Wheat - 272 acres Oats - 705 “ - Corn - 554" - Potatoes - 213 “ Orcharding - 218 '‘ Meadow - 1806 Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

4,065 bushels 21,529 " 29.631" 12.474 " 24,722 '' 2,399 tons. 4,610 pounds. 59,325 " 36,385 "

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Buuter Cheese

565 acres 848 “ 730 " 144 " 369 "

6,511 bushels. 29,113 “ 54,240 " 7,854 “ 33,970 " 3,183 ton 9,912 pounds 59,267 " 201,526 "

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 185 Number school-houses, 12; valuation, $10,000 ; amount paid teachers, $1733.85 ; number scholars, 465. Presidential vote for 1876: R. B. Hayes, 220; S. J. Tilden, 138. Population, 1870, 1421. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. WILLIAM T. SIMONDS was born at Westminster, Windham county, Vermont, on November 29, 1809. He is the eldest son of Moses and Priscilla C. Simonds, who removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, in the fall of 1821, and. located in Harpersfield township, where they remained for perhaps one year, and then removed to the township of Saybrook, and made a permanent location. The father died in that township in April, 1828, and the mother in November, 1873. The subject of this biography was educated in the common schools, and has all his lifetime pursued the occupation of a farmer. He has been a justice of the peace for twenty-seven years, and in the able discharge of duties has gained the respect and confidence of all who know him. In the fall of 1857 Mr. Simonds was elected to the office of county commissioner, and served successively three terms,—W. B. Quirk succeeded him for one term,—was then elected again, served one term, and was succeeded by H. L. Morrison. At the expiration of three years was again elected, and is at present an incumbent of that office. Politically Mr. Simonds was an old-line Whig, and is now, of course, a Republican. Although not a member of the army in the War of the Rebellion, yet he served his country well in the adjusting of quotas, and attending to the cause of the soldier. On December 23, 1852, Mr. Simonds was united in marriage to Susan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phineas Pierce, of Saybrook. By this marriage two children were born to them. The elder is Charles W., born October 17, 1853; and the younger, Mary P., whose birth occurred September 4, 1857. They are uumarried, and reside at their father's home. AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP.* THE PURCHASE. IN the year 1795 the Connecticut land company was organized, composed of fifty-six individuals, residents of Connecticut. On the 5th of September, of the same year, the company received a deed for about three million acres of land lying in the northeastern part of Ohio, and called the Western Reserve. It appears from the records of the Connecticut land company that when the division of the land was made among the members of the company, ninety-three townships, east of the Cuyahoga, were drawn in a lottery, and the township of Austinburg, then known as number eleven of the fourth range, fell to Messrs. Austin, Rockwell, Battell, and others, and these parties, in connection with other gentlemen in Connecticut who had drawn adjoining lands, formed themselves into a company, called the Torringford land company. After the purchase and this singular allotment of the land, it was resolved by this last-named company to immediately attempt the colonization of their purchase. This first resolution, however, fell short of its purpose. The enterprise was committed to Colonel Blakeslee as leader, and preparations were made to set out at once for the region. It is said that Colonel Blakeslee went so far as to deed his property, and received a title to land in Austinburg in exchange, together with a grant of seventy acres on Grand river, including a mill-site. It will he discovered from the records of the surveying-party that the township now called Austinburg was designated in the field notes by the name of " Blakeslee." The undertaking was abandoned, however, as the prospect of a war with the French, and some fear of Indian disturbances, discouraged the party and broke down the enterprise. Colonel Blakeslee therefore abandoned the property, and afterwards took a commission in the army, which had been called by the order of President Adams, and served until the adjustment of difficulties, in 1801. He afterwards removed to the west, and settled in Genesee county, in the State of New York. About the, same time a singular accident befell one of the company, which resulted in a way least expected, but which proved almost providential, at least a blessing in disguise. This accident was nothing more nor less than the biting by a mad dog of Judge Austin, who seemed to be the leading spirit in the new company. The symptoms of the terrible disease of hydrophobia succeeded, nearly baffling the skill of the best physicians. It was, however, while in this state of anxiety and fear that it was advised by physicians and friends, as a relief, that the judge should, for a time, leave his home, and divert his thoughts from his dreadful disease by travel in foreign lands. To this he consented, but instead of going abroad he resolved to himself to make a tour to the wild lands in the west, and to open a way for a colony in that region. * Written in most part by Rev. S. D. Poet. THE FIRST JOURNEY. Accordingly in the spring of 1799, Judge Austin, accompanied by Roswell Stevens and his wife, newly married, and three young men. David Allen, Anson Colt, and Samuel Fobes. all of whom he had hired for the purpose, and George Beckwith, his wife, and two small children in company, set out on his long journey, having taken farming tools and a team for the purpose of making improvements. All traveled together until they reached Schenectady. Here, however, he put the men and their wives and children aboard a couple of small boats, and himself proceeded with the team by land. From Buffalo to Austinburg the party were compelled to find their lodging on the bare earth, and to listen to the bowling of wolves for their evening serenade. Their only provisions were those which Judge Austin had crowded into his capacious, but amply-stored, saddlebags. Such were the difficulties of the route and the delay of the journey, however, that the last two or three days the party was put on a short allowance. THE FIRST ARRIVAL. Having arrived in the vicinity, Judge Austin proceeded at once to Harpersfield, to the house of Alexander Harper, and thence to the landing, hoping to find the boat. Not meeting the party there, he then proceeded to the mouth of the Grand river, and up the river to a point near the present site of the village of Painesville. Here he rode his horse into the midst of the old Indian fort, which is c situated on the east side of the river, halted, and looked around at the vast wilderness surrounding him. It is said that as he thus halted and took a view of the lonely solitude, thoughts of his old home, of his family and friends, and then of the vast and difficult enterprise which he had undertaken, came upon him, and his emotions were so stirred that he actually wept in his loneliness and disappointment. Returning to the residence of the Harpers', and here having seen that there were no provisions in the house, and knowing that a single pork rind was all that was left of the provisions in his saddle-bags, he went supperless to bed, too hungry and sad to sleep. The moon shone brightly through the checkered forests and into the little window of the humble cabin, but the thoughts of the past and the future crowded thick upon that sleepless pillow. "The setting of a great hope," says Longfellow, " is like the going down of the sun." The stars came out, and the air seemed purer and heaven brighter, and so this scene was emblematic; and yet another day was coming,—a day of hope and great progress in the midst of this wilderness. During the night the family was aroused by the voice of a messenger who had arrived to tell of the safe landing of the boat and its occupants. Arising from his bed, the judge accompanied the man to the boat and brought provisions back to the house, on which the company and the family made a hearty breakfast, grateful that they had all arrived at last and were able to partake of so bountiful a repast. With the assistance of his men, the judge afterwards was able to transport his goods and provisions on band-sleds from the landing to Austinburg. 186 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO. THE FIRST BLOW. On the 5th day of June, 1799, the first blow struck by a white man's axe in the town of Austinburg was struck by Judge Eliphalet Austin himself, the chief proprietor of the lands and the pioneer settler of all. It shows, however, his inexperience in all matters of wood-craft, to say nothing of the ordinary lot of the farmer's life, that the judge is said to have queried within himself how it was possible to clear the land and remove such a mass of forest when, as he supposed, wood could not be burned when green. The experiment proved his mistake. The forests in this season of the year presented their loveliest aspect; all nature was dressed in its freshest, brightest array. The green leaves were crowding every portion of space, covering the soft earth with a canopy of thick foliage. The luxuriant herbage below grew in great masses, in which the few cattle which had been brought with the party fairly wallowed as they rambled and fed upon its abundance. THE FIRST CABIN. Log cabins were soon erected by the little party. These were constructed of logs cut from the fcrest, unhewn and rough. The roof was made of bark, which bad also been pulled from the trees, and held to its place by poles lying crosswise from end to end of the cabin. One of these rude cabins, the one occupied by Judge Austin and his company, was situated on a spot of ground which is now occupied by the brick building of Mr. Irving Knapp, in the village of Austinburg. The cabin belonging to Mr. George Beckwith and his family was erected on land near where Grand River institute now stands. Such was the beginning of the settlement of this village which has such historical importance in the annals of the great west. It was indeed a small beginning. We can imagine the single but hid away amid the forests, the only one which stood upon the site where the village now stands ; and out of sight in the distance, across the stream, almost lost amid the dense foliage, was another cabin, on the ground where now stands the academy, with its large, beautiful, and peopled buildings. It was a scene wild and primitive, such as only pioneer life, a home in the wilderness, could present. At this time the nearest habitation was at Harpersfield, five miles distant. At Conneaut there was also a little settlement, consisting of Thomas Montgomery and Aaron Wright, who had settled at the place the previous year (1798). A band of Indians, consisting of three or four hundred, was scattered along the streams fishing and hunting, but the forest wildness reigned supreme over hill and valley, and the bear, wolf, and wild deer lurked undisturbed in many a dark hiding-place, and even disputed with the strangers the right to the fruits of the forest and the products of the soil. At Warren, thirty-five miles south, and at Vernon, forty miles southeast, in what is now Trumbull county, there were also white settlers, seven or eight families having located themselves in the former place at about this time. A single road led through the dense forest,—that, the one which had been cleared by order of the land company. This road had been girdled and cleared the previous year by the surveyors. It ran from tbe east line of the county, about seven miles mouth of the lake, across the site of Austinburg, to Little mountain, in Lake county, and from thence to Cleveland. The road passed by the door of Judge Austin's log cabin, and was the only sign of civilization presented in all the great wilderness. There was in all the settlements of this region a great scarcity of provisions, and in many cases of even the ordinary comforts. Judge Austin and his little company, as soon as they had settled themselves in their new home, at once began the work of leveling the forests and clearing the land preparatory to sowing the first crop of wheat which should be gathered off from the soil. The summer was spent also in exploring the land belonging to the various land companies, in searching for mill-sites, and in visiting settlers. Late in the autumn he started for his home in the distant east, leaving the little company which he had brought with him as the seeds of the colony which was to grow. Taking his son with him, he set out on horseback by the Indian trail which had been his route to the new forest home. A COLONY ORGANIZED. Having arrived at home and satisfactorily arranged the business of the land company, he proceeded to carry out the project which was in his mind of raising a colony for settlement in the distant west. In this enterprise Judge Austin was successful. It was fortunate for his own prosperity and for the village which bore his name that one so capable of devising and executing plans of large moment had set himself at this task. The principles which lay at the basis of this undertaking were not mere speculation in wild lands, nor the sordid desire to make money. It was not a band of adventurers, nor selfish, unprincipled money-seekers, which were thus gathered by the commanding character and public spirit of this noble man. Those who were enlisted in the enterprise were men of the like spirit,--men who sought homes for themselves and their families, but who at the same time sought to plant institutions in the new land. It is remarkable that the character of a place as well as of a country through all time partakes of the spirit and character of cross who first settled it. The foundations of society in the township of Austinburg were laid in such a manner as later generations have had much reason to be grateful, and by men of whom their posterity have no reason to be ashamed. NAMES OF THE FIRST COLONISTS. The names of Deacon Noah Cowles, Captain Joseph Case, his son, afterwards Deacon Joseph M. Case, Adna Cowles, Solomon Cowles, Joseph B. Cowles, Roger Nettleton, Dr. Orestes K. Hawley, John Wright, Jr., Jonah Moses, Daniel C. Phelps, Isaac Butterfield, Ephraim Rice, Calvin Stone, David Allen, and Sterling Mills are all worthy of a high place, and should be highly regarded in the tablet of memory ; for they, with Judge Eliphalet Austin and his family, may be regarded as the founders of society in this important community, and as the originators of influences which have extended far to bless the country. These were all the members of the colony which, under the lead and through the influence of Judge Austin, were to start in the spring of 1800 for a permanent settlement in this far-off wilderness. They were all sterling men,—persons who had been brought under the firm but beneficent influence of the New England society and of the Puritan religion, men who carried with them, locked up in their own hearts, the attachment to their fathers' faith, and at the same time an appreciation of the progress which the growing institutions of our country might introduce. ARRIVAL OF THE COLONY. This hardy band of New England pioneers set out in early spring, and after a successful journey, arrived at the spot where still remained in the lonely forests the families who had established themselves the preceding year. The first effort of the colony after their arrival was to erect houses for themselves. These houses were indeed humble dwellings. They were constructed of the timber of the forest, snd for the meet part contained but a single room. Riven splints formed the covering of their roof, and split logs or puncheons served for floors; everything about them was very rude. But few families belonged to the colony, as the wives and children were left behind until preparation could be made for their comfort. The colony had, however, laid in a stock of provisions, a good supply of agricultural implements, and Judge Austin had transported about five hundred dollars' worth of goods, consisting of hardware, groceries, clothes, boots and shoes, and the various implements and articles which might be used in a new country. THE FIRST STOCK OF GOODS. This stock of goods was one of the first that had ever been brought into this wilderness; the only stock which had ever reached this deep interior before having been, in the year 1798, transported by way of Pittsburgh, and carried on pack-horses to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, and there stored in a log house, and afterwards transported by water to Detroit, Dennison & Wilson being the enterprising partners who introduced them to the country. In the year' 1802, Mr. Foster established the first regular store iu the Western Reserve, in the town of Poland. A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. One incident of the immigration into this town has been narrated which is worthy of a place in history. Early in February of the year 1800 Deacon Sterling Mills, with his wife and four children,—two sons and two daughters,—the youngest a babe in its mother's arms, started for this distant point in the wilderness. Taking an ox-team and sled, they arrived at Bloomfield, in the western part of New York, near the Genesee river, where they remained until the opening of spring. At that time they started again, and arriving at Buffalo, the family were put aboard a small boat, which, in company with a number of others, was starting across the lake for the settlement on the Reserve. The boat made slow progress, but at length arrived at the dock at Madison or Harper's landing. The family, accompanied by Joseph M. Case, then sought to make their way by a trail to the Harper's settlement and to Austinsburg. Arriving at the settlement at Harpers-field, horses with saddles were procured for Mrs. Mills and the children, and the little party set out through the forest for " Austin's Camp," as it was called. It was late in the afternoon, and night was falling as they started. While in the midst of the forest night overtook them. A rain-storm commenced, accompanied with sharp lightning and thunder. The little company knew not how far distant they were from the settlement, but the darkness surrounded them, and it seemed impracticable for them to go farther. They had no means of making a fire, no provisions with them, and seemed helpless amid the dangers of the wilderness. There were wild animals in the forests, and now the flushes revealed only the wildness and darkness of the scene, while the echoes of the thunder rolled through HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 187 recesses, bringing fear to the heart of the helpless mother and the little children. The party was obliged to stop; and there, with nothing but the furnishings of the saddle to keep them from the damp earth, and nothing but a single umbrella to protect them from the rain which was &Ding, the little party, huddled together, spent the lung and lonely hours of the night until the morning. The kind-hearted neighbor and friend, however, took turns with the husband in holding the umbrella over the little babe. As soon as the daylight appeared the party started, and soon arrived at the settlement, their night encampment being but about three-quarters of a mile from the hospitable door of Judge Austin's cabin. THE FIRST BOAT ON GRAND RIVER. The boat which contained the household goods was propelled along the lake-shore to the mouth of Grand river, and up that river to Mills creek, where they were landed. At this point a but was erected by the men, and the household goods were stored, while the log cabin, a few rods away, was soon in process of erection, and the preparations were made for the permanent residence of the family. A WOMAN LOST. There are many incidents connected with the arrival and early experiences of this little colony. It is said that Mr. Mills' family moved into the log house prepared for them before there was in it either floor, door, window, or chimney. During this time it is also narrated that Mra. Mills, one morning whilst the men were away chopping, having need of the tea-kettle, which had been left at the shanty sixty or seventy rods distant, started alone through the woods to bring it, leaving the children in the house awaiting her return. The day was cloudy, and the path was a dim one. She lost her way. When the men returned at noon they found that the mother was absent ; she in fact was lost,—lost, too, in a perfect wilderness. Very naturally their fears were excited. There was at the time scarcely a single trail or mark of human presence from Buffalo to Detroit, or from Lake Erie to Pittsburgh, by which one who was lost could find direction. They at once set about to find her, running here and there, shouting, and firing guns as they could. In the mean time the mother herself, almost frantic with fear and excitement, knew not which way to go, and yet could not bear to stop. She fled in different directions, fearing even lest every movement should carry her farther away into the forests. She heard the guns, but could not tell their direction. At length a conch-shell, which the family had brought with them from the Atlantic coast, and which had previously sounded from hill to hill in the New England home, was brought into use, and now sent out a blast long and loud, which echoed through the surrounding forests. The sound was familiar. As the wife and mother heard the familiar note, it seemed like sweetest music; it spoke to her of children, of loved ones, end at once she was guided by it to her home, and was soon welcomed by family and friends after a bewildering and painful absence of several hours. SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS. One of the great difficulties of this early settlement was the scarcity of provisions, as nearly all that the families had to eat was transported from a distance. During the season a small amount cf grain was received from western Pennsylvania, and having been ground at a mill in the vicinity, was transported along the lake-shcre and landed at Ashtabula creek, and so transported to the settlements. To Judge Austin belongs the honor of harvesting the first crop of grain in the county, and of securing the first flour from the native-grown wheat. During this season a large double house hid been erected on land near and east of the academy buildings, and near the very spot where now stands the residence called the old Judge Austin house. THE FIRST HARVEST. A log barn was also erected during the same year. Into this Judge Austin gathered, in July of the year 1800, the harvest of wheat which he had reaped from the laod which he had sown the previous year. It was a crop which his own hand had helped to sow, on land which he himself cleared, and which his cwn sickle had served to gather. The harvest was, however, no sooner gathered before the sound of the flail could be heard beating out the grain upon a puncheon floor in the open air, and this was taken to the landing, and then along the lake-shore to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, and again transported to Newburgh, where was the only mill of the whole region. ARRIVAL OF FAMILIES. During the fall, after the labors of the season were over, and suitable preparations bad been made for their comfort, a number of these hardy pioneers returned for their families. Among those who had thus come alone and were now returning were Judge Austin, Deacon Joseph Case, his son Joseph Mills Case, Roger Net- 47 tleton, who afterwards settled in Kingsville, Noah Cowles, and Joseph B. Cowles. The season had been a laborious, but nevertheless a happy and hopeful one. The forests had been cleared, crops had been sown, houses built, and fruit-trees set out, and now their first harvest of wheat, potatoes, and grain had been gathered. Early in the year 1801 a number of families arrived from the east, many of them the families of the men who had come the year before, and had returned for them. Some had come by the water-route, and had brought with them household furniture; others had traveled the distance by land, bringing with them horses and wagons, domestic cattle, provisions, and implements, so by this means the settlement during this season began to assume much of the home-like look. Judge Austin at this time also brought his family with him,—a family consisting of five daughters and the son who had before attended him. It is narrated that upon reaching Buffalo the route was considered too difficult for wagons, and accordingly the whole family were placed on horses at Buffalo, and, following an Indian trail, thus made their way acmes the fords and through the wilderness, having camped two nights in the midst of the forest by the way. The only incident of especial moment which occurred on this memorable journey was the crossing of a stream where it seemed at one time as if two of the daughters must lose their lives, from the fact that the horse which bore them plunged off the track into water so deep as to overwhelm them. The presence of mind and ready movement of the fattier succeeded in rescuing them from their perilous position. An interesting story is told, however, of one of the daughters, then a little child. It appears that the route of the party had led through the Indian reservation of the Oneida Indians, and on their way they had stepped among that people. During the stay the little girl had caught the word which the Indians used when experiencing delight and surprise, and learned to speak it, " C-o-o-wah." On the journey she often amused the party by the exact imitation of the Indian accent and 'attitude in speaking this word. When the family arrived at the little settlement which was to be their future home, and alighted at the door of the humble cabin, the mother's heart was swelling with a conflict of mingled emotions. Just then, however, the sweet little child, catching sight of the little cabin, lifted up her hands in the same wild manner, and, with a loud, merry voice, uttered the novel exclamation, " C-o-o-wah." It was too good ; the mother, whose heart had been swelling with mingled emotions, burst into tears, but they were tears of joy rather than of sorrow. A note of joy and hope and gladness from her own little child had welcomed them all to their home in the wilderness. One peculiarity about the settlement of Austinburg is worthy of notice,—the families who composed the colony and who were to be the residents had been accustomed in their New England homes to the habitual worship of the Almighty God,—the God of their fathers and their God. RELIGIOUS BEGINNINGS. On the arrival of the first party in the year 1800, even before their families came, these devout men did not forget to acknowledge their dependence on the Almighty, whose are the forests and whose hand had woven the verdant roof and erected the lofty column of the great temple which they were inhabiting. " The groves were God's first temples,"—in the midst of the solemn stillness they seemed to worship when none but God was near. During the first season there were but three families in all this neighborhood, and they scattered at a distance from one another, yet this little cclony gathered regularly every Sabbath in the same place for the purpose of worship. Though there was no pastor or church in all the vast territory, yet devout prayer was lifted to God; singing, reading of Scripture, and reading a sermon were the regular exercises of the Sabbath eve amid these men's surroundings. On the arrival of the families, in the spring of the second season, religious exercises were again established, and were never permitted to cease for a single Sabbath, and have continued for all the years which have since elapsed. Judge Austin's house was generally the place of meeting until the increase of the inhabitants rendered the place too small, and then his barn was occupied for the purpose. Meetings were also held in these early days at the house of the excellent deacon, Sterling Mills, who lived in the south part of the town, and whose house was regarded, on account of roads and weather, at the time as more convenient for those in the neighborhood. FIRST SERMON. In August of this same year the first sermon ever delivered in the county or in the Reserve was preached by the Rev. Joseph Badger, of Blanford, Massachusetts. This devout, excellent man had been sent out by the Connecticut missionary society as the pioneer missionary and general evangelist. It is one proof of the liberality and ecclesiastical comity of the Congregational denomination that at this time the society which sent missionaries into the west did not ask the question to what denomination a man belonged. Though itself a Congregational society, and receiving Congregational funds, it frequently made appropriations to 188 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO. Presbyterian churches and to the support of Presbyterian pastors. Rev. Mr. Badger was a very useful man. His visit to the village of Austinburg was the beginning of an era in the religious character of the region. CHURCH FORMED. On the 19th of October, 1801, Mr. Badger preached in Austinburg. We quote from his journal, "There being a small number of professors in the place who were desirous of being instituted into a church, a meeting was appointed for Thursday, October 24, and a church was formed, consisting of ten males and six females." This was the first church formed on the Reserve. FIRST ROADS. We have stated that the site of the village of Austinburg was located on the road which had been girdled and partly cleared by the first surveyors, in 1798. Other roads, however, soon became necessary, as the arrival of families from various directions, and the settlement of other neighboring towns, required the open-leg of these lines through the wilderness. It will be remembered that after the first settlement of the town no wagon had made its appearance, and that the only access was on horseback or by boat. It was during the first winter, that of 1800, that the men who remained at the camp, while Judge Aukin returned, cut a road through the woods from Austinburg to the Ashtabula creek. This road intersected the old girdled road at. Austinburg, but in following years was extended from this place to Morgan, and so through New Lyme, across a corner of Colebrook, to Wayne, and from Wayne, through Gustavus, Kinsman, and Vernon, to Poland. This was called the " old Salt road." Other roads were afterwards cut out to Harpersfield and Jefferson. This was the first which was traveled to any extent through this town. EARLY NAVIGATION. At this time there was a mode cf conveyance which is rather interesting, as showing the means resorted to in a new country to penetrate the interior when there are no roads, and forests present a harrier to immigration. A large white-wood tree was worked and dug out, and from this a boat was constructed, which, for the purpose for which it was designated, was as useful as a first-class vessel. This was launched upon Grand river, and was manned by a party from Austin-burg. Joseph Case and a companion acted in the capacity of captain, of mate, and of sailors, and at all hours. By this vessel salt and lime, household goods and provisions, were carried from Gregory's mills, in Harpersfield, to Griswold's Landing, in the edge of Windsor, and a right useful craft did it prove to be. FIRST SAW-MILL. The Grand river rises in Trumbull and Portage counties, and crosses Ashtabula County near its west border; and makes its mouth in Lake county, near Painesville. It is a very crooked and shallow stream. It enters the town of Austin-burg three-fourths of a mile from its southwest corner, and after making several wide turns passes out of the west line about one and three-fourths miles north of the same corner. Near this point Mills creek, which flows from the east and drains a large part of the township, empties into the Grand river, making a considerable increase to its depth. There are bottom-lands on these streams in the limits of the township which form some of the deepest and richest soil in the county. On this stream, " the Grand river," in the town of Austinburg, the first saw-mill in the county was erected. This was in the year 1801, Judge Austin being its owner. Here also was erected the first grist-mill in the county, the latter owned by Ambrose Humphrey. In the year previous to the erection of this grist-mill, the people of Austinburg were accustomed to take their grist to Newburgh by way of Harpersfield and the landing,—at Madison,—along the lake to Cleveland, and so overland to the waterfall and flour-mill. It was a tedious, wearisome undertaking, occupying two or three weeks in coming and going and in waiting for the grinding. During the early times, it was all that one wanted to dc to keep some of the settlements provided with flour in this way. After the first season a substitute for a mill was erected in Harpersfield. This was a rude machine, which was run by horse-power, and consisted of a single pair of buhrs, which with the pinion and lever could be turned by a horse, but its grinding was very slow and coarse. It was the custom of the neighborhood when the flour was needed to mount some boy on a horse with the corn or bag laid across the horse's back, and start them for the mill. Arriving, the same horse was used for propelling the mill, the boy turning miller for the time ; then when the grist was done, without paying any toll, the whole was taken back to the family. These buhrs were afterwards bought by Ambrose Humphrey, and put into a mill at Mechanicsville, and long served the purposes of the country in grinding out their grain. The mechanical interests received an impetus at an early day from the enterprise of Judge Austin. A deed is in existence in which the mill site was conveyed to him. The prcperty, however, afterwards became a gift to the Manual Labor school. In this capacity it remained, but the property was sold, and now the enterprising little village called 'Mechanicsville occupies the site. The stones had been used by the Harper colony to grind their wheat, which was drawn on a hand-sled from Fair River, Pennsylvania, on the ice of the lake. The Harper mill WAS unfortunately broken in the spring of 1799 beyond repair, and the event caused consternation and dismay to all the settlers of northern Ohio. In June of that year, while the men were absent in Canada for a new supply, and long detained by adverse circumstances, the Harper colony was reduced nearly to starvation, but the timely arrival of Judge Austin fortunately brought them the needed and welcome supplies. A SAD INCIDENT. Mr. Q. F. Atkins narrates the following sad story : Two travelers on their way south were arrested in their journey in the month of August, 1804, by high water in the Mills creek. Captain Joseph Case, ever ready to help the wayfarer on his journey, determined to assist them in crossing the creek. For this purpose he went with them a short distance to his canoe. Stripping their horses of saddles and baggage, the strangers holding their horses by the bridles, led them into the water upon the lower or down-stream side of the canoe, one at the bow and the other about the middle of it, in which position they held them, while Captain Case paddled the canoe to the opposite bank. Their horses safely over, one of the strangers remained with them, while the other returned with their benefactor for their saddles and baggage. While crossing with these, the man with the horses saw Captain Cane go over the side of the canoe with his arms upraised in a tremulous manner, grasping the paddle. The man in the canoe, looking towards the shore, did not witness this sad catastrophe. Mr. Lucius Badger says of this event : " I stood by the side of my father, Rev. Joseph Badger, upon the bank of the stream, viewing its maddened current, and watching the progress of the canoe approaching the shore, propelled through the foaming stream, when, .to my utter amazement, I saw Captain Case fall from his scat into the stream on the upper side of the canoe. As soon as the canoe struck the shore my father sprang into it, and both paddled with all their might to save him from a watery grave. The current was so strong that when he rose he rose nearly half his length out of the water, raising his hands towards heaven as though supplicating Divine assistance. When the canoe arrived alongside of him, one man threw down his paddle to seize hold of him, but at that moment he sank like a stone. Thus was the community deprived in its infantile state of one of its most useful citizens, the church deprived of its most efficient member, and his family bereaved of an affectionate father and pious counselor. The death caused a gloom over this region, and has been dwelt upon as one of the sad incidents of this early day." THE ARRIVAL OF REV. JOSEPH BADGER was an event in the history of Austinburg. As he came with his large family, he brought an accession to the society of the place. His home was located in the south part of the town, near the residence of Deacon Mills. He began to labor for the church-, but was frequently absent for months at a time. Mr. Badger says, . . . " It became necessary on my arrival in this wilderness to provide bread for my family. (In this small settlement the people had the previous season raised considerable wheat, corn, and some potatoes, and in the winter of' 1801-2 a small mill for grinding was erected, adjoining Mr. Austin's saw-mill.) Got flour at the mill, coarse enough, but served well for bread. Meat was more difficult to be had. Hearing of a barrel of pork at Painesville, I sent a man with a dray to haul it through the woods, thirty miles ; paid twenty silver dollars for one hundred and seventy pounds; it was the whole hog, feet, head, sncut, and ears. I procured two cows, which furnished plenty of milk. Our pasture was large, without a fence; sometimes the creatures rambled out of hearing for a day or two. Notwithstanding our long and tedious journey, we had obtained such supplies as made us comfortable, and had much to be thankful for, although sometimes our prospects were very dark. About this time it was necessary to extend my missionary labors to other parts of the Reserve. I had only made such arrangements as to shelter my family from the storm and supply them with bread for about two months." THE GREAT REVIVAL. During the year 1804 a remarkable revival occurred in the place. This revival was attended with singular physical exercises. They are spoken of in the general history. By the means of this revival a large number were added to the church, and the whole community was much affected. The whole number admitted at the time was forty-one, and the Lord's supper was administered to sixty-two persons. Among those who joined by profession were Eliphalet Austin, Thomas Montgomery, Q. F. Atkins, Henry L. Badger, Juliana Badger, et al. In a single day HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 189 the church was increased to six times its original membership. It continued, however, without regular preaching. Mr. Badger supplied as he could, but had appointments at Conneaut, Harpersfield, and other places. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The Congregational church of Austinburg was organized October 24, 1801. It consisted of ten male and five female members. This was the first church crganized on the Connecticut Western Reserve. The names of the members are as follows: William Harper, Betsey Harper, Abraham Bartholomew, Zerah Cowles, Erastus Austin, Sally Atkins, John Wright, Jr., David Wright, Moses Wilcox, Alexander Harper, George W. Hawley, Lydia Bata, James Montgomery and Mary, his wife, Edmund Strong and Anna, his wife. Noah Cowles and Sterling Mills were the first deacons. Rev. Joseph Badger was the first pastor, commencing his labors in the year 1802. He preached also regularly at Conneaut, Harpersfield, and Morgan. He was for a time the only missionary in the county, and was often absent from his family and the people. During the first year the church was deprived of two valuable members, Mrs. T. R. Hawley and Joseph M. Case. In the fall of 1803 great religious interest was manifest. For several years the church was deprived of regular preaching, as Mr. Badger was so often absent, but Sabbath services were punctually continued. In the year 1810 the Rev. Giles H. Cowles was called to the pastorate of the united church of Austinburg and Morgan. Previous to this time a society had been organized, and " it was voted that Austinburg and Morgan unite for three years in one society, to be known by the name of the Richfield Ecclesiastical society, for the purpose of hiring the preaching of the gospel." September 27, of the same year, another organization took the place of it, called the Austinburg Congregational society, but composed of citizens of Austinburg, Morgan, and Rome, or towns 9, 10, and 11 of the fourth range. At this meeting ninety-two persons signed the compact by which they agreed " that we will pay such tax as shall be agreed by a vote of a majority of the members present at the annual meeting, to be assessed on such personal property as shall be listed, or made subject to taxation for county purposes, and the value of the improved part of our farms and buildings that are not listed." At a meeting held at the house of Deacon Sterling Mills, in October, 1810, it was " voted unanimously to give the Rev. Giles H. Cowles a call to settle with us as our minister. Voted that we give Rev. Mr. Cowles $200, payable in produce, annually, for one-half of his time." The Rev. Mr. Cowles was installed over the church in October, 1811. The society continued to raise the salary by assessments and taxation for many years. In the year 1816 a revival of religion was enjoyed by the church, at which time a large number of the young people of the congregation united. The church continued to meet in the log building which was erected at the centre until the year 1824, when they began to occupy the frame building, although it was in an unfinished condition. Rev. G. H. Ccwles resigned in 1830, and in the same year Rev. Henry Cowles became the pastor. During this pastorate there occurred another revival of religion. This began with a " four days' meeting." Such meetings had been held in other places, but this church was the first to introduce them into northern Ohio. They were commenced with considerable doubts and anxiety, but proved a source of great blessing. Neighboring pastors came together, and persons from many of the towns surrounding assembled. Rev. Henry Cowles says, "The revival of 1831 doubled the membership of the church in one day. When I went there, September, 1830, there was but one unmarried member in the church. No revival had been enjoyed since 1816. A generation of young people had sprung up with no professed Christians among them. It was greatly to their advantage that the religious elements all worked together, all Congregational. Other denominations had no religious footing there during my pastorate. I think their first good church building was in advance of any other on the Reserve,—earlier, better." In the year 1841 the church moved to a new house of worship which had been erected at the north end, where the village now is. An unhappy division occurred here, and a large number of the members returned to the old house of worship at the centre. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Avery, subsequent to the resignation of the Rev. Henry Cowles. The withdrawing party employed for a time the Rev. Henry Burton as supply, and soon after built another house of worship at the village. Services were held in this church building until it was burned, since which time the two congregations have been united in worship in the sanctuary first built at this place. The pastors who have served the church are as follows: Rev. Joseph Badger, 1801 ; Rev. Giles 11. Cowles, 1811 ; Rev. Henry Cowles, 1830-35 ; Rev. S. W. Barrett, 1835-38; Rev. Serene Streeter. CHURCH BUILDINGS. The original proprietors of Austinburg appropriated a lot of land of one hundred and sixty acres to the purpose of sustaining the church. After the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Cowles, in 1811, eighty acres of this land were given to the first minister. On this land Rev. Mr. Cowles erected the house which still stands. The first house of worship erected in the township was on this land, in 1810. It was a log house, covered with long oak shingles, and having a floor of puncheon or split logs, a chimney made of sticks and mud, and a door with wooden latches and hinges. Previous to this time meetings had been held in private houses, Deacon Sterling Mills' and Judge Austin's generally being the place. On unusual occasions the barns belonging to Deacon Mills and Judge Austin were occupied. It is also stated that a log but at the centre was used alternately for the accommodation of strangers and families who were emigrating to the place, and as a house of worship. This first log meeting-house was the scene of many interesting exercises. The inhabitants of the town always found it a place where they were sure to meet one another at least once a week. Some ludicrous things are told of it, however, owing to its rude construction. It appears that Rev. Mr. Cowles had a fine drove of hogs which suddenly disappeared. Nothing could be found of them, though the hired men were sent far and near, and the family had about given up, and supposed that they had been destroyed by the bears. On Sabbath morning, however, as the reverend pastor went to the sanctuary early for devotion, approaching the door, he heard a grunting within, but the door was fastened. The hogs had got inside, and had rooted the puncheon floor against the door, and the stone hearth in every direction, and had made the primitive sanctuary the place of confusion. In 1824 the first frame church building in the county, or on the Reserve, was erected in this place. It was at the centre, just opposite the log church spoken of. It was modeled after the Norfolk meeting-house, in Litchfield county, Connecticut. It was a solid white-oak frame, very high, and when finished had a gallery on three sides. It had a tower in front, a circular belfry, and a tall spire, and although built while the country was new, was a very stately and handsome edifice. Mr. Joseph Mills has given a description of the erection of the building. He says the raising of the building commenced Monday morning, and continued throughout the week until late Saturday afternoon. It was raised with tackles and guy-poles, with block and pulleys attached. The services of an " old salt* were procured to erect the affair, by the name of Ebenezer Church. When the last timber was laid in its place, Church climbed to the top of the spire, taking rope with him, and when at the top, one hundred and five feet from the ground, he drew up a bottle of whisky, which, with three cheers for the new church, he threw as far as he could. Betsey Cowles, however, says that at the time of the raising the leaders resolved that there should be no whisky drank, as was the custom in those days. Accordingly, they prepared an abundance of provisions and good coffee for the occasion. Mr. Mills says, " The frame church was raised in September, and barely inclosed ; and there, without stoves to warm us, without wrappers or drawers, cloaks or overcoats, we used to go to church and continue through two services each Sabbath. The house was not seated, but ordinary benches without backs were used for a long time. The church was furnished in neat and appropriate style in 1824, and dedicated to God with sclemn exercises, and our pastor, Rev. Giles H. Cowles, preached the dedication sermon, in which he said this church, properly cared for, will stand long down into the millennium period. I was myself leader of the choir. We sang on the occasion, old Denmark' : "'Before Jehovah's awful throne Ye nations how with sacred joy; Know that the Lord is God alone, He can create and ho destroy." The new and elegant edifice was built during 1877. It is a fine structure. fronted by a large tower at the northeast corner, which is surmounted by a belfry and steeple, also with a tower at the northwest corner, and with two entrances near the back end. It is furnished with gothic stained windows and pilasters, or false pillars, on the side, and stone caps surmounting. The interior contains a commodious audience-room, a large gallery in front and an orchestra in the rear of the pulpit. The audience-room is finely frescoed, and memorial tablets are inserted into the sills of the windows. There is a small basement-room below. The house is an imposing one, very commodious, attractive, and is an ornament to the place. Its cost was seventeen thousand dollars. Schools.—The first school in Austinburg was taught by Miss Betsey Austin, afterwards the wife of Dr. Orestes K. Hawley. It was in a log barn, which stood west of the old homestead of Judge Austin, now belonging to the institution, and known in 1850 as the King house. The teacher received nothing for these services, which were rendered in 1801. The first school-house was built in the autumn of 1802 ; was located on the little rise of ground west of the dwelling-house of Mrs. Sally B. Austin, in or near the orchard, which is west of the small stream. It was made of plank notched together at the end, with a mud-and- 192 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO. at Mechanicsville, owned by L. B. Woolever, opened in the spring of 1878. Mrs. Chas. Spencer has an interest in this factory and makes the cheese. MANUFACTURES. At Mechanicsville there was at one time an extensive woolen-factory, gristmill, oil-mill, etc., under the management of the late W. D. Palmer. This property was purchased by L. B. Woolever, and in December, 1874, was destroyed by fire. Mr. L. has since rebuilt the flouring-mill. This is a fine building, and is furnished with all the modern appliances, and does a large business. He has also a saw-mill near by, propelled by water. There is a steam saw-mill at this point. This is owned by Orlando Hubbard. At Eagleville there is a grist- and, saw-mill owned by A. W. Howard. There is also a general store owned by J. W. Fisher ; grocery, by J. B. Bartholomew ; shoe-shop, L. Cushman ; blacksmiths, A. I. Buck, A. Olmsted, and W. Munger. J. K. McNutt represents the dental profession ; also, postmaster. AUSTINBURG VILLAGE. BUSINESS HOUSES. F. A. Barnes, drugs, dry goods, and groceries; George A. Pulls, dry goods and groceries; E. C. Miller, drugs and notions ; J. H. McClure, hardware; W. S. Orcutt, boots and shoes; F. Shepard, planing-mill ; D. S. Alvord, wagon-manufactory; H. G. Shipman and M. E. Scoville, blacksmiths; J. C. Shepard, livery. The hotel at this point is at present under the able management of H. G. Shipman. F. B. Pierce has a saw- and grist-mill in the northeast part of the township, located on a small stream which flows into Grand river. Simon Reed operates an extensive brick-kiln at the village. F. A. Barnes is postmaster at this point, the office being located at his store. Thorn is a flourishing post of the Grand Army of the Republic in this township, organized in January, 1878. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR 1877. L. J. Parker, Geo. M. Chapman, and Orlando Payne, trustees; S. McCullough, clerk ; W. S. Orcutt, treasurer ; T. L. French, assessor ; S. F. Vanhouser and F. Whitney, constables ; and Geo. M. Chapman, Thomas Gillis, and J. B. Bartholomew, justices of the peace. There are eighteen supervisors of roads and highways. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. GILES HOOKER COWLES, son of Dr. E. W. and Almira :VI. Cowles, and grandson of Rev. Dr. Giles H. Cowles, was born in the year 1819, in Brownhelm, Ohio. His boyhood days were spent in Mantua, where his parents lived for several years, and with his grandfather in Austinburg. In 1832 he moved with his parents to Cleveland, and in 1833 he finished his education with the Rev. Samuel Bissel, preceptor of the Twinsburg academy. In 1834 he first went into business by serving as a clerk in the drugstore of the late Dr. B. S. Lyman, in Cleveland ; afterwards he went into the employ of Mr. Orlando Cutter, an auction and commission merchant of that city. Young as, he was he gave evidence of extraordinary business ability, and at the age of eighteen Mr. Cutter took him in as a partner. In 1839, owing to having hemorrhage of the lungs, young Cowles was obliged to dissolve his connection with Mr. Cutter and travel to Texas for his health. In 1840 he returned to his home in Cleveland apparently improved in health, but the insidious disease he was afflicted with, consumption, soon undermined it, and in spite of the best medical skill and the tireless nursing of the most affectionate of mothers, he passed away, April 2, 1842, aged twenty-three years. As his soul left its earthly tenement, his loving aunt, Miss Cornelia R. Cowles, sat by his side, while she sang to him in her angelic tones that beautiful hymn commencing with these lines : "What's this that steals, that steals o'er my frame? Is it death, is it death ?" Of all the children of Dr. E. W. Cowles, Giles was endowed with the most natural talent, and was considered the flower of that group. With a fine conversational power for one so young, he had a business talent that was regarded by all who knew him as being very extraordinary. Said the late Mr. Cutter, " Giles Cowles was the smartest young man that I ever came in contact with, a young man of honor and integrity, and had he only lived and enjoyed good health, he would have been one of the wealthiest men of the country." Young as he WAS, he proved himself to be worthy of the name he bore, that of his estimable grandfather. JOSEPH B. COWLES, one of the first settlers of Austinburg, was born in Norfolk, Connecticut, October 18, 1774. His parents were Joseph Cowles and Sarah Mills. He was married to Miss Lois Hungerford. In 1800 he accompanied Judge Austin's family to Austinburg with his own family, consisting of wife, one boy, Lyman, aged five years, and an infant. After a toilsome journey of some several weeks, Mr. Cowles arrived at Buffalo, where he embarked in an open boat, with a member of Judge. Austin's party, and sailed by day for Ashtabula Harbor, and at night they would pull the boat on to the beach and camp out. In this manner Mr. Cowles and his party made their way to New Connecticut. After his arrival at Ashtabula creek, he followed the blaze on the trees with his little family, and reached the north end of the township of Austinburg; The first night he made a wigwam and camped out. The next morning, with the assistance of a few neighbors who came in from within a circle of twenty miles, he put up his log cabin, just a quarter of a mile south of where the post-office now is in Austinburg. In this manner this brave pioneer started life in the town which he eventually helped to clear and beautify. Mr. Cowles was a fine specimen of a New England farmer. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and everything he did was founded on a sense of duty. As an illustration, the following incident will show how his sense of duty impelled him to risk even his life. In the year 1803 a settler, by the name of Beckwith, resided in a log cabin at the mouth of Ashtabula creek. In midwinter, when the weather was intensely cold and the ground was covered deeply with snow, Mr. Beckwith started for the Austinburg settlement, ten miles off, for the purpose of sharpening his axe and obtaining a bag of salt. Towards night he started to return. The sky was cloudy, and the prospect of a pitch-dark night was imminent, and the weather, as before stated, was terribly cold, rendering the attempt to walk that ten miles through a forest over an apology of a road a very dangerous undertaking, and Judge Austin earnestly tried to persuade him to wait till morning. Mr. Beckwith stated that he had promised his wife that he never would leave her alone overnight, and that brave and devoted husband started on his fearful and, as it proved to be, his last journey, rather than to break his solemn promise made to his wife. The next day, towards dark, some of the settlers at the north end of Austinburg saw an object staggering through the snow. They went to it, and discovered that it was Mrs. Beckwith, who was in an exhausted condition from traveling on foot from her home. It seemed that her husband did not reach his home, and as she knew he would not violate his promise not to stay away overnight, she concluded that he must have lost his way and perished. The next morning she left her two children in bed and started for the Austinburg settlement to make known the loss of her husband, and arrived there in the condition described. The unhappy wife and mother was in a state of agony about her children she had left alone in her cabin, for fear of their freezing to death. Mr. Cowles volunteered to start that night, dark us it was, and rescue those children. Accordingly, he mounted his horse and proceeded on that perilous journey. Should he on account of darkness lose his way in the wood, it was sure death. But the courageous man felt it was his duty to relieve the feelings of the poor mother and rescue those children, even to the extent of risking his own life. Happily, after groping his way for five mortal hours, he succeeded in reaching the cabin, and found the children alive and safe. lie built a fire and kept it up all night. In the morning he took the children in his arms, mounted his horse, and in that manner carried them to Austinburg, and delivered them to the almost heart-broken, widowed mother. That day a party of the neighbors started to search fur the remains of Mr. Beckwith. He was found frozen and dead sitting on a log. From the tracks in the snow, it was evident he tramped around a tree for hours, vainly endeavoring to keep himself warm, and he at last succumbed to sleep, and sitting down, be soon became frozen. In 1816, Mr. Cowles became a professor of religion, and joined the church over which the Rev. Dr. Cowles presided. As he advanced in life he accumulated property by honest labor, and lived till 1853, when he died universally respected for his Christian virtue and strict integrity. His first wife died in 1841. In 1842 he married Mrs. Hannah Winchester, the widow of a Rev. Mr. Winchester. He had three children, namely, Lyman B. Cowles, born in Norfolk, Connecticut, 1795, and died in Jefferson, June, 1875; Sally Maria, born in Norfolk, 1799, and married to Mr. Enos Ryder in 1820, and died in the year of 1831 ; and Louisa, born in Austinburg, 1806, and died in March, 1835. Mr. Cowles was a brother of the late Hon. Samuel Cowles, a prominent lawyer and judge of the court of common pleas in Cleveland, who died in 1837 ; a half-brother of Mrs. Dr. E. W. Cowles, and uncle of Mr. Edwin Cowles of the Cleveland Leader. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 193 LYSANDER MIX COWLES. Captain Lysander M. Cowles was born with his twin sister Cornelia, in Bristol, Connecticut, in the year 1807. He came to Austinsburg with his father, Dr. Cowles, in 1811, where he lived till his death, which occurred April 4, 1857. Captain Cowles became a prominent citizen of the township, and for a number of years commanded an independent military company. He filled at various periods the offices of justice of the peace, township treasurer, and other offices. In May, 1835, he was married to Miss Rachel Cowles, a sister of the Rev. Henry Cowles, who was pastor of the church in Austinburg till the following winter, when he moved to Oberlin, where he occupied for many years a professor's chair. Captain Cowles was universally respected, and was popular among his acquaintances on account of his being a peculiar wit. Many stories have been told of his doings in that line, and we will give one or two illustrations of that peculiarity. He took great delight in playing the incorrigible Yankee, nasal twang and all, which he could do to perfection. While in New York on a certain occasion, he noticed a lottery sign offering tremendous fortunes to all who would invest in a ticket. The captain walked in, and, playing the green Yankee, interviewed the lottery dealer as follows: " Mister, can yeou tell me abeout this giving of a big fortune to a feller who buys a ticket in yeour lottery ?" " Why, sir, if you will take a ticket costing you only five dollars, you will draw a prize of ten thousand dollars in money,—ten thousand dollars, sir I" " I swcow ! Dew yeou mean to say that if I buy a ticket costing only five dollars, that I will git ten theousan' dollars?" "Yes, sir, ten thousand dollars. You can make ten thousand dollars, sir!" " Yeou don't say so I" "Yes, I do. I mean what I say : you will draw ten thousand dollars, and it will be yours if you purchase a ticket costing you only five dollars." " Wal, that is queer. Heow can yeou afford to give ten theousan' dollars for five dollars?" " You see, my friend, that is our lookout. We make up our losses in another way." " Wall, I declear I ten theousan' dollars for five dollars. Will that ten theousan' dollars be mine if I pay five dollars ?" " Yes, sir. I will insure your drawing that sum." " Wal, mister, with that understandin', I will take a ticket." " Well, here it is, all filled out for you." "Neow, mister, dew yeou mean to say that this 'ere ticket will draw me ten theousan' dollars?" " Yes, sir. All you need to do now is to pay me five dollars." " Wal, mister, I'll tell yeou what yeou may dew, I will take the ticket and yeou may take the five dollars out of the ten theousan' dollars which yeou say will become mine. That will be all right, won't it, mister ?" " Hand that ticket back, you infernal fool, and clear out of my office !" "Look here, mister, don't git wrathy; let me keep the ticket which yeou say will draw ten theousan' dollars, and yeou can deduct the five dollars and give me nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. Isn't that fair, mister ?" " Give me back that ticket and clear out; I'll have none of your nonsense." " Wal, mister, alleow me to say that yeou are a darned* humbug. Yeou may take yeour ticket and be darned." This story the captain was in the habit of telling in his inimitable manner. On another occasion, when Mr. Henry C. Wright, the famous advocate of universal peace, was on a visit at Miss Betsey Cowles', he encountered our military friend in the horse-stable, and entered into a discussion on the evils of war. After descanting in his eloquent and argumentative style, showing that war produced all manner of violence, misery, murders, robberies, and rapine, and that soldiers were no better than so many murderers, the captain, after listening in his imperturbable manner with a sober face, was bound as the commander of a military company to defend the honor of the American army from such a slanderous assault, and he coolly replied as follows : " Mr. Wright, allow me to say you are mistaken, sir, as far as our glorious army is concerned. Why, sir, during the whole Mexican war not one of our fifty thousand gallant soldiers engaged was ever known to commit a single dishonorable act, sir. This is a fact, sir I You are mistaken, sir !" Mr. Wright looked at the captain with blank astonishment. The idea that out of an invading army of fifty thousand men not one has ever been known to commit a single dishonorable act during the entire Mexican war I He saw it was useless to argue with "such a case," and he retired discomfited to the house. In 1844, during the Clay and Polk presidential campaign, the Whip had a grand mass convention at Erie. On the printed posters announcing the convention it was advertised that all military companies would be carried free on the steamboats,—there were no railroads in those days. The Austinburg Guards accepted the invitation, and marched to Ashtabula Harbor and embarked for Erie. On their return they took passage on another steamer. As it neared Ashtabula, the captain of the boat notified Captain Cowles that his men would have to pay fare. This Captain Cowles emphatically refused to allow, and called attention to the arrangement that had been made to carry all military free. The captain of the boat then said he would not stop at Ashtabula. " All right!" replied Captain Cowles, " we will accompany you to Chicago. We'll stick by you like a brother, and come back with you. But mind you, we shall take the first seat at your table, sir I We shan't submit to any nonsense, there sir!" The captain of the boat found he was cornered, and he put into Ashtabula Harbor and landed the boys. These incidents illustrate the humorous feature in the character of Captain Cowles. Although he never sympathized with the ultra views of the Garrisonian element of' the anti-slavery party, he was a zealous friend of the down-trodden slave. He acted with the old Liberty party, and when the Free-Soil party was organized in 1848, he affiliated with that party. None had a warmer heart than Captain Cowles. Ile was a consistent member of the Congregational church till a few years before his death, when he changed his views and joined a Unitarian society. In 1856 he was taken ill with that incurable disease the diabetes, which resulted in his death, April 4, 1857. Had he only lived and had good health, he would undoubtedly have participated in the War of the Rebellion. REV. J. B. BARTHOLOMEW. It seems but simple justice that this gentleman should be placed on record in this volume, he being the pioneer minister of his faith in Ashtabula County. Born in Bristol, Connecticut, April 8, 1807, he was the eighth child of Jacob and Rebecca Beach Bartholomew, who removed to Ohio in 1810, locating in Farmington, Trumbull county, and were among the pioneers of this township. His educational advantages were of course meagre, the clearing of the forest being considered of prime importance. At the age of twenty-one he found himself broken down with labor, and has remained an invalid until the present. At the age of twenty-three he married Martha Reeves, and until 1846 passed much of his time in travel. In the above year ho came to Eagleville, where he still resides. In 1844, was ordained a minister of the Disciple church, and sent out as an evangelist. Called to Eagleville, March, 1846, by a class of twenty-five. Mr. Bartholomew raised this church to a membership of one hundred and ten in three years. Through his efforts during this time churches were established in Saybrook, Geneva, Trumbull, Footville, Hartsgrove, Denmark, Orwell, Rome, and many other points, making a total of seventeen. Truly he has done a noble work for his Master. In his township, he has been a justice of the peace for fifteen years, and postmaster for perhaps the same length of time. ABIAL WILLIAMS HOWARD. The subject of this sketch, a view of whose fine residence, with portraits of self and wife, appear in another portion of this work, is the fifth of a family of eight, the children of Hezekiah and Margaret Spring Howard, of Preble, Cortland county, New York. He was born January 7, 1819, and resided in New York and Pennsylvania until 1838, when he came to Ohio, making his first stop with an uncle in Concord, Lake county. His education was received at common school prior to his coming to Ohio. About January 1, 1839, he came to Austin-burg, where he remained some three years. On the 11th day of January, 1842, he found a wife in the person of Almira G., daughter of Salmon and Damaris Pitkin Hills, of Austinburg, and taking his young bride, removed to a wild farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and here, some three-fourths of a mile from a traveled road, they began the battle of life, and we may judge something of his success by the fact that he now owns some five hundred acres of land, which, with the mill property, etc., aggregates the snug sum of thirty thousand dollars. In the township ho has held numerous offices, among which has been township trustee for many years. He is public-spirited, a kind and indulgent husband and father. His children are as follows: Emily A., born August 26, 1844, married Hubert E. Wadsworth, and resides at Eagleville. The next were twins,—Eugene L. and Emogene L., born October 2, 1846. The former is doing an extensive business in Bridgeport, California. The latter yet remains at home, as do the remaining three children comprising this interesting family. Salmon Hills, the next child, was born November 29, 1848; Edward F., born July 25, 1855; and Dwight A., the youngest, born February 28, 1859. Politically Mr. Howard is a Democrat. His father was born in Tolland, Tolland county, Connecticut, in 1784, and is still living,—resides in Franklin, Pennsylvania. The mother was a native of 194 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO. Connecticut, and died in 1852. The father of Mrs. A. W. Howard was born in Farmington, Hartford county, Connecticut, July 30, 1788, died 1864, in Austinburg. Her mother was born September 11, 1790, died March 1, 1874, also in Austinburg. DEACON JOSEPH MILLS became a dweller upon the soil of this county seventy-eight years ago. His coming hither was simultaneous with the ushering in of the century. In June of the year 1800 the first white woman came to what now is the township of Austinburg. She was the mother of the subject of this sketch,—he, an infant of a year old. His parents starting from Norfolk, Connecticut, had consummated a long and wearisome journey, and on the night of June 6 had reached a locality in the forest but a few rods distant from Mr. Eliphalet Austin's house, their destination. Darkness and a severe storm overtook them, and they determined to encamp for the night in the woods. During that dark and stormy night this intrepid woman sat upon her saddle on the ground with her infant son in her arms, while an umbrella was held over mother and child to protect them as best this feeble shelter might from the fury of the storm. In this strange and novel man-. ner was this pioneer resident of Ashtabula soil introduced to this forest region. He was the third child of Sterling and Abigail Mills, the date of his birth being June 24, 1799. In his early boyhood he was made serviceable to the settlement in carrying his father's and his father's neighbors' grist to the mill on horseback. He was the only boy in the colony of proper age to perform this duty, and his father owned the only horse in the settlement at that time. Joseph was a studious lad, and although the advantages for obtaining an education were limited, he made diligent use of every available moment, and early acquired a literary taste that never deserted him. Growing up to manhood upon his father's farm, he was united in marriage with Chloe Caloway in the year 1819. This lady was a resident of Austinburg, and had come to Ohio with Jacob Austin, Esq. From this union were born eight children, as follows : Eliza, born in 1820 ; Harlow, born in 1821 Sterling, born in 1824; Laura, born in 1826; Edwin, born in 1828; John D., born in 1834; Alice, born in 1837; and Lewis Joseph, born in 1839. The mother of these children died April 20, 1843; and on November 29 of the same year Mr. Mills married again, the lady's name being Lois Hotchkiss. The children by this marriage were Willard, born in 1846, died in infancy ; and Emma A., born in 1850, who married A. Krum. His second wife died on October 29, 1876, and in August, 1877, he married a third time, the lady's name being Jane Case. Deacon Mills died on the 22d day of March, 1878, being nearly seventy-nine years old. One of the oldest citizens of the county, his life has been a useful one to the community in which he dwelt. He was warmly attached to the Congregational church, of which he was a worthy and a prominent member. He was early made a deacon of the church in Austinburg, and has been known among his neighbors for the last half-century or more as "Deacon Mills." He has held some township offices, but his tastes were not in this direction. He preferred the quiet of his home life, and took great delight in books, of which he was a diligent student. His memory was wonderfully retentive. A farmer, he acquired by slow, toilsome industry a handsome competence, being at his death the owner of some three hundred acres of land. But few men of Ashtabula County saw more of privation and hardship incident to pioneer life, and none faced them with a more courageous and determined spirit. Who would not wish to live the quiet, peaceful, long and useful life Deacon Mills has lived ? and what higher tribute to his memory can be paid than that his integrity was spotless, his virtues manly, and that his name will long remain a household word in the homes of those among whom he dwelt? MORGAN TOWNSHIP. IMAGINARY boundary lines often divide districts of land whose physical features are greatly unlike, and separate people whose nativity, language, and customs are totally diverse. Instances of this kind, however, are not to be found in Ashtabula County. While but slight dissimilarity in the topography of the land and character of the soil of the townships of the county is discoverable, the most striking uniformity in respect to the character of the people exists throughout the length' and breadth of old Ashtabula. So few of her townships were settled by other than Connecticut emigrants, that it may be said, without much distortion of fact, that the small stream of immigration that eighty years ago began to flow hither, gradually widening and deepening until in a few years it became a mighty river, annually carrying upon its bosom hundreds of pioneers whom it landed in this region, had but one source, and that source lay within the limits of the little State of Connecticut. Thus were the pioneers of Morgan of Connecticut extraction. Its soil was first owned by the State of Connecticut, then by the Connecticut land company, then by a Connecticut man, who gave to it his Connecticut name, then by a Connecticut company, who employed a Connecticut surveyor to survey it into lots and prepare it for settlement, which was effected by Connecticut citizens. If there can be any doubt as to the right of Morgan to claim Connecticut parentage, it would be interesting to know from what source that doubt can spring. John Morgan, of New haven, Connecticut, member of the Connecticut land company, became proprietor of the lands of this township September 5, 1798, but soon after sold his possession to the Torringford land company, composed of the following gentlemen : Eliphalet Austin, Montgomery Austin, Wm. Battell, Joseph Battell, John Gillett, David Soper, Jabez Gillett, Job Curtis, Samuel J. Mills, Stephen Knowlton, N. Gaylord, Jr., and John Strong, and this company employed Timothy R. Hawley, of Farmington, Hartford county, Connecticut, to survey the township into lots. This task Mr. Hawley completed in the summer of 1801. He commenced at the northwest corner and surveyed the tract into one hundred acres each, excepting the last and south tiers, which are fractional. The lots are numbered from west to east, beginning with the west lot of the northern tier. For this service Mr. Hawley received from the company that employed him- a deed of lots numbers 5, 87, and 123, and of the mill-site on Rock creek, lying on lots numbers 115 and 125 ; the company stipulating that Mr. Hawley should, within one year from the time he should settle in the township, erect a saw-mill on said mill-site. Having completed the survey and opened a road from Austinburg through this township to Gustavus, in Trumbull county, Mr. Hawley went to Connecticut and returned in June of the following year with his family. This gentleman occupied a prominent place in the early settlement of Morgan, surveying as agent for the Torringford land company, acting as postmaster by appointment of General Granger, and as justice of the peace, to which office he was chosen by the votes of the people at the first State election, in 1803. He finally was invited to fill the office of clerk of the court of common pleas, to attend to the duties of which office he removed to the county-seat, in Jefferson, where he resided the remainder of his life. EARLY EVENTS. The first schoolhouse in Morgan was erected by Nathan and Asa Gillett, in the fall of 1801, who emigrated from Farmington, Connecticut, in this year, and settled on lots 67 and 77. This house, which was erected in November of this year, on the northeast corner of lot 77, was a building eighteen feet square, built of round logs, being eight logs in height. The interstices between the logs were filled with split timber, and over this a coating placed, formed of mud and clay. The roof was formed of long strips of elm bark, supported by poles that extended across the top, and the bark kept in its place by heavier poles placed upon it,. It was lighted by three apertures of about two feet square, to which were fixed rude sash, glazed with paper, oiled so as to admit the light.. The floor consisted of ash or hickory logs, hewn on the upper side. It was warmed by means of a chimney made of sticks and mud, having a stone back as high as the upper floor. In this rude structure lived the family of Nathan Gillett, consisting of ten persona, for nearly three years. In the year 1804, Mr. Gillett erected a new log house on lot 67, and then this primitive dwelling served as the first school-house. Miss Diantha Wilcox being the first teacher in the summer of 1804, having from eight to twelve pupils. In the winter following Mr. Quintus F. Atkins was the teacher in this building, having from fifteen to twenty pupils. Mr. Eli Porter, from Colebrook, Connecticut, came to Austinburg, in August. 1801, and in the succeeding fall attempted to effect a settlement on lots Nos. 57 HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 195 and 58, but his health failing him ho abandoned the idea, and, being taken up the Grand river to the residence of Solomon Griswold, in Windsor, in the winter of this year expired at that place. J. B. Battell, from Torringford, Connecticut, began an improvement on lot No. 8, in the early part of 1802, and built his house some twenty-five rods from the west line of the lot. Ile afterwards purchased from D. M. Curtis lot No. 7, with its improvements; Mr. Curtis having labored thereon during the winter of 1801-2. Moses C. Wilcox, brother-in-law of Eli Porter, came to the township early in the spring of 1802, and built himself a house on lot No. 58. His father, Hosea Wilcox, arrived in June of the same year, but soon went back to Connecticut, in company with Nathan Gillett, for his family, and returned to Morgan on the 12th day of November. Edmund Strong found his way to Morgan early in 1802, and set himself industriously to work clearing off about four or five acres of ground on lot No. 48, which he sowed to wheat in the fall, and then returned to Connecticut for his family. Returning again to Morgan in March, 1803, he chose lots 139, 140, and 150, and began improving the same. In the summer of 1802, Captain John Wright, of Winsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut, having exchanged his little Connecticut farm for about eight hundred acres of land, a part of the Torringford land company's purchase, in the Western Reserve, accompanied by his family, consisting of himself and his wife, four sons, and one daughter, and furnished with a heavy wagon drawn by four oxen, having an extra horse to be used as occasion might require, and a cow to provide the party with milk, in those days a very necessary article of food, started for the Land of Promise, their objective point being Morgan township, in New Connecticut, where the whole party arrived on the 8th day of July, being nearly two months in completing the journey. Mr. Wright selected lots Nos. 57 and 124, and began at once to improve the tract he had chosen. He prepared and sowed to wheat five acres of ground, and by the middle of' October had erected him a log house twenty by thirty feet, in which he now took up his residence. Sebe Bronson arrived in August, 1802, and selected lots 12 and 22. Quintus F. Atkins, from Barkhamstead, Connecticut, arrived in November, 1802, and took up lot No. 59. Roswell Stephens, from Austinburg, but formerly from Connecticut, purchased of T. R. Hawley a part of lot 123, and erected a log house thereon early in the spring of 1803. Isaac H. Phelps, from Canaan, Connecticut, settled on lot 119, June 3, 1803, and on the fourth day of July, of the same year, James Stone, from the sonic place, chose lot 18, and began to improve it. Luman Beach, from Geneva, New York, formerly from Connecticut, arrived in 1804, and settled on lot No. 70. Among the arrivals of this year were those of Stephen Knowlton, Erastus Flowers, Jesse D. Hawley, and Joseph Bates. The first birth was that of R. H. Stephens, July 5, 1803. The first female child born was Joanna Stone, which occurred in March, 1804. The first marriage was solemnized on the twenty-eighth day of September, 1803, between J. B. Battell and Lydia P. Gillett. At this early day those who were commissioned to perform this duty were far from being numerous, and in this instance it became necessary to send to Warren, a distance of thirty in order to obtain a justice of the peace for the occasion. Mr. George Phelps, the first settler in Windsor, was the officiating justice who legally tied the knot. It is said that he was successful in accomplishing the task, but when the ceremony was over turned to the bride's father and said, "Sir, if there is any praying to be done you must do it yourself" Among other early matrimonial alliances may he mentioned that of Edmund Strong and Ann Gillett, December 8, 1803; that of Quintus F. Atkins and Sally Wright, February 21, 1804; and that of John Wright, Jr., and Saloum Gillett, June 12, 1804. The first religious service of a public character in the township was held on the fourteenth day of November, 1802, at the residence of Captain John Wright, Rev. Joseph Badger officiating. There were then about twenty-six souls in the new settlement, and nearly all were present at this service. Religious gatherings on the Sabbath-day were of regular occurrence thereafter. John Wright and his son John, in 1803, purchased of Mr. Hawley the mill-site which he had contracted to improve; and on the twelfth and thirteenth days of October of this year, by the united help of all the settlers that could be gathered together from Harpersfield, Austinburg, and Morgan, succeeded in erecting the first saw-mill in the township. This property was afterwards purchased by Ambrose Humphrey, who built the first grist-mill propelled by water, in the year 1808. The infant settlement escaped the visitation of the enemy to human life, who sooner or later is certain to make his presence felt wherever human souls are congregated, until the eighth day of January, 1806, when the little daughter of J. B. Battell died, and this first death was soon succeeded by the demise of Sylvester Wilcox, who was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree on the fifteenth day of April following. His was the first death of a grown person in the 49 township. Reverend " Father Badger," as he was called, preached the sermon from the text, "Be still, and know that I am God." The people of Morgan early recognized the importance of religious and educational training, and the Torringford land company showed its good will and liberality in this wise direction by setting apart lot No. 38 and donating it to the township for the use of schools; lot 75 was given for a parsonage; one-half of lot 76 to the first minister who should be established in the township ; and five acres from the northwest corner of lot 88 for a public square, on which the settlers were directed to erect a church and other public buildings. On the twelfth day of February, 1804, the inhabitants of Morgan collected together, headed by the Rev. Thomas Robbins, of Connecticut, for the purpose of clearing this tract and preparing it for the execution of those designs which were in view in granting it to We township. Mr. Robbins began the goodly work himself by cutting the first tree. In 1805 a log building was erected, which was used during the week for a school-house, and on the Sabbath as a place for divine worship. The proprietors in this company deserve much praise for their liberality, evinced in these generous donations towards the infant colony in Morgan. The wise and liberal policy which they adopted has borne much fruit, as may readily be seen in the enlightened, moral, and religious character of the people who to-day inhabit this township; in their enterprise; in their prosperity; in the rapid growth in population ; in the progress made in manufacturing and other industries; in the beautiful and prosperous village which is the centre of the people's thrift and energy. LINES OF TRAVEL. Difficulty of transportation was a serious drawback in the early settlement of Morgan. The first road leading south from the lake was the one which the pioneers of the township traversed in pushing their way into the infant colony. This road began at the mouth of Ashtabula creek and extended in a south-westwardly direction over the ridge until it reached the north line of Austinburg, at the centre of this line, thence passing through the township southwardly. It deviated to the east so as to pass one mile to the east of the centre of Morgan, and passed out of Morgan at its southeast corner. The Torringford land company employed Mr. T. R. Hawley in 1801 to open that portion of this road that passes through this township, and on in a southeasterly direction to Gustavus, in Trumbull county. This road became a thoroughfare of immigration, and often was in such a condition that four or five barrels of salt was a full load for a team of four sturdy oxen ; and nine or ten miles were a good day's journey. Previous to the year 1808, when a grist-mill was erected by Ambrose Humphrey, the people of Morgan Were compelled to go to Austinburg for their grist, and before they raised enough potatoes, wheat, etc., to answer for their subsistence, they had to transport these articles a distance of forty or fifty miles, and thus were compelled not only to pay an exorbitant price for these necessary articles of food, but, owing to the condition of the roads, obtained them at the expanse of great personal hardship. Roads were subsequently laid out in the township as follows December, 1814, from Morgan to Lenox, on petition of Jars. Walling and others. June, 1816, from the dwelling-house of Clement Tuttle, lot No. 6, through the centre of said township. June, 1817, from the centre road eastwardly to the centre road in Lenox. December, 1817, from A. Fenton's to Foot's mill; same date, from north aide of Rock Creek to New Lyme road. March, 1818, from lot No. 8 to road leading from New Lyme to Rome. March, 1825, Morgan and Trumbull road, beginning near the house of Roger Foot in Morgan, thence westwardly to the State road leading from Harpersfield to Windsor. June, 1825, Chardon and Jefferson road from Grand river to the turnpike. December, 1828, from near Jesse D. Hawley's to intersect the Trumbull road near M. Beach's land. The Brat frame house in the township was erected by Stephen Knowlton, in the year 1811, on lot 68. The building still stands, and is now used for the storage of farm machinery. The first brick house was erected in 1864, by 0. W. Lee, on lot 8, in the northeast portion of the township. The first settled physician in Morgan was Dr. Isaac Weed, who came to the township about 1817 or 1818, and settled on lot 67. He remained in the township but a short time. The first burying-ground in the township was located in the southwest corner of lot No. 48 and the northwest corner of lot No. 58. The first cheese-factory in Morgan was built in 1866 or 1867, by Mr. B. C. Randall, on lot 113. This factory was operated only three or four years. In the spring of 1870 a cheese-factory was erected and put into operation on lot 95, a short distance north of the village, by Harrington & Randall. During the years 1870 and 1871 about 240,000 pounds of cheese were manufactured annually at this factory. In the spring of 1872 the factory was sold to Martin Merrifield. Since then it has changed proprietors several times. In the spring of 1877 it was consolidated with Mr. Dean's butter-factory, in the south part of the village. 196 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO ORGANIZATION. The township was organized in the year 1819. The old records of the township were destroyed by fire in the year 1866, in consequence of which the names of the early officers cannot be obtained. The first justice of the peace elected in Morgan township was Clement Tuttle. Since 1849 the following gentlemen have been elected to this office: Breaths Devan, 1849, 1852, and 1858; Hiram Wilcox, 1850; Ichabod Hurlburt and A. L. Sprague, 1853; E. A. Wright, 1855, 1858, and 1861,-resigned October 15, 1861, having been elected to the office of sheriff of the county ; Elias Benham, 1861; J. J. Hoyt, 1861,-resigned September, 1862; E. E. Pinney, 1862 and 1865; J. A. Bates, 1864 ; J. J. Hoyt, 1865, 1868, 1871, 1874, and 1877 ; C. R. Meigs, 1868; E. A. Wright, 1870 and 1873; M. N. Gardner, 1876. The following have served as township clerks: W. C. St. John, 1837 ; Alonzo Moses, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1843; A. B. Watkins, 1842 ; Jesse Morgan, 1844; A. McCausland, 1846; N. G. Foot, 1847 and 1848 ; Erastus Devan, 1851 ; H. H. Moses, 1852; Geo. McClure, 1853; N. G. Foot, 1855; W. W. Nevison, 1856; Norman Thompson, 1857 and 1858; E. E. Pinney, 1859 to 1862 inclusive; J. B. Swan, 1863; Geo. W. Lawton, 1864, 1865, and 1866; V. D. Latimer, 1867 and 1868 ; E. A. Kellogg, 1869, 1870, and 1871 ; M. Bread, 1872; H. J. Covell, 1873 till the present time. Township Treasurers.-T. Hoyt, 1852 to '55, inclusive; Wm. J. Woodruff, 1856 to '62; A. C. Wilcox, 1863 to '66; Edward Bailey, 1867 to '72 ; A. B. Watkins, 1873 to '76 ; G. W. Woolsey, 1877. Township Trustees.-In 1832, Roger Foot and Chester Loomis; 1835, Chester Loomis and Gurdon Bailey; 1836, Herman Watson and B. St. John Hoyt; 1844, A. Lawton, T. Hoyt, and Jas. Stone; 1854, Wm. C. St. John, Frank Bailey, and Anson Wilbur ; 1857, Jas. Stone, Chas. Wilbur, and Jno. Shaffer; 1866, E. A. Wright, M. M. Root, and N. Thompson; 1867, E. A. Wright, M. M. Root, and J. N. Means ; 1868, M. M. Root., W. E. Beardsley, and Jno. Shaffer; 1869 and '70, W. E. Beardsley, Jno. Shaffer, and J. N. Means; 1871, Herman Covell, A. L. Rathbone, and Orson Doty ; 1872, H. Covell, A. L. Rath-bone, and J. H. Wheeler; 1873, E. Kennah, J. H. Wheeler, and A. L. Rathbone ; 1874 and '75, E. Kenuah, J. H. Wheeler, and Collins Latimer; 1876, E. Kennett, J. H. Wheeler, and G. M. Hoyt; 1877, G. M. Hoyt, J. H. Wheeler, and C. Latimer. ROCK CREEK VILLAGE. The village, or, as it was originally called, " the town of Rock Creek," was incorporated as such in the spring of 1849. To N. L. Chaffee, at that time representative for the county in the Ohio State legislature, are the people of this village indebted for introducing and securing the passage of the act of incorporation. The incorporation includes the whole of original lots Nos. 115, 116, 125, 126, and the south half of lots Noe. 105 and 106. Roger Foot and family clime w Morgan in 1814, with the intention to build a grist-mill, and purchased a mill-site on Rock creek, above where Ambrose Humphrey had already a saw-mill and grist-mill, he having built the latter in 1808. Mr. Foot offered to buy out Mr. Humphrey, which he reluctantly accepted. Foot then repaired both saw-mill and grist-mill, rendering them more efficient than before,-added another run of atone, and improved water-wheels, etc. Settlers were coming in yearly to this town and adjoining ones, making large demands for mill work, especially for grinding. This mill had the grinding, not only for this town, but for Rome, New Lyme, and Lenox. Wheat became so plenty as to be unsaleable, which induced Mr. Foot and his son Roger to make an effort to make flour which would be saleable in a distant market. In order to effect this it was necessary to have a set of buhr-stones and a new bolting-cloth. In 1824, Roger, Jr., journeyed to Buffalo and Rochester to purchase those items enumerated, but could find no atones to suit him,-was told ho might select his blocks and have them put together under his superintendence, which he did. The mill thus fitted up was capable of making a superior article of superfine flour, which, on being sent to New York, was surpassed by but one brand in market. It is said, also, that the first flour shipped to New York from this county was shipped from this mill. In this connection it is worthy of mention that, after the woods bordering on Rock creek became cleared, the water failed in the latter part of the summer, inducing Roger, Jr., to build a mill on Grand river especially adapted to low water. It is now owned and occupied by John Schaffer, who has enlarged and rendered it a very excellent mill. Roger Foot and his son Roger were highly serviceable in this community, as are all pioneers, in a greater or less degree, in new settled neighborhoods. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. Probably no one branch of business has contributed so much towards making Rock. Creek the thrifty and enterprising village it is as have her tanneries. The first tannery was erected as early as 1821, by Joseph Ferry, on the present site of Mr. Wilcox's tannery, in the west part of the corporation. This Mr. Ferry was proprietor of for about twelve years, when he sold to Mr. A. B. Sperry. Mr. Sperry conducted the business at this stand some fourteen or fifteen years, when he transferred the property to a Mr. Bidwell Strickland, who was proprietor for about five years, and sold to Robert Harper. Mr. Harper, after continuing as proprietor a few years, sold to the present owner, Mr. A. C. Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox, since becoming proprietor, has repaired and added to the original buildings and has successfully conducted a large business. The front part of the present buildings is the same as first erected in 1821. In 1830 or '31 a second tannery was erected; the same one managed at present by Tilden & Phillips, on Water street. This was built and put into operation by G. W. Quigley, who was proprietor for about eight years, when be sold to a Mr. Anson Wilbur. It afterwards changed hands several times, until it became the property of Frank Lewis, who did a large business for several years, and sold to Mr. Tilden. Deacon Silas Covell and son, Herman Covell, in 1843, built a tannery a short distance east of Tilden's, and worked at the business for a few years, when they sold to Hitt & Co. This firm conducted the business for awhile and then leased to Randall & Cook, and while they were doing business the buildings were burned. This firm then erected new and larger buildings, and carried on a very extensive business until Mr. Randall's death. In 1849 a fourth tannery was erected by J. F. Baldwin & Sons. This tannery was located outside of the incorporation, on lot 104, about a half-mile west of the village. This building was a commodious one, substantially made, and very conveniently arranged for the purposes for which it was intended, the tanning of sole-leather, which was carried on very extensively until about the year 1861 or 1862, when business was suspended and the building removed. FACTORIES. A carding and cloth-dressing factory was erected and put into operation, in the year 1831, by Rover and Lauren Foot. About 1850 the Farmers' company purchased the buildings, and added machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1863, Thomas Butcher became proprietor, and conducted a large business until the factory was burned, in 1868. There are at present in the village two quite extensive carriage-manufactories, J. W. Stebbins being the proprietor of one and M. N. Gardner of the other. Mr. Stebbins has been a carriage-manufacturer a number of years, and has conducted a very large business. Mr. Gardner, though more Mundy established, keeps a number of men employed, and turns out annually about fifty carriages. There are also in the village a planing- and matching-mill, a foundry and machine-shop, and a cheese-box factory. THE MORGAN SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. The Morgan Savings and Loan Association was organized in the fall of 1871, and commenced business about the 1st of November with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of two hundred and fifty dollars each. Frederick Harrington was chosen the first president, A. B. Watkins the first cashier, and J. M. Watkins assistant cashier. Mr. I. Champion succeeded Mr. Harrington as president in January, 1874, and in March following, W. W. Watkins succeeded his brother, J. M. Watkins, as assistant cashier. In the same year Mr. Champion, the president, died, and Mr. A. B. Watkins was elected president and W. W. Watkins cashier. In May, 1876, Mr. A. B. Watkins died, and Mr. B. M. Covell was chosen president, and still continues to hold the office, as does Mr. W. W. Watkins that of cashier. The brick building used by the bank (on Main street) was erected in 1872, and cost about three thousand dollars. The bank does a good business, and has paid until the last year a semi-annual dividend of four per cent. on its capital stock, and during the past year a semi-annual dividend of three per cent. The board of directors for 1877 consists of E. M. Covell, Thomas Walkley, George Morey, E. G. Hurlburt, J. 13. Graham, Giles Crosby, and V. D. Latimer. CHURCHES. The organization of the first church in Morgan was effected by the Presbyterians, in the year 1819, with a membership of about thirty. Previous to this date they had been connected with the church at Austinburg. The first church building in the township was erected by this society in the year 1829, on the southwest corner of lot 76, at the geographical centre of the township. This building was moved to its present location on High street, in the village, in the year 1845 or 1816. The first settled pastor was Rev. Randolph Stone. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Stafford; the membership numbers about one hundred and twenty, and the valuation of church property, including parsonage, is five thousand dollars. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 197 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized in 1822, at the log cabin of William Latimer, Rev. Alfred Bronson preaching the first sermon. The first claw consisted of William Latimer and wife, Hiram Latimer and wife, and Hugh Monteith and wife; William Latimer, leader. In 1813-44 this society erected their church building, oorner of Main and High streets, in the village. The church was rebuilt in 1861, at an expense of eighteen hundred and fifty-one dollars. The present pastor is Rev. L. H. Baker; the membership, one hundred and ten; and the value of church property, four thousand dollars. THE DISCIPLES CHURCH was organized in March, 1874, and has been in a prosperous condition until the present time. Their church building, a brick structure on Lawton street, was erected in the full of 1874, at an expense of over fire thousand dollars. In March and April of this year, immediately after the organization of the church, there was conducted a series of protracted meetings, at the close of which accessions to the church were made, so that it then numbered one hundred members. The present membership is about one, hundred and forty. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. A graded-school system was organized in the village of Rock Creek, in the year 1871. The high-school building, a two-story brick structure, situated on High street, was erected in 1869, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. The first principal was Professor G. E. Barber, who had charge of the school during the years 1871-72. The following arc the names of the succeeding principals: C. W. Henry, 1872-73; H. A. Gladding, 1873-74; L. L. Hamlin, 1874-77 ; F. 0. Reeve, present principal, 1877. During the past year there was an enrollment of two hundred and five students. The present board of directors consists of A. McCausland, president; M. N. Gardner, clerk ; I1. J. Covell, treasurer ; D. C. Sperry, O. A. Dolph, and E. P. Noble. SOCIETIES. Rock Creek Lodge, No. 277, F. and A. M, was chartered October 22, 1856. The charter members were J. W. Adgate, E. Y. Crowell, H. M. Root, David Bartram, Benjamin St, John, Oliver Hitt, E. A. Wright, E. A. Ensign, Theodore Ensign, Rev. A. D. Morton. The first officers were John W. Adgate, Master ; E. Y. Crowell, S. W.; H. N. Root, J. W.; C. R. Vaughn, S. 1). ; Anson Wilber, J. D.; Nathaniel Brown, Treasurer ; Benjamin St. John, Secretary; P. Y. Anthony and Jas. Nevison, Stewards; Oliver Hitt, Tyler. In 1864 the lodge built rooms in the third story of a frame block on the corner of Main and Water streets, which were destroyed by fire, together with contents, January 20, 1866. No insurance was held on the property. In 1867 the lodge bought and fitted up into pleasant rooms the north one-half of the third story of the present brick block, on the corner of Main and Water streets,—the same site occupied by the building containing their first rooms. The present officers are W. L. Covell, W. M.; L. D. Webster, S. W.; H. F. Hunt, J. W. ; D. C. Sperry, Treas.; H. J. Covell, Sec.; R. E. St. John, S. D.; J. F. Windram, J. D.; Robert Kinghorn, Tyler ; H. M. Root and E. H. Pifer, Stewards. The present membership of the lodge is forty-two. Grand River Chapter, No. 104, Royal Arch Masons.—April 6, 1867, Hon. George Rex, Grand High-Priest of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Ohio, granted a dispensation to Companions Alexander McCausland, Marion Brown, S. T. Fuller, L. L. Bennett, J. T. Harvey, Dwight L. Crosby, Wm. D. Cady, J. B. Graham, G. R. Webster, Wm. B. Quirk, W. W. Sargent, and Geo. E. Gee, authorizing them to constitute and establish a chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the village of Rock Creek, nominating and appointing Companions Alexander McCausland the first High-Priest, Marion Brown King, and S. T. Fuller Scribe. May 2, 1867, the following additional officers were appointed, viz. : Companion Wm. B. Quirk, C. of H..; L. L. Bennett, P. S.; Wm. D. Cady, R. A. C.; J. B. Graham, G. M. 3d V.; D. L. Crosby, G. M. 2d V.; Geo. R. Webster, G. M. 1st V. ; J. T. Harvey, T.; D. L. Crosby, S.; W. W. Sargent, G. October 17, 1868, a charter was granted by the Grand Chapter, R. A. M., of Ohio, the charter members being the same as those named in the dispensation. Dec. 2, 1868, the chapter was fully constituted under charter, and the following officers were elected and installed: A. McCausland, H. P.; Marion Brown, K.; Geo. Chapman, Scribe; Wm. B. Quirk, C. of H.; L. L. Bennett, P. S.; S. T. Fuller, R. A. C.; J. B. Graham, G. 51. 3d V.; D. L. Crosby, G. M. 2d V.; C. E. Norris, G. M. 1st V.; J. T. Harvey, T.; J. T. St. John, S.; G. P. Van Orman, G. The chapter has generally been in a prosperous condition, but its membership loth been somewhat reduced by the withdrawal of some members to start the new chapter at Jefferson, within the former jurisdiction of this chapter. At the last election of officers in this chapter, held December 26, 1877, the following companions were chosen, viz.: A. McCausland, H. P. ; J. T. St. John, K. ; A. C. Wilcox, Scribe ; F. E. Crosby, C. of H. ; Marion Brown, P. S. ; H. G. Claflin, R. A. C. ; J. B. Graham, G. M. 3d V. ; G. R. Webster, G. M. 2d V. ; G. P. Van Orman, G. M. 1st V. ; J. T. Harvey, F. ; A. H. Rowley, S. ; W. B. Quirk, G. The present membership of the chapter is forty. Rock Creek Lodge, No. 254, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 12, 1854, by T. W. Ensign, P. G. The following are the names of the charter members: Edward A. Wright, J. F. Brown, A. L. Sprague, A. Campbell, James Stone, A. J. S. Barnes, and O. H. Price. The first officers were E. A. Wright, N. G. ; O. H. Price, V. G. ; J. F. Brown, R. S. ; A. Campbell, Treas.; A. L. Sprague, P. S. In 1867 the lodge bought and finished off their present rooms, in the third story of the brick block, corner of Main and Water streets. These rooms are commodious and nicely furnished. The lodge numbers fifty members, and the present officers are L. S. Geunther, N. G. ; O. W. Evans, V. G. ; Milton Wilder, R. S ; N. G. Foot, P. S. ; Collins Latimer, Treas. ; J. J. Hoyt, A. Campbell, and O. W. Crosby, Trustees. Morgan Grange, No. 1301, P. of H., was organized in February, 1677. The following are the names of the charter members : A. McCausland, H. J. Covell, P. A. Moses, J. J. Hoyt, I. N. Latimer, J. H. Wheeler, J. H. Moses, S. M. Schoville, and their wives, and W. P. Gallup, H. S. Covell, A. Rossiter, Miss Ellen Devlin, and Mrs. Mary Schoville. The first officers were A. McCausland, Master; J. J. Hoyt, Overseer ; H. J. Covell, Sec. ; H. S. Covell, Treas.; P. A. Moses, Lecturer ; I. N. Latimer, Chaplain ; S. M. Schoville, Steward ; W. P. Gallup, Assistant Steward ; Mrs. S. J. Moses, Lady Assistant Steward ; J. H. Moses, G. K.; Ellen Devan, Flora; Mrs. M. P. Wheeler, Ceres; Mary Schoville, Pomona. The present officers are H. J. Covell, Master ; J. J. Hoyt, Overseer; A. McCausland, Lecturer; E. P. Hubbard, Steward; P. A. Moses, Assistant Steward; I. N. Latimer, Chaplain ; O. Hoyt, Tress.; W. P. Gallup, Sec.; L. R. Brockway, G. K. ; Mrs. C. C. Babb, Ceres; Mrs. P. A. Moses, Flora; Mrs. H. J. Covell, Pomona; Miss Ellen Devon, Lady Assistant Steward. The present membership of the grange is twenty-seven. The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in the spring of 1877, by M. N. Gardner, president of the Rome association. The first and present officers are Wm. E. Gallup, president; Horton Harvey, vice-president; Miss Addie Pettis, secretary; Johu Kenevig, treasurer. At the organization of the society there were but fifteen members, while at present the association numbers forty members. Meetings are held in the parlors of the Odd-Fellows' hall every Tuesday evening, with good results, several conversions having occurred among the members since the organization of the association. The Woman's Christian Temperance Association was organized under the name of the Temperance League, in February, 1874. The first officers were Herman Covell, president; Mrs. Holt, vice-president; and Mrs. E. Lee Conkling, secretary. The society was subsequently reorganized into the Woman's Christian Temperance association. Meetings are held weekly. The present officers are Mrs. Molt, president, and Mrs. Conkling, secretary. THE ASHTABULA AND NEW LISBON RAILROAD SCHEME. In 1854 an effort was made by men in Ashtabula, Austinburg, Morgan, and towns south to New Lisbon, Columbiana county, to build a railroad from Ashtabula through these towns to Warren and New Lisbon, to be called the Ashtabula and New Lisbon railroad. Some of the enterprising citizens of Rock Creek, desiring the advantages of railroad communication, and thinking the interests of their village would be greatly enhanced by securing such a railroad, manifested a good deal of interest in the proposed work, and at the same time subscribed heavily to the capital stock. Mr. Lemuel Clark and Deacon Silas Covell were the principal stockholders in Morgan. Mr. Clark lost by this enterprise the neat little sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, which he paid to the company in land at twenty dollars per acre, thus requiring twelve hundred and fifty acres, to which the company received a good and sufficient warranty deed, and for which Mr. Clark, by reason of the failure of the undertaking and the irresponsibility of the company, received not anything of value. Mr. Covell and others who took stock in the road also lost all they invested. MERCANTILE INTERESTS. The first store in Morgan was opened by a Mr. Hart; about the year 1823. It was located near the present site of Mr. Wilcox's tannery. It was a small concern in comparison to the present stores in the village. The next year after Mr. Hart opened this primitive store, G. W. St. John & Co. opened a store in a 198 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA. COUNTY, OHIO. building which stood on the present site of the large brick block corner of Main and Water streets. They carried quite an extensive stock for those days. The . goods were owned by the " Co." part of the firm, consisting of Joab Austin, of Austinburg, and Dr. O. K. Hawley. The following exhibits the business of 1878: Three general merchandise stores, three drug-stores, three hardware-stores, two boot- and shoe-stores, two furniture-stores, one bank, one hotel, one grocery-store, one restaurant, one harness-shop, two millinery-stores, one jewelry-store, one job printing-office, one livery-stable, one market, one barber-shop, one carding-factory, two tanneries, one gristmill, one steam saw-mill, two carriage-manufactories, one tin-shop, one foundry and machine-shop, one planing- and matching-mill, one cheese-box factory, one wagon-shop, and four blacksmith-shops. There are also in the village two photographers'-rooms, four physicians, and one dentist. The officers of the village since the incorporation have been as follows: Mayors.—Wm. C. St. John, 1849 ; Henry King, 1850 ; B. Strickland, 1851; Roger Foot, 1852 ; H. Wilcox, 1853 and 1854 ; G. W. St. John, 1855 ; Andrew' Campbell, 1856 ; J. T. St. John, 1857 ; J. R. Stark, 1858 ; Benj. St. John, 1859; A. B. Watkins, 1861, 1862, and 1863 ; E. E. Pinney, 1864 ; H. W. Howard, 1865; E. A. Wright, 1866 and 1867; Dwight L. Crosby, 1868; Chas. R. Meig, 1869; A. C. Wilcox, 1870—elected for two years—and for '72; N. Thompson, 1874; N. L. Burns, 1876. Recorders.—Nathaniel G. Foot, 1849 ; Geo. McClure, 1850 and 1851 ; H. H. Moses, 1852 ; H. W. Howard, 1853; R. S. Harvey, 1854; N. G. Foot, 1855 ; O. C. Sperry, 1856 ; Geo. W. St. John, 1857 ; G. W. Lawton, 1858 ; H. R. Latimer, 1859; E. A. Wright, 1861; W. F. Thompson, 1862 ; N. Thompson, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1869 ; E. Wilcox, 1868 ; E. H. Pifer, 1870 and 1872 ; O. M. Parker, 1874; E. H. Pifer, 1876. Treasurers.—Harman Wilcox, 1850; O. O. St. John, 1851 ; Geo. McClure, 1853; G. W. St. John, 1854 ; E. A. Wright, 1855 ; F. A. Bierce, 1856 and 1857 ; G. W. St. John, 1858 and 1859 ; A. B. Sperry, 1861 to 1867, inclusive; A. B. Smith, 1868 ; A. B. Sperry, 1869 ; A. L. Rathbone, 1870, 1872, and 1874 ; Edward Kennah, 1876. Marshals—Cullin Hyde, 1850 ; A. B. Sims, 1851; Lewis Martin, 1852 and 1853 ; G. W. Woolsey, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, and 1862 ; W. P. Holt, 1863; G. NV. Woolsey, 1864 and 1865 ; V. D. Latimer, 1866 ; H. R. Latimer, 1867 ; R. D. St. John, 1868 ; C. Laskey, 1869, 1870, 1872, and 1876. Members of Council.—H. W. Howard, Asa D. Howe, Alexander McCausland, Bidwell Strickland, and Anson Wilcox, 1849 ; Zalmon Sperry, Henry King, Wm. Sumner, Geo. W. Woolsey, and Asa B. Sperry, 1850; G. W. St. John, John Hawley, Lewis Martin, J. H. Belden, and M. W. Bailey, 1851 ; G. W. Woolsey, G. W. Lawton, Anson Wilber, J. T. St. John, and N. G. Foot, 1852 ; A. Wilber, L. Sperry, A. B. Sperry, J. F. Brown, and R. S. Harvey, 1853 ; A. B. Sperry, J. F. Brown, J. F. Baldwin, Wm. Sumner, and N. G. Foot, 1854; Anson Wilber, Robt, Harper, C. N. Chapman, A. B. Sims, and A. B. Smith, 1855 ; Thos. Walkley, Robt. Harper, Z. Sperry, E. Bailey, and J. W. Adgate, 1856; V. J. C. Hodge, A. B. Smith, A. B. Sperry, Spencer Harvey, and P. O. Cook, 1857 ; B. C. Randall, A. B. Sperry, Spencer Harvey, Jno. Anthony, and A. McCausland, 1858; A. B. Sperry, A. B. Smith, Spencer Harvey, H. A. Lusk, and E. E. Pinney, 1859; H. W. Howard, P. Anthony, A. C. Wilcox, J. Hibbard, and J. N. Thompson, 1860 ; J. Hibbard, E. A. Wright, John Jepson, A. C. Wilcox, and G. W. Lawton, 1861 ; A. C. Wilcox, A. R. Rathbone, Joe. Hibbard, G. W. Lawton, and Champion, 1862; I. Champion, J. Hibbard, A. C. Wilcox, G. W. Lawton, and G. M. Hoyt, 1863; G. W. Lawton, A. B. Smith, W. P. Holt, A. C. Wilcox, and Ed. Bailey, 1864 and 1865; E. Bailey, A. C. Wilcox, G. W. Lawton, A. B. Smith, H. W. Howard, 1866 ; A. B. Smith, Ed. Bailey, G. W. Lawton, W. P. Holt, and H. R. Latimer, 1867; A. C. Wilcox, E. Bailey, W. P. P. Holt, A. L. Rathbone, and Wm. H. Wright, 1868; Geo. B. St. John, J. Hibbard, Jno. Jepson, S. W. Laden, and A. L. Rathbone, 1869; J. Hibbard, Ed. Kennah, and Geo. Bailey, for one year; V. R. Phillips, V. D. Latimer, and G. M. Hoyt, for two years, 1870; J. Hibbard, M. Brettell, and G. W. Woolsey, 1871; G. M. Hoyt, V. R. Phillips, and V. D. Latimer, 1872 ; G. W. Woolsey, J. Hibbard, and S. W. Laden, 1873; A. B. Watkins, Henry Piper, A. Campbell, D. M. Glad-ding, S. W. Laden, and G. W. Woolsey, 1874; G. Woolsey, D. C. Sperry, and S. W. Laden, 1875; H. J. Covell, J. F. Windram, and Orlando Hoyt, 1876; N. Kasson, J. M. Thompson, and A. M. Barker, 1877. THE EXECUTION OF PO-CHE-KA. The following is an account of the execution of this Indian chieftain, written by David Wright, Esq., an early settler of this township: "I was as well acquainted with Po-che-ka, the young chief of the Chippewa tribe, as with any Indian I ever knew, having spent many a winter evening with him in acquiring his language and imparting to him our own, and the history and geography of our country, while he in return would exhibit on the floor geographical outlines of the country his and neighboring tribes occupied, bordering on the great lakes and in Canada. Some eight or ten years passed on and we usually met with our accustomed ' Sago niche' (How do you do, friend?). But our interviews were soon to end. Po-che-ka and a half-breed Indian committed murder. Two young men by the name of Buell, from Bloomfield, Geneva county, New York, had taken their farm in Huron, some distance from neighbors. They sold a horse to Po-che-ka, and received furs in payment. The Indians took their horse and went on towards Detroit; but after some days' trial, the horse not meeting their expectation returned with him and urged the Buells to exchange, but they had sent their furs to the east and could not comply with their request. This waked up their Indian temper, and during the night they tomahawked their hosts, before whose fire they had been invited to sleep, and fled to Sandusky, where their tribe was assembled in council. The fact that the Buckle were found tomahawked, and the sudden disappearance of the Indiana, led the settlers strongly to suspect them guilty of the murder, and a company; of militia with arms went to Sandusky in pursuit of them. They demanded them of the chief, giving him a detailed account of the circumstances, who readily delivered them up for trial. On their way to Cleveland, while the company were taking some refreshments, the accomplice of Po-che-ka, though his hands and arms were pinioned, contrived to get the muzzle of his rifle under his chin, cocked and fired it with his toe, and thus ended his life. Po-che-ka made his escape and returned to Sandusky, where he was artfully detained by a Mr. Whitaker until he was retaken and conveyed to Cleveland, where he was confined in the chamber of Mr. Carter to await trial. He denied the charge preferred against him for awhile, but finally confessed it. He was sentenced to be hung on the 26th day of June, 1812. Orrick, his father, remonstrated against the manner of his execution. 'Hanging,' he said, would shake the spirit, but, if permitted, he would take him into the street and how him to pieces with his tomahawk.' The sheriff told him, 'That would not be according to the-laws of the United States, but he must be hung by the neck till dead.' " On the day previous to his execution I was in Cleveland, passing in front of the house where he was chained, when he saw me, called use byname, and beckoned me to come in and see him. I obtained permission and entered his chamber, when the following conversation, as near as my memory serves me, took place : Ah, Po-che-ka ! what are you chained here for?' Wabunk meh kickapoo.' (To-morrow I die.) What have you been doing?' 'Meh tomahawk chemoke mun.' (I kill white man.) Oh ! what did you do that for ? Talk in Yankee, Po-che-ka.' Meh too much mad.' After a short pause, I expressed my sorrow that he had done so and now he must die on the gallows. He replied: ' Po-che-ka come again—may-be white man, may-be Indian, may-be horse, may-be dog.' No, if Po-che-ka is hung till he is dead I shall never see him again in this world.' But my saying so did not drive him from his belief in the doctrine of transmigration of souls. On the next day, the 26th of June, after an appropriate sermon, by the Rev. Father Badger, to a large concourse of people, the criminal, having the rope about his neck, seated on his ooffin, on a cart, sang his death-song on his way to the scaffold. He was escorted by an independent battalion, under the command of Major McArthur, to the place of execution. On the scaffold he requested permission of the sheriff, Mr. Baldwin, to speak to the people, which was given. lie took a paper from his bosom, which he had written in hieroglyphics, and began to read, but such was his excitement, though I stood within a few yards of him I could not understand words enough to make a sentence. He soon became so agitated he stopped reading, gave the papers to the sheriff, and sat down ; seeing the sheriff about to cut the rope, he clung to one of the braces and held fast. He had all along hoped to be pardoned or expected release from some quarter. Mr. Carter offered him a glass of whisky if he would take his seat ; he reluctantly complied, drank his whisky, and was immediately launched into eternity." . BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. VICTORIAN D. LATIMER. The subject of the following sketch was born in the township where he now resides,.on the third day of September, 1843. He is the fifth child of William and Corresta Reed Latimer, the former of whom was born in Otis, Massachusetts, and the latter in Granby, Connecticut. The family came to Ohio in 1818. The mother still resides there, the father having died in 1870. Victorian D. received a fair academic education. He was a member of the Eighty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, and was taken prisoner by the southern Confederacy, at Harper's Ferry, on September 18, 1862. Returning after the expiration of BRADLEY CUMMINGS RANDALL The desire for approbation is as legitimate as the desire for food, and when a man, actuated by pure motives, accomplishes something from which good is derived, he merits the approval of the hearts that love him, and he receives their expressions of praise with grateful pleasure. It is our purpose to write a brief notice in commendation of him whose name and portrait head this sketch, feeling assured that by a meritorious and blameless life he is deserving of mention in the pages of this work. Jason and Martha Randall, the parents of Bradley Cummings, removed from Genesee county, New York, to Ohio, and located in Kirtland township, then Geauga, but now attached to Lake county, at which point they arrived in February, 1819. It was here, on the 25th day of February, 1820, that the subject of the present sketch was born. His parents eventually remolded to Chardon, Geauga county, and died there, —the father in 1853, and the mother in 1858. Bradley C. was the youngest son and the sixth child of a family of ten. His education was begun of course as that of every American boy has begun,—at the district school, and finished at the academy situated in Kirtland village. Taught perhaps two terms of school, and then engaged in the business of merchandising, as a partner in the firm of Randall, Cook & Co., at Chardon, Geauga county. In connection with the store the firm operated an extensive morocco factory, and also dealt largely in general produce, wool, etc. This was the commencement of a series of years of toil in the occupation by which he acquired the handsome competence he was not permitted to live to enjoy. Continued in business at Chardon until 1855, when he removed to Rock Creek, purchased a tannery and opened a dry goods store; this was under the firm-name of Cook & Randall. Their mercantile department increased until they had as extensive a stock as was shown in the county. The tannery grew to be a stupendous enterprise. In 1864 he became sole owner, and continued as such until the 20th day of January, 1867, when his useful and honorable life was brought to a close. His death was deeply regretted, for the loss of a truly worthy and good citizen always leaves a void not easily filled. Mr. Randall was united in marriage, on the 18th day of April, 1848, to Flora C., danghter of Thomas and Ruby Murphy, of Chardon, Geauga county, who were among the pioneers of that township. This estimable lady is still living in widowhood. The children of this marriage were Carlton Bradley, who was born in Chardon, on January 19, 1849. He was married, on June 20, 1870, to Frances A. Shafer, of Morgan township. He was only permitted to enjoy the marriage relation a brief period, dying of pulmonary consumption May 29, 1872. The next child was Ida Flora, who was born on the 24st day of May, 1851, also in Chardon. Her marriage occurred on the 24th day of September, 1870, and her death on the 29th day of the same month and year. She was a noble girl, too frail perhaps to endure the many bitter experiences of life. Mr. Randall was strongly Republican in polities, was a member of the independent order of Odd Fellows, and in early life a communicant of the Baptist church, and in later years an attendant at the Congregational church. He was universally respected and esteemed as a man of sterling integrity, excellent business qualifications, sound judgment, and uncommon ability; an ever kind and indulgent husband and father, and, although ever engrossed with the cares of his business, yet had always time for those attentions which every one happily wedded loves to bestow. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 199 his term of service, he engaged in the mercantile business. In the year 1875 he erected the fine brick block where ho now carries on the drug and hardware trade. He was united in marriage, on October 4, 1864, to Esther, daughter of Baldwin and Harriet Fitzgerald Morris. From this marriage have been born two children; these are Lenah, born May 8, 1866, and Frank 0., whose birth occurred April 16, 1868. JAMES STONE. July 4, 1803, the father of the subject of this sketch made his entrance into the township of Morgan. He came originally from Connecticut. In the War of 1812 he was in command of a volunteer militia company. The farm upon which he made a settlement is now owned by the heirs of James Stone, Jr. His parents were James and Isabel Dewey Stone, who deceased, the father February 17, 1831, and the mother February 24, 1860. James Stone, Jr., was born February 13, 1809. He was the fifth of a family of eight children, and acquired his education as best he might at that early day, attending the district school at such times as he could be spared from the labors of the farm until he arrived at the age of twelve years, after which he studied evenings by the light of the wide, open fireplace. About the time of the death of his father he became the owner of fifty acres of land, and this was the start for the ample fortune afterwards accumulated. He was for many years actively engaged in the dairy interests of the county, usually manufacturing the milk from one hundred cows. He will be remembered as having made several enormous cheeses ; for one of these, weighing some nineteen hundred pounds, be was awarded a silver cup by the American Institute, at New York, in 1848. In his township he was public-spirited and energetic, and as a consequence was usually in some township office. Was a justice of the peace for many years. He early espoused the cause of the colored man, and was one of the seven in Morgan township who voted for James G. Birney, candidate of the Abolition party for President. His house was a station on the underground railroad in the early, perilous days of the slavery agitation. Early left with the care of his father's family, he brought them up in a manner creditable to his kindness of heart. In his social relations he was ever kind and affectionate. On the 5th of February, 1834, Mr. Stone was united in marriage to Abbie A. Loveridge, who came with her parents from Colchester, Conn., and was residing in Morgan township at the time of her marriage. From this marriage was born, on August 29, 1836, Abbie A., who is still resident on the old homestead. The 6th of the subsequent October the mother of Abbie died, and on September 8, 1842, Mr. Stone was again married to Nancy M., daughter of Harry W. and Nancy Wright Loomis, who were of the pioneer settlers in Windsor township. The children of this marriage are James Birney, born August 25, 1845, deceased ; Berenia L., born April 20, 1849, deceased ; Lillie Bertha, born June 20, 1854, deceased ; and James Ralph, who was born August 22, 1858, and is now completing his education at Grand River institute, Austinburg, this county. Photo. by O. A. Dolph, Morgan, O. ALONZO MOSES. - 50 -