Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

150 acres. 557 " 455 " 170 " 172 " 1967 "

1,252 bushels. 28,090 " 25,704 " 2,165 " 14,840 " 2,034 tons 9,845 pounds. 28,790 " 480,731 "

There are 6 school-houses, valued at $3300 ; amount paid teachers, $661.85; with total number of school of 209.   Population, 708.   Vote for President in 1876 was: R. B. Hayes, 144; S. J. Tilden, 59.   RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.   THIS township, which is described on the records of the county as No. 10 in the first range of the Connecticut Western Reserve, was originally owned as follows: the two tiers of lots across the north part of the township, being one-fourth of the entire township, were deeded to John Kinsman. Justus and Horace Stocking owned another considerable tract joining on the south the Kinsman land. Samuel Woodruff's land, comprising one thousand acres, came next, while the remainder of the land now embraced within the limits of this township were owned by the Atwater heirs.   SOIL, WATER-COURSES, ETC.   The soil of this township is generally that of a clay-loam, and rather above the average in productiveness, though some portions are too swampy as yet to be available as farming land. The surface is rolling, especially along the watercourses, which consist of the two principal branches of the Ashtabula creek. The first of which, and this is properly the bead of Ashtabula creek, rises on lot No. 44, and, flowing a northwesterly course, enters Pierpont near the southwest corner ; the other stream heads on lot No. 21, and the direction is the same as the former stream, crossing into Pierpont about one mile from the east line.   FIRST SETTLEMENT.   In the spring of, probably, 1805, Peter Yateman, Benjamin Newcomb, Samuel and William Teed, with their respective families, and a Mr. Morehouse, and it is possible others whose names are forgotten, began settlement on lot No. 46. A number of log dwellings were erected, among which was one of the style known as double log house. This was built by Mr. Newcomb, and stood near the present residence of Lowell Morse. William Tead's dwelling stood a few rods to the south, and his brother Samuel's a short distance north, while the cabins of the other settlers were erected near by for protection. At about the same time Paul Rice and a party named Drigs located at a point perhaps a half-mile north, the former erecting his habitation on lot No. 35, and the latter on No. 36.   The first frame house in the township was erected by Charles Jordon, in about 1828. This stood upon the site now occupied by the residence of John Dasher, and was destroyed by fire.   In about the year 1811, Miss Laura Ford taught the first school in this township. This was held at the centre, probably in one of the vacant log cabins, though we are unable to obtain anything by way of particulars.   In the fall of 1826 a log school-house was erected in district No. 2 (now Padanaram), and the same year witnessed the completion of a frame school-house. This was in district No. 1, now known as the "Old Rockville district." This house was burned, but the grounds upon which it stood, and which were donated for the purpose by John Kinsman, are still occupied for school purposes.   The first church organization was effected in the year 1811 ; was of the denomination known as Methodist, and Ewins Wright, of Pierpont, was the class-leader. The second religious organization was that of Baptist. Prior to this, however, meetings were held in the township by ministers of different denominations. The first church edifice was erected by the Methodists, in 1849, and another was built soon after by the Wesleyan Methodists. Both these churches stood at Padanaram,—the latter of which has long since been abandoned for church purposes, and is now occupied as a dwelling by John Ross. The present churches at this point are a Methodist,—the pulpit of which is supplied by the Rev. O. G. St. John, at the centre,—and a Disciple church, the pastor of which is Rev. James Crouch. At the centre there are two churches,—Methodist and close-communion Baptist. Rev. St. John is the pastor of the former, and Elder Richmond, of Geneva, supplies the pulpit of the latter. At Leon station there is a church of the denomination known as United Brethren, Rev. Whitney pastor, and also a Methodist church at Steamburg, Rev. St. John pastor.   The first post office established in the township was at Leon, in about 1836. M. Barber was commissioned postmaster,—the office being located at his residence. The present post-offices are as follows: At the centre, William H. Heath, postmaster ; at Leon, C. D. Ainger, postmaster ; another at North Richmond, with William Pearson postmaster ; and the fourth at Steamburg, Abel Mead postmaster.   57   The first hotel was opened in the double log house of Mr. Newcomb, previously referred to, and among the distinguished guests at this rude hostelry we find that Mr. Giddings (father of the honorable J. R.) and family remained there one night, while en route for the Wayne settlement. J. R. was at this time ten years of age. This pioneer house of entertainment was a great convenience to those who passed to and fro over the " old Salt road." There is at present but one hotel in the township. This is located at Leon station, is owned by A. N. Slater, and at present conducted by a Mr. Thompson.   In 1845, Samuel Dart erected on lot No. 2 a saw-mill. This was propelled by water-power. About this time a steam-mill was put in operation by Messrs. Doty & Sheldon, on lot No. 10. The mill of Abel Mead now occupies this site. At Leon station there is a steam saw-mill, owned by Messrs. Baker & Ainger, and north of that point another mill is owned by Thomas Ripley. At Padanaram Messrs. Cadwell & Jordan have in nperation another mill.   The first and only grist-mill in the township was built by O. Brower, on lot No. 6, in about 1852. This was burned some four years later. Of other manufactures, we have a cheese-box factory, planing-mill, and shingle-machine on lot No. 51, owned by O. F. Boman.   The first blacksmith-shop was established by Samuel Tead at a very early day; this was located at the centre, on lot No. 46.   The first apple-trees were planted by Paul Rice as early as 1810. They were on lot No. 35, and some of them are still standing.   The first store was opened at Leon in about 1830, under the firm-name of Lieges & Carpenter. At this point Mr. Barber afterwards operated one of the most extensive mercantile establishments in the county. The present business houses of Richmond township are William H. Heath and John Beaumont, general merchandise, at the centre. Trade and commerce are represented at Padanaram by William G. Hopper, M. B. Chapman, and S. M. Jones. At Leon Messrs. Moore & Son are selling goods at the old " Barber stand." At the Station Norman Dolph has a grocery, and at Steamburg John Hamilton carries on the business of undertaking.   The first marriage which occurred in the township was that of Nicholas Knapp and Elvira Rockwell; this was in March, 1824.   The first physician to locate in the township was E. B. Linn,—this was in 1853,—located at the centre, where he yet resides. At Padanaram E. Hurd is the present physician.   The first adult death was that of Roswell Moody. This occurred in March, 1827. The funeral services were conducted at the house of the deceased by the Rev. Mr. Drake, of Andover, and the body was interred in the cemetery, on lot No. 63, which was the first land devoted or occupied for cemetery purposes in the township.   ORGANIZATION.   The lands now comprised within the limits of the township of Richmond were first organized under the name of Jefferson, then of Denmark, afterwards (June 18, 1818) the lands at present contained in this and Pierpont township were organized under the name of Pierpont, and on March 4, 1828, it was " Resolved that so much of the present township of Pierpont as is included in surveyed township number ten, in the first range, be set off and erected a separate township, to be hereafter known and designated by the name of Richmond, and that an election for township officers be held at the house of John H. Montgomery, near the centre of said township, on Monday, the 7th day of April next." From the clerk's book of records for Richmond township we find that the first election was held April 8, 1828, at which time John H. Montgomery, Levi Brown, arid David Prindle were elected trustees; Salmon Ashley, clerk ; Artemas Ward, treasurer; Nicholas Knapp and Horace Cadwell, fence-viewers; Thomas Bright and Paul Rice, overseers of the poor ; Charles Jordon, constable; and Charles Jordon and Roswell Parmer, supervisors of roads and highways. Levi Brown was elected a justice of the peace for Richmond township on July 17,1828, and commissioned August 24, 1828. The gentlemen who have filled the office of justice of the peace from that date until the present are as follows : Harvey Rockwell, Moody Pike, Nicholas Knapp, Salmon Ashley, Justus Peck, James M. Stone, Loren Houghton, M. Barber, Joseph Pressor, C. T. Sunbury, S. D. Ashley, E. S. Sunbury, and E. O. Peck. The present incumbents to that office are C. T. Sunbury   - 227 -   228 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   and J. F. Bright; and the present township officers (1877) are John Rockwell, Cornelius S. Hall, and J. H. Prindle, trustees ; E. H. Butler, clerk ; C. T. Sunbury, treasurer; H. F. Leonard, assessor ; D. B. Peck and J. B. Rockwell, constables. There are also fourteen supervisors of roads. The first presidential election for Richmond township occurred October 21, 1828.   The first cheese-factory established in the township was in the spring of 1873. This was organized, and is still conducted, on the stock plan. The milk of four hundred cows is annually manufactured, and the factory is one of the paying industries of the township.   ROADS.   The first route cut through this township was the " old Salt road," to which reference is made above, and for a description of which see Andover township. But the first record we are able to procure reads as follows: June, 1831, "Beginning at the southeast corner of lot No. 20, and running north to township line road." The next entry we find is March, 1842. " From the centre road east to the State line, about two hundred rods north of the south line of the township." Same date, " From the south line of the township about one mile west of the State line. North, two and a half miles." June, 1843, " From the State line at southeast corner of lot No. 20, and running west to turnpike." June, 1848, " Padanaram road, from Andover line north, two and a half miles." June, 1849, " From State line at northeast corner of lot No. 60 west to turnpike." June, 1850, " From the Padanaram road, between lots 22 and 39, east to State line."   Our thanks are due E. O. Peck and Silas P. Warren, Jr., for valuable aid in the collection of facts for this brief sketch of early history.   STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

178 acres 510 “ 384 " 81 " 199 " 2076 "

1,847 bushels 13,443 ‘ 24,149 " 5,436 " 13,590 " 2,571 tons 11,110 pounds. 33,205 " 14,510 “

School-houses, 10; valuation, $3000; amount paid teachers, $1250.93; number of scholars, 306.   Vote for President, 1876: Hayes, 165 ; Tilden, 58.   Population for 1870, 883.   BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.   EDWIN ORLANDO PECK.   The gentleman whose name heads this article was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, on the 30th day of January, 1815. He is the second child of Justus and Sally Peck. The family removed to Ohio in the month of August, 1824, and located in Williamsfield township, this county. Mr. Peck's education was obtained at the primitive common schools of that day, his youthful days being divided between attending school and working on his father's farm. His occupation has been, and is still, that of a farmer. He has secured an ample competency to sustain himself and family. On the 13th day of April, 1837, Mr. Peck was married to Laura E., daughter of Laman and Anu Bartholomew, who resided in the adjoining township of Wayne. He and his young wife began housekeeping on the farm now occupied by Monroe Rose, in Williamsfield township, where he remained until April 1, 1849, when he removed to the township of Richmond, his present home. The children of this couple are Sarah A., who was married to Andrew Wilson, ex-lieutenant Company B, of the gallant. old Twenty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; Edwin O., Jr., married Adelaide Landon; Lemuel A. (died in infancy); Justin L., married Ophelia Turner ; Milo C. is yet single, and remains at home ; Luella R., married J. T. Parker ; Charlie E., single; Archie (died young); Dudley, the youngest of the family, was born in 1864. Of this large and interesting family, all, with one exception, reside in Richmond; Ashtabula County. Edwin O., Jr., the " exception," resides in Oceana county, Michigan. Mr. Peck was elected as one of the county commissioners in the fall of 1873, and was re-elected in 1875, along with other county officers, by one of Ashtabula County's rousing majorities. He has been an efficient public officer, and performs the duties of his office honestly, intelligently, and promptly. He has also held several offices in connection with Richmond township, among which is that of justice of the peace, in which capacity he served fifteen years. The long period for which he held the office is a well-deserved compliment from the people. Politically, Mr. Peck is a member of the Republican party. his father, who is still living, resides with him, and has reached the ripe old age of eighty-five years. The mother died in the year 1873. Esquire Peck is a member of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of Relief lodge, No. 284, of Pierpont township. He was represented in the war of the great Rebellion by his two sons, D. B. and E. O., Jr., and two sons-in-law.   TRUMBULL TOWNSHIP.   This township, which is geographically known as No. 10 of the fifth range of the Connecticut Western Reserve, was originally divided east and west into three sections, the two south of which were two miles in width, while the third or north section was but one mile wide. Each division had a separate ownership, viz.: the first or south division was owned by Samuel Parkman, of Boston, Massachusetts (said to be the father of the unfortunate Dr. Parkman, who, it will be remembered, was murdered by Dr. Webster) ; the centre division by William Tuckerman, also of Boston ; and the north division by Christopher Starr. This tract was, however, disposed of prior to a settlement in the township, and Messrs. Fitch and May became the proprietors. The agent for these gentlemen was Simon Perkins, then residing at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio.   TOPOGRAPHY AND STREAMS.   The township of Trumbull is of a high rolling nature, descending easterly towards Grand river, into which the waters of its numerous streams are discharged. The soil is well adapted to agriculture, and the streams furnish ample living water. The principal of these streams are Trumbull, Crooked, and Mill creeks. Trumbull, the largest of these, rises from springs in Thompson and Montville, Geauga county, enters this township near the southwest corner, and, passing easterly, discharges its waters into Grand river, in Morgan. Crooked creek also heads in Montville, and, after devious twisting and turning, reaches the river aforesaid in Rome township. Mill creek is the only one which has its rise in the township. This flows from the northwest quarter and empties into the same river in Madison, Lake county. There arc also many smaller streams tributary to those above referred to.   SETTLEMENT.   The first attempt at settlement was made in the year 1799, by Holly Tanner, the proprietors having proposed to deed him two hundred acres of land, provided he move on to the same, improve at least twenty acres, and remain in constant occupancy for the period of two years. This was agreed to, and the land selected on the north line, immediately east of the centre road, and on the 15th day of May, 1799, Mr. Tanner, his wife Hannah, and two children (David and Joseph) took their departure from Scipio, New York, for "New Connecticut ;" embarked in a small boat on Cayuga lake ; thence through Lake Ontario to the falls of Niagara, around which they hauled their boat ; and thence along Lake Erie to what is now known as Madison dock (then, we believe, called " Harper's Landing"), at which point they arrived on the 16th day of June. Disembarking, they took the woods' trail for Harpersfield, where the family remained until Mr. Tanner had, by the assistance of the early pioneers of that erected a log cabin on his possessions in Trumbull, into which the family removed, without doubt, the same season, though we have no positive knowledge of the fact. Mr. Tanner chopped, in due time, the required number of acres, cleared a portion of it, raised one crop of wheat, and remained for nearly two years without neighbors, and was becoming very much discouraged, when news reached him of the death of the proprietors. This was the "last straw," and, giving up all hopes of ever acquiring a title, he abandoned his claim and removed from the State. Subsequent events proved that, had he remained but a month or two longer, ho would have received his deed, the proprietors having made such an arrangement with their agent.   From the date of his departure there was no settlement in the township until about 1818, when Daniel Woodruff, originally from Colebrook, Litchfield county,   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 229   Connecticut, but more recently from Williamsfield, this county, removed to Trumbull and. located in the southeast part of the township, on lands now occupied by Mrs. O. S. Wilson. Immediately following him was Isaac H. Phelps, who located on lot No. 32. Obadiah Brown, originally from Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was the third permanent settler, and located on lot No. 50 ; this place is now occupied by William Mead. Leonard Blackmar was the next accession to our little pioneer settlement. He was originally from Ontario county, New York, and located in Trumbull, on the spot where now stands the residence of John Brown. This was in 1819. Ezra Griffin located on lot No. 49. May 24, 1827, Nathaniel Brown, from Genesee county, New York, arrived in the township, and located on the Griffin lot (No. 49). From John, the oldest son of this gentleman, we learn many facts connected with the early history of Trumbull township, and to whom our thanks are due. Ebenezer H. Andrews, from Penfield, Ontario county, New York, settled in this township in the year 1837. His location was on the lot first occupied by Isaac H. Phelps, who had removed to near the centre of the township in 1836. The first settler at this point, however, was Osborn M. Baker. This was in about 1834. His location was near the spot afterwards occupied by Messrs. Andrews St Worthing with their mercantile establishment. This is the corner upon which stood the store and residence of Stephen J. Massingham, which, it will be remembered, was burned February 22, 1876. In December, 1835, two brothers, Jonathan and Thomas Rich, from the State of New York, settled on lot No. 53. The first settlement at what is now known as Footville was made by Orson Grant, in the fall of 1841. In June, 1842, he was joined by Lauren B. Foot, from Morgan township, and the subsequent autumn his brother joined them. The exact spot upon which this settlement was made we cannot definitely ascertain, but the name of this little hamlet is doubtless derived from these two families.   FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.   This was erected in about 1829. It was of logs, a mere cabin, and stood perhaps four rods southeast of the present residence of Mrs. O. S. Wilson. We are unable to learn who taught the first school ; but among the first was Miss Mehetabel Madison, who taught a term in this house in the summer of 1830. There were in attendance some eight scholars. The first school taught in Footville was in the winter of 1842. Miss Cornelia Ballard was the teacher, and there were six scholars in attendance.   THE FIRST SERMON   delivered in Trumbull township was by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, at the house of Daniel Woodruff, in the year 1819. The first church organization was that of the Methodists, at an early day ; their meetings were held in school-houses until about 1855, when a church edifice was erected by this denomination on the corner of lands owned by Theodore Frisble, Sr. This church was subsequently removed to a short distance north of the centre. We learn this church has never had a resident minister, the pulpit having been supplied by the clergyman of the Grand river charge, to which this church is attached. The present pastor is the Rev. S. S. Collier, of Mechanicsville. The Disciple church at the centre was formed Juno 6, 1859, under the preaching of Elders Orrin Gates and James Ensall. The original members were fifteen, of whom eleven were females. William Nelson was elected overseer and Harvey Curtis deacon. The first pastor was J. A. Thayer, who located in Trumbull in 1870. Their church edifice was erected in the summer of 1874, and dedicated December 25,1874, by President Pendleton, of Bethany college. Present membership, one hundred and five. Present pastor, J. C. Cushman. The church of this denomination at East Trumbull was erected in 1874. The project of building a church at this point originated with H. R. Kendall. It was finished, however, by John Brown. S. S. Bartlett is the present pastor.   THE FIRST POST-OFFICE   was established in the year 1823, at the house of the postmaster, Isaac H. Phelps; he was succeeded by Josiah Gregory in 1828, who held the position for twenty years, at the expiration of which time George Rich was appointed, and the office removed to the centre, where it still remains. J. M. Fairbanks is the present postmaster. A second office was established at East Trumbull in 1848. O. H. Price was the first postmaster, and after him were J. H. Wheeler, J. Palmer, Wm. Davis, and Lewis C. Horton, who is the present incumbent, the office being kept at his store. The mails were formerly carried over the State road, on horseback, once each week (if the weather would admit), and when the office was removed to the centre the route was changed. Now they have a daily mail via Geneva and Rock Creek.   ROADS.   Prior to a settlement in this township a road was laid out from Harpersfield to Warren, and made passable ss far as Windsor. This road passed through Trumbull about one hundred rods east of the centre. The thoroughfare now commonly known as the " East road" was established or at least out through from Mechanicsville as early as 1820. The State road was opened (as a county road) in 1816, and became a State road in 1820. In 1835 a road was authorized, " Beginning at the north line and running south through the township, one mile west of the centre." In 1837 another, " Beginning at the east and west road on the south side of Grand river in Harpersfield, between lots Nos. 108 and 109, and running south until it intersects a new road laid out in Trumbull."   The first crops of wheat harvested in Trumbull township by permanent settlers were in 1819, by Isaac H. Phelps and Daniel Woodruff, and as there was no such article as a " fanning-mill" to be had, a large " wooden bowl" was substituted, and several subsequent crops were winnowed by the aid of the same rude contrivance. The first fruit-trees were also planted by the same gentlemen in the fall of 1818. The trees were procured in Harpersfiold, and the first plum-trees in the township were grown from seeds which Mrs. Josiah Gregory brought in her pocket from Saratoga, New York, in 1818.   FIRST STORES.   The first mercantile establishment was opened at the centre; stock consisted of groceries and notions. George Rich was the proprietor, and his goods were kept in a small red building, which is now occupied as a wood-house by V. N. Stone, and stands near its original site. This was in 1847, and the first stock of goods from Cleveland to this point was transported by teams. Horatio Rich afterwards operated for a number of years a store on this corner, and V. N. Stone at present occupies the premises with a Grange store. The business houses at this point are J. M. Fairbanks, general stock ; E. P. Saunders, groceries and hardware; Edward Curtis, boots and shoes ; and Mrs. A. H. Dodge, millinery. At East Trumbull Lewis C. Horton has a store, general line; O. C. Parker, groceries and notions; and Mrs. Ingall, millinery. R. P. Walcott has an undertaking establishment one mile north of the centre.   THE FIRST MARRIAGE   in Trumbull township was solemnized by Isaac IT. Phelps, justice of the peace, in about 1821. The happy pair were Jehoiakim Burget and Sarissa Patterson, of Harpersfield ; but the first marriage of residents of this township was that of Ezra and Laura Griffin, in about 1824, and of which William Nelson, Esq., gives the following description :   "Ezra and Laura having made up their minds that it was not good for man to be alone,' started one evening, at perhaps eight o'clock, in the month of, we will say, November, for Jefferson, he taking with him his entire earthly possessions, consisting of three coon-skins, with which to pay for the license, an axe, and gun. Arriving at Grand river, at a point where now stands the residence of John Craig, they found the waters of this now peaceful stream so turbulent that the expectant bride refused to cross, though the sturdy groom (that was to be) had felled a tree and prepared a raft for the purpose. There being nothing better for it than to   'Learn to labor and to wait,'   they ‘tarried by the roadside' until evening, when they crossed, and repairing to Jefferson, exchanged the coon-skins for the necessary documents, and were made one by, it is thought, Esquire Jones. The justice's fees were only partially paid, as the coon-skins did not bring quantum sufficit' for all expenses." This couple settled on the farm now occupied by James Froward, reared a numerous family, but eventually sold out and went west.' "   PHYSICIANS.   The first who settled in the township was Nelson Eastman, who located in East Trumbull in about 1842; remained some six years. The present M.D. is W. G. Leland, who resides just west of the centre.   The first child born in the township was a son of Daniel Woodruff. This interesting event occurred on the 17th day of September, 1819, and the young pioneer was christened Alanson Trumbull. Of his subsequent history we have no knowledge.   The first adult death was that of Leonard Blackmar, on April 22, 1819. His death was occasioned by injuries received some two months previous, while engaged in capturing, alone, a full-grown elk. The funeral obsequies were performed by Bazetta Spencer, at the house of the deceased, and the body was interred near by. The first cemetery established in the township WAS in 1836 ; this was on lot No. 49.   The first hotel in the township was opened at East Trumbull, in 1839. The building is now occupied by O. C. Parker as a dwelling and grocery. A. T. Codding was the landlord. No hotel is kept at this point at present. The first and only hotel at the centre was built by Scott Jenks, in 1858. This was managed by different parties until the early part of 1874, when it was purchased by E. P.   230 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   Saunders, who still " takes in" the weary traveler, and " does for him" in a manner which makes him feel at peace with all the world.   MILLS.   The pioneer saw-mill of this township was erected in 1828, by M. W. Beach. This was located on the southeast part of the township, on Trumbull creek (lot No. 42). Another saw-mill was built at Footville, in 1842, by Messrs. Grant & Foot. In 1833, Asa Wait and Nathaniel Clark erected (also on Trumbull creek) the first grist-mill. This was, in 1841, purchased by Nathaniel Brown and John, his son, who is now the sole owner of this property. A saw-mill was erected south of the centre by Daniel Dodge, in 1837. In about 1840 a grist-mill was put in operation by the same individual. The stones formerly used in this mill are now doing duty, a little farther down the stream, in the flouring-mill of Sylvester Curtis.   CHEESE-FACTORIES.   Of these quite modern institutions we find that the first was established in the spring of 1861. This was conducted on the co-operative plan, with the following stockholders: Frank Cook, James Massingham, M. Proctor, A. Sinclair, G. W. Rich, A. H. Dodge, Steve J. Massingham, and H. G. Rich. The average number of cows contributing is three hundred and fifty. In the spring of 1870 another factory was opened at East Trumbull. This was burned in August, 1876. The present factory at this point began operations in the spring of 1877, A. H. Brainard, manager. At Footville, Hiram Spafford erected a factory building in 1871. This has been operated by William Raymond and others.   SOCIETIES.   Eagle Grange, No. 148, was organized October 8, 1873, U. D. They have never received a charter. The members for organization were L. G. Nye and wife, Daniel Webb and wife, A. M. Proctor and wife, R. F. Cook and wife, Wm. E. Bradley and wife, H. A. Warren and wife, M. Loomis and wife, H. Spafford and wife, A. H. Dodge and wife, B. F. Gee and wife, H. P. Dodge and wife, A. E. Graham and wife, Frank Cook and wife, Mrs. Alice Stevens, A. Scott, S. C. Powers, and John Quail. First officers, A. H. Dodge, M.; L. G. Nye, O. ; John Quail, L.; B. F. Goo, S.; R. F. Cook, Ass't S.; H. Spafford, G. ; W. E. Bradley, Chap.; D. Webb, Treas.; and A. E. Graham, Sec. Present membership, about sixty. Meetings, second and fourth Tuesdays. Present officers, A. E. Graham, Mrs. M. Wolcott, O.; H. Spafford, L.; H. 0. Thompson, S.; R. P. Wolcott, Ass't S.; W. E. Bradley, Chap.; A. H. Dodge, Treas. ; and H. H. Townley, Sec. There has been a lodge of I. O. G. T. at the centre, bnt it is not now in operation. There was also a post of the Grand Army at Footville, which has long since been abandoned.   ORGANIZATION.   The record of the commissioners of Ashtabula County shows, under date of March 7, 1825, that, " on the representation of Isaac H. Phelps and others, it was ordered that all that part of the township of Harpersfield in the fifth range, between the north line of the township at Windsor and the south line of number eleven in said range, be erected into a new township by the name of Trumbull, and that the first meeting to elect township officers shall be holden on the first Monday of April next, at the house of Isaac H. Phelps." Pursuant to which the electors (there were ten of them) met at the house of Daniel Woodruff, on the 4th day of April, 1825, organized by the appointment of Benjamin Moore, Obadiah Brown, and Ezra Griffin, judges, and Isaac H. Phelps and Ezra Gregory, clerks, of said election, and proceeded to elect the following township officers : Ezra Griffin, James Brown, and Ezra Gregory, trustees ; Isaac H. Phelps, township clerk ; Ezra Griffin, treasurer; 0. Brown and Daniel Woodruff, overseers of the poor; D. Woodruff and O. Brown, fence-viewers; Ezra Gregory, lister and appraiser; and Benjamin Moore, lister. On the arrival of the first Monday of April, 1826, there was a sufficient number of voters in the township to legalize an election, and Daniel Burgess was appointed trustee and township clerk, Isaac H. Phelps treasurer, and Jehoiakim Burget constable. July 30, 1828, Isaac H. Phelps was elected first justice of the peace for Trumbull township. The succession in this office is as follows: Nathaniel Brown, Asa Wait, Josiah Gregory, Ebenezer Andrews, Daniel Dodge, Nathaniel Brown, William Nelson, O. H. Price, Daniel Webb, A. J. S. Barnes, H. C. Holt, N. D. Kellogg, Daniel Webb, and Marian Brown and H. C. Holt, who are the present incumbents. The officers for 1877 are It. E. Clough, R. P. Wolcott, and John Brown, trustees; I. S. Lewis, clerk ; J. M. Fairbanks, treasurer; E. C. Livingston, assessor; H. H. Townsley and H. H. Kellogg, constables. There are at present sixteen supervisors of roads and highways in the township.   STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat  Oats Corn Potatoes  Orcharhing Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

279 acres 731 “ 491 " 204 " 260 " 2113 "

1,906 bushels. 22,014 “ 17,615 " 12,387 " 16,035 " 2,358 tons. 8,530 pounds. 49,475 " 182,500 "

Number of school-houses in township, 8 ; valuation, $4000 ; number of scholars, 324 ; amount paid teachers, $1204.50.   Population in 1870, 4084.   Vote for President in 1876: R. B. Hayes, 209; S. J. Tilden, 46.   Trumbull claims to be the "banner" of Ashtabula County during the war, sending more men and raining more money to aid the cause of the Union than any other township in the county of equal population and financial ability. This item is given us by Hiram Spafford, of the committee.   BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.   JOHN BROWN.   The subject of the present sketch, a fine portrait of whom appears in connection with a view of his pleasant home-surroundings, in another portion of this volume, was born in Bethany, Genesee county, New York, on the 30th day of June, in the year 1815, and is the eldest child of Nathaniel and Lorana Keith Brown, who removed from the above place to Ohio, and located in Trumbull township, to which point they arrived on May 24, 1828. The place of their settlement was near the site now occupied by the residence of A. R. Eastman, at East Trumbull. They resided in this little hamlet until their decease.   The education of Mr. Brown was obtained at the district school, the greater part of it prior to his removal to Ohio. Arriving in the wilderness, of course the first work was to subdue the giant forest-trees then covering the lands comprising his father's purchase. Steadily this vocation was pursued until the attaining of his majority, when he made his first purchase of real estate. This consisted of thirty acres, and is now owned by Ira Slater. In December, 1841, Mr. Brown purchased, in company with his father, the grist-mill at East Trumbull originally built by Messrs. Clark and Wait, paying therefor four thousand dollars. This mill was conducted under different managements until 1865, when Mr. Brown became the sole owner, and still continues as such. He has, however, thoroughly refitted the mill until now it does excellent work and commands a good custom. Of the military record of Mr. Brown we find that he entered the United States service in the fall of 1861, as a private, Company K, Sixth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry ; went into rendezvous at Warren, Trumbull county; was elected lieutenant of his company, but deeming Mr. Freer as justly entitled to the position, declined in his favor, and was appointed sergeant; went to the front ; was engaged in numerous fights and skirmishes while in the Army of the Potomac ; September 8, 1864, was discharged. Returned to Trumbull, and purchased the mill as above stated. He was united in marriage, on the 30th day of January, 1837, to Polly A., daughter of Henry and Lovina Cogswell, of Trumbull township. From this marriage were born the following children, viz.: Ellen, born April 5, 1840; married Sam Evans ; lives in Michigan. Dann, born July 30, 1841 ; killed in action, at Enon Church, May 28, 1864. Henry, the next child, was born December 3, 1843 ; married Carrie Herrendine. Wallace, born August 19, 1846 ; married Effie Hackett. George, born March 16, 1849 (died in infancy). Jane, born in 1852; married Clayton McArthur. Olive, born April 12, 1855; died in 1863. George, born February 5, 1857 ; and Frank, the last, born October 25, 1864. These children remain in their native township except as above stated. The mother of these children died on September 11, 1864, and on August 3, 1867, Mr. Brown married his present wife, who was Miss Olive Brainard, of Trumbull. The first township office to which he was elected was that of constable, when he was of age ; served five years. Has been trustee of the township for a term of years. He early became a Christian, and joined the Free-Will Baptist church. On the organization of the Disciple church at East Trumbull he became a member of it, and has been foremost in promoting its interests. He took the "lion's share" in the erection of the church edifice. He is a Republican.   JOHN CHURCHILL   was born in Boonville, Oneida county, New York, on the 14th day of August, in the year 1814, and is the second in a family of ten, the children of Carolus and Polly Churchill, of the above point, but who removed to Ohio and located   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 231   in Hartsgrove township in 1833. The place of their settlement is now owned by E. G. Hurlburt, Esq. In the year 1842 they removed to Illinois, and remained there until their decease. The education of the gentleman under consideration, a view of whose residence appears in this volume, was obtained at the common schools, and, it is unnecessary to state, was far below the average of the present district school education. The first real estate he became possessed of was in 1-851. This was the eighty-three acres now owned in part by R. Stenard. His life-work since then has been that of a farmer. The fifty-four acres he now occupies in lots 31 and 32 were purchased in 1856, and are equal in productiveness with those adjoining them. Mr. Churchill was, on September 20, 1840, united in marriage to Eleanor H., daughter of David and Elizabeth Bertram, then of Trumbull township, but who was born in Madison, Lake county. The father died September 2, 1875, and the mother December 31, 1854. This couple were of the pioneers of Trumbull township. From this marriage were born two children : Adline, born April 8, 1844, married Henry Kellogg, and died July 18, 1866; and Warren, who was a private in Company C, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was in sixteen battles, and died of disease contracted in the service, on the 3d day of October, 1865. Politically, Mr. Churchill is a sterling Democrat.   ORWELL TOWNSHIP.   THIS township is number 8 of the fourth range, and in the original distribution of the Western Reserve lands among the members of the Connecticut land company, September 5, 1798, became the property of Jabez and Ashael Adams, Moses Cleaveland, Joseph Williams, William W. Williams, and Joseph Howland. It was the first draft that was made in the drawing of the land company. It required, by virtue of an arrangement agreed upon by the members of this company (the reader is referred to the chapter in the general history on the Connecticut land company for an explanation of the process of' partition), $12,903.23 to entitle a shareholder to one full, equalized township of land. If there were shareholders whose investments were insufficient to entitle each one to draw a full township, they could unite in such a manner as to make their united investments equal the amount required. In this instance this was the case. Jabez and Ashael Adams contributed towards making up the $12,903.23, $1630; Moses Cleveland, $1852.08 ; Joseph Williams, $3693.54; William W. Williams, $959; Joseph Howland, 81768.61. Each of these proprietors, therefore, became the owner of such undivided part of the entire township as his amount of money contributed bore to the whole amount. The Adamses, having contributed a little more than one-eighth of the whole amount, were owners of a little more than one-eighth of the entire lands of the township. This township was considered an inferior one in quality, and an addition of seven thousand and forty-three acres of other lands was made to it in order to make it equal to an average township.   These original proprietors did not long retain their possession, which fell to them by lot, and Daniel L. Coit and Christopher Leffingwell became the grantees thereof. If the original owners placed too low an estimate on its value, their successors evidently did not make this mistake. The lands were held at five dollars an acre, a figure much in advance of prices at which lands equally good in neighboring townships could be purchased, the result being to retard the settlement of the township some eighteen years beyond the time when the adjoining township of Windsor was opened for settlement. Leffingwell caused the township to be surveyed into lots each of one mile square, and gave it the benefit of his name, and up to the time of its organization—in 1826—it was known as and called Leffingwell. Despite the advantage which one would suppose this beneficent act of Mr. Leffingwell would have secured for it, it was many years after the survey before immigrants could be indnced to take up their abode in it. What was known as a woods road, leading through the forest from Austinburg through Rome and Orwell, had been opened nearly twenty years before the time of settlement in Orwell, and hence a stream of emigration had passed through the township for many years prior to the coming of permanent settlers. During a number of years Leffingwell was attached to Rome for purposes of organization, many years elapsing after the arrival of the first settler before there was a sufficient number to enable the pioneers to effect a township organization. This, however, was accomplished on the 4th day of July, 1826, by the employment of means whose legality was of a questionable kind. In order to effect organization the law required an enrollment of ten electors. There were but eight residents entitled to a vote in the township. These old settlers were fertile in resources in times of emergency, and in this case an expedient was at hand. Two men, most likely residents of Windsor, were at work on a bridge that was then in process of construction across Grand river, and thole were pressed into service, and thus the requisite quorum was obtained and the organization legally effected.   EARLY SETTLEMENTS.   The first white settler in Orwell was A. R. Paine, who emigrated from Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York, in October, 1815, and, after visiting other   58   portions of the Reserve, finally settled in this township on the 1st day of April, 1817. Ile had purchased of D. L. Coit, through Coit's agent at Warren, a tract of land in the southwestern part of the township,—lot 4, section 19. Here he erected his log cabin, which was considered rather a superior dwelling-house for those days, as it could boast of a floor made of sawed boards, while most other houses of that day had to content themselves with split-puncheon floors. It was a building sixteen by twenty-four feet on the ground, with cobble-gables and a roof of long split-shingles, and must have been quite a respectable building for those times. Mr. Paine is also entitled to the distinction of building the first barn in the township. This was a log barn, sixteen by twenty feet. To Mrs. Paine belongs the honor of giving birth to the first white child of the township,—a daughter, born on the 6th of February, 1820, called Lucinda,—and Gates Chandler, son of Solomon Chandler, was the first male child born in the township, being born on the 6th day of January, 1824. Both the Chandlers are now residents of Plainfield, California.   At the time Mr. Paine settled in Orwell his nearest neighbor lived in Bloomfield, three miles distant, and north of him to the nearest log cabin it was six miles. Mr. Paine had laid in a goodly stock of provisions during a temporary stay at Painesville, paying for flour fifteen dollars per barrel, pork twenty-five cents per pound, potatoes one dollar per bushel, and tobacco one dollar per pound. The father and two brothers of Mrs. Paine resided with Mr. Paine during the first w inter.   Solomon Chandler, having purchased the north half of section No. 24, began an improvement in 1818, erecting a log cabin, in which he resided for some time alone. It is related of him that he did credit to the order of bachelors by his neatness, and knew how to be hospitable to those who were his guests. In 1819, when he built a good, substantial barn for those days, for the purpose of storing his grain, assistance was rendered him from the settlement in Bloomfield. A dozen men, perhaps, came from the neighborhood. The day not being long enough to finish the work in hand, the party had to remain with their bachelor friend overnight. At supper-time all were hungry, as men would naturally be who had labored hard and continuously all day. Mr. Chandler brought out his little spider, of sufficient capacity only to furnish one meal for one man, and began to do the beat dint could be done under the circumstances. He prepared supper for one man, and while that one was enjoying his repast prepared another one’s supper. By the time he had satisfied them all, and got a chance to attend to the demands of his own appetite, the night was pretty far spent, and "mine host" was not only a good deal hungry, but very weary also.   The next settlers in Orwell were William Waters, of Chenango county, New York, and Eli Andrews, from Hartford township, Trumbull county, Ohio, who came into the township in the spring of 1818. They purchased land in the northeastern portion of the township, but remained only three or four years, Watters removing to Rome. We have next to record the entrance into the township of Mr. Benjamin Babcock and family, who came from Chautauqua county, New York, in the fail of 1818, but were originally from Massachusetts. Mr. Babcock purchased and settled in section 2, in the northern part of Orwell, the place now owned by Alvin Lamb. He had a goodly number of boys, all smart, industrious young fellows, who knew well how to handle an axe, or handspike, or a rifle. John Babcock was said to be a remarkably active and athletic young man, with the laudable ambition to excel every one else, whether in work or in the sports that were the practice of those days. He got the start of all others in one very praiseworthy undertaking. He led to the matrimonial altar the first bride of the township, —a Miss Lydia Charlotte Wolcott. The ceremony was   232 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   performed at the house of her father ; Lemuel Lee, justice of the peace, father of Hon. E. Lee, being the officiating officer.   In the month of February, 1820, Alanson Spaulding and wife augmented the population of Orwell by their arrival. Mr. Spaulding purchased a part of section 8, and erecting a log cabin in the midst of the wilderness, opened it as a house of public resort, and much was spoken in praise of the comforts and attention which travelers received at this first tavern in Orwell. Mr. Spaulding became a leading spirit among the Orwell pioneers, becoming the first justice of the peace and first postmaster. He also erected a block-house. Not content with this, he became the builder and owner of the first brick building in the township, situated in lot 3, section 8, which was also used as a tavern, and is now the residence of C. A. B. Pratt.   Daniel R. Wolcott, from Bristol, Hartford county, Connecticut, having become owner of four hundred and seventy-six and one-half acres of section 13, comprising a large share of the present town-site of the village of Orwell, settled upon his purchase in April, 1822. During the summer of this year he built the first frame house in the township, located near the present site of Mr. Graham's store. This Mr. Wolcott opened as a tavern-stand, and was well patronized. Being of strictly temperate principles, he refused to sell intoxicating drinks. He subseqnently sold his tavern to Stephen Jordan, and removed to a log house which he had built about a mile farther east, effecting at this place a good improvement, cultivating a fine orchard. This was the first improvement between Orwell and Wayne centres.   The year 1832 marked the arrival in the township of Ezra Pratt, who removed to this western wilderness from Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, and purchased the farm and tavern-stand of Mr. Spaulding, whom he succeeded as postmaster. Mr. Pratt was an active and industrious man. He opened the first store in Orwell in 1832, immediately after his arrivnl in the block building created by Mr. Spaulding, which had been removed to the opposite side of the road. Mr. Pratt also made rapid improvements upon his farm, and aeon wrought a pleasing change in the appearance of his homestead. He continued to discharge the duties of postmaster for about six years, when he was succeeded by Colonel George A. Howard, who had during the season of 1837 built and opened the first store kept at Orwell Centre. Colonel Howard held the office of postmaster until September 4, 1847. He was a good business man, and prominently connected with the interests of the township. Henry L. Rice, Christopher Loveland, John Weed, Solomon Hunter, Thomas Stone, and John Bronson opened up settlements in the southeastern part of the township in the year 1834.   TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.   At the organization of the township in 1826, Lyman Richards was elected clerk, and Joseph Chandler, Alanson Spaulding, and Solomon Chandler trustees.   The present officers are Thos. M. Covert, clerk ; Edward Crook, Edwin Reeves, and A. L. Parker, trustees; A. H. Rowley, treasurer ; W. H. Henderson and Solomon Bingham, constables; Pomeroy Carter, assessor; Edwin Goddard and J. B. Phillips, justices of the peace.   CHURCHES.   The first sermon was preached in 1820, by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, at the log cabin of Alanson Spaulding. The organization of the Methodist Episcopal church was effected at the residence of Benj. Babcock, November 27, 1822, with a membership of twelve persons. The Methodists began the erection of a good, substantial church building in section 12, a short distance south of the village, in 1845, but did not finish it until the summer of 1850. Revs. Taylor and Crawford, circuit preachers, were the first, and Rev. G. G. Waters is the present minister. The present membership is one hundred and fifteen, and the church property, including parsonage, is valued at four thousand five hundred dollars.   Rev. Giles H. Cowles organized the Presbyterians into a church on the 20th day of November, 1831. The membership was composed of residents of both Orwell and Colebrook, but a separation was soon effected, and the Orwell membership formed themselves into a church organization of their own, which was incorporated as such in the year 1837. In the spring of 1841 they erected a church edifice on lot 1 of section 12, in the northeru part of the village, the cost of which was about one thousand dollars. Their present minister is Rev. H. D. King, their membership about seventy, and their church property is valued at five thousand dollars.   August 28, 1832, the Baptists of the township, consisting of seven persons, organized themselves into a society, and effected a church organization October 10, 1837, with a membership of ten persons, and their first minister was Elder Benjamin St. John. In 1849 the church numbered nineteen members. It sustained itself but a few years from that time.   In 1843 a Wesleyan Methodist church was organized with a membership of a dozen persons, their first preacher being a Rev. Mr. Langdon. This church organization was sustained but a few years.   SCHOOLS.   The first school-house built in Orwell was a log one, erected in the spring of 1822, in section 13, just north of the centre, opposite the present site of Stone's hotel. The first teacher was Miss Lydia C. Walcott, and the scholars numbered twelve.   The citizens of Orwell evinced a strong interest in the establishment of educational facilities for the youth in their vicinity. Orwell academy was built in 1854, and is located in section 43, in the northeastern part of the village. It is a building thirty-two by sixty feet, and two stories high.   The first board of officers was composed of Jason Waters, A. Bingham, and C. A. B. Pratt; Rufus Barnard, treasurer ; and Jacob Tuckerman, secretary. The first principal was Jacob Tuckerman, in 1851 ; succeeding principals, Messrs. Buck, Jas. M. Johnson, Pinney, H. U. Johnson, and Mr. King, the present principal. The school gained for itself an excellent reputation, and has received a large support. The most prosperous period of its history was during the first few years of Professor H. U. Johnson's management. From 1865 to 1870 there was an average attendance of about one hundred and fifty. The township contains eight good district school-houses.   SOCIETIES.   Orwell Agricultural Society was organized May 31, 1858. We copy from the society's books the following minutes of the first meeting held: " By previous notice given, the citizens of Orwell assembled at the town-house on the evening of May 17, 1858, for the purpose of organizing a township agricultural society. Amander Bingham, Esq., was called to the chair and R. E. Stone appointed secretary, and after addresses by numerous persons present a motion was made that the chair appoint a committee of five to prepare a constitution for an agricultural society. The chairman appointed Ansel Russell, Thos. Day, Lewis Waters, Johu Holliday, and C. A. B. Pratt a committee to report a constitution at the next meeting. Meeting adjourned to meet again on Monday evening, May 31, 1858.   "R. E. STONE, Secretary."   At the organization of the society, May 31, 1858, the following officers were chosen : Colonel Geo. A. Howard, president; Lewis Waters, Rufus Barnard, Amander Bingham, L. A. Pratt, Anson Russell, N. A. Barnes, and C. A. B. Pratt, vice-presidents; Colonel G. A. Howard, Wm. M. Eames, Lewis Waters, Anson Russell, and C. A. B. Pratt, executive committee; Dr. Wm. M. Eames, secretary ; C. A. B. Pratt, treasurer.   On the 7th of August following the society leased of Amos Morgan eight acres of land, in the east part of section 13, to be used as fair grounds, the same being a portion of the society's present grounds. The first fair was held the same fall. A fair has been held each succeeding fall with profitable results. The society at present has a lease of twenty acres of grounds, inclosed by a good fence, a good half- mile track, and buildings and improvements worth one thousand dollars. At the twentieth annual fair, held this year (1877), there were nine hundred and twenty-eight entries made, and the receipts were nine hundred and twenty-six dollars and sixty-five cents.   The present officers are: President, S. C. Wilson, Windsor township ; Vice-President, F. R. Smith, Windsor township; Secretary, H. J. Stone, Orwell township; Treasurer, A. IL Rowley, Orwell township. C. R. Stone, M. Lintern, N. A. Barnes, C. P. Carpenter, Lewis Waters, Wm. Barnard, Windsor, D. S. Chapel, New Lyme, and Alfred Barber, Bloomfield, executive committee.   Orwell Lodge, No. 477, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 27, 1871, by Wm. H. Beebe, Special Deputy. The following are the names of the charter members: H. U. Johnson, A. G. Hutchinson, L. P. Jordan, Emerson Paine, Alvin Lamb, Orin Parker, R. E. Stone, J. Runciman, Sr., James Kingdom, E. Crippen, J. H. Dungan, Chas. Bassett, and Amender Bingham. The first officers were H. IT. Johnson, N. G.; A. G. Mitchinson, V. G.; L. P. Jordan, R. S.; Emerson Paine, P. S.; A. Lamb, Treas. ; and 0. Parker, R. E. Stone, and J. Runciman, Sr., Trustees. In the fall of 1871 the lodge, in connection with the town, built their present building, the upper story of which is owned and occupied by the lodge as their rooms. The first story is owned by the town, and used as a town hall. The building is situated just south of the corner occupied by Mr. Graham's store; is in size thirty by sixty feet, with twenty-two feet posts, and cost three thousand dollars. The lodgerooms were dedicated January 1, 1872. The lodge now numbers eighty members, has its rooms well furnished, and is in a flourishing condition.   The present officers are Thos. Rex, N. G. ; John Runciman, Jr., V. G. ; Will A. Johnson, R. S.; L. P. Jordan, P. S.; Dr. H. M. Fitts, Treas.; E. Reeves, R. E. Stone, and S. C. Lewis, Trustees.   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA. COUNTY, OHIO - 233   Laurel Lodge, No. 220, I. 0. G. T., was instituted August 1, 1867, with the following charter members : E. A. Goddard, F. D. Case, A. D. Brown, J. T. Gill-more, Ivory Basset, A. H. Fenton, E. H. Parker, C. W. Fenton, A. Lamb, J.S. Lamb, Z. C. Bigelow, N. Lamb, H. U. Johnson, 0. S. Chandler, P. D. Howard, P. M. Babcock, S. Fillmore, Miss Amanda Dungan, Miss Jennie Bigelow, Miss Libbie Bower, Miss Juliette Goddard, Miss Sarah Morse, Miss Fannie M. Newell, Miss Celia Morgan, Olive E. Barnes, and Mary E. Haines.   The first officers were Septa Fillmore, W. C. T. ; Mary E. Haines, W. V. T.; A. D. Brown, W. Chap. ; F. D. Case, W. R. S. ; Sarah E. Morse, W. A. S. ; E. A. Goddard, W. F. S. ; G. S. Chandler, W. Treas. ; Z. C. Bigelow, W. M. ; Juliette Goddard, W. D. M. ; Fannie M. Newell, W. I. G. ; F. E. Paine, W. O. G.; Jennie H. Bigelow, W. R. H. S.; and Amanda Dungan, W. L. H. S. The lodge has been in existence now over ten years, and has bought and paid for its rooms and furniture. During this time there has been a total membership of one hundred and forty. The present officers are Miss Mary Runciman, W. C. T.; Miss Anna Gillmore, W. V. T.; C. R. Stone, W. Chap.; Miss Bell Gil!more, W. R. S.; Miss Maria Way, W. A. S.; Bert Paine, W. F. S.; P. M. Babcock, W. Treas.; George Basset, W. M. ; Mrs. L. C. Paine, W. D. M.; Miss Jennie Gillmore, W. I. G.; Mary Paine, W. O. G.; Mrs. Dr. Phelps, W. R. H. S. ; Mias Abbie Northway, W. L. H. S.; Solon Babcock, P. W. C. T.; and Dwight Northway, Lodge Deputy. Present membership, thirty.   EARLY ROADS.   The first traveled highway through Orwell was the road from Austinburg south through the forests of Rome and Orwell, leading to the county-seat of Trumbull county. In the winter of 1818 and 1819 an act passed the legislature of the State of Ohio for the establishment of a turnpike-road through the fourth range of townships leading from Ashtabula to Warren. This turnpike was completed through this township in 1819, passing the centre of the township one-half mile to the east. In 1812 there was a road laid out from the centre of Windsor through the centres of Orwell, Colebrook, Wayne, and Williamsfield, to the Pennsylvania line, but it was not used much until the establishment along this route in 1834 of the Cleveland and Pennsylvania State road. Previous to the opening of this road there was no point at which Grand river could be crossed, except on the line of the devious old pioneer route leading from Judge Griswold's dwelling in Windsor to that of Judge Hayes in Wayne. When it became known to the settlers of Windsor and Orwell that the State would establish a road leading through the centres of the southern tiers of townships, they resolved to put the road through the Grand river bottoms on each side of the stream in a passable condition. They agreed to celebrate the 4th day of July, 1830, by assembling in force on that day and beginning the proposed work. On the morning of that day, therefore, over three hundred men, residents of Orwell and Windsor, and some from neighboring townships, were on the ground with carts, ex-sleds, mud-boats, with all the teams that could be mustered, the men equipped with axes, hoes, shovels, handspikes, and mattocks. The men were divided into companies, placed under the command of a captain, and the work began. The ladies had come also, and while the men pushed forward the work they spread a table and prepared a bountiful repast. All worked like the heroes they were, and when night came the embankment that stood before them as the result of their toil was a thing of keen delight to every heart.   The first cheese-factory in Orwell was built by a stock company early in the spring of 1870, in section 9, about a mile north of the centre. The factory commenced operations about the 1st of April the same spring. The first board of officers was Goo. Northway, president; Dan Northway, Robert Sellers, and James Bogue, directors; C. A. B. Pratt, secretary and treasurer.   The factory, since June, 1874, has been owned and operated by J. G. Kingdom. During the present season (1877) he has manufactured at this factory one hundred tons of cheese. The milk of about seven hundred cows is utilized.   The village of Orwell is located about a half-mile west of the centre of the township. It is an enterprising burg of about four or five hundred inhabitants, and contains two general merchandise stores, three drug- and grocery-stores, one boot- and shoe-store, one clothing-store, one merchant-tailoring store, two flour- and feed-stores, one hardware-store, three millinery-stores, one furniture-store, one job-printing office, two hotels, one carriage-manufactory, one spoke and handle fac tory, one planing-mill and cheese-box factory, one harness-shop, one meat-market, two blacksmith-shops, two physicians, one dentist, one jeweler, two churches, and one academy already mentioned.   INDIAN JIM—WHAT BECAME OF HIM ?   There were but two families of Indians in Orwell at the time the white settlers arrived. One of these consisted of old Captain Phillips, his squaw, and two sons, called Captains Henry and John. Phillips' camp was on Rock creek, in the northern part of the township. He was an inoffensive Indian, and very industrious in making maple-sugar, which article he would exchange with his white neighbors for flour, potatoes, etc. Of a far different character was the other Indian " family," for, although he was the only member of his household, he insisted that he should be considered a " whole family," and thus called himself. He was a ferocious, blood-thirsty fellow and led a vagabond life; fond of nothing else save to hunt and to imbibe freely of " fire-water." He was a Canada Indian, and went by the name of " Indian Jim." Old Captain Phillips was accustomed to say of him, " Look out Jim ; Jim bad, berry bad Indian; Jim British. Too much whisky. Fight, scalp, kill; bad, berry bad Indian. Look out Jim." This "berry bad Jim" had his place of encampment in the southeastern part of the township.   In December, 1821, Sylvester Hill, a resident of Painesville, and a hunter of some note, followed the tracks of three bears for three days, until he discovered them treed in the top of a large, hollow whitewood tree, not very far from the vicinity of Indian Jim's place of rendezvous. It seems that the Indian had also found the bears, and their place of lodgment being on his hunting-grounds he claimed the animals as his property. Hill observed the prints in the snow near the bear-tree of Jim's moccasins, and, anxious to secure the booty, ho hastened to the cabin of Mr. Babcock, and procuring the assistance of John and David Babcock, and Daniel Rood, returned. The tree was felled, two of the bears killed and carried away. The Indian, upon finding his bear-tree cut down and his bears gone, became furiously enraged. He knew Hill's track, and following him to the settlement charged him with stealing his bears, and demanded restitution. Hill declined to satisfy him, and the Indian left, threatening vengeance. It soon became known that the Indian was on the lookout for Hill, with the full purpose of taking his life. The latter returned to Painesville to avoid the threatened danger, where he remained a few weeks; but his love for hunting became paramount to his fear of the Indian, and he returned to the forests of Orwell, hoping that Jim's ire had by this time abated. But such was not the case. Learning that Hill had returned, he again sought opportunity to kill him. On the morning of the 1st of January, 1822, the savage, learning that Hill and a companion, John Babcock, had gone that day to hunt in the woods of Colebrook, started in pursnit, and coming to the house of Joel Blakeslee, with flashing eyes and horrid threats inquired for Hill. Mr. Blakeslee could give him no information. He left the house, pronouncing Hill's name with fearful imprecations, and, after carefully examining the ground about the house for evidence of his enemy's tracks, started for the forest in a northeasterly direction with his rifle, tomahawk, and long knife, brandishing the air as ho went forward. This was the last that was ever seen of Indian Jim. He went into that forest, but never came out of it. Along towards night, Hill and Babcock emerged from the woods, and, arriving at Blakeslee's residence, were asked if they had seen anything of Indian Jim. Of course they had not seen him, and were profoundly ignorant of his whereabouts. It is said that john Babcock was the beat marksman in the township of Orwell.   STATISTICS OF 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

170 acres 633 “ 421 " 81" 146 " 1976 "

1,738 bushel's. 22,126 “ 10,402 " 7,015 " 15,375 " 2,315 tons. 4,915 pounds. 40,075 " 243,740 "

Number of schoolhouses in the towuship, 9; their valuation, $4000; amount paid to teachers, $983.75 ; number of scholars enrolled, 290.     Population in 1870, 936.   Votes cast for President in 1876: Hayes, 170 ; Tilden, 82.   PIERPONT TOWNSHIP.   This township, which is known as township number eleven of the first range, derived its name from Pierpont Edwards, who, upon the division of the lands among the members of the Connecticut land company, in 1798, drew this township as his share of the lands now comprised within the limits of Ashtabula County.   SURFACE AND SOIL.   East from the centre road the surface of the lands is rolling, while the remainder is of a flat nature. The entire township is, however, well adapted to agricultural pursuits, with a soil principally of the nature known as a gravelly loam.   STREAMS.   These are the Ashtabula creek and its tributaries, the former flowing in almost a direct north and south course, passing through the western portion of' the township. The smaller stream rises in the township of Richmond, enters Pierpont at the southeast corner, and, flowing in a northwest course, passes into Monroe township, some two miles from the southwest corner. There are numerous other smaller streams, but they are unimportant.   FIRST SETTLEMENT.   In the year 1798 a young Vermonter, named Edward Spear, began settlement on lot No. 18 (on what was afterwards known as the " Beaver Meadows”), about two miles from the head of the east branch of Ashtabula creek, before spoken of. He erected this year the first kg house in Pierpont township (this building, we learn, was burned by the Indians subsequent to his removal), and the next year (1799) raised the first crop of corn grown in the township. This was planted on the " Beaver Dam" and the surrounding meadows. Spear lived in this cabin until perhaps 1801, when he took his departure. He was, however, during the early part of his sojourn in Pierpont, married. and a child was born to them. This was the first white birth in the township. The date, sex, or subsequent history of this young pioneer we wot not of In the fall of the year 1808 the first permanent settlers arrived in the township. These were Wareham Grant, Martin Vosburg, Harvey Rockwell, and Ewins Wright. Messrs. Grant and Vosburg erected their cabins about one mile north of the centre and near together. Rockwell built his cabin on lot No. 21, cleared a small piece of ground, sowed it to wheat, and in November, 1809, returned to Connecticut for his family. The cabin of Ewins Wright was erected near the centre of lot No. 17. In November, 1814, Benjamin Matthews arrived from Washington, Massachusetts, and located temporarily near the cabin of Martin Vosburg; remained until the December following, when he moved into a cabin which he had in the mean time constructed. In the summer of the year 1811 Amos Huntly arrived, selected his laud, and made a beginning on lot No. 42. In the fall returned to Massachusetts for his family, with whom he arrived the next season. The next settlers were Asa Benjamin, Joseph Dewey, and Samuel Brown. During the summer of 1811 a number of gentlemen came on from Massachusetts, selected their land, and the following year (1812), with their families, occupied these lands, and began business in earnest. Among these settlers we find the names of Aaron H. Holmes, Asa Leonard, Shiron Turner and Jepthah Turner, Amos Remington, Abijah Whitton, Archibald Gould, Ezra Cole, Ezekiel Brayman, William Read, Eli Prince, Edson Beals, Asahel Cleveland, Reuben Benjamin, Zebina Rawson, and there were possibly others whose names are forgotten.   FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.   This was built the summer of 1813 or 1814, and stood a few rods east of the old burying-ground, on lot No. 16. It was of logs, with stick chimney, puncheon floor, oiled-paper windows, and the other pioneer appurtenances. The first term taught therein was the summer the building was erected, by Lucy, the youngest daughter of Amos Huntley. The subsequent winter William Read, Jr., taught ,a term in the same building. The venerable Lampson Wright gives the following as the outfit of the average school-boy of that early date : " New 'Testament, Webster's Spelling-Book and American Preceptor, a few sheets of foolscap-paper, some ink made from soft maple-bark and copperas, and a basket of johnny-cake amid meat for dinner."   - 234 -   THE FIRST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION   was that of the Methodists, in about the year 1810. The members of this class lived in this and Richmond township and the adjoining settlement in Pennsylvania. On the 8th day of November, 1823, the Presbyterian society was organized in this township, by the Revs. Drs. Cowles and Woodruff. Among the first members we find the following names: Amos Huntley and wife, Benjamin Matthews and wife, James Huntley and wife, Esther Leonard, etc. The first church edifice erected in the township was in about the year 1840. This was a union church, members of all denominations uniting in defraying the expense of its structure. This is the building now owned by the board of education of the township, and is occupied by the Pierpont academy. It is located on the original site. The present churches are located at the centre. A Baptist class was formed September 12, 1830. Elder John Cheeny officiated at its formation. The following is a list of all the names of this class we are able to procure: Eli Prince, William Hardy, Lorena Perkins, and Reuben Benjamin. The Congregational church edifice is also located at the centre, and completes the list. Neither of these churches has at present a settled pastor, their pulpits being supplied by clergymen from other sections.   SAW-MILLS.   The first of these was erected by Martin Vosburgh, in about 1817, about one mile north of the centre, on the cast branch of Ashtabula creek. It is related that at the "raising" of this mill a man named Pollock, from Chenango, Pennsylvania, fell from the plate, some twenty feet, to the rocks below ; he, however, sustained but little injury, and, after having been regularly bled by Dr. Vosburgh, returned home the next day. The present saw-mill is located at the centre. Is propelled by steam, and is owned by William Davison ; he also prepares blanks for handles, and has just received an order from New York for several hundred of those short, heavy handspikes used on shipboard in turning the capstan.   The first grist-mill was erected in 1817, by Ewins Wright, and stood near the centre of lot No. 17. This was a building about twenty-four feet square; was made of round logs, and the water conveyed into the old-fashioned tub-wheel through wooden troughs. There is at present a steam-flouring establishment at the centre, under the management. of Messrs. Paden & Schwartz. There are of other manufactories a planing-mill and cheese-box manufactory, by Watson Brothers; a steam shingle-factory, by E. Davis ; and quite an extensive steam-tanning establishment, owned by Thomas Cain.   THE FIRST POST-OFFICE   established in the township was in about the year 1825. Archibald Gould was the first postmaster, and the mails were distributed from his house, which stood on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of Andrew Lester. The present postmaster is E. 0. Harrington. The office is located at his store at the centre. The mails were first carried on foot, the route extending from Jefferson to Meadville, Pennsylvania ; afterwards on horseback, and now on wheels.   The only hotel which has ever been in Pierpont is the one at the centre. This was built in 1837, by Messrs. Benjamin & Joseph Williams. This is owned at present by Dr. L. E. Brayman.   ROAD RECORD.   The first record we find of a road having been officially authorized bears date June, 1816, and extended from " Pierpont to Ferguson's bridge, in Monroe." December, 1818, " From the southeast corner of the lot No. 31 to Pennsylvania line." December, 1823, " From the north line of lot No. 41 in the first range, between the first and second tier of lots; thence southerly on the line of said tier of lots until it comes near the north line of No. 10; thence southerly to township line, where the north and south line begins between lots Nos. 2 and 3, in township No. 10; thence southerly through said township to the east, nnrth. and south road in Andover." June, 1828, “From the southeast corner of lot No. 80 in township No. 10, in the first range, and running west on the north line of the south line of lots in said township to the first range turnpike road in said township."   The first marriage solemnized within the limits of the township of Pierpont   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 235   was undoubtedly that of Marvin Cook to Clarissa Rend, by Zebina Rawson, Esq. This occurred at the residence of the bride's father, in about 1820.   The first birth, aside from the Spear child before mentioned, was Martha Rockwell, in the year 1811. She eventually married Byron Harcourt, and is long since deceased.   The first death was that of Polly, the wife of Jesse Turner, at a very early day. She was interred in the woods, in what is now the cemetery, on lot No. 16.   The first physician was Jacob Voshurgh, who was one of the pioneer settlers. Was quite skillful, and, of course, a valuable member of the community. He removed, after a term of years, to Erie, Pennsylvania, and died there. The present representative of the medical profession in Pierpont is L. E. Brayman, M.D., who is spoken of as a gentleman of culture, and well versed in the successful compounding of the thousand and one nauseous drugs which are required to keep dame Nature in the right track.   ORGANIZATION.   On June 18, 1818, the territory now embraced within the townships of Pierpont and Richmond was detached from Denmark township—which comprised four townships when organized—and erected a separate township, to be known by the name of Pierpont, and an election ordered. to take place on the succeeding 4th day of July, at the house of Amos Huntley. The record in the office of the township clerk reads ay follows, viz.: "At a town-meeting held in the township of Pierpont on July 5, 1818, Asahel Cleveland and Reuben Benjamin were chosen judges and Martin Vosburgh clerk of said election. Officers elected Reuben Benjamin, Sihon Turner, and Harvey Rockwell, trustees; Martin Vosburgh, clerk and treasurer ; William Read and Ewins Wright, overseers of the poor; Orange Huntley, lister; and William Read, Jr., appraiser ; Benjamin Matthews and Jesse Turner, fence-viewers; James Huntley, constable; and Martin Vosburgh, Asa Benjamin, and Harvey Rockwell, supervisors of highways. The first justice of the peace was Zebina Rawson, who was elected October 30, 1818. Sihon Turner succeeded him in 1820. The present officers aro F. H. Follett, D. L. Huntley, and Eli Adams, trustees; E. 0. Harrington, clerk ; L. C. Winship, treasurer ; Allen C. Kinnie, assessor; Barton Germond and Milton B. Hoskins, constables.' The present justices of the peace are D. L. Huntley and Charles E. Morrison.   STATE ELECTION.   The first State election was held October 10, 1818, at which time the following persons each received nine votes: George Worthington, governor ; Peter Hitchcock, member of emigre.; Levi Gaylord, assembly ; James Montgomery and James Harper, county commissioners; and Rufus Houghton, coroner.   THE PIONEER STORE   was that of Messrs. Payne & Trimmer, who opened in the year 1837. The building occupied by these gentlemen stood on the site now occupied by the drugstore of Dr. Brayman. The following shows the business of Pierpont in the spring of 1878:   Dry Goods and Groceries.—Messrs. Smith & Hoskins and T. S. Winship. Groceries.—P. W. Rogers and H. A. Leonard. Tinware.—E. O. Harrington. Drugs and Medicines.—Dr. L. E. Brayman. Millinery.—Mrs. S. Leach and Miss S. Carver. Harness-Shop.—John Cleary. Shoe-Shops.---L. J. Tubbs and James Jacobs. Blacksmiths.—B. D. Robinson and John Lafferty & Son. Carriage-maker.—A. L. Aldrich. Attorney-at-Law.—M. A. Leonard. Dentist.—A. R. Winter.   CHEESE-FACTORY.   The first of this clam began operations in the spring of 1873. This was under the management of' a stock company, consisting of Messrs. T. S. Winship, N. Follett, Alvin Schramling, and Aaron Smith. The factory began with six hundred cows contributing. Was operated by these persons some three years, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, Philip Watson.   FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.   Relief Lodge, No. 284, was organized under dispensation July 15, 1856, and began work under its charter October 22, A.L. 5856. The charter members were Otis Burgess, Elihu B. Ford, David Foster, Elias Centrice, Amos Centrice, Solomon Ashley, Ambrose Ford, Ebenezer Williams, Freeman 0. Bushnell, Archibald Gould, M. A. Leonard, and Dr. William Fobes. The officers on charter were Otis Burgess, W. M. ; Elihu B. Ford, S. W. ; and David Foster, J. W. Present officers: Andrew Wilson, W. M. ; Johu Lafferty, S. W.; A. L. Aldrich,   59   J. W. ; F. H. Follett, Sec.; and L. C. Williams, Treas. Membership, sixty. Nights of meeting, first and third Wednesdays of each month. Their two-story Masonic hall was erected in 1857, and is valued, with regalia, furniture, etc., at two thousand dollars.   INCIDENTS.   Some time about tho year 1818, Lydia Rock and her daughter, Susan, took their departure from Boston, Massachusetts, and came to Ohio on foot. This journey MILS accomplished that they might visit a brother and sister, then resident, the brother in Richmond and the sister in Pierpont. The mother after finishing her visit returned home in the same manner she came, and it is said she made three trips of this nature.   STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

175 sores 681 “ 406 " 77 " 186 " 1833 “

1,330 bushels. 16,306 " 22,408 " 5,981 " 12,901 " 2,330 tons. 8,639 pounds. 58,700 " 70,614 "

 

The number of school-houses is 6; valuation, $2400; amount paid teachers, $1196.85 ; number of scholars, 205.

 

Vote for President in 1876: R. B. Hayes, 238 ; S. J. Tilden, 43.

 

Population in 1870, 990.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

 

NATHANIEL FOLLETT, INFIRMARY DIRECTOR,

 

was born in Auburn, Cayuga county, New York, on January 14, 1823, and is the third child of Grettie and Mary Follett, of the former point, but who removed to Ohio in the year 1839, and located in Pierpont township, on the farm now occupied by the subject of the present sketch. The father still resides in this township, at the age of eighty-five years. The mother died May 49, 1872. The education of Mr. Nathaniel Follett was acquired by the aid of the common or district school, and from the completion of which until the present time has followed the occupation of' farming. On January 7, 1849, he was united in marriage to Emily M., daughter of Linus and Harriet Burhuell, originally from Hartland, Connecticut, but who were residing in the township of Monroe at the time of this marriage. From this union three children have been born. These arc Della A., February 17, 1853 ; Hattie L., November 20, 1856 ; and Frank W., whose birth occurred on the 8th day of September, 1859. These children are still inmates of the parental home. Politically a warm Republican, Mr. Follett has been elected to many of the offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. In the fall of 1874 he was chosen to the office of infirmary director, and was re-elected in the fall of 1876. He is spoken of as being an efficient officer, and faithful in the discharge of his duties. Has ever been an ardent supporter of the educational interests of his township.

 

A. SCHRAMLING.

 

Mr. Schramling, a view of whose fine farm residence may be seen on the opposite page, is a native of New York State, being born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in May, 1828. At about the time of his birth his father removed to Otsego county, and when Mr. Schramling was eight years of age to Columbus, Warren county, Pennsylvania, which was then a new country, with extensive forests. Here the subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days engaged in lumbering, rafting, chopping and clearing land. Being the oldest child of a family of seven boys and three girls, he was compelled to undergo severe labor, and received but little education. When nineteen years old he acquired under competent instruction a knowledge of the carpenter trade. January 1, 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Deliah Robbins, who has been to him a faithful companion, and to whom he is largely indebted for his prosperity in life. In March, 1854, he settled in Pierpont township, this county, purchased fifty acres of land, and which now constitutes a portion of the homestead farm. In four days after his arrival he and his wife were living and keeping house in a dwelling of their own erection. The same year he built a shop and began the manufacture of the revolving horse-rake, which he introduced throughout western Pennsylvania and a portion of Ashtabula County. Three years later he built the first steam saw-mill, at the centre of the township. This he sold to try his hand in the oil business in

 

236 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

 

Pennsylvania, but in 1861 returned to Pierpont, and, buying more land, went to farming.

 

In 1863 he was made first lieutenant., and afterwards captain, of the Ohio militia. In 1864, after expending a great deal of time and money to prevent a draft in his township, he offered his services in defense of his country, received a recruiting commission, and during the last year of the war served as second lieutenant in Company K of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment,

Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Schramling are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters. A great bereavement came to them in May, 1875, by the death of their only son. But Mr. Schramling does not complain of his lot. He hss been greatly blessed with prosperity, has a beautiful home, and enjoys the esteem of his neighbors ; and his only desire is that the remnant of his days may be spent in being useful to himself, his family, his neighbors, his country, and his God.

 

CHERRY VALLEY TOWNSHIP.

 

THE lands included within the present limits of this township (No. 9, second range) were purchased of the Connecticut land company by Samuel Mather, Jr., on the 8th day of November, 1798. This township was originally surveyed into three equal divisions or sections, running east and west. The numbers of those sections began with the southern division.

 

STREAMS.

 

The largest of these, the Pymatuning, rises in the northeast part of this township, and is the southern outlet of an extensive marsh, the greater portion of which, however, lies in the township of Dorset. The course of this stream is southerly, through the eastern part of the township.

 

Giddings creek, another considerable stream, has its rise in the southwest quarter of the township, and flowing easterly, its waters are discharged into the Pymatuning. Patch creek flows from the western part, and also empties into the Pymatuning, in the northeastern part of the township.

 

TOPOGRAPHY.

 

That portion of the township lying east of the Pymatuning creek is gently undulating, with a rich, gravelly soil. For a strip of perhaps one mile in width west of this stream are alternately ridge and swamp. The balance of the township is clay soil. The extreme western portion is of a flat nature and poorly supplied with permanent water.

 

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

 

In about the year 1817, Henry Patch began operations in the northeastern quarter of the north section. He was accompanied by Zebulon Congdon, soon. cleared a small piece of ground, and upon it erected the first log house in the township; worked during the summer, and in December abandoned the claim and removed to New Lyme. This improvement was on the stream which is now known as Patch creek, between the Hare and Creek roads, and a saw-mill was erected on this site in 1830, by William and Wooster Benjamin, of whom see further mention. In the month of December, 1818, Nathaniel Hubbard, from the State of New York, arrived in the township, and, with his family, moved into the cabin vacated by Patch. The following year two families settled on lands in the middle section, and near the east line. These were Nathaniel Johnson and John Fenn. The lots upon which these three families originally settled are now occupied as follows: the Hubbard place by E. Beals, the Johnson property by Silas Searl, and the Fenn homestead by Horace Lindsley. Josiah Creery, from Richfield, Otsego county, New York, purchased the property now owned by his eldest son, Track Creery, Jr. This was in 1823. his first stop was in a log house which stood opposite the present residence of Sidney Carpenter, in Andover ; building, as soon as practicable, a log house on his property, into which he removed with his family in the spring of 1825. The name Cherry Valley was suggested by Josiah Creery. The next settlers were two brothers, Wooster and William Benjamin, the former of whom purchased, on the 28th day of November, 1829, fifty acres in the south part of lot No. 2, in the centre section. William, on December 17, 1828, purchased the same number of acres in lots Nos. 7 and 8, in same section. Wooster Benjamin was killed on the 21st of December, 1835, while engaged in making some repairs upon the mill, previously referred to, and William's death occurred while he was going from the mill to the house. Was found with his head partially under water, in which position it is thought he had fallen while in a fit. The Benjamin heirs still occupy the old homestead. John Woodworth, another pioneer, located on the farm now occupied by A. T. Woodworth. Jesse Steele and family emigrated from Now Hartford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in the year 1816. He first settled in the township of Andover ; remained there until 1827, when he removed to Cherry Valley. Located on the northwest corner of the crossing of the Hayes and the east and west centre roads. This farm is still occupied by the Steele heirs. A. W. Steele, son of the original owner, prosecutes the business of watch-maker and jeweler at the "old homestead." In relation to the high price charged for the necessary article of salt, it is stated that Mr. Steele transported from his place to the lake three bushels of wheat, six bushels of rye, and one bushel of corn, which was exchanged for one barrel of salt, the " voyage" consuming five days' time of himself and team.

 

The first families who settled on the Hayes road, in the south section, were Benoni, William, and Eli Andrews. On the centre road we find that Francis Webster located on lot No. 28. In the north section Noah Sweet purchased one thousand four hundred and twenty-three acres in 1830. At the same time James Cornwell purchased three hundred and eighty-three acres, and Noah Rowley one hundred acres, in same section. February 1, 1842, Marvin Giddings purchased fifty acres also in same section. Henry Krum settled about three-fourths of a mile from the south line of the township, on the Hayes road, in the spring of 1826, and Abel Krum, his brother, three years later. Also, in 1826, Lockwood Lobdell located near Jesse Steele's. In 1834, John Williams and Elkanah Crosby, from Orleans county, New York, settled in the south part of the township, central. And in 1832, Conrad Petrie, from Herkimer county, New York, located near them. Henry Tuttle, originally from Litchfield county, Connecticut, settled in the township in January, 1834. His location was about one-half mile from the south line of the township, on the Creek road. His son still occupies the old homestead. Mr. Tuttle was commissioner of Ashtabula County from 1829 to 1832.

 

ROADS.

 

The first road established in the township was in June, 1812. This was named the Hayes road, as a compliment to Richard Hayes, of Wayne township, the establishment of this road having been accomplished mainly by his efforts. The remainder of the roads in Cherry Valley were laid out" in the following order: December, 1828, " From near the southeast corner, on the east line of the township, on the southwest corner of Merrick Bates' lot in Andover, and running west and westward to the main Cherry Valley north and south road at the north end of Giddings' mill-dam." Same date, " From a line between Creery's and S. Meeker's to east side of New Lyme, west." Same date, " From near Case and Slater's southwest corner, running nearly west to the wait line of said township." And also, on same date, " From the Hayes road, near the centre of great lot No. 4, eastwardly to the town line," etc.

 

The first frame barn in the township was erected by John Fenn, in 1818, and the first frame house by the same, in 1825, both being on the farm now occupied by Horace Lindsley.

 

The first marriage which occurred in the township was that of Wooster Benjamin to Loretta Johnson, June 20, 1824. Rufus Houghton, justice of the peace for Andover township, solemnized the contract, which was consummated at the house of the bride's father.

 

The first death was that of Nathaniel Johnson, which occurred on the 28th day of June, 1825. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Harvey Coe, and the body received interment in the cemetery at West Andover, there being no place of burial yet established in Cherry Valley.

 

ORGANIZATION.

 

On the record of the commissioners of Ashtabula County, under date of June 8, 1827, we find the following :

 

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 237

 

Resolved (upon the petition of Anson J. Giddings, Benoni Andrews, and others), That so much township,esent township of Andover as is included in surveyed township No. 9, in the second range, be set off and erected a separate township, to be known and designated by the name of Cherry Valley; and that an election for township officers be held at the house of Josiah Creery, on the 4th of July next."

 

Pursuant to this action, the qualified electors assembled, appointed 'William Andrews, Wooster Benjamin, and John Fenn judges, and Josiah Creery and A. J. Giddings clerks. The following were the officers elected William Andrews, W. Benjamin and Henry Krum, trustees ; Henry Krum, township clerk ; Josiah Creery, treasurer ; John Burget and W. Benjamin, fence-viewers ; John Woodworth and William Andrews, overseers of' the poor; A. J. Giddings, constable ; and H. Krum and H. Lyman, supervisors. The first justice of the peace for Cherry Valley township was John Woodworth, whose election occurred the spring following the organization of officersship. He was succeeded by Henry Krum. The present incumbents to that office are A. W. Steele and Monroe Cornwell. The township offioers for 1877 are William C. Benjamin, J. S. Sweet, and Philo Andrews, trustees ; A. W. Steele, township clerk ; O. M. Phelps, treasurer ; J. W. Congdon, assessor; E. W. Adams and William D. Sutherland, constables; and sixteen supervisors.

 

FIRST STORE.

 

The first store was opened by William A. Clark, in 1829. This was located on lot No. 14, section 2, being the southeast corner, at the crossing of the Hayes and centre roach. The next store began operations in 1832, Joel Rice, proprietor. The building stood just across the road, opposite the site of Clark's mercantile establishment. The present stores are, one at the centre, by Squire Randolph ; and operationstance south another, which is connected with the cheese-factory, by Charles E. Petrie. A millinery establishment is also in operation at Steele's Corners.

 

THE FIRST POST-OFFICE

 

established in Cherry Valley was on the 28th day of April, 1829. William A. Clark was first postmaster, whose commission bears the date above given. Mr. Clark held the office for a number of years, and was succeeded by Lockwood Lobdell. The present postmaster is It. Skeels, and the office is located at the centre.

 

THE FIRST SCHOOL

 

was taught by Mrs. Hannah, wife of William A. Clark, in the winter of 1828-29. The house occupied on this occasion was of logs, and stood near the store of Mr. Clark. The entire youth of the township attended this school. It is related that the teacher economized the time fultailoress).ng that portion not devoted to reading and spelling in the, to her, perhaps, more congenial avocation of sewing (she was a tailoreas). Numerous quilts were created during the season of this school. Many articles of gentlemen's wearing apparel were made ready for use. A. W. Steele, one of the consideredhis school, noedle that the scholar who misbehaved while the teacher was at work was admonished that his case would be duly considered " when her noodle was out"; and no doubt the aid of all the saints in the calendar was invoked by the unlucky urchin that the thread might be extended

cal infinitum.

 

The first physician was Dr. William A. Clark. The second was Harvey Spellman. The present physician is F. G. Spencer, whose office and residence is a short distance west of the centre. Dr. Spencer is a young man of more than average ability, anonis building up a fine practice.

 

THE FIRST SAW-MILL

 

was erected by Elisha Giddings, in 1826. The mill was situated on Giddings creek, ou the south line of the township, on the Hayes road. There are at present no water-mills in the township, and but one steam-mill. This is owned by D. L. Pellett, and is located in the southwest corner of the township. The first hotel in the township was built by Scovill. We are unable to ascertain the date. The present hotel at the centre was built by the same person, and is now occupied by P. Wood.

 

The first cheese manufactured in Cherry Valley was in 1820, by Mrs. John Fenn. This was from the milk of one cow. The machinery for pressing the cheese was primitive indeed, it being simply a pole, one end of which was placed under a log of the house; at the other extremity was placed a weight, and beneath this lever, near the house, tho cheese was duly pressed. At present a factory does the cheese-making. This first began operations in 1870. Its location is north of the centre, and opposite the residence of the proprietor, Charles E. Petrie. The first year Mr. Petrie manufactured the milk of something over seven hundred cows, averaging twenty-five cheeses per day, weighing fifty pounds each. During the past two years the proprietor has made butter in connection with the factory.

 

The first religious services were in about the year 1825, by Elder Davis, of the Methodist connection. This was at the house of one of the pioneers. The congregation, which numbered some twenty-five, comprised all the settlers within reach, they coming in from Andover and Millsford (now Dorset) with their rifles on their shoulders. The early sere ices were held in school-houses usually. The first regular ministers were Elder C. R. Richmond, of the Baptist, and Rev. Sturges, of the Methodist, denomination. The former church was organized about 1840. There are now two churches located at the centre, one for each denomination above referred to. There is also a town hall at this point.

 

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

 

Golden Rule Lodge, No. 33 was organized U. D. July 26, A.L. 5860. The first officers were Moses Dickinson, W. M. ; William H. McLaughlin, S. W.; Lockwood Lohdell, J. W.; R W. Jones, Sec.; S. F. Hollester, Treas.; A. W. Steele, S. D. ; Philip Hanson, J. D.; and J. B. Wood, Tyler. Date of charter, October 20, A.L. 5860; organized under charter November 7, A.L. 5860, Brother T. J. Carlin, Past Master of Evergreen lodge, No. 222, proxy of Grand Master, officiating. The officers for 1878 are Alpheus W. Steele, W. M.; Daniel B. Debow, S. W. : Sylvanus W. Stone, J. W.; James B. Wood, Treas.; Treas,; Franklin O. Sisson, Sec. ; Parley Serine, S. D. ; J. Albert Steele, J. D. ; Allen J. Blanchard and George M. Stell, Stewards; and William D. Sutherland, Tyler. Present membership, forty-two. Stated communications, first and third Thursdays.

 

STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat  Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

110 acres. 590 " 674 " 57 " 166 " 2317 "

1,194 bushels. 18,391 " 13,392 " 3,887 " 12,580 " 2,562 tons. 25,602 pounds 107,738 " 125,000 "

School-houses, 6 ; valuation and ground,4876:0 ; number of scholars of requisite school age, 191 ; amount paid teachers, $1064.   Population in 1870, 726.   Vote for President in 1876: R. B. Hayes, 147; S. J. Tilden, 44.   As will be seen by reference to the soldier record, this township was well represented in the regiments which Ohio sent to the support of the grand old stars and stripes during the dark days of the Rebellion.   BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.   HORACE LINDSLEY.   The parents of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch were Abraham and Molly Bidwell Lindsley, of Litchfield, Connecticut. Their ancestors were of English origin. Removed to Paris, Oneida county, N. Y., where Horace was born on the 7th day of July, 1811. His father died at this point, and in 1818 his mother was married again, to John Fenn, and soon after removed to Ohio, coming via the lakes, and after a long and tedious voyage, not devoid of danger, arrived at the mouth of Ashtabula creek. At this time there was at this place one log cabin and a partially constructed building intended for a warehouse. They first went to Madison, Lake county ; only remained a short time, however, and then removed to No. 9 of the second range (now known as Cherry Valley); here they effected a permanent settlement in the wilderness. There was but one other family at this time in the township, their neighbors being principally the wild beasts of the forest. At night they were lulled to sleep by the soothing howl of wolves and the hootings of the owls. Mrs. Lindsley Fenn died September 27, 1842. The education of the gentlemen under consideration was acquired at common school, and his first occupation was the felling of the huge forest-trees surrounding his home. In his youth he taught school in winter seasons for a time, but his life-work has been that of farming. On December 26, 1842, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. J., daughter of Joseph and Esther Giddings Warren, of Williamsfield. Eight children were born of this marriage. These are John Quincy Adams ; Joseph Warren, married Elm C. Sweeny ; Mary E., married George H. Burnell ; Lucretia Weston, married E. H. Greene; Lucretia M. (died); Matthew Hale (died) ; Frank Hildreth, and Wendell Phillips. Their political position is shown by the names of their children. They were ever warm friends of the colored man, and many a slave had reason to thank them for food, clothing, and shelter while en route for that freedom in a foreign country which was then denied him here. John Brown and his sons were intimate friends, and   238 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   the last home of the unfortunate Aaron D. Stevens, who was one of the victims of the Harper's Ferry affair, and was executed at Charlestown, Virginia, was at one time with Mr. and Mrs. Lindsley.   ABILENO E. BEALS.   In the year 1818, Edson Beals, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was a Universalist minister, and Jane Beals, his wife, removed from Burlington, Orange county, New York, to Ohio, and made settlement in the township of Pierpont (this county). Remained there until 1828, when they removed to Cherry Valley. The place of their location was in the east part of the township, on the Creek road, purchasing what was known as the Hubbard farm. Here the Rev. Mr. B. lived until his decease, in 1851. The mother is still living at the advanced age of ninety-two years, the last twenty of which she has been confined almost constantly to her bed. Ethener Beals, father of Abileno E., was born in Burlington, New York, February 13, 1816. His wife, Lucretia Low, was born December 28, 1815 ; lived in Pennsylvania during her youth. They were married in 1838, and lived pleasantly together until his death, July, 1872. This worthy couple were among the hard-working settlers of the township, always striving to do that which was right.   A. E. Beals was born in Cherry Valley, September 15, 1848 ; lived at home until February 24, 1870, when he married Miss Elrena J., daughter of Charles and Sally Skeels Spellman, of Wayne township (this connty), and immediately began housekeeping on a farm purchased for him by his father, some two miles south of the old homestead, where he yet resides. They have one child, Frank, born December 1, 1876. The other children of Ethener and Lucretia Beals are Josiah, born 1839, died at Grand River institute, Austinburg, 1861, and Ensign, born February 8, 1842, married Maggie Sell; resides on the old farm. This family are Republican in polities.   WESLEY CLARK.   This gentleman is the fourth of a family of seven children. Ho was born in Albany, New York, November 18, 1814. His parents were Dr. William A. and Polly Vandervier Clark, originally of Monmouth, New Jersey. Removed to Cherry Valley on October 10, 1822, and are both deceased. For a further description of his parents, see the history of Cherry Valley. Wesley Clark was educated at common school, doing much study at home by the light of the huge open fire. Among the early incidents and hardships of pioneer life is remembered the fact that the father of the subject of this sketch moved into the wilderness of Cherry Valley, erected a log cabin, put on a part of the roof, and moved in. That night the snow fell to the depth of eighteen inches, making for strangers in a strange land an exceeding cool reception. Wesley Clark was married March 3, 1850, to Emily, daughter of Marvin and Laura Snow, of Cherry Valley. From this marriage were born two children : Bent Wade, the eldest, died in infancy ; Alcha E. was born March 22, 1860. The political party to which Mr. C. belongs is that of Democratic. lie is also a member of the order of Freemasons. He is a worthy and influential citizen.   SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP.   THE township of Sheffield is bounded on the north by Kingsville, on the south by Denmark, on the east by Monroe, and on the west by Plymouth. It lies in range 2, township 12. The central and southern part of Sheffield is level, while the northern part is moderately hilly. The township is traversed from east to west by the Ashtabula river, which, with its tributary, Pine creek, drains the larger part of its territory. The township of Sheffield was formerly called East Matherstown, Saybrook being called West Matherstown. Samuel Mather was one of the first proprietors of the township, and for him it was named ; but at the date of the organization of the township, in 1820, it was given the name of Sheffield by John Greggs, who was elected the first justice of the peace in the township. Samuel Mather had three heirs, and he had the township divided into three equal parts, the division being made north and south. Elijah Hubbard married his daughter Lydia, and she inherited the middle portion. The division of the land was made in the year 1818, by General Smith, of Vernon, Trumbull county, and Judge Tappan, of Harpersfield. Matthew Hubbard acted as agent for the sale of the central portion of the Sheffield lands for many years, and was successful in disposing of a large share of them to actual settlers. He was succeeded as agent by Henry E. Parsons, of Ashtabula, in 1837, and in 1838 Mr. Parsons became agent also for the east and west portions of the lands of the township. At the time of the arrival of the first settlers the whole township was one mass of forest, with the exception of here and there a small opening or glade on the banks of the Ashtabnla river. The bear, deer, wolf, and other wild animals were plentiful. The timber which grew on these lands consisted of the oak, whitewood, hemlock, cucumber, beech, maple, and the black ash. The last grows on the low, wet bottom-lands, and has been, and is now, of great service in the way of fencing the farms. The east and west parts were not surveyed and offered for sale till the summer of 1825, though there were some squatters on the west part before this time. The middle part was sold in the summer of 1847 to Stephen Bidwell and his son-in-law, Phineas Webster. The latter came on the same summer, and had this part surveyed and offered for sale.   Old Major Moore, who had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was the first man to break the forest in Sheffield. He erected a cabin in 1811, on the Hall place, now owned by Mr. Esher, and cleared two or three acres. He then went into Richland county, Ohio, and after being gone one or two years returned, and in 1847 married a daughter of Reuben Mendell's, she being only sixteen years old, then moved back to Richland county permanently. Smith Webster, justice of the peace of Kingsville, married them, and it was the first wedding in Sheffield. Chauncey Atwater, Sr., went on foot to Jefferson for the license, and on his way back intended to stop with John R. Gage, but lost his way in the forest, and lay in the woods all night. In the morning he found the river so much swollen by the rains of the night and previous day that it was not possible to cross it, and there being no bridges, he had to go to Kelloggsville, some four miles farther, before he could cross to the other side. It may be said here that this river in spring and fall, during heavy rains, overflows its banks on the bottom-lands adjoining the river.   Some two or three years before this land WAS offered for sale, Reuben and Amos Mendell, and their brother-iulaw, Abram Springstead, with their families, had commenced improvements in this middle part of the township, north of the river. A brother of the Mendalls, while on a furlough from the army, visiting here, died of consumption in 1847, and was buried on the northeast corner of the Rood farm, now owned by Mr. Hawkins. He was the first white man who died and was buried in Sheffield.   Among the earliest of the squatters on the west division was John Shaw, who arrived in Sheffield in 1812. He has now numerous descendants in this part of the county. It is related by his son, Truman B. Shaw, of Sheffield, that John Shaw, his father, in the War of 1812, between the English and the 'United States, belonged to and was a soldier in the British army, then in Canada. But preferring the freedom of an American to the bondage of a British soldier, he, with several of his companions in arms, took a small boat from Long Point, Canada, and crossed Lake Erie to Ashtabula in the night, a distance of forty miles, making good their escape. During the Year 1817 other families commenced settling in the middle portion of Sheffield, among them Chauncey Atwater, on the farm known now as the Wellman farm. He had three children,—John T., Lyman, and Laura Atwater. The first, John T. Atwater, for many years was a prominent man in the township, adding to his occupation of a successful farmer that of a merchant, dealing largely in stoves and hardware, but was suddenly cut off in the midst of his usefulness and in the prime of life. Whilst engaged in the procuring of timber for a mill which he was about to erect on the banks of the Ashtabula river, a little east of his house, which is now Called the Atwater farm, owned by James Purdy, in felling a tree, a limb was broken off, and, striking him, was the cause of his death. He left a property of six hundred acres of land, which was divided between his three sons—Chauncey W., Wilbur,   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 239   and Almon Atwater,—the two first still residing in Sheffield, and are successful farmers, the last occupying a prominent position as chief engineer on the Canada Southern railroad. Lyman Atwater resides in Monroe township, and his sister, Laura Covell, in Topeka, Kansas, she being one of the first settlers in that region.   Another of the early settlers in this part of the township was Thomas Fargo, who purchased in 1817 what is known as the Eastman farm, and moved there in 1821. He set out the first orchard in the township on that farm, and also erected the first frame residence and barn. Samuel P. Castle, on the Ufford farm, was another early settler.   In the summer of 1818, Phineas Webster moved his family on what is known as the old Johnson place, now owned by Mr. Freeman, and in March, 1820, he died, and the middle third of the township reverted to the Hubbards.   Zebediah Whipple emigrated from New London, Connecticut, in 1818, to Sheffield, and now resides in the south part of the township, on what is called Maple street. Ho settled on the farm now owned by Ben. Summers, in the north part of the township. There he cleared ten acres. It is related by him that in the spring of the year they had to endure many hardships, among which was scarcity of food, having to gather the cowslip greens and wild onions, with what wild game they could catch and kill, for food. In the fall their chief food was peaches and milk. In 1820 he built a small frame barn, the neighbors coming from Ashtabula, Conneaut, Kingsville, and surrounding settlements to help'raise the same. For every pound of nails which he used in the erection he paid one bushel of corn. Zebediah Whipple is still living, and is at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He has a family of four children living in the township. Their names are Andrew, John, William, and Gibson.   THE FIRST ROADS.   The first road surveyed and opened in the township was one running from Kelloggsville, then known as " Ferguson's settlement," towards Jefferson. It was surveyed by Martin Kellogg at an early day, and was only underbrushed and used as a bridle-path. The next road was that running from Monroe to Plymouth.   FIRST BIRTHS.   John R. Gage was married in October, 1817, to Ruth Woodbury, of Ashtabula, and in November following settled on the south side of Ashtabula river, on the farm where he now lives. He was the first settler on the south side of the river ; and his daughter, Lodema Clark, now living in Austinburg, was born in July, 1818, and was the first child born on the south side of the river.   Joshua L. Gage waled on the south side of the river, on the farm now owned and occupied by him, in November, 1822. In the following year was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for twelve years in succession without having a case appealed, though litigation was quite common in the changes incident to a newly-settled community. Their brother, Stephen, also lived for many years a neighbor to them. The two first raised large families, who, with their children, are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific.   In the spring of 1848 Elam Osborn and John Usher settled near what is called Sheffield Corners, on the places known as the Peck and Richmond &ma, respectively, and they were the second and third settlers on the south side of the creek, J. L. Gage being the fourth.   One of the most prominent and useful citizens who ever resided in Sheffield was Elder Edmund Richmond, who came here in 1836. He gave the land for the Baptist church, was mainly instrumental in building the same, and preached there till his death, in 1861. His remains lie buried in the township cemetery, within a few rods of the church he loved so well, surrounded by those of his two wives and his sons, Judah L., Horace, and Calvin.   Hammon Stevens settled in Sheffield in 1836. His father, Enoch Stevens, emigrated from New Hampshire to Ashtabula in 1810, purchasing the farm known as the Winthrop Watrous farm, and settling there.   Very much could be truthfully said of the virtues, the public spirit, and the pioneer pluck displayed by a large number of Sheffield pioneers, and although history may be silent, tradition will carefully preserve the names of Bliss, Johnson, Swift, Hardy, West, Shepard, Ward, Purdy, Kingsbury, Hawkins, Bennett, Rogers, Eastman, and others.   FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSES.   The first school in Sheffield was one taught by Clarissa Cassell, in a log cabin which stood near where Mr. Ufford's residence now stands. The first school-house was built in 1819, about forty rods west of the present school-house, in district No. 11. The second school-house was erected of logs, in 1823, and stood on the rise of ground north of the residence of James Rogers, and on the southeast corner of the Eastman farm. The next school was a frame building, erected on the   - 60 -   northwest corner of what is now known as Sheffield Corners. This was built in 1829, and was called the Red School-house, and this building figured prominently in the early history of Sheffield, it being used as a meeting-house, and also the town elections and meetings. We can give but a few names of those who, in early times, instructed the scholars in these schools. They are as follows: Eliphalet Gage, Harriet Woodbury, Lake Guernsey, Samuel C. Johnson, and Anal Aldridge.   THE FIRST CHURCHES-METHODIST.   The first religious meetings in Sheffield were held by the Methodists, in the first log school-house built in the township. Religion advanced hand in hand with education. In 1824 the first church was organized, Elder Lane, of the Erie conference, preaching once in every four weeks. Among the names of the first pastors we find the Revs. Wilder B. Mack, John P. Kent., Parson Hall, (Episcopal), Joseph Davis, Elder Palmer, Elder Bailey, Somerville, and others.   The present church was erected in 1844, and is still in a state of good preservation. The presiding elder, Hiram Kinsley, preached the dedication sermon, the Revs. John Luccock and E. B. Lane at that time being the pastors of the church. The present pastor's name is Rev. E. S. Baker, who resides in Kelloggsville. The number of present membership is forty.   BAPTIST CHURCH..   The Baptist church was organized on July 6, 1835, by the Rev. Edmund Richmond, who gave the land for the church, and was mainly instrumental in the building of the same. He labored here till his death, in 1861. Under his ministry, on March 26, 1843, William Ward was converted and baptized. For four years after his conversion be attended the Baptist Theological seminary, in the city of New York, preparing himself for the ministry. In 1848 he was sent, under the auspices of the Baptist Missionary Union, as a missionary to Assam, India, where he faithfully and effectually labored for a period of twenty years, and died among the people for whose spiritual good he had so earnestly striven. The number of members at the time of organization was thirteen. The present membership, twenty-four. The Rev. Edwin Dibble is the present pastor.   FREE-WILL BAPTISTS.   The Free-Will Baptists organized in 1839, Rev. D. M. L. Rollin presiding. They held their meetings in the school-house at Sheffield Centre until the present church was built, in 1853, which occupies a lot a few rods north of the townhouse. Membership at time of organization, nine; present membership, twenty-seven. The present pastor, the Rev. Rufus Clark.   UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.   The United Brethren church was organized by Revs. George Sleeper and Ambrose Shelly. in 1857. The present pastor is Rev. Landeau. The membership at the present time is twenty-five.   FARM CROPS.   The township of Sheffield is more adapted for the growing of grass than for other farm crops, but corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, apples, and gardeuvegetables are raised, and yield well and abundantly. The soil is clay, but along the banks of Ashtabnla river is a mixture of clay and gravel. The timber which grew on the Sheffield lands aided largely the pioneers and settlers of this township in the payment of their farms, as well as in the erection of their residences and barns, and is also a means of support to many now, who carry their wood and lumber to the surrounding towns to market.   CHEESE-FACTORIES.   The great demand for this article of American manufacture has led the farmers throughout the United States, whose lands are adapted for the growing of' grass and the keeping of dairies, to study and understand thoroughly the process of making cheese, so as to utilize every possible facility in the production of this very important article of food. This branch of industry has reached a high degree of perfection, as to the mode of manufacture, in this locality,—the lands of Sheffield being well adapted for pasture, and also well watered. Natural advantages are here enjoyed to an extent which not many localities are able to furnish, and hence the manufacture of butter and cheese constitutes the leading employment of the citizens of this township. The Buckeye cheese-factory, situated on Maple street, on the land of Gilbert Whipple, opposite the residence of H. L. Smith, is a large and prosperous factory, and has been in successful operation for about four seasons. It was built in the spring of 1874. It is owned and operated by a joint-stock company. The names of the present salesmen for the company are as follows: H. L. Smith, S. M. Booth, and J. C. Andrews. Chauncey W. Atwater, Amos Stevens, and George Peebles are engaged in the manufacture of the " farm-dairy cheese."   240 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   THE FIRST SAW- AND GRIST-MILLS.   The first saw- and grist-mill was erected by Elijah Peck, in 1827, on the Ashtabula river, a short distance east of Sheffield Corners. It is said of this mill that it would saw about three or four hundred feet of lumber a day, and that the grinding of four bushels of corn constituted the capacity of the grist-mill. It is said that Thomas Fargo, who lived on the Eastman farm, took some corn to this mill at an early day to be ground, and Mr. Peck, in order to ascertain whether the corn was being ground fine enough, sent Mr. Fargo down-stairs to watch the meal as his grist came forth. He went below as directed, but, after watching for some time, and unable to see tsheeany flour issued forth, or that any corn was "pecked," as they called it, looked up and saw a large rat sitting in the shoe of the mill, devouring the "pecked" corn towushipas it fell from the mill. This illustrates the mill's grinding capacity. Elijah Peck had been a resident of Monroe township for some time prior to 1827. He raised a large family of children, many of them now living in the county. There are at present four sawmills in Sheffield,—one at Sheffield Corners, owned by Mr. James Rogers; another (steam-mill) on the lands of B. B. Hardy, owned by Brownell & Spears ; a water-power mill on the north branch of Mills creek, in the south of Sheffield township, owned by L. M. Farr ; and the last, about one mile west of James Rogers' mill, on Ashtabula river, owned by Harvey Clark, who, in addition to this mill, runs an extensive flouring-mill. This mill was erected first as a saw-mill in 1829. In 1840 it was enlarged and a gristmill added. After which icommodiousby Joseph Hawkins to Mr. Rathburn, who swept the whole of the old mill away and erected on its site the present commodious saw- and grist-mill, now owned by Harvey Clark.   A pump and butter-tub manufactory is carried on by Cleveland Brothers, in North Sheffield, and was built in 1869. Capacity, twenty-five pumps and fifty butter-tubs per day.   THE FIRST STORE   was built by Norman Thompson and John C. Richmond, and kept by Salmon Chandler, in the old store building opposite the Methodist church. There are at the present time two stores,—one at the Sheffield Corners, kept by J. P. Smith, and the other at Sheffield Centre, by Henry Fox, who also holds the office of postmaster.   THE FIRST POST-OFFICE   was kept in a building nearly opposite the Baptist church. David Richmond was the first postmaster, in 1845, and the first quarter's income was eighty-three cents.   FIRST HOTEL.   The first hotel was built by H. G. Hinds, at Sheffield Centre, in 1861.   THE FIRST PHYSICIAN   in Sheffield was Dr. Eaton. He came to Sheffield at an early day, and died there in 1873. His family still reside in Sheffield.   CASUALTIES.   In 1828, Zaccheus Bagley and his son Horace, having settled on what is known as the Kemp farm, and being fond of hunting, started one morning from home, and got as far as the Gould farm, and, while crossing over Pine creek on a log, the father slipped, his rifle was discharged, the ball penetrating his son's skull, killing him incornstalksis was the first accident in Sheffield.   In the month of October, 1854, Daniel Richards, while drawing a load of cornstalks from one of his fields on the west side of George Ufford's farm, which land he was owner of at the time, had the misfortune to upset his load, throwing him upon a pitch-fork, and so injuring him that he died in a short time.   On the 3d of January, 1869, Perry. M. Whipple, son of Zebediah Whipple, died from the effect of a bite received from a hog, which he was helping butcher justicearm of John A. Stanton.   THE FIRST OFFICERS   in the township were electetreasurer.John Gage, trustee ; John Griggs, justice of the peace; and Chauncey Atwater, township clerk ; Samuel Johnsoaretreasurer. The records of the township from the time of organization in 1820 till 1852 have not been preserved, and we arg unable to give theTrustees.—Williamship officers between those dates. The following are the names of those holding town offices since 1852:   Trustees.—Williani Todd, Joseph Hawkins, George Ufford, Johnson Gillett, Hammon Stevens, Melancthon Wellman, E. Gillett, N. Bonnell, Dan. Swift, W. O. Lilly, J. R. Gage, D. W. Peck, J. C. Quinn, W. R. Howard, F. Mann, C. W. Atwater, A. A. Fink, R. T. Moore, Elijah Peck, J. Hardy, Jr., Erastus Hawkins, James Rogers, A. Whipple, C. A. Brown, K. K. Wards, S. M. Booth, H. D. Cleveland, D. V. Richmond, H. Shepard, J. Dickson, B. C. Smith. The present trustees for 1877 are B. P. Hard, A. C. Stevens, and J. P. Avery.   Township Clerks.—J. Hibbard, J. H. Steward, Daniel Cleveland, Justus Stewart, Horace Shepard, Ira Blodgett, B. C. Smith. The present township clerk, Horace Shepard.   Treasurers.—Elisha Peck, H. Purdy, Beriah Bliss, D. W. Peck, W. Shepard, S. T. Gage, H. M. Clark, A. Shelley, Norris Gage, Ira A. Blodgett, A. Marr, Elijah Peck, H. D. Cleveland, Darius Van Slyke. H. D. Cleveland, Darius Van Slyke. H. D. Cleveland treasurer in 1877.   Assessors.- D. W. Peck, S. Stanton, D. T. Richmond, Beria Bliss, O. S. Wilson, J. P. Eastman, Truman Marr, O. W. Swift, A. J. Whipple, J. W. Atwater assessor in 1877.   Real Estate Assessors.—Hammon Stevens was elected in 1859 to hold the office of real estate assessor, which office is held fbr ten years consecutively. C. W. Atwater was elected in 1870.   STATISTICS   The following are the crop statistics for this township for the year 1877:

Wheat Oats Coast Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple sugar Butter Cheese

227 acres 787 " 390 " 89 “ 211 “ 1652 "

2,146 bushels 19,085 " 11,639 " 6,699 " 5,852 " 1,832 tons 7,965 pounds 29,780 " 107,210 "

Number of school-houses, 8 ; valuation, $3000 ; amount paid teachers, $1183.89 ; number of scholars, 245.   Vote for President in Buttcr Hayes, 154 ; Tilden, 38.   Population in 1870, 770   WILLIAMSFIELD TOWNSHIP.   WILLIAMSFIELD is geographically known on the county records as township No. 8, in the first range, and derives its name from General Joseph Williams, who was at an. early date the owner of the lion's share of this township. His purchase, which was consummated on the 26th day of September, 1799, embraced three-fifths of the eastern part. This was not, however, the first land purchased of the Connecticut land company within the territory now called Williamsfield, Samuel Parkman having purchased an undivided interest in the western portion of the township on September 14, 1799. June 23,1809, Mr. Parkman became the owner of lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24,. 25, and two hundred and forty and sixty-seven one hundredths acres in the east side of lot No. 22. John Allen, another joint owner of the township, bought on October 19, 1807, lot No. 11, being six hundred and fifty-two and forty-five one hundredths acres and forty-seven and fifty-five one hundredths acres in lot No. 30. September 12, 1810, Joseph W. Brown purchased nine hundred acres in lots 1, 2, and 3. ,These were the original purchasers of the township in 1798, subsequent to the date of the draft by the Connecticut land company. It was first surveyed into sections one mile square, beginning at the northwest corner and running east and west.   The topography of Williamsfield is of a high rolling nature, quite well watered with small streams, which flow, some westwardly into the Pymatuniug creek and others eastwardly, emptying into the Chenango creek, in Pennsylvania.   FIRST SETTLEMENTS.   The first settlement was begun in this township in the year 1804, by Charles Case and his son, Zophar, originally from Simsbury, Hartford county, Connecticut, who, having purchased a portion of section 22, emigrated from the " land of steady habits" with their respective families, and began the first improvements in the then unbroken wilderness. Their arrival in the township was on August 24, of the year before given. They came via Pittsburgh, over the mountains, with ox-teams. Soon they had erected log cabins on their lands and began life in earnest. In the autumn of 1806, John L. Cook, of Kinsman, Trumbull county, purchased a portion of lot No. 21, erected a log cabin thereon, and with his newly-wedded wife took up his residence in the same. Mr. Cook and wife while single emigrated from Preston, New London county, Connecticut, with Judge Kinsman, in 1804. David Randall, also of Kinsman, settled in the southwest part of the township at the same time of Cook's settlement. This was on section 11, the farm being now occupied by the Ford heirs. In 1807, Samuel Tuttle and Anson Jones, from Barkhamstead, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and Aaron Rice, from Bristol, Ontario county, New York, moved into the township, and settled on lands previously purchased; this was also in the southwest portion of the township. During the year 1808 there were additions made to the population of Williamsfield as follows : Thomas Ford, Ezra Woodworth, Cotton Foss, Silas Babcock, Daniel Hutchinson, and possibly others. The locations of these families were on the State road, and as follows: Thomas Fond on the Randall farm, where the first religious meetings were held ; Ezra Woodworth on the farm still occupied by Cyril, the youngest son ; Silas Babcock on the farm where now resides F. Johnson. Mr. Babcock was a blacksmith, and built the first smithy in the township. In the year 1809, Joshua Giddings settled on the farm now occnpied by James Reed. He was the father of the Hon. Joshua R. Giddings. The latter read law with Elisha Whittlesey, of Canfield, Mahoning county, and first began practice in this township in 1819. His office stood near the present residence of Mr. Reed; it was of logs split and hewn on the inside. In 1822, Mr. Giddings removed to Jefferson. Justus Peck removed from New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, August, 1824, and settled with his family on fifty acres of land in section 7, on the farm now owned by M. Colby. Mr. Peck was formerly from Colebrook, Connecticut. One of his children is the present efficient county commissioner, E. O. Peck, whose residence is now in Richmond township. William Giddings, a nephew of Joshua R., resides on section 6. He has rendered material aid in the preparation of this history, and to him and others we acknowledge our obligations. Jonathan Tuttle settled in this township in 1810; built a log house in the summer and fall of that year, which he first occupied in January, 1811 ; was elected a justice of the peace .in 1819 ; served in that capacity twenty-one years; was county commissioner four terms, and a member of the State legislature during the winter of 1843-44. The first settler east of the old Salt road was Levi Smith, who emigrated from Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, with his wife and one child, in 1816, locating on section 13. Mr. Smith was a zealous Methodist, not only donating the land upon which the Methodist church is located, but also contributing liberally towards the erection of the building. The original farm is now occupied by Newton Smith. The youngest son is E. J. Smith, at present township clerk, justice of the peace, and notary public.   OTHER EARLY EVENTS.   The old Salt road, of which mention is made in several township histories, was laid out in 1804, by - Bemis and David Niles. It began on the lake-shore, at the mouth of Conneaut creek, continuing south to the old County road, and on through the first range to Kinsman's mill. The course from Kinsman's store was northwardly along the ridge, passing the residence of Marvin Leonard, of Williamsfield. Its location was between the present State and Centre roads of the first range. At this time there was a settlement at Kelloggsville, and midway between this point and Kinsman (Richmond Centre) a temporary board cabin was erected, where men and teams might find shelter for the night. Salt was one of the pressing wants of the early settlers, and to obtain it was one of the principal motives for the construction of this road ; hence the name. Salt was manufactured in Onondaga, New York, transported in vessels on Lake Ontario to Lewistown, below the Falls of Niagara, from there it was carted to Buffalo, and thence in canoes and open boats to Conneaut. It reached the southern settlements by means of ox-teams, where its price was twenty dollars per barrel. The above is an extract from the " Historical Collections of the Mahoning Valley."   The first school-house was erected in the spring of 1808, on the Ford farm. The summer following Mrs. Babcock taught the first school in the township. At the time she had a child a few months old, which was, by the help of the " big boys," taken to school, and a sap-trough extemporized for a cradle. At this school the total attendance was some fifteen scholars.   In 1807 the Revs. Joseph Badger and Jonathan Leslie made a missionary tour through the first range, and the first sermon delivered in Williamsfield was at this time, by the Rev. Leslie, at the log house of Thomas Ford, the congregation numbering some twelve souls all told. From this time religious services were held in the settlement at intervals until the organization of a church in 1816. This was a Presbyterian society, composed of members from both Williamsfield and Wayne, the church edifice being located in the latter township, about one-half mile from the east line, and on the cast and west State road. The date when this church was constituted was February 21, 1816,-Revs. Giles H. Cowles and Jonathan Leslie being present. The first pastor was Ephraim T. Woodruff, who was installed August 19,1819, and continued in that capacity until the year 1834. There has also been a Methodist church organization for many years, first holding services at the dwellings of the settlers, then in school-houses, and finally, in 1820, they erected a log meeting-house, near where Ticknor's house now stands. This was the first church erected in Williamsfield. The Methodist Episcopal church at the Centre was formed April 7, 1825, and consisted of seventeen members,-Thomas Carr and Joseph Davis circuit riders. The church edifice was erected in 1834, and the first sermon delivered therein was by Justice Woodworth. The preacher stood on a work-bench, while the congregation were seated on slab seats. The Congregational church at West Williamsfield was erected in 1848. The United Brethren have a church some one and a half miles south of the Centre, built in 1875.   The first saw-mill was built in 1814, on lot No. 21, by Messrs. Swan & Herrick. Its location was near the Stanhope residence. The present sawmill, owned by Daniel M. Smith, stands on the site formerly occupied by the saw- and cloth-dressing mill of Messrs. Smith & Leffingwell. The first steam saw-mill was built by Smith Bros. & Leffingwell in about 1850, on section 13. There are now three steam saw-mills in the township. The first wheat was doubtless sown by Samuel Tuttle, in 1807, and the first orchard was planted by the same gentleman, in 1808. Aaron Rice also planted an orchard about the same time.   The first store in the township was opened in 1822, by H. H. Vernon, at West Williamsfield. In 1848, A. B. Leonard established a store at the Centre. The present stores at this point are C. B. Leonard (successor to A. B. Leonard) and   - 241 -   242 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   the Farmers' Union. The storm at West Williamsfield are kept by F. Chapman and Ticknor & Son. The first persons who contracted a marriage alliance in this township were Samuel Tuttle and Miss Lois Leonard ; this was in the year 1812. As there was at that time no person in Williamsfield who had authority to solemnize marriages, this loving couple went to Kinsman, and were there united by 'Squire Sutliff, the father of the present Judge Sutliff, of Warren, Trumbull connty.   The first physician who located in the township was Anson Hotchkiss, in the year 1815. His residence was on the State road. It is said his professional ability was above the average. Dr. Hotchkiss remained in the township until 1821, when he removed to Geneva, this county. The present physician is Mr. Tuckerman, West Williamsfield.   The first white male child born in the townShip was a son of Captain Charles Case and wife, in the early part of the year 1806, and the first female child was in October, same year, daughter of John L. and Emma Cook. This child afterwards became the wife of Samuel Dodge. The first hotel was located in West Williamsfield, and was first thrown open for the accommodation of the traveling public in 1820, with J. W. Giddings as host. The second hotel was erected at this same point in 1830, by H. H. Vernon. The present hotel is kept by J. H. Kincaid, at West Williamsfield, and the one at the Centre by C. O. French.   The first death is supposed to have been that of a child of' Anson Jones, in 1809, and the first adult to die was John Inman, in 1813. His body was interred in the private burying-ground of the Inmans, which was situated on the bank of the Pymatuning creek, in Wayne. In the absence of a minister, the religious services were conducted by Deacon Ezra Leonard, Aaron Rice reading the sermon, during which a bier was constructed of round poles by Marvin Leonard and the Hon. J. R. Giddings, the bearers afterwards carrying the body on this rode bier some three miles to the place of interment. The first cemetery in the township was located in 1815; this was the present one at West Williamsfield.   ORGANIZATION.   In 1811 the townships of Williamsfield, Andover, Cherry Valley, Wayne, Colebrook, and New Lyme were, by statute, transferred from Trumbull to Ashtabula County, and organized under the name of Wayne township, and an election held for township officers at the house of Nathan Fobes. Nathaniel Coleman and Samuel Tuttle were elected justices of the peace at this time. Williamsfield was detached and organized as a separate township in 1826, and an election held for township officers on the 3d day of April of that year, the result of which is shown by the following extract from the township records: Samuel Tuttle, Levi Smith, and Charles Brooks were judges, and Henry H. Vernon and William Leffingwell clerks. The following officers were elected: Gilbert Palmer, Samuel Tuttle, and Samuel Morse, trustees; Jonathan Tuttle, clerk ; Charles Brooks, treasurer ; Levi Smith and Levi Leonard, overseers of the poor; Reuben Phelps and William Jones, fence-viewers ; Aranda P. Giddings and William Leffingwell, constables; and Ansel Morse, }tartlet Leonard, Valentine Tourgee, Ebenezer Woodworth, Jonathan Tuttle, and William North, supervisors of highways. The first justice of the peace was the before-named Jonathan Tuttle, who wee elected in 1819. Ile was succeeded by Tieman Ticknor. A second justice was ordered, probably in 1826, and Samuel Morse was the gentleman first elected. The present incumbents are H. W. Simonds and E. J. Smith.   POSTAL MATTERS.   The first post-office established in the township was at West Williamsfield, in 1812. Elias Morse was the first postmaster. M. H. Ticknor is the present postmaster. The second poet-offiee was located at Williamsfield Centre, in 1850, and A. B. Leonard was its first postmaster. C. B. Leonard is the present incumbent, commissioned January 5, 1871. Upon the establishment of mail service on the Franklin divisien of the Jake Shore and Michigan Southern railway, which runs through the eastern portion of the township, another post-office was established at Simon Station; this was mainly through the efforts of William Giddings. The first and present postmaster is Henry W. Simonds, commissioned October 10, 1872. The first mails were carried from Warren (the first year on foot) to Ashtabula, through the fourth range, returning to Warren via the first range, arriving at West Williamsfield on Friday of each week.   The first cheese-factory established was by George W. Fetterman, on lot No. 16, near the present residence of Jasper Fetterman. This was on the 45th of May, 1871. We are unable to obtain any statistics in connection with either this factory or the one established in 1873, by William McMichael, which was the second in the towuship. We learn, however, that both factories are doing a remunerative business.   The patriotism of the citizens of Williamsfield ranks fully equal with those of her sister townships. The following exhibit of the present condition shows pretty conclusively that the hardships and privations of those noble pioneers were not endured for naught :   STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter  Cheese

209 cases. 649 " 569 " 102 “ 286 " 2500 "

3,068 bushels 14,635 " 41,761 " 6,396 " 38,839 " 3,100 tons 24,048 pounds. 49,110 “ 198,264 “

 

Number of schoolhouses, 7 ; valuation, $2600; amount paid teachers, $932; total number of youths, 269.

 

The report of the secretary of state for 1877 shows that the vote for President was: Hayes, 178 ; Tilden, 74.

 

The population in 1870 was 892.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

 

WILLIAM GIDDINGS.

 

Elisha Giddings was born at Hartland, Connecticut, 1785, and was married to Philathella Fish, September 11, 1803, who was born at Townsend, Vermont. He married from Canandaigua, New York, in 1805, and settled in Green, Trumbnll county, now Wayne, Ashtabula County. They had eleven children,—nine sons and two daughters.

 

William Giddings, who was the fourth son, was born in Wayne, January 11, 1810. In April, 1813, his parents gave him to Jonathan Tuttle, of Williamsfield, his mother carrying him through the woods on horseback. Mr. Tuttle adopted him, and he lived with him until he was of age. His schooling consisted of about three months,—summer and winter,—until he was eight years old. After that time until of age it was limited to about two months each winter. With this meagre amount of schooling he obtained a fair education, and the notes relating to his life furnished the writer are in a good hand, although written when he was almost seventy.

 

When he arrived at his majority, his worldly wealth might be represented with 000. He resolved to earn a farm of one hundred acres, and then marry. He began work with this intention. His wages varied from thirty-three to fifty-six cents a day, yet when he was twenty-seven years old he had bought his hundred acres in Williamsfield, for which he paid seven hundred dollars.

 

September 25, 1838, he married Maria Webber, of Kinsman, and settled on his farm.

 

He and his wife have always been members of the Congregational church, and interested in Sunday-school matters. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Two sons are now living: F. R. Giddings, born February 5, 1840; married May 11, 1869, to Senna Banning, of Kinsman. They now live in Cleveland. W. Danvin Giddings, born June 29, 1850 ; is unmarried. He is employed in United States mail service, on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway.

Mr. William Giddings is the only Giddings in Williamsfield, where that family were once so numerous. He has always been an anti-slavery man and a straight out-and-out Republican, and in his younger days was almost always a member of the county conventions. He has not missed voting at a State election but once since 1831. In 1836 he was in Genesee county, New York, and voted for Harrison.

 

REV. ELIAS MORSE.

 

The birthplace of Rev. Elias Morse was Worthington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, April 6, 1776. He came to this Western Reserve on horseback, in 1809, to select land for his future home, in company with Ebenezer Webber.

 

He selected three hundred acres in section 24, where he lived until his death. The farm is now owned by his heirs. He was married to Miss Abiah Phelps, of Suffield, Hartford county, Connecticut, May 4, 1803, by Rev. Mr. Waldo. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, two of whom are now living,—B. F. Morse resides in Kentucky, and Maria Louisa occupies the old homestead. He was the founder of Methodism in this part of the Reserve, being converted at a Methodist camp-meeting previous to his coming to Ohio. After he had made the selection of his land he said to his friend, "Let us thank God for all his mercies and blessings in protecting us through our long journey to this wilderness." He knelt down there in the forest and poured out his thoughts in prayer to the Almighty for his care over himself and friend. He earnestly prayed that

 

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 243

 

he might be of some use in this new country, that he might do some good in the name of his Master. He formed a number of classes or chapels in the west part of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and one or two in Trumbull county, and one in Williamsfield. Those classes were formed before there was any ecclesiastical body established belonging to the Methodists in this part of the county. As soon as he arrived here with his family in 1811, he commenced preaching in his own or some neighbor's house or barn, as the case might be. About this time a mail-route was established on the State road, and J. W. Brown was appointed postmaster, but resigned in a few months, and Elias Morse Was appointed instead, his commission bearing date 1812, and served as postmaster about thirty years. He died December 26,1856, aged eighty years. His wife died December 29, 1872, aged ninety-seven years.

 

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

 

This township is designated as the eighth of the second range of the original Connecticut Western Reserve. Much of the following history of this township is extracted from an address delivered by the Hon. J. R. Giddings, at the semi-centennial anniversary of the settlement of the township, held do the 24th day of August, 1853. Mr. Giddings became a resident of the territory now called Wayne when but ten years of age,—this fact, with his retentive memory and very observing mind, eminently fitting him for the pnsition of historian.

 

In the month of June, 1798, Titus Hayes, then a young man of unusual energy, left Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, with the intention of joining a company of surveyors to be employed on the Reserve in that season. He came by the way of Canandaigua, in the State of New York, with no other companion than a faithful dog ; and with his gun, a loaf of bread, and some salt in his knapsack, he left Erie, Pennsylvania. At a place called Levingston, in Crawford county, he passed the last cabin, and, trusting to his pocket compass, he bore southwesterly, and entered the State of Ohio near the southeast corner of Richmond, passing through the territory now called Andover; he entered this township near the northwest corner ; he swam the Pymatuning creek, near the corner of lot 28. His was the first visit of civilized man to the interior of our township. It was then an unbroken wilderness. The dark umbrage of the forest protected the virgin soil from the noontide rays. The cool waters flowed quietly along the beautiful rivulets. All was then quiet, and nature reigned in all her pristine loveliness. In 1799 the township was surveyed into lots of a half-mile square, each containing one hundred and sixty acres. In 1800, by deeds of partition among the proprietors of the " Connecticut land company," the township was conveyed to Oliver Phelps, Esq., of Canandaigua, one of the original members of the company.

 

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

 

In the spring of 1803, Simon Fobes, Esq., of Somers, in the State of Connecticut, contracted with Oliver Phelps for fifteen hundred acres of land in township No. 8 in the second rouge. The tract embraced one entire tier of lots lying south of and adjoining the east and west centre line. These lots were numbered from fifty up to, and including, sixty.

 

On the 21st of June of that year, Joshua Fobes and his wife, Dorothy, accompanied by. Elias Fobes, a younger brother, of some nine or ten years of age, started from Connecticut with the intention of settling in this township. Their father attended them on their journey, with the intention of seeing them located in the wilderness to which they were emigrating. After one or two days' travel they were joined by David Fobes, a cousin, who shared with them the hardships and privations of that protracted journey. In forty-nine days they reached Gustavus, and for the time being found shelter in the cabin of Jesse Felton, who had settled at the centre of the township. Soon after their arrival they proceeded to ascertain the situation of their lands. This done, the father returned to Connecticut. Joshua Fobes and David commenced chopping timber and preparing a cabin, but the exposure of the journey affected the health of Joshua so much that he could not remove on to his lands until the 8th of October. The family which moved into the township of Wayne on that day consisted of Joshua Fobes, his wife Dorothy, David Fobes, and Elias Fobes. These four farmers were emphatically the "first settlers of Wayne."

 

The cabin in which they lived was near the southeast corner of lot 57. Here they spent laborious days and lonely nights. Soon after they had settled in their new home, David Fobes left them and returned to Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Fobes, with the brother, Elias, spent the winter of 1803-4 with no civilized neighbor within less than five miles from their dwelling. They were often visited

 

- 61 -

 

by Indians who lived in the township, and who occasionally supplied them with venison and bear's meat. They were usually friendly ; but it may not be out of place to say that on one occasion two of them visited the cabin of our pioneers, where they found Mrs. Fobes without company. They became boisterous in their demands for whisky, but she, understanding their habits, refused to furnish it. They drew their knives in a threatening manner ; she had recourse to the weapon most used by her sex (the broomstick), and drove them from the cabin. Their neighbors were a few families in the township of Windsor, some fifteen miles westward, but there was no road by which they could be visited. On the north, their nearest neighbors were at Kingsville, some twenty miles distant, without a road, while on the east there were no settlers nearer than Meadville, Pennsylvania. They had no intercourse with white people except at the south. In Gustavus were two or three families, with, perhaps, as many in Kinsman and Vernon. These constituted their neighbors.

 

FIRST BIRTH IN THE TOWNSHIP.

 

On the 21st of April, 1804, Mrs. Pubes gave birth to a son. He was the first child born in the township, and was named Alvin.

 

In May, 1804, Simon Fobes, Jr., came into the township, and took up his residence with his brothers, returning to Connecticut in the autumn, and our pioneer family were left to spend the second winter without other neighbors than those heretofore referred to. During the summer of 1804 a wagon-road was opened from their residence to Morgan. This road was occasionally traveled, and our pioneers were at times called on by the lonely traveler, who, in that day, was always delighted to find a cabin amid the dreary wilderness. Early the next season Simon Fobes, Jr., returned to Wayne. He came in a wagon drawn by two horses, which enabled him to bring with him many articles of clothing and other necessaries greatly needed by the family. With him came a cousin, Jabez Fobes, whose father had purchased land here, and the son came to rear a cabin for his father's family. During the winter of 1804-5, Titus Hayes and Elisha Giddings removed from Canandaigua, New York, with their families. They came on sleds drawn by oxen, reaching Hartford, in the county of Trumbull, in the month of March. Here they remained during the season, engaged in raising provisions for the next season. On the 8th of October these gentlemen removed with their families to Wayne, and took up their residence on lot 33. Mr. Fobes and family had resided in the township two years before the arrival of another family. Elisha Giddings settled on lot 34. In the autumn of 1805, George Wakeman, from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, purchased lot 85, and began improvements thereon. During the same period Joshua Giddings (father of the Hon. J. R. Giddings) purchased several lots of land in the township.. Jabez Fobes erected a small cabin about this time on lot 88. Edward Inman, of Somers, Connecticut, purchased lands here in the same autumn. In the winter of 1805-6, Joshua Giddings, accompanied by his son, Anson P., came from Canandaigua, and commenced improvements near the centre, on lot 45, erecting a cabin and planting a small field of' corn. In the month of May, George Wakeman and family, his son-in-law, Henry Moses, and family, settled on lot 85. In the same month the family of Joshua Giddings (consisting of wife, son Joseph, and J. R., the youngest of the family) left Canandaigua, in charge of Nathaniel Coleman, at that time recently married, reached Conneaut on the 16th day of Juno (the day of the total eclipse of the sun), coming down the old Salt road and across the Pymatuning into the township, and to the cabin on lot 45. Mr. Coleman began improvements on lot 65, where he subsequently settled. About the 1st of July, Edward Inman and family, his son Edward, Jr., and family, settled on lot 86. Soon after this Nathan Fobes took up his residence on lot 88. Soon after this Mr. Giddings inaugu-

 

244 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

 

rated public Sabbath worship. The first meeting was at his cabin on, probably, the second Sabbath in July. In the memoirs of the Rev. Joseph Badger we find that, on the 2d of November, 1806, he spoke at the house of Joshua Fobes; and this sermon he calls the"'" first Sabbath preaching in Wayne."

 

FIRST DEATH.

 

On the 8th day of January, 1808, Mrs. Thankful Fobes, grandmother of Joshua Fobes, died at his house. The place of burial was in what is now the cemetery, a little distance from the centre of the township, Mr. Hayes donating the land. There was no clergyman present, the solemn services being conducted by those present. Three days subsequently Simon Fobes, the husband of the before mentioned, was buried by her side in the forest grave-yard. During the year 1808 there was much suffering among the early settlers of Wayne, the wet season of the previous year preventing the raising of crops. Another misfortune befell the settlers,—most of the lands purchased in town were found to have been mortgaged by Oliver Phelps prior to their sale, and he dying about this time, insolvent, the purchasers were left without a remedy. During this season Messrs. Fobes erected the first saw-mill in the township; this was on lot 55, the completion of which marking an era in the settlement. The first school-house was erected near the centre of the township, in the autumn of 1809. It was a small log cabin, with windows of oiled paper. Keziah Jones taught the first school in the township (date not given). Miss Jones became afterwards the wife of Nathaniel Coleman. Mr. Giddings states that he was a member of this school, and that in it he obtained the only common-school education acquired after he was ten years of age. The early settlers were subjected to many privations. Their dwellings were rude and inconvenient ; glass windows were not enjoyed ; the light was obtained usually from the chimney ; the door and window-places filled with oiled paper instead of glass. They had usually but one room, which served as kitchen, dining-room, parlor, and nursery. Their crockery was arranged on shelves in one corner of the heuse, and under these shelves their iron-ware and cooking-utensils were arranged. It was common in the early period of our settlement for gentlemen to appear at church on the Sabbath barefooted, in clean shirts, pants, and vests, without coats, which were not sometimes conveniently to be had. The ladies were generally in the habit of walking to church barefooted, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands until near the place of meeting, when they would stop and clothe their pedal extremities, and then walk into the sanctuary. In connection with the difficulties experienced in these early days in getting grain ground, it is stated that " most families were provided with samp mortars.'" These were formed by burning a cavity into the top of a stump, and then providing a large pestle six or eight feet in length, suspended over the stump by fastening the upper end to a spring-pole, the lower end being suited to the cavity in the stump below it. The corn being placed in the cavity of the stump, the pestle was brought down on it with such force as to break it in pieces, and a woman or child could pound sufficient for the family—a meal—in a short time. The pioneers met but seldom for social pleasures, but that circumstance added interest to their gatherings. The ladies did not call at four o'clock P.M., as at this day. They left home in the morning, taking their children with them, and occupied the day in an efficient visit, retiring before the disappearance of daylight. The friendships of that day were strong Sand uninterrupted. There were no feuds, no contentions, no strifes among them.

 

THE FIRST WEDDING.

 

In the winter of 1807, Philemon Brockway was married to Sarah, daughter of Nathan Fobes. The marriage was solemnized at the house of her father, and the whole town were invited; for weeks the event was looked to as one of unusual interest. Fortunately, the weather was good, and the invited guests were promptly in attendance. The attendance of a clergyman could not easily be obtained, and a justice of the peace was employed to officiate. All passed off merrily. The bride and bridegroom were duly congratulated, and saluted with the friendly kiss. The whisky was passed around in earthen bowls and tin-cup's. At a seasonable hour the guests departed for their homes, highly gratified with the first wedding, which was long referred to as one of the interesting incidents of the early settlement.

 

The first township election was at the house of Nathan Fobes. This township contains but one of those works called "ancient fortifications," of which so much has been written and no little known. This work was situated on the west side of the Pymatuning creek, on lot 89, near the mill. It had the appearance of having been designed for defense. Its parapet-walls were some three feet in height, and on them were found forest-trees of the ordinary size. It was evidently erected by that peculiar people who., for want of a better name, are denominated "Mound-Builders." Samuel Jones eame from Hartland, Connecticut, in 1811. His family consisted of wife and five children, the eldest of whom (L. H. Jones) still occupies the original homestead on lot No. 28. The first cheese-factory was established by L. D. Badger, in about the year 1870, at the centre. There are at present five factories in the township.

 

THE FIRST POST-OFFICE

 

was located about one-fourth of a mile north of the centre. This was in about the year 1823, at which time Hari Miner was commissioned first postmaster,—a position which he held for many years. Present postmaster is Samuel Jones, Jr. First mails were carried on foot, arriving at Wayne the latter part of the week.

 

The first grist-mill was erected in about the year 1820 ; Messrs. Loomis & Brown were the proprietors. The location of this mill was on the Pymatuning creek, in the southeast corner of the township. The first store began business in about 1825, on the Hayes road, some quarter of a mile north of the east and west centre road ; Messrs. Hayes & Stevens proprietors. The present store is at the centre; Messrs. S. Jones & Co. proprietors. The first resident physician was Luther Spelman, whose location was in the southeast corner of the township; he first began business in perhaps 1823, and continued the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in September, 1862. J. W. Graham is at present the only physician in the township.

 

For the record of the patriotic deeds of the citizens of Wayne during the War of the Rebellion, see military history of the county in another part of this Volume.

 

The population of this township in 1870, as shown by the United States census, was eight hundred and seventeen, and the political status is shown by the vote cast for President in 1876, which the secretary of state's report gives as follows: R. B. Hayes, 191 ; S. D. Tilden, 29.

 

The following table shows that the farmers of Wayne have fully improved the time:

 

STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar Butter Cheese

186 acres 522 " 441 " 53 “ 189 " 2224 "

2,559 bushels. 16,271 " 16,304 " 4,458 " 10,480 " 2,983 tons 35,499 pounds. 40,243 “ 368,877 "

The number of school-houses was 8; valuation, $5500; number of scholars, 260; amount paid to teachers, $1006.63.   In connection with the township of Wayne, we find on the first record that "so much of the township of Green as is contained in the original survey of No. 8, in the first, second, and third ranges, is hereby set off into a separate township, to be known by the name of Wayne. The electors of said township of Wayne are directed to meet on the 11th day of April next, at the dwelling of Nathan Fobes, for she purpose of electing township officers. Signed, Richard Hayes, clerk ;" and dated " County Commissioners' Office, Trumbull County, Ohio, March 19, 1811." (The township so organized embraced what is now the townships of Williamsfield, Andover, Colebrook, Cherry Valley, New Lyme, and Wayne.) Pursuant to above the electors met as directed, and elected the following officers: George Wakeman, Joshua Giddings, and Ears Woodworth, trustees; Nathaniel Coleman, clerk ; Thomas Ford, treasurer ; Anson Jones, lister and appraiser ; Elisha Giddings, appraiser ; Titus Hayes and Samuel Tuttle, overseers of the poor; Zopher Case and Joshua Fobes, fence-viewers; David Fobes, Anson Jones, and Albigance Woodworth, supervisors. The first justices of the peace were Samuel Tuttle and Nathaniel Coleman, whose commissions bear date at Zanesville, September 24,1811. The following are their successors to the present: Ezra Leonard, Anson Jones, Titus Hayes, Jonathan Tuttle, Simon Fobes, Joshua Fobes, Sr., Nathaniel Coleman, Jr., Simon Fobes, Jr., Flavel Jones, Loyal E. Parker, Anson Jones, C. C. Frick, David Smiley, Richard Hayes, Morris Spelman, Rollin L. Jones, James S. Cowden, Linus H. Jones, Andrew J. Hatch, and F. A. Kinnear. Among the "archives" of Wayne we find a poll-book of an election for State officers held October 43, 1812, at which time twenty-eight votes were cast. The following are the candidates: Governer, Return J. Meigs; Member of Congress, John S. Edwards; Senator, Peter Hitchcock ; Legislature, Samuel S. Baldwin and James Montgomery ; County Commissioners, O. K. Hawley, Levi Gaylord, Titus Hayes, Moses Wright, and Ezra Leonard. The judges of this election were Samuel Tuttle, Elisha Giddings, and Anson Jones ; Jonathan Tuttle and Samuel Jones, clerks. At the presidential election of 1816, there were fifteen votes cast for presidential electors. Reuben Bates, Jabes Fobes, and Jonathan Tuttle, judges ; Lynda Jones and Joshua R. Giddings, clerks.   CHURCHES.   The following statement in relation to the early Methodist meetings, formation of the society, etc., is given from memory, the records having been destroyed. The fist church organization was formed in about the year 1822, subsequent to which time a camp-meeting was held on the farm of Titus Hayes (now owned   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 245   by O. H. Miner). The first meetings were held in dwellings and school-houses, and among the first ministers were Charles Thorn, J. W. Davis, Thomas Carr, and others. The first Methodist church edifice was erected in 1840, at Linden ville. It was a frame structure, and is the same which is now occupied at the centre, it having been moved to that point in 1866. Present pastor, T. D. Blinn ; membership, forty.   CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.   Our thanks are due to Limos H. Jones, Esq., for the following interesting sketch connected with the churches in Wayne.   The first church organization in Wayne was Congregational, formed in 1816. Previous to this, for some years, regular religious services were held on the Sabbath at private houses, prominent among which were those of Joshua and Levi Fobes, at the centre, and at the house of Benjamin Ward, on the Hayes road. These services were conducted by Simon Fobes, a soldier of the Revolutionary army, consisting of two services, of a sermon read at each, with prayer and singing, in accordance with the usual form of those days, which practice continued until 1816. At this time an effort was made to establish more permanently the institutions of the gospel. The citizens of Wayne and Williamsfield united in building a place of worship. Neither township was much settled, except in the contiguous halves of each, and both were under one township organization. A large house was built of logs, piled one above the other, and covered with "shakes"—much like barrel-staves, except being less in thickness—from three and a half to four feet in length. These were laid loose upon poles or " ribs," which ran across the building, for their support, and were held in their places by poles as weights. The crevices between the logs of the sides were " chinked" with wood and mud, making them quite formidable against the blasts of winter. A floor of boards covered abont one-half of the room, while the remaining portion was the bare earth, except logs, hewed upon the upper side, to support a floor, when the finances might justify the outlay. These logs were used as seats, and made a substantial and solid sitting. In winter a fire was bnilt upon the ground near the centre, the smoke very tardily making its exit through the crevices in and around the roof, but often tarrying sufficiently to cause tears, without the aid of eloquence or pathos. After about two years a floor covered the whole area. A gallery was erected at one end of the building, which accommodated a choir as aristocratic, but much less exclusive, than those of more modern times. In this humble building the citizens and their families assembled in mass, holding two services each Sabbath, conducted by deacons, notable among whom were Ezra Leonard, Norman Wilcox, and Calvin Andrews. Occasionally a missionary would spend a Sabbath with them. The first minister employed by the church was Rev. Alvin Coe, for a term of four Sabbaths; afterwards, one by the name of Bowen, as a candidate for settlement ; but he did not prove to be acceptable. Early in the summer of 1849 we were visited by Rev. Ephraim T. Woodruff, in the capacity of a missionary of the " Missionary Society of the State of Connecticut," who labored with us several weeks, when arrangements were made with him to settle with us as our minister, and labor as such one-half of his time, at a salary of two hundred dollars per year, which was to be increased ten dollars per year until it reached two hundred and fifty dollars He was installed as pastor in August, 1819, and returned to Connecticut for his family, which consisted of his wife and six children. He returned with his family in October, and settled in his log house, which had been provided for them in his absence, perfectly surrounded by forest, with no building nearer than half a mile, except our lonely-looking forest church. One-half of Mr. Woodruff's time was spent as a missionary among the destitute churches in this part of the Western Reserve, making, usually, tours of two weeks each, and thus alternating in his home and mission labors. He was a laborious, persevering, and efficient man, both as a pastor and as a citizen. Three services on the Sabbath was the rule, two at the church, and at evening in some quarter of his parish, usually at some school-house. He exhibited much zeal in the interests of education, and made a specialty of visiting each school twice in each session, giving notice of the intended visit on the Sabbath previous. Those who were most benefitted by and appreciated his services are on the shady side of life, and look back with grateful recollections of Rev. Ephraim T. Woodruff. To attend church was the general rule of almost the entire population, and the difference in attendance between deacon and preaching meetings was small.   Our religious interests were harmonious and prosperous until the winter of 1831, when our house of sacred memory was destroyed by fire. A recollection of that humble building calls up some of the most enjoyable occasions of our lives. Would that we could transmit such recollections to posterity ! Now without a house of worship, our pastor was equal to the emergency. Ile had a building of logs, which had been used for "all work," which was immediately appropriated. A part of the upper floor was taken out and the choir perched upon the remainder, with heads in frequent contact with the poles of the roof, while the mass were seated below. But this state of things could not long continue. A house, or houses, must be built. The people upon this side of the creek thought it time that interest called for a house nearer home, and the main part that that interest centred upon the Hayes road. To this those upon the centre road demurred, uniting their influence with those upon the east aide and Williamsfield, awaiting a more favorable opportunity for building at the centre. The Hayes road interest started forward, hewed and drew timber to the spot, when, in a maze of doubt, the work was suspended. Those on the east side, with West Williamsfield, encouraged by this suspense, united their efforts and built the house now occupied by Mr. Lewis D. Roberts, which stands nearly upon the same spot occupied by the log church. In this state of things, regular religious services were established at the school-house on the Hayes road, north of the centre line, and kept up with regularity from Sabbath to Sabbath, with preaching about one-half of the time. In October, 1832, a Congregational church was organized with twenty-nine members, twenty-two of whom were from the former church, and all were living east of the north and south centre road. This state of things continued for about two years. In the mean time, those on the centre road and west remained members of the original church of " Wayne and Williamsfield," but, uniting their efforts with others of the township, commenced the building of a house at the centre. which was undenominational stimulated by a " Centre" interest. In this state of things the project of a house on the Hayes road was abandoned, and an arrangement made to take the house at the centre. A Congregational society was organized in the spring of 1835, which was dnly incorporated under a special act of the legislature, which has, as such, taken all the financial responsibility in building and supplying preaching, with the incidentals consequent thereto. In November, 1834, those living upon the centre road withdrew from the mother church and united with the now organization known as "The First, Congregational church of Wayne." Our Sabbath services were continued at the school-house near Mr. Hari Miner's until 1838, which was ordinarily sufficient to accommodate all who wished to attend, by providing extra seats, which was done to the full capacity of the room, the house at the centre not being sufficiently completed. In May, 1840, we find this record of the doings of " The First Congregational society of Wayne" :   " Resolved, That the building committee be instructed to proceed forthwith to finish the pulpit and slips ; also the stairs leading to the gallery, if the funds hold out.   In the mean time, the house was used as our place of worship, notwithstanding its unfinished state. The house was finally finished, when the plastering proved defective and commenced falling off, which sometimes occurred at their time of service, which occasioned some to speak facetiously of "sitting under the droppings of the sanctuary." Again we were fitted up, enjoying our church, until 1865, when it was moved from its former foundation, which put it in a very unsatisfactory condition, involving much expense proportionately to its original cost, which was not fully overcome until 1868, when it was nicely fitted up, frescoed, and made one of the most neat audience-rooms of a country township. In this condition we continued to enjoy it until December 16,1872, when it was destroyed by fire. Thus were the expectations of many, who supposed they had made their last effort at church-building, buried in ashes. Through the favor of our Methodist friends we were offered the use of their house in the mornings, which we continued to do for one year, uniting the two Sabbath-schools in one, which was continued for one year, when we withdrew and held our meetings in the academy at Lindenville during the year 1874, and until in February, 1875. Owing to differences of opinion as to the location of the new church edifice, nothing was accomplished until 1874, when a subscription was raised and a coutract entered into by the building committee, composed of Messrs. Orlando P. Fobes, Stephen W. Bailey, and Winthrop F. Pelton, with Mr. Sherman Kinney as builder, in the season of 1874, which contract was very satisfactorily fnlfilled. The house was completed and furnished, and dedicated as a place of worship, in February, 1875, at a cost of something over six thousand four hundred dollars. We are now accredited with having one of the best and most pleasant audience-rooms in a conntry township. The present church membership is about one hundred and ten, including all ages from early youth to old age, the oldest member being in the last half of his ninety-seventh year, viz., Samuel Jones, and being the oldest man in the township. About thirty years ago the church of " Wayne and Williamsfield" changed their location to West Williamsfield, which includes one of the three north and south streets through this township, and about one-fifth of our population, which has given occasion to speak of them as living " with bodies in the town of Wayne, but souls in Williamsfield." This branch includes Mrs. Rebecca Wilcox, now in her ninety-ninth year, and the oldest woman in the township.   WAYNE INSTITUTE   was incorporated during the year of 1845-46, and was generally known as Wayne academy. The arrangements for building were made in 1845, but were not car-   246 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   ried into effect and the building completed until the autumn of 1846. The building was erected by an association of stockholders. The stock being divided into shares of five dollars each, Sylvester Ward being the largest stockholder, Deacon Calvin Andrews the second largest. The building committee were Sylvester Ward, Calvin Andrews, C. C. Wick, and Samuel Jones, Jr. The officers of the association in 1847 were C. C. Wick, president ; Joshua Fobes, Jr., vice-president; Sylvester Ward, T. E. Best, H. F. Giddings, and J. T. Miner, trustees. Joseph B. Barber was president during 1848-49, and took an active interest in the welfare of the school. Of the officers above mentioned at this date (1878) but three are living, C. C. Wick, H. F. Giddings, and Joshua Fobes. The school was in session from four to six months during the year, with from forty to eighty pupils in attendance each term, and flourished from its commencement until 1864-65. The following is an imperfect list of its principals and assistant teachers : Miss Catherine Coleman has the honor of being the first teacher who taught in the academy, and did much towards developing a love of study in the minds of the young people of that day. Miss Coleman was assisted by Miss T. Arnold, and taught during the winter of 1846-48. Mr. T. N. Haskell--assistants, Miss Sarah C. Austin and Miss S. E. Lattimer-taught from 1848 till 1850. Mr. G. H. Collier-assistant, Miss Lee-taught from 1850 to 1852. After these the school was taught by Miss Abby Barber, who received her early education at this institute, afterwards graduating at Oberlin. Miss Barber died March 28, 1857, loved and respected by all who knew her. Miss Flora A. Krum, another former pupil, taught successfully in the academy. Miss Krum was a graduate of Willoughby Female seminary, and for several years assisted her husband, Mr. Edwin Regal, who was principal of the Normal school at Hopedale, in this State. Among the teachers of whom we have no record of the time when they taught are Mr. Clark ; Mrs. Branch, assisted by Miss A. Niles, taught during the fall and winter of 1854-55 ; Thomas Roberts, in the fall of 1856. During the interval between 1856-61, Arthur Case, Andrew Braden, and L. D. Kee were the teachers. Mr. Braden enlisted for the late war, and was promoted to captain in the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. L. D. Kee was also a captain in the same regiment, several of his former pupils enlisting with him. Captain Kee was killed in action at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. The following is a partial list of the names of professional and business men who were once members of Wayne academy : Professor of Music, Ezra Geer (graduate of Oberlin); Will C. Chamberlain (graduate of Oberlin). Lawyers, George C. Sturgis, member of the West Virginia house of delegates ; Claudius B. Parker (graduate of Oberlin), member of the bar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Doctors, Frank H. Geer, Henry C. Hart, N. C. Brooks, Aurora Giddings, Joseph Simons. Ministers, George W. Andrews, Talladega college, Alabama, Thomas Roberts, Darius Woodworth, Harvey Webb. A majority of the pupils in the academy were the sons and daughters of farmers ; the sons, many of them, chose the calling of their fathers, and are numbered among our most intelligent and influential citizens. The above catalogue of names is, of course, very imperfect, and is no just measure of the good work which 'the institution has accomplished.   CASUALTIES.   July 4, 1856, Lysander Fobes was killed at the centre by the premature discharge of a piece of ordnance, with which they were celebrating our national independence.   Drayton Jones was fatally injured by falling through a scaffold and against the cylinder of a thrashing-machine ; was so horribly mangled that death soon ensued. Cannot obtain the date.   MANUFACTURERS.   Steam saw-mills, A. J. & D. W. Hatch, west of the centre, William Remicks, northwest corner of the township. C. C. Fitch, heading and stave-works, west of centre. Cheese-factories, C. Oatman, F. B. Miner, T. J. Fobes, and Messrs. Hart & Chapman. Grist-mill, located in southeast part of township, on Pymatuning creek, Messrs. Walworth & McGranahan.   BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.   DR. LUTHER SPELMAN,   whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Granville, Massachusetts, July 27, 1779. His father's name was John Spelman, who married Miss Damaris Rose, of Granville, Massachusetts. Dr. Spelman studied medicine with Dr. Harvey, of Massachusetts. He married, in 1804, Miss Anna Vail, of Morristown, New Jersey, a lady of Quaker descent. The father was a cook for General Washington while his army encamped at the above-named place during the War of the Revolution. Dr. and Mrs. Spelman emigrated to Deerfield. Portage county, in 1808, where they remained in the wilderness for ono year, when they removed to Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio. In 1812, Dr. Spelman was appointed a surgeon in one of the militia regiments of Ohio, but was not able to go to the frontier, and performed duty at home in making examinations for exemptions from the service. lie was an old schoolmate of Titus Hayes, of Wayne, and, on account of the friendship existing between the families of those named, he was induced to remove to Wayne, Ashtabula County, in 1823, where he commenced the practice of medicine. In 1823, Dr. Spelman was elected one of the associate jndges of Ashtabula County, being associated with Judges Moffit, Wood, and Burchard. Ur. Spelman practiced medicine in Wayne and in the adjoining townships for the long period of forty years. He died in Wayne, September 3, 1863, aged eighty-four years, and his wife died in the same town, March 12, 1870. The children of Dr. L. and Anna Spelman were Corintha, born in New Jersey, January 12,1807, who married Benjamin F. Palmer, of Williamsfield ; she died in Williamsfield, February 20, 1846. Sarah, born in New Jersey, April 28, 1808, who married J. Anson Giddings, of Wayne. Charles, born in Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio; died in Williamsfield, Ohio, January 6, 1875. Sidney, died at the age of ten years, at Petersburg. Columbiana county, Ohio, where the family had resided for some time. Mary, born at Youngstown, Ohio, in March, 1814, married William J. Colby, of Cherry Valley, Ohio. Harvey, born at Petersburg, Ohio, June 19, 1816, who died at Rome, Ohio, in 1877. John and Henry, twin brothers, were born at Petersburg, Ohio, January 30, 1818. John married Miss Fidelia Hart, a daughter of Captain Jerry Hart, of Wayne. John Spelman died in Wayne in 1842, and his wife Fidelia died in Wayne, June 14, 1842. Henry Spelman married Miss Abigail Loomis, of Williamsfield. He died in Cherry Valley, Ohio, February 27, 1867. Morris, born in Petersburg, Ohio, December 31, 1820, has been a school-teacher in Wayne and Cherry Valley, and served for six years as a justice of the peace in Wayne. July 5, 1871, he married Mrs. Rose Coulter, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Their only child, Samuel A. Morris, was born in Wayne, May 6, 1875. Franklin, youngest son of Dr. L. and Anna Spelman, was born in Williamsfield, Ohio, October 22, 1824, died in Wayne, April 2, 1852. Jane, youngest daughter, born in Williamsfield, Ohio, February 18, 1828, married A. T. Woodworth, of Wayne, May 26, 1847.   THE JONES FAMILY.   SAMUEL JONES, SR.   Among the many worthy citizens of Ashtabula County, none stand higher in the estimation of his acquaintances than Samuel Jones, Sr., of Wayne township, at this date (1878) in his ninety-seventh year. Upright in business, cheerful and hopeful in manner, of sound judgment, and of irreproachable morals, he enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens when the frosts of ninety-seven winters have left, their impress upon his head, visible in the silver which crowns it honorably and becomingly. He was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, June 29, 4781. May 11, 1803, he married Miss Deborah Hayes, of Hartford, Connecticut. Both of these were school-teachers in their native State of Connecticut. Mr. Jones' father's name was Samuel, and his grandfather's, Israel. His mother's name was Ruth Ackley. He was a member of a family of three sons and four daughters. Elijah Jones, one of the brothers, was a member of the Connecticut legislature, and Lucien C. Jones, a nephew, was a member of the Ohio senate in 1872. Deborah Hayes' family was composed of four sons and three daughters. Her father, Titus Hayes, was a soldier in the army of the Revolution. Her family suffered from exposures and necessities incident to that struggle. All of her brothers-Richard, Titus, Linus, and Lester-were soldiers during the War of 1812, Richard being colonel of the regiment that marched through Ashtabula County for the frontier during that war. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, with five small children between the ages of one and seven years, left Old Con. necticut for the New on September 10, 1811, and in ten years from that very day they started on a visit to their native State of Connecticut in company with Hon. Jonathan Tuttle, of Williamsfield. On their arrival at the place now known as Kelloggsville, they were met by Mrs. Jones' brother Titus afterwards known as Hon. Titus Hayes-with a team of oxen. They pursued their way through the forest, a rude road having been cut, part of it being but a little more than a blazed-tree path, over brush, across logs, fording streams, and, what was worse, getting through the mud, Mr. Hayes carrying the second son, navel, a boy of five years, across a stream by taking hold of his coat-collar with his teeth. They arrived, at the close of the second day, at the house of Mr. Zadoc Steele, in Andover. Near the close of the third day they arrived in sight of Mr. Hayes' cabin, accomplishing the journey from Kelloggsville to Wayne in three days. A few   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 247   months after their arrival in Wayne they settled upon lot 28, where they continued to reside until after the death of Mrs. Jones (September 5, 1863) ; since which he has lived with the families of his children.   Mr. Jones was well pleased with the new country after he settled upon his own land, and was never homesick ; but his wife used to stand in the door of their cabin looking towards the east with tearful eyes. Mr, Jones was drafted for service for the War of 1812, but was excused by Dr. Peter Allen, on account of lameness caused by cutting his ankle. In the late Rebellion, all of his grandsons who had arrived at sufficient age, with a single exception, were in the service for long or short terms, and nearly all met with the casualties of war.   Mr. and Mrs. Jones united with the Congregational church in Wayne previous to the year 1819. Mr. Jones, when called upon to aid in any worthy benevolent enterprise, asked only one question,-What is my part? or, What ought I to give for this? and cheerfully and liberally responded. Benevolence was Mrs. Jones' crowning virtue. and it can be truly said of her, "She hath done what she could."   Very few men have lived a long life, more respected as useful and influential citizens, than " Uncle Sam," as he was familiarly called. He was no aspirant for office or places of distinction ; did not encumber his mind with the provisions of the statute-book, except as necessary in the ordinary transactions of business, and sometimes as supervisor or township trustee. Yet in matters of public improvement and the promotion of the common interests of the community, and in the adjustment of differences where interests came in conflict, the judgment of no man was more readily accepted and approved than his.   Linus Hayes, oldest son of Samuel Jones, was horn in Barkhamstead, Litchfield counts, Connecticut, February 5, 1805, and came to Ohio with his parents in the fall of 1811. The winter following a school was taught in a part of the dwelling occupied by Titus Hayes, of which Linus and a younger brother, Flavel, formed the first class. His opportunities for education then were confined to the common schools of the district, with a finish of a few weeks of private instruction in the old log meeting-house of sacred memory. In December, 1824, he commenced teaching a common school, the same employment being pursued for eight consecutive winters, and in each spring returning to the labors of the farm. After this, not satisfied with the monotony of farm life in winter, the teaching of "singing-schools" furnished the needed stimulus to keep the mind in action, which was followed for several consecutive winters in different parts of Ashtabula and Trumbull counties. These services were fully appreciated. Although his qualifications as teacher were greatly below what are repaired in these later days, yet they were much beyond what could often be found in any " home-made" Ohioan.   In the spring of 1826 he commenced cutting down the forest upon lot No. 66, where Mr. D. T. Beardsley now resides. November 11, 1827, he married Miss Mary P. Phelps, who died September 15, 1828. This bereavement caused him to change his plans for a home, and by the advice and an arrangement with his father, he changed his location, and settled upon the north part of lot No. 28, where he has continued to reside since his second marriage. January 20, 1830, he married Miss Eliza Seager, an orphan, formerly of Ontario county, New York, who died January 15, 1840. She was the mother of one child, Deborah Elizabeth, born May 21, 1837, and died November 23, 1839. October 28, 1840, he married Mrs. Lucy Ackley Rowe, widow of Dr. Albert G. Rowe, who died at Corydon, Indiana, September 10, 1838, aged twenty-nine years. The husband and wife were formerly from Hartford, Trumbull county, whose children were Cornelia Ann, born March 25, 1835, who married David Smilie, of Wayne, February 7, 1856. Their children are William Albert, born December 21, 1858; Emily Lucy, born January 19, 186:3; Linus David, born October 21, 1870; Ralph Bliss, born January 22, 1877. The step-son, Albert Gallatin Rowe, was born April 7, 1839, and was a respected member of the Congregational church of Wayne. lie enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry in the autumn of 1862, and after nearly two years of faithful service was mortally wounded while on the skirmish line near Kenesaw mountain, Georgia, June 14, and died at the field hospital, June 16, 1864. He was highly respected by his officers and beloved by his comrades. He was buried in the National cemetery at Marietta, Georgia, in grave numbered seven hundred and eighty-two. The children of Linus H. and Lucy A. Jones were Flavel Erasmus, born in Wayne, December 23, 1841 ; served three months in the Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; he has been a school-teacher, and is a surveyor and farmer by occupation ; he married Miss Sylvia A. North, September 15, 1863, who died March 13, 1866, leaving an infant daughter, Sylvia North, born March 8, 1865. February 24, 1869, he married Miss Mary A. Hezlep. Their children are Charles Hezlep, born January 11, 1870; William Cowdery, born October 3, 1871 ; Benjamin Samuel, born November 30, 1873. Limns Brainard, second son of Linus H. and Lucy A. Jones, was born February 26, 1844 ; married Miss   - 62 -   Rhoda M. Woodworth ; June 20,1866, enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battle at Cynthiana, Kentucky. Their children are Katie Maria, born April 30, 1867; Mabel Elizabeth, born November 20, 1868 ; Albert Rowe, born September 26, 1870 ; Franklin Palmer. born July 27, 1877. Willie, third son of Linus H. and Lucy A. Jones, was born December 1, 1860 ; died September 11, 1864. Mary Caroline was born October 18, 1855, who married Emery F. Treat, of Colebrook, June 15, 1876. Their only child, Willard Hayes, was born in Austinburg, Ohio, August 18. 1877.   Except as a teacher, the active life of Linus H. Jones has been spent in his own township. He was for many years teacher and leader of the choir of the First Congregational church of Wayne, and has served in various offices of the township, such as clerk, trustee, assessor, captain of the militia, and justice of the peace, and for many years has been connected with the school interests of the township, and now, at the age of seventy-three years, would be looked upon as an old man but for the greater age of his father.   Flavel, second son of Samuel Jones, was born in Barkhampstead, Connecticut, February 16, 1806; died in Wayne, June 9, 1842. October 27, 1833, he married Miss Orrilla Hart, who married S. P. Burton, November 1, 1853, and died at her residence in De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, January 29, 1868, aged fifty-eight years.   Calvin C. Wick, Esq., of Ashland, Ohio, an old friend of Flavel Jones, says, " Probably no man in my history retains such a hold on my memory as Flavel. He was my friend and my adviser. We had great confidence in each other. He was the only man I ever found who was unselfish, and was actuated in all he did by right motives. His intelligence was far in advance of his day. Sound on all public questions, he investigated them thoroughly and intelligently, and had he lived would have no doubt filled important positions in the State and nation."   The children of Flavel Jones are Ellen, born in Wayne, December 22, 1835. Rollin Lucien, born in Wayne, February 5, 1839 ; was an apprentice to the printing business with James Reed, Sr., of Ashtabula, Ohio. August 26, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Twenty-ninth Regiment Ohio Infantry, served during the war, and participated in the battles of Port Republic, Virginia, June 9, 1862, where he was taken prisoner by the enemy, and was held at Lynchburg and Belle Isle, Virginia, until September 7, 1862 ; Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 1,2, and 3, 1863 ; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 2. and 3, 1863 ; Dug Gap, Georgia. May 8, 1864 ; Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864 ; New Hope Church, Georgia, May 25, 1864 ; and was seriously wounded in an assault upon the enemy's entrenchments at Pine Hill, Georgia, June 15, 1864; promoted to the office of captain while at Savannah, Georgia, January 6, 1865 ; discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 22, 1865. He is a member of the International Typographical Union, Giddings post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Masonic fraternity. January 1,1867, he married Miss Lucy C. Palmer, of Vernon, Trumbull county. Children,-Rollin Flavel, born in Vernon, Ohio, May 7, 1869; Lovisa Margaret, born in Wayne, Ohio, June 23, 1877. Edward Herbert, youngest son of Flavel Jones, was born in Wayne, Ohio, December 25, 1840. Enlisted August 30, 1864, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Infantry, and served to the close of the civil war. June 11, 1873, he married Miss Hannah Wright. Their children are Orrilla Hart, born in Wayne, August 20, 1874; Hayes Wright, born in Wayne, August 21, 1876 ; Harriet Belle, born in Wayne, August 21, 1876.   Statira, eldest daughter of Samuel Jones, born in Barkhampstead, Connecticut, May 25, 1807, married Loyal E. Parker, January 29, 1830 ; died May 23, 1869.   Almira, second daughter, was born in Connecticut, September 27, 1808 ; married Horace F. Giddings, December 15, 1833. Children,-Frederick Merrick, born in Cherry Valley, Ohio, October 29, 1834, who enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry, in the autumn of 1862 ; was wounded in action at Perryville, Kentucky. October 8,1862; died of disease at Murfreesboro', Tennessee, April 21, 1863, aged twenty-eight years. lie was a young man of unusual intelligence and popularity, and his death was greatly lamented by his comrades and numerous friends. Albert C., born March 15, 1838, married Miss Sarah Ellen Stanley, September 18, 1860. Their children are Horace Edwin, born August 14, 1861 ; Almira E., born April 27, 1866 ; Stanley Albert, born November 5, 1868; Claude W., born August 13, 1877. Statira Eliza, only daughter of Horace F. and Almira Giddings, was born March 3, 1840 ; married Henry S. Simpkins, May 16, 1861. Children,-Frederick Merrick, born September 22, 1862 ; William Herbert, born October 1, 1864 ; Ernest J., born March 30, 1868 ; Frank A., born June 8, 1870 ; Carlton H., born January 4, 1872 ; Roy Howard, born May 29, 1873.   Anson Jones, third son of Samuel Jones, was born in Hartland, Connecticut, March 31, 1810. He was married to Miss Fanny Barber, November, 1838, who died January 3, 1865. June 7, 1866, he married Miss Margaret Jane Beatty,   248 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Ills children are Hannah Barber, born August 17, 1840, who married William B. Smilie, of Wayne, October 30, 1860. Roderick Merrick, born August 5, 1842, who enlisted in August, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served to the close of the war, and was captured twice by the enemy, being paroled once, and making his escape at the second capture. January 17, 1867, he married Miss Charlotte R. Wilcox, of Wayne; their only child, Fanny, was born January 19, 1873, and died in Wayne, July 19 of the same year. Emma Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Anson Jones, was born September 23, 1854 ; married Charles H. Smith, of Wayne, March 26, 187 6. Their only child, Walter Anson, was born in Wayne, in June, 1877.   Emily J., youngest daughter of Samuel Jones, married Dr. Thomas E. Best, October 22, 1839, who served in the War of the Rebellion as surgeon Forty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry, and died at Agency City, Iowa, October 5, 1877. Her children born in Wayne were Hannah P., graduate Lake Erie female seminary, and now a teacher at Burlington, Iowa, born July 29, 1841 ; E. Swift, born October 31, 1842, who, at the outbreak of the Rebellion, enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry, was severely wounded and taken prisoner at first battle of Bull Run, and confined in various prisons nearly a year,-leaving the service, was admitted to the bar in 1864; Deborah Jane, born February 4, 1846, died June 12, 1851 ; Edward Thomas, born January 47, 1848, died August 27, 1849. The family removed to Wisconsin in the spring of 1849, settling at Portage City, where the following children were born : Edward Thomas (2d), born February 22, 1850, printer, publisher of Chariton, Iowa, Leader; Samuel Jones, born August 23, 1853, died September 3, 1853; Almira Fanny, born September 10, 1854, died June 20, 1855; Charles Jones, born January 4, 1858, now editor Agency City, Iowa, Independent. In the spring of 1866 the family removed to Iowa, settling at Agency City, where they now reside, except as stated above.   Samuel Jones, Jr., was born in Wayne, Ohio, December 6, 1822 ; married Miss Samantha L. Fobes, who died January 9, 1866. February 21, 1867, he married Miss Sophrona Beckwith, of Colebrook, Ohio. He was a farmer until February, 1867, when he commenced merchandising at the centre of Wayne, the firm-name being Jones & Way, then S. Jones & Son. He was commissioned postmaster at Lindenville, Ashtabula County, Ohio, January 14, 1871, by Hon. John A. J. Creswell, postmaster-general and has served his township in that capacity to the present time. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. The children of Samuel Jones, Jr., are Estella Theresia, born in Wayne, Ohio, September 11, 1851 ; married Elmore H. Wilcox, of Colebrook, Ohio, December 23, 1869. Their children are Lilean, born December 17, 1870 ; Perry Hyde, horn March 23, 1872 ; Maud, born March 14, 1874. Willis Edwin, oldest son of Samuel Jones, Jr., was born in Wayne, Ohio, September 28, 1853 ; married September 29, 1877, Miss Sarah G. McNeilly, who was born in Ellsworth, Ohio, April 20, 1856. Jennie Lucinda, youngest daughter of Samuel Jones, Jr., born in Wayne, January 19, 1871. Ralph Hayes. youngest son of Samuel Jones, Jr., born in Wayne, September 1, 1875.   NATHANIEL COLEMAN.   Nathaniel Coleman, whose portrait appears in this work, was born at Chesterfield, Massachusetts, January 19, 1779. His great-grandfather was an officer during the old French and Indian wars. His father, Deacon Nathaniel Coleman, was one of that band who, disguised as Indians, boarded the British tea-ships at Boston harbor, and threw the tea into the sea. At the battle of Bunker Hill his father was one of the band stationed on a peninsula, then called " Horseneck," to intercept the landing of men from a British vessel. As the lamented General Warren passed he approved of their position, and, smiling, passed up the height to the fort. They saw him but once after, and that was when he fell. Mr. Coleman's father died May 17, 1837, in Wayne, honored and revered, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Nathaniel Coleman, at the age of twenty-three years, left his home in Massachusetts, and settled in Canandaigua, New York, where he married Submit, only sister of lion. Joshua R. Giddings, June 4, 1804. In company with Mr. Giddings' family they moved to Wayne, Ashtabula County, in June, 1806. They entered upon the Western Reserve at Conneaut, on the day of the total eclipse of the sun of that year. Just as the sun was becoming darkened they stopped to cook their food, and also observe the eclipse. As they kindled a fire, an eagle alighted on a projecting rock that overlooked Lake Erie, and folded its wings as if to repose. They might have brought it down with their trusty rifle, but they talked of the incident as an omen of success, and left it there in peace. They cut a road through the south part of Williamsfield and Wayne to the Pymatuning creek, and theirs were the first teams that crossed the creek in Wayne, near where the South bridge now stands. Mr. Coleman's wife died in Wayne, January 21, 1809. In January, 1840, he married Miss Kezia Jones. Her father died in Somers, Connecticut, in 1804. Her mother, like other early settlers, wishing to see her family settled around her, and not being able to purchase high-priced land in New England, came to Wayne, in 1807, with her children, consisting of three sons and four daughter. One of the sons was among the soldiers surrendered by General Hnll, at Detroit. Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, in his address at the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Settlement of Wayne, in 1853, stated that Miss Kcziah Jones taught the first school in Wayne township, commencing in the spring of 1809, where he obtained the only school education that he received after he was ten years of age. A kind mother and grandmother, a generous neighbor, she passed away February 19, 1862, aged seventy-eight years.   In the War of 1812, Nathaniel Coleman joined Captain Joshua Fobes' company, Colonel Richard Hayes' regiment, and marched to Cleveland, and from there to Camp Avery, near Huron. He was appointed quartermaster of his regiment, an office not free from peril, as much of their meat consisted of wild game, or cattle and hogs found running at large in the forest. He filled the office with credit and approval, and by activity and industry was often enabled to relieve the suffering, or take their place in the ranks. The first settlers were certainly men and women of great enterprise and resolution to break away from the comforts of old established communities, and go hundreds of miles beyond the borders of civilization into a wilderness, to enter into the hardships and privations incident to a new country. With such people he was associated in the early efforts to form an enlightened community and cultivated society on the Western Reserve. He was chosen one of the first justices of the peace in and for the territory now embraced in the townships of Wayne, Williamsfield, Andover, and Cherry Valley. His first commission was dated in July, 1811. He served in that capacity for twenty-one years. He even labored to obtain amicable settlements, and was slow to render decision. On deciding he clearly defined points of law, and in his decisions was very firm. If be was ever a leader in council, he did not appear to be such. Retiring, unassuming, yet observing, if he spoke, attention watched his lips; if he reasoned, conviction seemed to close his periods. He early became engaged as agent in the sale and surveying of lands, and observed closely the quality of the soil, timber, surface, and streams, and was often consulted by settlers and purchasers who wished for immediate information. His life has been peculiarly marked by kindly relations with all with whom he associated. Of a generous nature and strong mind, not void of wit and humor, he drew around him a circle of friends, while his marked integrity, consistent Christian character, and a modesty that withheld him from a desire for official position, rendered him prominent as a counselor and adviser. He died July 22, 1868, in the ninetieth year of his age. One . who was intimately acquainted with him, and knew him well in his declining years, has observed that his desire for life seemed to recede parallel with his failing organism, until they seemed to go out together without a struggle.   Eliza, oldest daughter of Nathaniel Coleman, wss born in Wayne, May 28, 1807 ; married Sylvester Ward, February 22, 1828. She died in Wayne, Feb: ruary 22, 1872. Her children were Orcutt Reed, born December 23, 1828; Erasmus Darwin, born June 17, 1832 ; Calvin Coleman, born May 18, 1836, died March 20, 1837 ; Eliza Sarepta, horn May 6, 1839 ; Sabra Matilda, born May 20, 1842, died in 1846; Flora Maria, born September 11, 1848. Submit, second daughter, born October 10, 1810 ; married David Hart, of Wayne, January 6, 1836; died May 6, 1839. Her children were Henry C., born August 11, 1837 ; Salmon, born March 16, 1839. Nathaniel, Jr., oldest son of Nathaniel Coleman, was born June 13, 1842; married Miss Mary A. Latham, of Wayne, November 28, 1839. Their children were Nathaniel Latham, born in Wayne, November 10, 1842, enlisted in the autumn of 1864, as sergeant in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Infantry, died at Cumberland hospital, Nashville, Tennessee, December 1, 1864, and was buried in the United States cemetery, in grave nnmbered ten thousand and fourteen, aged twenty-two years and twenty-one days Jennie, born February 5, 1846, married Truman L. Creesey, of Cherry Valley, in April, 1864 ; Zally, born September 19, 1853. Rachel, third daughter of Nathaniel Coleman, born August 11, 1814, married William H. Hoisington, of Oberlin, January 28, 1845 ; their only child, Sophia Naomi, was born in Park-man, Ohio, March 22, 1846. William, second son of Nathaniel Coleman, born October 25, 1816, died January 13, 1819. Kezia C., born in Wayne, October 4, 1819, married Stephen W. Bailey, of Parkman, Ohio, November 19, 1846. Their children were Russell Williams, born in Parkman, Ohio, December 6, 1847, died in Wayne, September 29, 1854 ; Florence Maria, born March 26, 1856, married Kirtland 'Dillon, of Colebrook, Ohio, May 3, 1876,-their only child, Russell Ernst, born in Wayne, June 25., 1877. William, third son of Nathaniel Coleman, born in Wayne, November 4, 1822, married Miss Emily Phelps, of Cherry Valley, Ohio, March 13, 1851 ; children, Albertus A., born January 8, 1852, died in Wayne, September 23, 1854 ; Oliver William, born July 20, 1853;   REV. EPHRAIM TREADWELL WOODRUFF   was born at Farmington, Connecticut, October 17, 1777, and was the youngest son of Timothy Woodruff, by hie first wife, Limy Treadwell, sister of John Treadwell, one of the governors of Connecticut. Hc graduated at Yale college in 1797. Rev. James Murdock, who, in 1848, wrote a work entitled " Brief Memoirs of the Class of 1797," says in his preface to that work "The Class of 1797 is distinguished for the longevity of its members, twenty-four out of thirty-seven, or about two-thirds of all that graduated, being alive after a separation cf half a century." He also say.: "It was distinguished for the uniform good scholarship of its members." Among its graduates are such well-known names as Henry Baldwin, judge of the United States supreme court ; Lyman Beecher, D.D.; Judge Thomas Day, official reporter of the supreme court of Connecticut ; and Horatio Seymour, Sr. Mr. Woodruff, after finishing his theological course as the pupil of Rev. Charles Backus, D.D., cf Somers, Connecticut, and teaching the academy at Stonington one year, wart ordained pastor of the church in North Coventry, Tolland county, Connecticut. His health failed him in 1817 so much that he resigned his pastoral charge, and he took a commission from the Missionary society of Connecticut to labor on the "Connecticut Western Reserve in Ohio." He, however, stopped for one year at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York, and taught an academy. He arrived in Wayne, Ashtabula County, in April, 1919, and became the first pastor of the church, settling upon a tract of land which he purchased from Issacher Jones, of Connecticut, all heavily timbered, and upon which the sound of the woodman's axe had not been heard; but with the generous aid of such stout hands and hearts as were possessed by Nathaniel Ccleman, Samuel Tuttle, Jonathan Tuttle, Norman Wilcox, Joseph Ford, Deacon Sara Leonard, Samuel Jones, Deacon Calvin Andrews, Simon Fobes, Titus Hayes, Elisha Giddings, and Joshua Giddings, he soon erected a log house, in which his family, consisting cf his wife and sister and six children, were made as comfortable as any of his congregation. Ile preached one-half of his time in Wayne, while the remaindcr was spent in missionary work and in the distribution of Bibles all throngh the wilderness for more than fifty milcs in every direction from his home. On that, same spct he died, cn the twenty-sixth day of Novcmber, 1859, at the ags of eighty-two years. On his death-bed, being in great pain, he said to his youngest son : " This is a rough road tc travel, but its roughness has elevated spots, from which I see 'the city' beyond." Mr. Woodruff was married Oct. 7, 1801, to Sally Alden, orphan daughter of Jonathan Alden, a lineal descendant of John Alden, the pilgrim of Plymonth Rook cf that name. She died in 1829. In 1832 be married Susan Porter. He bad no children by his second wife. Ills oldest daughter, born in 1804, was the wife of Hon. Seth Hayes, of Hartfcrd, Trumbull county. She died in 1850. Phoebe married Dr. T. J. Kellogg, of Girard, Erie county, Pennsylvania, Jcnathan Alden, a graduate of Hamilton college, and Presbyterian minister, died Sept. 12, 1876, at Imlay City, Michigan. Harriet died in 1828, at the age of eighteen years. Charlotte Maria, who married J. B. Clark, of Kelloggsville, Ashtabula County, removed to Michigan, and died In 1871. Samuel Ebenezer, born March 31, 1817, is an attorney-at-law, and with his eon, Thomas S., constitutes the firm cf S. E. & T. S. Woodruff, attorneys-at-law, Erie, Pennsylvania, and in which county the senior partner of the firm has practiced his profession for thirty-four years.     The first meeting-house in Wayne was erected in 1816. A grave-yard was opened upon the Tract of land purchased, as before mentioned, by Mr. Woodruff. The meeting-house was in dimensions twenty-eight by thirty-six feet, bnilt of logs hewn only on the inside. A board pulpit, ascended by five steps, stood at the north end; a singers' gallery, six steps high, of the same material, extended across the south end, with wings about tcn feet along thc east and west sides. A hearth of rough cobblestones, about six feet square, in the centre of the building, without either chimney or stove-pipe, wee the only fire-place previous to 1825. At first most of the seats were slabs without backs; but they were crowded with true, faithful worshipers every Sabbath-day. They were not of the fair-weather kind. At the right cf the pulpit sat the elder Deacon Leonard. He generally selected and read the hymns; he was a noble man, six fcet in height, with flowing white hair, knee and shoe-buckles, faultlessly clean, white bosom, rich, sonorous voice, and one of the best of readers. In the west wing of the gallery Elisha Giddings was the leading bass singer ; in the centre, Captain Levi Leonard led the tenor, assisted by his nephew, Marvin Leonard, son of the deacon, and who, some time after the death of his father, which occurred in 1829, became a deacon of the church. Linus H. Jones was one of the prominent members of the choir, composed of about twenty persons. The music was of a high order, on account of the heart and soul it possessed. This meetinghouse stood on the identical spot where the Rev. George Roberts, a subsequent pastor, lived immediately before his death. It was burned down about the year 1829. This church was highly prosperous, and its membership was increased to more than two hundred.   The chief obstacle to Mr. Woodruff's usefulness al a pastor was the bronchial complaint that had compelled him to leave Coventry. This affected his utterance so much as to make it difficult at times to be heard by a large audience; yet, it is doubtful if his efficiency and usefulness as a pastor were much affected for many years; yet it detracted somewhat from his popularity as an orator, though his success and reputation as such fully sustained the charaoter ascribed to him by an eastern cotemporary, " He was an excellent pastor." He continued in the pastoral relation of the original church until about 1835, when the infirmities of age, and the consequent failure of his vocal powers and hearing, induced him to resign, and attend church as a listener, often standing in a leaning position upon the front of the pulpit, so that his dull ears might not fail to catch each word that fell from the lips of the speaker. In a letter to his son Samuel, dated December 7, 1856, he nays : "On the Lord's-day I get out with my family, without fail, and attend to my Bible-class of aged members, who gather together with great regularity, with thc simplicity of little children, to receive instruction. I wait upcn them with great delight." In further addressing his son in regard to his hope, confidence, and appreciation of the great refuge, as he was nearing the end of his days upon earth, in closing, he says:   If thou, my Jesus, still art nigh, Cheerful I live,, and cheerful die; When mortal comforts flee, To find ten thousand worlds in Thee.   "Great King of Grace, my heart subdue; I would be led In triumph too, A willing captive to my Lord, And sing the triumphs of his word"   Among the former residents cf the township of Wayne no family is more kindly remembered, or associated with stronger ties of friendship and appreciation, than that of Ephraim T. Woodruff.   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 249   Elliott Seeley, born in Wayne, April 2, 1855 ; Minnie Viola, born March 26, 1860, married Daniel L. Horton, of Wayne, January 31, 1877. Francis, youngest son of Nathaniel Coleman, was born in Wayne, July 20, 1827; married Miss Mary R. Miles, of Weymouth, England, January 8, 1852 ; children, Alphonse Miles, born in Wayne, May 17, 1854; Clifton Royal, born August 16, 1855, Carrie, born January 19, 1862.   THE SIMON FOBES FAMILY.   Members of six generations from this family are buried side by side in the cemetery at the centre of Wayne. The first death among the early settlers of Wayne was that of Mrs. Thankful Fobes, who died January 8, 1808 ; and three days later the funeral of her husband, Simon Fobes, took place. These aged people were married March 24, 1748. The husband was a native of England, and was a captain in the service of the English government. Their family consisted of eight children,-four sons and four daughters,-named Thankful, Joshua, Bethiah, Simon, Nathan, Ellis, Eunice, and one who died in infancy. Simon Fobes (2d) was born April 5, 1756. He was a soldier in the army of the Revolution, and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and afterwards joined the expedition under General Benedict Arnold against Canada, and was engaged in the assault upon the city of Quebec, where he was taken prisoner of war. After suffering almost incredible hardships, he escaped from the British on the 18th of August, and reached his home on the 30th of September, 1776. He afterwards served as ensign in Colonel Levi Wells' regiment, and in April, 1780, accepted a lieutenant's commission in a matross company, and was stationed at Fort Trumbull, Connecticut. Continental money having so far depreciated in value that a lieutenant's pay would not provide his clothing, he resigned his commission and returned to his father's farm. But for his resignation he would, in all probability, have been in Fort Griswold, where Colonel Ledyard and sixty of his men were massacred by the British, under Benedict Arnold, after they had surrendered. Simon Fobes married Miss Elizabeth Jones, of Somers, Connecticut, an only daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Jones, descendants of some of the earliest settlers of that place. Their children were: Joshua, born in Somers, Connecticut, January 20, 1781, who was a captain in Colonel Hayes' regiment during the War of 1812; was the first settler in the township of Wayne, and died in that town September 16, 1860. Simon, born in Somers, Connecticut, August 16, 1783 ; was an ensign in Captain Joshua Fobes' company in 1842; married Miss Sylvia Huntley, of Pierpont, Ashtabula County, who died in Wayne in December, 1842. An old acquaintance of Simon Fobes (3d) says of him, " He was one of the most respected citizens of the township. He served many years as a justice of the peace, with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow-citizens, being esteemed as judicious and reliable. He stood as one of the pillars of sound morality and virtue, a much-respected and honored member of the Congregational church, serving for many years in the capacity of deacon, and was regarded by all as one of the most perfect examples of consistency, which gave him an influence in his community surpassed by but few." He died in Wayne February 8, 1861. Levi, third son of Simon Fobee (2d), was born June 24, 1786 ; died September 11, 1787. Levi (2d), born June 30, 1788 ; died in Wayne, November 5, 1869. Betsey, born July 3, 1790; married Rev. Nathan Darrow; died in Vienna, Trumbull county, Ohio, December 31, 1822. Elias, born ha Somers, Connecticut, February 5, 1792, who was a soldier in Captain Joshua Fobes' company, in the War of 1812, and was in the skirmish with the Indians on the Sandusky Peninsula. Aaron, born February 2, 1797 ; died in Kinsman, Ohio, March 16, 1877. Benjamin, born June 14, 1799 ; died December 28, 1802. Chloe, born May 19, 1802.   All of the children of Simon Fobes (3d) were born in Wayne. The oldest. Simon P., born January 2, 1815, married, October 10, 1837, Miss Catharine A., daughter of William and Amanda Fitch, of Wayne. Their children were Orlando Perkins, born in Wayne, June 47, 1838; married Miss Nancy L. Bingham, of Ellsworth, Mahoning county, Ohio, .November 24, 1861. Their children were Nettie, born June 18, 1863, died in Wayne, February 20, 1867 ; Bertie Bingham, born December 21, 1865, died in Wayne, March 16, 1872 ; Bessie Sylvia, born March 22, 1869 ; Emily B., born October 13, 1874.   Eliphalet L., second son of S. P. and C. A. Fobes, was born in Wayne, December 31, 1840; died March 6, 1841.   Ferdinand Francis, born in Wayne, July 10, 1842 ; enlisted August 12,1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died of discase at Murfreesboro', Tennessee, September 4, 1863. Lucius Lee, born October 9, 1844, married, October 15, 1868, Miss Margaret Ann MeGranahan, of Wayne, who died September 27, 1877. Sylvia A., born December 29, 1846, married Albert C. Crosby, of Rome, Ohio. Their children are Lucy Amelia, born in Wayne, October 27, 1871; Katie E., born in Rome, September 46, 1873 ; Willie Fitch, born in Rome, November 25, 1874. Charles Fitch, fifth eon of S. P. and C. A. Fobes, born in Wayne, July 6, 1852 ; married, March 2, 1878, Miss Rebecca F. Calahan, at Sacramento City, California. Their residence is now at Walnut Grove, California.   Lucy M., born in Wayne, September 5, 1854, married Orlandus Woodworth, of Wayne, November 2, 1876.   Amos H., second son of Simon Fobes (3d), was born January 14, 1816, and now resides in Mecca, Ohio.   Dr. Abial J., born January 29, 1818, married Miss Louisa Alford, of Windham, Portage county, Ohio. Dr. Fobes died at Kingsville, Ohio, April 1, 1851, and his wife died April 8 of the same year, and at the same place. William, born July 14, 1822, was a surgeon in the army during the late civil war, and is now a resident of Flint, Michigan. In 1849 he married Miss Bemina Jennings, of Pierpont, Ohio. Lucy A., born February 12, 1825, married Frederick B. Fitch, of Brighton, California, May 1, 1856. She died at her home in California, December 1, 1877. Francis, born February 26, 1827, married Miss Cordelia Hopkins, of Pierpont, Ohio. Lois Lamira, born December 14, 1829, married Dwight Coe, of Hartford, Ohio. She died January 1, 1869. Maria Sylvia, born October 28, 1834, married Edmund Snow, of Ashtabula, Ohio, January 2, 1858.   WILLIAM KIDDLE.   This gentleman was the youngest of three, the children of Richard and Jane Kiddie, of Long Sutton, Somersetshire county, England, and was born on June 29, 1837. He came to America in 1858, landing at Bedford, Canada, July 31 of that year. On August 10, same year, he arrived in the township of Wayne, and located in the southeastern corner of the township. He is by occupation a wagon-maker. His first purchase of land was but a part of his present fine estate. He has now some four hundred acres of land, and is largely engaged in dairying and the raising of Durham cattle. In 1860 he returned to England, where he remained some five months. On the 23d day of April, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of Hezekiah and Caroline Platt, who are at present both deceased, as are also his parents. The result of this marriage has been a family of five children,-three girls and two boys. Prior to the birth of his children (1869), he again returned to England, with his Yankee bride, and remained on this visit some two and one-half months. A fine view of his farm is given in connection with this sketch.   WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.   WINDSOR is the extreme southwestern township of the county, and is described as No. 8 in range 5. Its lands became the property of Simeon Griswold and William Eldridge in 1798, when the partition of the soil of the Reserve east of the Cuyahoga was made by lot among the members of the Connecticut land company. These original owners of Windsor were residents of Connecticut, and the latter, on the 21st of January, 1801, sold to the former the greater portion of his share, and the name of Griswold was thus connected in a material way with the destinies of this town, and, indeed, is a prominent one in every stage of its history. It is indebted for its name to the fact that the Griawolds were residents of Windsor, Connecticut. It is one of the best-watered districts in the county. Grand river, Phelps creek, Indian and Crawford creeks, course through different portions of' the township, and, with other smaller streams, form a network whose branches penetrate nearly every part of the town, and thus establish an excellent system of drainage. The soil is thus rendered fertile, and it is no exaggeration to say that some of' the finest farms in the county may be found within the limits of Windsor, and that the improvements generally are of an excellent character, and betoken thrift on the part of its people.   EARLY SETTLERS.   The settlement of this township began at an early date, and but few districts in the county can trace their history back to a remoter period. Lying at so great a distance, comparatively, from the lake and from the Pennsylvania line, being more remote than any other township from the point where the surveying-party located to begin its labors on the 4th of July, 1796, and to which point the stream of immigration in its march westward would naturally tend, it seems strange at first thought that this inland district should have been among the very first in the county to feel the touch of the hand of civilization. Indeed, it is strange that in less than three years after the arrival of the surveyors the settlement of this remote township began, while other townships less remote date the time of their first settlement many years later. This anomaly is explained by the fact that the soil of Windsor fell into the hands of those who, as original owners, became immediately interested in its improvement. George PheIps and Solomon Griswold were the pioneers of Windsor. The latter was the brother and the former the brother-in-law of Simeon Griswold, the original proprietor of Windsor. The former arrived in June, 1799 ; the latter in March, 1800. Both had been residents of Connecticut. There were two routes of travel along which the stream of emigration flowed westward,—one the northern route, the other the southern. The former, extending westward from Albany up the Mohawk and along the southern shore of the lakes, or upon the lakes themselves, reached the Reserve at its northeast corner ; the other, extending in a southwesterly direction from Albany across the Alleghenies to Pittsburgh, reached the Reserve along its southern border. Mr. Phelps, who came first, took the southern route; Mr. Griswold, the northern. Phelps creek owes its name to Windsor's earliest pioneer. Both these gentlemen, in their contest with the difficulties, hardships, and dangers incident to pioneer life, evinced qualities of the most sterling character. Mr. Griswold spent a long, useful, and prominent life as a resident of Windsor. Mr. Phelps remained but about four years, being elected clerk of the court of common pleas for Trumbull county in the fall of 1802, and removed to Warren, the county-seat. Mr. Phelps, while he lived in Windsor, resided in the southeastern part of the township, on the south bank of the creek that bears his name, settling upon lot 2 of the fourth range of lots in Windsor. Here he erected his log cabin in 1799, the first house built in the township, and occupied it with his wife and two small children. Mr. Griswold erected his cabin in 1800, on lot 8, in the third range of lots, a part of the northeastern quarter of the township. Upon his entrance into the township his family consisted of himself, wife, and six daughters, the eldest seventeen and the youngest four years of age. Mr. Griswold's cabin was long the resort of new-comers, and it is related of him that he was the most kind and hospitable of hosts, and did much to alleviate the Sufferings and hardships of the early settlers. It will be observed that while Mr. Phelps' home was in the extreme southeast, that of Mr. Griswold was in the extreme northeast. Immigrants coming by the southern route into Windsor would naturally find their way first to the house of Mr. Phelps, while those arriving by the northern route would seek shelter at the friendly fireside of Judge   - 250 -   Griswold. He was associate judge of the first county court organized in Ashtabula County, having previously served in the same capacity under the Territorial government, and administered the duties of his office with ability and distinction. The third family that settled in Windsor was that of Charles Jewell, Esq., who came from Virginia, and settled near Mr. Phelps in 1802.   In 1804, Jonathan Higley became a resident of Windsor, taking up his abode on lot 7 of the fifth range of lots, not far from Judge Griswold's home. The Higley family is at present quite well represented, and the members thereof are deserving of great praise for the part they have contributed towards the permanent improvement of the township.   In November, 1804, Joseph Alderman and sons, Joseph Jr. and Alexander, having purchased of Simeon Griswold lots 6, in sixth range, 6 and 7 in eleventh range, 5 and 6 in eighth range, 5 and 6 in ninth range, and forty-seven acres in east end of lot 5 in sixth range, came to Windsor, and began improvements. In 1805, S. D. Sackett purchased of Solomon Griswold lot 8 in fifth range of lots, being one hundred and sixty acres, and began to improve the same, where he resided for many years, living to a ripe old age. This same year marks the arrival of Oliver Loomis, who came from old Windsor, Connecticut, of Elijah Hill and Elijah Hill, Jr., and John White. The next year Michael Tomlinson and John Gladden, Benjamin Cook and Benjamin Cook, Jr., cast their lot among the pioneers of Windsor. Ebenezer Lampson, who arrived in 1810, in his endeavor to locate in Windsor was resisted by an obstruction, in the removal of which he, however, found abundant assistance. He had got as far on his way as Harperstown in Harpersfield, where he found his progress impeded by the results of a violent storm, which had uprooted numberless trees in the forest, and strewn them across the road leading towards Windsor. The news was brought to the settlers of Windsor that a family desiring to come into their township was obliged to remain at Harperstown by reason of the impassable condition of the road. Immediately they turned out, old men and young men, and with axes and oxen, soon put the road in a condition to be traveled.   In 1805, Hezekiah Skinner located in the township. In 1807, Caleb Holcomb arrived. 1811 is the year that marks the arrival of Russell Loomis and Captain Giles Loomis. The largest accession to the settlement happened in the years 1812 and 1813, when thirteen families took up their abode in Windsor, all from Tolland, Tolland county, Connecticut. The names of the heads of these families are as follows: John Norris and Cornelius Norris, Elijah and Gaal Grover, Samuel and Erastus Rawdon, Stephen and West Winslow, Jonathan Clapp, Daniel Morgan, Moses Barnard, Gideon Morgan, and Francis Barnard. It will be seen that the pioneers of this township were almost exclusively from the State of Connecticut. During the first fourteen years thirty-two families had arrived, of whom at least thirty emigrated from that State. Windsor was now in a fair way to make rapid advancement. Nothing hindered its growth but the war which had broken out with Great Britain during the first year of this last important addition to the numbers of the little colony. This hindered somewhat the work of improvement, but everything else favored. The settlers were all hardy men, eager to carve out for themselves and their children homes in the midst of the wilderness. There were but few drones, if any, and the rapid prosperity of the little settlement was now assured. The township already wore a different appearance from that which characterized it a dozen years before. The next dozen years were destined, however, to work still greater changes. These thirty or more families had not left behind them their pleasant Connecticut homes, braving the perils and hardships of the wilderness which were certain to be encountered, for the aimless purpose of folding their arms and refusing to strike a blow in the cause which their present condition, their future weal, their ambition, and their affection, all, bade them heroically undertake and vigorously prosecute. That the blows were manfully given, he who looks out upon the peaceful, beautiful homes that now meet the eye everywhere throughout the length and breadth of the township, in whatsoever direction he turns, can have no doubt.   ORGANIZATION.   The township was organized in the year 1814. The meeting for organization assembled in the month of July, on the second Saturday thereof, at the house of Solomon Griswold, and Jonathan Higley, Sr., was called to the chair. The fol-   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 251   lowing officers were chosen: Ebenezer K. Lampoon, township clerk ; Samuel Higley, Michael Tomlinson, Timothy Alderman, trustees; Samuel Higley, Jonathan Higley, appraisers ; Elijah Hill, Jr., treasurer ; Oliver Loomis, Garry Sackett, and Thompson Higley, supervisors; Garry Sackett and Andrew Loomis, overseers of poor; S. D. Sackett, John Gladden, fence-viewers.   Jonathan Higley was at the time justice of the peace, and was succeeded by Elijah Hill, and he by Jonathan Clapp, Mr. Higley being called upon by his constituents to represent them in the State legislature. Lathrop Rawdon, son of Erastus Rawdon, served as justice of the peace for a period of seven years, from February, 1838, to February, 1845, in which year he was commissioned as associate judge by Governor Bartley.   The first marriage in the township was solemnized in 1806, the contracting parties being Jonathan Higley, Jr., and Miss Keziah Griswold. The name of the officiating officer is unknown. The first death was that of Eli Porter, who died at the house of Solomon Griswold, December 27,1801. Mr. Porter was a temporary resident of Austinburg, and had undertaken a journey to Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, to place himself under the immediate care of a physician at this place, but upon arriving as far as the house of Judge Griswold could go no farther, and expired before his wife and friends could reach him. He was buried on Mr. Griswold's farm, the burial service prescribed by the Episcopal church being read at his grave. His wife and child in Austinburg, who were sent for, came with a party of eleven persona in a boat up Grand river to attend the funeral.   The first settled physician in Windsor was Dr. Ebenezer K. Lampson, who came to the township in 1810.   The first frame house in Windsor was erected in the year 1805, by Jonathan Higley, in the northeast corner of lot 8, range 7. The house, since rebuilt and added to, is now owned and occupied by H. Higley. The first brick house was erected by Nathaniel Cook, on lot 5, range 4, in 1822; since rebuilt, and now occupied by Elmer Cook.   FIRST BIRTH   Eliza Griswold Phelps was the first white child born on the soil of Windsor, and there were some-noteworthy incidents in her life. A residence of six months in the township of her nativity was followed by her removal with her father's family to Warren. Here, when she was two or three years old, while playing on the banks of the Mahoning, she fell into the river, and was rescued from drowning by a pet bear who often accompanied her in her playful sports, and, on this occasion was her playfellow. She next had the misfortune, when yet of tender years, to lose her mother, then her father. She was then taken to Kingsbury, Connecticut, and became the adopted daughter of one Colonel Humphrey, who gave her a good education. Arrived at maturity, she became preceptress in a female seminary in Connecticut, serving ably in this capacity for fourteen years. In 1839 she became the wife of George March, and in the following spring removed with him to the land of her birth. Selecting a choice spot on lands left by her father, lying one-half mile south of the Episcopal church, on the banks of Phelps creek, she and her husband erected a fine residence thereon, and just as she was preparing to occupy it she was called to obey a summons to which there can always be but the one answer. Her demise occurred on the 15th day of December, 1840.   The first wheat grown in the township was sown on Mr. Phelps' land in the fall of 1799. After wheat was grown it was with extreme difficulty that it was converted into flour, and thus prepared for use. Prior to the erection of Humphreys' mill in Austinburg, and Gregory's mill in Harperstown, the settlers were obliged to depend mainly upon their own resources for the grinding of their grain. Long journeys were sometimes taken to far-distant mills, but these were extremely tedious, and attended with great and many dangers. The settlers' ingenuity was called into requisition, and the result. was that temporary mills, rude in design and in structure, were formed and made to subserve their wants, which they did in an excellent manner. One of them was the invention of Charles Jewel. and proved to be of great benefit to the Windsor pioneers, to whom it became an object of almost sacred affection. It consisted of two buhr-stones of about two feet in diameter, dressed and prepared as similar stones in flouring-mills. One was placed upon a bench, or upon the floor, and was stationary, while the other, which was called the "runner," was placed above it, and was movable. Near the outer edge of the upper stone was a small hole, into which was inserted a gudgeon connecting with a hand-staff, or pole, that extended through an opening in the upper floor above the stones. The operator would grasp the pole near the scone with his right hand, and thus set the mill in motion, while with the other hand he would put in the grain to be ground. This mill became the property of the Messrs. Higley, but at the request of Joel Blakeslee, Esq., was carried to the court-house in Jefferson, on the 16th day of August, 1850, to be deposited as a   - 63 -   relic of " ye olden time" in the cabinet of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ashtabula County. That night the court-house was burned, and the little mill vanished from mortal sight.   EARLY ROADS.   The first traveled route into Windsor was the marked road made by Mr. Phelps in 1799, upon his entrance into the township. This extended across the south line of Windsor from Mesopotamia to the spot where Mr. Phelps erected his cabin. The second marked road traveled by white men was that made by Mr. Griswold in 1800, from Harperstown south through Trumbull and Harts-grove, which ho opened upon his first entrance into the township. He was accompanied from Harperstown by William and John Harper, who helped him to mark this route to the place where he decided to locate, being in the northeast corner of Windsor. This road, which was called by some the Salt road, became the principal thoroughfare over which immigrants traveled in coming into the township, and in passing into Trumbull and Portage counties. Over this route were transported provisions obtained from the east, and intended for use by the Windsor inhabitants. Great quantities of salt were transported over this road, whence arose the name by which it was known,---" Salt road." June, 1812, the road leading from Windsor east through Orwell, Colebrook, Wayne, and Williamsfield to the Pennsylvania line was established. In March, 1815, that leading from the highway, near the residence of Hezekiah Skinner, at the southeast corner of kit No. 7, in the seventh range of lots, westwardly to the west line of the township, was laid out; also at the same date the road beginning " near the intersection of the Post road, sad the eastern. and western centre lines of lots in said Windsor, aod leading westward on or near said line, crossing the northern and southern public road leading by Daniel Morgan's dwelling; thence still westward on or near said line to, the public road leading from Windsor to Huntsburg, Middlefield, and Burton." This is the description given on record. The following road!, were subsequently established ; in March, 1817, the road from Jonathan Higley's dwelling to the west line of the township. June, 1819, the road from the north end of lot line between lots Nos. 6 and 7 and No. 6 in sixth range of lots to west end of bridge in the centre line of the township. December, 1820, from Loomis' mill to the west bank of Grand river. December, 1822, from centre of highway, south of B. Cook's residence,. where the lot line between Nos. 5 and 6 crosses the same; thence eastwardly, southeastwardly, and northeastwardly to the line of lots; thence along said lino to the Trumbull and Ashtabula turnpike. Jnne, 1823. From the south line of the township at the termination of the west, north, and south road in Mesopotamia; thence northeastwardly to the line between the seventh and eighth ranges of lots; then on said line northwestwardly to a southwest road; thence on several courses to Oliver Loomis' land. March, 1824. From the State road in Windsor, running on the line between the ninth and tenth ranges to the east line of said township; also, same date, from the bridge across Phelps creek, near Olin Loomis' mill ; thence running northwestwardly to the line between lots Nos. 5 and 6, and to continue west on said line to the west line of said township, to intersect a contemplated road running east and west through the township of Huntsburg, in Geanga county. December, 1824. From a road running from Jonathan Higley's to the northwest corner of Windsor, between lots No. 8 in the sixth and seventh ranges in said Windsor, and running south on said line near Alderman's mill, and from thence to intersect the east and west road in said township. A mail-route running from the lake south through Windsor was established in 1804. Judge Griswold received the appointment of postmaster, and served with satisfaction to the settlers for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1832 he was succeeded by Moses Barnard, who again was succeeded by William Barnard, in 1847. The first mail-carrier is thought to have been one McElvaine, wire performed his journey over a route of more than a hundred and fifty miles on foot. The first mail-route is said to have been from Warren northwestwardly to Mesopotamia through Windsor to the dwelling of Judge Griswold; thence through Hartsgrove and Morgan to Austinburg; thence westwardly through Harpersficld to Euclid, near the present site of Cleveland; thence southeastwardly in a circuitous direction to Deerfield, in the southeastern corner of Portage county; thence northeastwardly to Warren, the starting-point. It is stated that thin footman would make this long and perilous journey in a week's time. The footman, however, was succeeded by Ezra Gregory, of Harpersfield, who placed his son, with the mail-bag, on the back of a powerful horse,, and thus furnished the dwellers in the wilderness with these advanced mail facilities.   SCHOOLS.   As soon as the people of Windsor began to feel the need of school facilities three facilities were provided. The first school was taught in Windsor in the winter of 1804-5, the teacher being Miss Kezia Griswold, afterwards the wife   252 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.     SOCIETIES.   Windsor Lodge, No. 329, I. O. O. F, was instituted September 2, 1857. The charter members were Dr. Bellows, George A. Gibbs, A. L. Pomeroy, T. W. Gould, Alexander Adams, Frederick Chrispel, Stephen Winslow, and J. F. Howes.   In 1876 the society built their present building at Windsor Corners, a large, two-story frame structure, thirty by sixty-four feet, with twenty-six feet posts, and a cellar under the whole building. This they own, with the land on which it stands. The upper story is used for their rooms, and the ground story for an audience-room.   Their present officers are Marsh Atkins, N. G.; A. A. Olin, V. G.; Olney Bell, R. S.; Dwight Carpenter, P. S.; and R. F. Cook, Treas. The lodge now numbers about ninety members, and is in a prosperous condition.   Windsor Grange, No. 491, P. of H., was instituted January 30, 1874, by 0. P. Laird, deputy from Trumbull county. The charter members were Charles S. McIntosh, J. C. Humphrey, S. C. Wilson, Milo Dyer, B. F. Austin, A. A. Olin, O. P. Cook, O. J. Faulkinburg, H. D. Adams, Franklin Noble, and George Olin, with their wives, and Royal Grover, E. W. Griswold, Catherine Rawdon, and Miss Helen A. Griswold.   First Master, C. S. McIntosh; second, E. J. Adams; and third, A. A. Olin, the present incumbent. Since the organization of the grange there have been twenty-three additions to the membership, two deaths, three removals, and one expelled. The grange is at present in a flourishing condition, and owns the rooms it occupies.   Windsor Division, No. 166, Sons of Temperance, was organized, October 8, 1874, with the following charter members : Rev. H. Huncher, Henry Pratt, Elmer Cook, B. F. Austin, G. F. Rawdon, E. P. Northway, C. F. Clapp, A. Warick, Frank More, C. Clark, Harry Rawdon, Mrs. Catharine Rawdon, Mrs. Abigail Pratt, Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, Mrs. C. E. Austin, Mrs. Lucy Rawdon, Mrs. Gertrude Northway, Mrs. Augusta Clapp, Mrs. Antinelle Grant, Mrs. Estelle Carter, Misses Marian Rawdon, Carrie Smith, Deette Clapp, Alma Tudor, Elva Adams, Adell Adams, Fannie Hoyt, Frankie Pratt, Eva Hill, Evaline Rawdon, Hattie Grant, and Dell Alexander. Present officers, Freeland Rawdon, W. P. ; Miss Edney Winslow, W. A.; Eugene Rawdon, R. S. ; Miss Emma Winslow, F. S.; Rollin Rawdon, Treas.; Guy Rawdon, Con.; Miss Eva Hill, Assistant Con. ; Chas. Winslow, I. S.; Mrs. Lois Rawdon, 0. S. ; Levi Hill, Chap.; F. R. Smith, P. W. P.   The first cheese-factory in Windsor was built and put into operation about the year 1851, by the Farmers' company. It was located a short distance east of Windsor Corners, on the north side of the road. The milk was made into curd, and in this form carried to the factory to be made up into cheese. One year after the Farmers' company's factory was started, another factory was put into operation by Adams & Tudor. These both proved unsuccessful, however, and soon discontinued operations.   In the spring of 1867, S. E. Carter & Co. built a cheese-factory at Windsor Corners and commenced the manufacture of cheese. This building was burned in the fall of 1869, and the present factory, a building thirty by eighty feet, with two floors and garret, was put up the ensuing winter. Business was commenced in this new building in the spring of 1870, and has been continued each season since by the same firm. This factory utilizes the milk of from four to five hundred cows.   E. A. Wiswell is proprietor of a cheese-factory at Windsor Mills, which was built in 1874, and put into operation the same year. Ninety-five thousand pounds of cheese VMS manufactured during the present season at this factory.   A cheese-box factory is owned and operated a short distance north of Windsor Corners by Edwin Rawdon. From twenty-five to thirty-five thousand boxes are made and sold annually.   THE INDIANS OF WINDSOR.   At the time when the first settlements were made in Windsor them were three or four hundred Indians living in the township, scattered along the banks of the Grand river, Phelps and Indischool-houscsey were a mixed lot, made up partly of eastern and partly of western tribes. Souse were members of the Seneca, Cayuga, and Cattaraugas tribes, and some of the Clappetcas and Ottawas of the west. The dwellings were fragile in character, formed by inserting poles in the ground at proper distances, the tops of which were drawn together and fas1802, with strips of bark, branches of trees or skins of wild animals being used as a covering. Their beds were skins of wild beasts spread upon the ground, or, in default of these, they lay on the bare earth. Their household furniture consisted of a kettle, a few wooden spoons, and their hunting-knives ; their food the meat of wild animals, fowl, and fish ; their dress was simply a blanket fastened about the waist by a belt, in which were hung their tomahawk, knife, and moccasins. The only labor they were ever known to perform aside from hunting, which was their chief occupation, was the manufacture by the squaws of maple-sugar. All that was needed to consummate the marriage contract was the consent of the parties. They were not known to have marriage ceremonies. Polygamy occasionally prevailed. But one instance of divorce was known       of Jonathan Higley, Esq.; the school-building being the blacksmith-shop of S. D. Sacket. The number of pupils was nine. The next year the inhabitants built a log school-house one-half mile south of Windsor Corners, Mr. Harvey Cook being the first teacher, in the winter of 1805-6. There were ten or twelve scholars in attendance. Other school buildings were soon erected, and now there are nine commodious and well-built school-houses in the township, wnpon valuation is four thousand dollars, with a total enrollment of two hundred and sixty-one scholars.   CHURCHES.   Early did the pioneers of Windsor who had emigrated from the land of steady habits begin to show proper regard for religion. The first sermon was preached at the house of Solomon Griswold, as early as the year 180preachingnumbersul, pious missionary, Rev. Joseph Badger. We copy from Mr. Badger's journal the mention which he makes of this visit to Mr. Griswold's home in the forest:   "In the month of June (1802) I visited Mesopotamia and Windsor. Found seven families in the former and three in the latter. . . . In Windsor the late Judge Griswold had commenced breaking the forest. Their garden, back of a small cabin covered with bark, was cultivated by the two daughters, and was well stored with culinary roots, plants, and vines. But to get bread was a herculean task. No flour could be had short of fifty or sixty miles, excepting in the spring, when keel-boats, with great exertion, were worked up the Mahoning to Warren, with a few barrels of flour; but packing on horseback was the only mode of conveyance from Warren, the rider having frequently to sleep in the woods."'   The next minister who preached to the settlers of this township was Rev. G. H. Cowles, assisted by a Mr. Leslie. Whenever a minister arrived the glad news was carried to the scattered log cabins, and at the time appointed all would be in attendance. In those primitive times it was considered a matter of the highest pleasure to be able to attend divine worship, and, instead of regarding it as an irksome duty, it was looked upon as a privilege affording the greatest enjoyment and delight. It is stated that upon one occasion Judge Griswold's daughters, Misses Ursula and Fanny, walked a distance of eight miles, one fine Sabbath morning, through the dense forest, with no other road blazed line, performing this feat in order to listen to the preaching of Rev. Joseph Badger in Mesopotamia. They did not disturb the worshipers by coming in late, but were present in ample time. They returned home after service on the same day, and considered that they had done nothing more than taken a pleasant walk !   The Griswold family were Episcopalians, Mr. Griswold being an active and efficient worker in that church. To this denomination belonged also the Hill family and the Cook family, the Aldermans and Skinners. In 1816 this society erected the first church building in Windsor, on lot 7, range 3, across the road from the house now owned and occupied by Hiram Griswold. Judge Solomon Griswold contributed the greater part towards its erection, and it was familiarly known as "Solomon's temple." In 1832 a neat and well-built Episcopal church building was erected one-half mile west of the centre of Windsor, atgeorners known as Windsor Mills. The house was dedicated by Bishop McIlvaine. The church at present numbers but few members, and has no settled pastor.   In 1812, when the Norris and Barnard families settled in Windsor, a Methodist society was formed, the Norrises and Barnards being stanch adherents of this religious body. The first Methodist sermon was preached by John Norris in the same year. Commencing with a membership of but nine, the society increased rapidly in numbers, and in eleven years contained over fifty members. They erected their first chirch building in the year 1827,—lot 5, range 6,—the same building now used as a town-house. Their present church building at Windsor Corners was built in 1854, and rebuilt in 1877. Their membership now numbers eighty, and their church property is valued at four thousand dollars. Their present pastor is Rev. J. H. Stoney.   The Universalist church was organized in November, 1868, by Rev. Andrew Wilson, of Akron. Rev. E. R. Wood was the first settled minister. In 1876 the society bought the lower room of the Grangers' building, which they use and occupy as a church building. They have no settled pastor at present. The church numbers at prevent forty-eight members.   The Wesleyan Methodists organized a church at Windsor Mills about the year 1844, and in the year 1852 or 1853 a church was organized in the southwest part of the township, where, soon after, they erected their present church building, in lot 1, range 7. Their membership is very small at ceremonies.. Mr. Hayes, a resident of Middlefield, Geauga county, is their pastor.   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 253   among them. The cause was unknown, but the parties seemed to be members each of a different tribe, and the points in dispute being referred to a solemn tribunal it was judged that the Indian and his squaw should undergo a separation for six months. They had one child, and in the presence of the entire force of Indians assembled on the banks of Grand river the parties arose, the Indian taking the child, an infant, in his arms, and, turning their backs to each other, the father took a due north course, the mother a due south course, and thus lengthened the distance between them, the squaw bitterly crying and loudly wailing; whereupon, it is stated, the council dispersed. As they were of different tribes, their religious customs were not uniform. All, however, acknowledged the existence of a great Good Spirit. Some believed in the transmigration of the soul ; others, that at a period after death the spirit wanders to the pleasant hunting-grounds, where game is plenty and the streams abound in fish. Sometimes the white settlers would be aroused at night by the noise proceeding from an Indian camp, created by their midnight devotions, consisting of Singing and dancing on the beloved square and beating upon the sacred drum. Their mode of burying their dead was likewise not always the same. Sometimes they wrapped the corpse in the skin of some wild animnl and placed it in a grave in a sitting posture with the face towards the east. No coffin was used ; generally the trinkets and weapons that had been the property of the deceased were interred with the body. Sometimes, as was the case in the burial of an Indian child in Windsor, in the year 1806 or 1807, a large hollow tree was found, an opening made, and four sticks firmly fastened in the ground within the hollow, so as to protrude about eighteen inches, and then other sticks placed across, and the body placed upon these cross sticks. After which the entrance was neatly filled by fitting closely and fastening tightly a block of the required size, so as to protect it from the wild animals of the forest. They were generally of a peaceful nature, and not disposed to molest the white settler. Some instances, however, might be given where they were somewhat troublesome. 'We have space but for one Indian story, which is as follows:   The Indian is proverbially fond of whisky ; and one day, in the year 1800, when Mr. Phelps was at work about one mile distant from his cabin, a party of seven or eight braves came to his dwelling and requested that Mrs. Phelps would give them some whisky. As her husband had frequently given them to drink, she did not hesitate to yield to their request. After drinking what was set before them, they demanded more. Mrs. Phelps wisely concluded that they had had enough, and refused to give them more. Offended, they threatened vengeance and went their way. That night she told her husband what had happened, and said she was afraid to remain at home alone the next day. The next morning Mr. Phelps took his ox-bell and gave it to his wife, saying, " I must go to my work. You take this bell, and if the Indians come to-day, and sre insolent and imperious in their demands, you mount the wood-pile and ring this bell with all your might. I will jump upon the back of old Baldface, who will soon bring me to the house." In the afternoon the Indians came, demanding whisky. Mrs. Phelps drew a quantity and placed it before them. They drank, and demanded more, threatening to scalp her if she did not obey. She took her child and secreted it behind some shingles to the rear of the house, and, grasping the old cowbell, she sprang upon the wood-pile arid rang it with all her might. Returning to the house, the Indians, with savage threats and horrid imprecations, told her that unless she instantly acceded to their demands they would kill her. She stubbornly refused, all the while looking intently for the appearance of "old Bald-face." Pretty soon horse and rider are in sight, coming with furious speed. Springing from his horse and in at the door, with a cudgel in his hand, Mr. Phelps beheld an Indian brandishing a tomahawk above the head of his wife, another holding her, while the others were endeavoring to draw the plug from a whisky-barrel which they had rolled into the room. Mr. Phelps was a powerful and active man, and with one heavy blow of his cudgel he felled to the floor the Indian with the tomahawk ; another blow dispatched number two; a third Indian shared the saline fate. The others laid down their arms, threw themselves on their knees, and begged for their lives.   STORIES.   A volume of no mean dimensions could readily be filled with the stories of bold and daring adventures which the early Windsor settlers had with the wild beasts of the forest. We have room for a single incident only. The one we select is no better, perhaps, than scores of others, and, indeed, is not so perilous as some that might be related ; yet it evinces the same bravery and fearlessness that characterized all the Windsor pioneers in their encounters with the wild and ferocious animals of the forest.   David Rawdon, in the winter of 1832, while bunting deer in the west part of Hartsgrove, which was then an unbroken forest, came upon a bear-track. Eagerly following it, he found Bruin in her den. Her place of refuge was between the bodies of two large trees that had been uprooted by the wind, near the bank of a creek. The roots of the trees formed a protection on one side some seven feet in height. The bear, perceiving that she was discovered, arose from her lodging-place, when she immediately received a ball on the right side, forward of the hip. With a sudden and furious bound, she leaped over the arched roof of her den and plunged into the forest, trying to secrete herself in the whortleberry marsh. Mr. Rawdon followed her. The bear again retreated, Mr. Rawdon following, some of the time creeping on his hands and knees through the dense underbrush, so thick that he could not follow the track on his feet. He followed her to the trunk of a large tree. As he arose on one side of the log Bruin rose on the other, placing her paws on the log, directly in front of him, with her mouth close to his head, stretched wide open, ready to tear him to pieces. Jumping backward a few feet, he fired again, but, frustrated by his excitement, it inflicted only a slight wound. The bear turned and again retreated. Following some thirty rods ho came up with her and, aiming carefully, gave her a shot which yielded him the conquest, and Bruin wag vanquished. The hide of this bear was niue feet in length by five feet in width, and the bear was weighed and turned the scales at four hundred pounds.   STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Butter Cheese (est) Maple-sugar

155 acres 499 “ 335 “ 115 “ 201 “

2,249 Bushels 15,896 “ 21, 880 “ 7,572 “ 13, 465 “ 33,125 pounds 250,000 19,229

Population in 1870 was 871.   Votes cast in 1876: Hayes, 204 ; Tilden, 45.   HARTSGROVE TOWNSHIP.   This township is designated as number nine of the fifth range. Its name was originally Matherstown, in honor of Samuel Mather, Jr., who claimed to be the owner. However, the record of the drawing of the Connecticut land company, in 1798, discloses the fact that Wm. Hart, of Connecticut, was really the rightful owner, as number nine of the fifth range was drawn by him. A contest at law arose between these two claimants, which continued for many years, but finally terminated in favor of the heirs of Mr. Hart. The result of this litigation was to delay the settlement of this township until the year 1822, a later period than the date of the settlement of any other township in the county, and also to effect a change in its name from Matherstown to Hartsgrove, in honor of the rightful owner.   Hartsgrove, in its natural state, was a heavily-timbered tract, well supplied with springs and running streams of clear water, and the forests were filled with wild animals of all kinds, affording a rich field for those who were fond of bunting. This region, in fact, was for many years the hunting-ground of the settlers of the neighboring townships, as well as of the Indians. While adjoining localities were denuded of their timber and gave evidence of the advance of civilization, this township, for more than twenty years after the arrival of the first settlers, remained an unbroken wilderness. And some of the most interesting and exciting incidents which history records as the experience of the settlers in their contests with wild and ferocious animals, have had their origin in this forest hunting-ground.   Rev. William Jarvis, of Chatham, Connecticut, married the daughter of Richard W. Hart, a son of Wm. Hart, whereupon the father of Mrs. Jarvis conveyed to her the north half of the township, amounting to about eight thousand acres of land.   Judge Mills, of Saybrook, Connecticut, was constituted the agent of Mr. Hart for the remainder of the lands of the township, and served in this capacity until the death of the latter, when neatly one-half of the remainder was conveyed to Mrs. Jarvis and her sister, Merry B. Hart. This happened about the year 1837 or 1838, at which time General Charles Stearns and William Jarvis (2d) became the agents of the grantees. The two acted jointly until 1840, when General Stearns, being elected sheriff of Ashtabnla County, removed to Jefferson. Since this date, or in March, 1841, Wm. Jarvis (2d) was made sole agent, and has served in that capacity until the present time.   HOW WATERED.   The principal streams of the township arc Matherstown creek and Crooked creek. The latter waters the northeastern part of the township, and the former, with its tributaries, the southeastern. Numerous living springs of clear, cool, water abound, giving the inhabitants of this township an advantage in this respect rarely found in other localities of the county.   The celebrated sandstone quarry extends through this township from near the south line of Windsor northwardly into Trumbull. In width it averages about one-half mile within the limits of Hartsgrove, the soil of which is admirably adapted to the culture of small fruits,—as grapes, berries, cnrrants, etc.   THE SURVEY.   About the year 1826 this township was surveyed into lots of one hundred acres each by Timothy it Hawley, Esq., assisted by his son, Dr. Almon Hawley, of Jefferson, under instructions from Judge I. Mills, agent for R. W. Hart. In the survey the lots were run one hundred rods north and south by one hundred and sixty east and west, constituting sixteen ranges of ten lots each, commencing at the northwest corner to number, and numbering from west to east.   EARLY SETTLERS.   The year 1822 is the year in which the first settlement began. George Alderman, a resident of Windsor township, came into Hartsgrove and settled on lot No. 148, whereon he erected his log cabin and began an improvement. In the following year his cousin, Frederick Alderman, came from the same place and settled upon the central part of the same lot, George having located on the easteru part. These men were what are termed squatters, pot owners of the lot whereon they effected a settlement. They afterwards, however, purchased it of Mr. Hart's agent. The next settler was Thomas Burbank, in 1828, who located himself and family in the George Alderman dwelling, the latter having returned to Windsor. Mr. Burbank's was the second conveyance of land by deed in the township, the first being a conveyance by Isaac Mills as agent for Richard W. Hart of twenty acres of lot 149 to Destine Alford. This instrument bears date February 10, 1827. Mr. Alford had been a resident of Austinburg, and also. of Saybrook, but originally came from Hartford county, Connecticut. His removal to Hartsgrove was effected in 1829. This same year the settlement was augmented by the arrival of three mom families,—Shubel Adams, who set tled on fractional lot 158; David Griffin, who settled on the south one-half of lot 147, and Carmi E. Hoskins. The next year witnessed the arrival of Cornelius Norris, Orson Grant, and Calvin Grover; the last named settled on the west part of lot 139. Mr. Grant located on lot 106, and Mr. Norris about one mile south of the centre of the township, and still lives on this pnrchase. From this time on the settlement rapidly increased. Elisha Grover, Jonathan Avery, Josiah Avery, Solomon Smith, and Lewis Hart came into the township in 1830, or thereabouts.   EARLY EVENTS.   The first school in the township was taught, in 1829, by Miss Parmelia Frazer, in one room of Mr. Shubel Adams' log dwelling, near the south line of the township. This school consisted of seventeen scholars, a part of' whom came from Windsor. The parents who sent their children to this school are as follows: Joseph Alderman, Jr., Shubel Adams, Sr., and Abner Shipman, of Windsor, and Shubel Adams, Jr., David Griffin, Frederick Alderman, and Thos. Burbank, of Hartsgrove.   The first school-house in the township was erected on the southeast part of lot 138 in 1830, and was known as the Slab school-house, because it was built of split logs. Its roof was made of boards, and it was the owner of a stone chimney. The first school in this building was taught by Miss Clarissa Norris, in the summer of 1830. She is now living in Northfield, Minnesota. Mr. Darius Smith, of Chautauqua county, New York, was the teacher the following winter. The number of his scholars was nearly forty, Miss Norris having had an attendance of about twenty-five the previous summer.   The first birth of a white child in the township was a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman, about the year 1825. Shortly after this a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Alderman. The name of this child was Aurelia. Harry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, born in 1838, was the second male birth in the township, and the first who lived to reach years of maturity.   The first marriage was that celebrated by and between Frederick Alderman and Ann Burgess. This occurred in the year 1828. The marriage contract was solemnized by Elijah Hill, a justice of the peace of Windsor township. The second marriage was that in which Orson Grant was groom and Miss Zeruah Hart was the bride. This occurrence took place at the bride's father's, in the spring of 1834.   The first death was the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman. The second was that of the daughter of ;Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, aged eight years, which occurred in January, 1829.   The first saw-mill was built in 1829, near the centre of lot 138, by Carmi E. Hoskins. Mr. Hoskins and his son Virgil, in 1841, erected the first grist-mill in the township, on the east part of the same lot. Mr. Orson Grant, about the year 1833 or 1834, erected two saw-mills on Matherstown creek, south of the centre. He was an energetic, enterprising man, and made valuable improvements in the township. His was the first frame barn erected in Hartsgrove, and is still standing in good condition.' Now owned by the Wadding heirs.   The first frame house in the township was that erected by Mr. John White, in 1834, on lot 126.   The first settled physician was Dr. Hiram Morgan, who settled at the corners of lots Nos. 79, 80, 89, and 90, in the year 1844, where he has continued to reside and practice his profession to the present time.   The first store in Hartsgrove was opened in the year 1837, by General Charles Stearns. The goods were furnished by Judge Rawdon, of Windsor. The present stores are those of William H. Van Pelt and Rufus P. Daniels, both at the centre, and their stocks arc of a general nature.   HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO - 255   EARLY ROADS   The first road in the township was the marked route made in the year 1800, from Esquire Gregory's, living on Grand river, in Harpersfield township, southwardly through Trumbull and Hartsgrove to the dwelling of Judge Griswold, in Windsor.   The State road, known as the Fifth range State road, running from Unionville and Harpersfield, southwardly through that township, Trumbull, Hartsgrove, Windsor. and Mesopotamia, intersecting the Painesville and Warren State road, in Southington. Trumbull county, was laid out by act of legislature.   Early in the settlement of the township there were five east and west and five north and south roads laid out and established, the intervening distances being one mile. But three or four of the roads were opened for use the full length.   POSTAL MATTERS.   The first post-office was established in Hartsgrove in 1830. For twenty-six years previous to this time the United States mail had been carried through the township alone what was known as the old pioneer mail-route. This route began at Warren. Trumbull county, and ran northwardly through Mesopotamia and Windsor. and diagonally through Hartsgrove to Austinburg, thence westwardly through Harpersfield to Painesville, from thence to Euclid, and then southeastwardly to Deerfield, at which point it connected with the Detroit mail-route, thence southeastwardly to Warren, the starting point. In 1830, Thomas Matteson received a commission as postmaster at Hartsgrove, and opened the first mailbag that was unlocked in the township. His office was in his log dwelling, on the east road, one-half mile from the east line of the township. Mr. Matteson kept the office about three years, when he was succeeded by Archibald Ludington, who retained it three years longer. and then surrendered it to A. Jarvis, who removed it to the centre of the township. The latter was succeeded by. his brother William Jarvis, in 1838. Colonel Jarvis continued to be postmaster until the year 1861. The present postmaster is William H. Van Pelt, and the mails are distributed from his store.   CHURCHES.   The first religious minister of a public character in Hartsgrove is said to have been held at the log cabin, Calvin Grover. in the spring of 1830; Elder John Norris, of Windsor. being present and conducting the service.   METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.   The Methodist Episcopal church at southeast Hartsgrove was the first church society organized in the township. The organization took place at the split-log school-house. July 2o. 1 s-30. The members of the claim formed at that time were Elisha Grover. his 'nether, Martha Grover, and his wife, Eliza Grover, Calvin Grover and wife. Lewis Hart and wife, and Jonathan Avery and wife. Elder Scott was the preacher in charge, and a Sabbath-school was formed at the same date. Service was held in the school-house. At present the membership is very small. The church is without a regular pastor, and meetings held but infrequently.   The Methodist Episcopal church at the centre of Hartsgrove effected an organization in the year 1833, the Rev. John C. Ayres presiding. The membership at this time was ten. In 1844 they erected their present meeting-house, a building thirty-two by forty feet, afterwards enlarged so as to be thirty-two by fifty-three feet. The present minister is Rev. Mr. Stoney, and the church membership is about sixty. The church property is valued at about twenty-five hundred dollars.   AN EPISCOPAL CHURCH.   with a membership of twelve persons. was organized in 1837, the Rev. John L. Bryan, of Windsor, officiating. The society for a time held meetings in the central school-house building, but after about fifteen or twenty years, owing to removals and other causes, services were discontinued.   THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH   at southeast Hartsgrove was first organized by Rev. E. M. Dodge, about the year 1845. The membership at that time numbered about fifteen or sixteen. Meetings were held in the school-house until about the year 1860, when for two or three years meetings were not sustained. In 1863 a Rev. Mr. Thompson, assisted by Mr. A. C. Brush, held revival-meetings in connection with the society. Mr. Brush afterwards settled in Hartsgrove, and in the year 1869 was ordained a minister, reorganized the church, and became its pastor for about four years. Since this time there has been no regular service sustained.   THE DISCIPLE CHURCH   was organized is the year 1858, under the pastorate of the Rev. Calvin Smith. The series    meetings at this time were held in the ball-room of the hotel, and   - 64 -   there were, perhaps, fifteen who embraced the cause of Christ, and at the close of the meetings united to form a church. They have now a membership of sixty, with a fine church edifice at the centre. Their pastor is the Rev. Joel James, a gentleman who has spent a life in the work of bringing souls to Christ. He is spoken of as being eminently qualified, and possessed of the divine attributes which make a man a teacher and one of the fathers in Israel.   SOCIETIES.   Hartsgrove Lodge, No. 397, P. and A. M., was instituted, under a dispensation, January 17, 1867. A charter was granted October 16, 1867. The following are the names of the charter members: John J. Hoyt, E. G. Hurlburt, A. Watson, L. E. Young, B. H. Bostwick, M. W. Bailey, Erlend Morgan, F. W. Sargent, J. Perry Nye, E. J. Hunt, and D. E. Hurlburt. The first officers under charter were, E. G. Hurlburt, W. M. ; M. W. Bailey, S. W. ; D. E. Hurlburt, J. W. ; A. Watson, Treas.; R. Marsh, Sec.; J. P. Nye, S. D.; E. W. Hunt, J. D.; E. A. Grant, Tyler ; E. J. Hunt, Chap.   The lodge, in connection with the town, built the present building at the centre, the upper story of which is owned and used by the lodge and the first story as a town hall. The building is thirty-two by forty-two feet, and two stories high. It was erected in 1873. The lodge-rooms were dedicated January 23, 1874. Henry Talcott, of Jefferson, was the dedicating officer, and lion. S. A. Northway, of the same place, delivered the address. The officers elected for 1878 are R. Marsh, W. M.; D. Fortney, S. W.; Erlend Morgan, J. W. ; Henry Ayers, Treas.; H. H. Grover, Sec.; O. J. Martin, S. D. ; George Gladding, J. D. ; E. W. Hunt, Tyler. The present membership of the lodge is seventy-four.   Grove Grange, No.1202, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in August, 1875, by Deputy Fuller, of Geneva. The charter members were as follows : E. G. White, N. S. Hubbard, S. S. Hubbard, S. B. McClure, E. H. Lee, B. J. Hunt, A. Rawson, R. Marsh, E. W. Hunt, H. Ayers, D. E. Hurlburt, F. R. Burt, H. F. Griswold, Merrit Holcomb, R. N. Daniels, and their wives, and Gilbert Grover, M. Alford, and Miss Luellen Grover. The first officers were E. G. White; Master; E. W. Hunt, Overseer ; H. F. Griswold, Lecturer; S. B. McClure, Steward ; S. S. Hubbard, Assistant Steward ; E. H. Lee, Treas.; H. Ayers, Sec.; A. Rawson, G. K. ; Mrs. E. G. White, Cores; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Flora; Mrs. S. S. Hubbard, Pomona; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward. The officers for 1878 are N. S. Hubbard, Master; Rodney Marsh, Overseer; Mrs. Henry Ayers, Lecturer ; A. Rawdon, Steward; N. F. Rice, Assistant Steward ; M. S. Allyn, Treas.; Henry Griswold, See:; A. C. Hunt, G. K.; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Ceres ; Mrs. A. Rawson, Flora; Mrs. Ellen Callender, Pomona; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward.   Lodge-meetings are held in the town hall; the present membership is forty.   Hartsgrove Division, No. 154, Sons of Temperance, was instituted November 9, 1874, by A. M. Collins, State Deputy. The charter members were William Pruden, G. G. Grant, Benjamin Norris, Cornelius Norris, C. H. Johnston, E. G. Hurlburt, David Pruden, Nelson Griswold, P. A. Decker, Samuel Miner, P. L. Hunt, C. S. Marsh, C. E. Alderman, F. L. Hurlburt, Frank Bates, Martha Griswold, Carrie Hunt, Olive Pruden, Caroline Boslar, Lonisa Marsh, Emma Miner, R. A. Johnston, Julia Hurlburt, Libbie Grant, Belle Burt, Florence Callender, Ellen Callender, Nettie Holcomb, Lizzie Cottam, and Ruth Norris.   Among the first officers were Samuel Miner, W. P. ; F. L. Hurlburt, R. S.; E. Alderman, Treas.; Benjamin Norris, Chap.; G. G. Grant, Con. ; and E. G. Hurlburt, Deputy G. W. P. The officers for 1878 are E. R. Hubbard, W. P.; Mrs. Julia Hurlburt, W. A. ; E. F. Hubbard, R. S. ; Miss Cora Grover, A. R. S.; C. S. Marsh, F. S. ; E. C. Mathews, Treas.; D. P. Barr, Chap.; P. L. Hunt, Con.; Miss Jennie Callender, Ass't Con.; Mrs. Mary Mathews, I. S.; F. L. Hurlburt, O. S. ; L. W. Kile, P. W. P.; H. H. Grover, Deputy G. W. P.   The division holds its meetings in the town-hall room. The present membership numbers seventy-two.   ORGANIZATION.   The township of Hartsgrove was organized on the 5th day of April, 1830. The following were the first officers: John Thomas, township clerk ; James B. Harper, Caleb Crooks, and Thomas Burbank, trustees ; Joseph Brooks and Calvin Grover, overseers of the poor ; Destine Alford and Warner Munn, fence-viewers ; and Stephen Matteson, constable. On the 40th of May following, an election for justice of the peace was held, resulting in the choice of Thomas Matteson. lie was succeeded by Cornelius Norris, who, it is thought, is the only person now living who attended this election. The officers for 1877 are E. G. Norris, J. K. Potter, and N. Hubbard, trustee's; Henry Ayers, clerk ; Henry McIntosh, treasurer ; Erlend Morgan, assessor; F. L. Hurlburt and H. Marsh, constables; Er-lend Morgan and Rodney Marsh, justices of the peace; and eleven supervisors.   256 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.   MANUFACTURES.   The carriage-manufactory located at the centre was established in the spring of 1876, by H. H. Grover, who, by the way, was for a time one of the go-ahead business men of the township, having had at one time in successful operation a hotel, store, and this manufactory, which occupies the building formerly built by Charles Stearns for a cheese-factory. Mr. Grover carried on an extensive business until the fall of 1877, since which time the property has been occupied by Messrs. Fails at Hoffman.   In the year 1843, R. D. Norris established an extensive ashery, some one and one-fourth miles south of the centre of the township. This has been successfully operated until a short time since. He manufactured pot and pearl ashes, and usually operated a store in connection ; was the largest manufacturer of pearl ashes in the Western Reserve.   The first cheese-factory in the township was built by General Charles Stearns, in 1849 and 1850, at the centre, just north of the present site of Mr. Daniels' store. The factory commenced business in the spring of 1850. The milk was manufactured into curd at the farm-houses of the patrons, and in this condition brought to the factory to be made into cheese. General Stearns carried on quite a large business for three years, and then sold the factory to the Higley brothers, wtownship.ed the business only one or two seasons.   In the spring of 18,73 two cheese-factories were put into operation in the township. Mr. N. S. Hubbard being the proprietor of one, located about two miles north of the centre, and Mead Brothers of the other, at the northeast corner of the township. About fifty thousand dollars worth of cheese is made annually at Mead’s factory, and one hundred thousand dollars worth at the factory of Mr. Hubbard.   There is another factory located 1875, southeast Hartsgrove, which commenced business in the spring of 1874, Mr. Martin Merrifield being the first proprietor. In 1875, Mr. Merrifield sold out to Newell Lamb, the present proprietor. About fifty thousand dollars worth of cheese is manufactured annually at this factory.   In the fall of 1866, Mr. Alexander Watson erected a large steam planing- and saw-mill, about two miles north of the centre of Hartsgrove. Machinery for the manufacture of shingle- and cheese-boxes was also added, and quite an extensive business conducted until the building was destroyed by fire, on the morning of the 24th of July, 1877. There was no insurance on the mill, and the fire is thought to have been the work of an incendiary. Mr. Watson has since built a large steam saw-mill a short distance south of the centre.   Mr. E. W. Hunt is proprietor of quite an extensive steam shingle-mill, and spoke and axe-helve factory, located about one mile north of the centre. The present building, erected in 1876, is thirty by fifty feet, and two stories high. For several years previous to the building of this mill, Mr. hunt conducted the business in a mill then located on the opposite side of the road.   STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat Oats Corn Potatoes Orcharding Meadow Maple-sugar  Butter Cheese

199 acres. 548 " 345 " 144 " 204 " 1651 "

2,162 bushels 16,392 " 11,954 " 9,380 " 16,193 " 908 tons 7,398 pounds 51,100 " 101,100 "

Number of school-houses, 9 ; valuation, $4500 ; amount paid teachers, $878.70 ; number of scholars, 276. Vote for President in 1876 : 1824,Connecticut.eventh Population of township in 1870, 799.   BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.   EDWARD GRIFFIN HURLBURT   was born March 12, 1824, and is the seventh child of Erastus Grant Hurlburt and Clarissa Goodwin Hurlburt, originally from Goshen county, Connecticut.   On the 13th day of My, 1842, Erastus G. Hurlburt and family arrived in the township of Hartsgrove, and located on parts of lots 96 and 106, which property is now owned by Nelson Griswold. Mr. Hurlburt died September 4. 1845, and his wife December 13, 1856. The education of Edward G. Hurlburt was acquired principally in the common schools of his native township, with two terms in the village academy.   Edward was eighteen years of age when he came to Ohio with his father. At his father's death, three years later, he took charge of the estate, kept the family together, and made a satisfactory settlement. December 31, 1851, he was united in marriage to Jane E., daughter of John and Lydia Babcock, of Orwell, this county. Eight children have been born from this marriage, as follows: Frank Lincoln, December 17, 1852; Mary Luella, April 5, 1855; Martha Jane, January 31, 1857, died September 30, 1862; Clara M., September 2,1862; John Erastus, July 29, 1864; Edward G., Jr., August 19, 1867 (died June 5, 1868); Lucy Jane, September 29, 1868 (died September 6, 1869); Ward E., October 8, 1872. These children all reside in Hartsgrove except Mary, who married Mr. E. L. Lampoon, a member of the legal profession in Jefferson, where they now reside. Mr. Hurlburt made his first purchase of land in Hartsgrove township January 15, 1848, which consisted of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, in lots 67 and 77, and is still owned by him. He has made additional purchases from time to time, until at present his real estate aggregates ono thousand and thirty acres of farming lands. The principal business of his life has been that of a farmer and stock-dealer.   He has been quite extensively engaged in the stock business for more than twenty years. As a sample of the magnitude of his stock-dealing, we will state that in the spring of 1865 he and a partner of his made sales of cattle and hop, which they had fed in Iowa, the receipts of which were over twenty thousand dollars.   In the spring of 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business at Hartsgrove Centre. In the autumn following he formed a partnership wurlburt Grover, which was continued for two years, when Mr. Hurlburt sold out his interest to his partner, Mr. Grover.   Mr. Hurlburt is a Methodist, of which church he became a member over thirty years ago. He is active and efficient worker in the Sabbath-school, of which he has been superintendent over twenty years. He is a member of Hartsgrove lodge, No. 394, F. and A. M., and a Past Master of that body. Politically, Esquire Hurlburt is a Republican, and has been ever since1874 organization of that party. He has held all of the offices of his township except that of township clerk. In the fall ofnf871 he was elected county commissioner. Upon the expiration of his first term of office he was unanimously re-nominated, and of course re-elected. He has been an efficient and worthy officer, and has served his county well.   ERRATA.   ON page 74, sixth line frem top of second column, the word "log" should read "rude ;" in the next line, the word "their" should read "its." -   On page 76, seventeenth line from bottom of second column, " bringing safety to Union" should read "bringing safety to the Union."   On page 80, second column, twenty-first line from top, the word " document" should read "declaration."   On page 84, seventh line from the beginning of the biography of Edward Wade, the "*" should be "   On page 85, seventh line of Rufus P. Ranney's biography, " Wade & Giddings" should read "Grindings & Wade."   On page 168, for " Benonia Andrews" read " Benoni Andrews."