HISTORY OF MEDIA COUNTY. - 435
CHAPTER X.*
WADSWORTH TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE—A NOTABLE EPIDEMIC- COAL. INTERESTS—INCORPCORA-
TION AND GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE—EARLY INCIDENTS—FAMILY GENEALOGIES
THE years 1844 and 1848 were memorable for a malignant epidemic that visited the township, carrying off by death a large number of its inhabitants. It prevailed very extensively in Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. and was known as malignant erysipelas, or erysipelatous fever. The following description. written by Dr. C. N. Lyman. one of the physicians who treated for the disease, may be valuable for a historic reference, both as to the disease and its treatment:
During the year 1844, there occurred within the limits of the township an epidemic of erysipelas. very severe in its character and fatal in its results, selecting for its victims some of the best of our citizens of adult age. It was confined mostly within the limits of the township, though extending somewhat into the townships of Norton and Chippewa. It began in the mouth of January, and continued until the following August. when its virulence subsided, with occasional manifestations until the winter of 1848, when it reappeared in the east part of the towns of Guilford and Montville, with its accustomed fatality, and again made its appearance in this township, marking as its own a number of our prominent citizens.
“Its mode of attack was almost always in the form of inflammation of the throat and fauces, with a disposition to migrate to other parts of the body, usually selecting the serous membranes. Sometimes, however, the muscular and adipose tissues would be the seat of the metastatic attack. The change from the throat to the point of attack would be sudden, and for a few hours the patient would flatter himself that
* Contributed by Hon. Aaron Pardee.
he was convalescent, when a rigor and restlessness would supervene, telling. too often fatally, that. the hope was only a delusive one. When the serous membranes were the seat of the disease, the formation of pus was a rapid process, the patient frequently dying within three days. A post-mortem examination would disclose the serous cavities filled with pus. When the muscular and adipose tissues were the seat of the disease, pus was formed in enormous quantities if the patient survived long enough. Frequently, however, death supervened too rapidly for this 1 process to mature.
" That portion of the epidemic which occurred in 1844 was most successfully treated by large and rapid depletion, some patients requiring to be bled to faintness, two or three times within thirty-six hours. This was markedly the case when the serous membranes were involved., When the other tissues were the seat of. the disease, bleeding was not of such manifest utility. Some cases were so rapid as to call for the directly opposite treatment, and they were as rapidly fatal.
"When the disease reappeared in a severe form in 1848-49, bleeding and depletion was not tolerated at all. In the few cases in which they ' were tried, in the commencement of the outbreak, the results were so unsatisfactory that those measures were abandoned immediately. This latter manifestation of the disease showed less predilection for the serous membranes than the former. In the first epidemic, with a population of about 1,200, there were 124 well-marked cases. 25 of which proved fatal. The later epidemic was spread over more territory, but the proportion of deaths to
436 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
those attacked was greater. Since that time it has not appeared in an epidemic form."
At an early day bituminous coal was known to exist in some parts of the township, before all its uses or its true commercial value were known or thought of. More than fifty years since, small quantities of coal were found in various localities. in digging wells.
About 1829. coal in beds. cropping out near the surface, was found both in the northeastern and southeastern portions of the township ; and small quantities for several years were mined for domestic use. and the limited manufacturing of the region. But the location of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, bringing these mines into connection with the great coal markets afforded by the cities and extensive manufactories of the State. not only made them sources of wealth. but, by developing au extensive business. added greatly to the growth and prosperity of the village. and of the township at large ; a village by itself having grown up. composed of a population wholly connected with the mining and shipping of coal at Silver Creek. the point of shipment a mile and a half southeast of the depot. The first mining of coal for commercial purposes commenced at that point. in February, 1869.
Mines have been opened in four localities in the township : at Humphrey & Coleman's mine. on Seth Baughman's farm. the Wadsworth Coal Company's mine. on the Dormer farm. the Town Line mine. in the northeast. corner which extends into Sharon and Norton. and the Stony Ridge mine. opened on the land of Don A. Pardee.
The first shipment of coal on the railroad at Wadsworth was in 1863. brought from the Silver Creek mines in wagons till the completion of the Silver Creek Branch Railroad.
Coal is known to exist in minable quantities; on or under the following farms in Wadsworth Township : in the southeast quarter. the Whitman farm. the Dormer. the old Ritter, the
Dr. Simmons. the Dave Long. Seth Baughman's three farms, the Dutt farm and the Andrews farm ; in the northeast quarter. the old Spillman farm and the Eyles and Simcox farms : in the northwest quarter, the Oberholtzer farm, the Hinsdale farm and the two farms of Don A. Pardee, also the Gehman and the McCoy farms. The area of land underlaid with coal in the township, must be in the neighborhood of 1.500 acres. a small portion of which only has been mined. This coal lies invariably under the first stratum of sand rock which forms the most favorable roofing for mining purposes. and the coal is generally found from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet under the surface, and varying from two feet to five feet in thickness.
The village of Wadsworth was originally built up at what was called the center of the township. at the crossing of the north and south and east-and-west roads. The north-and south road was early laid out as a State road from Coshocton to Cleveland. but had been formerly laid as a county road through Wads-worth Township—it lies two miles from the east line. and three lines from the west line. of the township. The east-and-west road was also a State road, and was laid before the township was settled, about the year 1808. Wadsworth Village had grown up about these corners until after the railroad was established, when. on account of the increase of population. it was thought desirable to have it incorporated.
The movement commenced in 1865. Dr. C. N. Lyman acting as agent for the people. Owing to a mistake in dates, it became necessary to make a second publication, so that it was not consummated till 1866. First election. April 4. The first officers under the corporation : Aaron Pardee. Mayor ; J. C. Houston, Re-corder ; C. N. Lyman, William F. Boyer. John Lytle. W. T. Ridenour, and Luman P. Mills, Trustees.
The boundaries of the corporation are somewhat irregular. Its longest dimensions, from
HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 437
north to south, about one and one-half miles ; and from east to west, about a mile ; the whole area, 896 acres of land ; a little over one and one-third square miles, or about one-twentieth of the township.
The incorporation of the village necessitated the erection of a building for council room. police court, jail. etc. This was provided by designing a plan for a township hall for holding elections and public meetings, with rooms for post office, council hall, and lockup.'' The question of building a town hall was submitted to a vote of the people of the township, and the majority vote was for building. It was built by township tax in 1867. at a cost of 85.000. It is a substantial brick structure, two stories high. The lower story has a commodious front room for the post office, and back of it the room for council room and police and village justice's courts, and a room for securing prisoners, or lodging vagrants : or. in common parlance, tramps."
The Atlantic & Great Western Railroad. a continuation of the Erie, was like that road of broad gauge running from Salamanca, N. Y., and terminating at Dayton, Ohio. Length, 389 miles. Arrangements were made with the C., H. & D. road. by third rail, to run to Cincinnati. Distance from Wadsworth to Salamanca, 216 miles ; to Dayton, 173 ; to Cincinnati, 232 ; distance to New York from Wadsworth, 629. The Atlantic & Great Western Railroad has changed owners within the past year, and now is called the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railway. In June, 1880, it was altered from a six-foot gauge to the common width of other roads. The change was made the whole length of the line in one day. With the first location of this road, commenced the rapid growth of Wadsworth Village as a place of business. The existence of the rich coal mines and the surrounding country with its general healthfulness, has done much toward building up the place and adding largely to its wealth and prosperity.
There are in Wadsworth Village four dry goods stores, two hardware stores, two drug stores. two shoe stores, three grocery and provision stores, two cigar factories, three wagon and carriage shops, two planing-mills, one agricultural machine shop, one oat-meal mill. two bed-bottom factories, two hotels, four doctors. three lawyers, one dentist, three blacksmith-shops, five shoe-shops, two tailor-shops, two harness-shops. two meat markets. two barbershops, two livery stables. two furniture and undertakers' stores, four millinery stores, three jewelers, two tin-shops, one bank, one printing office, one flour and feed store, two restaurants, three clothing stores, one grain merchant's warehouse. two photographers. and one agricultural implement depot.
Western Star is on the township line. about equally divided between Wadsworth and Nor-ton, and lies just two miles east of Wadsworth Village Corners. It contains, on the Wads-worth site, about 150 inhabitants. It was incorporated by act of the Legislature, about 1837, and embraced a territory one mile each way from the public well. which stood on • the line of the county.
The place called Weaverville is in the neighborhood of the Wadsworth Coal Company Mine. southeast corner of the township. Biglow Chapel is on the township line about one and one-half miles north of' Western Star. Clark's Corners is two miles north of Wadsworth Village. The River Styx Bottoms occupy about 3,000 acres in the west part of the township, extending from the north line to the south line of the township. Silver Creek Junction, or Humphrey's coal bank, is about one and one-quarter miles east of Wadsworth Station.
Among the most celebrated pioneer hunters were Orrin Loomis, David Blocker, William Simcox, John Waltz and Phineas Butler. It is said that Blocker, from 1816 to 1833. killed and dressed over S00 deer : he shot and killed six in one day.
438 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
At one time. meat became exceedingly scarce, in consequence of the game all leaving the neighborhood ; and the want of this indispensable article to the pioneer. produced a lamentable aching about the stomach of each. Suddenly, one Sunday afternoon. while David Blocker was lying on a bed of deer and bearskins, in the cabin. the dogs sang out : " Turkeys !" and, bounding off his bed and seizing the rifle and shot-pouch, he rushed to the door just in time to see the turkeys flying and alighting among the trees in every direction from the cabin ; for the dogs had rushed among them at first sight, and kept up a tremendous din of howls and yells at the turkeys. while the rifle went crack, crack. as fast as he could load and shoot, until sixteen fat turkeys had fallen before his unerring aim. By this time the flock had disappeared. and. in their place. came Judge Brown (father of Rev. Edward). Squire Salmon Warner. Reuben F. Warner and Jacob Miller (father of George Miller. Esq.: of Akron), all of whom had been at a prayer-meeting. at Squire Warner's. half a mile east of where the turkey-shooting took place : and which meeting was about closing. when they heard the successively quick. sharp reports of the rifle. and they knew it meant game. As they were all in want of meat, they gladly and thankfully accepted twelve out of the sixteen turkeys killed on that occasion.
In the early part of the settlement of the township. rattlesnakes were plenty : and, in one day, at a den of the snakes. Samuel Blocker and Jacob Miller killed 128 yellow-spotted rattlesnakes. At another time. when Samuel Blocker was reaping wheat. he cut off a monster rattlesnake's head with his sickle. which probably struck at his hand just as he had gathered in the wheat straw to cut it off. for he did not see or know anything of the snake until he had dropped his bunch in its place, and. finding the snake headless, looked in his handful of wheat. when lo ! there was his snake-
ship's head, as handsomely cut off as if done by a surgeon.
One day David Blocker was pursuing a wounded' bear. he met a buck jumping and snorting as if in some great trouble. Blocker walked up within a short distance ; as the deer paid no attention to him. he leveled his rifle to shoot the deer. when he perceived one of the largest rattlesnakes he had ever seen ; the snake darted his fiery eyes at Blocker and at the deer. as if at a loss which to attack. Blocker aimed at the snake, and the deer hounded off: when the smoke had cleared away. he found the serpent nicely coiled up. with his head shot to pieces ; he reached down to take hold of the rattles of the snake. when the back of his hand. as quick as a flash. was touched with the remains of the snake's head : he instantly let go. but he knew he was not bitten. although frightened. He took twenty-one rattles from that snake, indicating, as is supposed. the age of twenty-one years.
About the year 1818. Samuel Blocker had a valuable mare and colt which were attacked by bears and driven off the point of a rock. on the north fork of the saw-mill dam. a few rods west of the house and lot now owned by William Brouse. It was nearly sixteen feet down perpendicularly. at that time. where the mare and colt lay crushed by the fall. and the indications were that one or more bears had gradua!!y driven them closer and closer. until they both pitched off the precipice and perished.
Captain Lyman relates that at one time the killed. in one day. eight rattlesnakes. seven found in a hollow log. the eighth, a very large one. found alone by himself.
Joshua F. Shaw. in harvesting. was bitten by a rattlesnake, which alarmed himself and friends very much. but it is said that he was cured l a large dose of whisky.
Mr. Shaw once found a large deer in his wheat field. The field had a very high fence. and Shaw cornered the deer where he was una -
HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 439
ble to get over. As he attempted to leap the fence, Shaw caught him by the horns, and cut his throat with a penknife.
Orrin Loomis and Phineas Butler used to hunt in couples. Their principal and most profitable game was coon, which they hunted for the skin. Their outfit was a couple of axes, a torch made of hickory bark, and three or four dogs. They would go out at evening, and be gone. sometimes nearly all night. When the dogs treed a coon, the tree had to come down, and before it would fairly reach the ground the dogs had the coon. Hundreds of the best timber trees in all parts of the township were felled by these hunters in pursuit of coon, and thousands of coonskins were the result. A coonskin was about the same as a lawful tender for 31 cents.
In 1819. the settlers of Wadsworth had turned out to chop the road through the unsettled township north, then . known as "Hart and Mather's town," to meet a similar company from Granger. half-way; thus making an outlet to Cleveland. While thus engaged, one of the Bruin family put in an appearance. Several dogs, which had accompanied their masters. immediately made common cause against their common enemy. The bear showed desperate fight, rising upon his haunches and beating back the dogs. Orin Loomis ran up, and, to protect the clogs, stuck his ax into the bear's mouth, while Judge Brown, coming immediately behind him, struck his as into the bear's head. and the other choppers soon dispatched him with their axes; and each at evening returned home with a large piece of bear meat; no small item, in the general scarcity of provisions at that period.
In the fall of 1823, as Butler and Loomis were returning after midnight from one of their hunts, and had arrived within a mile or two of home, it was noticed that the dogs were missing. Presently. a noise was heard. far back in the rear.
" Hark ! What was that ? " said Loomis. They listened awhile, and agreed it was the dogs, sure. "Orr, let's go back." said Butler. " No," answered Loomis, " it is too late." " But," said Butler, " I'll bet the dogs are after a bear ; don't you hear old Beaver ? It sounds to me like the bark of old Beaver when he is after a bear."
Butler was bound to go back, and so they started. The scene of the disturbance was finally reached, after traveling two or three miles. The clogs had found a bear, sure enough; but it was in the middle of Long Swamp. and the alders were so thick that there was scarcely room for man. dog or bear to get through. This did not deter Phin Butler, however. They got near enough to find out that the bear was stationed on a spot a little drier than the main swamp. surrounded by alder bushes, and that she was determined not to leave it. The dogs would bay up close. when the bear would run out after them. They would retreat, and then she would go back to her nest again.
"We can't kill her tonight." said Loomis. " we will have to go home, and come down again in the morning." "No," replied Butler. "I am afraid she will get away. We can kill her tonight, I guess. You can go and hiss on the dogs on one side, and I will come up on the other ; and when she runs out after them. I'll cut her backbone off with the ax." They concluded to try this plan, and came very near succeeding. As the old bear rushed past, Butler put the whole bit of the ax into her back, but failed to cut the backbone by an inch or so. Enraged and desperate, she sprang upon the dogs, who. emboldened by the presence of the hunters, came too close. With one of her enormous paws she came down on old Beaver, making a large wound in his side, which nearly killed him. He was hardly able to crawl out of the swamp.
The fight was then abandoned until the next morning, as, without Beaver to lead the other dogs, it was useless to proceed. It was diffi-
440 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
cult to get the old dog home, but he finally got well. Early in the morning the hunters were on the ground. This time they had their guns with them, but found the old bear was gone. On examining her nest of the night before, her unusual ferocity was explained. She had a litter of cubs. which. however. she had succeeded in removing, and must have carried them off in her mouth. In a short time. the dogs had tracked her out. She was found half a mile lower down the swamp. where she had made a new hest. Butler's rifle soon dispatched her, but her cubs. four in number, and not more than three or four weeks old. were taken alive, and kept for pets. } * * * *
The following account of Leonard Brown's wolf-fight is given in his own words :
“It was in the month of June, 1827. a full moon and a clear night. I was seventeen years old. About 11 o'clock at night I was awakened by the barking of the dog. which was a common occurrence, and we always went to his relief and generally found that he had treed either a raccoon, a wildcat. a porcupine. an opossum. or a fox. (The gray foxes would climb trees as readily as coons.) This time his barking was unusually earnest. I got out of bed and put on my pants, but nothing more. Bareheaded and barefooted. I took my ax and started for the dog. When within a few rods of' the spot. I found it was in the northeast corner of the field, where stood a sapling about twelve feet high. Supposing the game to be on that sapling, I could get on the fence and dislodge it from the tree. knowing that the dog would take it as soon as it reached the ground. I therefore laid down the ax and proceeded within a rod of the place. when a large animal made an attempt to jump the fence, but the dog caught it by the thigh and brought it back. It then tried to make its escape across the field, but the dog caught it by the neck. when it turned and gave battle. I then discovered that it was a wolf, much larger than the dog, and, as they reared upon their hind legs like two dogs in a fight, I caught the wolf by his hind legs, and. with the help of the dog. laid him on his back ; but his jaws flew to the right and left so quick, it was very difficult for the dog to get a safe hold. I thought I had best get my ax as soon as possible, as I had no knife. So I started for the ax, but, before I had gone ten feet, the dog cried out in great agony. I knew he was hurt, so I picked up a stick and went back. The wolf was on top. I caught him again by the legs and laid him on his back. and. by holding his leg with one hand. I jammed the stick into his mouth with the other, and by that means enabled the dog to fasten to him by the throat. After I had carefully examined the dog's hold and found all right. feeling assured that if he got away he would take the dog along. I hastened for my ax. When I returned, I found the wolf on his feet. and the dog on his back, the dog still keeping his hold. On my approach, the wolf made a desperate effort to escape. which brought the dog to his feet. He then laid the wolf on his back without my help. I then tried to knock the wolf in the head, but dared not strike for fear of hitting the dog ; and. fearing the dog would give out, as he seemed nearly exhausted. as the wolf lay on his back I aimed a blow between his hind legs, and supposed I had succeeded in cleaving the hips. but it proved I had only wounded him in one thigh.
The wolf then lay still, and I thought him dead. I bade the dog to let go his hold. He .refused. I then put one foot on the wolf, and took the clog by the nape of the neck with one hand. and struck him with the other. The dog flew back as if there was a snake there. and the wolf jumped up suddenly and attacked me. His jaws came together very near my neck. but the dog instantly caught him by the throat. I then struck him on the head with my ax. breaking the skull ; and the dog released his hold of his own accord.
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"It was a black wolf of the largest size, measuring from the extremity of the fore to the hind foot, seven feet and nine inches. The dog was bitten through the thick part of the fore leg. I was minus a shirt—some scratched about the breast, with a slight wound on my left arm made by the wolf's teeth."
* * * * * * * *
The Agard family.—Benjamin Agard, a native, it is supposed, of Long Island, was born in 1769. Married Rhoda, daughter of Issachar Loomis, and sister of Joseph Loomis. He moved from Colebrook, Conn., in the winter of 1816, in company with his brother-in-law, Joseph Loomis.
He settled on the Sowers farm, and built the first frame house.
Alvin Agard, eldest son of B. Agard, was born in Colebrook, Conn., in 1797, and died July 29, 1837. For many years he kept a complete meteorological record, on a plan of his own, noting the temperature at 6, 12 and 6 o'clock, the direction of the wind, and the rain and snow falls. A record that, if preserved by his descendants, might he valuable for reference or comparison. He married Lucy, daughter of Salmon Warner. Dr. Aurelius Agard, of Sandusky City, was his son.
Roman L. Agard was born in Colebrook, Conn., in 1805. Married a Miss Wright ; died June 3, 1846. No descendants of the Agard family now remain in Wadsworth.
Levi Blakeslee was born in Hartland, Conn.; son of Rev. Matthew Blakeslee ; was adopted in infancy and brought up by Owen Brown, Esq., of Hudson. Married Abigail Patchen ; second wife, Mrs. Ostrander. He set up the first tannery in Wadsworth ; his first vats were troughs hewed out of whitewood logs, and his first bark-mill a huge wheel worked out of a granite boulder, attached to a revolving axle and turned by oxen. He died November 26, 1864. Children—Amelia Eliza, born March 9, 1820. married Donnely Hobart, and resides in Cleveland Anson E. and Owen B. both reside in Iowa.
The Baughman Family.—Of this name there were many among the first settlers of Wads-worth and Chippewa. They were all from Lehigh County, Penn., and of German origin.
Lorentz Baughman, brother of Adam, lived on the farm now owned by Dr. Simmons. Died in 1840, aged 67. Sons—Henry, Lorentz, Jacob and Ezra. Daughters—Elizabeth, wife of Peter Waltz, Jr.; Rachel, wife of Abraham Koplin ; Lydia, wife of John Loutzenheizer ; Polly, wife of Christian Koplin.
John Baughman, nephew of Adam and Lawrence, came here in 1829. Married Lydia, daughter of Paul Baughman. Sons—Stephen. William, Seth, Israel, Joel and John. Daughters—Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Miller ; Hannah, wife of Talbert Simcox ; Elizabeth, wife of John S. Yockey. Seth Baughman is one of the richest men in the township.
David Baughman, brother of John, came in 1830 ; married Elizabeth Blocker.
The Beach Families.—Abel Beach, son of John Beach, and fifth generation from Benjamin Beach. emigrant from England to Stamford, Conn., was born in Torrington, Conn., January 3, 1775; married Roxy Taylor ; came to Wadsworth in 1823 ; owned the farm now the north farm of William Brouse ; built the first saw-mill in company with his son George, and Joseph and Sherman Loomis. He was a man of great mirthfulness and wit ; died November 7, 1854. Mrs. Beach died August 30, 1846, aged 67. Children—Sylva, lost in the woods in 1824 ; George, born 1799 ; married Mary Delaber ; came to Wadsworth in 1822 ; opened the farm now owned by William Cunningham ; lives in Clinton, Iowa.
Orlando Beach, brother of George, born December 14, 1802 ; married Julia Pardee, who was killed by being thrown from a carriage in 1838 ; second wife, Susan, daughter of Judge Philo Welton, who died in 1878. He was aft-
444 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
erward married to Eliza J. Fisher. Mr. Beach died December 20, 1880. He had been an active business man in Wadsworth for nearly sixty years.
The Bennett Family.—Four brothers of that name came from Vermont. Timothy S. Ben-nett came with Leavitt Weeks in 1818 ; 'lived in the east part of Wadsworth ; married Rachel, daughter of Holland Brown.
Abel Bennett lived many years in Norton ; now lives in Royalton.
Stanton Bennett died in Wadsworth; in 1874; aged sixty-eight.
Elam Bennett fell dead while at work. in the hayfield. in 1832.
The Blocker Family.—Samuel Blocker. a native of Pennsylvania, came to Wadsworth in 1815, and settled on the farm east of the village, now owned by Seth Baughman. He was the first tailor of Wadsworth ; died April 2. 1844, aged seventy-six.
David Blocker. eldest. son of Samuel. came with his father. Of his famous hunting exploits, the readers of this work have been in-formed. He was unmarried ; died June 12. 1836, aged thirty-eight.
Eli Blocker, second son of Samuel. died at Norton Center, February 18, 1845, aged thirty-eight.
Sherman Blocker. third son, was born in Wadsworth December 15. 1819 ; attorney at law ; was for several years Justice of the Peace and Postmaster at Wadsworth. He married Sarah E. Adams ; resides in Akron.
Lydia. eldest daughter, married Abraham Franks ; resides in Doylestown. Amanda, born 1812 ; married Nicholas Long, Jr.; died in Michigan. Elizabeth, born in June, 1814 ; married David Baughman ; lives in Wadsworth.
The Browns.—Hon. Frederick Brown was a descendant of the fifth generation from Peter Brown, one of the pilgrim band, who came in the May Flower to Plymouth, in 1620. His father, Capt. John Brown, commanded a company of volunteer minute men. in the Revolution, raised in Canton, Conn., who joined the army at New York, where he died September 3, 1776. He was born in Canton, Conn.. August 14, 1769. He represented the town of Colebrook, in the State Legislature, during the war of 1812. He emigrated to Wadsworth in 1816 ; assisted in the first organization of the town ; was one of the first Trustees. and second Postmaster. On the organization of the county he was chosen Senior Associate Judge, which office he held from 1818 to 1832, fourteen years. In 1842, he removed to Circleville to reside with his son, Dr. Marcus Brown, where he died March 14. 1848. He was twice married ; his first wife was Catharine Case : second, Chloe Pettibone.
Frederick Anson. eldest son. attorney at law. never lived in Wadsworth.
Dr. Marcus Brown. born in Canton. Conn.. July 3. 1797, resides in Circleville.
Catharine, born in Colebrook, Conn.. in 1799. Married Timothy Hudson.
Chloe Volucia. born in Colebrook May G. 1810. She died at Wolcottville, Ind.. September 14. 1840.
Dr. John Brown. born at Colebrook November 12. 1812. Studied medicine with Dr. G. K. Pardee. Married Emily C.. daughter of Capt. George Lyman ; he died at Haw Patch. Ind., January 24. 1842.
Rev. Edward Brown. born in Colebrook November 1, 1814. Married Eliza Jane Johnson. of Palmyra. N. Y.: second wife, Laura Jane Goodale, of Amherst. Mass.; children—Florence Amelia, born June 3. 1845, died August 5. 1866 ; Marian Eliza, born February 14, 1847. died November 28. 1864 ; Ellen died in infancy ; Marcus Aurelius. born October 9. 1853, at Wautoma. Wis.; printer.
Laura. third daughter of Frederick Brown. born in Wadsworth March 11. 1820 ; graduated at Granville Female Seminary in 1840 ; married Dr. John A. Butler, La Grange. Ind.:
HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY. - 445
second husband, Francis J. Smith ; resides in Pontiac, Mich.
Sarah M., fourth daughter of F. Brown, born in Wadsworth July 2, 1823 ; married Chester C. Hammon, La Grange, Ind.; she now resides at Yankton, Dakota.
Judge F. Brown was an uncle of the celebrated John Brown. otherwise called Ossawatomie Brown.
Holland Brown, a native of Massachusetts, came to Wadsworth about 1824. Lived on the northeast corner farm, now the town-line coal-mine. He was a worthy citizen, a member of the Disciples' Church. Died April 22, 1844, aged seventy-six. Children—Lyman, killed at Akron by accident. December, 1825, aged twenty--seven : Rachel, married T. S. Bennett : Almon, born 1801 ; resided several years in Wadsworth. Sharon and Norton : he is a carpenter by occupation ; has been for several years a resident of Akron (Middlebury Ward) ; has held several county offices. Is now Justice of the Peace.
Erastus Brown was also for many years a resident of Wadsworth, where he followed the business of house joiner and wagon-maker. Resides in Weymouth.
Ahi Brown was a respected citizen of Wadsworth. a carpenter. Member of the Disciples Church. Married Emily, daughter of Jotham Blakeslee ; died March 9, 1837.
Rev. Leonard Brown, born 1811. Married Ann L., daughter of Phineas Butler. Is a minister of the Disciples' Church. Resides in Wellington, Ohio.
Rev. Holland Brown, born in 1813. Is a minister of the Disciples' Church ; resides in Brooklyn. Ohio.
Phineas Butler was born in Saybrook, Conn., in 1791 ; married Sarah Pardee ; emigrated to Wadsworth from Marcellus, N. Y., in 1818. He was a leading member of the Disciples' Church ; died in 1846 ; Mrs. Butler died in 1844. Children—Ann L., married Rev. Leonard Brown , resides in Wellington ; Rev. Pardee Butler, born in Marcellus, N. Y., in 1816 ; educated at Wadsworth Academy. Is a minister of the Disciples' Church. He was one of the early emigrants to Kansas, and a zealous supporter of the Free State cause, in conscquence of which he was at one time taken by a mob of border ruffians at Atchison and placed on a raft and sent down the Missouri River without paddle or oar. After floating several miles he was picked up by a passing steamer. He still lives in Kansas. George W. Butler, born March 22, 1820 ; married Hannah Hull ; lived several years in Medina. and died in 1845 ; Sylvanus, born in 1822, died in 1844 ; Sarah Maria, born February 18. 1825, married Nathaniel B. Eastman ; resides in Seville.
Daniel Bolich came to Wadsworth in 1830, from Pennsylvania ; died October 11. 1862, aged seventy-two.
Joseph Bolich, born March 18, 1817 ; married Nancy Simcox; still lives in Wadsworth. Sons—Daniel, Harrison, Harvey and Talbert.
John A. Clark was born in Guilford Township, January 7, 1837 ; was educated at Seville Academy. and engaged in teaching and farming pursuits till 1866, when he removed to Wadsworth and engaged in the printing business, and in 1869 and 1870 was Superintendent of the Union Schools. Has held the office of Mayor of the village and other positions of public trust ; he married Emily U., daughter of Thomas Colburn, of Guilford.
Richard Clark, a native of Connecticut, came to Wadsworth from Pittsburgh in 1821 ; married Hannah, daughter of Rev. Obadiah Newcomb ; died March 17, 1864, aged 69.
Curtis Families - Capt Cyrus Curtis was born at Norfolk, Conn., in 1767 ; he married Editha Mills ; resided at New Haven. Vt., and Marcellus, N. Y. ; came to Wadsworth in 1829 ; was a man of strong mind and pure character, highly esteemed by his acquaintances ; died Dccember 6, 1839.
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Col. Norman Curtis. eldest son of Cyrus Curtis. born in Norfolk. Conn.. July 24, 1792 ; married Elizabeth Lampson ; came to Wadsworth from Marcellus. N. Y. February. 1821.
Cyrus Curtis, Jr.. born in Norfolk. Conn.. December 24. 1794 ; came from Marcellus, N. Y.. to Wadsworth, February. 1828 ; has been a man of influence in the town for forty-seven years : was Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee and School Director for a number of terms ; died March 8. 1875. Children—Judge Albert L. born in Marcellus. N. Y.. March 20. 1818 ; married Roxy Hill ; resides in Ashland ; H. Holland. born in 1820 ; resides in Iowa : William Pitt. born in Marcellus. N. Y.. October 26. 1822 ; married Adelia Lyman ; is a druggist ; resides in Wadsworth ; Charles B.. born in Wadsworth. January 16. 1824 ; married Maria Turner ; died in 1867 ; Grace Orra, born in 1832 ; married Rev. R. Hager ; died in 1856 ; Grace Melissa. born in 1832 ; married Benjamin Binder. who was killed in the war ; resides in Wisconsin ; Lampson C.. born in 1837 : married Caroline Nye.
Dean Families.—Daniel Dean. mentioned in this history as one of the first settlers. son of Benjamin Dean. was born in Cornwall. Conn., March 31. 1765 ; moved to Franklin. Vt. ; married Mary Field ; came to Wadsworth, March 17. 1814: erected the first dwelling ; was a member of the Baptist Church ; died March 6. 1836.
Benjamin Dean. eldest son of Daniel Dean, was born in Bristol. Vt.. August 1. 1797 ; came to Wadsworth. March 1. 1814. with O. Durham : he married Julia Phelps ; second wife. Harriet Fairchild. of Sharon ; he removed to Iowa in 1864. attended the pioneer meeting in Wads-worth in 1874. returned to Iowa. and died October 14. 1874.
Moses Dean was a resident of Wadsworth for many years : built a wagon-shop just west of the cemetery. The remains of the dam built for running machinery, in 1828. are still seen ; he married Harriet Hosford, of Westfield : died in Iowa.
Ebenezer Dean lives near Dixon, Ill. ; Salmon Dean lives in Iowa ; William died in Iowa ; Polly died in Wadsworth, in 1824 ; Ruth married D. Gridley ; died in Wadsworth.
Abel Dickinson, a native of Litchfield County. Conn. ; came to Wadsworth, about 1821 ; married Julia Moody ; he was a man of good education and talent ; was the first Postmaster at Wadsworth. and at one period was County Surveyor, and took the census of the county in 1840 ; he was noted for practical jokes ; he cleared up the farm, and built the large stone house. now the residence of William Phelps ; he died at Glenhope. Penn.. 1868, aged seventy-five.
Dr. Nathaniel Eastman, born at Fort Ann. N. Y, June 17, 179 2 ; he came to Wadsworth in 1823. where he resided till 1827, when he removed to Seville.
Everhard Families.—Jacob Everhard, born in Northampton. Penn., in 1760 ; he was not in the Revolution. but was for some time a soldier in the Indian war that continued after its close : he came to Wadsworth in 1818. and took up his residence on the farm southwest of the corners, at the coal-banks ; he was a worthy member of the Lutheran Church, as were all his family ; died in November, 1833. Children —Christian, born in Westmoreland County. Penn.. in 1783 ; married Magdalena. daughter of Adam Smith ; came to Wadsworth in 1815 ; John, born in 1785 ; married Nancy Harter : came to Wadsworth in 1815 ; Christina, married Christopher Rasor ; Mary. married William Rasor ; Jacob, born in 1793 ; married Elizabeth Smith ; second wife. Mary Harter ; lived just over the line of Chippewa ; was an influential citizen, and did much for the cause of education ; Susan. married John Parshall ; second husband, Jesse Rose ; Elizabeth. unmarried ; died in 1873. aged seventy-five ; Jonathan, born February 18, 1801 ; came to
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Wadsworth in 1818. removed to Sharon in 1831 ; Dr. Nathan S. Everhard is a son of Jacob, at present practicing physician in Wadsworth ; Solomon Everhard, son of John, resides on his father's old farm ; and Adam, son of Christian, residing on his father's old homestead.
Hon. William Eyles was born in Kent, Conn. August 16, 1783 ; his father was Joshua Eyles, who died when William was quite young. William married Polly, daughter of Ananias Derthick ; she was born in Colchester. Conn., September 22. 1782. In 1813, he came West with his family, crossing the Alleghany Mountains by the old Braddock army road. down the Youghiogheny. through Pittsburgh. to Palmyra, Trumbull County. Ohio. Mr. Eyles lived in Palmyra about a year. when he moved to Portage Township. then Portage, now Summit, County, and bought a farm north of Summit Lake. in what is now Upper Akron. His house was where the Summit House now stands. In January. 1820. he moved to Wadsworth, on the farm on the Akron road, now owned by his grandson, William N. Eyles. His children, who were born in Connecticut, were Mary Ann, born March 19, 1805; Blaney Eveline. born March 30. 180 7 ; William Madison, born February 11. 1812 ; Clarinda Elvira was born in Portage July 12. 1815 ; Betsy Maria. born in the same place April 19, 1819 ; Ann Louisa was born in Wadsworth December 3. 1821, and Viola Matilda, July 9. 1824. Mrs. Eyles died September 27, 1849. He was residing in Wadsworth Village at the time of his death, February 11, 1870. His oldest daughter was married to Orin Loomis ; the second, to Aaron Pardee ; the third, to Albert Hinsdale : the fourth. to Reuben N. Woods ; the fifth. to D. L. Harris ; and the sixth, to James McGalliard.
Mr. Eyles was a remarkable man. He inherited nothing from his father but a good constitution and strong mind. He was a cooper by trade, which he followed. in connection with farming, for many years. during which he accumulated considerable property ; his early education was quite limited. but he made up for this deficiency by an unusual share of natural ability and good sense; he was much respected by his neighbors and fellow-citizens ; this was manifested by their keeping him in public office, without his seeking ; he was Justice of the Peace in Portage. and afterward in Wadsworth —in all. more than twenty years ; he was County Commissioner one or two terms. was twice elected to the Legislature. and served one term as Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; he was originally a Jeffersonian Democrat, but voted for John Quincy Adams in 1824 and in 1828: was afterward a Van Buren man and. finally. a Republican of the straitest sect ; and he always asserted and believed that he had never changed his politics in the least. In religion. he was by education a Congregationalist. but. while living in Portage Township. he and his wife united with the Baptists. In 1824, Mr. Eyles and his wife assisted in forming the first Disciples Church in Wadsworth, and each continued earnest and consistent members of that church during life. No citizen of Medina County ever left a better example to those who should come after him than did Judge Eyles.
David Ettinger was born in Lehigh County. Penn.. January 8. 1807: married Elizabeth Borbst : second wife. Rachel Myers ; came to Wadsworth in 1832 ; established a manufactory of hats. which he carried on for twenty-five years ; still lives in Wadsworth.
The Geissingers. — Henry Geissinger was born in Northampton County. Penn.. March 5. 1786; married Elizabeth Kurtz : resided several years in Canada. whence he removed and settled in Wadsworth in 1823 ; he had a family of sixteen children ; he died April 28. 1872 : of his children living in Ohio. David G.. born iii Wadsworth in October. 1825. married Mary McAlpine and lives in Wadsworth Village ; Jo-
448 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
seph, born in 1828, lives on the old homestead ; married Lydia Shieb.
Hard Families. — Abraham and Lysander Hard came from Vermont in 1816, and settled in Wadsworth in 1818. Abraham was born in New Milford, Conn., July 7, 1766 ; he was a member of the Methodist Church; he died August 12, 1844. aged seventy-eight ; Mrs. Hard died March 11, 1860. aged ninety-one.
Lysander Hard. brother of Abraham, was born in Connecticut, date unknown.
Children of Abraham Hard—Aurelia. born January 4. 17 91 ; married William Phelps ; Sophia married Abel Johnson of Vermont ; came to Wadsworth a widow, in 1829, where her four children died ; one of them. H. C. Johnson, was editor of the Wooster Republican and Sandusky Register. Cyrus Hard, born in Salisbury. Vt., July 25. 1 795 ; came to Wadsworth before his father. remained a brief time, and located in Middlebury, where he erected the first fulling and carding works in this part of the Western Reserve ; he married Lydia Hart ; his carding and fulling works in Wadsworth are mentioned elsewhere ; he was a prominent citizen. several times elected Justice of the Peace ; died in August, 1865. Rosella, born April 24. 1798: married Chauncey Hart. Abraham Hard, born in Berkshire. Vt. November 29, 1800 ; married Susan E. Burroughs ; died January 28, 1850. Julia, born April 1, 1806 : married Caleb Battles ; resides in Akron. Laura. born January 3. 1809; married L. Allen. Lucius Nelson, born in Berkshire May 30. 1812 ; came with his father in 1818 ; married Rebecca Snyder; is a house joiner and architect ; lives in Wadsworth. Dr. Moses K., born in Wadsworth August 10, 1818 ; educated at Delaware College, Ohio.
Children of Cyrus Hard—Dr. Hanson. born in 1821: studied with Dr. G. K. Pardee ; graduated at Cleveland Medical College ; practiced several years in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wis
consin. La Fayette, born in 1823 ; attorney at law ; studied with A. Pardee ; resides in Caliornia. Dr. E. G. studied with Dr. A. Fisher ; graduated at Cleveland ; practices at Medina. Pulaski C.., is noticed under the head of attorneys of Wadsworth ; married Sarah C. Wittner. Julia E. married Judge Don A. Pardee, of New Orleans. Caroline. married George K. Pardee, of Akron. Elbert J. Hard, born in 1848 ; married Filla Dehart.
The Hilliards.—Gurdon Hilliard came to Wadsworth from Torrington. Conn., in 1818. and settled in the north part of Wadsworth, where he lived till about 1835, when he removed to Michigan. He married Adeline Derthick ; second wife. Mrs. Birge. He is still living in Ohio, upward of eighty years old. for several years past totally blind.
Robert Hilliard, brother of Gurdon, born in Stonington. came about 1820. Married Alice K. Briggs; died in February, 1874. The Hilliard brothers cleared a great quantity of land in the early days of the settlement. Children of Robert Hilliard—Emily. born June 15, 1840 ; married I. H. Chandler. Henry H., born August 21, 1842 ; married Adele G. Pardee. Newton, born June 17. 1844 ; married Agues Chandler. Jane, born March 28, 1849.
Albert Hinsdale, son of Capt. Elisha Hinsdale, a soldier of the Revolution ; was born in Torrington, Conn., July 18, 1809. Married Clarinda Eyles ; moved into the north part of Wadsworth in 1835, where he still resides. His children are—Burke A.. born March 31, 1837 ; is President of Hiram College ; Bolden 0.. born April 30. 1844 ; now resides in Wadsworth. Louisa, born ; Wilbert B. was born May 23, 1851 ; now resides in Wadsworth.
The Loomis Family.—Joseph Loomis, fifth generation from Joseph Loomis, a wool-draper from Braintree, England, who came to Windsor, Conn., in 1639 ; was born in Torrington, Conn., January 19, 1767. Married Clymena Taylor ; came to Wadsworth in 1816 ; he was the first
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Justice of the Peace elected after the township was organized : died August 15, 1835.
Orin Loomis. born in Torrington, Conn.. November 16. 1791 ; came to Wadsworth in 1815, where he resided till about 1840. when he moved to Mentor. Ohio. and in 1866 removed to Old-town. Ill. He married Mary Ann Eyles. He was closely identified with the early history of the township : his hunting exploits have been mentioned elsewhere.
Sherman Loomis, born in Torrington. Conn., January 23. 1792; came in 1816. Married Julia M. Mills ; second wife. Lodemia Sackett; he was one of the leading men in the community in the early history of the town ; was Justice of the Peace for several years, and Township Clerk and. Trustee ; was universally respected : he was one of the original members of the Congregational Church, and one of the first teachers in the schools of Wadsworth. He died February 13. 1851.
Children of Orin Loomis—Oscar. born July 24. 1825 married A. H. Randall ; Julia. married Luke Smith ; Joseph F., died in the army ; Edwin. Albert, Orin. and Frank went West.
Children of Sherman Loomis—Erastus Gay-lord Loomis. born September 6. 1824 ; married Harriet Eliza Pardee ; he has always resided in Wadsworth. and been an enterprising business man. No one has done more to build up the town and develop the resources of prosperity than he ; he was five years a partner with John Pardee in mercantile business, and several years with his brother. E. H. Loomis. He is now engaged in coal mining in the Silver Creek Mining Company.
Harvey J. Loomis. born February 18, 1828. Married Sarah Ann Reasoner ; he was one of the early Free State men of Kansas ; has been several times a member of the State Legislature.
Edgar H. Loomis. born March 22, 1830. Married Mary A. Bryan ; second wife. Margaret J. Mills. Died August 19. 1871.
Julia Loomis, born December 5, 1836. Married Joseph Schlabach ; second husband, A. P. Steele. Mrs. Lodemia Loomis still lives with her daughter in Wadsworth.
Capt. George Lyman was born in Torrington, Conn.. August 1. 1790. Married Ophelia Cook ; came to Wadsworth in 1817 ; was the first Township Clerk, and one of the earliest school teachers. In 1821, he went to Canton, where he was engaged in teaching three years. He returned to Wadsworth and engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills, which had an extensive sale. For a time, also, he engaged in mercantile business. and, in company with Cyrus Curtis, built a saw-mill on Holmes' Brook, which did considerable business. He also carried on a cabinet-shop several years, and afterward was engaged for several years in the manufacture of friction matches. Capt. Lyman was the first commander of the military company after it was organized for the town-ship. By his energy and enterprise, he did much toward the business prosperity of the place in its early history. He was one of the original members of the Congregational Church, and has continued an active, earnest member for fifty-five years. He has been Deacon of the church, and Sabbath school Superintendent more than thirty years. Mrs. Lyman died February, 1869, aged seventy-five.
Children of Capt. Lyman.—Emily Charlotte, born December 15, 1812 ; was for several years a teacher in Wadsworth ; married Dr. John Brown ; died February 23, 1838. Dr. C. N. Lyman, born in Wadsworth, May 14, 1819. His professional history is given in that of the physicians of Wadsworth ; married Caroline E. Beach. Has practiced as a physician in Wadsworth since 1843, except three years he spent in Medina. Dr. Lyman is extensively known and consulted as a physician among the first of his profession in Northern Ohio.
The Miller Families.—Jacob Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, was born October 14. 1785.
450 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
Married Sarah Luttman. Second wife. Mrs. Editha Warner; came to Wadsworth in 1816 ; was a man of influence in the town for many years, and a leading member of the Lutheran Church ; died June 6, 1859. Children—George, born December 14, 1807 ; married Rebecca Baughman ; was engaged several years in mercantile business. in company with his brother, John Miller ; was Justice of the Peace ; now resides near Akron. David, born January 23, 1810 ; married Martha Mills ; was killed by the fall of a burning building in Akron. at which he was working as a member of a fire company, September 23,1849. Catharine. born April 13, 1812 ; married Reuben Baughman. John, born December 1, 1816 ; was a merchant in Wadsworth ; died August 8. 1841. Harriet, born March 3. 1820. Mary, born July 28. 1823. Married Alexander Beck. Aaron, born December 3, 1825, died on the way to California, June 20, 1850. Susan, born December 4. 1834. Married Henry Parmelee ; lives in Wadsworth.
The Mills Family.—Augustus Mills. was born in Norfolk, Conn., August 10, 1772. Married Martha Pettibone; came from Marcellus. N. Y., to Wadsworth in 1818. He opened a large farm and built the house where his grandson, Frank Mills, now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Mills were among the original members of. the Congregational Church. He died August 16, 1849, aged seventy-five. Mrs. Mills died April 6, 1859, aged seventy-four. Children—Sylva, born February 16, 1793 ; was one of the earliest teachers in Wadsworth ; married Lemuel North ; died June 27, 1840. Col. Harry A. Mills, born in Norfolk, Conn., February 13, 1795 ; came in 1816 ; married Harriet Ruggles ; second wife, Mrs. Rebecca Grevil. In 1844, four of his family were swept off by the epidemic erysipelas, within eleven days. Mrs, Mills died April 11. 1844, aged forty-four. He died December 4. 1867. aged seventy-three Julia A. Mills. born October 22, 1796 ; married Sherman Loomis ; died May 27, 1820 Philecta E., born April 7, 1799 ; married Daniel Warner ; second husband, Jacob Miller. Mrs. Janet Christie, of Akron, is her only surviving child. Luman P. Mills, born in Norfolk, Conn., February 9, 1801 ; married Sylva Pease ; second wife. Mary Hawkins ; he was one of the leading citizens of Wadsworth ; died October 11. 1872. Philo P. Mills, born in Norfolk, Conn.. July 8. 1805 ; married Amoret Bates. William Mills, born in Norfolk October 22, 1807 ; married Mrs. Lydia Hurlbutt ; resides in Richfield. Martha Mills, born May 25. 1810 ; married David Miller; now lives in Toledo. Nancy Mills, born January 25. 1813; married Lorenzo D. Russell ; lives in Princeton, Ill. Cyrus Curtis Mills. born August 2. 1818 ; married Harriet Hurlbutt ; second wife. Mary Ann Harter; died March 7, 1874. John L. Mills. died May 7, 1855, aged thirty-four years.
Children of Harry A. Mills—Julia M., married Charles R. Sprague. Azor R., born February 11. 1829 ; lives in Iowa. Capt. Henry A., born March 12. 1838; married Matilda C. Leacock ; served in the war of the rebellion ; lives on the old homestead.
Children of Luman P. Mills—Charles P.; Lurilla, born November 7, 1830 ; married W. F. Boyer ; lives in Wadsworth. Margaret, born September 24, 1833 ; married Edgar H. Loomis ; resides in Wadsworth. William D. and Ira H., reside near Marshalltown, Iowa. Luman G. resides in Wadsworth. Frank Mills, son of Philo P., was born May 14, 1836 ; married Julia Grotz ; resides in Wadsworth.
William McGalliard came from Kentucky to Middlebury. Married Ann Newcomb ; came to Wadsworth in 1831 ; was a tailor; died in Illinois. James McGalliard, son of William, born March 19, 1821; married Viola Eyles; died February 27, 1855. John McGalliard, father of William, died in Wadsworth in 1834, aged seventy-three.
The Newcomb Family.—Rev. Obadiah Newcomb. born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, 1774.
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Married Elinor Bishop; came to Wadsworth in 1820 ; purchased a farm in the north part of the township. The first Baptist Church was organized under his ministry. Afterward the Disciples' Church ; he was an able preacher ; his services were sought on funeral occasions, more than those of all other ministers, for several years; died October 2, 1847, aged seventy-three. Mrs. Newcomb died October 11, 1849. aged seventy-nine. Children—Hannah, born in Nova Scotia September 12. 1799 ; married Richard Clark; lives in Wadsworth. Ann, born October 8. 1801; married William McGaillard : lives in Illinois. James. born March 11. 1804: married Harriet Bennett ; lives in Hiram. Margaret, born June 2. 1806 ; married Julius Sumner, of Middlebury. Susan, horn September 19. 1808: married Augustus Pardee. Statira, born March 31, 1811 ; married Henry Clapp ; lives in Mentor. Matilda, born December 24, 1813 ; married W. M. Eyles : died November 22. 1847.
The Pardee Families.—The Pardee brothers were. in the early days of Wadsworth, among the leading men in the town. There were originally ten brothers, sons of Ebenezer and Ann Pardee, of Norfolk, Conn.. who moved to Skaneateles. N. Y.; seven of them lived in Wadsworth.
Sheldon Pardee was born in Norfolk April 21, 1788. Married Sally Weisner ; was engaged in mercantile business in Elbridge and in Geddes ; was several years employed as salt inspector at Syracuse, N. Y.; he moved to Wadsworth. and died May 6, 1834; his family removed to Michigan. ,
Judge Allen Pardee was born in Norfolk February 7, 1790 ; removed to Wadsworth in 1818. Married Phebe Foster, who died in 1844; second wife was Mrs. Louisa (Bates) Wilcox. In 1826, he and his brother John set up the first store in Wadsworth. In 1830, the Pardees built a flouring-mill (now Yoder’s), which he carried on about thirty years ; he also built one in Copley, and a carding and cloth-dressing works. Judge Pardee was fourteen years Associate Judge of the county, and fifteen years Justice of the Peace ; from his earliest residence he has been one of the most active business men. and a leading man in the community; he still enjoys a vigorous old age, in his ninety-first year.
John Pardee was born in Norfolk February 20, 1796. Married Eunice Chamberlain ; came from Marcellus, N. Y., to Wadsworth, in 1824 ; was in mercantile business upward of thirty years, under the firms of A. & J. Pardee, A., J. & E. Pardee, J. Pardee, and Pardee & Loomis ; he was a very capable business man ; held the office of Justice of the Peace and Postmaster for a long time. In 1859. he removed to Pardeeville, Wis.. where he spent the remainder of his life ; Mrs. Pardee died about 1868 ; he died June 24, 1873.
Ebenezer Pardee was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., August 8. 1802. Married Almira Brace ; he began business in Cleveland about 1825 ; was in mercantile business in Canton, and in banking in Wooster ; came to Wadsworth in 1834, and went into business with his brothers ; he afterward owned and lived upon a large farm east of Western Star, now owned by Dr. Hill ; removed to Rochester, Penn., where Mrs. Pardee died, when he returned to Wadsworth, and died September 5, 1865.
Augustus Pardee was born in Skaneateles, August, 1804. Married Susan Newcomb ; set up business as a saddler ; came to Wadsworth in 1832, and carried on the same business about thirty years.
Dr. George K. Pardee was born September 23, 1806. But few men accomplished more in a short life than he. He was a man of mark in the county ; studied medicine in his native town (Skaneateles, N. Y.) with Dr. Evelyn Porter; was admitted to practice as physician at the early age of twenty years ; came to Wadsworth in 1826, where his professional life
452 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
was spent ; his wife was Susan Thomas, who still survives him ; he left no children ; died October 3. 1849.
Aaron Pardee was born in Skaneateles, N. Y.. October 8. 1808 ; came with his brother John in 1825 ; married Eveline Eyles, who died September 13.1873.
Children of Allen Pardee—William N., born July 30. 1812 ; was a lawyer, and held the office of Clerk of Medina County : married Livonia E. Clark ; second wife, Caroline Pardee ; died in Michigan. Eugene was born October 5,1814 ; attorney at law; married Eleanor Taylor ; resided in Wooster thirty-five years. in professional business. Lauraette was born March 11. 1817 ; married Rev. J. H. Jones. Ann S. was born February 24, 1818 ; married Homer King ; resides in Wadsworth. Norman C. was born May 9, 1830 ; lives in Wadsworth. Mary E. was born April 13, 1832 ; married Rev. J. F. Rowe ; resides in Akron.
Children of John Pardee—Caroline. born 1816; married William N. Pardee ; died in Michigan. 1847. John S., born 1818 ; married Emeline Benedict ; was several years a merchant in Milwaukee, Wis.; located a village in Wisconsin called Pardeeville ; was appointed United States Consul at San Juan. Nicaragua, and died there September, 1854. Emily. born February 22, 1825 ; married Asahel Hanchet. Minerva, born February, 1825 ; married Joseph Utley. Charles. born September 29, 1829 ; Virginia married Yates Ashley ; Jane married G. W. Vilas.
Children of Ebenezer Pardee—Harriet E., born in Wadsworth. July 23. 1834: married E. G. Loomis. Richard H., born in Wadsworth. January 13, 1836 ; married Nellie Ketchum ; resides at Waterloo. Iowa. Catharine. born in Wadsworth. May 13, 1839: married Dr. John Hill, of Western Star. Mary E., born at Wooster, February 16, 1841 ; married Lucian Moses, of Skaneateles. N. Y. James K., born at Wooster February 26,1845 ; married Maria Lukins ; lives in Montana. Joseph W.. born at Wooster May 12,1845 ; died in California. Ephraim Q.. born April 2, 1847 ; married Jennie Hall ; lives in Detroit. Elizabeth J.. born January 4, 1849 ; married James H. Reed, Marion Ohio.
Children of Aaron Pardee—William E.. born June 6. 1829: married Helen S. Dickey ; was an attorney, residing in Cleveland ; died April 6, 1866. Henry Clay, born April 27. 1831; married Catharine Houck ; attorney at law and Auditor of Medina County. Almira S.. born January 17, 1835 ; married John G. Houston, Don A., born March 29, 1837 ; married Julia E. Hard. George K.. born March 1. 1839 ; married Caroline C. Hard ; attorney; resides in Akron. Frances. born December 25. 1844; married P. V. Wilkins. Mrs. Wilkins died. Ella N.. born September 5. 18550 ; married Dr. Wallace A. Briggs. Sutliff E., born September 14. 1852 ; married Olivia Donat.
Simcox Families.—Three brothers by that name were among the early pioneers—Michael, Benjamin and William. Michael removed to Harrisville ; Benjamin lived upward of thirty years in Wadsworth : died in Harrisville. Children—Jerusha, married John Brown : still lives in Wadsworth. Peregrine Pickle lives in Harrisville ; Betsy married John D. Haynes ; moved West. William Simcox, born in Pennsylvania, in 1792 ; came in 1816 ; married Esther Robinson ; second wife, Margaret Wheeler; died February 6, 1855. Children—Resin B., married Rebecca Heath ; Nancy, born 1820 ; married Joseph Bolich. Talbert. born August 31,182 2 ; married Hannah Baughman ; resides in Wadsworth.
Spillman Family.—James Spillman came from Ireland ; married Nancy O'Brien ; was one of the earliest settlers in Wadsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Spillman were among the earliest members of the Methodist Church. Children—John married Abigail Ward ; Charles. Mitchell, Henry and Robert ; none of them remained in
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this vicinity. Dr. Henry Spillman. fourth son, rose to considerable distinction as a physician ; married Laura Ann Brown ; died at Medina.
Harvey B. Spillman, son of Buel Spillman, a native of Connecticut, was for several years a merchant in Wadsworth ; married Lucy Henry.
Snell Family.—Isaac Snell, born in Rhode Island. 1786 ; married Abigail Chapman ; re-sided several years in Westfield ; came to Wadsworth in 1829 ; was Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner ; died April 17, 1851. Children—Job. born 1807 ; married Sarah Belden ; died in California. Isaac M., born February 16, 1811 ; married Nancy A. Hilliard : died April 24. 1873. Martin. born 1813 ; married Eliza Davis : second wife. Mrs. Laura Ann (Brown) Spillman. Mary. died 1835. aged eighteen ; Chauncey married Ann Scott ; lives in California. James S., died March 25. 1849. aged twenty-two.
Tyler Family.—Benjamin Tyler. born in Uxbridge. Mass.. February 22, 11796; came with his brothers. Parker and Solomon, and first settled in Norton : moved to Wadsworth in 1825'; married Mrs. Olive (Brown) Bartlett, who died August 21. 1874. He was for fifty-seven years a member of the Methodist Church; died in 1875. Children—Joseph, born 1822 ; married Eliza Ann Williams ; lives in Wadsworth. Solomon. born 1824 ; Rosina, married Amos Hart.
The Turner Family.—Alexander Turner was born in New York March 29, 1797. Married Betsy French ; came to Wadsworth in 1825 ; Mrs. Turner died November 7, 1871, aged sixty-nine. Children—Alonzo, born August 4, 1822, lives in Idaho ; Maria L., born February 22, 1826. married Charles B. Curtis ; Jasper, born April 14. 1838, lives in Missouri ; J. Q. A. Turner. born April 1, 1841, married Mary Etta Traver.
The Warner Family.—Salmon Warner was born in Westmoreland. N. Y., April 26, 1764. Married Lucina Field ; moved from Fairfield, Vt., to Wadsworth. in 1815. He died December 5, 1839 ; Mrs. Warner died September 28, 1829, aged fifty-nine.
Children of Salmon Warner—Harriet, born in Vermont about 1790, was unmarried ; died in Iowa, 1870 ; Lamira, married Oliver Durham ; Reuben F.. born in Fairfield, Vt., August 26. 1794 ; came with his father in 1815. He was four times married—first wife, Hannah Bartholomew ; second, Sarah Reese ; third. Mrs. Chloe (Bartholomew) Griffin ; fourth. Susan Reese. He died September 28. 1838. Lucina married Alvin Agard ;. Salmon Warner, Jr., joined the Mormons and went with them to Salt Lake, where he died in 1871. Capt. Daniel Warner, born in Vermont, 1800 ; married Philecta E. Mills ; died August 30, 1839. Orpha,. born 1804, died 1826 ; Horatio. born November 1, 1806 ; moved to Iowa ; was for some time Sheriff of Clayton County, and held other offices of trust. Dr. Amos Warner, born 1808 ; studied with Dr. A. Fisher, of Western Star, and practiced in company with him at that place ; married Mrs. Esther (Carter) Griswold ; removed to Garnavillo, Iowa ; was an able physician and highly respected. He was killed by being thrown from a carriage.
Children of Reuben F. Warner—Elmer A., born 1822 ; married Antoinette Crittenden ; lives in Iowa. Bennett B., born 1824 ; married Eliza Cogshall ; resides in Massillon, Ohio.
The Wall Family.—Christopher Wall was born in Germany, November 27, 1779 ; died in Wadsworth October 24, 1853. Children—John, born December 24, 1804 ; married Mary W. Baughman ; still lives in Wadsworth. Mary, born 1806 ; married Jonathan Everhard.
Children of John Wall—Paul, born August 6, 1830 ; married Isabella Ruthaker ; resides in Wadsworth. Daniel, born November 3, 1835 ; married Abigail Geiger ; resides in Wadsworth.
Hon. Philo Welton was born in Waterbury, Comm., March 7, 1782. Married Sarah Blakeslee ; was a Colonel in the war of 1812 ; was one of the earliest settlers of Montville : after-
454 - HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
ward moved to Wadsworth, and owned the farm late the residence of Orlando Beach. He was for many years one of the leading men of the county. Was twice Representative in the Legislature, and served one term as Associate Judge. He died September, 19, 1852. Mrs. Welton died 1852, aged sixty-four. Children—Sally, born 1806 ; married Caleb Chase, second husband, Nathaniel Bell ; now lives in Iowa. Dr. William S. H. Welton, married Caroline Crocker ; practiced medicine several years in this county ; now lives in Iowa. Susan, born September 15. 1815 ; married Orlando Beach.
The Weeks Families.—Three brothers of that name came about 1818 from Vermont. They were men of great strength and vigor ; were carpenters. John Moody Weeks married Martha Dennett. Leavitt Weeks, born about 1794 ; married Celestia Taylor, of Norton ; worked as a carpenter many years in company with his brother, Peter Weeks ; the greater part of the barns and houses of the earlier years were erected by the Weeks brothers. He died in 1870. His son. George Weeks. lives in Akron.