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PREFACE

THE work that has engaged our historians, W. H. Perrin, J. H. Battle and W.A. Goodspeed, for some time past. is now closed. On these pages they have traced the tedious journey of the pioneer from homes of comfort and refinement to the untouched wilds of the West; they have noted the rising cabin, the clearing of the forests, the privations of the early settlements, the heroic fortitude with which the pioneer surmounted these. obstacles. and the patient toil that has “made the wilderness to blossom as the rose:" they have marked the coining of the schoolmaster, and that greater teacher —the preacher—the rise of the schoolhouse and church, and their influence in molding society. This work we have undertaken in the belief that there is a proper demand that the events which relate to the early times should find a permanent record, and with what fidelity to facts and with what patience of research this has been accomplished. we shall leave to the judgment of our patrons. in whose keeping the traditions of that day remain, and for whom the work was undertaken.

Advantage has been taken of such historical works as were found: but the chief resource for information has been the traditions which have been handed down from one generation to another. These have generally been verified from other sources: but in some not essential particulars, our writers have been obliged to depend upon tradition alone, and may thus have sanctioned some errors. These. we trust. will be found of trifling importance: and we ground our hope of the favorable judgment of the public upon the essential correctness and completeness of this volume as a history of Medina County.

We desire, also, to thank the citizens everywhere in the county, who have so cordially aided our writers in gathering the materials for this volume, and especially to acknowledge our indebtedness to the gentlemen who have been associated with them in the various parts of the work: to Hon. AARON PARDEE. of Wadsworth; JUDGE SAMUEL HUMPHREVILLE (now deceased), and Dr. E. G. HARD, of Medina: J. T. GRAVES, of Seville, and others whose names appear with their contributions.

March. 1881.

PUBLISHERS.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

The Ohio History is included in another county file.

PART II

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

CHAPTER I - Physical Geography of the County-Geological,

     Formation-Materiat,Resources- Grain, Culture-Stock,

     Raising - Dairying Interest-Agricultuntl Societies ................................................................ 181

CHAPTER II.-Prehistoric Races-Ancient Earthworks-

     Indian Traditions - Pioneer Settlements-Erection and

     Organization of the County - History of the Public Build-

     ings-The Growth of Political Parties,, .......................................................212

CHAPTER III.-The Learned Professions-Early Courts and,

     Practice-Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar-

     The Bar of the Present-The Medical Fraternity-Prac-

     tice in ye Olden Time-Doctors of the Past and Present.. ...............................................................242

CHAPTER IV. Social Development of the County-Character

     of the Early Churches --The Rise of Denominational

     Influence- Temperance Work- Early Schools-Growth

     of Higher Education-Academies-The Press-Railroad

     Operations, .......................................275

CHAPTER V.,War Activities-Stampede of 1812-Volunteers

     for the Mexican Struggle-The County's Contributions to

     the War of the Rebellion-Medina's Volunteers in the

     Army-Soldiers' Association, .....................................................308

CHAPTER VI.-A Retrospect-The Railroad Jubilee-A News-

     paper's History of the Day- A Memorable -Fourth "-A

     Centenuial Oration, ..............................................355

CHAPTER VII.-Medina Township-Its Settlement -Early

     Privations - Social Development-Growth of Villages-

     Weymouth and Medina-Church and School, .................................................................375

CHAPTER VIII-Medina Village-Its Incorporation-Inter-

     nal,Improvements - Manufacturing Enterprises-Fire

     Department-Church and School Interests-The Ceme-

     tery......394

CHAPTER IX.-Wadsworth Township-Coming of the Whiles

     - Incidents of Early Settlement-Beginnings of Township

     Government-Origin of Church and Schools,, ................................................................414

CHAPTER X.-Wadsworth Township-Notable Epidemic-

     Coal Mines-The N. Y.. P. & O. R. R.- Village of Wads,

     worth-Growth and Incorporation- Family Genealogies ........................................................................435

CHAPTER XI.-Guilford Township-Topography and Bound-

     aries-The Pioneers-Their Journey to the West-Early

     Industries-Seville-Growth and Incorporation of the

     Village-Churches and Schools, ........................................................454

CHAPTER XII.- Harrisville Township-Physical Features-

    The Pioneer Settler of the County-Incidents of 1812-

     Hardships in the Wilderness-Growth of Villages--Or-,

     ganization of the Township-Social Development, ...................................................................483

CHAPTER XIII-York Township-Natural Attractions-,

     Pioneer Families of the Township-Social Customs -

     Commercial Activities-York Center-Manufacturing

Interests-Church and Schoolhouse........509

VI - CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV,-Litchfield Township-Surface, Drainage and

     Material Resources-Early Settlement-Experiences in

     the Wilderness-Petroleum Excitement-Early Manufact

     ures-Religious and Educational Efforts , ..........................................................525

CHAPTER XV -Liverpool Township--Confguration of Land

     Time Discovery of Salt Early Manufacturing Activity

     Growth of the Community Moral and Mental Develop- .......................................................................536

CHAPTER XVI.-Spencer TownshIp-Topographical Features

     First Settlement of the Township-Primitive Customs

     -Incidents of Life in the Wilderness - Beginnings of

     Church and School-Their Development, ..............................................................555

CHAPTER XVIII - ChathamTownship-Geological Structure

     - Pioneer Beginnings-Early Efforts at Agriculture--

     Story of,the,Old,Log,Cabin- Progress in,Polities,

     Churches and Schools ............................................569

CHAPTER XVIII-Brunswick Township-Rocks and Rivers

     - Making a Home in the Wilderness-Incidents of Pio-

     neer Life-Early Manufactures - Social Customs and

     Development , ......................................580

CHAPTER XIX.- Westfield Township- The Lay of the Land

     -Agricultural Advantages-Early Selection of Sites-

     Pioneer Pleasures-Preachers and People-Schoolmasters

     and their Scholars , .........................................594

CHAPTER XX - Hinckley Township- A Hunter's Paradise--

     The Coming of the First Settlers-The Great Hunt -In-

     cidenta of the Early Hunters and Trappers-Growth of

     CIVILIZATION -THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL .......................................................................607

CHAPTER XXI - Sharon Township-Its Topographical Sur-

     vey- Its Early Settlers-Sketch of Pioneer Homes-

     Early Rise of School interests-The Academy-Material

     Prospects of Sharon- , ..............................................620

CHAPTER XXII- Granger Township -Contour of the Sur

     face -Agricultural Resources-Early Settlements and

     Incidents-Political Organization-Beginnings and De-

     velopment of Church and School , ......................................................630

CHAPTER XXIII.- Montville Township-Character of the

     Surface-Soil and Drainage--Early Survey- First Settle-

     ments-Beginnings of Agriculture-Snakes and Game-

     The Turnpike and Early Roads-A Fourth of July-

     Churches and Schools, .............................................647

CHAPTER XXIV.- Homer Township-Its Boundaries and

     Physical Attractions-The Coming of the Whites-Early

     Organization and Political,Relations-Changes in its

     County Relations- Church and School Interests , ..............................................................656

CHAPTER XXV.- La Fayette Township-Origin of the Name

     - Early Settlement-Pioneer Incidents-Frontier Indus-

     tries-Social Development-Beginning of Churches and

     Schools , ........................................665

,

PART III.,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Brunswick Township ....................764

Chatham Township ,.....................798

Guilford Township, .....................718

Granger Township ,......................904

Harrisville Township,..................862

Hinckley Township ....................770

Homer Township ,.........................920

Litchfield Township .................743

Liverpool Township, .................748

La Fayette Township, .................829

Medina Township,..........................681

Montville Township, ...................784

Sharon Township, ......................790

Spencer Township , .....................754

Wadsworth Township,......................766

Westfield Township ,883

York Townships ............................731

ILLUSTRATIONS,.,

PORTRA ITS.

Badger, Austin (Biography on page 687) ,, 381

Clark, W. P. (Biography on page 784)- ,, 285

Coulter, O. M. (Biography on page 884),, 369

Dowd, D. D. (Biography on page 885),, 309

Freeman, Rufus (Biography on page 889),, 603

Harris, Joseph (Biography on page 481) ,, 485

Harris. Rachel ,, 495

Harris, Albert (Biography on page 870),,, 507

Hatch, Hoel (Biography on page 911) :,, 631

Hatch, Saloma ,, 635

Roemer, Henry (Biography on page 724),, 459

Houghton, Ambrose (Biography on page 890) ,, 279

Lindley, Ephraim (Biography on page 706)- ,, 585

Loomis, T. G (Biography on page 871) ,, 351

Munson, A. (Biography on page 696),, 243

Morton, Oliver (Biography on page 895) ,, 595

Parker, L. B. (Biography on page 752) ,, 649

Pearson, Arza (Biography on page 739) ,, 513

Strong, Dyer (Biography on page 882) ,, 333

Van Denson, R. L. (Biography on page 781). 207

Van Deusen, Orpha (Biography on page 780) ,, 619

Witter, W. H. (Biography on page 704),, 405

Willey, A. G. (Biography on page 271) ,, 555

VIEWS.

The Medina County Court House, 181

ADDENDUM

Obituary of Judge S. Humphreville , 922

,