(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 500 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. 1874. Trustees, Henry Kuntz, Asa Emerson, Ralph James; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, Chas. Stearns. 1875. Trustees, Jacob Wetzel, Wm. Redrup, Philip Unkrich; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, John Hobbs. 1876. Trustees, Christ. Tauber, Madison Robb, Conrad Foster; clerk. S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, John Hobbs. 1877. Trustees, H. Deutzer, C. Tauber, A. McArthur; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, John Hobbs. 1878. Trustees, Win. Wagner, H. Krather, O. S. Emerson; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, Philip Klein. 1879. Trustees, Philip Unkricn, Chas. Forochner, O. S. Emerson; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, E. D. Cogswell. RELIGIOUS MATTERS. The first sermon heard in Parma was delivered in 1823, at the house of Asa Emerson, by Rev. Henry Hudson, of Royalton, a Baptist minister. Mr. Hudson was also a doctor, and having been called to attend at the birth of a daughter of Mr. Emerson, on a Saturday, he remained, and preached a sermon on the following day. A hasty notice was sent out, and the inhabitants gathered in full force at Mr. Emerson's house, and were refreshed with a renewal of their earlier religious experiences. Mr. Hudson preached in Parma quite often after that, and, as the early settlers in that township were principally Baptists, he never lacked hearers. Besides Mr. Hudson, Rev. Mr. Jackson, of Wooster, also preached to the Baptists of Parma, and although thus it will be seen that the Baptists were the only ones who enjoyed early religious worship in Parma, and yet, somewhat curiously, no church of that denomination was ever organized there. FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. This church was organized about 1830, in the southeast corner of the township, with but a handful of members, among whom were David Pond, John Johnson, J. W. Kilburn, Alfred Cleveland and Moses Ware with their wives. David Pond was the first deacon, and Moses Ware the first elder. In 1839 there was a great revival when forty persons were added to the membership, which rose in that year to sixty. Among the early preachers were Elders Randall and Walker, the latter of whom was the leading spirit in the revival just mentioned. The organization never owned a church-building, but used a school-house as a place of worship. Toward 1864, the membership grew small by degrees, and the church was dissolved in that year. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The first Presbyterian Church of Parma was organized as a Congregational Church November 7, 1835, with fourteen members, as follows: Samuel, Sarah, Sarah B. and Celinda Freeman, James M. Cogswell, Beulah G. Adams, Catherine Ann Ferrell, Mary II. Cogswell, Descom and Susan Chapin, Frederick and Harriet Cogswell, Catherine Ferrell and Arvin Kennedy. The first clerk was Frederick F. Cogswell, and the first elders, Samuel Freeman, James M. Cogswell and Descom Chapin. At the first meeting it was resolved " not to take for a member any person who is a dealer in, or manufacturer, of ardent spirits." On the 10th of January, 1836, the Lord's Supper was administered by Rev. B. B. Drake. The first minister was Rev. Benjamin Page, who agreed to give half his time for $400 a year. After Mr. Page, the ministers were Revs. V. D. Taylor, Phineas Kingsley, C. B. Stevens, J. D. Jenkins, — Edwards and others. The membership in 1842 was thirty-seven and in 1844 it was forty. In August, 1879, it was thirty-six. The church, although Congregational was attached to the presbytery of Cleveland from the outset, and in April, 1874, it changed entirely to the Presbyterian denomination. Public worship was held in a township school-house until 1841, when the edifice now used, was erected. The church has had no ordained minister for several years, being in 1879, supplied by Rev. Anson Smythe. The elders in that year were William J. Marshall, Jacob Bailey and William Cogswell. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH (REFORMED PROTESTANT). This congregation (German) was organized in 1858, and in that year built a brick church which is still used. Previous to that date, beginning in 1853, Rev. Philip Stempel, of Brighton, had preached to the German Protestants of Parma occasionally, in schoolhouses. At the building of the church, the trustees were Michael Hoag, Adam Hahn, George Bauer, and John Huber, the membership being then about twenty-five. The membership in August, 1879, was forty-four. The pastor at that time was Rev. Mr. Kraus, and the trustees were George Bauer, William Keyser, Michael Hahn and Gottfried Klanzinger. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.) In 1867 a division took place in the congregation of the German Reformed Protestant church of Parma; a portion withdrawing and forming a separate church, of the Evangelical Lutheran denomination, and they built a house of worship in 1868. At that time the membership was thirty-five, but it has been declining latterly, and now numbers but twenty. The first trustees were Michael Meyer, John Koch, and Gottleib the first minister was Rev. Mr. Fuehr. Rev. Paul Littke is the present minister. The trustees are John Koch, Michael Meyer, and Christian Koch. The deacons are Andrew Hoag, John Sharp and Deitrich Busch. CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY (GERMAN CATHOLIC.) Rev. Father Quigley commenced in 1872 to hold Catholic religious services at the house of Conrad Rohrbach in Parma, and at the close of that year the congregation included eleven families. In 1873 a church edifice was built upon a lot adjoining Mr. Rohrbach's residence, and there the Catholics of Parma have since worshiped. Conrad Rohrbach was the first trustee, and still serves as trustee, as does John ROCKPORT - 501 Gehring. Following Father Quigley as priests, were Rev. Fathers O'Brien, Kuhbler, Zampiel and Fidelius—the latter of whom is the present incumbent, and holds services once a fortnight. The average attendance numbers seventeen families. SCHOOLS. The first school taught in Greenbrier was conducted by Samuel Freeman, in his own house, during the winter of 1825. There Mr. Freeman taught his own children-of whom there were not a few—and those of such settlers as deemed book education one of the necessities of life. Parma's first school teacher was a well-educated man for those days, and he so trained his children that after him three of them, Samuel, Jr., Lawrence and Lyndon also became school teachers. The first school district in the township was set off in May, 1826. In this district was Benajah Fay, Samuel Freeman, Thomas Adams, John Hodgman, Amos Hodgman, Joseph Small, Peter Countryman, Asa Emerson, Jesse Nichols and Peletiah Bliss. The second school district was set off in December, 1826, in the northeast part of the township. At the same time the southeast corner of the township was made a portion of the fourth school district of Brecksville, and contained Benjamin and Asher Norton and Nelson Scovill. In 1879 Parma was divided into nine school districts, in which the number of school children, between the ages of six and sixteen, was three hundred and ninety. The amount appropriated for school purposes in that year was $2,000. POST OFFICE. Samuel Freeman was Parma's first postmaster; after him the office was held successively by William Humphrey, Oliver Emerson and Harry Humphrey. Oliver Emerson was then appointed to a second term, and has been the incumbent ever since. CHAPTER LXXXIII. ROCKPORT, * Boundaries and Surface-Detroit Street-Rocky River-Early Settlement -John Harbertson- Philo Taylor-The First Road-Daniel Miner -George Peake-Dr. Turner-A Sad Misfortune- Datus Kelley and Others-The Alger Settlement-Rufus Wright-Henry Clark and Others-Joseph Deanls Tannery-Burning of Mills-James Nicholson -Mars Wagar-Eliel Farr-Price French-David Harrington-Jonathan Parshall-First Death, Birth and Marriage-First Justice-Indians-A Great Bear Hnnt-An Early Temperance Pledge-Nineteen Voters to Eighteen Officers-First Bridge-A Slender Outfit- Going to Michigan to Mill-Granger Crty-Joseph Larwill-Henry Canfield- Township Organization-The First Voters-First Officers-List of Principal Officers-Post Offices-Rockport Methodist Church-The Baptist Church-First Congregational Church-Free Will Baptist Church-Rocky River Mission-First New Jerusalem Church-Detroit Street Methodist Church-St. Patrick's Church-German Evangelical Church-German Methodist Church-Church of the Ascension-St. Maryls Church-Schools-Detroit Street Special District-The Rest of the Township-Rockport Christian Temperance Union-The Temperance Sunday School-The Fruit Interest-Burial Places-Railways -Manufactures. ROCKPORT, one of the northern townships of Cuyahoga county, is number seven in range fourteen, in * The early expeditions through Rockport and the wreck of Bradstreet's expedition in that township are narrated in the forepart of the general history of the county. the survey of the Western Reserve, and lies upon the southern shore of Lake Erie. It contains twenty-one full sections of a mile square eaoh, and four fractional sections, the size of which is reduced by the lake. The township is bounded on the north by Lake Erie; on the south by Middleburg township; on the east by Brooklyn, and on the west by Dover. The surface of the country is level and the soil is generally productive, especially along the lake shore, where a rich fruit belt contributes largely to the wealth and prosperity of the township. South of that belt, fruit is also considerably cultivated but general farming is more largely followed, and with very profitable results. As a rule, the farmers are intelligent, thrifty and prosperous, their well cultivated and well appointed farms showing their success in life; while their handsome dwellings—which in very many cases might properly be called elegant—testify to the taste as well as the prosperity of the owners. Detroit street, as the extension of that street into Rockport is commonly called, follows the lake shore from the township line to Rocky river, an avenue of more than ordinary pretensions, and is also a drive much frequented by the citizens of Cleveland. Bordering it on either side are numerous handsome and costly suburban residences, set in the midst of tastefully kept grounds, and presenting on a summer day in connection with the smiling fields, the numerous patches of woodland and the broad expanse of the lake, a scene of beauty seldom surpassed. Rocky river, a rugged but shallow stream, flows through Rockport from the southern line near the southwestern corner in an exceedingly crooked course to the lake, passing nearly the whole distance between high and abrupt embankments, which at the river's mouth are handsomely wooded, and present a very picturesque appearance. Here also, in summer, people from Cleveland daily resort in large numbers, to enjoy the beauties of nature and to rejoice in the invigorating breezes which are wafted landward over the billowy bosom of Lake Erie. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first white person to settle in the township of Rockport (so goes an old record by Henry Alger, himself a settler in Rockport in 1812) was John Harbert- son (or Harberson), an Irish refugee, who, with his family, located in the spring of 1809 upon the east side of Rocky river near its month. In the same year, and about the same time, Wm. McConley, who came over from Ireland with Harbertson, settled in Rockport upon a place now known as Van Scoter bottom. Neither Harbertson nor McConley tarried long in their new homes, whence they removed about 1810; Harbertson going to Huron county, where he resided until his death. In 1808, Philo Taylor, who had moyed from New York to Cleveland in 1806, agreed with Harmon Canfield and Elisha Whittlesey, as agents and owners of land in what is now Rockport, to locate in that town- 502 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. ship. On the 10th of April in that year he landed with his family from an open beat at the mouth of Rocky river. He selected a place 071 the east side of the river opposite the site of the Patchen House, put up a cabin and began a clearing. By 1809 he had effected material improvements there. At that time, Mr. Canfield, who had verbally agreed that Taylor should have the place, informed him that be would have to select some other spot, since it had been decided by the proprietors to lay out a town near the mouth of the river, and that the lot originally selected by Taylor would be wanted for that purpose. At this Mr. Taylor became exceedingly wroth. He sold his improvements to Daniel Miner, launched a curse against the month of Rocky river, and removed with his family to Dover. Until 1809 there was no highway between Cleveland and the Huron river, that whole region being au almost unbroken wilderness. In that year the legislature made an appropriation for a public road between these points, and selected Ebenezer Merry, Nathaniel Doan and Lorenzo Carter to superintend the work. This road crossed Rocky river near its mouth, and was the only one west of Cleveland until 1814 or 1815. Daniel Miner, who bought out Philo Taylor in 1809, came from Homer, New York, in that year and occupied Taylor's old improvements. In 1812 he began to build a mill upon what is still known as the "mill lot." Before it was completed Miner died, in February, 1813. Despite of Canfield's sanguine expectations, the Taylor lot was never employed as a part of the proposed town which indeed never existed save on paper. Miner kept a tavern and a ferry there in 1811. He shortly afterward bought out Harbertson on the same side of the river, and kept tavern in his old house in 1812. In 1809 the public highway, above referred to, being completed to Rocky river, one George Peake, a mulatto, and his family were the first to pass over it in a wagon, by which they journeyed from Cleveland to Rocky river, locating on the place lately owned by John Barnum. Peake had been a soldier in the British army, and was in General Wolf's command at the taking of Quebec. Locating in Maryland he had married a black woman reputed to have owned "a balf bushel of dollars." Ile had settled with her in Pennsylvania, had raised a family of children, and when he moved to Rockport was accompanied by two grown sons—George and Joseph; two others—James and Henry—following soon after. The Peakes introduced an improvement in the form of a hand gristmill, which was exceedingly well liked by the few settlers, as grinding had previously been accomplished by means of the "stump mortar and spring- pole pestle." George Peake died in September, 1827, at the great age of one hundred and five. In 1811 Doctor John Turner, a brother-in-law of Daniel Miner, came from the State of New York and located on the farm afterwards owned by Governor Wood. Two years afterward, while the doctor and his wife were away from home, their residence was burned to the ground and their two children were destroyed with it. After this calamity the family removed to Dover. While the Turners liyed in Rockport the newcomers were Jeremiah Van Scoter, John Pitts, Datus Kelley and Chester Dead a brother-in- law of Kelley. Van Scoter located upon the place now known as Van Scoter's bottom, and after remaining a year removed to Huron county. Mr. Kelley occupied the place now owned by George Merwin. In 1834, with his brother Ira, he bought the now famous Kelley Island. On the 7th of June, 1812, Nathan Alger, with his wife and sonsHenry, Herman, Nathan, Jr., and Thaddeus P.—and his son-in-law, John Kidney, all from Litchfield county, Conn., settled upon sections twelve and thirteen, and founded what is to this day known as the Alger settlement. Two days later, Benjamin Robinson, afterwards son-in-law of Nathan Alger, came in from Vermont and took up a place in that settlement. Nathan Alger, Sr., died January 21, 1813, being the first white person who died in the township. Samuel Dean, with his sons Joseph and Aaron IV., moved into the township in 1814. Samuel Dean died in 1840, aged 85; his son Chester died in 1855; Horace B. Alger and Dyer Nichols came in during the fall of 1812. Benjamin Robinson, above referred to, was a famous hunter, and much addicted to a roving life; priding himself, indeed, upon his Indian habits. Ile became eventually an industrious member of the Alger settlement, but in his old age fell into evil ways, paid the penalty, and died in poverty at the age of ninety. Rufus Wright, a soldier of the war of 1812, removed in 1816 from Stillwater, N. Y., to Rockport, and bought of Gideon Granger three-quarters of an acre of land, now occupied in part by the Patchen House, on the west side of Rocky river,. near its mouth. He paid $300 for it, evidently sharing Granger's belief that there was destined to be a great city near the natural harbor at the mouth of Rocky river. Wright put up a framed tavern of considerable size, and from 1816 to 1853 the house remained in the possession of the Wright family, passing in the latter year to Mr. Silverthorn. As the Patchen House, it is a remodeled and improved structure. still containing, however, a portion of the old building. A part of the old tavern is now used by the widow of John Williams as a residence, a little south of the Patchen House. Mr. Wright built half of the first bridge at that point, kept a ferry there for some years, and assisted in cutting out the first road west of the river. About the time of Wright's settlement, Henry Clark, John James, Charles Miles, and Josoph Sizer came into the township, and between the years 1816 and 1820 Clark and James were al so tavern keepers on the west side. The first tavern kept in the township was, as already recorded, the one opened by ROCKPORT - 503 Daniel Miner, to whom the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county issued a license in March, 1811, renewing it in 1812, and also granting a license to keep a ferry. This tavern was only a log cabin, eighteen feet by twenty-four, and stood on the east side of the river, near the end of the present bridge. For somc years after Miner's death his widow carried on the tavern, previous to which, for a brief period, Moses Eldred, who located in the township in the spring of 1813, kept the stand. Joseph, a son of Samuel Dean, who settled in Rockport in 1814, built and carried on the first tannery in the township, on the north ridge, where Lucius Dean now resides. In 1815 Joseph Larwill—afterwards the founder of Granger City-built a mill near the mouth of Rocky river, but before he pat it in operation it was burned to the ground. A similar fate befell a mill which was built on the same spot in 1818 by Erastus and Charles Johnson. In 1817 Datus Kelly built a sawmill in section sixteen, on the creek that crosses the north ridge. James Nicholson, at the age of twenty, traveled in 1803, afoot, from Barnstable county, Connecticut, to Trumbull county-, Ohio, whence, after a residence of fifteen years, he moved, in 1818, to Rockport, where he had purchased two hundred and seventy acres of land. Upon a portion of that land his son, Ezra Nicholson, now lives. Of James Nicholson's two children, who came with him, a daughter—Mrs. Elias Paddock, of Olmstead—is still living. Upon his arrival he put up a log cabin, and at that time was the only settler between the Cuyahoga and Rocky rivers. In 1826 he erected a framed house a little west of where Ezra Nicholson now lives, and shortly afterward opened it as a tavern. Mr. Nicholson resided in Rockport until his death, which occurred in Rockport, when he had reached the age of seventy-six. Mars Wagar, with his wife, Keturah, moved from Ontario county, New York, to Cleveland in 1818, and in 1820 proceeded to Rockport, where he had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, in section twenty-two, from Francis, son of Gideon Granger. He died in Rockport in 1841, leaving a widow and several children, the former of whom still lives on the old homestead, at the age of eighty-five. Her sons, Adam M. and Israel D., are prominent citizens of Rockport. In April, 1819, Eliel Farr, a farmer and surveyor, with his sons, Aurelius, Eliel, Jr. and Algernon, came into Rockport from Pennsylvania, and settled upon section sixteen. Price French left Ontario county, New York, in 1818, and settled in Indiana. He moved from there to Rockport in 1828, with his wife and six children, and located upon the place now occupied by Ezra Nicholson. He disposed of that portion of the farm to James Nicholson, and afterwards occupied the place where his son, A. G. French, now resides. David Herrington, who went to Middleburg, Ohio, from Otsego county, New York, in 1821, settled two years later in Rockport, upon the place now occu pied by his widow. William and Mary Jordan located in 1827 upon the '' Jordan place," on the Dover plank road. Mrs. Jordan still resides upon the old homestead, surrounded by her children. Jonathan Parshall moved from New York to Rockport in 1821, purchased an acre of ground of Mars Wagar, and put up a log cabin near the house of the latter. Parshall was a house-carpenter, and also taught school a few weeks in Rockport, but he was not very industrious, and in the course of time, being unable to pay even for his acre of land, he was dispossessed of it. EARLY INCIDENTS. Mention has already been made of the fact that Nathan Alger, Sr., was the first person to die in the township. The first white child born in the township was Egbert, son of Philo Taylor, who was born in November, 1809. Addison, son of Datus Kelley, was the second, born in June, 1812, and the third was Philana D., daughter of Henry Alger, born in December, 1812. The first couple resident in the township, who were married, were Benjamin -Robinson and Amelia Alger, who were wedded in Cleveland November 5, 1812, by George Wallace, Esq. There was no wedding in the township until January, 1814. Chester Dean, of Rockport, and Lucy, daughter of Abner Smith, of Dover, were united by George Wallace, Esq., at the house of Datus Kelley. Visitors to this wedding came from miles around upon ox-sleds, and the occasion, so says tradition, " was one of great merriment." The first justice of the peace was Charles Miles, who was elected June 24, 1819. In that year, at a State election, but thirteen votes were polled in the township. Previous to 1812, Indians used to rendezvous in numbers at the mouth of Rocky river, and on an island in that stream they buried several of their dead. Upon that island, too, they left their canoes during the winter, while they went into the interior for game. Upon returning in the spring, they were in the habit of building a fire at the head of each grave on the island. The Indians were friendly to the whites before the war of 1812, but on the outbreak of that conflict, many of them joined Tecumseh, and none of them ever returned. A great " bear hunt" was organized in 1820, and the command entrusted to Joseph Dean, a famous Nimrod of the time. The line of the hunt reached from Rocky river to Black river, and included a small army of hunters. Of bears they got few, but the oatch of deer was abundant. The hunt wound up with a grand jolhfication where at whisky played an important part, as in truth it invariably did in all public, and many private events of the time. Whisky drinking was exceedingly popular and doubtless pernicious. At all events so thought Datus Kelley, who at a township meeting in 1827 astonished the company by presenting a temperance pledge for 504 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. signatures. There was a storm of opposition, and a loud outcry against what was called Kelley's onslaught upon liberty, but despite such a beginning, Mr. Kelley persevered in his purpose and eventually succeeded in gaining many adherents to the cause. At the first township election but nineteen voters lived in Rockport and as there were eighteen offices to fill it was remarked after the election that every man in the township either held an office, kept a tavern or owned a sawmill. The first bridge across Rocky river near its mouth was built in 1821, by subscriptions, Rufus Wright paying about one-half the expense. There was a great gathering at the raising of the bridge, which consumed a week. When it was accomplished, Captain Wright invited all hands to his tavern, where the whisky jug passed merrily around and where the event was celebrated in so hilarious a manner that eyen the "'Squire" himself danced a jig on a table among tumblers and bottles, while the rest of the company cheered his efforts by singing Yankee Doodle. A sketch of the early experiences of the Algers, written by Henry Alger, narrates that when he reached Rockport, June 7, 1812, his personal property consisted of an axe, an old French watch, part of a kit of shoemaker's tools, a bed and seven cents in cash. As he had borrowed ten dollars to pay his way to Rockport, he was in no mood to idle away his time, but began at once to put up his log cabin, and furnished it with a "catamount" bedstead, a shoemaker's bench and two stools. With that outfit he and his wife set up housekeeping. The only kitchen ware they had at first was an old broken iron tea kettle which young Alger happened to find on the lake shore. In the fall of 1812 Mr. Alger went thirty-six miles west of Painesville and threshed wheat for Ebenezer Merry, receiving every tenth bushel for his labor. This shows plainly enough that breadstuffs were very scarce and high at that time. In 1813 Mr. Alger went to Cleveland to get salt, and for fifty-six pounds of that commodity he worked nine days for S. S. Baldwin, and then carried it home afoot on his back. In a similar way he obtained flour —by chopping timber for Capt. Hoadley of Columbia. I le chopped an acre of timber for one hundred pounds of flour, and carried the latter home on his back—a distance of ten miles. When Philo Taylor first settled in Rockport, in 1808, he went to mill in an open boat to the river Raisin, in the State of Michigan. The corn mills in Rockport at that early day were hollowed stumps for mortars, in which the grain was ground with what was called the spring-pole pestle. In 1810 a mail route between Cleveland and Detroit was established through Rockport. The mail, which weighed six or seyen pounds, was carried on foot in a valise, by three men, stationed along the line. GRANGER CITY. In 1815, Joseph Larwill, of Wooster, Ohio, came to Rockport and purchased the "mill lot" on the east side of the river, and also a tract on the west side near the mouth, where, with Gideon Granger, John Bever and Calvin Pease, he laid out a city, which was called Granger, in honor of Gideon Granger, a large land owner in Rockport and other parts of the Reserve. A sale of the lots was widely advertised, and on the appointed day a great number of people were assembled from a considerable distance. Lots were sold at high rates; some bringing *60 each; the excitement ran high, and Gamin & Co. felt assured of a fortune. The first cabin built upon the site of the new city was put up by Charles Miles near where the Patchen House now stands, and in 1816 John Dowling, George Reynolds and Capt. Foster also erected cabins. In the same year, John James, of Boston, bought out Miles, who then located on the farm afterwards owned by Gov. Wood. James, who had brought out a small stock of goods, opened a store, and also a tavern, both of which he carried on until his death in 1820. In 1816, too, as already stated, Rufus Wright built a tavern there; and there were also several other settlers in the new city at that time, including Asahel Porter, Eleazer Waterman, Josephus B. Lizer and Henry Canfield, the last of whom built what was long known as " Canfield's old store." Mr. Canfield came from Trumbull county, Ohio, the home of his father, who had bought considerable land in Rockport. One day he met at his store a lady who had journeyed alone, on horseback, from Connecticut to Royalton, to visit her sister. He fell in love with her at first sight, married her shortly afterward, and moved with her to a farm east of the river, now owned by Collins French. He lived there but a short time, however, before returning to Trumbull county. One Fluke, a German, and a potter by trade, came from Wooster and settled in Granger City in 1817, and began to make brown earthenware. Shortly after that Henry Clark came along and opened a tavern, and one Scott moved from Painesville to join Larwill in the erection of a mill. They had got up the frame of a dam when winter set in, but in the spring the floods Washed it entirely away. This deeply discouraged Mr. Larwill regarding the future of Granger City, and he abandoned the undertaking in disgust. The city struggled on a short time after this, but all kinds of business were soon abandoned there, and even the few scattered cabins were speedily deserted by their inmates. ORGANIZATION. Rockport was formed as a civil township in February, 1819, and on the first Monday in the following April it held its first election at Rufus Wright's tavern. Those who voted at that election were Rufus Wright, Asahel Porter, Henry Canfield, Samue1 Dean, Chester Dean, Joseph Dean, Dyer Nichols, Daniel Bardin, John Kidney, John Pitts, John James, Chas. Miles, Erastns Johnson, Charles Johnson, Josephus B. Sizer, Datus Kelley, Jas. Nicholson, Benjamin Robinson and Henry Alger. JOHN P. SPENCER. Jonathan Spencer, the father of our subject, was born at East Greenwich, R. I., Dec. 6, 1778. He married Miss Mollie Jones, a native of the same town, who was born Nov. 27, 1781. In 1803 be emigrated to Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., where he purchased a farm. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and in later years a shoemaker. He resided in that State until 1834, when he came to Olmsted Falls, Cuyahoga Co., where he died Feb. 7, 1837. His wife's death occurred Feb. 10, 1835. John P. Spencer was the second son and child of a family of eight children of this worthy couple. He was born at Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., May 24, 1805. His education was limited to what could be procured at the district school. In early life he assisted his father. At the age of twenty-one he left home and was employed on the farm for four seasons, in the winter teaching school. In 1830 he left Brookfield and came to Ohio to seek his fortune. He selected one hundred and twenty-five acres of fertile land (which was at that time an unbroken forest) in the southwestern part of Rockport, with the intention of making it his home. On the 13th of March, 1832, he married Miss Electa M., daughter of Junia and Hannah (Ingraham) Beach. To this worthy woman should be attributed an equal share of the success which has attended them. They now have the means to obtain the comforts and enjoyments that a life of industry and prudent forethought will secure. Their home is known for its hospitality, and the unfortunate are never turned away unaided. Mr. Spencer added to his landed possessions, so that at one time he owned two hundred and twenty- five acres, but he has made such liberal distributions of property to his children, that he has now remaining only his original homestead. Mrs. Spencer was born in Norfolk, Litchfield Co., Conn., May 21, 1811. They have six children, all of whom are living : Henry B., born June 24, 1833; is unmarried, and lives with his father. Mary R., born March 25, 1835; was married Nov. 27, 1853, to James A. Potter. Hannah L., born Jan. 17, 1837; was married Feb. 2, 1860, to Francis W. Mastick. Amos B., born Jan. 21, 1839; was married March 21, 1861, to Miss Nellie Mastick. John W., born June 30, 1841. During the war of the Rebellion he served as a volunteer for three and a half years in the 15th Ohio Battery. He was married Dec. 24, 1866, to Miss Deborah, Goldwood. Frank J., born Sept. 16, 1849; was married Nov. 25, 1872, to Miss Lou Palmer. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are now nearing their fifty years of married life. Their children are living on farms, all within a mile of them. Their grandchildren are growing up around them, and their declining years are made happy and pleasant by the satisfaction of knowing that their posterity are worthy citizens of the town of their birth. Upon arriving at the age required in his native State to perform military duty, Mr. Spencer was elected to fill an office in the company to which he belonged, and afterwards received a commission as ensign from Martin Van Buren, then Governor of New York, which he held until he removed to Ohio. Politically, Mr. Spencer originally belonged to the Democratic party, but upon the breaking out of the war he became a Republican. Though never seeking the emoluments of office, yet he has, in years past, filled positions of trust in the township with honor and integrity, and is frequently consulted by his neighbors and friends, by whom his advice is thought worthy of respect and consideration. ROCKPORT - 505 The chairman of the meeting was Charles Miles; the judges of election were Asahel Porter and Datus Kelley. The officers chosen were Henry Alger, Rufus Wright and Erastus Johnson, trustees; Henry Canfield, clerk; James Nicholson and Samuel Dean, overseers of the poor; Benjamin Robinson and Joseph Dean, fence-viewers; Joseph Dean, lister. The first book of township records has been lost, and the list of those who have served the township as trustees, clerks and treasurers, can be given only from 1832 to 1879. For that period it is as follows: 1832. Trustees, Dyer Nichols, Jared Hickcox, Chas. Warner; clerk, Dyer Eaton; treasurer, Calvin Giddings. 1833. Trustees, Alanson Swan, Dyer Nichols, John B. Robertson; crerk, Geo T. Barnum; treasurer, Ira Cunningham. 1834. Trustees, Alanson Swan, l'aul G. Burch, James S. Anthony; clerk, Geo. T. Barnum; treasurer, Ira Cunningham. 1835. Trustees, Alanson Swan, Jas. S. Anthony, Jas. Stranahan; crerk, Isaac P. Lathrop; treasurer, Solomon Pease. 1836. Trustees, Jas. S. Anthony, Collins French, Henry Alger; clerk, Isaac P. Lathrop; treasurer, Solomon Pease; 1837. Trustees, Epaphroditus Wells. Joseph Dean, Benjamin Mastic; clerk, Isaac P. Lathrop; treasurer, Solomon Pease. 1838. Trustees, ,Joel Deming, Jas. S. Anthony, Guilson Morgan; clerk, Geo. T. Barnum; treasurer, Solomon Pease. 1839 Trustees, Obadiah Munn, Israel Kidney, Elial Farr; clerk, Geo. T. Barnum; treasurer, Solomon Pease. 1840. Trustees, Eliel Farr, Obadiah Munn, Jonathan Plimpton; clerk, Timothy S. Brewster; treasurer, Solomon Pease. 1841. Trustees, Asia Pease, Dyer Nichols, Israel Kidney; clerk, A. S. Lewis; treasurer, Solomon Pease. 1842. Trustees, Asia Pease, J. D. Gleason, P. G. Burch; clerk, G. T. Barnum; treasurer, R. Millard. 1843. Trustees, Eliel Farr, W. D. Bell, John P. Spencer; clerk, Timothy S. Brewster; treasurer, Royal Millard. 1844. Trustees, Chauncey Deming, Aurelius Farr, Benjamin Stetson; clerk, Aaron Merchant; treasurer, Royal Millard. 1845. Trustees, Chauncey Deming, Joseph Leese, Dyer Nichols; clerk, Theophilus Crosby; treasurer, John D. Taylor; 1946. Trustees, Chauncey Deming, John P. Spencer, o. W. Hotchkiss; clerk, Theophilus Crosby; treasurer, John D. Taylor. 1847. Trustees, Hanford Conger, Aurelius Farr, Jas. Stranahan ; clerk, Royal Millard; treasurer, Benjamin Lowell. 1848. Trustees, Hanford Conger, Chauncey Deming, Benjamin Mastick; clerk, G. T. Barnum; treasurer, F. G. Lewis. 1849. Trustees, Aurelius Farr. Osborne Case, Benjamin Mastick, clerk, G. T. Barnum; treasurer, F. G. Lewis. 1850. Trustees, Royal Millard, Aurelius Farr, Wm. B. Smith; clerk, G. T. Barnum; treasurer, Truman S. Wood. 1851. Trustees, Aurelius Farr, Thomas Hurd, Jas. Stranahan; clerk, G. T. Barnum; treasurer, Isaac Higby. 1852. Trustees, Aurelius Farr, Thos. Hurd, John West; clerk, John Barnum; treasurer, Lewis Rockwell. 1853. Trustees, John P. Spencer, John Freeborn, Chauncey Deming; clerk, John Barnum; treasurer, Horace Dean. 1854. Trustees, Frederick Wright, Ezra Bassett, John Blank; clerk, John Barnum; treasurer, Horace Dean. 1855. Trustees, Edward Hayward, Ezra Bassett, A. Cleveland; clerk, John Barnum; treasurer, Horace Dean. 1856. Trustees, J. T. Storey, Thos. Hurd, Benj. Mastick; clerk, Lucius Dean; treasurer, Horace Dean. 1857. Trustees, John F. Storey, Benjamin Mastick, Obadiah Munn: clerk, Lucius Dean; treasurer, 0. W. Hotchkiss. 1858. Trustees, John F. Storey, Richard McCrary, Lucius Dean; clerk, John Barnum; treasurer, 0. W. Hotchkiss. 1859. Trustees, John F. Storey. Obadiah Munn, John Farr; clerk, A. M. Wagar, treasurer, 0. W. Hotchkiss. 1860. Trustees, Thos. Hurd. Benjamin Mastick, James Potter; clerk, Edwin Giddings; treasurer, O. W. Hotchkiss. 1861. Trustees, Thos. Hurd, Geo. Reitz, A. Kyle; clerk, Robert Fleury, treasurer, William Sixt. 1862. Trustees, Thos. Hurd, Geo. Reitz, Wrn. Jordon; clerk, A. M. Wager; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1863. Trustees, Thos. Hurd, Geo. Reitz, Thos. Morton; clerk, A. M. Wagar; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1864. Trustees, Thos. Hurd, Wm. Tentler, Calvin Pease; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1865. Trustees, Wm. Tentler, Wm. L. Jordon, F. G. Bronson; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1866. Trustees, John F. Storey, F. Colbrunn, A. M. Wager; clerk, John Barnum; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1867. Trustees, Allen Armstrong, F. Colbrunn, Alfred French; clerk John Barnum; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1868. Trustees, Anthony Cline, Lewis Nicholson, John Gahan; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1869 and 1870. Trustees, John Gahan, Anthony Cline, Geo. W. Andrews; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1871 and 1872. Trustees, ,John Gahan, Geo. W. Andrews, Henry Southworth; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1873. Trustees, G. T. Pease, Geo. W. Andrews, John Gahan; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1874. Trustees, G. T. Pease, Anthony Cline, John Gahan; clerk, Andrew Kyle; treasurer, Wm. Sixt. 1875. Trustees, Anthony Cline, J. W. West, Fred Baker; clerk, 0. P. Stafford; treasurer. Wm. Sixt. 1876. Trustees, A. M. Wagar, John W. West, Anthony Cline; clerk, H. A. Mastick; treasurer, B. F. Phinney. 1877. Trustees, L. A. Palmer, J. W. West, A. M. Wager; clerk, Edwin Giddings; treasurer, B. F. Phinney. 1878 and 1879. Trustees, A. M. Wagar, George Fauchter, Geo. W. Andrews; clerk, E. P. Thompson; treasurer, B. F. Phinney. POST OFFICES. The first postmaster in Rockport was probably a Mr. Goodwin, who, about 1827, kept an office at Rocky riyer, on the old stage route. In 1829 the stage route was changed so that it passed over " hog Back Hill," and crossed the river about a mile and a half above the mouth. Then Calvin Giddings, living on Hog Back hill, was appointed postmaster. After a while Giddings moved across the river and took the post office with him. About 1834 the office was returned to the mouth of the river, and Rufus Wright, who then kept tavern there, was appointed postmaster. The office remained at Wright's until about 1852. Abraham, Philip and Frederick, sons of Rufus Wright, being successively postmasters there. In 1852 the office was removed a mile south, where Herman Barnum kept it it year, being succeeded, in 1853, by Benjamin Phinney, who kept a store there. He retained the office until his death in 1864. The office was then again returned to the mouth of the river, where John Williams was the postmaster until 1865. Another change then took the office up the river about two miles, to the house of Andrew Kyle, who continued to be the postmaster there until 1875. This year the office was removed northward to the store of B. F. Phinney, who has been the incumbent since that time. A post office was again established at Rocky river in 1877, at the Cliff House, with William Hall as postmaster. He was followed by A. T. Van Tassel, and he by James Starkweather; the latter being the present incumbent. Horace Dean, who kept store there, was the first postmaster at East Rockport. After his time the incumbents have been 0. W. Hotchkiss, William B. Smith, Jacob Tagardine, Adam Wagar and Joseph Howe, the latter being the postmaster during the present year, 1879. ROCKPORT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Methodists residing in Rockport, on the west side of the river, enjoyed irregular worship in schoolhouses and priyate residences until 1847, when a house of worship was erected about a mile and a half west of the mouth of Rocky river. The first class was organized in 1828. William Jordan was the 506 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. leader; the other members being Dyer Eaton, Mrs. Mary Jordan, -- Whiting, Bennett, Philena Alger, Sarah Doty, Polly Jordan and Sallie Usher. The organization took place in William Jordan's log cabin, and there worship was held for some time afterward. The first preacher was Rev. Henry O. Sheldon, a most industrious laborer in the moral vineyard. Upon the erection of the church building, in 1847, the trustees were John D. Taylor, John Barnes, Henry Ranch, Benjamin Lowell and Sidney Lowell. The church membership is now fifty. The leader is C. S. Giddings, who is also the secretary of the society. The present trustees are S. H. Brown, Mark Able, C. S. Giddings, F. McMahon, Ira Burlingame, C. N. Wise and Charles Cuddeback. The present pastor is Rev. John McKean. BAPTIST CHURCH. This body was organized May 27, 1832, with the following members: Gideon Watrous, Royal Millard, John Dike, Fanny Watrous, Amelia Robinson, Sarah Herrington, Anna Millard, Lydia Dike and Fannie M. Nichols. In 1838 a dissension arose, when several members withdrew and organized a new church on the opposite, or west, side of the river. The dissenters engaged Rev. Moses Ware as a settled minister, but their separate organization lasted only a short time. About 1842 they returned to the mother church. The latter received from 1832 to 1847 one hundred and twenty-five members, but in the last named year the congregation had so far declined in strength that regular worship was abandoned. A further lapse of two years, failing to disclose any renewed vitality, the few remaing members met on the 20th of February, 1850, and formally voted to dissolve the organization. A commodious meeting-house had been erected by the society, being completed in June, 1846. This house of worship—long known as " the Tabernacle"-has, since 1850, been given over to free public use for religious worship, public entertainments, etc., and has for many years been in active demand, especially on Sabbath days. The Baptists gathered from time to time, after 1850, for worship in the tabernacle, and had frequent preaching about 1860 and afterwards, but no reorganization of the church has been effected. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. This church was organized in 1835, but very little can be said touching its early history. Its existence was limited to a few years, and the records of those years are lost. The church was revived and reorganized, however, on the 24th of July, 1859, when Benjamin Mastick, Russell Hawkins, Lydia Hawkins, Louisa Trisket, Mary C. Kinney, Silas Gleason, Labrina Gleason, Andrew Kyle and Susannah Kyle comprised the number who were received into membership. The first deacons under the reorganization were Ezra Bassett and Silas Gleason, and the first pastor was Rev. N. Cobb. His successors were Revs. J. B. Allen, E. T. Fowler, O. W. White and E. H. Votaw, the latter being the pastor in charge in July 1, 1879, when the membership was thirty-five. In October, 1869, the church dissolved the connection which it had previously maintained with the Presbyterian organization, and was taken into the Sullivan, Ohio, Congregational Association. The church building now in use was erected in 1861. The present trustees are L. A. Palmer, William Andrews, and A. Barter; the deacons, William Andrews and A. Barter; the clerk, B. Barter. THE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. A Free Will Baptist church was organized in Rockport about 1840, and in 1843 included the following members: Obadiah Munn and wife, John Warren and wife, Jeremiah Gleason and wife, Joseph Coon and wife, Prosser Coon and wife, J. M. Plimpton and wife, Thomas Alexander and wife, Israel Kidney and wife, James Kidney and wife, Sarah and Joseph Hall. Elder Reynolds, the first minister, preached until about 1847. He was succeeded by Elder Prentiss but afterward returned and preached a second term. After him Elders Beebe, Polton and others supplied the pulpit. After worshiping in school-houses until 1846, the congregation built a church on Hilliard avenue, opposite where the Good Templar's Hall now stands. At no time very prosperous, the society declined materially in strength for two or three years previous to 1858, and in that year was dissolved. The The church building served until 1877 as a place of worship for various denominations, when it was purchased by Mr. F. Wagar, who removed it to his farm and converted it into a store-house. ROCKY RIVER CHRISTIAN MISSION (DISCIPLE). This was not regularly organized until January 5, 1879, although a house of worship was built in the winter of 1877 and '78 and dedicated June 16, 1878. The original members were James Cannon and wife, J. C. Cannon and wife, William Southern and wife, Joseph Southern and wife, Peter Bower, Miss Ella Woodbury, Miss Lou Atwell. James Cannon was chosen trustee; and Elder J. C. Cannon, who was the first preacher, continues to occupy that relation. The membership on the 1st day of July, 1879, was thirty-seven. FIRST NEW JERUSALEM (SWEDENBORGIAN) CHURCH. Preyious to 1841 there were several families of the Swedenborgian faith in Rockport, James Nicholson and Mars Wagar being leading believers. Rev. M. McCarr, of Cincinnati, was invited to come out and form a church, which he did on the 4th of September, 1841, in a school-house near Rocky river. The first members were W. D. Bell and wife, Osborne Case, James Nicholson and wife, I. D. Wagar and wife, Delia Paddock, A. M. Wagar, Boadicea and Diantha LEWIS NICHOLSON. The ancestors of this gentleman were from Massachusetts, and removed in the early part of this century to the unsettled country of the West. Hailing from a State that early had the reputation of producing men of education and culture, in removing to other localities they carried the same characteristics with them. Our subject's father, James, was born at Chatham, Barnstable Co., Mass., April 16, 1783. When four years of age his father changed his residence to Connecticut. Arriving at the age of manhood he emigrated to Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he was married, May 5, 1812, to Miss Betsey Bartholomew, who was born at Waterbury, Conn., Nov. 9, 1793. In 1818 he removed to Rockport, Cuyahoga Co. At that time there was but one house between his residence and the west bank of the Cuyahoga River. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and ended a peaceful life Nov. 11, 1859. His wife surviyed him nearly a score of years, but departed this life Jan. 8, 1879. Lewis, the second son of the above couple, was born in the town of his father's adoption, Feb. 6, 1820. His education was limited to what could be procured at the public schools, with two terms passed at an academy located at Kirtland, Lake Co., Ohio. After leaving school he determined to devote himself to the vocation in life pursued by his father, and accordingly purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Rockport, which is the same on which he now resides. In 1850 he embarked in the nursery business in connection with farming, and has given much attention to that branch ever since. Mr. Nicholson has been twice married. Sept. 8, 1840, he married Adelaide, daughter of Adnah Van Horn, of Rockport. She was born May 11, 1820, at Providence, R. I.; for nearly a quarter-century she was his companion, but passed away Dec. 10, 1870. Becoming tired of his lonely life, he married, Sept. 1, 1874, Miss Amanda Sears, a native of Delaware Co., N. Y., who was born Feb. 29, 1828. Republican in politics, Mr. Nicholson has been called by his fellow-citizens a number of times to fill local offices. In religious belief he is an earnest follower of the doctrines of Swedenborg, and is a member of that church. Mr. Nicholson is one of the true sons of the soil, who in all things is conscientious and unpretending, and not ambitious above his vocation in life, in which he has had a full measure of success. ROCKPORT - 507 Thayer, James Newman, Jane E. Johnson, Susanna Parshall, Mars Wagar and wife, James Coolahan and wife, Asa Dickinson and wife, Richard Hooper and wife, Matilda Wagar, Mary Berthong and John Berry. The first trustees were W. D. Bell, James Nicholson and I. D. Wagar. The first ordained minister was Rev. Richard Hooper who had been a Methodist preacher in Rockport, and who is said to have been suddenly converted, at a camp meeting, to the new faith. He was ordained directly after the four tion just mentioned, and labored vigorously four years as the pastor. Succeeding him the ordained ministers have been Revs. W. G. Day ( who preached ten years), L. P. Mercer, D. Noble, John Saal, and Geo. L. Stearns, the present incumbent, who was ordained in 1876. The church membership now 'numbers about forty. The society worshiped in the Rocky River schoolhouse until 1848, when the present house of worship (remodeled and improved in 1878) was built. The trustees now are Ezra Nicholson, A. M. Wagar and Alfred French. Incidental to the religious experience of James Nicholson and Mars Wagar it is said that upon their awakening to the new faith they, with their wives, rode in a two-horse wagon all the way to Wooster to be baptized into the church. DETROIT STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. About 1850 a small band of "Bible Christians" used to worship occasionally in the Free Will Baptist church and continued to do so for three or four years. The first class contained sixteen members; its leader being Mark Tagardine. Rev. Richard Roach, of Cleveland, used to come out and preach for them, as did others whose names cannot now be recalled. Members of the denomination known as the United Brethren also had meetings in the Baptist churoh at that time, and after the Bible Christians discontinued worship, the Wesleyean Methodists formed a class with Mark Tagardine as the leader. Their first minister was Rev. Mr. Crooks. Later, the Wesleyans gave place to a Methodist Episcopal class of twenty members and of that, too, Mark Tagardine was chosen leader; the Rev. Mr. Jewett of Berea preaching the first sermon. A church edifice known as the Detroit Street M. E, Church was built in 1876, at which time Rev. Mr. McCaskie was the pastor. After him Rev. Wm. Warren took oharge. The present membership is one hundred and twenty-five. The class leaders are James Primat, John Webb, Stephen Hutchins and Mark Tagardine, and the trustees are Archibald Webb, James Bean, Jos. Parsons and Peter Clampet. ST. PATRICK'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH. This church, which has a house of worship in the southern part of Rockport, is an Irish Catholic organization. Previous to 1852 its members were able to enjoy only irregular service. In that year the church building now used was dedicated by Bishop Rappe, at which time about thirty families were included in the congregation. The priest first placed in charge was Rev. Lewis Filiere, who also preached at Olmstead Falls and Berea. He served about ten years and was followed by Rev. Fathers Miller, Ludwig, Hyland, Quigley, O'Brien and Kuhbler. Father Kuhbler, the present incumbent, has charge also of the German Catholic church of Rockport. The church of St. Patrick is moderately prosperous and has a congregation of sixty families. GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH. In 1851 Rev. Philip Stemple, a preacher of Brighton, was invited to visit Rockport and to organize a German Protestant church, about fifteen families being anxious to join the proposed organization. Mr. Stemple organized the church and for fifteen years afterward preached in a school-house, once in three weeks, to the German Protestants of Rockport. By 1867 the organization had grown quite strong and numerous, and in that year a commodious brick church was built at a cost of about $5,000, besides labor contributed by the members of the society. Rev. Franz Schreck, from Wisconsin, was the first pastor after the oompletion of the church. The present pastor is Rev. Wm. Locher and the congregation contains about thirty families. The first trustees of the church were Peter Reitz, William Mack and — Annacher. The present trustees are Henry Brondes, Frederick Brunner and George Zimmer. THE GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH. This was organized in 1847, and in 1851 the present church edifice was built. Valentine Gleb was the first class-leader, and William Mack, John Mack and Henry Dryer were the first trustees. Between 1847 and 1851, Revs. Messrs. John and Klein were the preachers, and a school-house was the place of worship. After the buildrng of the church the preachers were Rev. Messrs. Baldaff, Reicher, Berg, Weber, Detter, G. Nachtripp, Reiter, C. Nachtripp, Buhdenbaum, Heidmeyer, Snyder, Nuffer, Nast and Borgerdeng. Latterly the church organization has lost much of its membership and has for some time been without regular preaching. The present trustees are Valentine Gleb, Jacob Knopf, Henry Dryer, Michael Neuchter, and Bartlett Stocker. Valentine Gleb, who was in 1847 the first class-leader, still fills that office, in which he has served uninterruptedly since 1852. CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION (EPISCOPAL). This edifice which bears the above name, is a chapel of Trinity parish of Cleveland. It was opened for worship in 1875, and was consecrated on Ascension Day, 1879, by Bishop Bedell. Rev. J. W. Brown, D.D., of Trinity, is the rector, and Mr. Charles P. Ranney, of Cleveland, is the lay reader in charge. The 508 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. communicants number sixteen, and the attendants about fifty. ST. MARY'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH. This German Catholic organization worships in a fine brick church edifice in the German settlement, close to the southern line of the township. The first church building, a plain framed structure, was completed in 1854, when about fourteen families attended services. The congregation includes now thirty- three families. Fathers Graessner, Kuhn, Miller and Kuhbler, with others, have served the church since its organization. The brick edifice, now in use, was built in 1867, at a cash cost of about $8,000,—although its actual value—by reason of volunteer labor, was much more. The present trustees are George Betts, Jacob Ammersback and Mehurad Nicholas. The officiating priest is Father Kuhbler. SCHOOLS. One of the earliest school masters-although he scarcely merited the dignified Appellation of teacher— was Jonathan Parshall, a house-carpenter, who lived on a small piece of land adjoining Mars Wagar. He was not over intelligent, nor was he an especially industrious citizen, but it appears that he considered. himself fitted to instruct the tender youth and in the year 1829 taught a few scholars in the back part of Mr. Wagar's house. The neighborhood tradition is that Parshall was a decidedly poor teacher, and that his experience in that line lasted but a few weeks. In 1830 a log school-house was built nearly opposite where Ezra Nicholson now lives, in which the first teacher was a lady from Olmstead. The brick structure which replaced the log house not long afterwards, is now used by Walter Phelps as a d welling. Rockport now enjoys an excellent and liberal system of public education. There is a special school district which extends from Rocky riyer east to the township line, and is composed chiefly of residents on Detroit street. This district manages its own school affairs under the act of 1871, and has three fine brick school-buildings. One contains a graded school, for which a new house, to cost $6,000, is to be completed by January 1, 1880. The other two buildings together cost at least $7,000. The average daily attendance at the three schools is one hundred and sixty, and the amount raised for school support in 1879 was $3,000. Apart from this special district, the amount raised for the support of township schools in 1879 was $1,900. The township contains eight school--houses (seven of them being of brick) valued at $19,500. The total number of children of school age is six hundred and thirty-three. SOCIETIES, ETC. The Rockford Christian Temperance Union, which was organized in 1878, has since then been doing good work, and now is in a flourishing condition with thirty members. The officers are S. H. Brown, president; James Potter, Mrs. S. H. Brown and Mrs. H. Crossley, vice presidents; Miss L. Jordan, secretary; Mrs. J. W. Spencer, treasurer; Miss Annie Hutton, corresponding secretary. The business meetings are held in the Methodist Church, on the west side of the river. There is a similar organization on the east side of the river known as the Temperance Sunday School. Meetings are held each Sabbath in the tabernacle, and the members are very zealous in behalf of the temperance cause. The organization is under the direction of a managing committee. Strong temperance movements were set on foot in Rockport in 1867, and resulted in the organization of two lodges of Good Templars, which after a brief era of prosperity ceased to exist in 1873. THE FRUIT INTEREST. Fruit growing is one of the most important and remunerative industries in Rockport. The region especially devoted to it is that contiguous to Detroit street between the township line and Rocky river, whence large supplies of all the kinds of fruit raised in this climate are annually conyeyed to the Cleveland market. Dr. J. P. Kirtland was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, to engage to any extent in fruit culture in Rockport, setting out a number of various kinds of trees in 1850. Not long afterward Lewis and Ezra Nicholson and others began a liberal cultivation of fruit. The business developed rapidly and in a short time assumed considerable proportions along the line of Detroit street, and engaged the attention of all the dwellers upon that thoroughfare. According to the published statistics, the yalue of fruit sent to Cleveland from Detroit street in 1867 was $10,000, while in 1872 it was no less than $50,000. Fruit culture is by no means a losing business elsewhere in the township, but the peculiar characteristics of the soil on the northern ridge makes that the most profitable locality. BURIAL PLACES. The first grayeyard laid out by white settlers in Rockport occupied the site of the Cliff House. Here, it. is said, were buried the bodies of a number of sailors drowned off the " point " in 1812. Henry Alger was buried there as was also Daniel Miner, two of the pioneers, but their bodies were afterward removed elsewhere. Traces of this burial ground remained until the erection of the Cliff House obliterated them. The burying ground on Detroit street was laid out about 1840, and among the first to be buried there were Mrs. Sarah Ann Brewster and an unknown man. who was found dead in the woods—supposed to have been murdered. Rockport now has several cemeteries, many of which are very neatly kept and beautifully adorned. ROCKPORT - 509 RAILWAYS. Three lines of railway, the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the Cleyeland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis and the Rocky Riyer Railroads, traverse Rockport, the two former passing diagonally across it from northeast to southwest, and the latter running due west from the township line to Rocky river, one of its termini. This latter road was built to accommodate the tide of pleasure hunters which flows in great volume in the summer season to Rocky river and to the lake shore in that vicinity. It is also a very great conyenience to people residing along its line, and from them derives no inconsiderable part of its support. MANUFACTURES. The manufacturing interests of Rockport are very few. William Maile on Detroit street began in 1861 to manufacture drain tile and common brick. The brick business he soon gave up, but for seven years after 1861, he made about three hundred thousand drain tile annually. In 1869 he resumed the manufacture of brick, in connection with £he tile business, and at present-in June, 1879-he is making drain tile and Penfield pressed brick, employing three hands. Mr. John W. Spencer is extensively occupied in the western part of Rockport in the manufacture of tile and brick, in which he engaged in 1874, with his brother, F. J. Spencer. The latter retiring in 1877, J. W. Spencer has since carried on the business alone. He employs four men, and manufactures annually two hundred thousand drain tile and one hnndred thousand brick. ISRAEL D. WAGAR. Mars Wager was a son of Peter and Lucy Wagar, and was born in Saratoga county, New York on the 23d day of September, 1791. He was well educated having studied at the academies at Lansingburg and Troy, New York, being not only proficient in mathematics, but also well versed in several languages. In 1813 he removed to Phelps, Ontario county, New York, where he was married on the 31st of December, 1816, to Katurah, daughter of Adam and Anna Miller, a native of New Jersey, born July 13, 1794. Two years after his marriage he emigrated west and finally settled in Rockport in November, 1820, where he became one of the most enterprising settlers. He resided there until his death, which occurred on the 30th day of August, 1841. He was not an aspirant for political honors, but was a staunch Whig in the political contests of those days. He was a leader in the Swedenborgian church, and was much esteemed as a man and a Christian. He left a widow who still suryives, being now in her eighty-fifth year, and a family of six children. Israel D. Wagar, the second child and son, had then just attained his majority, haying been born in Avon, then called Troy, Lorain county, on the 21st day of February, 1820. His early life was passed like that of most of the sons of pioneer families, in assisting to clear off the heavy timbered land, and converting it into a productive farm. Being prevented by reason of his father's limited means, from receiving a classical education, he obtained such as could be procured at the district schools, together with a short academic course, the whole supplemented by very thorough self-culture. On arriving at the age of manhood he traveled in the West and South teaching school and familiarizing himself with the manners and customs of the people of those sections. Returning after a time to his home in Rockport, he turned his attention to farming and fruit growing, which, in connection with buying and selling real estate, have been his occupations since that time. Through his own industry, perseverance, foresight and economy, aided in all respects by his most estimable wife, he has accumulated wealth sufficient for all his wants, and now enjoys in comfort the fruits of his labors. In 1876 his love of travel and desire for information again took him from his home, this time to Great Britain and the continent of Europe. He remained abroad several months, not traveling merely as a sight-seer, but filling his mind by close observation with useful knowledge of those countries and their inhabitants. On the 1st day of January, 1843, Mr. Wagar was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Isabella Pile, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, September 7, 1822. They have had eight children, whose names and the dates of whose birth are as follows: Laura M., born October 12, 1843, now the wife of Dr. C. D. Ashley, of Meadville, Pennsylvania; Adah I., born March 14, 1846, now the wife of M. G. Browne, a lumber dealer in Cleveland; John M., born August 1, 1848, at present engaged in trade in Texas; Jessie A., born January 31, 1851, now the wife of George E. Loveland, paymaster of the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad; George E., born April 26, 1853; Alta E., born September 3, 1855; Caroline D., born May 9, 1858, and Charles Willard, born October 27; 1860. The four last named are still living at home. Born and brought up in the Whig party, Mr. Wagar voted and acted with them until 1856, when he joined the Democrats, and has since co-operated with them, filling numerous town offices, including that of justice of the peace. Mr. Wagar is a type of the American farmer, conservative in his ideas and opinions, a close observer of human nature, possessing shrewdness, good judgment and business tact, by means of which he has placed himself and family beyond the reach of want. At the same time he is fully recognized in the community where he liyes as an excellent parent, neighbor and citizen. His religious faith, like that of all the rest of the Wagar family, is Swedenborgian, but is broad, liberal and comprehensive. 510 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. CHAPTER LXXXIV. ROYALTON. Boundaries, etc.—First Settlers—Mr. Clark—Robert Engle—An Aged Emigrant—T. and H. Francis—John Coates—Jonathan Bunker—C. A. Stewart—John Ferris—Boaz Granger—John B. Stewart—A Large Accession—David and Knight Sprague—Royal Tyler's Store—The Towsleys and Nortons—York Street—Mills—First Marriage—Going to Milt under Difficulties— Early Taverns—Civil Organization—Origin of Name —First Officers—List of Principal Officers—Post Office—Royalton Center—First Baptist Church—Free Will Baptist Church—The Disciple Church—The Methodist Church—St. Mary's Church—Schools—Early Teachers—Present Condition of Schools—Cheese-making, etc.—Empire Lodge—Cemeteries. ROYALTON, noted at one time as a very important dairy township, and still of considerable consequence in that respect, consists of a valuable farming region and contains a community of prosperous people. It is survey township number five in range thirteen of the Western Reserve and is bounded on the north by Parma, on the south by Medina county, on the east by Brecksville and on the west by Strongsville. The east branch of Rocky river, which is there but a small stream, flows across the southwest corner of the township, and although still smaller water courses are plentiful yet mill-power is very scarce. The only village is Royalton Center, which is a small place, but is very picturesquely located. Agricultural and dairy products are the support of the people, and they furnish a good subsistence. Excellent building stone is found in at least two quarries, but the lack of railway facilities limits the stone market to a circuit near home. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first white settlement upon the territory of Royalton was made in 1811 by a Mr. Clark, who, after making a clearing, brought his family in and located upon section twenty-five, ill the southeastern corner of the township, on a tract now occupied by H. A. Carter, a son of Clark's widow by her marriage to Lewis Carter. Clark must have died within a few years after making a settlement, for in 1816 Carter married the widow and took up his residence on the Clark place. Lorenzo—a son born of this latter union-was the first white male child born in the township. On the 2d of June, 1816, Robert Engle with his family and his father-in-law, John Shepard, arrived from the State of New York and settled upon section fourteen, about a half mile south of the center. This was the first settlement after Clark's, whose family remained for five years the only white occupants of the township. Mr. Engle's father-in-law, Mr. John Shepard, had served in his youth as an attendant on a French officer at the time of the Braddock campaign and was present at the memorable defeat of that general. He claimed to be eighty-seven years old when he moved to Royalton with Robert Engle, at whose house he died in 1847. The inscription upon his tombstone fixes his age at one hundred and eighteen years, nine months and eighteen days. Robert Engle, who was famous as a hunter and trapper, died in Royalton. One of his daughters married Simeon Enos, who lives upon the old place. Thomas and Henry Francis, brothers, settled in 1816 on adjoining farms a half mile north of the center. The Francis brothers lived in Royalton useful and honored men and died on the farms where they had first settled. Rhoda Francis, born in 1816, was the first white child to see the light of day in Royalton. In December, 1816, John Coates (popularly known in Royalton as Uncle Jacky Coates), settled with his family upon section twenty-one, where he built at first a house of round logs, which he replaced a year or so afterward with a double log house. The latter was put up by Boaz Granzer, who took his pay in laud. Mr. Coates, who came from Geneseo, New York, owned about thirty-five hundred acres of land in Royalton, which is yet known as the Coates' tract, and which he sold out as settlers required. The house built by Granger for Coates was the first one in the township supplied with a cellar, and was regarded as an eminently aristocratic mansion. Mr. Coates' son, John, came out with his father, and in the following spring another son, Charles, also came with his family. Catharine (daughter of John Coates, Jr.,) was the second female child born in Royalton, where she still lives as Catharine Teachout. In 1817, Jonathan Bunker, from the State of New York, located upon section eleven, where he had received a tract of one hundred and fifty acres from Gideon Granger in exchange for one of fifty acres near Palmyra, New York, his former home. Mr. Bunker belonged to a historical family which gave its name to the celebrated Bunker Hill. Two of his uncles had also participated in the battle fought on Breed's Hill, to which the former name has been given, where one was killed and the other wounded. Ephraim Moody, a neighbor in New York, accompanied Bunker to the West. The journey was made in a sleigh drawn by a pair of horses, of which each owned one. Moody stopped short of Royalton, leaying Bunker to go on alone. The latter reached his newly acquired property in the morning, and by night he had put up a shanty. During the following eight months he labored there alone, clearing and cultivating his land, and when at the end of that time his family came out, they found a comfortable log house and crops well advanced. Mr. Bunker, during his solitary experience, used to be frequently troubled by wild beasts, and more than once his shanty, which was always open, received marauding visits from bears. He was, however, a fearless man, and far from being frightened away by the bears and wolves; he hunted and trapped them with great success. He was an expert ropemaker, and for some time, during his early days in Royalton, supplied Cleveland with about all the white rope used there. For its manufacture he used flax raised upon his farm, and also hemp purchased from Mr. Weddell, of Cleveland. Mr. Bunker also had a nursery ROYALTON - 511 of four hundred apple trees, from which many of the present orchards of Royalton were supplied. He had a family of nine children, and died in 1844, aged eighty-two. Chauncey A. Stewart settled in the autumn of 1816 upon section four, the place being now owned by his son, T. H. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was a famous hunter and trapper, and one may still hear many stories of his adventurous exploits in search of bears and other large game. John Ferris settled in the township in December, 1816, and about the same time Solomon and Elias Keys, both from the State of New York, became members of the new oommunity. Boaz Granger, of whom mention has already been made, came out, in 1817. He was a neighbor of Jonathan Bunker in New York, and when he came to Royalton, boarded awhile at the house of the latter. As before stated, he purchased land of John Coates on section eleven, and in part payment built him a house and barn, the latter structure being the first framed building erected in Royalton. In the summer of 1817 Samuel Stewart settled upon the State road on section fifteen, where his son, John B. Stewart, now lives. The hitter, now aged eighty-eight, has always been one of the most prominent men in the townshrp, and in his old age, looks with satisfaction upon the record of a busy and honorable life. He was a land surveyor in his younger days, and for many years was the agent of Gideon Granger for his Royalton land. He was the first clerk of Royalton, was chosen a justice of the peace, with Lewis Carter, in August, 1819, and long served the township in various public capacities. Mr. Stewart is the only one now living of those who voted at the first township election, in 1818. In the winter of 1817 and spring of 1818, the settlement was very decidedly increased by the arrival of Eliphalet Towsley, David Sprague, Francis How, Abial Cushman, — Warren, Parley Austin, John Smith, Israel Sawyer, David Hier, — Claflin, Hayes, Knight Sprague and Benjamin Boyer. Towsley settled in the southwest, where his son James had a short time before made a clearing. James rementurned to New York after his father came, and attended school a year. He then came back to Royalton and settled near the center, but subsequently removed to Brooklyn, where he died in 1879. Eliphalet Towsley resided in Royalton until his death. David and Knight Sprague, brothers, were from Royalton, Vermont. Knight Sprague was blind, having, it is said, lost his sight while working as a blacksmith in the east. He was, however, a remarkably energetic man, and was thought by his neighbors to be able to discern the situation of objects almost as well as many who were blessed with perfect eyes. He built the first town-hall owned by Royalton, took an actiye part in all affairs of the time, and died on the place on which he first settled. An early township record sets forth the fact that Mr. Sprague was chosen fence-viewer in 1821, but how the blind man managed to " view " the fences the record fails to state. David Sprague settled upon section five, whence he afterwards removed to Middleburg, where he died. John Smith was also from Vermont, and located on section seven. He was killed in 1823 by the fall of a tree. John Hier and his brother Dayid located near the Strongsville line. The former died in Hinckley and the latter upon his farm at Bennett's Corners. In 1818 the newcomers included Henry Hudson, a doctor, farmer and Baptist preacher, James Baird, Asa and Samuel Norton, Kersina and John Watkins, Smith Ingersolls and 0. C. Gordon. Mr. Baird, who was one of Jonathan Bunker's neighbors in New York; married the oldest daughter of the latter and located on section eleven, adjoining Bunker's place. He afterward moved a mile farther south, and about 1827 went to Lorain county. Settlements began to be made at the center about 1827, in which year Royal Tyler opened a store in a ten by twelve log-house. He afterward removed to Brooklyn, and was succeeded in the store by his brother Benjamin, who also practiced the healing art. He now resides in Brooklyn. William and James Towsley were early settlers at the center, as was also a Mr. Bostwick. Kersina and John Watkins located near the center, but the former soon died, and the latter then moved out of the township. Asa Norton bought land of John Coates on section twelve, and paid for it by daily labor. The only time he could devote to his own farm was the nights and the Sundays, and these he never failed to use to the utmost extent possible. Samuel Norton who was a teamster at times between Cleveland and Medina, settled upon section eleven. Both Nortons resided in Royalton until they died. Smith Ingalls lived on a farm adjoining David Sprague's, and there died after a well spent and active life. He was the first postmaster in Royalton, and frequently served in township offices. "York " street was laid out about 1828, when one Briggs and William Ferris built there, followed a year or two afterward by William Gibson, John Marcellus, Page Claflin, John Tompkins, James Bunker and George Abrams. Samuel Gibson built a steam sawmill in the west, and not long afterward William Thomas and James Goss built another one in that vicinity, the presence of a belt of fine timber making the timber business quite profitable. Harvey Edgar- ton built a steam sawmill in the south-east, about 1830, at which time that part of the township first began to receiye settlers to any extent. The earliest residents there were Sardis and Harvey Edgarton, Barton Brown, Mr. Akins, John Edgarton, Lewis Miller, Otis Billings and others. Abner S. Beales settled in 1821 near the Center, next to Robert Engle. He lived there four years, and in 1825 removed to Parma. 512 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY EARLY 1NCIDENTS. The first marriage in Royalton was that of Asa Norton to Lovey Bunker. The oeremony, which was performed by " Squire " J. B. Stewart, was the maiden effort in that line of the newly-chosen justice. Going to mill in the pioneer days was a disagreeable necessity, for there were none nearer than Vaughn's log gristmill, where Berea now stands, and the way to it was through a dense wilderness. Freeman Bunker, now a resident of Royalton, related how, when a boy, he used occasionally to set out for Vaughn's mill with three bushels of corn across his horse's back. By a peculiar arrangement, the like of which we have never observed before in the history of pioneer milling, Vaughn always went himself, or sent somebody, half way to meet such persons as had notified him that they would have a grist for his mill. Young Bunker used to send the requisite notice beforehand, and then, after struggling through the woods and underbrush to the place where he expected to meet Vaughn, would call out loudly, when the worthy miller would usually appear and take the grist away with him. Sometimes, howeVer, owing to the vague character of the road, the lad or the miller failed to find the appointed spot, when the former would be compelled to roam around the woods a long time before finding the other end of this singular transportation line. Mr. Bunker relates that he was frequently followed by wolves during his trips to the mill and elsewhere, and that troops of them were common spectacles; but the craven creatures never made serious onslaughts save upon such small game as happened to be exposed to their attacks. Bear hunts, organized upon an extensive plan, occasionally called nearly all the residents of the township into service, but excursions after deer, turkeys, etc., were too common to attract any attention. It is said that there was not a single framed dwelling house in Royalton, until 1827, when Jonathan Bunker erected one. The first Fourth of July celebration was held in 1821, and was attended by the usual jollification customary on such events at that day. Francis How is said by some to have kept at the center the first tavern opened in Royalton, but this opinion is disputed by others, who claim that the first Boniface was Charles Coates, who kept on the State road, on the site of Asper's hotel, north of the center. ORGANIZATION. Previous to 1818 Royalton was a part of the civil township of Brecksville, but on the 27th day of October, 1818, the county commissioners ordered that "township number five, in range thirteen, be set off into a separate township with the name of Royalton." It is said that Knight Sprague, the blind man before mentioned, was anxious to name the township in honor of his own native town of Royalton, in Vermont; and it is further said that he paid a gallon of whisky for the privilege, but to whom does not appear. Doubtless it was distributed at a meeting of the " sovereigns " assembled to determine on a name. The first township election was held at the house of Robert Engle, November 9, 1818, at which time the following officers were chosen: John B. Stewart, clerk; David Sprague, Francis How and Elias Keys, trustees; Benjamin Boyer, fence-viewer; Francis How and Elias Keys, appraisers of property; Robert Engle and Elias Keys, supervisors of highways; Abial Cushman, constable; Chauncey A. Stewart, treasurer; Robert Engle and David Sprague were the judges of the election, and Chauncey A. Stewart was the chairman. The first election for justices of the peace was held in 1819, when John B. Stewart and Sam'l Norton were chosen. The election was set aside, however, on the ground of illegality, and at a new election John B. Stewart and Lewis Carter were duly elected justices. Their commissions were dated August 10, 1819. We give herewith a list of the names of the persons who haye served as trustees, clerks and treasurers of Royalton from its organization to 1879. PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 1818. Trustees, David Sprague, Francis How, Elias Keys; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, C. A. Stewart. 1819. Trustees, Lewis Carter, David Sprague, Jonathan Bunker; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, C. A. Stewart. 1820. Trustees, Israel Sawyer, Isaac Isham, Sam'l Norton, Jr.; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1821. Trustees, Eliphalet Towsley, Israel Sawyer, James Bird ; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1822. Trustees, Jonathan Bunker, John Ferris, John Smith; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1823. Trustees, Parley Austin, Francis How, Elias Keys; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1824. Trustees, Sam'l Norton, Ezra Leonard, C. A. Stewart; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1825. Trustees, Boaz Granger, Ezra Leonard, Smith Ingalls; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1826. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, Ezra Leonard, John Ferris; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, P. Austin. 1827. Trustees, Wm. Teachout, Jas. Towsley, John Watkins; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, John Watkins. 1828. Trustees, Jas. Towsley, Smith Ingalls, James W. Wild; clerk, John B. Stewart; treasurer, Thos. Francis. 1829. Trustees, Wm. Teachout, Edward Scofield, Smith Ingalls; clerk, John Coates 3rd; treasurer, Thomas Francis. 1830 and 1831. Trustees, Edward Scofield, W. D. Eastman, R. K. Towsley ; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Thos. Francis. 1832. Trustees, C. Brunson, Wm. Teachout, Zara Sarles; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, John B. Davis. 1833. Trustees, Francis How, John Coates, Jr., Isaac Isham, Jr.; clerk, James Towsley; treasurer, John B. Davis. 1834. Trustees, John Coates, Jr., Ebenezer Bostwick, John B. Stewart; clerk, Jas. Towsley; treasurer, John B. Davis. 1835. Trustees, O. C. Gordon, Harvey Edgarton, Eliphalet Towsley; clerk, James Towsley; treasurer, Francis How. 1836 and 1837. Trustees, O. C. Gordon, Harvey Edgarton, J. B. Stewart; clerk, Jas. Towsley; treasurer, John B. Davis. 1838. Trustees, J. B. Stewart. O. C. Gordon, Wrlliam Teachout; clerk, Jas. Towsley; treasurer, John B. Davis. 1839. Trustees, J. B. Stewart, Robert Wilkinson, Wm.Teachout; clerk, Jas. Towsley ; treasurer, O. C. Gordon. 1840. Trustees, Wm. Teachout, J. B. Stewart, Smith Ingalls; clerk, Eliphalet Towsley; treasurer, O. C. Gordon. 1841. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, John Coats, Francis Bark ; clerk, Eliphalet Towsley; treasurer, O. C. Gordon. 1842. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, Edwin Wilcox, Wm. Ferris ; clerk, Eliphalet Towsley ; treasurer, O. C. Gordon. 1843. Trustees, Edwin Wilcox, Zara Sarles, Wm. Ferris; clerk, Eliphalet Towsley; treasurer, H. M. Munson. 1844. Trustees, Zara Sarles. Daniel A. Minor, Wm. Towsley; clerk, James Towsley; treasurer, Lewis How. 1845. Trustees, Parley Austin, Rowley Leonard, Joseph Teachout; clerk, James Towsley; treasurer, Edwin Wilcox. ROYALTON - 513 1846. Trustees, Smith 1ngalls, Wm. D. Eastman, Wm. Teachout; clerk, Charles Teachout; treasurer, Lewis How. 1847. Trustees, Wm. D. Eastman, Wm. Ferris, Asa, Varney; clerk, A. Teachout; treasurer, L. How. 1848. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, James Towsley, S. M. Wilcox; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, Lewis How. 1849. Trustees, James Towsley, Zara Sarles, Edwin Wilcox; clerk, Joseph Smith ; treasurer, Lewis How. 1850. Trustees, Robert Wilkinson, Rufus D. Gibson, Thomas Bark; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, Lewis How. 1851. Trustees, Robert Wilkinson, Francis P. Howe, 0. H. Graves; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, Lewis How. 1852. Trustees, Henry Aiken, Norman A. Graves, Thomas Meacher; clerk, Joseph Smilh; treasurer, Lewis How. 1853. Trustees, Robert Wilkinson, Thos. B. Coats, Wm. Ferris; clerk, James Towsley; treasurer, Arenzo Sarles. 1854. Trustees, Robert Wilkinson, Henry Akin, T. B. Coates; clerk, Wm. Hodkinson ; treasurer, Lewis How. 1855. Trustees, Henry Akin, T. B. Coates, J. Marcellus; clerk, Thomas Coates; treasurer, Wm. Series. 1856. Trustees, D. A. Miner, Sardis Edgarton, Wm. Ferris; clerk, Jas. Towsley; treasurer, Martin S. Billings. 1857. Trustees, Dan'l Miner, Sardis Edgarton, Robert Wilkinson; clerk, Joesph Smith; treasurer, Martin S. Billings. 1858. Trustees, :Ardis Edgarton, John Marcellus, James Ferris; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, lames Towsley. 1859. Trustees, James Ferris, Sardis Edgarton, S. H. Stewart; clerk, Joseph Smith ; treasurer, James Towsley. 1860. Trustees, Charles Bangs, Edwin Wilcox, James Ferris; clerk, Joseph Smith ; treasurer, James Towsley. 1861. Trustees, John Tompkins, W. W. Stockman, Zara Sarles; clerk, Jos. Smith ; treasurer, James Towsley. 1862. Trustees, John Tompkins, W. W. Stockman, Zara Sarles; clerk, Jos. Smith; treasurer, 0. C. Gordon. 1863. Trustees, B. S. Tyler, John Tompkins, Ransom Walling; clerk, Jos. Smith; treasurer, 0. C. Gordon. 1864. Trustees, B. S. Tyler, Stillman Tupper, Geo. Johnson; clerk, Jos. Smith; treasurer, 0. C. Gordon. 1865. Trustees. Chas. Bangs, Chas. Robinson, 0. H. Claflin; clerk, Geo. S. Morrell; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1866. Trustees, Chas. Bangs, Chas. Robinson, 0. H. Claflin; clerk, J. M. Wilcox; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1867. Trustees, Orville Bangs, John Tompkins, Wm. Ferris; clerk, M. G. Billings; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1868. Trustees, John Tompkins, Thos. Bolton, Wm. Spencer; clerk, Faruum Gibbs; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1869 and 1870. Trustees, T. S. Bolton, Simon Wilkinson, Hamlin Miller; clerk, Farnum Gibbs; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1871. Trustees, Geo. Matthews, G. H. Stewart, 0. Taylor; clerk, Farnum Gibbs; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1872. Trustees. Geo. Matthews, G. H. Stewart, Oliver Taylor; clerk, A. E. Akin; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1873, Trustees, George Matthews, G. H. Stewart, Wm. Tompkins; clerk, A. E. Akin; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1874. Trustees, Geo. Matthews, Wm. Tompkins, Freeman Norton; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1875. Trustees, Oliver Taylor, Geo. Matthews, Freeman Norton; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1876. Trustees, Oliver Taylor, Geo. Matthews, Freeman. Norton; clerk, A. E. Akin; treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1877 and 1878. Trustees, Geo. Matthews, Freeman Norton, Sardis Edgarton, Jr.; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, Oliver Taylor. 1879. Trustees, Sardis Edgarton, Geo. Matthews, Joseph Turney; clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, Oliver Taylor. POST OFFICE. Down to 1825 the people of Royalton had to go to Cleveland for their mail, except that some of them bargained with J. W. Weld to bring their letters and papers to them for a small compensation-fifty cents weekly from each person thus served. In 1825 Smith Ingalls was appointed postmaster, but as he resided in the western part of the township, he deputized S. K. Greenleaf, living near the center, to transact the business. Since Mr. Ingalls' time the Royalton postmasters have been William Towsley, Tristram Randall, Lorenzo Hopkins, W. W. Stockman, Charles W. Foster, S. W. Chandler, Lewis Granger, Joseph W. Smith, Charles Bangs, M. S. Bilhngs, Byron Babcock and Thomas Coates; the last named being the present incumbent. ROYALTON CENTER. Royalton Center, the only village in the township, occupies a pleasant and healthful elevation whence the eye has a very fine view of the surrounding country. The village contains the town hall, three stores, three churches, an Odd Fellows' lodge, and a handsome cemetery. A majority of the residents of the township do their trading at this point, and it is therefore the seat of considerable business, while it is also made attractive by the presence of many elegant rural homes. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. Rev. Henry Hudson, an early settler in Royalton, who was a doctor as well as a minister, was among the early preachers to the Baptists of Royalton. Prior to 1878, the members of that denomination used to assemble frequently for prayer and other public devotional exercises. In that year the First Baptist Church was organized. The first members were the following: Henry Hudson, Priscilla Hudson, James Teachout, William Dyke, Elizabeth Dyke, William, Lydia and John Teachout, Relief Austin, Merrick Rockwell and Clarissa Teachout. The first deacon was William Dyke. The stone church at the center was the first one built, and was erected in 1850, services, previous to that time, having been held in school-houses and the town-house. Thomas Rederup, Francis Norton and John Edgarton were the building committee which superintended its erection. The church had a membership of forty-five. Mr. Hudson was the pastor until his death, and served for a period of about twenty-five years-his annual salary rarely exceeding fifty dollars. There was a division in the church in 1838; and later, during Rev. Mr. Conley's time, a second one, but the organization is now prosperous, and contains sixty members. The pastor is Rev. S. S. Watkins. FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. The early records of this church have .been lost, and the date of its organization is fixed, therefore, by conjecture at about 1836. Worship was first held at the Center, but in 1843 the location was changed to Coates' Corners.* Public services were held there in a school-house until 1850, when, after a protracted discussion which had lasted several years, the present church-edifice was erected. On the 1st of August, 1879, the church membership was thirty-eight. The pastor was Rev. J. H. Baldwin; the trustees were George Kendall and Fran- * An entry upon the records under date of February 18, 1843, sets forth "that the brethren in Royalton met in monthly meeting, had a good time but under some trials; received three members, J. Bunker. M. Varny and S. Horton, and moved the church down to Coates' Corners." 514 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF, CUYAHOGA COUNTY. cis Miner, and the deacons, George Kendall and Francis Bark. THE DISCIPLE CHURCH. In the year 1828 Ezra Leonard invited Mr. Hayden, a Disciple preacher, to visit Royalton and hold religious services for the few of that faith who then resided there. Mr. Hayden responded promptly, and preached his first sermon in the house . of John ,B. Stewart. Soon afterward Edward Scofield, formerly of the Baptist Church, moved into town, and with Mr. Hayden preached occasionally to the Disciples, Mr. Hayden preached in Mr. John Ferris' barn in June, 1829, and on that occasion baptized a number of converts. In the autumn of 1829 a church organization was effected. The elders then chosen were Jewett M. Frost, John B. Stewart, Adin Dyke and William Buck, The deacons were Almon Eastman and Henry Bangs. The original membership of thirty has steadily increased until there are now one hundred and eight names on the roll. The elders in 1879 are Charles Johnson, Abel Bennet, William S. Greene and John B. Stewart, and the deacons are Clark Gibbs and Justin Bark. William Moody, of Lafayette, preaches to the congregation once a fortnight. The society owns a handsome church edifice at the center, and is in the enjoyment of decided prosperity. THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This body was organized about 1836, but until 1859 worship was held in school houses and the townhouse. In the latter year the present church-building was erected. The organization was originally located in the southeastern portion of Royalton, and, for a time, the Stewart school-house was used as a house of worship. Revs. Hugh L. Parish and ___ Fitch, who organized the church, were the first preachers, at which time the charge was included, in the Brooklyn circuit. Subsequently the church was attached successively to the Brunswick, Hinckley and Brecksville circuits, in which latter it still remains. The first class-leader was Hiram Sarles, who was one of the most prominent members of the church. The present class-leader is James Ferris, and the trustees are John Hall, William Babcock and James Ferris. There are now twenty-six members. The pulpit is without a regular pastor, depending upon occasional supplies. ST. MARY'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH. In 1854 there were nine Catholic families in Royalton, and in response to their request Bishop Rappe came out from Cleveland and held services at the house of Thomas Montague at the center. Afterward Fathers Hannan, John and Halley were sent out to preach occasionally, and during the time of the latter, in 1858, the members of the congregation purchased the building now used as a church. The first trustees or councilmen of the church were Patrick Flynn, William Manny and James, Morris. The present trustees are Patrick Manny and Bartholomew Lyons. About twenty-five families now Attend the church, to whom Father Zarenczy, of Berea, preaches once. a month, performing mass, however, every week. SCHOOLS. Authorities differ as to who was the first teacher in Royalton. Oren Abbott and Wm. Towsley have both been named as such, but the weight of evidence is in favor of Eunice Stewart. The school-house in which her labors were pursued was located upon the northeast corner of section five; and there, also, John B. Stewart—the .second teacher. in the township—taught shortly afterwards. A log school-house was put up in section nineteen at a very early date; in which Wm. Towsley was the first teacher. After him, Abial Cushman was- the pedagogue. The teachers of that day were perhaps imperfectly supplied with knowledge, but it is generally agreed by those whose. memory extends to that time that they were an energetic, painstaking and industrious class of men and women. In 1830, when the township was set off into four school districts, there were thirty-five householders in District No. 1, twenty-two in District No. 2, sixteen in District No. 3, and seventeen in District No. 4. The township is now supplied with nine excellent schools, at which the average daily attendance is 244, out of a school enumeration of 335. The township tax for school purposes in 1879 was $1,378. INDUSTRIES. About 1866 James Wyatt introduced the manufacture of cheese as a regular business into Royalton,. and for a few years, did a thriving business. In 1869 Charles Bangs and L. S. Sarles began operations, and carried them forward in company until 1871 when they dissolved, and Bangs removed to his present location, and has since then been engaged in the business to a considerable extent. After a partnership with A. E. Aikens of three years and continuation on his own account until 1877; Mr. Sarles retired from the business, leaving the field to Mr. Bangs. Royalton was at one time esteemed a famous dairy town, and produced a great quantity of milk, but latterly this branch of farming has declined in proportion to others, although stilt receiving no small share of the husbandman's attention. Capital is likewise invested in nurseries of which several send to market annually a valuable list of trees, plants, etc. General farming is, however, the main dependence of the people, and as the country contains a fruitful soil, the agricultural interests are exceedingly prosperous; the farmers being usually in .comfortable, and often in affluent circumstances. EMPIRE LODGE, 1. O. O. F. Empire Lodge, No. 346, I. O. O. F., was instituted in July, 1859, with twelve charter members, SOLON - 515 Charles Bangs; Orville Bangs, Joseph W. Smith, John Marcellus, William Frost, Thomas S. Bark, Wesley Pope, J. T. Akers, Edwin Bangs, George Johnson, Charles Heath and L. S. Sarles. The lodge owns a large framed edifice at the center (built in 1861) in the upper portion of which is a Well appointed and commodious lodge room; the lower part being used as a store. The membership in August, 1879, was forty, although in 1878 twenty members-withdrew upon the formation of a lodge in Brecksville. The present officers are Geo: Mathews, N: G.; John Kirkland, V. G.; D. C. Marcellus, T., F; Lesser, R.' S.; Joseph W. Smith, P. S. CEMETERIES. The first public cemetery in Royalton was laid out at the center, a tract of five acres having been bought from John Watkins for that purpose. 'Upon that tract the town hall, the Baptist church and the cemetery are located. The latter is now a neglected, weed-choked and most unsightly spot. The first death in the township was that of Catherine, wife of Charles Coates. She 'was buried in a family burial place upon the Coates farm. There are several cemeteries in the township, of which the finest in appearance is the one at the center adjoining the Disciple church. It is prettily adorned, and its neatly kept walks, graceful foliage, and beautiful monuments, are well calculated to relieve the sad thoughts which naturally associate themselves with the homes of the dead. CHAPTER LXXXV. SOLON. Two Families on the Way—Their Tedious Route—Robbins and Bull make the First Settlement—Oliver Wells—Arrival of Miss Delia—First Twins—The First School— Organization of Township—Names of the Voters —Choice of a Name—The First Officers—Chasing an Elk—First Settlement on North Half—On Hampshire Street— Increasing Emigration—R. M. Hanaford—Wm. Pillsbury at the Center—W. W. Higby — Settlers on the Ledge—A Disgusted Stranger—First Marriage and Death— First Church and Physician—Bears, Deer and Rattlesnakes— Black Salts—Selling Sugar in Cleveland—Going Courting in Aurora— A Professor in the Woods—The First Store—Captain Archibald Robbins—General Improvement, Mails, etc.—Solon in the War—Education —Railroads—Business Places at the Center—Congregational Church— Disciples' Church—Methodist Church—Principal Township Officers. IN the month of August, 1820, two families, well supplied with teams, household goods, and especially with children, might have been seen making their tedious way along the rough road from Newburg through Independence to Hudson in the present county of Summit, and thence northeastward to Aurora, now in Portage county, where they made their temporary stopping-place. From that' point the heads of the two families made a thorough examination of the unoccupied land round about, and after due consideration determined to locate themselves in the west part of the " Williams and Ellsworth" tract, which comprised the southern portion of township six, range ten, then described as the survey-township of Milan, but now known as the civil township of Solon. The heads of those two families were Samuel Bull and Captain Jason Robbins, both lately from Wethersfield, Hartford county, Connecticut, and 'both, when past the meridian of life (Mr. Bull being forty-five years old and Captain Robbius fifty-eight), having determined to try their fortunes in whit was then called the far western wilderness of Northern Ohio. Having erected their log-houses (those inevitable pioneer palaces), and having made such other preparations as circumstances permitted, the two men, in the month of November, 1820, moved their families from Ansom to their new homes; thus becoming the first settlers in the present township of Solon. Although these were the only two families in the township, yet they made quite a beginning in the way of settlement, as Mr. Bull. had six children and Captain Robbins full as many. Their places were situated on what had been an important mail and supply route from Pittsburg to Cleveland during the war of 1812, but which in 1820 had been abandoned in favor of the road through the more settled regions of Independence, Hudson, etc., and had become impassable by reason of growing bushes and fallen timber. It is now the direct route from Cleveland through Solon Center to Aurora. Their nearest neighbors were two miles to the southeast, in the northwest corner of Aurora. In the direction of Cleveland they could travel without seeing a single residence to a point within three miles of the village of Newburg, and nine miles from their own homes. To the westward, also, it was nine miles to a neighbor, who resided in the southwestern most part of Bedford. Of the four men and women who thus began the settlement of Solon, all remained at their chosen location throughout their lives. Samuel Bull died in 1838, at the age of sixty-three; Mrs. Eleanor Robbins died in 1850, at the age of seventy-seven; Captain Jason Robbins died in 1852, at the age of ninety; while Mrs. Fanny Huntington Bull, the last and oldest of the venerable quartette, survived to the remarkable age of ninety-four, dying in the year 1872. Of Mr. Bull's family, Pitkin S., Lorenzo S.. and Norman A. are still living, and it is from the second named that we have derived the facts previously 'narrated. Of Mr. Robbins' family, W. W. Robbins and Mrs. I. N. Blackman still survive. The third family which settled in the township was that of Oliver Mills, who came from the same locality as Messrs. Robbins and Bull in the autumn of 1821, and located on lot number forty of the Williams and Ellsworth tract, being the southwestern most lot in the township. From this time forward there were but few arrivals for nearly ten years; the land being held at higher prices by the proprietors than most emigrants were willing to pay. We must not, however, neglect to mention one important arrival which occurred 'soon after Mr. Wells' 516 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. settlement in the township-that of Delia, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wells, and the first white child born in Solon. The same couple were also the parents of the first twins born in the township, who followed in due season after Miss Delia. The first school in Solon was taught by John Henry about 1822, his only patrons being Messrs. Robbins and Bull, who were the only two who lived near enough to join in the enterprise. Robbins furnished four children and Mr. Bull three. The price was ten dollars a month and board, and, according to Mr. L. S. Bull, his father paid in shoemaking and Captain Robbins in maple sugar. Although emigration was slow, yet a few settlers did arrive, and by 1825 there were eight voters in the township: Messrs. Robbins, Bull and Wells, already named, young P. S. Bull, then just come of age; and four new arrivals, John C. Carver, C. M. Leach, Thomas Marshall and Ichabod Watrous—all in the south part of the township. Down to this time the survey- township of Milan had remained a part of the civil township of Orange, but in the year last named the eight gentlemen mentioned, thinking perhaps that it would attract attention and emigration, determined to have an organization of their own. On their petition the county commissioners set off Milan into a separate township, and ordered an election of officers. By general consent the other settlers accorded to Messrs. Bull and Robbins, as the earliest pioneers, the privilege of naming the new township. They were desirous of commemorating some name connected with one of their families, but as neither Bulltown nor Robbinsburg seemed to sound exactly right, they finally agreed to adopt the second name of Mr. Bull's second son, Lorenzo Solon Bull, now the worthy postmaster at Solon Center. The complaisant commissioners confirmed the appellation, and thus the name of the great Grecian lawgiver was applied (although at second hand) to one of the pleasant and fertile townships of Cuyahoga county. At the first election the following officers were chosen: Trustees, Jason Robbins, Samuel Bull, Ichabod Watrous; clerk, Jason Robbins; treasurer, Pitkin S. Bull; constable, Pitkin S. Bull; overseer of the poor, Pitkin S. Bull; justice of the peace, Oliver Wells. The list is furnished us by the numerously elected Pitkin S. Bull, the only survivor of the official live to whom the eight offices were allotted. Solon, when first settled, like all the rest of the Western Reserve, abounded in wild game; not only were wolves, deer, bear, etc., to be found there in great numbers, but occasionallV even the lofty elk was to be seen bearing aloft his wide-branching horns adown the forest glade, and starting in sudden dismay at the faintest sound of the woodnian's axe. These stately animals,. however, very speedily disappeared. In 1821, the year after the first settlement, P. S. Bull and Warren Warner chased a large buck elk for three days through Milan (Solon) and the adjoining townships, it being finally killed in Northfield (now in Summit county) by a third hunter, who struck its track a little ahead of the unlucky Milanese and gained the prize. This was, so far as known, the last elk seen in the township. Bear remained a few years longer, and other wild game was abundant till a far later period. The first settlement in the north half of the township was made about 1827 by John Morse, who located near the old State road before mentioned (running from Cleveland to Aurora, etc.), not far from the Bedford line. He was followed within two or three years by Joseph G. Patrick, Baxter Clough, - Gerish and others, from the State of New Hampshire;, for which reason that road has been called Hampshire street down to the present time. John C. Sill settled in the township in 1831, and Walter Stannard and John Hodge about the same time. Mr. Mantle settled in the extreme northwest part of the township. And now the tide of emigration began to rise rapidly. In 1832 Reuben M. Hanaford settled in Hampshire street, about a mile and a half northwestward from the center. He is still living at the latter place, and we are indebted to his vigorous memory for many facts regarding the history of the township subsequent to his arrival. Not a tree had then been cut within a mile of the center. William Pillsbury, however, purchased the land around the center that same year. No roads were out out in that part of the township, and no wagons were in use. There were merely paths through the woods, traversed summer and winter by ox-sleds. William W. Higby was then working in Solon, where he has ever since been a permanent resident. Elijah Pettibone settled that year (1832) in the southeast part of the township, where he and his sons have since been permanent citizens. William W. Richards, C. R. Fletcher and John Hale all came that year or the next, and settled in the south and northwest parts of the township. These, including Pettibone, were all from Jefferson county, New York. The first settlers in the north part, on what is known as "The Ledge," were Elisha Wilma and Albert Pond, who located there about 1833. These were soon followed by Abraham Witter, George II. Mason, Stephen Dunwell and Alvin Harrington, most of these in this section being from Maine. Deacon John Barnard settled in the township about 1833. The ground at the center being low and somewhat wet, that was one of the last points to be settled. An anecdote related by Mr. Hanaford shows the unpleasant impression which the township, and especially that portion of it, made upon strangers at the period of which we are speaking. Several roads had been laid out, meeting at the center, but none had been cut out, all being designated only by lines of marked trees. Having occasion to go to Twinsburg, during the first year of his residence in the township, Mr. Hanaford followed the line of marked trees south to that point, and then returned by the same track to SOLON - 517 the center. As he approached the latter point toward nightfall, he saw a man on horseback looking anxiously at the various indications of highways yet to be. "See here, stranger," he exclaimed, immediately on observing Mr. Hanaford, "I wish you would tell me which way I ought to go to get out of this infernal town." "Well," replied Mr. Hanaford, "that depends on where you want to go to. This line of marked trees," pointing south, "leads to Twinsburg; that one runs southwest to Aurora; that one due north will take you to Orange; this one on the west "— " No matter about that," interrupted the traveler; " I've just came from the west through that cursed swamp, and I'll swear I don't want to go that way. I don't care where these other trails go to either; all I want to know is which is the quickest way out of town." Mr. Hanaford gave him the distances to the various points mentioned, the stranger selected the nearest one and immediately started toward it at a rapid pace. Scarcely had he got out of sight when the wolves were heard howling in the forest; a circumstance which probably did not diminish .his anxiety to get "out of town," and which caused Mr. Hanaford to hasten his pace materially on his way home. The first man who built a house at the Center was Freeman McClintock, who located there in 1832 or '33. He resided there in his log cabin two or three years before any joined him. The axes of the woodmen now resounded on every side, and in three years after Mr. Hanaford's arrival, in 1832, nearly all the land in the township had been purchased from the original proprietors. It was not until about 1833 that the first marriage took place in Solon, the parties being Baxter Clough and Hannah Gerrish, both of "Hampshire street," the officiating magistrate being Capt. John Robbins, the second justice of the peace in Solon. The first death was that of Mrs. Thomas Marshall, which occurred in 1834, fourteen years after the settlement of the township. There being, naturally, HO burying-ground in Solon before there was a death, she was taken to what was called the Seward burying- ground, in Aurora, for interment. Several other of the Solon pioneers also rest there. By this time both the Presbyterians and the Methodists had begun to hold meetings in the township in fact, Presbyterian meetings were held at Mr. Han' aford's house as early as 1832. In 1834 or '35 a regular church of that denomination was formed, being composed largely of the New Englanders on Hampshire street. A year or so later they built the first church edifice in the township, at the Center. It was the second frame building there, and was placed on high posts ("stilts," some called them) on account of the dampness of the soil. A separate sketch will be given of this church with the others. In 1834 the first physician, Dr. Alpheus Morrill, settled in Solon. He 'remained several years. The same year that the doctors began to come the bears disappeared. Mr. S. S. Bull mentions that the last of those animals was seen in Solon in 1834. In that year four were killed in the township ; one by Thomas Marshall, one by S. S. Bull, one by William W. Higby, and one very large one, weighing about four hundred pounds, by Jason Robbins, 2nd. The deer still continued quite numerous, and many a jolly hunt was enjoyed by the youth of Solon. William W. Higby stood at the head of the Niinrods of that township, and had hardly a rival in the country round, excepting Hiram Spofford, of Bedford, who hunted largely in Solon. Neither of them considered it a very remarkable feat to kill from six to eight fat deer in the course of a day, while as to raccoons, turkeys, etc., they numbered their victims by the hundreds every season. Rattlesnakes, too, were extremely frequent throughout the pioneer period, especially on "the ledge " in the northern part of the township. One night when Albert Pond got up to attend to his sick child he was somewhat startled to find a large, yellow rattlesnake stretched out comfortably in front of the embers of the fire. Similar unpleasant encounters with these reptiles were not uncommon, but we do not hear of any fatal results—except to the snakes. The early exports of Solon consisted of maple sugar, " black salts," and deer skins. The " black salts," as is known by all the older citizens, were the results of boiling down the ley made from the ashes which could be produced in abundance by every energetic. settler in olearing his own land. These were generally sold at Newburg. As they could speedily be transformed into pot- and pearl-ashes, which might be shipped east at slight expense, they would bring cash, when grain was almost unsaleable from the fact that the transportation cost nearly or quite as much as it was worth in the Eastern markets. As for sugar and molasses, each man who had a surplus when the maple-sugar season was on, put it in a wagon and started with an ox-team for Cleveland, occupying two days in the trip. There he would take a pail and a pair of steelyards and drive from house to house, selling from ten to fifty pounds in a place. If even a merchant took a whole barrel, he was thought to be doing a wholesale business. While many young married men, with their families, came into Solon at this period, a large proportion of the settlers were bachelors. Nearly every one of these, as soon as he had made a little clearing and built a log cabin, would start for the nearest settlement, hunt up a good-looking girl and go to courting her with a straightforward energy which seldom failed of success. As Aurora (Portage county) was the oldest settled township in the vicinity, and the most convenient of access, and was also blessed with an ample supply of handsome, agreeable and industrious young ladies, the solitary Solonites betook themselves thither in large numbers, and with emi- 518 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY nent good fortune, a larger proportion of the pioneer mothers of Solon coming from Aurora than from any other township on the Reserve. Even after the building of the Presbyterian Church at the Center, it was sometimes difficult for the ministers who were to preach in it to find their way to the house of the Lord through the thinly-settled woods of Solon. Professor Reuben Nutting, of. Western Reserve College at Hudson, who occasionally preached there, got belated one cool Saturday night in autumn, when on his way thither on horseback, lost his way when within a mile of the meeting-house, and, after wandering around for a long time, finally became satisfied that he could not find his way out. The professor had evidently been deeply impressed by the sanitary precept, " Keep your feet warm and your head cool." Having hitched his horse and taken off the saddle, with the invariable saddle-bags, which formed a part of every minister's equipment in those days, he took the "comforter" from his neck, cut it in two, wrapped the pieces around his feet, and then bestowed his pedal extremities, one in each of the saddle-bags. Thus protected, he lay down on the dryest place he could find, and it is to be presumed that, whatever may have been his sufferings in other respects, he didn't catch. cold in his feet. The next morning he found his way to the waiting congregation, but was too much exhausted to speak until afternoon. It was not until about 1840 that Solon was far enough advanced to support a store. The first one was then established at the center by Captain Archibald Robbins, son of Captain Jason Robbins, the early settler before mentioned, who had become a resident of the township many years after his father. The younger Captain Robbins had had a very romantio and thrilling experience. He had been the mate of Captain Riley, whose "Narrative" was onoe read with delighted interest by thousands of Vouth throughout the country. Riley and Robbins, with their crew, had been cast ashore on the western coast of Africa; had been captured by Arabs, and had only escaped after a long and painful captivity. Captain Robbins also published a narrative of his adventures, but it was not as widely known as that of Captain Riley, perhaps because the former, being a very plain, straightforward man, did not embellish his account with the productions of his imagination sufficiently to suit the popular taste. After having subsequently been in chief command of various vessels for a number of years, and after keeping a store a few Vears at Griffithsburg, now in the township of Chagrin Falls, Captain Robbins had finally established himself in Solon, where he died in 1859 at the age of sixty-seven. Besides his store at the center he had an ashery, where he made black salts and pearl- ash, which for a long time were almost legal tender among the settlers. We have now given a brief sketch of the pioneer times in Solon. After 1840 the township rapidly assumed the appearance of a cultivated country. Framed houses superseded log ones on all the principal, roads, and in time even the byroads showed the same signs of thrift and prosperity. The population steadily increased. The deer disappeared before the advancing waves of civilization. A small village slowly grew up at Solon Center, whither the farmers brought a portion of their products, while the remainder was furnished a ready market by the remarkable growth of Cleveland. A steam sawmill was built at the center before the war of 1861 by -Johnson, which is still in operation there, being owned by John Cowen. Another steam sawmill with a large cheese-box factory connected with it was erected by Calvin Gilfert, and operated by him until it was destroyed by fire a few years since. At length came the war for the Union, when the youth of Solon promptly responded to their country's call. The deeds of the regiments in which they were embodied are recorded in their appropriate place in the general history, and the names of the gallant sons of Solon are to be found with their comrades from other towns appended to their respective regiments and batteries. A detachment of the first recruits joined the 'Twenty-third Ohio, President Hayes' regiment. Each of these was presented with a pistol by the patriotic ladies of the township. An interesting incident, growing out of this circumstance and connected with Corporal Sheridan E. Bull, son of Lorenzo S. Bull and grandson of Samuel Bull, the pioneer settler, is narrated in the sketch of that regiment in the general history. Aside from war, the most important event in the history of the township in later years has been the construction of the Cleveland branch of the Atlantic. and Great Western Railway, which runs diagonally across the township from northwest to southeast. The establishment of its depot about a fourth of a mile northwest of the original "Center," has caused a considerable extension of the village in that direction. Great attention has always been paid to education in Solon, and it still ranks among the foremost rural townships of northern Ohio in that respect. In 1867 and '68 a yery fine brick school-house was erected 'at the center designed for the use of the village district, and as a high school for the township. There are two teachers in it, and about seventy scholars. In 1878 a narrow gauge railroad was completed from Chagrin Falls to Solon. Its effect in increasing the business of the latter place is yet to be seen. The business places and shops of Solon now comprise the following list: Four general stores, one drug store, one tin shop, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop and one steam sawmill. Of late years dairying has become a leading business of the farmers, and there are now five cheese factories in the township. The remainder of the township history will be devoted to brief sketches of the three churches which SOLON - 519 have been organized in it, and to a list of the principal township officers. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. As before stated, this church was organized in 1834 or '35, the presiding minister having been Rev. John Seward, of Aurora, Portage county. The first members were Joseph Patrick and Amanda, his wife; Baxter Clough and Hannah, his wife; Samuel Gerrish and Betsey, his wife; John Morse, his mother and his sister Prudence; Asa Stevens and Susan, his wife, and R. M. Hanaford and Nancy, his wife. Probably William Pillsbury and wife, and Horace Merry were also among those present at the organization; if not, they joined shortly afterward. Asa Stevens was one of the first deacons. For about a year the church usually met at the house of old Mrs. Morse, a mile or so northwest of the Center. At the end of that time the framed church, still in use, was erected at the Center. During eleven years there was no settled minister, the pulpit being filled by professors from Western Reserve College, by occasional supplies, by lay readers, etc. In 1845 Rev. John Seward, the same who had organized the church, became its permanent pastor, and remained so until 1861. The church has since maintained itself in a condition of steady prosperity. There are now about one hundred persons whose names are on the roll, of whom at least eighty are regular communicants. Rev. James Webster is the present pastor, 1878. THE DISCIPLE CHURCH. Disciple meetings were held, at Solon as early as 1840. On the 29th of November, 1841, a church was fully organized there, with thirteen members. It has flourished and increased ever since, having now about a hundred members. Among its ministers have been the following: J. H. Rhoads, J. H. Jones, T. B. Knowles, James A. Garfield, H. W. Everest, John smith, 0. C. Hill, John Atwater, A. B. Greene, and the present incumbent, C. W. Henry. The elders are L. S. Bull, H. P. Boynton and C. S. Carver; the deacons, F. H. Baldwin, M. J. Roberts and W. W. Robbins; the trustees, F. H. Baldwin, W. W. Robbins and J. J. Little. THE METHODIST CHURCH. There was Methodist preaching at the school-house on "the ledge " in the north part of the township as early as 1840, and soon afterwards at the schoolhouse at the Center, but it was not until 1854 that a church edifice was built, and regular service established. There was then quite a flourishing congregation, but it has since become so enfeebled by removals, deaths, etc., that it is impossible to learn the details regarding its early history. Preaching was regularly maintained from the erection of the ohurch edifice most of the time until about 1869. Rey. Mr. Vernon was the pastor in 1866, Rev. Mr. Latimer in 1868, and Rev. Mr. Burgess in 1869. Since then, the congregation have had to depend principally on transient preaching. PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, The township records down to 1838 are destroyed or lost; so that we can only give the names of the officers elected from that time to the present, with the addition of those chosen the first year, who were as follows: Trustees, Jason Robbins, Samuel Bull and Ichabod Watkins; clerk, Jason Robbins; treasurer, Pitkin S. Bull; overseer of the poor, Pitkin S. Bull; constable, Pitkin S. Bull; justice of the peace, Oliver Wells. 1838. Trustees, Samuel Glasier, James M. Hickox .Jarvis McConoughy; clerk, Joseph G. Patrick; treasurer, Freeman McClintock; overseers of the poor, Collins Reed, William Higby. 1839. Trustees, S. Glasier, Wm. Higby, Ralph Russelt; clerk, J. G. Patrick; treasurer, Reuben M. Hanaford; overseers of the poor, Col, lins Reed. Seymour Trowbrdge. 1840. Trustees, S. M. Hickox, J. G. Patrick, Theodore S. Powell; clerk, Archibald Robbins; treasurer, R. M. Hanaford; overseers of the poor, Wm. R. Richards, James McConoughy. 1841. Trustees, Morris Bosworth, Obadiah B. Judd; clerk, John M. Hart; treasurer, S. Trowbridge; overseers of the poor, Wm. Higby, Henry Hillman. 1842. Trustees, Ebenezer Gove, Daniel Morse, Caleb R. Ftetcher; crerk, H. W. Hart; treasurer, S. Trowbridge; assessor, Arch. Robbins; overseers of the poor, W. W. Robbins, Asa Stevens. 1843. Trustees, Leander Chamberlin, Joel Seward, Wm. Higby; clerk, A. Robbins; treasurer, Asa Stevens; assessor, J. M. Hart; overseers of the poor. Samuel Glacier, Geo. Mann. 1844. Trustees, Simeon T. Shepard, Sanford H. Bishop, Seymour Trowbridge; clerk, A. Robbins; treasurer, Joel Seward; assessor, J. O. ,Patrick; overseers of the poor, John McClintock James Smith. 1845. Trustees, S. H. Smith, W. W. Richards, L. S. Bull; clerk, A. Robbins; treasurer, S. T. Shepard; assessor, R. M. Hanaford: overseers of the poor, John McClintock, S. Trowbridge. 1846. Trustees, Joel Seward, H. W. Hart, E. Cook; clerk, L. S. Bull; treasurer, A. Robbins; assessor, 0. B. Judd. 1847. Trustees, C. R. Fletcher, Simon Norton, S. H. Bishop; clerk, John Deady; treasurer, J. M. Hickox; assessor, Almon Case. 1848. Trustees, Daniel Morse, Wm. W. Richards, Norman A. Bull; clerk, Wm. R. Robbins; treasurer, John M. Hart; assessor, R. M. Hanaford. 1849. Trustees, Henry G. March, Leander Chamberlain, E. Gove; clerk, W. R. Robbins; treasurer, J G. Patrick; assessor, L. S. Bull. 1850. Trustees, H. G. March, Wm. R. Sill, S. Trowbridge; clerk, Edmund Richmond; treasurer, A. Robbins; assessor, S. H. Bishop. 1851. Trustees, S. Trowbridge, Richard Dewey, Francis Pettibone; clerk, W. R. Robbins; treasurer, A. Robbins; assessor, 0. B. Judd. 1852. Trustees, Robert Smith, C. R. Smith, W. W. Robbins; clerk, W. W. Barnard; treasurer, J. J. McClintock; assessor, Austin Blackman, 1853 Trustees, W. W. Richards, Norman A. Bull, Orris B. Smith; clerk, Wm. R. Robbins; treasurer, Geo. S. Hickox; assessor, F. Pettibone. 1854. Trustees, J. M. Hickox, Dexter McClintock, Wm. Higby; clerk, John Deady; treasurer, Wm. B. Price; Assessor, F. Pettibone. 1855. Trustees, Calvin T. Reed, H. G. March, S. T. Shepard; clerk, John Deady; treasurer. W. B. Price; assessor, F. Pettibone. 1856. Trustees, -- Daniel, Calvin Gilbert, Augustus Pettibone; clerk, S. B. Smith: treasurer, W. B. Price; assessor, G. Gove. 1858. Trustees, R. M. Hauaford, C. H. Baldwin, L. Chamberlain; clerk, Wm. K. Ricksecker; treasurer, C. Gilbert; assessor, Norman A Bull. 1859. Trustees, R. M. Hanaford, S. T. Shepherd, O. B. Smith; clerk, W. K. Ricksecker; treasurer, W. R. Robbins; assessor, H. A. Smith. 1860. Trustees, H. N. Slade. James Wester, R. Dewey; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, C. B. Lockwood; assessor, H. A. Smith. 1861. Trustees, H. N. Slade, C. Chamberlain, G. . Hickox; clerk, Hiram Chapman; treasurer, C. B. Lockwood; assessor, A. Blackman. 1862. Trustees, G. G. Hickox, Alfred Stevens, Royal Taylor 2nd; clerk, W. R. Robbins; treasurer, C. B. Lockwood; assessor, C. H. Baldwin. 1863. Trustees, Royal Taylor 2nd, 0. B. Smith, Alfred D. Robbins; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, J. C. Webster: assessor, C. H. Baldwin. 1864. Trustees, 0. B. Smith, A. N. Slade, J. N. Blackman; clerk, A. M. Smith; treasurer, A. D. Robbins; assessor, L. S. Bull. 1865. Trustees, H. N. Slade, J. M. Hickox, S. P. McConoughy; clerk, A. M. Smith; treasurer, E. C. Blackman; assessor, C. T. Reed. 520 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. 1866. Trustees, C. H. Carmon, Fenner Bosworth, J. M. Hickox; clerk, J. L. Chamberlain; treasurer, E. C. Blackman ; assessor. H. A. Smith. 1867. Trustees, J. M. Hickox, F. Bosworth, H A. Smith; clerk, J. L. Chamberlin; treasurer, E. C. Blackman; assessor, L. Chamberlain. 1868. Trustees, C. L. Chamberlain, H. A. Smith, James Webster; clerk, J. S. Chamberlain; treasurer, E. C. Blackman; assessor, L. ChamLerlain. 1869. Trustees, C. L. Chamberlain, N. A. Bull, F. Bosworth; clerk. W. F. Hale; treasurer, E. C. Blackman; assessor, Wm. J. McConoughy. 1870. Trustees, N. A. Bull, Thomas Potter, H. Haster; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, R. W. Collins; assessor, Wm. J. McConoughy. 1871. Trustees, Thos. Potter, H. A. Smith, J. N. Blackman; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, R. W. Collins; assessor, W. J McConoughy. 1872. Trustees, J. N. Blackman, Richard Davey, O. B. Smith; clerk, R. R. K. Merrill; treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, W. J. McConoughy. 1873. Trustees, O. B. Smith, W. W. Robbins, R. Dewey; clerk, W. F. Hanaford; treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, L. S. Bull. 1874. Trustees, Walter W. Robbins, Chester S. Carver; clerk, John Deady; treasurer, Erskine Merrill; assessor, L. Chamberlain. 1875. Trustees, Francis Pettibone, Daniel McAfee, Richard Dewey; clerk, John Deady; treasurer, E. R. Merrill; assessor, L. Chamberlin. 1876. Trustees, L. D. Hanaford, J. N. Blackman, D. McAfee; clerk, W. F, Hanaford; treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, W. J. McConoughy. 1877. Trustees, J. N. Blackman, H. L. March, C. H. Baldwin; clerk, F. A. Hale; treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, W. J. McConoughy. 1878. Trustees, A. Pettibone, James Harper, H. L. March; clerk, F. A. Hale; treasurer, W. F. Hale; assessor, W. J. MeConoughy, 1879. Trustees, C. H. Baldwin, Fenner Bosworth, A. H. Chamberlin; clerk, W. C. Lawrence; treasurer, W. C. Lawrence; assessor, W. J. McConoughy. CHAPTER LXXXVI. STRONGSVILLE. When Settled—Its Surface—Its Early Owners—J. S. Strong, Agent— The First Pioneers—First Woman and Child—The Survey—Unwelcome Intruders—An Indian Visitor—The Second Family—Going after Grain —First Marriage—First Birth— Emigrants of 1817—Progress—First Church—Township Organization—First Officers—The First Physician —Emigrants of 1818—Underbrushing the Road—First Framed Building—First Death—Emigrants of 1819—First Tavern and Gristmill—Arrivals of 1820—Panther vs. Owl -Good Health— Indians—Second Gristmill—A Check on Emigration—The Vote of 1824—Scarce Money" Black Salts "—A Potash Campaign— First Store Building—The Town House, Etc.—Log Raisings—Bark Torches—A Bear Hunt—Settlement at Albion—Flush Times—Carding Machine, Woolen Factory, Etc.—The Borough of Albion—Extinct Churches—The Great Fire—Subsequent Business—Final Decline—The Quiet Center—The War for the Union— Since the War—List of Official and Professional Men-The Free Congregational Church--The List of Township Officers. THIS township, which in the survey of the Western Reserve was number five, in range fourteen, though it was sold by the Indians in 1805, and though its boundaries were surveyed in 1806, as related in the general history of the county, was not settled by white men until the close of the war of 1812. Situated on the southern line of Cuyahoga county, its twenty-five square miles were composed chiefly of high, dry land, covered with beech, maple, oak, elm, etc., somewhat broken, but not too much so for tillage, and nearly all capable of being converted into excellent farms. Through it meandered, in a northwesterly direction, the east branch of Rocky river, with several small creeks, all finding their way into that stream. In the allotment of the western part of the Reserve among the members of the Connecticut Land Com- party as individual owners, number five, in range fourteen, was assigned to Hon. Oliver Ellsworth, an eminent Connecticut statesman, Governor Caleb Strong, of that State, and to two other gentlemen who owned only extremely small fractions. The shares of Mr. Ellsworth. and Goyernor Strong were about equal, the former owning to the amount of $13,673, and the latter to that of $12,000, while both the other shares amounted to only four hundred and fourteen dollars. Mr. Ellsworth having died, his interest passed to his heirs, William W. and H. L. Ellsworth. In 1815 the owners appointed John Stoughton Strong, an enterprising citizen of Connecticut, already arrived at middle- age, but full of the vigor and courage of youth, to act as their agent in the sale and settlement of number five. It was in the month of February, 1816, that the first band of settlers, having made their tedious way from Connecticut in sleighs, entered the territory afterwards known as the township of Strongville. It was led by John S. Strong, the gentleman just mentioned, a small, active, nervous man,. full of untiring energy, well suited to the task of opening a new country, and was composed, besides him, of Elijah Lyman, Guilford Whitney, William Fuller, Obadiah Church, and Goodell. Mr. Strong selected a point only a few rods northwest of the center of the township, where the village .of Strongville is now located, as the place for his own residence and the headquarters of the infant colony. Axes were speedily ringing in the forest, and a log house was soon erected to serve the party for shelter while surveying the township into lots. To that cabin in the forepart of March, 1816, came John Hilliard, accompanied by his wife (the first white woman who ever resided in Strongsville township), and his young daughter, Eliza. Mrs. Hilliard took up her residence in the log mansion and became the housekeeper of the party. A surveyor was obtained from Newburg, and the work of subdividing the township into lots was speedily begun. Whitney, Goodell, Church and Fuller acted as chain-men. The lots were made half a mile square, thus containing a hundred and sixty acres each. Had the townships been just five miles square, as was originally intended, there would have been just a hundred lots of that size. A hundred lots were actually surveyed, but the five miles east and west did not quite hold out, and the lots in the westernmost tier were only about a third of a mile wide. They were numbered, beginning with number one in the southwestern corner, thence running north to number ten, in the north_ western corner, thence back in the next tier on the east to number twenty, and so on forth and back, closing with number one hundred in the northeastern corner. The survey was the principal business of the season, though two or three small clearings were made. Mrs. Hilliard, who was then only twenty-one years old, was the only woman in the township throughout the spring and summer, and had her share of the adventures natural to such a situation. One morning after breakfast, while sweeping the rough floor of the cabin, she heard a sharp rattle and saw a large snake lying on the warm hearth, whither it had just crawled from under the floor. She called some of the men who STRONGSVILLE - 521 were working near the house, who speedily came in and dispatched the intruder. It was found to be an enormous specimen over five feet in length. After it had been duly examined and then thrown out of doors, the men returned to their work and Mrs. Hilliard resumed her sweeping. Ere it was completed she heard another angry rattling beneath the floor. The men were again summoned, the loose floor was opened and another large rattlesnake, the mate of the former, was killed and dragged out. Indians frequently came wandering over their former hunting-grounds. One day during the summer in question while the men were all gone to a raising in the adjoining township of Columbia (now in Lorain county, but then a part of Cuyahoga), a huge warrior, armed with gun, knife and tomahawk, sauntered into the cabin where Mrs. Hilliard was alone with her little daughter and gruffly asked: "Where is the man?" She answered indefinitely that he was not at home. The visitor made no hostile demonstrations, but the numerous stories of Indian atrocities during the recent war were enough to make any mother's heart beat with unwonted quickness under such circumstances. The warrior, unbidden, seated himself in a chair, when the little girl, with all the fearlessness of infanoy, toddled up and offered him the piece of bread and butter which she was eating. He promptly accepted it, and, while eating, took the little one upon his knee and caressed it. The mother looked on with trembling, but, after finishing his bread and butter, the savage soon left the house to her very great relief. About the first of October, another family was added to the little settlement; Guilford Whitney then bringing from Connecticut his wife and his four children, Flavel, Jubal, Vina and Betsey—also a young lady named Charlotte Wallace. Later in the same month Abial Haynes, then a young man, came from the same "land of steady habits," to examine the lo. cality. His report must have been favorable, for a year later his father, Ahijah Haynes, Sr., located in the new colony with his family including a younger brother, Ahijah Haynes, Jr. Both Abial and Ahijah Haynes, Jr., still live at Strongsville Center, being two of the very oldest surviving residents of the township. Not only was there no grain in the new settlement, but it was extremely scarce in the older localities around, owing to the cold summer of 1816. Mr. Abial Haines mentions that in January, 1817, he was compelled to go as far as Harrisville, (now on the south line of Medina county) some thirty miles distant from Strongsville, to. obtain wheat. The road could with difficulty be traveled by a yoke of oxen with a sled; the wolves came in sight after dusk, showing their angry teeth, but declining to come in reach of young Haines stout club, and after he arrived in Harrisville he had to thresh his wheat and winnow it with a "hand-fan" before he could get it. The price was a dollar a bushel. During the winter of 1816–'17 the first marriage took place in the township; the groom being Hollis Whitney and the bride being the Miss Charlotte Wallace before mentioned as accompanying Guilford Whitney's family the preceding autumn. Early in 1817 came Chipman Porter, whose son Edwin, born shortly afterwards, was the first white child born in town. John Hilliard's eldest son, Frank, who came into the world only a few days later, was the second one. The other immigrants of this year, so far as known, were George F. Gilbert, James Nichols, David Goodwin, Seth Goodwin, Wheeler Cole, Thatcher Avery, James Bennett, Thaddeus Ball, and John and James Smith. This was a large immigration for a single township, and great prosperity was expected. People came much more readily to the high, but dry and healthy, land of number five than to the more level, but damper, ground of Middleburg. Axes were heard in every direction, and log houses rose in various parts of the township in quick succession. John Bosworth cleared fifty acres for Mr. Strong, thirty of which were sown to wheat that fall. Numerous smaller clearings were made, many tracts were sown to wheat, and the township bade fair to be speedily independent of the outer world, so far as food was ooncerned. The religions habits of old Connecticut were imported by the colonists, and on the 10th of October the First Congregational Church was organized, of which a separate sketch is given a few pages farther on. Such rapid progress incited the principal men to apply to the county commissioners to erect number five into a separate civil township. Their petition was granted, and the name of Strongsville was given to the new township, in honor of its most prominent citizen, John S. Strong. On the 18th day of February, 1818, the first election was held for the purpose of organizing the township. It was presided over by Ephraim Vaughn, Esq., a justice of the peace of Middleburg. The judges of election were James Nichols, David Goodwin, and Chipman Porter. The following officers were elected: Trustees, John Dinsmore, James Nichols, James Smith; clerk, Seth Goodwin; treasurer, Guilford Whitney; fence-viewers, James Bennett, Benjamin G. Barber; constables, Jas. Nichols and G. F. Nichols; supervisors of highways, John Bosworth, John Dinsmore, and B. G. Barber. The last-named official declined; and Abial Haynes was appointed in his place. At a special election the following June, James Nichols and Ahijah Haynes, Sr., were elected the first justices of the peace. In the spring of this year Mr. J. S. Strong brought his family from Connecticut-except those who, having reaohed man's estate, had already emigrated to Strongsville. The whole list embraced the names of Warner C., Lyman W., John, Chipman, Emery, Beuda, Franklin, and Lavinia. Another large family whioh settled in Strongsville this year was that of Joseph Olds, among the members of which were Ed- 522 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY son B. Olds (afterward celebrated in Ohio politics), G. L., L. W., C. N., and Dr. Benj. B. Olds. The last- named immediately began practice at "the center," becoming the first physician in Strongsville. Still other emigrants of 1818 were Liakim Lyon and family, Josiah Carpenter and family (including his sons Caleb, Zachary, David and Rufus); Zara D. Howe and family (including Manser, A. P. and Z. D.); Otis and N. D. Billings, Mrs. McNeil, Mrs. G. G. Olds, and Apollo S. Southworth. A young man named Ansel G. Pope also came the same year, and established the first blacksmith shop in the township. Mr. Pope, sixty-one years later, still resides at Strongsville, in a remarkably hale and vigorous old age. One of Eliakim Lyon's family, D. S. Lyon, then a boy of eleven, is also still a resident of the township. He says that when he came there was hardly a stick of timber cut between Strongsville and Cleveland. The same autumn of their arrival the main road, which afterward became the turnpike, was "under-brushed out" four rods wide, all the brush and saplings under six inches in diameter being cut away. As for the larger trees, travelers were expected for a year or two more to make their way between them. Mr. Eliakim Lyon settled a mile west of the present residence of D. S. Lyon, and about a mile from the south line of the township. The Goodwins and a Mr. Bennett were all who had then penetrated thus far to the southwest. Mr. Lyon for a long time occupied Mr. Bennett's house. The wolves were so thick and so saucy around them, that one evening when Mr. Lyon, tired of their howling, let his big dog out into the woods, in hopes to scare them away, they quickly chased him back, almost to the very threshold of the cabin. During the same summer Mr. J. S. Strong erected a framed barn, the first framed building in the township. The raising was a great event, attended by all the men of Strongsville, and probably by some outsiders from Middleburg and Columbia. When the work was completed the men ranged themselves on one of the plates, in accordance with the ancient custom, passed a bottle of whisky from mouth to mouth until all had partaken, and then gave three rousing cheers, while the last man flung the bottle as far as his arm could send it. The celebrated " Hinckley hunt" occurred in December of this year, in which nearly all the men of Strongsville took part, but as there were also numerous participants from several other townships of Cuyahoga county, we have given a description of it in the general history. The expenses of "running" the new township were very light, but the resources were still more meager. At the March meeting of the trustees in 1819, the expenditures for the past year footed up $16.50; the collections $8.30. In the month just named occurred the first death in the oolony, that of Stoughton Strong, at the age of nineteen. The second was that of Polly, wife of Lyman Strong, who died on the 8th of May, 1819, at the age of twenty-one. The newcomers of this year were Jonathan Pope and family, Ebenezer Wilkinson and family, Seth Bartlett and family, James Waite, Moses Fowle, David E. Hier, Luther, Samuel and Elijah Bosworth, Chester G. and Ezra Tuttle, Jr., John Colton and family, and Jeduthan Freeman and family. During the summer a Methodist society was organized at the house of Jonathan Pope, by Revs. Ira Eddy and Billings O. Plympton. The first traveling Methodist preachers were Revs. M. Goddard and Charles Waddell. The same season a log structure was erected at the center, designed to serve the triple purpose of town-house. school-house and meetinghouse. It was thus used for six years. In 1820 the first tavern was erected by J. S. Strong; a frame building which is still used for that purpose at Strongsville Center. This was the first framed residence in the township. Up to this time the people had generally got their grinding done at Vaughn's mill in Middleburg, or at Hoadley's in Columbia. When these were dry the hungry citizens were compelled to travel as far as Tallmage, Chagrin river, or even Painesville, to procure the needed work. That enterprising pioneer, John S. Strong, now thought it time that his township should have a mill of its own. In the fall of 1820 he accordingly erected a gristmill on Rocky river, at the point now called Albion. E. Lyman was the millwright and A. J. Pope did the iron work. Thaddeus Lathrop (father of Mrs. Benjamin Tuttle) came from Middleburg and boarded the hands who worked on the mill, and was afterwards the first miller in the new structure. A sawmill was built about the same time as the gristmill. During the season Timothy Clark brought on a stock of goods, small, but somewhat larger than those previously brought by J. S. Strong, E. Lyman and John Bosworth. All the three last named, and we believe Mr. Clark, sold their goods in their houses, as was the custom in early times almost everywhere. The other new arrivals for 1820 were Moses O. Bennett, Jesse Root, Benjamin Schofield, Cyrus Harlan and Nathan Britton and family. Though the "Hinckley hunt " had, to some extent, broken up one haunt of wild animals, they were still numerous throughout the woods. Venison was to be had for the shooting, while mutton was an almost impossible luxury, because the wolves were apt to get ahead of the butcher. -Bears were by no means uncommon, and occasionally the unearthly scream of the panther was heard by the dwellers in the scattered cabins, causing every mother to look hastily around to see if all her children were safe from that fiercest of forest roamers. It would seem, however, that the panther's yell oould sometimes be imitated by less dangerous screamers. Mr. Abial Haynes relates how he and his STRONGSVILLE - 523 father's family were startled one night by a dismal noise, which those who claimed to be experts declared to be the shriek of a panther. The next night the same sound was again heard not far from the cabin. Abial took his rifle and proceeded in the direction of the noise until he saw a pair of glaring eyes a short distance in front of him, about the right bight from the ground for a panther's head. Between these he aimed his rifle, fired, and the eyes dropped to the earth. Further examination the next morning discovered a big owl lying cold in death behind the log on which it had sat. It is possible that some other accounts, by belated travelers, of dismal shrieks and glaring eyes, would have had an equally harmless ending, if the supposel monster had been slain and examined. The Indiana frequently came during the first few years of settlement, and stopped a few weeks in temporary camps to hunt the game which abounded in the forest. Mr. Haines mentions the existence, at various times, of a camp near Albion, another on " East Hill," and another larger one, which numbered some fifty inmates, at Strongsville Center. From one great pest of new countries the pioneers of Strongsville were comparatively free. These was much less sickness than is usual during the period in which the wilderness is subjugated. There was a little ague along the banks of Rocky river, but the high, dry, rolling ground, of which the township is principally composed, was almost entirely free from this and other forms of sickness. In 1821 or '22 J. S. Strong built a distillery near his mills, at what is now Albion. In the latter year occurred the death of Dr. B. B. Olds, the first physician, who had meanwhile married a daughter of Mr. Strong. Rev. Luke Bower, the first resident minister and school teacher, came this year. The same year Mr. Strong, having sold his property at Albion, proceeded to build another gristmill on Rocky river, nearly two miles east of the center. There could hardly have been business enough for two gristmills in the thinly-settled township, but Mr. was of so enterprising a temperament that, as Mr. Haines says, " He couldn't keep still. He also built an ashery at the center, where he manufactured pot and pearl- ashes for many years. In 1823 Ezra Tuttle, father of Benjamin Tuttle, now of Albion, came into the township; Benjamin, however, did not come till several years later. Ebenezer Stone settled with his family a mile west of the center, one of the members being Marvin E. Stone, who is still living at Albion. Mr. Stone bought out Ebenezer Pomeroy, who had been there a year or two and was about the first settler west of the center. Curtis Stone also came about the same time; one of his sons being Walter F., since a judge of the supreme court of Ohio. Down to this time, as will have been observed, the settlement of the township had been quite rapid, and the proprietors thought they could safely raise the price of the land from *3.00 to *5.00 per acre. But about the same period Congress perfected its system of surveys, and instead of selling land as before to wealthy men in large tracts, began offering it to every one in quarter-sections at a dollar and a quarter an acre. Emigration to Strongsville quickly fell off before this competition, and for several years was very light; the proprietors being at length compelled to reduce their prices to $2.00 per acre in order to sell their land. The number of residents qualified to vote for presidential electors must have been very small, for, according to the record, there were only twenty- four votes cast for those officers in 1824. Of these twenty-three were for Henry Clay and one for John Quincy Adams. Food was now plentiful but grain was so low as hardly to pay for carrying it to market. Money was extremely soarce, and about the only means of obtaining it was by the sale of the "black salts" made by boiling down the ashes obtained in clearing the farms. Generally the "salts" were sold to be manufactured at Strong's ashery, but sometimes the farmers themselves made them into pearlash. The Stones were= about the only ones who made their salts into potash. When made, the potash or pearlash had to be hauled to Cleveland. By this time the main road through the township, where the turnpike was afterwards made, had been cut out, but the others were mere paths through the woods. Even the main road was almost impassable through the low ground of Middleburg. When men went to Cleveland two generally journeyed together so as to help each other through the bad places; each having two yoke of cattle, a sled or wagon, an axe, an augur, several days' provisions and a jug of whisky, as if he was starting on a campaign. Mr. M. E. Stone states that he has been four days making the fifteen miles to Cleveland and back. Two barrels of potash, holding from four to five hundred pounds each, were considered a good load for two yoke of cattle. It brought at Cleveland from four to five dollars per hundred. The first store in the township which occupied a separate building was established by Emory Strong about 1824. In 1825 the present framed town-house and school-house combined took the place of the old log building which had previously been used for that purpose. Dr. Olds was succeeded within a year or two after his death by Dr. William Baldwin, who practiced at the center ten or twelve years. During this period the increase of population was moderate, there being eighty-nine householders in 1820. There was plenty of friendliness among the pioneers, and newcomers were always cordially welcomed. When there was a log house to be raised nearly every man in the township would be on hand. After working all day they would start off at night and travel two, three and four miles to their homes, lighted on their darksome paths by torches of hickory bark, which were found to be just the thing for holding 524 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. flame a long distance. Mr. Stone says a handful of hickory bark three feet long would last three miles. When the people met in the school-house for "evening meeting," or spelling school, or singing-school, one might see a dozen or more long bunches of hickory bark, each neatly tied together, leaning against the wall. When the exercises were over, each pioneer gallant would light his rustic torch and set forth to escort his chosen fair one to her home, the flashing lights flinging fantastic shadows among the giant oaks and elms which shaded the forest pathways. The wild beasts still roamed with great freedom close to the houses of the settlers, and numerous were the fatal shots fired at the deer, not only in their forest retreats but even in the edge of the clearings. Mr. M. E. Stolle speaks of killing thirty or forty in a year. Other game afforded still more excitement. Late in an afternoon in 1825, a she-bear and two cubs were seen crossing the road about half a mile south of the tavern at Strongsville Center. The news quickly spread from cabin to cabin, and in a brief time more than twenty men and boys were out with rifles, shotguns and occasionally an old revolutionary musket, hurrying along on the track of the devoted animals, while the woods rang with the voices more or less melodious of an equal number of dogs, of various breeds and sizes. The bears were moving at a leisurely gait, and had only gone a short distance east from the road when the sounds of pursuit broke upon their ears. They hastened their movements, but the cubs were incapable of rapid traveling, and the old bear would not desert her young-and was herself given rather to waddling than to racing. Just at dark they were overtaken about a mile east of the road. The old bear turned at bay and the dogs gave back from her savage teeth and Herculean paws. But the foremost hunters speedily came up, leveled their guns, and in an instant the devoted mother lay stretched in death. Meanwhile one of the cubs had hurried away into the fast darkening forest, and the other had chimed the most convenient tree. The former escaped from its enemies; the latter only postponed its fate. The hunters built a fire near the tree, and stood guard by turns all night over-or rather under—the unfortunate cub. When daylight revealed his hiding-place among the branches he too was shot, and the citizens around had an opportunity of comparing the merits of old bear meat and young hear meat for several days afterwards. By 1830, however, the deer and bear were becoming scarce. Some lingered for a few years longer, but by 1840 there was hardly one to be seen. If one appeared it was probably -a straggler from the low grounds of Middleburg, where they stayed till a still later date. By 1830, the log houses of the first pioneers had begun to be exchanged for frames, and in the course of the next decade the exchanges had generally taken place, and the township had put on the general appearance of a civilized district. By 1830 there was a small settlement at the lower-mill on Rocky river (since known as Albion), but there was yet no hotel or store there. Mr. M. E. Gallup, who came into town, a boy, in 1833, says that at that time Ebenezer Prindle was keeping tavern at Strongsville Center. Emory and Warner Strong were then selling goods on the corner and old Mr. Strong about the same time established a store in a new brick building. Emigration was now brisk, and so was business of all kinds. These were the celebrated "flush times," when paper moner was issued in unlimited quantities, by irresponsible banks, and everybody appeared to expect to get rich in a few months. About 1834 Benjamin Northrop, commonly called Judge Northrop came from Albion, New York, located at the lower mill and built a carding machine and fulling mill there. The people around were anxious to have such an establishment in town and readily furnished supplies of timber and other material on credit; taking their pay afterwards in cloth and work. The settlement there rapidly increased, Mr. Northrop was recognized as the principal man in it, and in honor of his former residence he named it Albion. Two or three years later Judge Northrop built a woolen factory in connection with his carding works. Albion rapidly increased; several stores and other places of business were erected, and the new village went entirely ahead of its more staid competitor, Strongsville Center. Even the great financial crisis of 1837, which brought ruin upon a large majority of the business men of the United States, did not stop the growth of Albion. When they were short of money for small change the "borough," for the place was incorporated under that title, issued scrip, signed by Judge Northrop as mayor, which passed ourrent in the immediate vicinity. A Baptist church, which was at first also used as a school-house, was built at Albion as early as 1835. It was occupied with more or less regularity until 1871, when it was removed to Berea.* An Episcopal church was also organized at Albion, and a church edifice erected in 1841. There was likewise a Methodist church in a flourishing condition; of these three, the Methodist church alone remains. In the forepart of 1843, probably in February, a fire occurred in Albion, which not only destroyed a large part of the village, but inflicted a blow on its prosperity from which it never recovered. There were then six stores, three or four blacksmith shops, several other shops and thirty or forty dwellings. These were mostly on the main road on time top of the hill, while the mills, the factory, the distillery, etc., were on the creek below. The fire began on the flat, and the wind drove it rapidly up the hill and along the street to the southward, destroying nearly * Elder Freeman preached in it for three or four years before 1847, at which time it was moved and repaired. After 1847, the first preacher was Rev. Mr. Guernsey, and next the Rev. Mr. Dibble. Rev. Mr. Hubbard succeeded and preached until the beginning of the war. Elder Wood preached a year or so after Mr. Hubbard and since then there have only been occasional services. STRONGSVILLE - 525. all the business part of the village, and rendering fourteen families homeless. The decline of the place dated from this time, but the fire was not immediately fatal. Some houses were rebuilt, and some places of business were reestablished. The travel still continued brisk along the old turnpike, and this, of course, made business for the taverns and, to some extent, for the stores. Trask and Tuttle built a tannery in 1844, which did a good business for many years. Mr. H. B. Bradley says that when he oame in 1849, Albion was still quite a prosperous place. Many four-horse and six-horse tennis traveled the road, drawing big wagons with tires six inches wide, heavily loaded with farm produce destined for Cleveland, or with articles from that place for use in the country. But when the railroad was built through Middleburg in 1851, a large part of this travel left the turnpike, and the glory of Albion faded slowly but steadily away. Meanwhile Strongsville Center continued on a more even tenor. Even while Albion was most prosperous, the voting-place for the township continued to he at the center, and after the decay of the former village, the center still continued to be the common gathering place for the farmers around, and the trading place for those who did not go outside of the township for that purpose. Judge Northrop sold the woolen factory at Albion in 1849, to Dr. St. Clair, and removed to Cleveland. Dr. St. Clair ran the factory several years, and sold it to Lester Miles, who made a gristmill of it, though he still kept up the carding works. The mill was burned in 1860. Mr. Miles rebuilt it, and operated it several years. He was succeeded by Milo Haynes who did a large business for a time; but business finally dropped away, and now little remains save the frame to tell of the busy times of old. When the war for the Union called the youth of our country to arms, Strongsville promptly responded to the cry, and her sons, through four years of conflict with the foe, showed that they, too, could meet hardship and danger as readily as had their sires in the struggle to subdue the wilderness. Their names will be found with their respectiye regiments and batteries in the general history of the county. During the war the old turnpike, which for thirty years had been one of the principal highways of this part of the country, was surrendered to the public by its owners, and the gates were permanently removed. Since the close of the war the career of Strongsville has been that of a quiet oountry township, where prosperous farmers, year after year, gather and market the produce of a fertile soil, and where healthful breezes invigorate the sturdy inhabitants, but where there is known but little of the excitement which agitates the great centers of business. Before passing to our sketches of the existing churches, we will mention some of the prominent men, and members of the various professions, who in their youth were residents of Strongsville, and who have "graduated," so to speak, from its borders. The names of resident representatives in the legislature, however, are given in the chapter of the general history devoted to the higher officers of the county, while those of township officials succeed the sketches of the churches. The official and professional gentlemen formerly of Strongville, are, according to a published list, as follows: Judges, Walter F. Stone, Benjamin Northrop, Perry Bosworth; physicians, Henry Parker, Jonathan Pope, C. E. Tupper, Albert Southworth, Calvin Pomeroy, John F. Whitney and It S. Hubbard. To these may be added the resident physicians. After Dr. Baldwin, before mentioned, or about the time he left, which was near 1830, came Dr. Boswell Trask, who staid nearly twenty years, and died in the township. Dr. H. L. W. Leonard came somewhat later, and survived Trask. He died in Strongsville only a few years ago. The present physicians are Dr. Hudson, Dr. Berghoff, and Dr. McConnel. Ministers, Thomas W. Pope, David Warwick, George A. Stone, D.D., Wm. C. Rodgers, Stanley G. Pope, Calvin 0. Freeman, Hiram Brooks, Cyrus Colton, Lyman Freeman, Flavel Britton, Levi Sabin. Lawyers, L. L. Bowen, Sidney Strong, George H. Foster, Henry E. Foster, Carlos M. Stone, Myron Sabin, Erastus F. Miles. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL (NOW PRESBYTERIAN) CHURCH OF STRONGSVILLE. This church was organized at Strongsville Center on the 10th day of October, 1817, Reverend Messrs. William Hanford and Luther Humphrey being present. The first members were Seth Goodwin and Deborah, his wife; Ahijah Haynes and Jerusha, his wife; Guilford Whitney and Anna, his wife; Hollis Whitney and Barincey Hilliard. Guilford Whitney was the first deacon, and Ahijah Haynes the second. For two years the church was unable to employ a regular minister, or build a church edifice. Services, however, were held with great regularity at the houses of members, sermons being sometimes read by one of the congregation, while at other times traveling ministers, with rude but fervid eloquence, held forth the promises of the gospel to the assembled listeners. In 1819 the church, in connection with the township, erected a log building at the center, which, as before stated, served as school-house, town house and church. Six years later a framed building was erected which was equally well employed for the three purposes mentioned. On the 12th of January, 1825, the Rev. Simon Woodruff was installed as the first settled minister of this church. He served until 1834; the church meanwhile steadily increasing with the growth of the township. In the last named year Mr. Woodruff was succeeded by the Rev. D. C. Blood, who remained three years. The Rev. Myron Tracy was installed in 1837. At this period the church was in a very flourishing condition, and had over a hundred members. In 526 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. 1842 what has been known as the Second Congregational, or Free Congregational Church, separated from the first church, considerably reducing its membership. In 1843 Rev. D. C. Blood was recalled, re mailing until 1850. He was succeeded by Rev. Timothy Williston, and he, in 1853, by Rev. Elias Thompson; though the latter was not formally installed until 1854. Mr. Thompson was succeeded in 1860 by Rev. Charles S. Adams, who closed his services in 1861. Rev. Harvey Lyon preached for a short time after that, though not regularly installed. In July, 1862, Rev. Amzi B. Lyon began his ministerial services, which continued until 1864. The next year, 1865, Rev. A. W. Knowlton was called to the pastorate, which he occupied for twelve years, closing in 1877, after the longest term served by any minister for this church. He was succeeded by Rev. James W. Turner, the present incumbent. In 1871 this church, retaining its ancient creed, (which is held in substance by both the Congregationalists and Presbyterians), adopted the Presbyterian form of organization, -and became a member of the Presbytery. It is still, however, more commonly called by its early name, the .First- Congregational Church of Strongsville. At the time the writer visited the township the elders of the church. were Abial Haynes, D. M. Strong and Lorenzo Strong; the trustees of the civil organization were Benoni Bartlett, William Heazlit, Porter Lyman and Merrick Strong. THE FREE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. This church, frequently called the Second Congregational, was formed from the, First-Congregational in 1842; its organization being completed on the 16th day of July in that year, under the direction of Rev. James A. Thorne, a professor at Oberlin, College. Services were held with varying regularity until 1852. During this time the pulpit was frequently supplied temporarily by professors or pupils of Oberlin; Rev. Uriah T. Chamberlain regularly in 1843 and '44, and the Rev. Mr. Moore for two or three years subsequently. On the 28th of June in that year, Rev. Gideon Dana became the pastor. A marked improvement was soon manifested in the vitality of the church, and on the 17th of August following, the corner stone of a new brick church edifice was laid at Strongsville Center. The work was pushed rapidly forward; the legal organization of the society being completed meanwhile by recording the necessary papers in the office of the county recorder on the 19th of October in that year. On the 27th of January, 1853, the newly erected church was duly dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, but little more than five months having been occupied in its construction. Mr. Dana's labors continued until October, 1855. In February, 1856, Rev. O. W. White succeeded to the vacant pastorate, which he oocupied until the latter part of 1862. On the first of January, 1863, Rev. William Bacon became the pastor; remaining until 1867. He was followed by Rev. Lucius Smith. This gentleman preached part of the time at Berea; occupying the pulpits alternately until 1872. After the close of Mr. Bacon's services Messrs. Burr and Miller preached occasionally during the remainder of 1872 and the beginning of 1873. During the latter year Rev. C. S. Cady was installed as pastor, continuing in that relation until November, 1875. No .regular minister was employed until January, 1877, when Rev. J. W. Turner was installed as pastor of this church, as well as of the First Congregational, or Presbyterian church. Mr. Turner has served both churches from that time till the present. The deacons of the Free Congregational church are Isaac I. Gifford and Elijah Lyman; the trustees of the societV are I. I. Gifford, E. Lyman and Richard Gibbons. LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.* 1818. Clerk, Seth Goodwin; trustees David Goodwin, Jno. Dansmore, Jas. Nichols; lister, Chipman Porter; appraiser, Thad. Ball; justices of the peace, Jas. Nichols, Ahijah Haynes. 1819. Clerk, Seth Goodwin; trustees, Jno. S. Strong, Jas. Nichols, Wm. Fuller; lister, Emory Strong; appraiser, Chipman Porter. 1820. Clerk, Benj. B. Olds; trustees, Josiah Carpenter, Eliakim Lyon, Henry Wait; lister, Etijah Lyman; appraiser, Jas. Wait. 1821. Clerk, Emory Strong; lister, Lyman Strong; appraiser, Elijah Lyman; justices of the peace, Elijah Lyman, Henry Wait. 1822. Clerk, Timothy Ctark; trustees, Jas. Smith, E. Bosworth, A. J. Pope; treasurer, Guilford Whitney; lister, Guilford Whitney; appraiser, Lyman Strong. 1823. Clerk, Timothy Clark; trustees, Etiakim Lyon, Joseph Olds, Thad. Lathrop; treasurer, Guilford Whitney; lister, Guilford Whitney; appraiser, Chester Tuttle. 1824. Clerk, Timothy Clark; trustees, E. Wilkinson. Eliakim Lyon, Luke -Bowen; treasurer, Guilford Whitney; hater, Philo Millard; appraiser, H. W. Sabin, justices of the peace, Elijah Lyman, Timothy Clark. 1825. Clerk, Timothy Mark; trustees, E. Wilkinson, Leonard Peabody, Jas. Wait; treasurer, Ebenezer Stone; lister, Philo Millard; appraiser, Zara D. Howe. 1826. Clerk, Warner Strong; trustees, E. Wilkinson, Leonard Peabody, Jeduthan Freeman; treasurer, Ebenezer Stone; lister, Philo Millard; appraiser,-Zara D. Howe. 1827. Clerk, Warner Strong; trustees, E. Wilkinson, Jno. Hilliard, Curtis- Stone; treasurer, Ebenezer Stone; lister, Philo Millard; appraiser, Zara D. Howe; justices of the peace, Elijah Lyman, Timothy Clark. 1828. Clerk, Timothy Clark; trustees, Asa Drake, Wm. Fuller, Abraham Conyne; treasurer, Ebenezer Stone; lister, Philo Millard; appraiser, Zara D. Howe; justice of the peace, Jno. S. Strong. 1829. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, Ebenezer Stone, Guilford Whilney, E. Lyon; treasurer, Curtis Stone. 1830. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, Ebenezer Stone, Guitford Whitney, E. Lyon; treasurer, Curtis Stone; justice of the peace, Timothy Clark. 1831. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, David Harvey, Jno. Fuller, A. J. Pope; treasurer, Lyman Strong. 1832. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, E. Wilkinson, Harmon Stone, Heman Coltrin; treasurer, Ebenezer . Woodward. 1833. M. E. Stone; trustees, Jno. Fuller, Richard Wetherbee Jno. Pope; treasurer, Eliakim Lyon; justices of the peace, Harmon Stone, J. Fuller. 1834. Clerk, Ebenezer Prindle; trustees, David Harvey, David Fish, Jno. Hilliard; treasurer, Lyman Strong. 1835. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, Timothy Clark, Ebenezer Pomeroy, Thos. Copper; treasurer, Lyman St rong; justice of the peace, Harmon Stone. 1836. Clerk, M. E. Stone: trustees, Norton Briggs, Asa Drake, Avery Sprague; treasurer, Lyman Strong; justice of the peace, Jas. Fuller. 1837. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, Norton Briggs, Asa Drake, Avery Sprague; treasurer, Lyman Strong. 1838. Clerk, David Harvey; trustees, Flavel Whi ney, Marcus Moe A. Conyne; treasurer, Lyman Strong; justice of the peace, Norton Briggs. 1839. Clerk, David Harvey; trustees, A. Conyne, Flavel Whitney, Asa Drake; treasurer, Lyman Strong; justice of the peace, Harmon Stone. * This list is complete so far as it can be ascertained from the town books. STRONGSVILLE - 527 1840. Clerk, David Harvey; trustees, A. Conyne, Flavel Whitney, Philander Pope; treasurer, Lyman Strong. 1841. Clerk, David Harvey; trustees, Philander Pope, Alanson Pomeroy, Ruben Haynes; treasurer, Lyman Strong; assessor, Ebenezer Merril; justice of the peace, Warner Strong. 1842. Clerk, Ansel J. Pope; trustees, Alanson Pomeroy, Asa Drake, Roswell Trask; treasurer, M. E. Stone; assessor, Ebenezer Merril; justice of the peace, Myron A. Whitney. 1843. Clerk, Montraville Stone; trustees, Roswell Trask, Asa Drake, Eliakim Lyon; treasurer, M. E. Stone; assessor, Harmon Stone. 1844. Clerk, Montraville Stone; trustees, Roswell Trask, Asa Drake, H. G. Spencer; treasurer, M. E. Stone; assessor, Roswell Trask; justice of the peace, Dr. H. L. W. Leonard. 1845. Clerk, Banford Gilbert; trustees, Eliakim Lyon, Chas. Tupper, M. Stone; treasurer, M. E. Stone; assessor, Roswell Trask, 1846. Clerk, David Harvey; trustees, Roswell Trask, Abial Haynes, Flavel Whitney; treasurer, Warner Strong; assessor, Jno. Watson. 1847. Clerk, David Harvey; trustees, Abial Haynes, Flavel Whitney, Philander Pope; treasurer, Warner Strong; assessor, Roswell Trask; justice of the peace, Alanson Pomeroy. 1848. Clerk, David Harvey; trusties, Abial Haynes, Flavel Whitney, Philander Pope; treasurer, Warner Strong; assessor, Augustus P. Howe; justice of the peace, Harmon Stone. 1849. Clerk, Montraville Stone; trustees, Cyrus Parmenter, David Heazlit, P. Pope; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, E. Merril. 1850. Clerk, M. Stone; trustees, Philander Pope, Alanson Pomeroy, Francis Bryant; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, O. H. Hoyt; justice of the peace, Alanson Pomeroy. 1851. Clerk, M. Stone; trustees, P. Pope, A. Pomeroy, Francis Bryant; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, 0. H. Hoyt; justice of the peace, Dr. J. J. St. Clair. 1851. Clerk, M. stone; trustees, A. Pomeroy, Ahijah Haynes, Chas. Ashley; treasurer, Jubal Whitney; assessor, O. H. Hoyt. 1853. Clerk, M. Stone; trustees, A. Pomeroy, Ahijah Haynes, Chas Ashley; treasurer, Jubal Whitney; assessor, 0. H. Hoyt; justice of the peace, John Miller. 1854. Clerk, M. Stone; trustees, A. Pomeroy, Ahijah Haynes, Chas. Ashley; treasurer, Jubal Whitney; assessor. H. Hoyt. 1855. Clerk, M. E. Stone; trustees, Caleb Carpenter, D. S. Lyon, Benj. Tuttle; treasurer, Warner Strong; assessor, A. P. Howe. 1856. Clerk, M. Stone; trustees, A. Pomeroy, W. H. Ashley, A. T. Sanderson; treasurer, Abial Haynes; assessor, O. H. Hoyt. 1857. Clerk, O. H. Hoyt; trustees. M. E. Stone, Wm. Heazlit, E. H. Reed; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, C. T. Rogers. 1858. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, E. H. Reed, M. Stone, Wm. Heazlit; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, C. T. Rogers; justice of the peace, M. Stone. 1859. Clerk, Alson H. Pomeroy; trustees M. E. Gallup, M. Stone, Jehiel Dunham; treasurer, Milton Gallup; assessor, O. H. Hoyt. 1860. Clerk, Milo S. Haynes: trustees, Abial Haynes, J. Dunbam, Wm. Heazlit: treasurer, Milton Gallup; assessor, O. H. Hoyt; justice of the peace, Lester Miles. 1861. Clerk, A. H. Pomeroy; trustees, E. H. Reed, H. S. Dewey, Abijah Haynes; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, Lester Miles. 1862. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, H. S. Dewey, D. S. Lyon, R. A. Carpenter; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, Edward Haynes. 1863. Clerk, O. H. Hoyt; trustees, H. S. Dewey, D. S. Lyon, R. A. Carpenter; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, Edward Haynes; justice of the peace, Lester Miles. 1864. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, W. H. Ashley, A. T. Sanderson, G. W. Dunn; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, Milton Gallup; justice of the peace, M. Stone. 1865. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, R. A. Carpenter, W. H. Ashley, W. H. Strong; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, M. S. Haynes. 1866. Clerk, O. H. Hoyt; trustees, W. H. Ashley, G. B. Strong, Jubal Whitney ; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, E. H. Wing; justice of the peace, Lester Miles. 1867. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, D. K. Drake, Wm. Heazlit, R. A. Carpenter ; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, M. S. Haynes; justice of the peace, M. Stone. 1868. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, Hazen Lathrop, Wm. Heazlit, R. A. Carpenter; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, Henry P. Miles. 1869. Clerk, O. H. Hoyt; trustees, Hazen Lathrop, Wm. Heazlit, S. T. Gibson; assessor, B. S. Haynes; treasurer, E. H. Reed; justices of the peace, Lester Miles, R. A. Carpenter. 1870. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, Edward Clement, Wm. Heazlit, S. T. Gibson; treasurer, E. H. Reed; assessor, D. K. Drake. 1871. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees. D. M. Strong, M. Gallup, E. Clement; treasurer, 31. E. Gallup; assessor, D. K. Drake. 1872. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, D. 31. Strong, 0. D. Pomeroy, E. Clement; treasurer, 31. E. Gallup; assessor, D. B. Drake; justice of the peace, Lester Miles. 1873. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, D. M. Strong, 0. D. Pomeroy, E Clement; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, D. K. Drake; justice of the peace, D. K. Drake. 1874. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, D. M. Strong, 0. D. Pomeroy, E. Clement; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, D. K. Drake. 1875. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, D. M. Strong, 0. D. Pomeroy, Jas. Preston; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, D. K. Drake; justices of the peace, F. J. Bartlett, D. K. Drake. 1876. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, D. M. Strong, 0. D. Pomeroy, Jas. Preston; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, D. K. Drake; justice of the peace, David E. Hier. 1877. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt: trustees, 0. D. Pomeroy, Lorenzo Strong, Henry M. Whitney; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, 0. H. Hoyt. 1878. Clerk, 0. H. Hoyt; trustees, 0. D. Pomeroy, H. M. Whitney, E, H. Reed; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, 0, H. Hoyt; justices of the peace, F. J. Bartlett, Henry W. Merrick. 1879. Trustees, 0. D. Pomeroy, E. H. Reed, William Richards; clerk, M. S. Haynes; treasurer, M. E. Gallup; assessor, B. B, Heazlit. ALANSON POMEROY. The late Alanson Pomeroy whose name is held in high esteem by the people of Strongsville, was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, February 20, 1805. He was the son of Ebenezer and Violaty (Thayer) Pomeroy, and was the fifth of a family of eight children, consisting of five sons and three daughters. Ebenezer Pomeroy left Northampton about the year 1817, and removed to Onondaga county, New York, where he remained five years. He then pushed forward to what was considered the "Far West," and in 1822 settled in Strongsville, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was accidentally killed irl August, 1835, by falling from a wagon. The subject of this memoir remained in the paternal home until the death of his father. His advantages for schooling were quite limited, but he possessed an active mind with a faculty for picking up scraps of knowledge in his daily life, and thus learned many practical lessons which were never forgotten. The first years of his residence in Strongsville were spent in helping to clear up his father's farm, and to make it a comfortable home. In addition to his farming he after a while engaged in the mercantile business at Strongsville Center, in partnership with Mr. Benjamin Northrup, and subsequently with Mr. Whitney. Beginning with nothing but his own industry, skill and integrity, by dint of perseverance and good management he gradually acquired a considerable property. In 1870 his health becoming very poor, he retired from active business. He, however, received no permanent benefit from so doing, and died in the seventy-second year of his age, on the 4th day of January, 1877, after a painful and lingering illness. In all local affairs Mr. Pomeroy took an active and prominent part. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace. He also was one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Berea, which he assisted in organizing, and of which he was a director until his decease. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Strongsville, and his circumstances enabled him to take the lead in supporting it. He also contributed liberally to the American Missionary Association, the Western Book and Tract Society and other Christian organizations. He increased materially the funds of Western Reserve College, of Baldwin University, and 528 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. of Berea College, Kentucky, and gave several thousand dollars to Oberlin. Mr. Pomeroy's acquaintance in business circles was quite extensive in different sections of the State where he had capital invested. He was particularly noted for his sterling integrity and business tact. What he performed was always thoroughly done. He was very tenacious of his reputation for fidelity to engagements of all kinds, suffering nothing to deter him from keeping an appointment or agreement. He was a strong believer in the duty and dignity of labor. With the industrious poor he always sympathized; often helping them ont of pecuniary difficulties. Every branch of what he considered true reform drew forth his active and hearty support. He possessed a warm heart and generous disposition, but was reserved and shrank from public notoriety. He was very careful not to wound the feelings of any one, and his counsel and advice was sought for by many. The news of his death was received with sensations of profound sorrow, and his loss will long be felt in the community in which he had resided over half a century. Mr. Pomeroy was married on the 9th day of January, 1831, to Miss Kezia Pope, daughter of Jonathan and Kezia Pope, of Strongsville. Mrs. Pomeroy was born in 1809, and is still living in Strongsville, surrounded by an affectionate family and esteemed by all who know her. Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy had nine children: The two eldest, Hollish L., born November 26, 1832, and Lorency, born April 10, 1834, died in infancy; A. H., born March 7, 1836, is cashier of the First National Bank of Berea; Orlando D., born January 7, 1839, resides near Strongsville, engaged in farming; Elizabeth C., born November 29, 1840, is the wife of Henry K. Day, of Elyria, Ohio; Vienna, born July 3, 1843, is the wife of C. W. D. Miller, of Berea; Hollis C., born March 12, 1846, died in infancy; Perlina M., born August 19, 1849, married W. W. Smith, of Strongsville; Harlan, born June 27, 1853, now at home, is a graduate of the Cleveland Homoepathic College. CHAPTER LXXX VII. WARRENSVILLE. Boundaries, Soil etc.—Attempt at Settlement—Prevented by an Accident—Daniel Warren— Naming the Township—First Death and Birth —James Prentiss—Asa Stiles—Jacob Russell—Peleg Brown—Benjamin Sharp—Josiah Abbott—Enoch Gleason—Jedediah Hubbell—Ansel YouUg—J. E. Adams—Householders in 1829—Civil Organization— First Officers—List of Officers—Items from Township Book—Town Hall—Roads and Railroads—Randall—Warrensville Center—Manufactures—Public Schools—The United Society of Believers—Its Origin— Names of Early Members— Present Situation—Protestant Methodist Church—Disciple Church—The Free Church—The Methodist Episcopal Church. THIS township is situated southeast from Cleveland, and was designated in the survey of the Western Reserve as township seven in range eleven. It is bounded on the north by the townships of East Cleveland and Euclid; on the east by Orange; on the south by Bedford, and on the west by Newburg and East Cleveland. The surface is level, and the entire area may be cultivated. It was originally covered with a fine growth of timber, but the greater part has been removed and the township has been cut up into small farms, but few exceeding eighty acres in extent. The soil varies from a stiff clay to a light loam, and is generally productive. In some looalities its fertility is increased by artificial drainage, but usually the country is sufficiently undulating to carry off the surface water. The streams are but small brooks, and the water power is very, limited. PIONEER SETTLERS. The first attempt to settle the township was made in June, 180'7, by Horace Burroughs, Rodolph Cattern, Jacob Cattern and another whose name is not remembered. They came with the intention of locating near the center. While on their way thither they treed a bear which they determined to kill. Having ohopped the tree nearly off, they left Jacob Cattern to deliver the finishing blows while they went in the direction in which it would fall so that they could kill the bear when the tree should reach the ground. The tree fell and the bear was killed. They then called Jacob, but received no response, and on running to the butt of the tree they found him lying there, dead. He had been killed by a limb struck off from a neighboring tree. This sad accident caused the comrades of the deceased to return home and abandon the enterprise. The first actual settlement was made by Daniel Warren. He came from New Hampshire to Painesville in the fall of 1808. He was very poor, his household effects consisting of only the most common articles. A barrel set on end with the end-board of the wagon laid on top served as a table.. Nearly all the cooking and baking was done in a five-quart iron kettle. In the fall of 1809 he removed to Newburg, and soon after began building a cabin in Warrensville, two and a half miles away. It was finished without the use of a nail. To this he moved his family on the 4th day of January, 1810, in the following manner, as related by Mr. Warren himself: " I procured a horse on which Mrs. Warren with her babe, about three weeks old, rode; my two-year- old boy I carried on my back, and my neighbor Prentiss carried our few traps' in an ox-team; and in this way we arrived safe, two and a half miles from any other house. Mrs. Warren remarked: We left New Hampshire to go into the wilderness, and I guess we have made it out now.' The first run of sledding after this, our friends from Newburg and Cleveland (everybody was a friend in those days) came out to the number of fifty to give us a house-warming, and although they crowded the cabin, a jollier set never graced a palace. Inasmuch as Mrs. Warren was the first woman in the township the company gave her WARRENSVILLE - 529 the privilege of naming it, and she proposed Warrensville, which was adopted by acclamation. It was past midnight when the party started to return home, after having spent a most enjoyable evening." Mrs. Warren was a true pioneer woman. She would often remain alone several days with her young family while her husband was away following his trade as a brickmaker, and once, when returning from Newburg, was followed by a pack of howling wolves, from which she had a narrow escape. Bears, too, sometimes came quite near the cabin, but Mrs. Warren was never much alarmed even by such unpleasant neighbors. She resided in the township until her death, October, 1869. Daniel Warren died in 1862. The infant child spoken of died in 1811, this being the first death in the township. In their family, also, occurred the first birth in Warrensville, that of a son born December 26, 1812, who was named William H. Warren, and who yet resides on lot fifty-three near the place of his birth. The other sons of Daniel Warren were named Hiram V., Moses N., James M. and Othello. The daughters were Paulina and Julia C. In 1815 Moses Warren, the father of Daniel, came to live in the township, settling on lot fifty- four. His sons, besides Daniel, were William and Moses. The latter is yet a resident of East Cleveland. James Prentiss, a Revolutionary soldier, and the father-in-law of Daniel Warren, settled on lot thirty- two some time after 1810, residing there until his death in 1817. A daughter (Betsey) died in 1813, this being the first death of an adult in the township. He had sons named Robert, James, Samuel M. and Cyrus. The latter removed to Ravenna, where he became the first president of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad. Asa Stiles came to the Warren neighborhood from New York about 1812. He had three sons named Amos, Hiram and Wilbur. About the same time Jacob Russell, also a New Yorker, settled on lot twenty-three, where he died in 1824, aged seventy-five years. He had a large family, the sons being Ralph, Rodney, Elijah, Elisha and Return. Almost all of the family became Shakers, among whom some of them yet reside. A little later Peleg Brown settled on lot sixty-three, where he lived until his removal to Indiana in 1837. About the same time Fred. G. Williams became a resident of lot forty-one, where he lived until he joined the Mormons and moved with them to the West. Benjamin Thorp came about 1813 and settled on lot sixty-two. In 1838 he moved to Michigan. His brother-in-law, William Sickel, settled on the same lot about the same time, where he followed his trade as a shoemaker until his death, about 1836. On lot fifty-four Josiah Abbott lived before 1816 until his removal to Missouri several years later; Abraham S. Honey and Chester Risley cast their fortunes in the same locality about 1815, and becoming interested in the Shaker movement, joined the North Union Community. About the same time Caleb Baldwin settled on lot forty-eight, where he lived until he was led off by the Mormons. Somewhat later came Enoch Gleason, from Berkshire, Massachusetts, and located on lot sixty-seven. He had seven sons named Milo, Ariel, Ephraim, Almon, Enoch, Perry and Loren. The Bald wins and the Gleasons were the only families that lived east of the center before 1820. Jedediah Hubbell came in 1815, or earlier, and made slight improvements on lot seventy-one. He moved away after a few years, but in 1822 returned, and was a citizen of the township many years. He had a large family, all but one being now dead. Ansel Young was an early settler on lot forty-two; Gabriel Culver on lot eighty-three; Reuben and Beckwith Cook, on lot seventy-four; Aruna R. Baldwin on lot thirteen; Moses Rigby on lot one hundred and five; and Nehemiah Hand on lot twenty-five. Most of these did not remain long in the township, but removed to points farther west. In 1819 John and Luther R. Prentiss came from New Hampshire with a one-horse team, the journey occupying twenty-eight days. John settled on lot thirty-eight, but in 1834 removed from the township. Luther R., when he began life for himself on lot sixty-three, had nothing (aside from one outfit of wearing apparel,) but an extra pair of shoes and a razor. He persevered; however, until he became the owner of seventy acres of land. He is yet a resident of the township, living near the center. Of a family of six children three remain in Warrensville. Before 1819 came James Johnson, Salmon Buell, David Benjamin, Moor Bell and Abel Shepard. Bazaleel and Warren Thorp came after 1820 and settled in the eastern part of the township, where members of the family yet reside. About 1826 Col. John E. Adams settled on lot fifty-one, on the Stark Edwards place, where he built the first and only stone house in the township. In 1829 the householders of Warrensville were J. E. Adams, Wm. Addison, Peleg Brown, Gabriel Culver, Sylvester Garber, David Benjamin, Jedediah Hubbell, Appleton Collister, James Johnson, Orrin J. Hubbell, Thomas Kneale, Asa Stiles, Abel Shepard, Daniel S. Tyler, Benj. Thorp, Daniel Warren, Moses Warren, Moses Warren, Jr., Wm. Kelley, Isaac Cooper, Return Russell, Salmon Buell, Benjamin Sawyer, Elisha Russell, Andrew Barber, John Woodruff, Ralph Russell, Moor Bell, Enoch Gleason, Ebenezer Russell, Beckwith Cook, Ephraim Gleason, N. C. Hains, Nehemiah Hand, James Lee, Daniel Pillsbury, Job Hand, Thomas Radcliff, Lyman Wight, Oliver Ransom, Caleb Baldwin, F. L. Burnett, Joseph Clyne, Nathan Goodspeed, Ansel Jenny, Wm. Fairchild, Dayton Thorp, Isaac Lassler, Jefferson Wallace, Bazaleel Thorp, Andrew Wilson, Wm. Watterson, Warner Thorp, Thomas Collister, John Kelly, Wm. Cain, Thomas Cain, George Kent, Wm. Kerruish and probably a few others. After this 530 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. period the immigration was so great that no further account can be giyen of individual settlers. CIVIL ORGANIZATION. Agreeably to an order of the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county, the legal voters of the township of Warrensville assembled at the house of Josiah Abbott, November 7, 1816, to elect officers to serve until the annual election, in April, 1817. Daniel Warren was elected chairman, and James Prentiss, Peleg Brown and Wm. Sickel were chosen judges of election. The following officers were then elected': James Prentiss, Peleg Brown, Wm. Sickel, trustees; F. G. Williams, clerk; Josiah Abbott, treasurer; Robert Prentiss, constable; Moses Warren, Robert Prentiss, poor masters; Benjamin Thorp, Abraham S. Honey, fence viewers. Daniel Warren was elected justice of the peace and received his commission January 6, 1817. Besides the above named the voters at this election were James Johnson and Humphrey Nichols-thirteen in all. Since 1816 the principal officers have been the following: 1817. Trustees, James Prentiss, Peleg Brown, Wm. Sickel; clerk, F. G. Williams; treasurer, Caleb Baldwin. 1818. Trustees, Gabriel Culver, Daniel R. Smith, Robert Prentiss; clerk, F. G. Williams; treasurer, Caleb Baldwin, 1819. Trustees, Ralph Russell, Daniel R. Smith, Caleb Baldwin; clerk, Ansel Yonng; treasurer, Daniel R. Smith. 1820. Trustees, Caleb Litch, Asa Stiles, Caleb Alvord; clerk, Ansel Young; treasurer, Edmund Mollet; 1821. Trustees, Josiah Abbott, David Benjamin, Enoch Gleason; clerk, Ansel Young; treasurer, Chester Risley. 1822. Trustees, Robert Prentiss, Gabriel Culver, Solomon Buel; clerk, F. G. Williams; treasurer, Beckwith Cook. 1823. Trustees, Robert Prentiss, Enoch Gleason, David Benjamrn; clerk, Martin Clark; treasurer, John Prentiss. 1824. Trustees, Jedediah Hubbell, John Prentiss, Milo Gleason; clerk, Almon Kingsbury; treasurer, Salmon Buel. 1825. Trustees, Orrin J. Hubbell, Caleb Baldwin, Milo Gleason; clerk, P. L. Brown; treasurer, Sylvester Carber. 1826. Trustees, Orrin J. Hubbell, Caleb Baldwin, Moses Warren; clerk, P. L. Brown; treasurer, Enoch Gleason. 1827. Trustees, Enoch Gleason, Daniel Warren, Asa Stiles; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell; treasurer, Peleg Brown. 1828. Trustees, Enoch Gleason, Daniel Warren, Beckwith Cook; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell;, treasurer, Asa Stiles. 1829. Trustees, Enoch Gleason, Nathaniel Goodspeed, David Benjamin; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell; treasurer, Daniel Pillsbury. 1830. Trustees, Enoch Gleason, Gabriel Culver, Andrew Wilson; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell; treasurer, Moses Warren. 1831. Trustees, Enoch Gleason, Jedediah Hubbell, Horace Hamilton; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbelt; treasurer, Moses Warren. 1832. Trustees, Milo Gleason, John Woodruff, Horace Hamilton; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell; treasurer, Moses Warren. 1833. Trustees, Orrin J. Hubbell, Moses Warren, Jr., Samuel M. Prentiss; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; treasurer, Milo Gleason. 1834. Trustees, Gabriel Culver, Bazaleel Thorp, Solyman Hubbell; clerk, Luther It. Prentiss; treasurer, Orrin J. Hubbell. 1835. Trustees, Milo Gleason, Bezaleel Thorp, Nathaniel Lyon; clerk Win. H. Cole; treasurer, Asa Upson. 1836. Trustees, Luther R. Prentiss, Elijah W. Bronson. Frederick Sillsby; clerk, Parker Boynton; treasurer, Asa Upson. 1837. Trustees, Amos Birchard, Milo Gleason, Moses Warren; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell; treasurer, Win. H. Cole. 1838. Warren Thorp, Milo Gleason, Andrew Wilson; clerk, Orrin J. Hubbell; treasurer, Wm. H. Cole, 1839. Trustees, Warren Thorp, Ass, Upson, Amos Birchard; clerk, Milo Gleason, treasurer, Wm. H. Cole. 1840. Moses Warren, Jr., Andrew Wilson, John G. Proper; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; Elijah W. Bronson. 1841. Trustees, Moses Warren, Jr., Everett Holley, John G. Proper; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; treasurer, David Birchard. 1842. Trustees, Erastus Smith, Oliver Ranson, Pliny S. Conkey; clerk, Milo Gleason; treasurer, Amos Birchard, 1843, Trustees, Linus Clark, Albert Kingsbury, Pliny S. Conkey; clerk, Milo Gleason; treasurer, Truman Eggleston. 1844. Trustees, Otis Lyon, Russell Frizzell, Henry Wetherby; clerk, Albert Kingsbury; treasurer, Truman Eggleston. 1845. Trustees, Thomas Cain, John Hewett, Russell Frizzell; clerk, Luther It. Prentiss; treasurer, Wm. H. Cole. 1846. Trustees, Thomas Cain, John Hewitt, James Clapp; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; treasurer, Wm. H. Cole. 1847. Trustees, Linus Clark, John Hewitt, James Clapp; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; treasurer, Wm. H. Warren. 1848. Trustees, Nathan Lyon, Henry Gleason, James Clapp; clerk, Wm. H. Warren; treasurer, Oliver Ranson. 1849. Trustees, Nathan Lyon, Henry Gleason, Wm. Bowler; clerk, Wm. H. Cole; treasurer, Oliver Ranson. 1850. Trustees, Henry Wetherby, Russell Frizzell, James Clapp; clerk, Wrn. H. Cole; treasurer, Oliver Ranson. 1851. Trustees, Linus Clark, Russell Frizzell, Moses Warren, Jr.; clerk, Wm. H. Warren; treasurer. Asa Upson. 1852. Trustees, Linus Clark, Russell Frizzell, John T. Radcliff; clerk, Wm. H. Warren; treasurer, Asa Upson. 1853. Trustees, Asahel Lewis, Russell Frizzell, John T. Radcliff; clerk, Wm. H. Warren; treasurer, Hart Taylor. 1854. Trustees, Moses Warren, Wm. H. Cole, John T. Radcliff; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; treasurer, Hart Taylor. 1855. Trustees, Russell Frizzell, Andrew Wilson, Henry Gleason; clerk, Luther R. Prentiss; treasurer, Hart Taylor. 1856. Trustees, Russell Frizzell, Andrew Wilson, Henry Gleason; clerk, Linus Clark; treasurer, Hart Taylor. 1857. Trustees, Gad E. Johnson, Henry Wetherby, Everett Holley; clerk, W. S. Cannon; treasurer, Milo Gleason. 1858. Trustees, Gad E. Johnson, Moses Warren, Everett Holley; clerk, Solyman Hubbell; treasurer, Hart Taylor. 1859. Trustees, James K. Quayle, Andrew Wilson, Asahel Lewis; clerk, Solyman Hubbell; treasurer, Hart Tayler. 1860. Trustees, James K. Quayle, Moses Warren, H. N. Clark; clerk, Milo Gleason; treasurer, Hart Taylor. 1861. Trustees, James Clapp, Moses Warren, H. Wetherby; clerk, E. Holley; treasurer, J. T. Radcliff. 1862. Trustees, B. F. Eddy, Robert Smith, H. Wetherby; clerk, Wm. H. Warren; John M. Burke. 1863. Trustees, Otis Farrar, Robert Smith, James K. Quayle; clerk, Wm. H. Warren; treasurer, J. T. Radcliff. 1864. Trustees, Otis Farrar, John Radcliff, Jr., James K. Quayle; clerk, Wm. Taylor; treasurer, J. T. Radcliff. 1865. Trustees, John Radcliff, Jr., Otis Farrar, A. S. Kingsbury; clerk, J. M. Burke; treasurer, O. B. Judd; 1866. Trustees, John Radcliff, Jr., Robert Drake, H. N. Clark; clerk, Hammond Clapp; treasurer, O. B. Judd. 1867. Trustees, John Radcliff, Jr., Wm. H. Warren, D. L. Wightman; clerk. Edwin Taylor; treasurer, O. B. Judd; 1868. Trustees, J. P. Thorp, Wm. H. Warren, John Radcliff, Jr.; clerk, W. W. Blair; treasurer, G. E. Johnson. 1869. Trustees, J. P. Thorp, Wm. H. Warren, John Radcliff, Jr.; treasurer, W. W. Blair; treasurer, G. E. J ohnson. 1870. Trustees, L. R. Prentiss, John Caley, G. W. Harland; clerk, W. W. Blair; treasurer, Milo Gleason. 1871. Trustees, Elermie Earle, T. Nelson, G. W. Harland ; clerk, W. W. Blair ; treasurer, Milo Gleason. 1872. Trustees, Elermie Earle, T. Nelson, G. W. Harland; clerk, W. W. Blair; treasurer, Milo Gleason. 1873. Trustees, A. S. Cannon, J. Leppert, Jr., R. Walkden; clerk, W. W. Blair; treasurer, D. P. Badger. 1874. Treasurer, A. S. Cannon, E. Earle, R. Walkden; clerk, W. W. Blair; treasurer, D. P. Badger. 1875. Trustees, Thomas Harland, E. Earle, A. J. Conkey; clerk, W. W. Blair; treasurer, John Shirringer. 1876. Trustees, A. S. Cannon, Robert Walkden, A. J. Conkey; clerk, W. W. Smith; treasurer, John Shirringer; 1877. Trustees, John C. Teare, John Radcliff, Jr., W. W. Smith; clerk, H. V. Hammond; treasurer, D. Nowack. 1878. Trustees, John C. Teare, John Caley, W. W. Smith; clerk, a V. Hammond; treasurer, David Wade. 1879. Trustees, Sebastian Fieg, John Caley, James Smith; clerk, H. V, Hammond; Treasurer, David Wade. The justices of the peace in 1879 were William S. Corlett and Wm. H. Sanders. At the spring election in 1879 the voters numbered two hundred and sixty- six. In 1819 the total tax of Warrensyille was $12.50, of which eighty cents could not be collected. In 1821, after Orange was organized, the tax was only $6.05, which was disbursed as follows: WARRENSVILLE - 531 Paid Runs. R. Baldwin, constable - $.54 " Ansel Young, township clerk - 1 18 " Asa stiles, trustee - 1 55 " Ebenezer Russell, trustee - 1 00 " Josiah Abbott, trustee - 1 00 " George Cannon, collector - .60 " Chester Risley, treasurer - .18 It is probable that in the above audit the treasurer was allowed all the funds left on hand, which certainly did not remunerate him extravagantly. In 1828 the township gave John Adams thirty-two votes for President of the United States, and Andrew Jackson fifteen votes for the same office. The township owns a fine brick hall at the center, and several cemeteries, conveniently located in the most populous neighborhoods. In 1874 a large and substantial vault for burial purposes was constructed at the expense of the township, a little north of Warrensville Center. ROADS AND RAILROADS. In 1817 the township was divided into four road districts, with the following supervisors: Moses Warren, Robert Prentiss, Benjamin Thorp and Syrenus Burnett. About this time the first road (the one running through the center east and west,) was partially opened, and other roads underbrushed. Sometime about 1850 the former was graded and planked, but the company allowed it to go down after the first planks had decayed. It was used as a public road until 1876, when the Cleveland and Warrensville plank road company put down five miles of planks, from the city limits to a point three-fourths of a mile east of the center. The road running from the center south was,also formerly planked, as well as the road from Randall, northwest to Newburg; but they have long since been used as common highways. Most of the public roads have been well graded, and are generally in a fair condition. In 1879 the supervisors were Henry Lyon, Edward Cacher, Charles Brathlott, George Leigh, John Deitch, Herbert Conkey, Peter Fehr. William Cowley, James Radcliff, Frederick Schnedker, Robert Trendall, Edward Moore, Frank A'gier, Frederick Fehr and Robert Walkden. The Cleveland and Mahoning and the Atlantic and Great Western raidroads pass through the southwestern part of the township. They use one road bed but have tracks of different gauges. RANDALL STATION. A part of the road forms a heavy grade and the Randall station, in consequence, is half a mile east of that hamlet, and just over the Bedford township line. There are but a few buildings at the station and only about twenty houses at the hamlet of Randall. The point was first known as Plank Road Station, but in 1868 a post office was established here which was named after Alexander W. Randall, at that time postmaster-general, and the locality took the same appellation. Nelson Beckwith was the first postmaster, but in 1870 he was succeeded by Mr. Charles Grossmeyer, who yet holds the office. It has a daily mail. About 1848 George Lathrop put up a tavern at this place which became widely known at the Plank Road House. He was succeeded by Otis Farrar and others, the hotel since 1872 having been kept by Charles Grossmeyer. A second public house was here put up by Charles Nickerson, which was called the "Blue Tavern," and is still carried on. A few goods have also been sold at these places. WARRENSVILLE CENTER. This was formerly a place of more importance than at present. It contains a Methodist church, the town hall, a fine school-building and eight or ten houses. About 1844 Dwyer Sherman put up the present tavern, which has been kept by Nickerson, Teed, Kingsbury, MoKee, Birchard and many others. Another hotel directly opposite was destroyed by fire. One and a half miles west on the plank road a fine oountry hotel was opened in October, 1877, by A. A. Gillette and is yet conducted by him. Parker Boynton had the first store in the place, selling his stand to E. W. Brunson. Birchard & Brewer, John M. Burke, Wm. H. Warren and others have also been in trade there. At present D. Nowack has a small store and is postmaster of an office which has a tri-weekly mail from Chagrin Falls. Milo Gleason was the first postmaster, keeping the office at his residence. His successors are Amos Birchard, John McKee, Chester Button, John M. Burke, W. H. Warren, Edwin Taylor, and the present incumbent. THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS of the township have been few and limited to the common kinds. Many years ago a steam sawmill was put up a little west of the center by Wm. R. Truesdell, which was subsequently moved to its present site where it is operated by T. J. Radcliff. It is also supplied with a run of stones for grinding feed and has machinery for making cider. On Mill Brook two sawmills were formerly operated by men respectively named Palmer and Flick. To Palmer's mill steam- power was subsequently supplied but both establishments have long since been discontinued. The first sawmill in the township was on Shaker Brook and was put up by Ezra Smith, about 1820, or later. A gristmill was put in operation at a subsequent period and in 1829 the Shakers built a new gristmill, having two overshot wheels and two runs of stone. In a few years they also had a linseed oil mill. A better sawmill was built by them in 1836, and some time after 1850 they erected a good brick building for a woolen factory, which was operated until about ten years ago. The society also had an establishment for the manufacture of wooden ware, a tannery and other small works; but with the exception of their mills and broom factories no manufacturing is at present carried on by it. The principal industry of the Shakers as well as of the people of the township are the ordinary agricultural pursuits; but lately a number of small vineyards have been 532 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. planted, and some attention is paid to small fruit culture. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The first school-house in the township was put up on the site of Gillette's hotel about 1815. It was built of rough, round logs, with a stick chimney backed with stones and capable of burning logs from foul. to eight feet long. William Addison was the first teacher; and other early teachers were Ansel Young and Aziel Aldrich. The pupils were, from the Russell, Honey, Warren and Prentiss families. In 1830 there were four districts in the township; at present there are eight, each receiving an equal portion of the funds raised for school purposes. In 1878 this amounted to $2.779.64, the greater part of which was paid for tuition. In 1875, two hundred and thirty-four male and two hundred and twenty-one female persons of school age were reported in the township, of which nine were colored. Warrensville has an excellent class of school-houses, of shapely proportions and built of brick. The one at the center is two stories high and was completed in 1878, at a cost of $2,400. The board of education in 1879 was composed of the following: District No. 1, Jacob Steller; No. 3, J. G. Gleason, (president); No. 4, Thomas Nelson; No. 5, Robert Carran; No. 6, Seth Knowles; No. 7, Robert Drake; No. 8, James N. Smith; No. 9, Lafayette Conkey; V. D. Hammond, clerk. THE UNITED SOCIETY OF BELIEVERS. This society, commonly called the Shaker community of North Union, is located in the northwestern part of Warrensville, eight miles from Cleveland and began operations there in the early part of 1822. The previous fall Ralph Russell, one of a number of that family, living on lots twenty-two and twenty-three, visited the Shaker oommunity, at Union Village, in Warren county, to investigate their doctrines and, if acceptable, to become a member. He received their testimony and came home to remove his family thither the following spring. Meantime his exposition of the Shaker doctrines had made such an impression on his friends and neighbors that when the knowledge of it came to the elders of the Union Village society, they determined to visit the locality "to open the testimony," and if a sufficient number believed, to establish an auxiliary community there. On this mission came James Hodge and Richard Pelham on the 25th of March, 1822. After tarrying a few weeks they made a report, urging the society to carry out its purpose; and soon after, Richard McNemar, James Hodge, Richard Pelham, Anna Boyd and Betsy Dunlavey were delegated to organize the believers (Ralph Russell, Chester Risley, Elijah Russell, Riley Honey, Elisha Russell and some others) into a common family to be known with reference to the parent society as "The North Union." About this time public worship after the manner of the Shakers was first held in a log cabin on the hill near where Ralph Russell lived; and the meetings were continued with satisfactory results until the fall of the year. When the elders returned home several of the brethren from North Union accompanied them to more fully study the practical part of Shakerism, as exemplified in the usages of an older community. Their report gave every assurance of their belief that they had found the True Millennial Church. In the spring of 1823 lot twenty-two was formally consecrated after having been purchased by the trustees of the Union Village community. Other purchases were made and donations received until at present the landed property consists of nearly one thousand four hundred acres of choice land, contiguous to the original lot, which is in a good state of cultivation and has on it a number of fine farm buildings. In 1826 the framed house for the Center family was built which was the first frame at North Union, log cabins having served up to that period. The stone work was done by James S. Presoott, who came from Cleveland for this purpose, and who was so well pleased with the Shakers that he connected himself with the society, and has remained ever since a prominent member. About this time the children, numbering twenty-five, were gathered at what is now the East house, and were placed under the care and instruction of Oliver Wheeler and Prudence Sawyer. Great pains have since been taken to educate the youth of the community, which is constituted a separate school district and as such receives its portion of the State funds. The elders of the Union Village community continued to visit North Union statedly to preach and teach, and the principles of Shakerism having been practically tested, the " Covenant" was signed on the 28th of September, 1828, by Elijah Russell, James S. Prescott, Samuel Russell, Chester Risley, Return Russell, Elisha Russell, John P. Root, Wm. Andrews, Edward Russell, Wm. Johnson, Daniel N. Baird, Ambrose Bragg, Benjamin Hughey, Barney Cossett, Riley Honey, Ebenezer Russell, Mary E. Russell, Prudence Sawyer, Emma H. Russell, Lydia Russell 1st, Lydia Russell 2nd, Jerusha Russell 1st, Jerusha Russell 2nd, Clarissa Risley, Clarinda Baird, Melinda Russell, Hannah Addison, Caroline Bears, Candace P. Russell, Mercy Sawyer, Esther Russell, Abigail Russell, Phebe Russell, Phebe Andrews, Almeda Cossett, Adaline Russell and Diantha Carpenter. Sixteen more brethren and twenty-seven sisters signed later in the fall of 1828, making in all eighty members. The church was fully organized by the election of James S. Prescott, Chester Risley, Prudence Sawyer and Eunice Russell as elders and elderesses; Return Russell, Elisha Russell, John P. Root, Lydia Russell 1st and Huldah Russell as deacons and deaconesses. As other families were formed each had its own Officers. At present the community is composed of three families, viz: The East family, having twenty-five WARRENSVILLE - 533 members, of which John P. Root and Charles Taylor are the elders, and Rachael Russell and Harriet Snyder the elderesses. The Center Family, having thirty members, of which Samuel Miner and George W. Ingalls, are the elders; Lusetta Walker and Clyminia Miner the elderesses. The Mill Family, having twelve members of which Curtis Cramer and Watson Andrews are the elders; Lydia Cramer and Temperance Devan the elderesses. The duties of the above officers are mainly spiritual. The temporalities are controlled by a board of trustees, composed of James S. Prescott, George W. Ingalls and Samuel S. Miner; the office-deaconessess are Candace Russell, Abigail Russell and Margaret Sawyer. Each family has a very comfortable residence, connected with which are shops and other buildings in which the members find occupation, although agriculture is the principal industry. Many of the members being aged and infirm, the society is obliged to employ a force of outside help to carry on its large farm. The community has always been dependent on Union Village for its ministers, who visit this place statedly to show the more perfect way and " unfold the testimony," according to the standpoint of the United Believers. At present these are Wm. Reynolds, Amos Parkhust, Louisa Farnham and Adaline Wells. The meeting house at the residence of the Center family is the second in which the community has worshiped, and was erected in 1849. It is a plain frame, fifty by one hundred feet, and has twenty-foot posts. The public meetings were discontinued in 1877, but each family maintains a meeting every Sabbath afternoon in its assembly room, in addition to its usual devotions, to which unbelievers are admitted under proper restrictions. The forms of worship have been some somewhat modified, the principal change being the substitution of marching for dancing; but the essential features of the community remain as they were established, half a century ago; and although the vitality of the society has been somewhat impaired by death and other causes, it will probably be able to maintain an existence for many years to come to elucidate the principles of its members, which, although they can never be generally accepted, are yet entitled to just consideration before they are utterly condemned. THE PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH. Sometime after 1833 a society of Reformed Methodists was organized in the township which, in a short time, became the nucleus of the above society. About 1835 a meeting-house was erected at the center which was used while the church had an existence; but after 1860, when but two male members-W. H. Warren and R. P. Bennett—were left, it was sold and moved to Orange. This change from a large and flourishing membership was caused chiefly by removals and death. Among the clergy who preached in the church are remembered the names of Revs. Dolby, Heath, Bamford, Reeves, Tracy, Moody, Kingsley and Bowman. THE DISCIPLE CHURCH. A few years after the erection of the above church at the center, a meeting-house for the use of a society of Disciples, which had been organized in the township, was built near by, and was occupied for worship about twenty years when its use was abandoned and the house soon after removed. Among the prominent members of the Disciple church were the Hubbell families. In 1842 the church had forty- two conversions and the following year the meeting of the clergy of the clergy of the donomination was held with the society. Thirteen ministers were present. For several years thereafter the church flourished, but was dismembered by removals to such an extent that it was not possible to longer maintain its organization. THE FREE CHURCH OF WARRENSVILLE. This is in the southwestern part of the township and is controlled by an association, formed in January, 1861, which was composed of William Watterson, John Kelley, William Kerruish, Robert Carran, William Callon, D. L. Wightman, William P. Cain, James Boyd and Thomas Collister. An old frame school-house was purchased and has been so thoroughly repaired that it now affords a comfortable place of worship. The controlling trustees are William P. Cain, James Boyd and Thomas Taubman. The house is free for any religious sect which may choose to hold its meetings there, but has been occupied principally by the Bible Christians. This sect also owns a neat chapel in the northeastern part of the township, in which meetings are statedly held in connection with the foregoing, and other appointments in Orange, where resides the pastor, the Rev. Moore. The membership in Warrensville is small, but the church work is in a sound condition. The society was organized December 11, 1862, with William Lang, Alexander Barber, Isaac Burt and John Short, trustees. THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WARRENSVILLE.* The present organization of the Methodist Episcopal church in Warrensville was effected November 12, 1837, by the formation of a class at the center of the township. Previous to that time a class had been formed; but it was soon afterwards dissolved, most of the members joining the Protestant Methodist church. The members composing the class formed at the time above stated were Silas Johnson, class leader; Asenath Johnson, Asa Upson, Chloe Upson, James Lee, Amos Gardner, Moses Warren, Sr., Anna Hoisted, David Cushman. Almira Cushman, Hiram B. Craine (local preacher), Jane Craine, Warren Thorp, Hannah Thorp, Fanny Bronson, Dayton Thorp, Sally Kilby, Timothy Hoisted, Gideon Pierce, Mary A. Johnson, Gertie Johnson, Daniel Hubbard, E. L. * By William S. Corlett, Esq. 534 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. Hubbard, Lydia Thomas, John Hewit, Thomas Quayle, A. Quayle, Ann Hampton, John Kneale, John Teare and C. Boyd. The society held its meetings in the center schoolhouse until 1845 when a church was erected in that locality by Asa Upson, Robert Smith and John Hewitt as a building committee. This church was continuously occupied by the Methodists until burned down in 1866, when Warrensville Center was without a church building-three having stood there but a short time before. Adapting themselves to the change of circumstances the Methodists returned to the schoolhouse and continued to hold services therein. In the winter of 1867-8 a meeting of the prominent and influential people. of the township was held at the residence of Robert Smith, whereat steps were taken to secure the erection of a new house of worship.' Some time after a building committee was appointed consisting of Rev. Robert Smith, Erastus Smith, Joseph Thorp, William H. Warren and Edwin Taylor, with authority to build a church at Warrensville Center. Rev. R. Smith was appointed a sub-committee to superintend the building. The result was that in the simmer of 1868 the present commodious and convenient church was erected. The dedicatory services were conducted by Rev. Cyrus Prendle, D.D. The church has been recently very much improved in appearance and comfort by the ladies, headed by Mrs. D. Cameron, Mrs C. Harrison and Mrs. Eliza J. Teare. There is at present preaching each Sabbath morning, the circuit preacher alternating with the Rev. Robert Smith, a local deacon of the M. E. Church. In the year 1837 regular preaching by the -circuit preachers was commenced at the Radcliffe schoolhouse, in North Warrensville, and continuously kept up to the present. Occasionally, previous to this date, preaching by local preachers was kept up, sometimes in the school-house and sometimes at private houses. But it was not till after 1837 that the first class was organized. The original members composing this class were James Smith, Mary Smith, Robert Smith, James Lee, Laura Lee, Caleb Litch, Mercy Litch and Elizabeth Corbett. The class was soon increased by the addition of several others. Among the first to join was John Radcliffe, Jr., the present recording steward of the circuit. Robert Smith has been leader of this class for about forty years. The first Sunday-school in the township was organized in the Radcliffe school-house by the Methodists, and for forty years has been regularly maintained, Robert Smith being for most of the time superintendent. At present the Sunday-school at the center and the one at Radcliffe school-house are superintended by Wm. S. Corlett. There is a M. E. Sunday-school in the school-house in Northeast Warrensville, Rev. Seneca Thomas, superintendent; and recently a Sunday-school was organized in the school-house in District No. 1, in the western part of township, Wm. M. Warren being superintendent. The following Methodist Episcopal ministers have preached at the Center M. E. Church and the Radcliffe school-house, in connection with other preaching places, forming a circuit sometimes composed of several townships. At present the circuit is composed of the above two appointments in Warrensville, two more in Orange, and one at the Euclid stone school-house: 1837, Phillip Green, Peter Burroughs; 1838, Loenzo D. Prosser, J. W. Davis; 1839, John H. Hallock, William F. Wilson, Geo. C. Baker; 1840, J. H. Hallock, Milo H. Bettis; 1841, W. French, John O. Wood; 1842, W. French, Wm. S. Warallo; 1843, W. S. Warallo, H. Elliott; 1844, John E. Aikins, Milo Butler; 1845, J. E. Aikins, C. P. Henry; 1846, Albina Hall, D. M. Stearns; 1847, A. Hall, John H. Tagg; 1848, Samuel Gregg, W. F. Day; 1849, Ira Eddy, W. F. Day; 1850-51, A. Walker, E. C. Lattimer; 1852, A. Fouts, Samuel Raynels; 1853, A. Fouts, Robert Gray; 1854, Thomas Radcliffe, Joseph Wooley; 1855, William Patterson, John McCarthy; 1856, L.W. Ely, Albert Norton; 1857, H. P. Henderson, L. E. Beardsley; 1858-9, Hiram Kellogg; 1860, Cyril Wilson; 1861, M. Williams; 1862, G. R. Bowman; 1863-4, J. K. Mendenhall; 1865-6-7, B. C. Warner; 1868-9, Thomas Radcliffe; 1870, A. Fouts; 1871, Robert Gray; 1872-3, Hiram Kellogg; 1874, C. W. Darrow; 1875, S. Collier; 1876-7, George Johns; 1878-9, F. L. Chalker.