named for Noah Cowles, who was the first white settler that chose a location upon its bank, passes through the village and winds its way to Lake Erie, 308 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY emptying its waters into the lake at a point known as Chestnut Grove, once a popular resort in summer time, but which gradually lost its attraction for the public after the establishment of "Geneva-on-the-Lake", a half mile east, where nature's claim for favor was supplanted by modern methods of entertainment. Chestnut Grove, for the past few years, has been popular only as a camping ground, and numerous cottages have been erected for individual families who occupy them in the summer time. The grove and surroundings are still beautiful. Before running into the lake, the creek spreads itself over several acres, forming a miniature lake, which affords good boating and abounds in fish. It is only occasionally that the water is sufficiently high to cut away a channel through the beach, which is usually quite wide at this point. Indian Creek courses through the northeastern corner of the township and empties into the lake about two miles east of the mouth of Cowles Creek. The stream is said to have obtained its name through a tragedy of early days. When the early settlers of the white race came, they soon formed the acquaintance of a young Indian whom they knew as "Little John", who was a favorite among his own people and soon gained the esteem and confidence of the strangers. This young buck was killed by a falling tree and his body was buried beside the creek, near its mouth. At the point where this stream enters the lake, the situation is much the same as that at Cowles Creek. There is a wide valley between eminences on the east and the west, and the flow of water is ordinarily of so little volume that it enters the lake through the sand. In the middle years of the last century this beach was the site of a shipyard of no mean proportions, and several of the vessels of that day were built there and launched direct from the beach. The boats of that period were small, compared with the big fellows of today, but their importance to commercial trade was just as vital, proportionately. They were not of deep draught, because there was not much water in the general run of harbors in their line of trade, and as it was, they frequently grounded at entrance to harbors, where bars almost invariably formed. Because of this light draught, it was usually a very easy matter to extend the ways from which they were launched far enough into the water from the beach to enable the boat to slide into water deep enough to float her. On one occasion, the result of a launching went far wide of calculations and, had a storm arisen before things were straightened out, the HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 309 work of months would have been for naught. The late Capt. Perry White, of Ashtabula, built a number of vessels at this point, among them being the large scow Vampire, which was completed and ready for the water in the summer of 1867. She was the largest boat that had been built at that place, and her launching had been heralded along the shore and over the land, and the result was that a large crowd, including many from Ashtabula, the home port of the new boat, assembled to witness the launching. At the appointed time the blocks were knocked out and the rope cut, and the vessel glided smoothly down the ways, exactly in accordance with calculations, but when she had reached the ends thereof, instead of riding majestically and gracefully on the bosom of the lake, she dropped off onto the bottom, the water being too shallow to float her. It took many hours of shoveling and jacking to put the boat afloat, after which she was towed to Ashtabula Harbor to receive her final fitting-out. That was among the last of the vessels built at the mouth of Indian Creek. Of late years Indian Creek has come into prominence through agitation for a ship canal connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio River. Several surveys for routes have been made and one of them hits the lake at Indian Creek. This route has been more talked of than any other and it may be that this modest brook is destined to cut a big figure in the future commercial activities of this section. The aim of the promoters is to transport ore, coal and other freight to and from the Pittsburgh district on barges that may navigate all the way from points on the Great Lakes, to any destination on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. This Indian Creek route is strongly favored, but a big deterring element is the prospective necessity of constructing a harbor, which would entail an enormous expenditure of money. Geneva has maintained its place as the third city in size in the county, but it has always been at a disadvantage in its commercial importance, as compared with its two larger neighbors, Ashtabula and Conneaut, because it had no harbor to boost it, and consequently no railroad to the south. In its natural attractiveness it is the equal of any municipality within many miles. The lake front of Geneva Township is wonderfully attractive, with its wide beaches, to which there is easy access, as the elevations adjacent to the lake are not so great, by far, as are found farther east. These natural advantages had much to do with the success of its summer resort, Geneva-on-the-Lake, which was started a few years ago as. a very modest 310 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY camping ground for local people and gradually became known to city folk, who began coming for week ends, then for weeks, and finally, in gradually increasing numbers, the place assumed the airs and manners of a great summer resort, and now each year sees there a summer colony of several thousands of residents of Cleveland, Youngstown and Pittsburgh, as well as of smaller places. Ohio Route No. 2, the most popular cross-country highway of the north, is the Main street of Geneva, and tourists are struck with the beautiful trees and homes and general surroundings of the town as they pass through. For many years a conspicuous figure in the center of the public square was a large monument erected in 1879 to the memory of the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. It was surrounded by a lawn, which was surrounded by an iron fence, and the demand for more room, following the development of the automobile, made it necessary to remove the monument, and it was set up in the yard of the high school. What is known as North Geneva, about a mile north of the present center, was at one time the principal four corners of the township, but a new center of activity followed the coming of the railroad in the early fifties. In 1880 hopes of the townspeople were raised because of a project being set afloat looking to the construction of a railroad from Geneva down the fifth range to the coal fields, with a branch to Austinburg, to connect with the P., Y. & A., but it "died-a-bornin' ". Geneva has always prospered in a manufacturing way and was one of the early towns to get into the automobile manufacturing game, but the "Geneva" never hit the popular fancy, and its make was soon discontinued. Bicycles were successfully manufactured there during the years of popularity of that mode of travel. J. N. Tarbox almost gave Geneva a sewing machine plant, in 1880. He hit the town from no one knew where and proceeded to organize a stock company to manufacture a new style of machine of his own invention. The company was formed, a building was constructed and the machinery installed. Then, one day, the promoter went to Cleveland to purchase some needed castings and never came back. One of Geneva's attractive spots in summer is Crowell Park, a 14-acre wooded portion of the late Dwight Crowell's estate, east of town, that he presented to the village in 1901. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 311 Geneva boasts the only "Armory" building in the county. It was built in the days when the town had a crack militia company, for their home, and has since been used for all sorts of public meetings, and the large auditorium serves as a dancing floor and theatre. The town receives its water from Grand River, three miles south. The system was installed in 1901-2, after the business portion of the village had been nearly wiped out by a fire that called engine companies from Cleveland and Ashtabula. The devastated area was quickly rebuilt. Geneva's town hall was constructed in 1868, and building of schools and churches have kept pace with the demand. Historic Spot on Lake Front.—(By Ed E. Large.) The old Fitch and Spencer homesteads, on the bank of the lake, between Geneva-on-the-Lake and Chestnut Grove, are among the historic spots of Geneva. They figured conspicuously on the earliest activities of the township commercially, and, after many years of quietude, there is every indication that these lands will again cut a prominent figure in the active life of the township, as they are most favorably located in the desirable properties scheduled for lake front development in the near future years. On July 3, 1914, the Ashtabula Chamber of Commerce held a big dinner in the old Fitch home. On that occasion there was an eminent speaker, and a large number of the members were in attendance. The surroundings were so entrancing, however, that it was hard work to sit still and listen to some one talk, when Nature was calling so insistently on her visitors to come out into the open and commune with her. Thus enticed, the writer slipped out, and finding the owner of the premises sitting on a bench on the bank of the lake, he engaged him in conversation and soon obtained some wonderfully interesting information regarding the early history of that particular property. The house at which this hundred men partook of the feast was one of the historic buildings of this section. It was erected over a hundred years ago, and at a time when there was great activity just at that point. In front of it there was constructed a pier and dockage, which was known as "Fitch's Landing", and this little mooring place for vessels cut a big figure in the commercial activity and prosperity of Geneva and Ashtabula at that time. The Connecticut Land Company were back of the work and, after putting in the pier, they proceeded to bring on machinery for use in the 312 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY projected work of clearing away the forest of whitewood and white oak that there bordered the lake front and convert it to commercial needs. The whitewood was made into lumber, which was loaded on small craft and transported to Ashtabula, where it was transferred to larger vessels and shipped to eastern markets. Buffalo was the principal receiving port for this product. The white oak became staves and they were reshipped from Ashtabula in like manner, but most of them went to England, to be made into whisky barrels. Thomas Fitch, for whom the landing was made, was the first individual owner of several hundred acres bordering the lake on the Geneva shore, and at a point 2,000 feet south of where the house now stands he first constructed a cabin, which he occupied for several years. Adjoining the Fitch property line on the east, Harvey Spencer, a brother of the renowned Platt R. Spencer, the famous penman, purchased land and established his home. These men were associated with the business of the Connecticut Land Company, which at that time was conducting the largest lumber industry on the Great Lakes. Fitch handled the white-wood lumber, and Spencer the white oak staves. Hubbard & Parsons, of Ashtabula, were interested in the lumber business and the financial end was handled entirely by the Farmers National Bank, of Ashtabula. In this connection, a little anecdote is related which illustrates the crude business methods of that period. Mr. Spencer had immediate need for some money, but not time to go to the city for it. So he wrote on a barrel stave an order to the Farmers Bank to pay to the bearer $100, and his son, Cullen, then but a lad, started, barefooted, through the forest, and deposited the stave at the bank in Ashtabula, receiving in return the cash. That stave-check was kept in the bank for many years as a curiosity. Fifty-five years ago Spencer & Pratt opened Sturgeon Point (now Geneva-on-the Lake) as a public picnic ground, the opening day being on July 4, when an immense crowd gathered from miles around. From that day the place grew in popularity as a picnic ground. It was not long until the owners erected a dance hall on the bank. This was followed by other amusement enterprises and people began coming there and camping in tents. The demand for accommodations next brought about the construction of several cottages. The first family to open a home for summer boarders was that of W. E. Spencer, in the place known of late years as HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 313 the "Rose Cottage". To L. C. Spencer, who was proprietor of the dancing pavilion, more than to any other man, is due the credit for the increasing popularity which eventually made that resort the largest and most popular summer resort between Cleveland and Buffalo. His Own Schoolhouse.—Probably the most famous man that ever lived in Geneva was Platt R. Spencer, the originator of the Spencerian system of penmanship, which has always been the acknowledged standard of writing all over the country. Mr. Spencer was a resident and influential citizen of Geneva for many years prior to his death. He lived in East Ashtabula prior to 1831, when he moved to Geneva. In after years he became affectionately known to all the residents as "Father" Spencer. Although he had no school advantages, when young, he was a natural orator. At the age of 14 years he made the Fourth of July speech at a celebration in Kingsville. He became noted for his oratorical powers and became a lecturer as well as an educator. He also wrote many poems. One of his daughters became known as the best penwoman in the States. He was revered by all who knew him, and in his memory there was erected, a few years ago, on West Main street, in Geneva, the Spencer Memorial Library. It was erected by popular subscription and stands a splendid monument to the memory of a remarkable personage. Mr. Spencer had not only his own method of chirography, but he also had his own schoolhouse and steel pens and ink. A communication from Geneva in 1861 says : "Prof. P. R. Spencer, the world's writing master, has returned to his old home in Geneva, and on his farm built a schoolhouse—a log seminary—where he gives daily lessons in his wonderful art to all who desire to become systematic pen men and women, at his customary low price of $5 a month. Mr. S. is the proprietor of a new steel pen, manufactured according to his directions by Gillot, the great English penmaker. Of course, it is different from any other pen yet made, and with such judgment in his favor, it must be pronounced the best. He is also the inventor of the Spencerian ink—a jet-black, of free flow, and unlike most black ink, will not corrode steel pens. It must become the favorite writing fluid." First Shot of the Civil War.—Before the days of the Civil War, Capt. D. J. Kenney organized a battery in Geneva, which was attached to the 314 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY Ohio Light Artillery Battery. The Geneva detachment was known as Company F. When President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops for three months' service, in April, 1861, Company F received orders to report at Battery headquarters in Cleveland. They joined the balance of the regiment and all went to Marietta, where they went into camp. Three weeks later they crossed over into West Virginia at Parkersburg, where they had to rebuild the B. & 0. Railroad bridge, and from thence they proceeded to Webster, and from there they marched a distance of 30 miles, during one night, to Philipi, where they met their first skirmish, in which they routed a rebel camp. It was at Philipi that the Geneva boys gained everlasting fame, as it is a matter of verified history that their gun fired the the first shot of the war, after Fort Sumpter. This gun was hauled by three teams. In a subsequent fight at Carrack's Ford, Company F killed and captured the body of General Garnet, which was later turned over to the enemy under a flag of truce. In this engagement a gun was also captured, which was given a place near the Soldier's Monument in the public square in Cleveland. After four months' service, instead of three, the regiment was ordered back to Columbus to be mustered out, and then it was discovered that it must first go through the formality of being mustered in, as that ceremonial had not been performed before they started out, owing to a lack of time. Immediately upon the return home of Company F, Captain Kinney reorganized a battery of six guns, for three years' service, known as Battery C, First Ohio Artillery. This battery was made up mostly from Ashtabula and Lake Counties, and reported at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, and was mustered in on Sept. 9, 1861. One of the notable fights in which the Ashtabula County volunteers participated was at Mills Springs, known also as Logan's Crossroads. Here the Geneva battery played a conspicuous part. They were at Pittsburg Landing in time to help save the remaining forces of General Grant's army, after its defeat at that point. Then came a 30-day siege in the march to Corinth. They participated in the battle of Perrysville, and from there went to Lookout Mountain and Chicamauga, and thence on "to the sea" with Sherman. CHAPTER XXII. HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP. FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN WESTERN RESERVE-FIRST SETTLERS- PIONEER SCHOOLS-LOG CHURCH-SAW MILL-SHIPYARD-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED. There is nothing about the modest little village of Harpersfield today to indicate the important part it played in the early history of Ashtabula County. It is little wonder, however, that the beautiful valley of the Grand River and its entrancing surroundings at this point appealed to a hardy little company of pioneers, as a result of which Harpersfield had the distinction of being the site of the first permanent settlement in the territory embraced by Ashtabula County. That was in the year 1798. The previous year the Connecticut Land Company sold to certain residents of Harpersfield, N. Y., on their agreement to colonize it, a parcel of land in the Western Reserve, or the "New Connecticut", as it was then commonly called. This company of purchasers included Aaron Wheeler, William McFarland, Rosswell Hotchkiss, and Alexander and Joseph Harper. A delegation was started out at once to inspect the new purchase and select a site for colonizing and make recommendations for future action. This party returned, after several months' absence, with glowing accounts of the new land of promise, and recommended that immediate steps be taken toward colonization and development of the country that they intended to make their future home. Several of the owners at once began preparations to leave for the West, and by the return of spring their plans were completed and they were ready to start. In March, on the 7th day, 1798, Alexander Harper, William McFarland, and Ezra Gregory, accompanied by their families and one Benjamin Hartwell, bade good-bye to their relatives and friends in the East and set out for their new home, their minds and hearts steeled to meet whatever of misfortune or hard- - 315 - 316 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY ship might be encountered in establishing themselves in the wilderness of Ohio. They soon realized that they had started too early in the season to make traveling comfortable, so, upon arrival at Rome, N. Y., they decided to remain there until weather conditions were more settled. They did not get under way again until May, when they resumed the journey, going by water to Queenstown, then teaming to Fort Erie. At that time there were no roads broken west of the Genesee River. At Fort Erie they arrived in good time to obtain transportation farther upon a small vessel which took them to Presque Isle, and from there they went in smaller boats, so small that it required several to convey their belongings. They skirted the south shore of Lake Erie till they came to Cunningham Creek, which had been designated as the nearest lake point to their destination. There they spent the night and next day wended their way inland, following marks indicated by their emissaries till they came to the designated spot, which was in the northeast corner of the township. Here Alexander Harper erected the first log cabin ever built in Ashtabula County, and that became the nucleus of a lively little settlement within the next few months. Pending the construction of suitable homes for the various families it was necessary to furnish make-shift accommodations and this emergency was met by construction of a commodious shelter, rudely thrown together, in which the whole party lived as one family for several weeks. During this period much time was spent in casting about for the most suitable locations, and as sites were chosen here and there, the settlers' several homes became scattered about the neighborhood, none of them, however, being very far removed from the others, because it was realized that while the country was so wild and unbroken it was hardly wise for any of the families to put themselves in jeopardy. The Indians were to be considered, also, as a possible menace, and the white settlers were therefore cautious. They held gatherings at the different homes to talk over their work and progress and advise as to the future. Mr. McFarland was chosen to teach the children the advantages of the "three R's" and he gradually became one of the most influential of the colonists. The next year brought several additions to the colony. Among them were Joseph Harper, Holly Tanner and Aaron Wheeler and their families, who established themselves in the settlement and proceeded to HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 317 take their part in the progress of the community. Following them came Daniel and Abraham Bartholomew and a sister, Miss Betsy, who proceeded, immediately upon their arrival, to put up a log house for their occupancy. When the home was completed, Daniel journeyed back to the east to bring his family to the new town. The Hewins brothers, Ebenezer and William, were the next arrivals. Ebenezer Hewens opened the first public house in the village, which was given the name of "the Bull". Mr. Hewens soon took his place in the activities of county affairs and served for some years as associate judge in the court of common pleas of Ashtabula County. He also served as county commissioner. By 1802 the youth of the township had become of such number as to warrant immediate steps looking to their education. Accordingly a log schoolhouse was constructed which is said to have been the first schoolhouse erected in the county. Miss Elizabeth Harper was the first teacher. In 1827 a schoolhouse was built south of the river, in the proximity of what was later known as the SeCheverell meeting house. Miss Brakeman was the first teacher and she gave faithful attention to the education of about 20 pupils, for a salary of 75 cents a week. A log church was built in the township in 1804 and the first frame structure for religious purposes was erected in 1830. This was known as the Baptist meeting house. A Union Church was built at the village four-corners in 1836. The church society of South Harpersfield was organized at the home of. G. H. SeCheverell, where the meetings were subsequently conducted, the Rev. John Crawford being the minister in charge. This society constructed a church in 1846. In 1820 Harpersfield became a regular stop on a post road and a postoffice was located there in the residence of Ezra Gregory, who was appointed postmaster. In 1830 South Harpersfield was given a postoffice, of which G. H. SeCheverell was made postmaster. In 1803 Ezra Gregory built a sawmill on the river bank, and soon afterward a gristmill was built in close proximity. These were but starters of the industrial life of the town, which became quite a factor in the county within the next few years. Other mills, including a woolen factory, followed the trail of progress and, in its palmiest days, Harpersfield was a very lively mill town. Alexander Harper, the pioneer settler of the town, who had great hopes and prospects for the future of the new place where he had cast his 318 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY lot, did not live to realize any of them, for he sickened and died within the year. William Harper, another of the original settlers, died in 1820 and his was the first Masonic funeral conducted in the county. Grand River in the early days was a much more pretentious stream in its upper course than it is today. When the first settlers arrived they found a navigable stream for many miles and they lost little time in availing themselves of the opportunities and advantages it offered. Ezra Gregory's farm lay along the river and at a convenient place on its bank in 1799 he constructed a 35-foot vessel, which was the first real "ship" to navigate that arm of Lake Erie. The shipyard was at the site of the mills, where a landing was built and in 1800 the good ship "Gregory" was put into commission as a general transport of merchants' supplies and other commodities. She went as far up river as Windsor and from there to the mouth of the river. Shortly after the "Gregory" was put into service similar boats were built at Austinburg and Windsor and devoted to like business, thus constituting quite an inland merchant marine. All newcomers to that town from the East thereafter landed at Painesville and finished their journey by these vessels. Harpersfield became officially recognized in 1807, when what subsequently became Hartsgrove, Trumbull, Harpersfield and Geneva were set out from the general township of Richfield as Harpersfield. The name was taken from Harpersfield, N. Y., from whence had come the first few families that settled here. The first township meeting for organization and election of town officers was held on April 1, 1807. In later years when Ashtabula County was acquiring fame as the greatest dairy county in the state Harpersfield got into the game, with the establishment of a cheese factory that ranked with the best. In course of time the settlement took on further manufacturing importance. Among its products were butter envelopes, scale-boards, shingles. Grand River Lodge of Masons was organized in Harpersfield in 1857 and Grand River Grange in 1874. The clearing of the forests gradually decreased the volume of the river flow and the time came when the stream became useless so far as navigation was concerned. Then the prosperity of the village of Harpersfield, which in its best days had been the largest in the county, began to wane and today it is among the smallest four-corner settlements. CHAPTER XXIII. HARTSGROVE TOWNSHIP. TITLE LITIGATION-HALF OF TOWNSHIP WEDDING GIFT-SETTLED IN 1822- FIRST SCHOOL-HOSKIN'S MILL-MAIL ROUTE-TOWN ORGANIZED IN 1830 - CHURCHES- COMMERCE-TORNADO. Samuel Mather, Jr., once laid claim to ownership of the land that was destined, to bear the name of Hartsgrove. His claim was accepted to the extent that the section was first named Matherstown. In the division of the land by the Connecticut Land Company this portion was drawn by one William Hart, who had to put it through protracted litigation before he was able to establish rightful ownership over the claims of Mr. Mather. This controversy lasted more than 20 years and, as a result, Hartsgrove was the last township in the county to be settled. Thus, while all the surrounding territory was being cleared by the settlers, Hartsgrove retained its virgin condition of forest and stream, and when the settlers of other townships desired to lay dull care aside for a time and indulge their fancy for hunting, they packed their kits and set out for the Harts-grove woods and valleys, where they always found the best sport in that line. It was also a favorite hunting ground for Indians, who, for some years after the advent of the white man, continued to come there in numbers and remain indefinitely hunting. When William Hart's daughter married the Rev. William Jarvis of Connecticut and they decided to make their future home in this county the bride's wedding gift from her father was the north half of Hartsgrove Township, a tract comprising about 8,000 acres. Rev. and Mrs. Jarvis at once proceeded to take an active interest in the matters pertaining to the settlement and clearing of the township. The real settlement of Hartsgrove began in 1822, when George Alderman and family moved over in to that township from Windsor. The next - 319 - 320 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY year Frederick Alderman became his neighbor. They built cabins and were the only families resident there until 1828. Then George moved back to Windsor, but Thomas Burbank and family at once took possession of the house thus vacated, and became permanent residents. In the following year the families of Alford, Shubel Adams, David Griffin and Carmi Hoskins swelled the population, and thereafter the settlement grew rapidly for several years. In 1829 Miss Parmelia Frazier taught the first school, which was conducted in a room of the residence of Shubel Adams. There were 17 pupils, of whom several were from over the line in Windsor Township. In 1830 the "slab" school house, so named because of it being constructed of split logs, was built, and Miss Clarissa Norris was the first teacher therein. By winter of that year there were forty scholars in attendance in this school, many of whom had reached man's and woman's estate. In 1829 Carmi Hoskins built a sawmill and in 1841 they put up a gristmill. Meantime the industrial facilities of the town had been added to by the erection of two saw-mills by Orson Grant. John White built the first frame house in Hartsgrove in 1834. The town did not have a resident physician until 1844, when Dr. Hiram Morgan settled there. General Charles Stearns opened the first store in the township in 1837. In 1800 a road was cut through from Gregory's place on Grand River to the Griswold property in Windsor. This was the first road through Hartsgrove Township. Later a state road was laid out extending from Unionville through the western range of Ashtabula County to a point in Trumbull County where it intersected the Warren-Painesville state road. From 1804 to 1830 the mail route from Warren to Austinburg and points east and west cut diagonally through Hartsgrove, but not until the last named year did that township boast a post office. Thomas Matteson was appointed postmaster and thereafter, so long as he held that position, residents of that immediate section had mail service through this office in his residence. The year 1830 was an eventful one in the history of Hartsgrove. That was the year when the town came into its own through organization, which was effected on April 5, when the following original officers were named to preside over the destinies of the infant town till they should be displaced: Township clerk, John Thomas ; trustees, J. B. Harper, Caleb Brooks and Thomas Burbank ; overseers of the poor, Joseph Brooks and HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 321 Calvin Grover ; fence viewers, Destine Alford and Warner Munn ; constable, Stephen Matteson. In the following month Thomas Matteson was elected justice of the peace. It was in the year 1830 also that religiously inclined dwellers in Harts-grove decided upon some concerted religious action, and to that end called a meeting that was held in the home of Calvin Grover, with the Elder John Norris, of Windsor, in charge. Subsequently, during the same year, the Methodist Church was organized with 11 members, and meetings were held in the school house in South Hartsgrove. In 1833 a church of like denomination was organized in Hartsgrove Center, with 10 original members, and the Rev. John Ayers as pastor. From 1837 to about 1850 an Episcopal parish held meetings in the school house. In 1845 the Rev. E. M. Dodge was instrumental in the 'organization of a Free Will Baptist Church. Following a revival series conducted by the Rev. Calvin Smith in 1858 a Disciple Church was organized with a membership of about 15, which grew from year to year till the church boasted the largest congregation of any in the town. As a lively commercial village Hartsgrove took its place with its neighboring towns and it developed into one of the most thrifty dairy centers in the county. As many as three cheese factories were in operation at one time in the middle years of the last century. The first was put into operation in 1850 by Charles Stearns. The farmers would make the curd at their own homes and take it to the factory to be converted into cheese. In the crest years of the business about $200,000 worth of cheese was produced in the township annually. R. D. Norris conducted for several years the largest pearl-ash manifactory in the whole Western Reserve. H. H. Grover established a carriage shop in 1876 which changed hands several times but thrived for some years. In 1866 Alexander Watson built and put in operation a large steam planing and saw-mill, which also turned out cheese boxes and shingles. This was destroyed about a dozen years later by fire, whereupon Mr. Watson built another mill. A steam shingle mill and spoke and ax-helve factory was run for many years by E. W. Hunt. The town and townspeople have plodded along in the even tenor of a (19) 322 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY rural community, with but little change in the general aspect of the village. In the present year the town came out of the mud, however, to a considerable degree by the construction of an improved brick highway through the town, thus affording much easier access to neighboring villages. Tornado.—On July 2, 1859, a storm of cyclonic proportions broke loose over this county and vented its greatest force on Hartsgrove Township. R. D. Norris, Esq., then a prominent resident of the village, sent the following account of the visitation to the Ashtabula Sentinel: "The storm, which amounted to a tornado, spread ruin and destruction in its course. Houses and barns were unroofed, exposing the contents to the driving rain that followed. Forests and orchards were wholly or partially destroyed, while fences were literally strewn over the fields. Persons in the fields or roads were blown off their feet, and so violently and suddenly did the storm approach that few were able to seek shelter. The Rev. W. Wilson, with his horse and carriage, was blown off the highway onto an adjoining field, where he was found after the storm in a very perilous situation, and seriously injured." CHAPTER XXIV. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. INFLUENCE OF GIDEON GRANGER-VILLAGE PLATTED IN 1800-FIRST SETTLER -NAME-COUNTY SEAT-ORIGINAL COURT HOUSE-ROAD FACILITIES-FIRST COURT RECORDS-WILD ANIMALS-BANK FAILURE-FAIR GROUNDS-NOT SO BAD, EITHER. The early development of Ashtabula County was due very largely to the influence of one man, Gideon Granger, who was postmaster general during .the administration of President Thomas Jefferson and a great ad- . mirer of that statesman. It happened that Mr. Granger was also a member of the Connecticut Land Company, which owned the territory of which this county is a small part. In the division of the land of the company among the various owners, which was made by lot in 1798, Mr. Granger and Oliver Phillips drew the parcels of land that afterward furnished the territory for Jefferson, Wayne, Harpersfield and Lenox. Through an exchange Mr. Granger became the sole owner of the Jefferson tract, which at once became his pet hobby and he lost no time in preparing plans for its development. He conceived an idea of improvement on a large scale and with the object of making this particular tract the center of a small universe and, eventually, the seat of a county to be incorporated about it. Apparently the influential Mr. Granger had laid his plans well, for everything worked out according to his program and his dream of centralization was realized in a very few years. In 1800 he had his little reservation platted into allotments of 320 acres each. He sent a personal representative from the East to work out his plans. This was Eldrad Smith, who arrived in this section in 1804 and proceeded to establish a residence by erection of a cabin, selecting as a site for his home an attractive spot on the bank of Mill Creek. Austinburg was then one of the principal - 323 - 324 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY settlements of the section and Mr. Smith soon laid out and cut a path through to that place. He arrived in the spring of the year and during the summer succeeded in making quite a clearing, so that he was able to sow several acres of wheat in the fall. During this year several families arrived and settled in the vicinity of Smith's cabin as a result of Mr. Granger's activities in the East, whereby he sold severai tracts to prospective settlers on his western possession. Having set things moving according to his program, Mr. Granger decided to make a personal visit to the new West, which he did in 1805. After looking over the territory the owner decided to have a resurvey made and by that he divided the section into 80-acre lots, with the exception of the center portion on which he had decided a city should grow. The town site was sub-divided into two-acre sections, while the territory immediately adjacent on each side was cut into eight-acre blocks. To honor his prospective municipality Mr. Granger caused it to be named for his beloved President, but when, in later years, the question of location of the seat of Ashtabula County came up for consideration, the promoter of Jefferson town found that he was not going to be able to pull 'off that plum as easily as he had set the stage for it, for Austinburg came up with a claim for the honor and her plea was very insistent. The latter town residents, feeling that they had a just claim to the county seat, had cleared a tract especially for the location of the courthouse and put in their application for the same. The commissioners viewed the site thus prepared and then went to Jefferson, at request of Mr. Granger, and after he had promised to build a courthouse and jail, and considering the central location, the commissioners were won over and that is how Jefferson became the seat of law for Ashtabula County. The decision was quite satisfactory to residents of the southern portion of the county, but for those along the lake it was not regarded so favorably, on account of the existence of the big swamp north of Jefferson, through which the highway passed from that village toward Ashtabula. This swamp was at some seasons of the year quite impassible for tee :insand in order to go to the county seat it was necessary to take the roundabout course via Austinburg. Incidentally it might be mentioned that residents of the northern section of the county never quite reconciled themselves to the location of the county seat and there have been several attempts to induce the "powers