(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 450 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. members. The overseers are E. M. Dille and Wm. Hudson. DISCIPLE CHURCH AT COLLINWOOD. In February, 1878, at the suggestion of E. M. Dille, the zealous overseer of the Disciple church of Collamer, who offered to pay the expenses of such a proceeding, Rev. W. B. Hendrix began a series of Disciple meetings at Collinwood. They were blessed with marked success, and on the 16th of April .a church was organized by Mr. Hendrix, with fifty-nine members. It was immediately proposed to build a house of worship, and in ten days less than two months from the organization, a handsome framed edifice was completed, costing about two thousand five hundred dollars, of which Mr. Dille contributed eight hundred. It was dedicated on the 4th of July, 1878. The church has now about seventy members; being still under the pastorate of Mr. Hendrix. The overseers are the same as those at Collamer, E. M. Dille and Wm. Hudson; the deacons are George Morse and Alexander Mcllrath. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF COLLINWOOD. The supporters of the Congregational creed, and others who were desirous of having religious worship in Collinwood, united in erecting a framed house of worship in 1874, before any church had been organized. A Congregational church, with the above title, was formed in 1875. The first pastor was the Rey. Josiah Turner. He was succeeded by the Rev. C. E. Ruddick, who closed his services in 1878. There are BOW about sixty members. The deacons are L. Cody, J. Pronting, C. Hoagland and George Reading; the trustees are L. Cody, Wm. Greenlees, Benj. Carter and Wm. Jonghin. PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 1847. Trustees, Theron Woodworth. Ahimaaz Sherwin, Samuel Erwin ; clerk, Ansel Young; treasurer, Isaac N. Pillsbury; assessor, Freeman Whitman. 1848. Trustees, Benjamin Crawford, Samuel Erwin, Joel Jones; clerk, Ansel Young; treasurer, B. T. Blackwell; assessor, Benj. P. Beers. 1849. Trustees, Hiram Mcllrath, Joel Jones, Benj. S. Welch; clerk, A. Young; treasurer, B. T. Blackwell; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1850. Trustees, H. Mcllrath, J. P. Doan, Darius Ford; clerk, Horatio C. Ford; treasurer, Daniel R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1851. Trustees, Robt. Harlow, John Welch, J. P. Doan; clerk, H. C. Ford; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1852. Trustees, Robt. Harlow, John Welch, J. P. Doan; clerk, H. C. Ford; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1853. Trustees, Robt. Harlow, Joel Jones, Lyman Crosby; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1854. Trustees, Robt. Harlow, B. P. Beers, Lasell Birge; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1855. Trustees, Lasell Birge, E. H. Lacy, Jonathan C. Bowles; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1856. Trustees, D. A. Beers, J. R. Walters, Park B. Clark; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1857. Trustees, J. R. Walters, G. Watkins, Jos. Phillips; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1858. Trustees, J. It. Walters, Fredk. P. Silsby, Wm. Treat; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1859. Trustees, F. P. Silsby, Darius Adams, Alfred Talbot; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer, D. R. Hildreth; assessor, S. W. Baldwin. 1860. Trustees, Darius Adams, Jos. Slaght, F. L. Burt; clerk, E. T. Sturtevant; treasurer. John R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1861. Trustees, Darius Adams, L. F. Beers, Geo. Mather; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1862. Trustees, Sargent Currier, L. F. Beers, C. W. Dellenbaugh; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor. H. N. Smith. 1863. Trustees, L. F. Beers, C. W. Dellenbaugh, Sargent Currier; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1864. Trustees, C. W. Dellenbaugh, R. C. Meeker, Jas. Haycox; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1865. Trustees, C. W. Dellenbaugh, Andrew Wemple, J. O. Meeker; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor. H. N. Smith. 1866. Trustees, C. W. Dellenbaugh, Andrew Wemple, J. O. Meeker; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer. J. R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1867. Trustees, C. W. Dellenbaugh, Andrew Wemple, J. O. Meeker; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1868. Trustees, Andrew Wemple, J. O. Meeker, W. P. Hudson; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, J. R. Walters; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1869. Trustees, Andrew Wemple, W. P. Hudson, L. F. Beers; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, N. L. Post; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1870. Trustees, W. P. Hudson, Robt. Harlow, L. F. Beers; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, N. L. Post; assessor, M. A. Bard. 1871. Trustee's, Robt. Harlow, L. F. Beers, Seth Minor; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, N. L. Post; assessor, M. A. Bard. 1872. Trustees, Robt. Harlow, L. F. Beers, Seth Minor; clerk, S. W. Baldwin; treasurer, N. L. Post; assessor, M. A. Bard. 1873, Trustees, Seth Minor, L. F. Beers, Joseph Ames; clerk, W. B. Waring; treasurer, Henry Ford; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1874. Trustees. L. F. Beers, Joseph Ames, Marion Minor; clerk, W. B. Waring; treasurer; Henry Ford; assessor, H. N. Smith. 1875. Trustees, L. -F. Beers, Joseph Ames, Marion Minor; clerk, W. B. Waring; treasurer, Henry Ford; assessor, Levi Thomas. 1876. Trustees, Marion Minor, L. F. Beers, Joseph Ames; clerk, Norton Doan; treasurer, A. C. Stevens; assessor, Levi Thomas. 1877. Trustees, Joseph Ames, Joseph Parks, Marion Minor; clerk, Wm. James; treasurer, A. C. Stevens; assessor, Anson Bartlett. 1878. Trustees, Joseph Ames, Joseph Parks, Wm. Quilliams; clerk, Norton Doan; treasurer, Wm. James; assessor, Anson Bartlett. 1879. Trustees, William T. Quilliams, Joseph Amor, Joseph Parks; clerk, Norton Doan; treasurer. Wm. James; assessor, Anson Bartlett. JOHN DOANE. The distinction of being the earliest surviving male resident of the county invests Mr. Doane with public interest and the facts regarding his ancestors and his life will be read with pleasure. He is descended from one of the oldest families in this country, and the family is also an old one in England and is thus alluded to in the "Patronymica Brittanica:" " Done.- A great Cheshire family whom Omerod designates as a race of warriors who held Utkinton (supposed to be the Done of Domesday) as military tenants of Venables from the time of King John. The chiefs of this house will be found in the battle rolls of Agincourt, Bloreheath and Flodden. * * The name is pronounced Done (o long) and is also spelled Doane by members of the same (Cheshire) family." The original John Doane, the founder of the Doane family in this country, crossed the Atlantic in one of the first three ships that sailed to Plymouth, landing at that famous spot in the year 1630. A brother came after and settled in Canada; another brother settled in Virginia and founded an extensive connection. John Doane took a prominent and useful part in the Plymouth Colony, and in 1633 was chosen assistant to Governor Winslow. In addition to this and to the civil offices which he held he was made a deacon in the church at Plymouth and at Eastham. He died in 1685 at the advanced age of ninety-five years. He had five children, all of whom were the progenitors of large families. The youngest, Daniel, had four children by his first wife, among whom was Joseph Doane, born in 1669, three years after the fire and plague of London. Joseph had twelve children; EAST CLEVELAND - 451 the first was named Mary, after the mother, and the second Joseph, after the father. Joseph, Jr., was born November 15, 1693, and married Deborah Haddock in 1725. He removed to Middle Haddam, near Middletown on the Connecticut river, and there engaged in ship building. His third son, Seth, was born June 9, 1733, and married Mercy Parker, by whom he had nine children: Seth, Timothy, Elizabeth, Nathaniel, Job (who died in infancy), Mercy, Job, John M. and Deborah. The two Seth Doanes, father and son, were taken prisoners by the British, from a merchant vessel in 1776, during the revolutionary war, the father at the time being mate of the vessel on which he was captured. They were released in 1777, and soon after the younger Seth died from sickness contracted while a prisoner, and due to his captivity. Nearly all the children of Seth Doane removed West, and among the prominent pioneers of Cuyhoga county were Timothy and Mary Cary Doane, parents of the subject of this sketch, who moved hither from Herkimer county, New York, early in the present century. Timothy Doane was born in Middle Haddam, Middlesex county, Connecticut, on the 8th of November, 1759. In early life he adopted the calling of a sailor, which he followed nineteen years, a part of that time baing the captain of a merchantman. In 1782 he married Mary Cary, by whom he had ten children, viz: Nancy, born May 6, 1783; Seth born April 11, 1785; Timothy, born April 7, 1787; Mary, born May 16, 1789; Mercy, born September 23, 1794; Deborah, born January 11, 1796, and John, the subject of this notice, born on the 21st of June, .1798. Some time after his marriage Timothy Doane gave up the sea, and removed to Herkimer county, New York, where he engaged in farming. It was during his residence in that county that John Doane was born in the town of Frankford. Mr. Doane remained in New York seven years, and then determined to move still farther West. He accordingly disposed of his farm, and with his family set out for Ohio. They traveled to Buffalo with one team of horses and one of oxen. At that place the family remained while the father pushed forward through the unbroken forest—it being then in the month of February—until he reached the residence of his brother Nathaniel, who had lately settled at Doane's Corners, now in the eastern part of the city of Cleveland. He immediately purchased two lots of land, in what was formerly called Euclid, but for thirty-two years has been known as East Cleveland. In the spring of the same year (1801) he sent for his family. They came in an open boat to Painesville, where the boat became disabled and sank, so that from there they were obliged to travel overland- the party of five riding on two horses, and finding their way through the forest by the aid of " burnt trees " etc. They arrived at their destination. after a long, wearisome and eventful journey. Their nearest neighbor for two or three years was Nathaniel Doane at " Doane's Corners." For a number of years Mr. Doane found constant employment in cutting down the timber, tilling the land, and building a home for his family. In later life he became prominently identified with many of the public interests of the county, and wherever known was recognized as a man of staunch principles and unvarying integrity. He was a justice of the peace when the county was first organized, and was also a judge of the court of common pleas. He died on the 14th of November, 1828. His wife survived him twenty years, her death occurring in the same month in the year 1848. John Doane received a limited education, such as was afforded by the common schools of that day. He remained at the paternal home, assisting in clearing and tilling the farm until he reached his twenty-second year. He then commenced farming upon his own account, which he continued uninterruptedly until 1874 when he retired from active business. He has lived upon the farm which he still owns for seventy-eight years; having seen an unbroken wilderness displaced by fruitful fields and pleasant homes, while small settlements have grown into populous cities. Mr. Doane, although very plain and unostentatious, is a man of strong principles. He was among the first to abandon the objectionable pioneer custom of the frequent use of intoxicating liquors. Throughout life he has been strictly temperate in his habits; never using tobacco in any form, and although now in his eighty-second year, he possesses a fair amount of physical vigor and undiminished mental powers. In his early days he was an active member of the militia cavalry, in which he held the office of sergeant: In politics he has uniformly acted with the Republicans, but has never in any way sought public office. Since 1839 he has been a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and both as a christian and a citizen he has ever been highly esteemed. Mr. Doane was married January 17, 1820, to Annoplivia Baldwin, daughter of Seth Baldwin, of Cleveland, who died in February, 1821. He was married the second time to Sophia Taylor, daughter of Jonathan Taylor, of Middle Haddam, Connecticut, on the 27th of September, 1822. By this union he had six children: Mary F., born November 20, 1823; Abigail, born September 16, 1825; Edward B., born January 17, 1828; Annolivia, born September 16, 1829; Harriet S., born August 18, 1831, and John W., born August 17, 1833. Mrs. Doane died on the 3rd of October, 1870. The majority of Doanes or Doans in this section spell their names without the final letter, but Mr. John Doane and- his descendants prefer to adhere to the original form, which is the one in common use throughout the country. 452 - 'TIE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. CHAPTER LXXV. EUCLID. Euclid assigned to the Surveyors—Origin of the Name—The Agreement not carried out—John Morse—Joseph Burke—David Dille—Ruple and Coleman—A House without a Board— Learning two Trades to get some Meal—Salting Fish—Jacob Coleman—A Superabundance of Rattlesnakes—Gad Cranney and Abraham Bishop—Organization of the Township—First Officers—Excitement in the War of 1812—Dr. Farnsworth—Cheap Land—Paul P. Condit—Euclid Village and Euclid Creek —The Voters of 1815—The Old Stoneware Factory--Euclid Creek in 1823—The Householders of 1828—Steady Improvement—Ship Yard at the Mouth of the Creek—The Railroad—The War for the UnionGrape-Culture—The Stone Business—The Present Village of Euclid corporation—Collinwood—The Baptist Church— St. John's Congregation—Presbyterian Church—St. Paulls Church—Principal Township Officers. As stated in the general history of the county, the surveyors and laborers employed by the Connecticut Land Company to survey the Western Reserve, insisted, after their arrival in that tract, in the spring of 1796 on having a share in the fortune which was expected to be derived from it. Gen. Cleaveland, the agent of the company and superintendent of the survey, was obliged to accede to their request, and agreed that those of them who chose to become actual settlers might have a township at one dollar per acre. This agreement was confirmed by a written contract, made at Cleveland, on the 30th of September following, by which township eight, in the eleventh range was assigned to the employees before mentioned. The education of the principal surveyors having been chiefly mathematical, they agreed to call their township by the name of the great mathematician, Euclid. The name has ever since been retained, being applied first to the survey-township and then to the civil township covering the same territory. The western and southwestern parts have since been taken off, to form part of the township of East Cleveland; leaving Euclid an irregular tract, with an eastern boundary nearly nine miles long, It southern one less than three miles long, and a northwestern one (on the lake shore) about six miles long. This sketch is intended to give the history of the territory now comprising Euclid, leaving the remainder of the old township of that name to be treated of under the head of East Cleveland, t hough it will occasionally be necessary to allude to incidents and persons on the west side of the hoe between those two townships. By the contract between Gen. Cleaveland and the surveyors, the latter were to settle eleven families in the township in 1797, eighteen more in 1798, and twelve more in 1799; all with houses, and with small clearings of specified amounts. Otherwise, the land was to revert to the company, except that parties who performed under the contract were not to lose their rights. Immediately afterward the employees held a meeting, and arranged by lot who were to begin settlements under the contract, respectively, in one, two and three years, that is in 1797, '98 and '99. Of all who thus planned the allotment of this magnificent tract, (ill which each would have had five hundred acres), not a single one became a permanent resident of the territory in question, although one of the number, Nathaniel Doan did become a resident at "Doan's Corners" in Cleveland township, now included in Cleveland city. Yet several attempts were made to carry out the arrangement. Among the memoranda of the surveys of the following year (1797) we find one which says that on the 10th of August two men started out to do "settling duties" for Seth Pease and Dr. Shepard, two of the leading men employed by the company. Several other beginnings were made in that year under the contract, mostly on the flats between the ridge and the lake shore. This part of the township was surveyed into small tracts, while the portion farther from the lake was divided into larger ones; the intention being that each man might have a place near the lake and one farther back. The first considerable improvement of which there is any account was made in 1798 by John Morse, who was not one of the original surveyors of 1796, but may have purchased the right of one of them. He built a good log house on the ridge, on the east line of the township, and girdled about twenty acres of timber around it. He also cleared off three or four acres on the flats near the lake shore, and sowed it to wheat and grass seed. In due time the wheat was cut and secured in the sheaf in a small log barn, covered with black ash bark. Notwithstanding all this labor, Morse seems to have abandoned his land very suddenly, for the wheat was left to be destroyed by the weather (remaining untouched in the frail barn for several years) while the part sowed to grass for more than ten years furnished the whole township with "timothy" and "red-top" seed, the two kinds sowed by Morse. The first permanent settler in Euclid township was Joseph Burke, a native of Vermont and a drummer in the Revolutionary army. He was not one of the forty-one employees who made the contract with Gen. Cleaveland, in 1796, though be may have belonged to the survey-corps the next year. He settled in 1798 or '99 on the east line of the township, north of and adjoining the land taken up by Morse. Burke's cabin was on the main road, which had been opened from Cleveland to the Pennsylvania line, at the foot of the ridge, to the extent of girdling the trees on a space two rods wide, and cutting out what little underbrush there was. It could not be traveled in a wagon without an axe to remove obstructions. Mr. Burke soon obtained a little whisky and opened a sort of tavern, not only the first in the township, but the first between Conneaut and Cleveland. He remained about ten years, when he removed to Columbia in the present county of Lorain. He afterwards volunteered in the war of 1812, and died in the service. The next settler in the present township of Euclid, of whom we have any account, was David Dille, a native of New Jersey, who came from western Penn- EUCLID - 453 sylvania in November, 1798, and located himself on the main road half a mile southwest of Euclid creek. Mr. Dille had been actively engaged in the border wars with the Indians during and subsequent to the Revolution, and was in the expedition of Colonel Crawford when that unfortunate commander was defeated, captured and burned at the stake, near Upper Sandusky. He had five sons, Nehemiah, Lewis B., Calvin, Luther and Asa, who were nearly all grown to manhood when their father came to Euclid, and who either came with him or made their way thither within two or three years afterward. He had also fourteen younger children, mostly natives of Euclid. Mr. Dille lived the remainder of his long life in Euclid, and died there, having trebly done his duty to the country, as soldier, pioneer and parent. Although, as before stated, David Dille was the first actual settler after Burke, of whom anything is known, yet in August previous five young men from Washington county, Pennsylvania, came to Euclid to look for land, and four of them made selections along the main road; John Shaw and Thomas McIlrath in what is now East Cleveland; John Ruple in Euclid, close to the line between the two townships; and William Coleman at Euclid creek. The fifth man, - Garrett Thorp, did not then make a selection. In April, 1804, Coleman, Shaw and McIlrath bega- work on their respective locations. In the fall of 1804, Mr. Coleman, having cleared and planted two or three acres, and got out the logs for a cabin, brought On his family to their new home. He was a native of New Jersey, only twenty-three years old, but blessed with a wife and two children, and with little beside; his worldly goods consisting of a yoke of oxen, a wagon, a cow, and seventy-five cents in money. The wagon cover served as a tent for a short time, the few neighbors (all who lived within ten miles were neighbors) helped roll up the logs for a cabin, and then Mr. and Mrs. Coleman put on the roof without other assistance. When finished there was not a piece of board about the house; the door, the chamber-floor, and so much of an under floor as there was, being all made of stuff split out of logs with an axe. A series of incidents related by Mr. Coleman in a manuscript preserved by the Historical Society, illustrates most forcibly the difficulties of pioneer life. The family having by the following March used up all the little stock of corn which had been raised the previous year, Mr. Coleman went to Judge Huntington's wife, at Newburg, (the judge being away on his judicial duties) and endeavored to purchase some on credit. The thrifty housewife hardly felt disposed to sell in that way to a stranger, but being desirous to aid him if practicable, asked him if he could make baskets. "Yes," promptly replied young Coleman, who felt that it was true, for he was sure that he could make baskets if a squaw could, although as yet he had never tried. " Well, what will you ask to make me some?" she then inquired. " The old Indian price," he replied; "the basket full of shelled corn." She promptly agreed to the terms, and gave him a list of the number and size of baskets she wanted. He then returned home, borrowing thirty pounds of corn-meal on the way, of Captain Timothy Doane, in the present township of East Cleveland, to be repaid on the completion of the basket-contract. The next morning Mr. Coleman looked up some good timber and began to learn the trade of basket-making. It took him several days to acquire the art to his own satisfaction, but at length he succeeded in making a substantial, good-looking basket, and at the end of three weeks he had filled his contract. He then took his oxen, and carried his manufactures and some empty bags to Mrs. Huntington, who was well pleased with his work, and filled the baskets with corn according to contract; the whole amounting to ten and a half bushels. Mr. Coleman next went to the mill at Newburg, then owned by Rudolphus Edwards, to get his corn ground, but found that the stones had been taken out to reoeive an entirely new "dress." Deacon Burke, an old miller, had been sent for all the way from Hudson, to do the work, which had already occupied several days, and was likely to occupy several more. Coleman was bent on returning home with somc meal as soon as possible; so after watching the deacon's operations a short time he told Edwards that the best thing for all parties was for him, Edwards, to board him and his oxen while he should help Burke .dress the stones. Edwards was willing, if Coleman could do the work properly. The latter had never struck a blow on a mill-stone in his life, but he was accustomed to the use of tools, had plenty of confidence in himself and was sure he could imitate the pattern set by the deacon. He tried it and succeeded to the entire satisfaction of the old miller. He accordingly remained, and after two or three days work the task was completed and the grist was ground. Mr. Coleman then made his way home, having expended nearly a mo-th's time and learned two trades in order to get a few hundred pounds of corn meal. The next move was to go to Rocky river to catch fish for the summer's use, as was the custom with all the pioneers of this section. Mr. Coleman and another man went thither in a canoe and soon returned with two barrels of fine pike and pickerel. Curiously enough, down to this time the people had generally supposed that lake-fish could not be preserved in salt or brine. An old Indian, when applied to for information as to whether it could be done or not, replied: "No-no salt; put him on pole—make little fire— smoke him heap." Mr. Coleman's common sense, however, taught him that lake-fish would keep in salt as well as ocean-fish, and as, among his few treasures, he had a supply of salt, for which he had traded his watch before leaving 454 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. Pennsylvania, he determined to try the experiment. It was completely successful, and the example was at once followed by all the people around, and resulted in making an important addition to the comforts of the community. The late Hon. John Barr took somc pains to investigate the matter, and has left it on record that he was satisfied that this important discovery was due to Mr. -Coleman. Jacob Coleman, an uncle of William, and a soldier of the Revolution, who had served for several years in Colonel William A. Washington's celebrated regiment of horse, moved into Euclid in 1805, as did also John Ruple, long known as " Deacon " Ruple, who settled on the ground he had selected two years before, a little east of Nine Mile creek. He lived there throughout a long life, raising a large and respectable family. Of course the forest of gigantic trees of which the Old settlers speak with great admiration, was well supplied with such game as deer and bears, while an occasional panther gave an additional flavor of danger to the sports of the chase. Coon-hunting occupied a good deal of time, as it not only provided food when larger game was not attainable, but because coon-skins could be traded at some price to.the primitive merchants of Cleveland and Newburg for articles of indispensable necessity. But the particular pet of Euclid seems to have been the rattlesnake. All the old settlers ment on the great numbers of these reptiles to be found in early times in the ravines of the main ridge and among tbe rocks farther back. Deacon John Ruple at one time killed thirty-eight, counted them and piled them up in a heap, although the poison which the angry reptiles spit forth into the air made him so sick that he had no desire to repeat the work. Luther Dille had a similar experience near Collamer; killing forty-three, and becoming so sick that he had to go home and leave a number of the nest alive. Boys made it their particular business to kill rattlesnakes, and became so fearless in dealing with them that an urchin would frequently hold a live snake down with a forked stick, slip a noose made of bark over its neck, and drag it home to show to his friends before dispatching it. At other times they would shoot them with bows and arrows, and hold them up writhing on the points of their weapons. The people of Euclid brought with them their olden reverence for religion, and the first church in the present county of Cuyahoga was organized in that township in August, 1807, John Ruple being one of the -first deacons; but as the house of worship belonging to it was in what is now East Cleveland, a sketch of the church is given in the history of that township. Andrew McIlrath and his three sons-in-law Abraham Mattox, David Burnett and Abraham L. Norris— settled in 1807 near the line between the present townships of Euclid and East Cleveland. He remained there as long as he lived, but the others, after three years' residence, moved to the West. In 1808 Gad Cranney located himself on an old clearing near the lake shore, where he remained some fifteen years, when he, too, sought a new home in Indiana. The same year John Adams settled on the main road east of Euclid creek, where he remained some ten years, when he sold out to John Wilcox, who stayed there until quite a recent, period. In 1809 Abraham Bishop, of Washington county, New York, settled on the lot on the ridge formerly improved by John Morse. He was a man of some means, and brought with him a large assortment of plow-irons, chains, etc., all of which found a ready sale among the settlers. The next year he built a sawmill on the east branch of Euclid creek, on the site long occupied by Jonathan and Seth D. Pelton for- that purpose; that being the first mill of any kind in the present township of Euclid. We must not omit, in passing, to mention the first slaughter of a panther (by a white man) in the old township of Euclid, the victor being Deacon John Ruple, and the animal being a very fine specimen, measuring nine feet from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. We give the deacon the honor of this achievement on the authority of Mr. Coleman's manuscript before referred to, as he must certainly have known the facts. Mr. Andrew McIlrath is also credited with killing a panther about the same time, his only weapon being an axe. There seems to be somc confusion about the two anecdotes; possibly they both relate to the same incident, but on the whole it will probably be the safest to allow each of the gentlemen the glory of killing a panther. In the forepart of 1810 the civil township of Euclid was organized, embracing the survey township: of that name and also the townships on the Chagrin river, a large unoccupied tract on the south. The first town meeting was held on the 22d day of April, 1810, at the dwelling house of Walter Strong, when Timothy Doan acted as moderator, and David Dille and Abraham Bishop as judges of election. The following officers were elected: Trustees, Elisha Graham, David Dille, Thomas McIlrath; clerk; Lewis R. Dille; overseers of the poor, David Hendershot, Holley Tanner; fence-viewers, Seth Doan, James Lewis; appraiser, Nehemiah Dille; lister, Holley Tanner; treasurer, Abraham Bishop; constable, Nehemiah Dille; supervisor of highways— eastern district, James Covert; northern district, Holly Tanner; east middle district, Abraham Bishop; western district, John Shaw; southern district, Asa Dille; west middle district, Lewis R. Dille. Garrett and Benjamin Thorp settled respectively in 1810 and 1811, near the mouth of Euclid creek, though Benjamin soon moved to the western part of the township, now East Cleveland. When the war of 1812 broke out, the people of Euclid felt themselves to be in a particularly dangerous condition, exposed to assaults from the British armed vessels on the lake, and fearing possible raids from Indians by land. When the news came of Hull's EUCLID - 455 surrender, followed swiftly by the report that the British and Indians were making a murderous progress down the lake, the people hitched up their ox-sleds, loaded on their families and provisions and started eastward. They found the Chagrin river so swollen that they could not cross, and were in dire . distress over the extremely unpleasant prospect. William Coleman went twice to Cleveland to learn the latest news. On his second trip he learned that the supposed British-Indian army was only a part of Hull's surrendered forces. Ere long most of the Euclid people returned to their homes, and nearly all of them who were capable of bearing arms served at one time or another in defense of the frontier. When troops were stationed at Cleveland, a small picket of horsemen was generally maintained at Euclid creek, to give notice of any possible hostile movement from that direction. Just before the battle of Lake Erie, as related in the general history, a detachment landed from the British fleet and killed an ox supposed to have belonged to one of the McIlraths; but this was the only occasion of the kind, and the victory won by Perry and his men soon put an end to the alarms of the people. It was just before, or during the war that Dr. Havilla Farnsworth who had previously practiced at Newport, Rhode Island, settled on what is now known as the Priday farm, on the ridge, being the first physician in the present township. He had a large practice, both as physician and surgeon, for over twenty years; being frequently called on to go fifteen or twenty miles on horseback at night, with a guide, also on horseback, leading the way with a torch. Notwithstanding the war, occasional emigrants came in. Benjamin Day bought three hundred acres just west of the site of Nottingham, landing with his family the day before Perry's victory. His only surviving son, Dr. Robert Day, was then eight years old, and well remembers the dense forests which then covered that part of the township. Where Nottingham now is, there was only a path designated by marked trees and nearly all the settlers were on the main road, sometimes called the State road, or else down near the lake shore. Land was still cheap; in 1813 Luther Dille paid only three dollars per acre. In 1814 Jonathan Pelton purchased Abraham Bishop's farm and sawmill on Euclid creek (near the present stone quarries) and made his residence there. His son, Seth D. Pelton, now of Euclid creek, was then nineteen years old and his brother Joseph, who died in 1870, was twenty-one. John Bishop, brother of Abraham, lived at what is now Euclid village. Shortly afterward Paul P. Condit opened a tavern in a frame house on the main road, half a mile west of the locality last named. This was probably the first tavern kept in a framed house in the township. Abram Farr opened one at Euclid creek, shortly after Condit. By this time there was a small hamlet, called Euclid, situated where Collamer now is. which was the center of business (of which there was very little) for the township. Two miles northeast, of the main road was a still smaller cluster of houses, known as Euclid Creek, which has now assumed the name formerly assigned to the other village. Immediately after the war, Euclid began settling up with considerable rapidity, so many clearings making their appearance both on the flat land and on the ridge, that we cannot any longer attempt to designate the locations of the individual settlers. We give, however, the names, taken from the poll list, of all who voted in October, 1815; doubtless including those of nearly every voter in the old township. They are as follows: Timothy Doan, Wm. Coleman, David Hendershot, Nehemiah Dille, John Shaw, Seth Doan, -Jacob Coleman, James Strong, Asa Dille 2d, Amaziah Porter, John H. Strong, Levi Thomas, Thor. Barr, David Dille, Samuel Ruple, Samuel McIlrath, Jedediah Crocker, Samuel Dodge, J. Adams, A. Dille, Havilla Farnsworth, Francis K. Porter, Luther Dille, Enoch Murry, Benjamin Day, Abraham Bishop, Walter Strong, Samuel McIlrath, Abraham L. Morris, Jedediah D. Crocker, Parker Pelton, Samuel Crocker, Daniel S. Tyler, Joseph Pelton, Ezra B. Smith, Dennis Cooper, Calvin Dille, Abijah Crosby, Lewis R. Dille, Hugh Hamilton, Wm. Gray, Jas. Ruple-42. William Coleman was made the first postmaster in the township as early as 1815. In 1817 or '18 he built the first gristmill in the township on Euclid creek, and afterwards a sawmill. About 1820, or a little before, William Gray, who had been settled ten or twelve years at the mouth of Euclid creek, built works there for making stoneware, such as jugs, jars, etc. In 1823 he sold the works to J. & L. Marsilliott, whose advertisement appears in the Cleveland Herald of that year. They, or at least one of them — Leonard Marsilliott kept up the works about fifteen years; doing a large business for that era. He brought his clay from Springfield, Ohio, and burned seven or eight kilns every year; keeping five or six hands employed all the time. Mrs. Cushman, a daughter of William Coleman, who was born in 1819, and whose memory goes back to 1823, remembers that there was then at Euclid creek, a framed Baptist church, a framed schoolhouse and a block-house which had been built by a Mr. Randall. It was not until 1828, however, as appears by the records, that the trustees divided the township into school districts, forming nine districts which contained in all a hundred and eighty-three householders. Fortunately the names of all these are preserved on the township record; so that we are able to show pretty accurately the progress of settlement in the old township of Euclid at that time. They are as follows: District No. 1.-Aaron S. Bass, Austin H. Avery, Charles Moses, Nicholas Chinmark, Havilla Farnsworth, Abimel Dodge, William Gray, John Wilcox, Charles Andrews, Ezekiel St. John, Artemas Pringle, Amaziah Porter, John Sage, Absalom Van, Curtis 456 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF Ci.IYAHOGA COUNTY. Gould, William Coleman, Paul P. Condit, Nehemiah Dille, John F. Smith, David Dille, Dennis Cooper, John Young, Benjamin Hamilton, Peter Bower, - Lucas, — Hays, — Childs-28. District No. 2.—William Camp, John H. Camp, John West, John Ruple, John Hoagland, Samuel Ruple, Benj. Hoagland, John Stoner, Benj. S. Welch, Enoch Meeker, John Gardner, William Adams, John K. Hall, Nathaniel Woodruff, Myndert Wimple, Andrew McFarland, Elijah Burton, George R. Whitney, Sargent Currier, Alvin Hollister, Jesse Palmer, Jas. F. Palmer, Dr. Hotchkiss, Joseph King, Polydore King, Thomas Palmer, Peter Rush, Henry King, Mathias Rush, Moses Bond, Cyrus Ruple, Abram Histon, John Shaw, Elihu Rockwell-34. District No. 3.-Michael McIlrath, Hosea Blinn, James Corbus, Amos Stebbins, Joel Jones, Benjamin Jones, John Doan, Samuel Dodge, Daniel Bronson, Joseph Marshall, Andrew Mcllrath, Andrew McIlrath, Jr., Merritt Lindley, John Burt, Samuel E. Smith, Eli Williams, Seth. Doan, Thomas McIlrath, Stephen Peet, Jedediah Crocker, Lewis Stanislaus, Thomas Phillips--22. District No. 4.—Guy Lee, Thomas Curtis, John Welch, John Handee, Adonirani Peck, Jesse Cross, Jacob S. Dille, Richard Curtis, Clark Currier, Stephen B. Meeker, Abram Mattox, Jacob Compton, Elias Lee, Reynolds Cahoon, Asa Dille, Lewis R. Dille, Abel Handee-17. District No. 5.—Benjamin Sawtill, Benjamin Saw- till, Jr., A. D. Slaght, Cyrus Gilbert, Josephus Hendershott, John Allaton, Samuel Ruple 2d, Lawrence Ruple, Isaac Husong, Abner Heston, John Goulden, William Ruple, Samuel W. Dille, John Cowel-14. District No. 6.—William Hale, Thomas McIlrath, Jr., Samuel Mcllrath, Samuel Mcllrath 2d, Thaddeus Wright, Aaron Bunnel, James Johnston, Benjamin Day, Abijah Crosby, John Ruple 2d, Ezekiel Adams, John Adams--12. District No. 7.--Gad Cranney, Levi Thomas, Asa Dille 2d, Calvin Dille, Luther Dille, Leonard Marsilliot, Jason Crosier, Wakeman Penfield, Garrett Thorp, Jacob Coleman, Jacob Coleman, Jr., Abijah Coleman, Abraham 'Voorhees, Abraham Perry, Luther Crosier, — Johnston, Warren Andrews, Joseph Croninger, Peter Thorp, William Wright, Henry Ewers-21. District No. 8.-Henry Shipherd, Elihu Richmond, Asa Weston, Samuel Robbins, Omar Spring, William Richmond, Russell Benjamin, Asahel Payne, David Sprague, Virgil Spring, Edmund Richmond, Levi Richmond, George Weston. District No. 9.—John Smith, Michael Stewart Esther Aikins, John E. Aikins, Amasa Payne, Root House, William Treat, Amasa Babbitt, Thomas Gray, William Upson, John Cone, Abraham Bishop, James M. Strong, George Griffith, Stephen. White, Seth D. Pelton, Jonathan Pelton, Joseph Pel ton, Tracy Evans, Charles White, Robert Aikins--21 District No. 10.—Lawrence O'Connor, Alanson O'Connor, Jos. House, Jeremiah Shumway, Timothy Eddy, Ahaz Merchant, Benjamin Thorp, Andrew Stewart, John Moore, David Bunnel, Luther Woodworth, Ezra Fairfield, Cornelius Thorp, Isaac Page-- 14. It will, of course, be seen by this goodly list that Euclid was pretty well advanced in the way of settlement in 1828, and doubtless, the rattlesnakes had mostly by this time been frightened out of the locality. A stage route had been established along the main road between Cleveland and Buffalo, along which two-horse and four-horse teams went every day and both ways, and when emigration opened in the spring, the lake being still closed, it sometimes seemed as if the whole Eastern World was pouring along the great road to the Far West. During the next decade the old log houses of the pioneers were generally changed for framed ones, and notwithstanding the "hard times" of 1837, there was a marked improvement in the appearance of the township. About 1840, or a little before, Ruel House, Charles Moses and Captain Wm. Trist opened a ship-yard at the mouth of Euclid creek, which was maintained some ten years. They first devoted their energies to building canal-boats, the yard being on the west side of the creek. Ten or twelve were built in the course of four or five years. Then the yard was moved to the west side and the work of building schooners was engaged in. Six or seven were put afloat in the course of the next five years; the last and largest having a measurement of about three hundred tons. R. H. Strowbridge, who came in 1840, says that Abram Farr was still keeping tavern at Euclid creek, and there were three stores at that point; those of John Bishop, Chas. Farr and Nelson Moses. The township was still somewhat thickly settled in the southern part, adjoining Warrensville. Stone-quarries had recently been opened near the present ones on Euclid creek, by James Hendershot, Madison Sherman and ____ Husong, but were not worked much. Madison Sherman had the first mill for cutting stone. We have now passed through the more interesting part of the township's life, the era of its transmutation from a wilderness into an agricultural community, and must proceed with greater speed over the remaining portion. In 1847 the western part of Euclid was annexed to the newly formed township of East Cleveland, reducing the former to its present limits. By 1850 the township was well settled in all its parts, though still showing some of the marks of newness and roughness. In 1852 the opening of the Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula railroad (since become a part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern road) extending for five miles and a half through the present township of Euclid, gave it still greater similarity to an old settled country. By 1860 the transient observer would never have guessed that only forty years before EUCLID - 457 Euclid was the congenial home of the deer, the bear, the wolf and the deadly rattlesnake. All wore the appearance of smiling repose and unbounded plenty. But treason and slavery, more deadly foes than wolf or rattlesnake, were about to assail the country, and Euclid, like all the rest of the land, was obliged to send forth her gallant sons to defend the nation's life. The records of both their deeds and their names will be found with their respective regiments in the general history of the county. Since the war more changes have been carried out in Euclid than in almost any other township in the county. Grape-culture has become a very important industry. It was. begun in a small way near Collamer about 1855, but did not attain much consequence until after the war. We are indebted for some facts regarding it to Mr. Louis Harris, one of the largest grape- growers in the township. Mr. Harris was the first man who planted a vineyard on Put-in-Bay island, but becoming satisfied that Euclid was a much superior locality for that purpose he removed thither. He has no hesitation in saying that that is the best locality for Delaware grapes in the whole State of Ohio. It requires three years for a vineyard to get into bearing order. There has been but one year in the history of Euclid grape-culture, in which vineyards of that age or older did not bear. There are about two hundred and twenty acres of vineyards in the township, devoted to Concord, Catawba, Delaware, Martha, Ives, Diana and Hartford Prolific grapes; the Concords and Catawbas being the principal varieties raised. The Concords produce about three tons per acre, the Catawbas two tons, the Delawares two, the Marthas two, the Dianas two and a half, the Ives four, and the Hartford Prolifics no less than five tons per acre. An especially good characteristic of the Euclid vineyards is the fact that the vines require no protection during the winter; the slatestone of the soil producing strong hardy wood for the vines, impervious to all the winds that blow on lake or land. The poorest soil for grain is the best for grapes. Land which, as Mr. Harris said, would not raise wheat enough to feed the grasshoppers, has produced 'good crops of grapes for ten years in succession. The principal market is found in Cleveland, but large quantities are shipped to Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville. Besides the grapes sold in bulk, considerable quantities are made into wine by Mr. Harris and others in Euclid, and thence sent away for sale. The stone business, too, has become an important one within the last twelve years. The quarries worked forty years ago had been substantially abandoned, on account of the supposed impracticability of competing with the Berea stone. In 1867, however, Mr. Duncan McFarland opened a quarry on Euclid creek, not far from the old ones, and since then the business has rapidly increased in consequence. James and Thomas McFarland opened the first quarry on the west side of the creek in 1871. In 1875 they sold out to the Forest City Stone Company, opened a quarry on the east side and built a mill for cutting the stone into slabs. They now run three gangs of saws and employ about fifteen hands, mostly in producing flagging stone, though some building stone, etc., is quarried. The Forest City Stone Company employ twenty- five men, and are doing a very extensive business. Their mill is in Cleveland. Maxwell Brothers (now McBride, Maxwell & Malone) opened a quarry and built a very large mill on Nine Mile Creek in 1873. They run six gangs of saws, with about twenty men. They use Ingersoll's steam drill, carrying steam eleven hundred feet into the quarry for that purpose, and thus driving the drill twenty inches into the solid rock in three minutes. There is also a steam-mill, for sawing stone, at Nottingham, built and owned by Slosson & Meeker. It has four gangs of saws, principally employed in cutting flagging stone. The village once known as East Euclid, or Euclid Creek, but now more properly designated as Euclid, contains one church, a fine school-house, two stores, one hotel, one steam basket-factory, one wagon shop, one shoe-shop, two blacksmith shops, and about thirty houses. It has not grown very rapidly of late, finding a rival in Nottingham, another small village which has grown up since 1852 on the Lake Shore railroad, three-fourths of a mile to the northward. The latter has two stores, one wagon-shop, one feed- mill, one stone-mill, one shoe-shop, two blacksmith- shops, and also about thirty houses. Nearly the whole of Euclid township was incorporated "for special purposes," under the laws of Ohio, in April, 1877, when L. B. Smith, William Robbins and Louis Harms were elected trustees, and J. Day was appointed clerk. In April, 1878, L. B. Smith was re-elected for three years. But the corporate existence of Euclid was very brief, for at the election in October, 1878, the people voted to surrender their corporate privileges, and revert to the rural condition of their forefathers. There is a commodious town-hall, built of brick, situated at Euclid village. In the south part of the township there is a framed building called Temperance Hall. It was built in 1877 by subscription, and is used for meetings of various kinds, especially for those of Cliff Division, No. 98, of the Sons of Temperance. The division was organized in August of that year and contains about fifty members. A part of the village of Collinwood, which has grown up since the war, on the Lake Shore railroad, is also in Euclid; the main street of the village being the line between that township and East Cleveland. As, however, the greater part of the village is in East Cleveland, it will be more fully described in the history of that township. 458 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY, EUCLID BAPTIST CHURCH.* On the 27th day of April, 1820, six brethren and five sisters were recognized by a council, duly called, as the regular Baptist church of Euclid. Luther Dille was the first deacon. Of those eleven members none remain alive; Calvin Dille, who died in 1875, being the last survivor. Previous to the date first given there had for several years been Baptist preaching in Euclid by Elder Goodell and others, but no church organization. Elder Azariah Hanks, whose wife was one of the constituent members, united by letter at the first meeting of the church, became its pastor, and continued so for about four years. His labors during the first year were singularly successful, no less than forty-three persons, besides the eleven constituent members, uniting by baptism, and eight by letter, during the remaining eight months of 1824. Ten united on the 3d of June following the organization, of whom Deacon Seth D. Paton is the only survivor, being the oldest living member of the church. In September of that year Elder Hanks, Deacon Dille and Mr. Libbey were sent as delegates to request the admission of the church into the Grand River Association and to represent it when admitted. It was so admitted, and (except during two years when it belonged to Huron association) remained in the Grand River body until 1834, when it entered the Rocky River association, of which it has ever since been a member. The jurisdiction of the church seems to have extended over a goodly portion of the Western Reserve, meetings being held at East Euclid, at Newburg, frequently at Chagrin river, and sometimes at S. D. Pelton's residence on the ridge, near the site of the stone quarries. But the principal headquarters of the church were at Euclid creek, and there in January, 1821, the members voted to build "a framed house of worship on land given by John Wilcox, thirty feet square, with posts fifteen feet long, a gallery in front of the desk, ten feet wide, two doors opposite the desk, two aisles and thirty-six pews on 'the lower floor." It was first voted that the pews should be sold for twelve dollars each; afterwards that they should be sold at auction, "twenty per cent. to be paid in ashes in advance, and the balance by the first of January next in grain." Wheat was then $1, rye 75 cents and corn 50 cents per bushel. Nothing could more clearly show the scarcity of money and the primitive customs of those times than this extract. John Wilcox, Wm. Treat and S. D. Pelton were the building committee, and the structure is believed to have been erected during the ensuing year. In 1822 the church employed Elder Hanks as pastor two- thirds of the time for two hundred bushels of wheat. The next year, becoming more wealthy, they voted to pay him three hundred bushels per year, apparently for the whole of his time. *Condensed from printed sketch by Rev. S. B. Webster. No subsequent year has been so fruitful in conversions as the first one of Elder Hanks' pastorate. The church maintained its original strength, but did not greatly increase in numbers. In 1838 Solomon Dimick was the pastor, and during that year seventeen were added to the church. Twenty-eight were baptized in 1843, under the labors of Elder Crocket, though apparently there was no regular pastor at that time. The church was incorporated, under a special act of the legislature, on the 12th of March, 1844, doubtless preparatory to the erection of a new house of worship. The latter was begun in 1845, being, like the former one, erected on land donated by John Wilcox. It was to be of brick, about thirty-six feet by forty-eight, and the trustees were to finish it "as fast as the church furnish funds." This was slow work; the time for payment in ashes and wheat was passed, but cash was still hard to obtain, and the house was so long in building that it was used for several years in an unfinished state, and was never formally dedicated. It was, however, at last completed, and has been occupied by the church to the present time. During the latter part of its existence, the church has maintained the same moderate degree of prosperity which had previously distinguished it. In 1846, under the pastorate of Elder Wilder, twenty- five were added by baptism, and, in 1849, under Elder Andrews, ten were expelled from the church. In 1864, when Elder Phillips was the minister, there were twenty-three baptized, but this large increase was succeeded by ten absolutely barren years, reaching from 1865 to 1875, in which there was not a single addition to the membership. There are now a little over fifty members, almost exactly the same as there were at the end of the first year of the church's history. The present officers are as follows: Pastor, S. B. Webster; deacons, S. D. Pelton, John Aiken; clerk, J. S. Charles; trustees, Henry Priday, L. J. Neville, S. S. Langshare; clerk of society, Warren Gardner. ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION (GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN). In 1845, and the following years, a few German families settled in the southern part of Euclid and the southeastern part of East Cleveland townships. In 1852 these people, then comprising about twelve families, though as yet unorganized, bought an acre of land near the old stone school-house, on the State road, on which they erected a small framed building for a meeting-house and school-house. In 1853 they formed themselves into a church, with the title above given, and called Rev. H. Kuehn to the pastorate. The next year they bought ten and it half acres more of land adjoining their former purchase, and in 1854 they built a residence for the pastor upon it. By 1860 the congregation had increased to about twenty families, and in that year the Rev. Mr. Kuehn EUCLID - 459 was succeeded by Rev. A. Ernst. In 1862 the present large and convenient church edifice was erected, the old one being thenceforth used only as a school-house. The next year Mr. Ernst was succeeded by Rev. F. W. Husmann, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who has ever since acted as the pastor. From that time to the present the church has steadily increased, there being now fifty families with over three hundred members. The school has always been an object of -anxious solicitude to the congregation, religious instruction being carefully inculcated in it, besides the ordinary branches of education, and German and English reading and writing. The pastors themselves taught the school until about four years ago, when, owing to the increased numbers of both church and school, a separate teacher was employed, Mr. H. Lassner having since acted in that capacity. The deacons and trustees are as follows: Ernest Klaustermeier, Ernest Moldrer and Fr. Moldrer, of Euclid; Fr. Rolf and Henry Dremann, of East Cleveland, and Henry Klaustermeier, of Mayfield. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NOTTINGHAM. This church was organized about 1870, and, although there were but twelve or thirteen members, yet their zeal was such that they built a framed house of worship immediately after the organization. The Rev. Franklin McGinniss supplied the pulpit for about two years. Since then Rev. M. A. Sackett has performed the same duty, although the weakness of the congregation has prevented it from sustaining constant services. ST. PAUL'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH. This church was organized in the spring of 1861, the church edifice, situated between Nottingham and Euclid village, being completed in November of that year. Rev. Edward Harman was the first pastor, but did not reside in the township. He was succeeded in 1863 by Rev. Francis Salenn, and he in 1865 by Rev. Anthony Martin, the first resident pastor, who has ever since occupied that position. The same year a parsonage and a cemetery were purchased, and in 1867 a parochial school was established. St. Joseph Cbapel, Collin wood, was separately organized in 1877, but is under the care of the same pastor. St. Paul's church now includes about seventy families, and fifty children attend its parochial school. PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 1810. Trustees, Elisha Graham, David Dille, Thomas Mcllrath; clerk, Lewis R. Dille; overseers of the poor, Daniel Hendershot, Holley Tanner; appraiser. Nehemiah Dille; lister, Holley Tanner. 1811. Not recorded. 1812. Trustees, Samuel Dodge, Abraham Bishop, Christopher Colson; clerk. L. R. Dille; treasurer, A. Bishop; appraiser, A. Bisbop; lister, Nehemiah Dille; overseers of the poor, Elias Lee, John Adams. 1813. Trustees, Elias Lee, Jedediah Crocker, Dan Hudson; clerk, Wiltiam Coleman; appraiser, ,lames Strong: lister, Wilham Smith; overseers of the poor, David Dille, Elisha Graham. 1814. Trustees, Seth Doan, Nehemiah. Dille, James Strong; clerk, Wiltiam Coleman; treasurer, David Dille; appraiser, John Bishop; lister, David Bunnerl; overseer of the poor, John Shaw. 1815. Trustees, S. Doan, N. Dille, J. Strong; clerk, Wm. Coleman; treasurer, Enoch Murray; lister, Samuel Mcllrath; appraiser, A. Ditle; overseers of the poor, E. Murray, Luther Dille. 1816. Trustees, Samuel Mcllrath, Nehemiah Dille, James Strong; clerk, Luther Dille ; treasurer, Enoch Murray ; appraiser, Aaron Cooper; lister, S. Ruple; overseers of the poor, John Shaw, John Ruple. 1817. Trustees, Seth Doan, John Ruple, Thomas Gray; clerk, Luther Dille; treasurer, Enoch Murray; appraiser, Parker Pelton; lister, Anson Cooper; overseers of the poor, Enoch Murray, James Strong. 1818. Trustees, John Ruple, Enoch Murray, John Wilcox; clerk, Wrn. M. Camp; treasurer, David Dille; appraiser, Parker Pelton; lister, Paul P. Condit; overseers of the poor, Dennis Cooper, Calvin Dille. 1819. Trustees, J. Shaw, Elihu Richmond, Abijah Crosby; clerk, Wm. M. Camp; treasurer, Samuel W. Dille; lister, P. P. Condit; overseers of the poor, Samuel Mcllrath, Asa Weston. 1820. Trustees, John Shaw, Elihu Richmond, Wm. Case; clerk, Wm. M. Camp; treasurer, Alex. Mcllrath; appraiser, Timothy Doan; lister, P. P. Condit ; overseers of the poor, Robert Young, Timothy Doan. 1821. Trustees, John Shaw, Timothy Doan, John Aikens; clerk, Wm. M. Camp; treasurer, A. Mcllrath; appraiser, Benjamin S. Welch; lister, John Sage; overseers of poor, Seth Doan, Wm. Coleman. 1822. Trustees, Ahaz Merchant, Nehemiah Doan, Asa Weston; cterk, Alvin Hollister; treasurer, Samuel Ruple; appraiser, B. S. Welch; lister, P. P. Condit; overseers of poor, A. Mcllrath, S. Ruple, 1823. Trustees, Wm. M. Camp, Ahaz Merchant, Benj. Jones; clerk, Alvin Hollister; treasurer, Samuel Ruple ; appraiser, B. S. Welch; lister, Joel Randall; overseers of poor, J. D. Crocker, Wrn. Gray. 1824. Trustees, Ahaz Merchant, John Wilcox, Samuel Ruple; clerk, Dennis Cooper; treasurer, Timothy Dean; appraiser, Andrew Race; rister, Joel Randall; overseers of poor, Benj. Jones, Reuel House. 1825. Trustees, John Wilcox, Samuel Ruple. John Shaw; clerk, Dennis Cooper; treasurer, Timothy Doan; appraiser, B. S. Welch; lister, P. P. Condit; overseers of poor, Peter Rush, Joseph King. 1826. Trustees, John Wilcox, John Shaw, S. D. Pelton; clerk, Dennis Cooper; overseers of poor, Elijah Burton, John Stoner. 1827. Trustees, Seth D. Pelton, John Doan, Peter Rush; clerk, Dennis Cooper; treasurer, Timothy Doan; overseers of poor, N ehemiah Dille, William Coleman. 1828. Trustees, John Shaw, S. D. Pelton, Peter Rush; clerk, Dennis Cooper; treasurer, Elihu Rockwell; overseers of poor, Benjamin Jones, John Smith. 1829. Trustees, John Cone, Samuel Mcllrath, Peter Rush; clerk, John Wilcox; treasurer, Elihu Rockwell; overseers of poor, Elihu Richmond, Asa Weston. 1830. Trustees, John Cane, Samuel Mcllrath, Abraham D. Slaght; clerk, John Wilcox; treasurer, John Stoner; overseers of poor, Gad Cranney, Jeremiah Shumway. 1831. Trustees, Abraham E. Slaght, John Smith, M. S. Mcllrath; clerk, Sargent Currier; treasurer, John Stoner; overseers of poor, William Coleman, Samuel Dodge. 1832. Trustees, Micbael S. Mcllrath, Wakeman Penfield, John Welch; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, John Stoner; overseers of poor, Samuel Ruple, Timothy Doan. 1833. Trustees, M. S. McIlrath, John Wilcox, William Upson; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, Alvin Hollister; overseers of poor, John Wilcox, A. S. Bliss. 1834. Trustees, John Wilcox, William Treat, Casper Hendershot; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, A. Hollister; overseers of poor, P. P. Condit, Abraham Farr. 1835. Trustees, William Treat, Casper Hendershot, John Stoner; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, P. P. Condit; overseers of poor, John Welch, Dennis Cooper. 1836. Trustees, William Treat, Casper Hendershot, John Stoner; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, P. P. Condir, ; overseers of poor, Dennis Cooper, John Wilcox. 1837. Trustees, Casper Hendershot, William Nott, Merrick Lindley; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, P. P. Condit; overseers of poor, John Welch, Dennis Cooper. 1833. Trustees, Casper Hendershot, William Nott, John Welch; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, Paul P. Condit; overseers of poor, John Welch, Dennis Cooper. 1839. Trustees, John Welch, S. D. Pelton, Jobn Doan; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, Sargent Currier; overseers of the poor, Dennis Cooper, William Hale. 1840. Trustees, S. D. Pelton, John Doan, Hiram Mcllrath; clerk, John Wilcox; treasurer, Sargent Currier; overseers of the poor, Samuel McIlrath, Wm. Hale. 1841. Trustees, Hiram Mcllrath, John D. Stillman, Henry Shipherd; clerk, John Wilcox; treasurer, Myndert Wimpte. 1842. Trustees, Hiram Mcllrath, S. D. Pelton, John Welch; clerk, Henry Shipherd; treasurer. Myndert Wimple; overseers of the poor, Thomas McIlrath, Wm. Hale. 1843. Trustees, Hiram Mcllrath, John Welch, William Treat; clerk, John Sage; treasurer, Johnson Ogram; overseers of the poor, John A. Hale, A. Crosby. 460 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. 1844. Trustees, S. D. Pelton, Benj. B. Beers, Virgil Spring; clerk, John Wilcox; overseers of the poor, Thos. Mcllrath, Anson Aiken; assessor, Samuel A. Mcllrath. 1845. Trustees, S. D. Pelton, Benj. B. Beers, Virgil Spring; clerk, John Wilcox; overseers of the poor, Thos. Mcllrath, Anson Aiken; assessor, Samuel A. Mcllrath. 1845. Trustees, B. B. Beers, Virgil Spring, Anson Aiken: clerk, M. W. Bartlett; overseers of the poor, Thos. Mcllrath, Anson Aiken; assessor, Benj. Hoagland. 1846. Trustees, B. B. Beers, Virgil Spring, Anson Arken; clerk, M. W. Bartlett; overseer of the poor, R. S. Mcllrath; assessor, J. Wilcox. 1847. Trustees, Anson Aiken, Virgil Spring, Joseph Pelton; clerk, 31. W. Bartlett; overseer of the poor, R. S. Mcllrath; assessor, B. B. Beers. 1848. Trustees, Joseph Polton, Wm. West, Wrn. Treat; clerk, T. T. White; overseer of the poor, R. S. Mcllrath; assessor, John Wilcox. 1849. Trustees, Wm. West, Wm. Treat, Joseph Pelton; clerk, Aaron Thorp; overseer of the poor, John Wilcox; assessor, Henry Shipherd. 1850. Trustees, Wm. Treat, Joseph Pelton, J. L. Aldrich; clerk, Aaron Thorp; overseer of the poor, Anson Aiken; assessor, Henry Shipherd. 1851. Trustees, Wm. Treat, Virgil Spring, Jonathan Parr; clerk, Chas. Farr; overseer of the poor, Anson Aiken; assessor, M. W. Bartlett. 1852. Trustees, Jonathan Parr, Virgil Spring, M. Dille; clerk, Chas. Farr; treasurer, Chas. Moses; assessor, B. W. Bartlett. 1853. Trustees, Jonathan Parr, Joseph Pelton, Wm. Treat; clerk, Chas. Farr; treasurer, Chas. Moses; assessor, M. W. Bartlett. 1854. Trustees, Jonathan Parr, Joseph Pelton, Wm. Treat; clerk, Chas Farr; treasurer, Chas. Farr; assessor, Jefferson Gray. 1855. Trustees, Virgil Spring, H. M. Eddy, C. S. White; clerk, Aaron Thorp; treasurer, Nelson Moses; assessor, Jefferson Gray. 1856. Trustees, Virgil Spring, H. M. Eddy, Joseph Pelton; clerk, Aaron Thorp; treasurer, Chas. Moses; assessor, Jefferson Gray. 1857. Trustees, Virgil Spring, Jos. Pelton, C. O. White; clerk, S. W. Dille; treasurer, Chas. Farr; assessor, H. Cushman. 1858. Trustees, C. S. White, Jos. Pelton, Wells Minor; clerk, S. W. Dille; treasurer, Chas. Moses; assessor, Jeff. Gray. 1859. Trustees, C. S. White, Jos. Pelton, Wells Minor; clerk, S. W. Dille; treasurer, Nelson Moses; assessor, Jeff. Gray. 1860. Trustees, C. S. White, Geo. Rathburn, John Wilcox, Jr.; clerk, Henry Moses; treasurer, Nelson Moses; assessor, Jeff. Gray. 1861. Trustees, C. S. White, Geo. Rathburn, Jas. Eddy; clerk, S. W. Dille; treasurer, Nelson Moses; assessor, H. Cushman. 1862. Trustees, C. S. White, Jas. Eddy, Wm. Marshall; clerk, S. W. Dille; treasurer, Nelson Moses; assessor, Benj. Hoagland. 1863. Trustees; Chas. Moses, Jas. Eddy, Wm. Marshall; clerk, S. W. Dille; treasurer, Chas. Farr; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1864. Trustees, Chas. Moses, James Eddy, Wm. Marshall; clerk, E. J, Hulbert; treasurer, C. W. Moses; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1865. Trustees, C. S. White, G. W. Woodworth, L. B. Dille; clerk, S. \V. Dille; treasurer, C. W. Moses; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1866. Trustees, C. S. White, G. W. Woodworth, Wells Minor; clerk, S. AV. Dille; treasurer, C. W. Moses; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1867. Trustees, Wells Minor, A. B. Dille, David Waters; clerk, A. C. Stevens; treasurer, C. W. Moses; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1868. Trustees, Wells Minor, David Waters, C. S. White: clerk, E. P. Haskell; treasurer, C. W. Muses; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1869. Trustees, Wells Minor, David Waters, Wm. Gaylord; clerk, E. P. Haskell ; treasurer, C. W. Moses; assessor', Morris Porter. 1870. Trustees, Wells Minor, David Waters, Ernest Melchor; clerk, E. P. Haskell; treasurer, C. W. Moses; assessor, Morris Porter. 1871. Trustees, Wells Minor, David Waters, Ernest Melchor; clerk, A. S. Jones; treasurer, L. J. Neville; assessor, S. Woodmansee. 1872. Trustees, David Waters, Ernest Melchor, H. M. Eddy; clerk, L. .1. Neville; treasurer, Morris Porter; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. 1873. Trustees, David Waters, Ernest Melchor. H. M. Eddy; clerk, Joseph Day; treasurer, Morris Porter; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. 1874 Trustee, H. 31. Eddy, Ernest Melchor, S. Woodmansee; clerk, W. W. Dille; treasurer, Morris Porter; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. 1875, Trustees, Ernest Melchor, David Waters, S. Woodmansee; clerk, Jos. Day; treasurer, Morris Porter; assessor, Lucius Smith. 1876. Trustees, Ernest Melchor, David Waters, H. M. Eddy; clerk, Joe. Day; treasurer, A. C. Gardner.; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. 1877. Trustees, H. )1. Eddy, Geo. Smilh, Justice Shaffer; clerk, E. P. Haskell; treasurer, A. C. Gardner; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. 1878. Trustees, David Waters, George Smith, Justice Shaffer; clerk, Stephen White; treasurer, E. D. Pelton; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. 1879. Trustees, Justice Shaffer, George W. Smith, William Marshall; clerk, S. White; treasurer, E. D. Pelton; assessor, S. S. Armstrong. CHAPTER LXXVI. 1NDEPENDENCE.* Boundaries and Physical Features-The Pioneers-George Comstock- The Mortons-Frazee and Dickson- Z. Hathaway-Fisher and Brower. Cochrain, Miner and others-John I. Harper-Rail McArthur--West of the River-The Skinner Family-Abraham Garfield-Resident Land Owners in 1843--Civil Organization-First Officers -Principal Officers-Roads-Canal and Railroad-Mills and Manufactures-Cleveland Acid Works-The Quarries-Kinzer Quarry-Hurst Quarry-Other Quarries -Independence Village - Post Offices-Physicians-Hotels-TradeSchools-Religious Societies- Presbyterian Church-Evangelical Association-St. John's Lutheran Church-St. Michaells Church. INDEPENDENCE 18 described in the original survey as Township C, range 12. It is hounded by Brooklyn and Newburg on the north; by Bedford on the east; by Brecksville and a small part of Summit county on the south, and by Parma on the west. The Cuyahoga river, flowing from a southeasterly direction, divides the township into two unequal parts; nearly two- thirds of the area lying west of that stream. Excepting the valley of the Cuyahoga., the average width of which is about half a mile, the surface of Independence presents an elevated and broken appearance, although small level plateaus abound. Sandstone and blue-stone of excellent quality generally underlie the soil, and sometimes manifest themselves in bare ledges. The soil is generally fertile and appears to be well adapted for mixed husbandry. Besides the Cuyahoga, the streams of the township are Tinker's creek, flowing from the east; Hemlock creek, near the center, flowing from the west, and some small brooks in the northwestern part. The latter have deep channels, often forming gorges the steep sides of which bear a stunted growth of evergreens and present a picturesque appearance. Numerous springs abound, and the natural drainage is usually sufficient to render the soil tillable. PIONEER SETTLERS. The eastern part of the township was surveyed as early as 1808, and there, along Tinker's creek, the first settlements were made a few years later, probably in 1811, although the tune and place cannot be exactly determined, as the earliest pioneers did not remain long in the township. To a more permanent class of settlers belonged George and Mercy Comstock, who came about 1812, and made their home on lot seven of tract four, where they resided during their lives.. They had three sons: Peter, who lived on the place next east; George, whose home was on the present farm of William Honeywell, and Fitch, who remained on the old homestead. Another Comstock family settled on lot two about the same time, where the head of it died in 1815, leaving several sons, two of whom were named Fitch and Joseph. On tract four, lot four, lived Daniel Comstock as early as 1813, who died there, leaving three sons, Albert, Stephen and Leonard, all of whom moved away. In the Comstock neighborhood Samuel Wood was one of the earliest settlers, rearing two sons, Silas and * The story of the temporary residence of the Moravian Indians in this township is told on pages thirty-three to thirty-five of the general history. INDEPENDENCE - 461 Harry, the latter of whom is yet living in Northfield. About the same time (the early part of 1813) Lewis Johnson, a blacksmith, located in that settlement. He had a large family; one son only by the name of Thomas is remembered. Philander Ballou lived on the south side of Tinker's creek near its mouth, about the same period. In the valley of that creek came among the early pioneers, Daniel Chase and Clark Morton. One of the daughters of the latter was drowned while crossing the Cuyahoga in a canoe. He had two sons named Daniel and Silas. There were other Mortons, living in the township about this period, viz:. Thomas, Samuel and William. William King was among the first to-come to Independence. He lived on tract four a number of years, and then disappeared mysteriously. In the southeastern corner of the township Stephen Frazee and James Dickson settled soon after 1812, and for many years were among the prominent pioneers. In the valley of Tinker's creek Asa and Horace Hungerford were also leading citizens at an early day. Farther north, on the old State road, Zephaniah Hathaway, a Vermonter, settled in 1816, and resided there until his death, at more than. ninety years of age. He had two sons named Alden and Zephaniah, who also remained in that locality. The sons of the former were Lafayette, William, Rodney and Edwin; those of the latter were James and Milo; most of these yet live in that neighborhood. On the same road Jonathan Fisher, another Vermonter, settled in 1816, living on the place now occupied by his grandson, Lloyd Fisher. North of Fisher, Elisha Brower set- led about 1817, but soon afterward died, leaving four sons named John, David Pinckney, Daniel and William. Still farther north, near the Newburg line, lived a man named Ives, who died in 1819. He had a son named Erastus. David Skinner was an early settler in the same neighborhood. In the northern part of the township, near the river, settlements were made about 1813 by the Cochrain, Miner, Brockway and Paine families. One of the sons of the first-named family, Marvin, became a prominent citizen of the township. William Green came from Brecksville in 1817, and settled on the Fosdick place. He had five sons named Harvey, Elijah, Jeremiah, Herod and Frederick, and several daughters, one of whom, Emily, became Mrs. Fosdick. Farther up the river John Westfall, a shoemaker, settled the same year. In 1823 he sold out to Smith Towner and his son, D. I). Towner. A son of the latter, Clark Towner, now occupies the place. In 1810 John I., Archibald and William Harper, sons of Colonel John Harper a celebrated Revolutionary soldier who lived in Delaware county, New York, came to Ashtabula county, in this State, and in 1816 John I. emigrated from there to Independence, settling on tract two, near where the canal now runs, where he died in August, 1849. He reared two sons, Erastus R., who yet lives on the homestead; De Witt C., who moved to Michigan; and three daughters, one of whom married H. G. Edwards,. of Newburg. John Maxwell, a boy indentured to J. I. Harper, moved to Galena, Illinois, after he had attained manhood, and while discharging his duties as sheriff was killed by a man whom he attempted to arrest. East of the Harper place a man named Case settled about 1814; a few years later he met his death at a raising at Peter Comstock's. He had four sons, named Chauncey, Asahel, Harrison and . Samuel Roberts was a squatter on the present Omar place, selling out in 1825 to Nathaniel P. Fletcher, who moved, after 1833, to Oberlin, and there helped to found Oberlin College. Farther south Ephraim S. Bailey and John Rorabeck made settlements before 1816. The latter had served in the war of 1812. Colonel Rial McArthur became a resident of the township in 1833, but returned to Portage county in 1844. He was the surveyor of the eastern part of Independence in 1808, and attained the rank of colonel in the war of 1812. In 1810 John Wightman became a resident of Cleveland, living there until his death, in 1837. His daughter, Deborah L., became the wife of William H. Knapp, who settled in Independence in 1833, and both are yet living on the place they then occupied. West of the Cuyahoga the land was not offered for settlement early, and but few families found homes there prior to 1825. In the northern part Ichabod L. Skinner settled as early as 1818. He reared three sons, named Gates, Prentice and David P. The latter was murdered at his home a little south of the present acid works. On the road south of Skinner, Abraham Garfield, father of Hon. James A. Garfield, lived a few years prior to 1820; and in the same neighborhood was Caleb Boynton, who died there in 1821; leaving four sons, Amos, Nathan, William and Jeremiah. Other settlers on the west side were William Currier, John Darrow, Jasper Fuller and Jaud Fuller. In 1843 the resident land owners in this part of the township were the following: Conrad Schaff, Peter E: Swartz, Joseph Beichelmeyer, Sanford Foot, Ichabod L. Skinner, J. L. Skinner, John Walsh, Henry Wood, Hiram Pratt, John T. Gaw, Joseph Rose, David Yost, Martin Dirrer, L. Stewart, Peter Young, Jacob Walters, Nelson Loud, Benj. Wood, Moses Usher, Elijah Danser, David Barney, Harvey Green, John Foltz, Wm. Bushnell, Wm. Buskirk, Wm. Walter, John Shearer, John Schneider, Nathaniel Wyatt, Mathew Bramley, James Miller, S. M. Dille, David Stewart, H. Orth, Alvah Darron, Authon Gaw, Andrew Hartmiller, M. Sherman, Abraham Gable, Daniel Alt, Peter P. Crumb, Elihu Hollister, Amos Newland, E. Clark, Wm. Ring, Elisha Brooks, Wm. Currier, Elijah Green, Jacob Foltz, Jacob Froelich, Mathias Froelich, John Froelich, Samuel Hayden, John Leonard, L. Wright, John 462 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. Wolf, John Derr, J. Green, A. Newland, Thomas Cook, James Martin, Wm. G. Adams, Asa Hungerford, Ezra Fuller, John Needham, Rufus Johnson, Philip Gardner, Joseph Cunningham, Mathew Barker, Nathaniel Stafford, Robert Cook, Wm. Van Noate, Jacob Warner, Jasper Fuller, John Moses, J. F. Leonard, Mathew Gardner, Ezra Brewster, Jeremiah Gowdy, Lewis Kohl. On the east side of the river the land owners in that year were as follows: Jacob Krapht, Joseph Miller, Marvin Cochrain, David D. Towner, Jonathan Fisher, Findley Strong, Zephaniah Hathaway, E. Gleason, H. G. Edwards, Abram Wyatt, G. Richmond, Wm. Giles, Moses Gleeson, William Gleeson, Roger Comstock, Wm. Green, Waterman Ells, Alfred Fisher, John I. Harper, Silas A. Hathaway, E. R. Harper, Benj. Fisher, Samuel Hinkley, L. Campbell, Allen Robinette, Horace Hungerford, Stephen Frazee, Rial McArthur. CIVIL ORGANIZATION. The records of the township from its organization till 1834 have been destroyed by fire. In that year the election for township officers resulted as follows: Trustees, John I. Harper, J. L. M. Brown, Marvin Cochrain; clerk, William H. Knapp; treasurer, Jonathan Fisher; constables, Orange McArthur, Jonathan Frazee; overseers of the poor, Enoch Scovill, William Green; fence viewers, Alvah Darrow, Nathaniel Wyatt. The number of votes polled was seventy-one. Enoch Jewett, Stephen Frazee and S. A, Hathaway were the judges of the election, and Geo. Comstock and Alvah Darrow served as clerks. On the 2nd of August, 1834, an election for justice of the peace was held at the house of William H. Knapp, when David D. Towner received forty-one votes, Wm. II. Knapp sixteen, and Stephen Frazee, nine. Since 1834 the principal officers have been as follows: 1835. Trustees, Alvah Darrow, Jr., J. Zephaniah Hathaway, Jasper Fuller; clerk, Alfred Fisher; treasurer, Jonathan Fisher. 1836. Trustees, Enos Hawkins, Zephaniah Hathaway, Jasper Fuller; clerk, Alfred Fisher; treasurer, D. D. Towner, 1837. Trustees, Elihu Hollister, John I. Harper, John Rowan; clerk, Alfred Fisher; treasurer. D. D. Towner. 1838. Trustees, Alfred Fisher, Enoch Scovill, Samuel Durand; clerk, Wm. H. Knapp; treasurer, D. D. Towner. 1839 Trustees, Alfred Fisher, Wm. Buskirk, Samuel Durand; clerk, Harry McArthur; treasurer, D. D. Towner. 1840. Trustees, Marvin Cochrain, John Phillips, Wm. F. Bushnell; clerk, Wrn, H. Knapp; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1841. Trustees. Alfred Fisher, Daniel E. Williams, Elias M. Gleeson; clerk, Harry McArthur; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1842. Trustees, Finlay Strong Wm. Van Noate, Isaac Packard; clerk, Harry McArthur; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1843. Trustees, Jonathan Fisher, Alvah Darrow, Wm. F. Bushnell; clerk, Harry McArthur; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1844. Trustees, Jonathan Fisher, Alvah Darrow, Wm. F. Bushnell; clerk, Harry McArthur; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1845. Trustees. D. D. Towner, Alvah Darrow, H. McArthur; clerk, B. H. Fisher; treasurer Erastus R. Harper. 1846. Trustees, D. D. Towner, Wrn. Buskirk, H. McArthur; clerk, B. H. Fisher; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1847. Trustees, D. D. Towner, Wm. Buskirk, Joseph Cunningham; clerk I. L. Gleeson; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1848. Trustees. Jacob Foltz, Silas A. Hathaway, Joseph Cunningham; clerk, I. L. Gleeson; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1849. Trustees. Jacob Foltz, Alfred Fisher, Alvah Darrow; clerk, L. D. Hathaway; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1850. Trustees, John Schofietd, Alfred Fisher, Wm. Van Noate; clerk, Benj. Wood; treasurer, Erastus R. Harper. 1851. Trustees, E. R. Harper, James Miller, Wm. H. Perry; cterk, I. L. Gleeson; treasurer, John Schofield. 1852. Trustees, Jacob Foltz, James Milter, I. L. Gleeson; clerk, Benj. Wood; treasurer, John Schofield. 1853. Trustees. Alvah Darrow, Jonathan Frazee, William Green 2d: clerk, Benj. Wood; treasurer, I. L. Gleeson. 1854. Trustees, E. R. Harper, Jonathan Frazee, John Foltz; clerk J. K. Brainard; treasurer, I. L. Gleeson. 1855. Trustees, James Miller, E. M. Gleeson, Ezra Brewster; clerk, J. K. Brainard; treasurer, 1. L. Gleeson. 1856. Trustees, James Miller, E. M. Gteeson, Ezra Brewster, clerk, J. K. Brainard; treasurer, T. L. Gleeson. 1857. Trustees, Watson E. Thompson, John Foltz, Elihu Hollister; clerk, J. K. Brainard; treasurer, I. L. Gleeson. 1858. Trustees, Watson E. Thompson, John Foltz, Elihu Hollister; clerk, J. K. Brainard; treasurer, I. L Gleeson. 1859. Trustees, Wm. H. Perry, Wm. Green 2d, Albert Comstock; clerk. J. K. Brainard; treasurer, I. L. Gleeson. 1860. Trustees, Wm. H. Perry, Edward Hynton, Albert Comstock; clerk, G. B. Pierce; treasurer, I. L Gleeson. 1861. Trustees, Edward Heinton, Elihu Hollister, Jacob Lotz; clerk, J. K. Brainard treasurer, I. L. Gleeson. 1862. Trustees, Edward Heinton, Seneca Watkins, Milo N. Hathaway; clerk, Wm. B. Munson; treasurer, T. L. Gleeson. 1863. Trustees, Edward Heinton Horace Hungerford, John. Froilich; clerk, E. R. Harper; treasurer, I. L. Gleason. 1864. Trustees. H. C. Currier, John Swartz, L. D. Hathaway; clerk, Wm. B. Munson; treasurer, Geo. W. Green. 1865. Trustees, A. Alexander, E. Hollister, Horace Hungerford; clerk, O. P. McMillan; treasurer, E. R. Harper. 1866. Trustees, A. AlexaUder, Edward Heinton, Seneca Watkins; clerk. O. P. McMillan; treasurer, E. R. Harper. 1867. Trustees, William Green, Edward Heinton, Seneca Watkins; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, E. R. Harper. 1868. Trustees, J. Frazee, Edward Heinton, Wm. Buskirk; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, E. R. Harper. 1869. Trustees, John B. McMillan, Edward Heinton, George Gabilla; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, John Bender. 1870. Trustees, John B. McMillan, Clark Towner, George Gabilla; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, .John Bender. 1871. Trustees, John B. McMillan, T. F. Gowday, John Packard; clerk, D. S. Green; treasurer, John Bender. 1872. Trustees, George Cochran, B. D. Schrain, John Packard; clerk, Frank Brown; treasurer, C. Brown. 1873. Trustees, E. R. Harper, C. J. Green, Levi Summers; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, C Brown. 1874. Trustees, Geo. W. Green, D. L. Phillips, George Summers; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, C. Hannum. 1875. Trustees, John B. McMrllan, F. Litzler, James Watkins; clerk, Wm. B. Munson; treasurer, C. Hannum. 1876. Trustees, John B. McMillan, Max Buhl, John Giles; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, C. Hannum. 1877. Trustees, D. Fullerton, J. A. Hathaway, H. France; clerk, J. B. Waltz; treasurer, George Lambacher. 1878. Trustees, D. Fullerton, T. M. Gowday, H. France; clerk, C. H. Bushnell; treasurer, George Lambacher. 1879. Trustees, D. Fullerton, T. M. Gow.lay, H. France; clerk, D. Gindlesperger; treasurer, George Lambacher. The township owns a good hall, located in the public square, at the center, and maintains several fine places of burial. The largest of these-Maple Shade Cemetery-consists of four acres, on the State road, north of the center, and was purchased in September, 1865, of Sebastian Blessing. It contains a fine vault, and has been otherwise improved. Several of the religious denominations also maintain small but attractive places of sepulture. PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES. Several of the early State roads passed through the township from points farther south to Cleveland, and considerable attention was paid to the improvement of these highways soon after their location. In 1834 Henry Wood, Manly Coburn, John I. Harper, William Moses, Abram Schermerhorn, Zephaniah Hathaway, William Van Noate, Nathaniel Wyatt, and J. M. L. INDEPENDENCE - 463 Brown were appointed road supervisors. The township has had to pay a heavy bridge tax to keep in place the structures which span the Cuyahoga. At present these present a substantial appearance. In 1879 the levies for roads and bridges were one and one-third mills on the valuation of the township, and the supervisors were E. H. Kooning, Michael Halpin, N. Burmaster, Joel Foote, Hugh. Gowdy, George Lam- hitcher, George Bushnell, J. Walter, H. Giles, A. Comstock, T. Frantz, C. Mehling, J. F. Miller, William Fulton, C. H. Bushnell, and F. Beebe. The Ohio canal was located through the township in 1825, William H. Price being the resident engineer. Two years later it was opened for travel. It is on the east side of the Cuyahoga, and has in the township a length of about seven miles, with four locks, numbered from thirty-seven to forty inclusive. On the opposite side of the river, and following a course nearly parallel with the canal, is the line of the Valley Railroad, now being constructed. Work was begun in 1873, but various causes have prevented its completion until the present year, before the end of which it is expected that the last rail will be laid. These avenues give or will give the township easy communication with the rest of the world, and the best of shipping facilities. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. The township did not have any early gristmills nor factories. On Hemlock creek sawmills were erected by Ring & McArthur, and Clark & Land. On the site of the mill owned by the latter firm there is now a steam sawmill which is operated by J. G. Wing. It has a run of stone for grinding feed, and is also supplied with a machine for threshing grain. About 1835, Finney & Farnsworth constructed a Won across the river at William H. Knapp's, and for several years a sawmill was operated there quite extensively. Below that point M. Sherman put up a sawmill and machinery for turning and polishing sandstone. The sawmill is yet operated by John Geisendorf. On the site of the acid works, Harry Wood had a steam gristmill, which was destroyed by fire; and near there the Palmer Brothers had a steam sawmill, which is still carried on. In the southeastern portion of the township A. Alexander erected a good gristmill, which is yet operated by him, and is the only gristmill in the township. Cabinet organs were made in the northern part of Independence until 1876 by the Palmer Brothers.. The building is now occupied for the manufacture of "Currier's Section Sharpener," a very simple contrivance for sharpening mowing-machine knives without removing them. The material used is Independence sandstone, which, it is claimed, will not become coated with gum on being used for sharpening purposes. The firm also manufacture oil stones. THE CLEVELAND ACID WORKS. This important establishment was put in operation in 1867 by W. R. Anderson, for the purpose of restor ing to available form the sulphuric acid existing in the refuse matter of oil refineries. Since 1872 R. H. Emerson has been the proprietor of the works, which have been superintended by J. C. Burmaster. The establishment embraces a number of large and well- arranged buildings; it is capable of producing six thousand carboys of acid per month, and it employs about thirty men. The spent acid is brought to the works by canal when navigation permits. The restoring process requires the use of two thousand tons of coke and about double that amount of coal annually. Among the peculiar features of the place are one hundred and sixty glass retorts, holding fifty gallons each, and five storage tanks, the united capacity of which is six thousand barrels. THE QUARRIES. Aside from the agricultural pursuits which engage a majority of the people of the township, the chief industry of Independence is the quarrying of stone. West of the river the surface is underlaid by a ledge of superior sandstone, the composition of which is so fine that it makes the very best of grindstones. To quarry and manufacture these gives occupation to hundreds of men and constitutes a business of more than $400,000 per year. Most of the products are shipped by canal, but a considerable quantity are drawn by team direct to Cleveland. THE KINZER QUARRY. This is on the county road, two and a half miles west from the center, and was opened in 1848 by Joseph Kinzer. He at first got out but a few grindstones, which were cut into shape by hand. He increased his business, however, from year to year until he had a good-sized gang of men at work. In 1867 Joseph Kinzer, Jr., succeeded to the business, and the following year employed machinery for turning his grindstones the motive power being steam. The lathe was first operated on the Darrow place, but has lately been removed to near the Kinzer quarry. From four hundred to one thousand tons of grindstones are produced in addition to large quantities of building and flagging stones. THE HURST QUARRIES. These were opened in 1847 by the owner of the land, Hiram Pratt. In 1860 he sold to James F. Clark, who associated with him Baxter Clough. The latter operated the quarry until 1872, when it became the property of J. R. Hurst, of Cleveland, the present proprietor. The grindstones were first prepared by hand, but in 1866 a lathe operated by steam power was provided, which has since been used to turn stones weighing from three hundred pounds to four tons. The quarry is supplied with two derricks, and gives employment to forty men. At a point farther east, near the same road, Mr. Clough opened another quarry in 1867, which also became the property of Mr. Hurst, and at present 464 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. gives work to thirty men, who are employed chiefly in quarrying building-stones. North of the center, stone was quarried as early as 1840 by M. Sherman, Erastus Eldridge and others. Mr. Eldridge operated the quarry quite extensively, building a horse railroad to transport the products to the canal. Here were procured the pillars of the Weddell House in Cleveland. Other operators in those quarries were A. Rothermail, Joseph Blessing, J. Merkel and Harry .James. The latter erected a good turning lathe at the canal, and also built a wharf for loading canal boats. These and the quarry at the center have been leased by Mr. Hurst, and are now operated in connection with his other interests in the township under the superintendence of Marx Buhl. West of the village are the quarries of the Wilson & :Hughes Stone Company, employing a large gang of men, and operated since 1860; of Thomas Smith and of Ephraim West, each being worked by a gang of men. East of the center are quarries at present worked by J. Smeadley and Joseph Windlespecht; and southeast are the T. G. Clewell blue stone quarries, from which stones of superior quality for flagging purposes have been procured. A mill has been erected to saw the stone in any desired shape, and lately a lathe for turning grindstone has been added. Many other quarries are worked more or less, but the foregoing sufficiently indicate the importance and extent of the business. INDEPENDENCE VILLAGE. This place, sometimes called the Center, is the only village in the township. It is situated on the State road about equi-distant from the north and south bounds of the township. It has a beautiful location on an elevated plateau which slopes gently southward toward Hemlock creek. In the early settlement of this part of the township, the proprietor, L. Strong, set aside a tract of land for a public square and village purposes, but the place made a slow growth, and 'never assumed much importance as a business point. At present it presents a somewhat scattered appearance, and is composed mainly of the humble homes of those who find occupation outside of the village. It contains a Roman Catholic, a Presbyterian and an Evangelical church, a fine school-house, the town-hall and several hundred inhabitants. The Independence post office was established on the east side of the river, at the house of Nathan P. Fletcher, who was the first postmaster. Until about thirty years ago, when it was permanently established at the village, the office was kept in different parts of the township at the residences of the postmasters. Those, after Mr. Fletcher, have been William H. Knapp, Nathaniel Stafford, John Needham, B. F. Sharp, J. K. Brainard, George Green and Calvin Hannum. The latter has been postmaster since 186:5. The office is on the route from Cleveland to Copley, and has a tri-weekly mail. At the acid works a post office has lately been established by the name of Willow. John L. Kingsbury is the postmaster, and the mail facilities are the same as at Independence. Several gentlemen by the name of Day followed the practice of medicine in the township many years ago for a short period, but Dr. William B. Munson was the first to establish a permanent practice. He is yet a resident of the village, but has retired from active duty. The present practitioner is Dr. S. 0. Morgan. Doctors Charles Hollis and E. M. Gleeson were physicians in the township for short periods, but did not establish themselves permanently in their profession. Before 1830 a tavern was kept on the canal by a man -named Kleckner, in a house built by Philemon Baldwin, and farther up the river was " Mother Parker's tavern," which enjoyed a wide reputation. About 1836, Peter P. Crumb opened a public house north of the center, which he kept many years. Subsequent landlords were Hartmiller and George Sommers. The latter now occupies the place as a private residence. At the center a tavern was opened in 1852 by Job Pratt, who was followed successively by Hollis, Gunn, Eaton, Alger, Probeck and Wolf, the latter being the present landlord. I. L. and Edward M. Gleeson were among the first to engage in the mercantile business in the township, selling goods at the twelve-mile lock. Other persons in trade there were Merrill, Rutter, Oyler and Bender. Soon after the Crumb tavern was opened, Benjamin Wood sold goods at the stand now occupied by Joseph Urmetz, but Horace Ball opened the first regular store at the center. His successors at that stand have been J. K. Brainard, George Green, Josephus Brown, Charles Green and Charles Memple, who is now in trade there. Epaphroditus Wells had a store a few years opposite the tavern, and near by another store was opened by Jacob and Samuel Foltz. and I. L. Gleeson. These parties were followed by Currier & Watkins, who had a shoe store. The stand is at present occupied by Calvin Hannum. About eight years ago P. Kingsley opened another store, which is now kept by C. H. Bushnell. The township has half a dozen shops in which the common mechanical trades are carried on. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The first schools in Independence were established east of the river. In 1830 there were four districts. In 1850 the condition of the schools was as follows: In 1879 there were three hundred and seventy-three males and three hundred and twenty-three females of INDEPENDENCE - 465 school age, of which number one hundred and seventy- six were between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years. The tuition fund amounts to $3,242.25.. Nearly all the districts have been provided with good school houses; the one at the center being two stories high. In this a school for the more advanced pupils of the township has been maintained every winter since 1870. The board of education in 1879 was as follows: B. D. Schramm, of district No. 9, chairman; D. Gindlesperger, clerk; No. 1, Frank Gleeson; No. 2, A. J. Farrar; No. 3, J: Hathaway; No. 4, Frank Fosdick; No. 5, George Lambacher; No. 6, John Giles; No. 7, Harry Rose, and No. 8, H. Faubel. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. It is said that the first religious meeting in the township was held October 1, 1836, by the Rev. Mr. Freeman, a Baptist from Cleveland. In February, 1837, a Baptist congregation was organized, which flourished a short time, but soon became extinct. About the same period a class of Methodists was formed which also failed to maintain its organization beyond a few years. Its meetings were held at the houses of those friendly to that denomination; but a common place of worship was soon after provided in a log school-house at the center in which the different ministers visiting the township preached. The Congregationalists were the first to organize a church which had any permanency, and which is at present known as THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1N 1NDEPENDENCE. The organizers were the Revs. Israel Shailer and Chester Chapin, of the Missionary Association of Connecticut. On the 24th of June, 1837, they united in church fellowship William F. Bushnell and his wife Betsey; James and Mary Miller; Betsey Brewster; Jane and Elizabeth Bushnell seven in all. William F. Bushnell was elected deacon, and James Miller, clerk. The meetings were first held in the big schoolhouse, at Miller's corners, and then in the town hall. On the 17th of October, 1854, a society to attend to the temporal affairs of the church was formed, which had as its first trustees, Wm. F. Bushnell, Joseph Cunningham and Benj. Wood; as treasurer, James Miller; as clerk, E. Wells. The society was disbanded in October, 1873. Under its direction, in 1855, the present meeting-house was built at the center. It is an attractive edifice of the excellent sandstone found so plentifully in the township, and has a fine location on the west side of the public square. The cost was *2,594.79; the finances being managed by the pastor, the Rev. B. F. Sharp. On the 5th of February, 1862, the church became Presbyterian in form, and has since continued in that faith. Calvin Hannum, Wm. F. Bushnell and Daniel W. Abbott were elected ruling elders; and the former and J. G. Wing at present serve in that capacity. The deacons are Joseph Miller and D. S. Green; the clerk of the sessions is Calvin Hannum. The organizers of the church served two years as supplies. In 1845 the Rev. Mr. McReynolds served the church. Some time before 1854 the Rev. B. F. Sharp came as a supply, and that year became pastor of the church, remaining until 1859. During his service the membership increased from seven to thirty- five. There has been no pastor since, but the pulpit has been supplied by Rev. Messrs. Morse, Van Vleck, Bushnell, Jenkins, Edwards, Chapin, Farwell, Cone, Pettinger, and the present Rev. Bowman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who preaches alternately here and in the Evangelical Church at this place. The church has had an aggregate membership of one hundred and eighty-five, but at present bears the names of only thirty persons on its register. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained, of which J. G. Wing is the superintendent. Mainly through the efforts of the Rev. T. G. Clewell a very neat brick church was erected at the center, sometime about 1860, for the use of the EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENCE, and on the 7th of January, 1863, was duly organized the first board of trustees, composed of George W. Green, George Merkle, Francis Fillet, Henry Wentz and Mathew Bromley. Services have since been statedly held in the English and German languages by the Rev. Messrs. Clewell, Hahn, Humber, Breit, Bernhart, Mott, Duderer, Hasenpflug, Horn, Orwig, Seib, Hammer and other clergymen who oame from Cleveland for the purpose. The membership at present is small in consequence of removals. The trustees are Messrs. Crane, Windlespect, Sommers, Bromley and Newland. Jacob Schmidt is the superintendent of a flourishing Sunday school. ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. (UNALTERED AUGSBURG CONFESSION.) A short time after 1850, a number of persons living in the northeastern part of the township, who attended the services of the Lutheran church in Cleveland, took measures to establish a place of worship at home. Accordingly, on the 14th of October, 1854, a small framed meeting house was consecrated for this purpose, by pastor Schwan, of Cleveland. In this the services of the newly organized body were regularly held until July 6, 1879, when a very fine edifice, erected on the opposite side of the street, took its place. This house is thirty-eight by seventy-five feet, and has a tower and steeple one hundred feet high. The church has an exceedingly handsome appearance and cost about six thousand dollars. The present trustees are J. H. Dreman, C. F. Seherler and Fred. Ehlert. The church has fifty members who engage in business meetings, and numbers two hundred and twelve communicants. The elders are J. H. Tonsing, J. H. Meilaender and Fred. Borgeis. 466 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. The congregation has had the pastoral services of the following clergymen: From 1854 till 1859, Rev. John Strieter; 1859 till 1877, Rev. Ch. Sallman; and since December, 1877, Rev. Otto Kolbe. The first of these pastors also taught the parish school, but since 1871 Augustus Schefft has been employed as a teacher. The school is taught in the old meeting-house and is attended by ninety pupils who receive instruction in both the English and German languages. Religious teaching forms part of the daily course, and the school is maintained independent of any aid from the State or county. ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC.) In 1852 a small but neat house of worship for Roman Catholics was erected northwest of the center of the township, which was used until the growing congregation demanded a more capacious house. An effort was made to provide one better adapted for its wants, and in 1870 the present edifice was begun, but the work was slowly carried on. The building committee was composed of George Gable, Joseph Urmetz, Peter Wild, Albert Dobler, Anthon Eckenfelt and Joseph Effinger. In December, 1873, a storm caused the walls of the unfinished building to fall; but the following year they were again raised and the building began to be used in the summer of 1875. It was consecrated December 5, 1875, by the Right Reverend Father Gregory and Bishop Fitzgerald. The building committee at this time consisted of Charles Mehling, Fred. Bockhold, Frank Jermann and Jeremiah Hayes. The church is thirty feet by seventy, is built of brick, and cost eight thousand dollars. The present lay trustees are Charles Mehling and Casper Funk. The society has a cemetery at the old stone chapel. The church has about one hundred and seventy-five communicants who are under the spiritual tutelage of Father Fidelius, of the Franciscan Convent at Cleveland. Among other clergymen who have served there have been Fathers Bierbaum, Zungbeel, Boden and Rainerious, nearly all coming from the convent. The church has had no resident priest. A school is maintained which has been taught by John Jermann and Matilda Blessing. CHAPTER LXXVII. MAYFIELD. The First Settlers—Unexpected Visitors—Clearing Land—The First Marriage—James Covert—Extraordinary Vigor—No Roads—Bears fond of Veal and Pork—A Lover of Cream Killed—Covertls Adventure with a Bear—Other Settlers—First Church—Cowardly Wolves— Formation of Mayfield Township—First Officers—Notes from the Town Book—Slaughter of Sixty-three Rattlesnakes—First Sawmilt— First Gristmilt—Halsey Gates—Outbreak of Mormonism—Long-standing Debts—Frederick Willson—Ezra Eddy—Jeniah Jones—Dr. Dille— New Hotels—Willson and McDowellls Mills—Rapid 1mprovement—Dr Moon—Dr. Chartes—First Church Edifice—Mayfietd Academy—Plank Road—Post Offices—The Free Methodist Churches—Church of the United Brethren—Disciple Church—Principal Township Officers. IN the year 1805 Abner Johnson, Samuel Johnson and David Smith came with their families from Ontario county, New York, and made the first settlement in the present township of Mayfield, then known as survey-township number eight in range ten of the Western Reserve. They located themselves on the west side of Chagrin river, a little above the site of Willson's Mills, built their cabins, and began operations. In the spring of 1806 the members of the little settlement were agreeably surprised to see three of their old neighbors in Ontario county, make their appearance, with packs on their backs, guns on their shoulders, and dogs by their sides. The oldest of these was Daniel S. Judd, a large, fleshy man, already sixty-five years of age, who had fought in the old French and Indian war forty-five years before, and also in the Revolution, and was likewise renowned as a mighty hunter. With him were his two sons, Freeman and Thomas Judd. The three had started for Portage county, where they designed settling, but having lost their way, they had accidentally come upon their old neighbors whom they had not seen during the previous year. They were so well pleased with the fine bottom-lands on the Chagrin river that they determined to look no farther, but immediately began a settlement on the west side, a little above where the Joh nsons and Smith had located. That summer all were busy chopping timber, burning off land, planting a little corn between the logs, and performing numerous other duties incident to the beginning of a settlement. The next fall or winter the Judds went East, and obtained their families and personal property. They had returned but a short time when the first wedding was celebrated in the township—in the last part of 1806 or the first part of 1807-the parties being John Howton and Polly Judd, and the services being performed by Esquire Turner, of Chagrin. In the spring of 1807 James Covert, the son-in-law of D. S. Judd, came into the township from Seneca county, New York, and located himself in the Chagrin valley, below the site of Willson's Mills, where he has ever since resided. He was already twenty-six years of age, and had a wife and child. As was the case with most of the new settlers his worldly wealth was very limited, consisting of three dollars in money, an axe and a dog, After putting up a shanty, he went on foot to Painesville, a city then consisting of three or four log cabins, and bought a peck of poor salt for a dollar, carrying it home on his back. With the remaining two dollars he bought two pigs. He also purchased a two-year old heifer on credit from Judd, and thus he. began life in Mayfield. He is certainly a remarkable example of what can be accomplished by sheer industry and attention to business, though in truth those qualities must needs be accompanied by extraordinary vital powers to accomplish such results as Mr. Covert has brought about. When the writer visited him in the autumn of 1878, he was, although ninety-seven years old, in the full possession of all his mental powers and all his physi- MAYFIELD - 467 cal senses except his hearing, and was at work attending to his stock. Always a farmer, he has made himself the owner of over a thousand acres of land, besides large amounts of other property, has long been noted as the richest man in the township, and has in the meantime been the father of twenty-three children, twenty-two of whom he raised to be men and women. The writer has had a good deal of experience among industrious and vigorous old pioneers, but Mr. Covert's is certainly the most remarkable example of them all. Two of the families mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, those of Samuel Johnson and David Smith, had left the township before Mr. Covert came, and their place was taken by that of John Jackson. The first birth in the township was that of a child born in the latter part of 1807, to John and Polly Howton, whose marriage has been mentioned above. For several years there were few newcomers except small strangers of this description. The scattered settlers kept busily at work, and soon made considerable clearings around their respective cabins. They were, however, very mach isolated. There were no roads laid out in township eight, and for several years its inhabitants had to work their road tax on the lake shore road in the township of Chagrin, now Willoughby in Lake county. Fortunately the county was healthy; there being very little even of fever and ague compared with what is customary in new countries. But there were many annoyances. When the cows had calves in the woods the bears would sometimes kill and eat them. They were equally destructive to the hogs, but Mr. Covert relates that when he was able to keep a large number of the latter animals they would join together, fight with the bears and drive them off. So impudent were these ursine depredators that they would sometimes come up to the very doors of the settlers' cabins in search of food. One morning Mrs. Judd put her cream in the churn, ready for churning, set it out on a temporary porch and went about her work. On going out after awhile she found the churn upset and the cream all licked up. A number of bear's tracks around the place disclosed the cause of the robbery. When James Jackson, who was boarding at Judd's, came in at night and learned of the affair he determined to watch for the marauder. Accordingly, after dark, he placed a pail of sour milk on the porch and took his stand, rifle in hand, in the house opposite an open window that looked out on the "bait." After everything was quiet and when the watcher was beginning to get drowsy, he was suddenly aroused to intense wakefulness by hearing something lapping at the milk. Taking aim at the noise, for it was perfectly dark, he pulled the trigger. A light was brought and a big, fat, short-legged bear was found dead beside the pail of milk, with a bullet lodged in his brain. The wolves were still more obnoxious. After Mr. Covert had been there a few years, he bought two old sheep and two lambs in Chester, Geanga county, pay ing $2.50 per head for the four; brought them home and turned them into his field. The next morning he went out and found that the wolves had killed both the lambs and were then making their breakfast off from them. After that he yarded his sheep at night and watched them a little by day, and soon succeeded in raising a fine flock. Mr. Covert, notwithstanding his assiduity as a farmer, was also a good deal of a hunter, and so was James Jackson, above referred to. One day the two got in close pursuit of alarge bear which Jackson had wounded. The animal in going down a bank stumbled and fell into a hole, where he lay on his back with his feet sticking up. Covert crept down to reconnoitre, but got so near that the bear caught his foot in his mouth and bit through boot, foot and all. He hung on, too, and with his paws mutilated Covert's leg terribly. The latter got hold of a sapling and pulled both himself and his enemy out of the hole, when the dogs attacked the bear. The latter then let go his hold and the hunters soon dispatched him. Mr. Covert was confined to the house for several weeks by his wounds. Among the settlers who came several years after those already mentioned were P. K. Wilson, Benjamin Wilson, Luke Covert, Benjamin Carpenter and Solomon Moore. The early settlers were largely Methodists, and as soon as 1809 they formed a class- of that denomination under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Davidson, who is said to have been an eloquent and successful preacher. For many years their meetings were held in private houses and in the woods, as there was not even a log school-house for them to assemble in. The first death in the township was that of Daniel S. Judd, the veteran of two great wars, who died of apoplexy in 1810. As has been said, the lack of roads was a great annoyance. Mr. Covert states that he has often taken a bushel of corn on his back and gone to Chagrin (now Willoughby) to mill; attended on his return home by packs of howling wolves, not far away on either side. But these animals rarely attacked a man, even in the night. Once, however, Mr. Covert thought- he stood a good chance of becoming wolf bait. He had been reaping for a man who lived several miles down the river, in the present township of Willoughby, and was returning home after dark. Two miles from home, as lie was following a sled path, (carrying his shoes in his hand that he might the better feel the path with his naked feet in the Egyptian darkness), he was startled by an angry growl, and saw the fierce eyes of three or four wolves glaring at him, not more than six feet away. It was seldom that a wolf approached so near, and the young man thought his time had come. lie felt in the darkness for a tree, which he might ascend, and in doing so got hold of a couple of sticks. These he threw with all his might at the heads of his enemies, who shrank back, howling, into the forest. Reassured by finding that they were as cowardly as the 468 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. rest of their species, he pursued his way, and reached home in safety, although accompanied nearly all the way, a short distance on one side, by his howling foes. The war of 1812 stopped even what little progress there was before that time, and it was not until 1816 that a school-house was erected in the township. It was a log building, situated on the land formerly owned by Anthony Sherman. It was used for some years as school-house, church and town-hall. A few more settlers came after the war, among whom was Seth Mapes, who came in 1815 and remained until 1827, when he removed to Orange. In 1819 a new township was formed, by the name of Mayfield, the first town meeting being held on the 14th day of June, in that year. There were only twenty voters present, and of these thirteen were elected to fill the various offices. The meeting organized by choosing Daniel S. Judd, Daniel Richardson and Adam Overoker as judges of election, and John Jackson as clerk. The following officers were elected: Trustees, Adam Overoker, Seth Mapes, Daniel Smith; clerk, John Jackson; overseers of the poor, James Covert, Philo Judd; fence viewers, John Gloge, Michael Overocker; constables, Ephraim Graves, Rufus Mapes; lister, Henry Francisco; appraiser, Calvin Mapes; treasurer, Benjamin Carpenter, Jr.; justice of the peace, Michael Overoker. The following is also a part of the township record for that year, which was sent to the Historical Society some twenty years ago: "Received of the township of Chagrin, Nov. 10th, three dollars and eighty-eight cents, being our proportion of the money in the treasury at the time of division. Amount of tax levied in 1818, $76.00; amount paid by Mayfield, 6.80; remaining in the treasury of Chagrin at the time of division, $43.05; proportion belonging to Mayfield, $3.88. Paid by John Jackson, three dollars and eighty-eight cents to the trustees of Mayfield, money drawn from the treasury- of Chagrin and expended between them and the township clerk as a compensation for their services during the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen." The increase of population was still slow, though two or three new men came in every year. The bears and wolves slowly receded, but rattlesnakes in large numbers infested the land, especially among the rocks and hills. One of the most remarkable adventures with snakes, of which we have ever heard, was related to us by Dr. A. L. Dille, on the authority of Mr. Solomon Mapes, a reliable citizen, who, about 1825, killed sixty-three rattlesnakes, the denizens of a single hollow log. Having discovered what sort of inhabitants were within, he armed himself with a stout stick, gave the log a rousing rap, and then slew the rattlers one after the other as they glided out of the open end. The first sawmill was built by Abner Johnson and Seth Mapes in 1824, a little north of Mayfield Center. The next year Mr. Johnson alone built the first gristmill in the township on a branch of the Chagrin river, near the site of Willson's. Mills. In 1826 Mr. Halsey Gates came to the locality which has since borne his name (Gates' Mills), bringing with him the gearing of a sawmill and began the work of erecting one at that point. The next year the sawmill was completed, and the year following a gristmill was erected by Mr. Gates at the same place. Lyndon Jenks was another of the early settlers in the southeast part of the township. About 1828 there was an extraordinary outbreak of Mormonism in this township. Mormon preachers, priests and prophets seem to have made this a special stamping-ground. Quite a number of the inhabitants were converted to that faith, and some of them appeared perfectly crazy in their enthusiasm. Several families were broken up by the fanatical Mormonism of some of their members. Besides the resident converts, a good many Mormons seem to have come in from the outside and "squatted " in the western and central parts of the township, which were as yet very thinly settled, so that there would sometimes be several families living on a single farm. After two or three years of excitement they all packed up and moved away, about 1831, to join some larger colony of their brethren. Mr. Samuel Dean, who still resides at Gates' Mills, came thither in 1829. Nearly all the lots had been purchased on credit from the original owners. The clearings were generally small and the houses of log, though there were a few frames. Some claims had been held on "articles " (or agreements to convey on payment) twenty-five to thirty years; the articles being renewed every few years. If the owner could get the interest he thought he was doing well, and sometimes he was unable to get enough to pay the taxes. But after this period, and especially after the Mormons left, a much more enterprising class came in, bought up the old improvements, paid for their lands in a reasonable time, and speedily changed the appearance of the township. For five years after 1830 emigration was quite rapid. In that year a Frederick Wilson came into the township and settled at what is now known as Willsons Mills. Eltean Wait and Daniel McDowell built the first store in the township (near Willson's Mills) in 1830. In 1831 it passed into the hands of Willson and McDowell, who kept it five or six years. In 1831 Colonel Ezra Eddy settled in Mayfield and put in operation a tanning and currying establishment near Gates' Mills, which he carried on for many years, becoming one of the most prominent citizens of the township. The first framed school-house in the township was built at Mayfield Center in 1830. It took the place of the old log one before mentioned as school-house, church and town-hall; elections being held in it down to 1848. In 1831 Jeniah Jones settled near the center. He describes the hill part of Mayfield as being still almost a wilderness. There was not a building on the State road, and Mr. Jones, soon after this arrival, helped COL. EZRA EDDY. Col. Ezra Eddy was born in Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., Aug. 17, 1805. He was the youngest in the family of seven children of James and Sarah (Newton) Eddy, none of whom are now living. His father having died when Ezra was about ten years of age, he was apprenticed to a Mr. Blodgett to learn the tanner's trade. He remained with him till 1826, when he went to Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y., where he followed his trade for one year. Oct. 18, 1827, he was married to Sally Ann, daughter of Gideon Keyt, of Lodi, N. Y. She was born Sept. 10, 1810. By this union he had seven children, viz. : Edwin W., born June 9, 1832; died Feb. 5, 1835. Sarah Jane, born May 23, 1836 ; died May 28, 1836. William A., born in July, 1837. Albert C., born Aug. 28, 1840 ; died Jan. 29, 1841. Constantine, born July 11, 1842. Harriet M., born Nov. 11, 1845. Sanford, born Oct. 12, 1848. After his marriage he removed to Mayfield, Cuyahoga Co., where he engaged in the tannery business, in which he continued till 1861, after which time he engaged in farming till his death, which occurred Aug. 3, 1870. Col. Eddy was a well-known resident of the county, and was conspicuous as one of the pioneers of Mayfield township, where he raised a respectable family, and by severe industry and strict economy left a handsome competence. Mr. Eddy was perhaps better known throughout the county than almost any man outside of the city of Cleveland as an independent farmer and intelligent citizen. In the olden time, when militia musters were annual holidays, he was colonel of the regiment east of the Cuyahoga River, which position he filled with ability as long as the old military organizations lasted. For six years he was a commissioner of the county, and as such was respected for his ability, integrity, and faithfulness. As an honest and zealous politician he was always present at the conventions of the old Whig party, and later of the Republican party, in the county, and was one of the men who gave character to those organizations. As a neighbor, a husband, and a father, his character and that of his family are sufficient testimony of his value in all such relations of life. Long may his beloved widow enjoy the esteem of her friends and the affection of her children. MAYFIELD - 469 to open that road from the center westward. Of those who were on the hill before 1830, few if any remain besides Rufus Mapes. Joseph Leuty came in 1830. Elijah Sorter, with his sons, Charles, Isaac and Harry, came in December, 1831. S. Wheeling, Lucas Lindsley and others also came in 1831, and settled a mile and a half south of the center. In 1832 Erwin Doolittle put in operation a carding machine and cloth-dressing establishment a short distance north of Willson's Mills, on the same stream on which Abner Johnson's mill was located. The first physician in the township was Dr. A. L. Dille, who came thither from Euclid in 1834, settled at Willson's Mills, and has ever since resided there. Down to 1834 the inhabitants had to go to Willoughby for their mail-matter. In that year a mail route was established from Chardon, Geauga county, to Cleveland, through Gates' Mills, and a post office was located at the latter place. Willson & McDowell built a hotel at Willson's Mills in 1833, which they kept for several years, and about the same time, perhaps a little earlier, Hiram Falk opened one at Gates' Mills. In 1834 Halsey Gates put up a fine framed hotel at Gates' Mills with a ball-room in it, which was the center of many a joyous gathering. About 1833 or '34 Willson & McDowell built a flouring-mill and sawmill near the site of their store and tavern. The mills were burned in 1839, but were soon rebuilt, General Willson remaining a part or entire owner until they passed into the hands of his son, who now owns them. Hence the name of Willson's Mills has always been a strictly correct appellation. By this time all the land in the township had been purchased, and a large part of it cleared off. The deer had given way before the axes and rifles of the pioneers, though a few were still to be seen bounding through the remaining belts of forest. Only once after Dr. Dille came, in 1834, did he hear the howling of a wolf. Mayfield was rapidly changing from a wilderness to a civilized township. About 1849 Dr. T. M. Moon began' practice at Gates' Mills and Dr. Alexander Charles at Mayfield Center. The latter remained at the center until the outbreak of the Mexican war, when he received a commission as a surgeon of volunteers, went to Mexico and died while on duty there. The first church edifice in the township was built by the Methodists in 1842, at Mayfield Center. By 1850 the work of clearing up the township was substantially accomplished, the deer had all fallen before the rifles of their foes, or had followed the wolves into banishment, framed houses had generally taken the place of log ones, and Mayfield had assumed very near the appaarance which it now presents. In March, 1856, a few enterprising individuals procured a charter as the Mayfield Academy association, and proceeded to erect an academy on the State road in the southwest portion of the township. The institution was maintained for many years in a flourishing condition. Mayfield took her full share in the war for the Union, and the names of her gallant sons who fought in that contest will be found with the stories of their respective regiments. In 1877 a plank road was built from a point in East Cleveland near the line of the city of Cleveland, through Euclid and Mayfield to the top of the hill half a mile cast of Gates' Mills; about three and a half miles of it being in Mayfield. There are now three post offices in the township at the three villages before mentioned, Gates' Mills, Willson's Mills and Mayfield Center; the first of which has about twenty houses and the others a smaller number. Besides these there are at Gates' Mills a gristmill, a sawmill, a rake factory, a store and two churches; at Willson's Mills, a gristmill, a sawmill, a church; at Mayfield Center, a church, a store, a town hall and a steam sawmill. There are also two cheese factories in the township; one on the State road, a mile east of Gates' Mills, and one half way between Gates' and Willson's Mills. THE METHODIST CHURCHES. The Mayfield circuit contains three churches, one at Mayfield Center, one at Gates' Mills, and one on the east line of the township. As has been said a Methodist class was organized as early as 1809. Occasional preaching was held in the township, but owing to the sparsity of the inhabitants no great progress was made for many years. In 1835 there was a very earnest revival and a church was fully organized. Rev. Mr. Graham was one of the first preachers; also Rev. Messrs. Excell and Mix. In 1842 the Methodists built, as before stated, the first church edifice in the township, at Mayfield Center. They have since replaced this by a larger one, and in 1853 erected one at Gates' Mills. There are now about a hundred members of the church at the Center, twenty-four of the one at Gates' Mills, and thirty-five of the one on East Hill. The following pastors have preached on this circuit Since 1861: B. J. Kennedy, 1862, '63 and '64; E. C. Latimer, 1865 and '66; A. M. Brown, 1867; G. J. Bliss, 1868; E. C. Latimer, Hiram Kellogg, 1870; D. Rowland, 1871; J. B. Goodrich, 1872 and '73; D. Meizener, 1874; J. K. Shaffer, 1875; James Shields, 1877 and '78. CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN. This church was .organized at Willson's Mills in 1870, and a neat framed edifice was erected the same year. There are now about thirty members. THE DISCIPLE CHURCH. In 1871 the Disciples at and around Gates' Mills purchased the school-house at that point and converted it into a church-edifice, and have since used it for that purpose. Their numbers are about the same as those of the United Brethren. 470 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. [Unfortunately the township books previous to 1849 cannot be found. We give a list of the principal ones from that time to the present, except justices of the peace, which cannot be obtained from the township records.] 1849. Trustees, Truman Gates, L. P. Shuart, Luther Battles; clerk, Jeniah Jones; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, Welman Brainard. 1850. Trustees, Lyndon Jenks, T. Gates, Rufus Mapes; clerk, Jeniah Jones; treasurer. Chas. N. Sorter; assessor, W. Brainard. 1851. Trustees, E. A. Johnson, H. S. Mapes. Osbert Arnold; clerk, J. Jones; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, W. Brainard. 1852. Trustees, Harmon Jacobs, Daniel Shepherd; clerk, W. Brainard; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, E. D. Battles. 1853. Trustees, N. C. Sebins, Harry Sorter, David Hoege; clerk, W. Brainard; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1854. Trustees, J. A. Dodd. H. Jacobs, J. Bennett; clerk, J. Jones; treasurer, H. C. Eggleston. 1855. Trustees, Leonard Straight, Luther Battles, H. S. Mapes; clerk, Jeniah Jones; treasurer, Diamond Wakeman; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1856. Trustees, C. N. Sorter, H. S. Mapes, Harmon Jacobs; clerk, L. Straight; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1857. Trustees. C. Russell, Wm. Apthorp, J. B. Sorter; clerk, Leonard Straight; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1858. Trustees, Alva Hanscom, Luther Battles, J. Sherman; clerk L. Straight; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1859. Trustees, Alva Hanscom, L. Battles, J. Sherman ; clerk, L. Straight ; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1860. Trustees, A. H nscom, L. Battles, H. Sorter; clerk, L. Straight; treasurer, C. N. Sorter. 1861. Trustees, H. S. Mapes, II. Webster, C. B. Russell; clerk, L. Straight; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, H. C. Eggleston. 1862. Trustees, Gordon Abbey, Nelson Wilson, A. Granger; clerk, L. Straight; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, H. C. Eggleston. 1863. Trustees, N. Wilson, L. Jenks, N. D. Seldon; clerk, L. Straight; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, A. Walworth. 1864. Trustees, E. D. Battles, H. Jacobs, Cornelius Hoege; clerk, L. Straight; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1865. Trustees, E. D. Battles, N. Wilson. John Aikens; clerk, J. A. Cutler; treasurer. L. Straight; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1866. Trustees, E. D. Battles, N. Wilson, T. Gates; clerk, J. A. Cutler; treasurer, D. Wakeman; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1867. Trustees. N. Wilson, C. N. Sorter, T. Gates; clerk, Wm. Miner; treasurer, Harry Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1868. Trustees, Ezra Eddy, John Aikens, Leonard Straight; clerk, Tracy E. Smith; treasurer, Harry Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1869. Trustees, L. Straight, J. Aikens, E. D. Battles; clerk, T. E. Smith; treasurer, C. N. Sorter; assessor, L. M. Gates. 1870. Trustees, N. Wilson, Milo Rudd, George Covert; clerk, W. A. Miner; treasurer, H. Sorter; assessor, John Aikens. 1871. Trustees, H. Jacobs, John Law, W. Apthorp; clerk, Wilbur F. Sorte ; treasurer, H. Sorter; assessor, W. Brainard. 1872. Trustees, L. Straight, Wm. Neville, Wm. A. Southwick; clerk, W. F. Sorter; treasurer, H. Sorter; assessor, W. Brainard. 1873. Trustees, Wm. A. Southwick, L. M. Gates, H. Sorter; clerk, W. F. Sorter; treasurer. J. T. Battles; assessor, W. Brainard. 1874. Trustees, W. A. Southwick, L. M. Gatea, Wm. Neville; clerk, W. F. Sorter; treasurer, J. T. Battles; assessor, W. Brainard. 1875. Trustees, L. M. Gates. L. Straight Ira Hoffman; clerk, W. F. Sorter; treasurer, H. Sorter; assessor, W. Brainard. 1876. Trustees, L. M. Gates, A. F. Williams, Ira Hoffman; clerk, W. F. Sorter; treasurer, A. Straight; assessor, W. Brainard. 1877. Trustees, Ira Hoffman, A. F. Williams, A. A. Jerome; clerk, H. W. Russell; treasurer, J. T. Battles; assessor, W. Brainard. 1878. Trustees, Harmon Jacobs, Ira Hoffman, A. A. Jerome; clerk, IL W. Russell; treasurer, L. M. Gates, Jr.; assessor, W. Brainard. 1879. Trustees, A. P. Aikens, A. A. Jerome, Henry Covert; clerk; H. W. Russell; treasurer, A. Granger; assessor, W. Brainard. FREDERICK. WILLSON. This well-known citizen of Mayfield was born in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, on the 4th day of January, 1807. He wag the son of George and Esther Willson, the latter of whom is still living with the subject of this sketch, at the age of ninety-two years. He resided in Phelps (most of the time after childhood being spent in attending school or working on his father's farm) until the year 1830. In July of that ypar he came to Mayfield, where he has ever since made his home. The young pioneer located himself at the point now known as Wilson's Mills, and soon formed a partnership with David McDowell in the mercantile and farming business. Meeting with success in these occupations, the firm in 1833 built a gristmill and a sawmill at the point just named. Meanwhile the subject of our sketch had taken an active part in military affairs. Having served as private, non-commissioned officer, lieutenant and captain, in a regiment of light artillery, New York militia, before leaving that State, he was, on the organization of Mayfield as a separate company-district in 1833, elected the first captain of the first company in that township. On the outbreak of the celebrated "Toledo war," when it was expected that active, and perhaps dangerous, service would be necessary ill maintaining the rights of Ohio to that city and the surrounding territory, Captain Wilson with his lieutenant and twelve men volunteered to take part in the contest. In 1834 he was elected major of the first regiment of infantry, second brigade, ninth division, Ohio militia; in 1835 was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and in 1836 was chosen colonel. In 1838 Colonel Willson was elected brigadier-general, which position he resigned about four years afterwards. On the 6th day of September, 1836, Gen. Willson was married to Miss Eliza Handerson, of the adjoining town of Orange, a lady who has shared with him the joys and sorrows of life down to the present time. In 1837 Gen. Willson dissolved partnership with Mr. McDowell, taking the mill and farm as his share. Milling and farming have been his occupations since that time, and in both. he has been extremely successful; being now the owner of about nine hundred acres of land. In April, 1840, his mills were destroyed by fire, but were rebuilt with characteristic energy, being set running on the 7th of January, 1841. In 1875 they were transferred to the general's eldest son, Myron H. Willson, who still owns and operates -them. Gen. Wilson became a member of the Masonic 'order fifty-one years since, before leaving the State of New York. He has passed through all the degrees, from that of entered apprentice to the Scottish rites, and maintains a high standing among the brethren of the order. Though never a politician, yet in 1846 his neighbors elected him to the office of justice of the peace of Mayfield township, and re-elected him in 1849; the whole length of his service being six years. General and Mrs. Willson have raised a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Two of his sons enlisted early in the war for the Union, and both gave their lives in its defense. George A. Willson enlisted in the First Infantry in the summer of 1861, at the age of nineteen, and was killed at the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 184. James P. Willson also enlisted ill Battery B, First Light Artillery, the same summer, at the age of seventeen, and died in service in June, 1862, having been brought home from Nashville three weeks before his decease. MIDDLEBURG - 471 CHAPTER LXXVIII. MIDDLEBURG. Its Proprietor—Jared Hickok the First Settler—His Death—The Vaughns—Abram Fowls—The First Marriage—The War—A Fortress in Columbia—Physical Characteristics of the Township—Religious Matters—Solomon Lovejoy—Township Organization—The First Record—Road Districts—First Full List of Officers—John Baldwin—Heads of Families in 1827—Circumstances Concerning Them--Counterfeiters in the Swamp—Beginning of the Grindstone Business—Invention of Machine to Make Grindstones—The First Tavern—First Temperance Society—H. O. Sheldon and James Gilruth—The Community—The Twelve Apostles—They Fail at Farming—Break-up of the Community —Origin of "Berea"—First Post Office—Berea Lyceum—Lyceum Village—The Globe Factory—Wolves in 1838—The last Killed in 1843— Deer—Turkeys and Wild Cats—Baldwin Institute—The Railroad— Rapid Increase of Berea—An Ox-Railroad—Progress—The Onion Business—The Stone Quarries in Operation—A Grindstone Factory— Berea Stone Company—Baldwin Quarry Company— Russell & Forche —Empire Stone Company—J. McDermott & Co.—Principal Township Officers—Methodist Church—German Methodist Church—First Congregational Church—St. Mary's Church—St. Thomas' Church—St. Paul's Church—SE Adelbert's Church—Berea Lodge F. and A. M. Berea Chapter F. and A. M.—Other Societies—Berea Village Corporation—Town Hall—Business Places, etc.—Physicians—Street Railway —Union School—Board of Education—First National Bank—Savings and Loan Association. ON the division of the western part of the Western Reserve in 1807, township number six in the fourteenth range, now known as Middleburg, fell to the share of Hon. Gideon Granger, then postmaster-general under President Jefferson. The first permanent white settler in the township was Jared Hickox, grandfather of Mrs. Roxana Fowls, who located in 1809 on what is now known as the Hepburn place, on the Bagley road, about half way between Berea village and the old turnpike. We say the first permanent settler, for it is believed by some that Abram Hickox, long a well-known resident of Cleveland, moved into Middleburg in response to an offer of fifty acres of land to the first settler, made by Mr. Granger, and giving his name to the pond known as Lake Abram. According to the best information we can obtain from old settlers, however, Mr. Jared Hickox was the one who received the fifty acres, and Mr. Abram Hickox never lived in Middleburg. He was a relative of Jared Hickox, however, and the latter may have named " Lake Abram" after him. The next year after making his settlement, Mr. Jared Hickox, who had already passed middle age, was returning from Cleveland to his home, when he died suddenly and alone upon the road—probably of heart disease. He left a large family, among whom were his sons Nathaniel, Jared, Eri and Azel, and his daughter, Rachel Ann, the mother of Mrs. Fowls, before mentioned. The next settlers were probably the Vaughns, who located themselves about 1810 on the banks of Rocky river, near where the village of Berea now stands. There was an old gentleman and three adult sons, Ephraim, Richard and Jonathan Vaughn. The latter located where Berea depot now is. In the spring of 1811, Abram Fowls (father of Lewis A. Fowls and Mrs. Roxana Fowls) came through the woods on foot, with his younger brother John, 'and selected him a home near where the Hickox family was located. " Near," at this time, meant anywhere within two or three miles. At all events young Abram was near enough so that he soon made the intimate acquaintance and gained the favor of Miss Rachel Ann Hickox. Although he had arrived in Middleburg with only two dollars and a half in his pocket, he was ready to take the responsibilities of a family on his shoulders, and the two were accordingly married in 1812, this being the first wedding in the township. The young couple were quite justified in their self-confidence, too, for before the death of Abram Fowls, which occurred in 1850, the two dollars and a half with which he had arrived in Middleburg had grown into a handsome fortune, including five hundred acres of land and other property in proportion, besides which Mr. and Mrs. Fowls had reared a family of ten children. Meanwhile Jonathan Vaughn put up a sawmill on Rocky river, near the site of the depot, and Ephraim Vaughn. erected a log gristmill farther up the stream and near the village. Silas Becket and his son Elias also settled in that vicinity. Those who have been named, with their families, were nearly or quite all the residents which township number six had before the war of 1812. That war came with most depressing effect upon the few residents of Middleburg, for down to the time of Perry's victory on Lake Erie and Harrison's triumph in Canada, the people were in almost daily apprehension of an attack by Indians upon the almost helpless settlers. Soon after Hull's surrender a blockhouse was erected in Columbia (now in Lorain county, but then in Cuyahoga), where there was a rather larger population than in Middleburg, and whenever there seemed to be especial danger, all the able-bodied men were called out by Captain Hoadley, of Columbia, to defend the little fortress, while the women and children were offered a refuge in the same narrow quarters. Mr. Fowls took his family there for a week, but when he was called out a second time his wife remained at home with only his young brother to protect her. All the other inhabitants in the township went to Columbia. The young wife was sadly frightened at times, but fortunately no Indians appeared. It was during such times as these that the first white child was barn in the township of Middleburg —Lucy, oldest daughter of Abram and Rachel Ann Fowls, whose birth took place on the 22d day of May, 1813. Lucy Fowls married Nathan Gardner, and died in 1877. After Perry's victory there was little more fear of Indians, and in the forepart of 1815 the close of the war left the path way again open to emigration. Before, however, we undertake to trace the subsequent course of events, we will glance at the natural characteristics of township number six. Like the other townships of the Reserve it was five miles square. Entering it near the center of its southern boundary was the east branch of Rocky river, which followed a meandering course northward, receiving the west branch, and passing out into township number seven (now Rockport). The river banks 472 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. plainly showed good reasons for the name which had been given to it; reasons which cropped out on either side along its whole course through the township. Near the river the ground was generally broken, the soil being formed of mingled clay and gravel, and covered with the usual Ohio forest growth of beech, maple, elm, oak, etc. But to the eastward the surface soil was nearly level, somewhat wet, and composed of a clayey loam; while northeast of the center was a large swamp, densely occupied by hemlock, birches, etc., into which the wolves and panthers retreated from the constantly increasing improvements of man. Of the pond which very early received the name of Lake Abram, we have spoken before. Its waters found their way, though very slowly, into sky river. Though the strong, clay soil of Middleburg, when drained and subdued, has proved as valuable as any in the county, yet at an early day its general dampness and stubbornness, the presence of swamps, and the consequent fear of ague, caused many emigrants to press on to the more healthful hills of Strongsville or the more manageable lands of Columbia. So that, even after the close of the war in 1815, emigration to Middleburg was still slow. One of the first families to come, after the war, was that of Ephraim Meeker, who settled at the outlet of Lake Abram. Another was that of Thaddeus Lathrop, who came in 1816. His daughter, now Mrs. Susan Tuttle, of Albion, who was then nine years old, can recollect only the Vaughns, the Fowles, the Hickoxes and the Meekers, as being in the township when she went there, though probably there were the Beckets and a few more. The only road from Cleveland was a path designated by marked trees. Down to this time there had been no organized church or public worship. About 1816, however, a Methodist camp meeting near the Cuyahoga river was attended by some - Middleburg people who returned deeply impressed with the importance of religiion. They began holding neighborhood meetings, where the attendants prayed, sang and exhorted among themselves, and at which quite a number were converted. Then Jacob Ward, a preacher from Brunswick, came and formed a Methodist society; being the first religious organization in the township. The interest increased, the society was embraced in a Methodist circuit, and meetings were held every two weeks, generally on week-days, besides prayer-meetings, etc., on the Sabbath. But is was many years before there was a resident minister and regular preaching on Sunday. Enoch G. Watrous and Silas Gardner, with their families, settled in 1817 or '18, on the river, near the Strongsville line. Paul Gardner came somewhat later. Wheeler Wellman came in 1818, settling south of Abram Fowls'. The next year Mr. Wellman's father-in-law, Solomon Lovejoy, located himself near where his son's tavern now is. Among his children were Edwin, then seventeen, and Ammy, then twelve, the latter of whom now keeps the tavern referred to, and both of whom reside there. They mention the families before referred to and there seem to have been very few others in the township. Notwithstanding the scarcity of inhabitants, however, there was a township organization formed as early as 1820. Ephraim Vaughn had been a justice of the peace for several years previous, having been commissioned by the governor, and having presided at the organization of Strongsville in 1818. The only records of Middleburg are very defective; the first one preserved is dated June 29, 1820. It is signed by Jared Hickox, township clerk, and notes the reception in May, 1819, of a commission as justice of the peace by William Vaughn, dated in February, 1819. It then included not only township six in range fourteen, but also township six in range fifteen, now Olmstead. Another record of the same date (June 22, 1820,) states that Solomon S. Doty had duly qualified as constable for the ensuing year, and had given the necessary bail. In March, 1821, the trustees (names Unknown) divided the two survey-townships of which the civil township of Middleburg was composed, into two highway districts each. The present Middleburg was divided so that all east of the highway "running from Strongsville to Rockport," should form one district, while that road and all west of it should compose the other. The road running from Strongsville to Rockport was evidently the main road running through the present Berea, along the east side of Rocky river. This road and the one which afterward became the turnpike, were all the highways of any consequence in the township, and these were just being cut out so as to be passable. In April, 1823, it was voted to divide the township into school-districts; the record being signed by Wheeler Wellman, clerk. The first full list of township officers which can be found is that of those elected in April, 1823; viz: David Harrington, Abraham Fowls and Richard Vaughn, trustees; Wheeler Wellman, township clerk; Jared Hickox and Ephraim Fowls, overseers of the poor; Eli Wellman and Ephraim Fowls, constables; Jared Hickox, lister; Ephraim Vaughn, appraiser; Silas Gardner, treasurer; Solomon Lovejoy, supervisor of first district; Wheeler Wellman, supervisor of second district; Abram Fowls, Owen Wellman and Silas Becket, fence viewers. From 1820 to 1827 there was but little immigration, but the number of adults was considerably increased by the growing up of those who came as youths and children, and there were plenty more children to take their places. Immigrants were repelled principally by the wet soil, and the more pleasantly located -settlers in township number five said that if Middleburg was not fastened on to Strongsville it would sink. Since that time a wonderful change has come over the prospects of this "sinking" township. Meanwhile the main road from Cleveland through the eastern part of the township was put in tolerable condition and a line of stages had been put on it. JOHN BALDWIN. We present to our readers an excellent portrait of Mr. Baldwin, a representative of the self-made American, and a Christian whose life has been characterized by the consecration of all its efforts to the service of God. He was born in Branford, Conn., Oct. 13, 1799. His grandfather, who was a deacon of the Presbyterian Church and of Puritan descent, was a blacksmith, and worked at the anvil in New Haven, making axes and hoes with the father of Lyman Beecher. When the war of 1776 broke out he shouldered his gun and in the service won the rank of captain, by which title he was called to the day of his death. John Baldwin's mother was the only daughter of Edward Melay, of New Haven, who before the war of the Revolution was a wealthy merchant, and gave to his daughter as good an education as it was then believed daughters were capable of receiving. Young John's school privileges were of the humblest kind, as neither geography, grammar, nor arithmetic were allowed to be taught in his day. At an early age he began to take care of himself, and thus learned to properly value the fruits of industry. At the age of eighteen he became a member of the Methodist Church. By his own unaided efforts he gathered from books the rudiments of an education, attended school later, and then engaged in teaching, first in Fishkill, N. Y., afterwards in Maryland, and in Litchfield, Conn. After five years so spent, he married in 1828. The next spring he moved to where Berea now is, and soon built the first frame house in the place, assisted in the first Sabbath-school, opened the first quarry, turned the first grindstone, laid out or helped to lay out the first building lot, and built the first seminary. At first his efforts were not successful financially, but the discovery of the value of the rock underlying Berea gave to him the means of retrieving his fallen fortunes. Consecrated education became his battle-cry, and to this object he has devoted himself for years. Mr. Baldwin has been a devoted friend of female education. He has always owed Yale College a grudge for not giving his mother equal privileges with his uncles. His theory is that sons and daughters should be trained side by side to pursue the studies and labors that should fit them alike for life's responsibilities, its usefulness, and its honors, and when the Baldwin Institute (since University) was opened it was eligible alike to sons and daughters. To this institution he has given property worth at present one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. His devotion to the cause of education has extended beyond his own village to embrace wider fields and other races. His heart has become deeply interested in the educational wants of the South, and, with his characteristic generosity, he has become a liberal patron of the Thomson Biblical Institute. His own letter to Dr. Newman, of New Orleans, announcing what he has done, is characteristic: "I have bought for twenty thousand dollars the Darby plantation, of seventeen hundred acres (which has since been increased to four thousand acres), in St. Mary's Parish, La. There is a fine site of thirty or forty acres on the bank of the river, containing some fifteen or twenty buildings, which the brethren of the Mississippi Mission Conference can occupy for religious education as soon as they choose, provided no distinction is made on account of color or sex. When a corporate body is organized by said Conference I will deed the above-named site, and secure to said corporation enough capital to make twenty thousand dollars' worth." In personal appearance Mr. Baldwin is plain, in outward adornment, and in earlier times it was to him a matter of keen enjoyment to be mistaken for some unfortunate wanderer. As is usually the case with persons who give largely, lie has been the object of unsparing criticism and abuse, and it would be easy to find those (themselves not to be persuaded to give a dime to any good cause) who stand ready to charge upon him meanness unlimited. He will survive all such attacks. As a business man he is shrewd and far-seeing, judging wisely when to buy and when to sell; and, while perfectly honorable in all his dealings, he must be shrewd indeed who gets any great advantage of him. To the poor and needy he is a kind and generous friend, one who bestows liberally to such cases of necessity as come to his knowledge. He is a great admirer of John Wesley. The sincere single mindedness, the lofty, patriarchal faith, the active, self-denying zeal in doing good, and the large-hearted benevolence for which the founder of Methodism was distinguished, has made a deep impression upon Mr. Baldwin's mind. Like him, he cherishes a deep love of truth, despises glory and fortune, or values them only as they are the means of doing good. He has resolved to make all he can by industry, to save all he can by strict economy, and give all he can in justice to himself and family. In accordance with this principle, he lives under a solemn vow to devote his all to God. When asked rn what manner this is done, he replied, " By a resolution I formed, based on the Bible as explained by Mr. Wesley, I determined to appropriate my entire income, aside from the necessaries of life for myself and family, to the cause of benevolence, a resolution which I have seen no reason to change." This last expression gives us the result of his experience for fifteen or twenty years, in which light it becomes‘ a beautiful illustration of the power of faith and goodness. MIDDLEBURG - 473 In 1827 Mr. John Baldwin, who has long been one of the best known citizens of the township, made his first entrance into it. He purchased the old Vaughn farm and in May, 1828, he took possession of it. Mrs. Fowls mentions having seen him and his young wife at that time, stepping briskly along, past her father's residence; having come as far as they could by stage on the main road, whence they were making their way on foot to their new home, four or five miles distant. Mr. Baldwin has given the names of the heads of families residing in the township when he came; viz: Silas Gardner, Enoch G. Watrous, Benjamin Colby, Silas Becket, Elias Becket, Ephraim Vaughn, Richard Vaughn, Jonathan Vaughn, Eli Osborn, Tina Osborn, Charles Green, Aruna Phelps, Ephraim Meeker, _____ Tracy, Nathan Gardner, Benjamin Tuttle, Abraham Fowls, David Fowls, Ephraim Fowls, Daniel Fairchild, Paul Gardner, Amos Gardner, Valentine Gardner, Abijah Bagley, and himself, John Baldwin— twenty-six, all told. Mr. Baldwin has estimated the total population at a hundred, but there must have been more than that, unless Middleburg families were much smaller than pioneer families generally were. The only roads he considers worth mentioning in 1827 were the one up and down the river and the one from the corner of Columbia northeast to the old bridge on the site of the iron bridge at Berea, and thence easterly to the main road from Cleveland to Strongsville. A company had just begun making a turnpike of this last-named road. It was completed the next year, and used as a turnpike over thirty years. The other roads are described as being then only mud-paths, partly cleared of timber, in which a sled or a mud-boat would get along better than a vehicle on wheels. Mr. Baldwin, in a manuscript on file in the records of the Historical Society, has also mentioned various circumstances connected with the residents before named. Benjamin Colby, besides cultivating his farm, used to burn lime, which was found; in small amounts in various parts of the township. When Mr. Baldwin built his house, four years later, he exchanged apples for lime with Colby, bushel for bushel. Silas and Elias Becket owned the farm (afterward sold to Baldwin) which covered most of the quarries on the river. Aruna Phelps had a small house and shop a little south of the site of the Berea depot, where he made chairs and turned bed-posts. Abram Fowls, as Mr. Baldwin says, "made money by attending to his business." Abijah Bagley occupied the first fifty acres settled by old Jared Hickox, as before mentioned. The Bagley road was named from him. The Vaughns had been obliged to give up their land, but had saved their mills which they were running in 1827. About this time Ephraim Vaughn bought twenty acres covering the ground where the main part of Berea village now stands. This, too, was bought in 1836 by Mr. Baldwin. Eli Osborn had recently put up a small fulling mill on the river near the site of the railroad bridge. He used to dress cloth, survey land, act as justice of the peace, conduct religious meetings and sometimes preach. Benjamin Tuttle had a small shop on Rocky river, near the mouth of the creek at Berea, in which he ground bark, tanned leather and made shoes. He soon sold to Valentine Gardner, who carried on the business successfully many years. Charles Green, who came in about this time, took up a small piece of land, and also acted as pettifogger before the justices of the day; being in fact the first legal practitioner, though in a very humble way, in Middleburg township. Daniel Fairchild had a dish-factory on the falls at Berea, and supplied all the people around with wooden dishes. The central, northern and northeastern parts of the township were still mostly inhabited by bears, wolves, wild cats, etc., their chief stronghold being the swamp before mentioned. But there was a certain class of men who maintained a successful rivalry with these animals in the occupancy of the swamp. On a small island, or piece of firm ground, in the midst of the morass (as mentioned in the general history) a band of counterfeiters had established a shop and supplied it with tools, and there for many years they manufactured large quantities of bogus silver, commonly called Podunk money. They do not seem to have been disturbed by the officers of the law, at least for a long time, but they finally abandoned the location, leaving their factory behind them; probably for fear of discovery on account of the constantly increasing number of inhabitants. Even before Mr. Baldwin's arrival—probably soon after Vaughn's log gristmill was built—his customers from Middleburg, Strongsville, Brunswick, etc., observed that the flat rocks about four inches thick, which 1ay in the bottom of the river, had all the qualities of first class grindstones. So they broke off pieces, carried them home with their grists, trimmed off the edges as best they could, punched a square hole through the centre of each with an old chisel, set up a rude frame and used them for grinding their axes, scythes, etc. It took time to get the edges smooth, but when that was done they had better grindstones than those brought at great expense from Nova Scotia. Soon after Mr. Baldwin occupied the Vaughn place in 1828, he began breaking up the rocks into suitable sizes, trimming and perforating them with mallet and chisel, and selling them in the neighboring townships. The business increased, and in the winter of 1832 Mr. Baldwin hired a couple of stone-cutters to cut grindstones at the halves, he furnishing their board and the rough stone, and they contributing their labor. In the spring Mr. Baldwin bought the workmen's share, and soon after sold the whole to a trader from Canada. He shipped them by way of Cleveland; this being the first Berea stone sent to either Cleveland or Canada. Finding the business constantly increasing, Mr. 474 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. Baldwin, the next year (1833), set his Yankee wits to work to invent some easier method of cutting the stone than that with mallet and chisel. Taking a piece of whitewood scantling to a lathe in the neighborhood, he shaped it to the right form for a pattern, and then walked with it on his shoulder one moonlight night to Cleveland, where he had a " mandrel " cast according to the whitewood pattern. This mandrel or shaft was taken back to Middleburg, where it was fastened to the end of a water-wheel, which was hung under a sawmill. A square hole was made in an incipient grindstone with a chisel, the stone was placed on the mandrel and fastened with a key, and the wheel set in motion. The end of an iron bar was then .held against the edges and sides of the stone, a storm of sparks and a cloud of dust flew forth, and in a few moments a perfect grindstone was turned out. This was the first grindstone ever turned by machinery in this part of the country, and the invention was Mr. Baldwin's own, though possibly something of the kind may have been previously done in distant regions. So far as we can learn, however, this was the first instance anywhere in the world. For several years only a moderate) though steadily increasing, quantity of stones was turned out by the new process, but their fame gradually widened, and the foundation of a far larger business was laid. Of the subsequent development of that business we will speak farther on. In 1833 the first tavern was opened in the township, in the new framed house then built by Solomon Lovejoy, on the turnpike-the same which his son now employs for the like purpose. Another event of this period was the formation of the first temperance society in the township, and one of the first in northern Ohio, in 1832 or 1833. The use of whisky had previously been very prevalent in that region, and it was by no means entirely stopped thereafter, yet a temperance sentiment was then initiated in the community, which has since, in spite of many adverse influences, done much to restrain the curse of drunkenness. Immigration was still slow, and the north part of the township still remained a wolf-haunted wilderness. Along and near the turnpike, however, there was considerable settlement-by Messrs. Pomeroy, Smith, Bassett, Pebles, the Fullers and others, who, with those who had already located in that vicinity, gave that part of the township quite a cultivated appearance. Very few came to the west part of the township. Caleb Patterson who came to the vicinity of Berea with his father, Jonathan Patterson, in 1831, at the age of sixteen, describes the country as being almost entirely a wilderness at that period, in which the wolves howled nightly, close to the scattered farms of the settlers. Meanwhile the great paper-money inflation of 1834, 1835 and 1836 caused what was called the "flush times," when all sorts of speculative schemes were eagerly entered on by a sanguine public. Possibly this general excitement had something to do with the scheme about to be mentioned, though its salient features were religious and social rather than financial. In the autumn of 1836 Rev. Henry 0. Sheldon, a Methodist minister, and Mr. James Gilruth, came to reside in Middleburg on Rocky river. Mr. Sheldon was the first resident minister in the township. Although water power along the river had been utilized to a considerable extent, there was still nothing like a village there; there was no store and no physician in the township, and no hotel except the Lovejoy place over on the turnpike. Messrs. Sheldon and Gilruth were the. principal agents in establishing a "community" on Rocky river near the site of the depot, the members of which intended to hold their property and transact all their business in common. About twenty families moved in that year (1836), and over a thousand acres of land were purchased of the Grangers. By the death of Hon. Gideon Granger, the ownership of the unsold lands of Middleburg had passed to Francis Granger, the celebrated New York politician (postmaster-general under President Harrison), and the other heirs of the deceased. Some houses were bought, others were built, and the " community " speedily began its career; somewhat to the astonishment of the staid citizens of Middleburg. Only three resident families joined the association. Although the property of the society was owned in common, yet the residences and families of the members were entirely separate. Their business was directed by a board of twelve, known as the Apostles. They bought and repaired a sawmill and gristmill, put in crops the following spring, and for a brief time it seemed to some as if a new era had begun in modern civilization. The "community" was the more favorably regarded by the people at large as the members manifested none of the scepticism often manifested by social reformers. On the contrary they were zealous in the observance of their religious duties, and for the first time in Middleburg there was regular preaching every -Sabbath. Nevertheless, the experiment was a very brief one. When it came to the active operations of 1837, it was found that farming under the direction of twelve apostles would not do at all. Difficulties occurred incessantly, much bitterness of feeling was manifested, and in the course of a few months the whole scheme was given up. Most of the families concerned in the experiment moved away, and the "community," which was to inaugurate a new era of Christian co-operation, passed out of existence, leaving scarcely a trace behind. During this season Messrs. Sheldon and Gilruth procured the establishment of a new post office. The former wanted it called Berea; the latter Tabor. So they threw up a (half-dollar, (heads, Berea; tails, Tabor), and as Mr. Sheldon won, the first post office in the township received the name of Berea, which has since been extended not only to a thriving village