HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 717

MIDDLEFIELD.

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BY E. R. THOMPSON.

In commencing the pioneer history of this township, I am under the necessity of relying on the memories of our old fathers and mothers; their memories are good in regard to the circumstances and events that transpired in the early settlement of the township ; but, as they cannot so well remember dates, I shall not be able to give exact dates in all cases.

On our county records this is known as township seven, range six, of the Connecticut Western Reserve, and is one in the eastern tier of townships in Geauga county. The surface of this township is level, except the south, which is crossed, from west to east, by Swine creek, which makes that portion quite hilly and broken.

When first settled this township was called Burton, because that township was settled and named one or two years before this.

The first permanent settlement in Middlefield was made in March, 1799, by Isaac Thompson and his wife, Jane, and three sons, James, William, and John —the last a child two months old—also a daughter, Eliza, aged three years. The family were originally from Washington county, Pennsylvania, leaving that place about 1795. Their first settlement was on the Genessee river, in the State of New York, where they resided one year.

From the Genessee they started for the unbroken wilds of the west. Their route was down the river, to Lake Ontario, by boat; up the lake, and Niagara river, to the falls. Hauling their boat around Niagara falls with a team, they re-embarked, ascending the river to Lake Erie, coasting up the lake as far as Erie harbor, where they were overtaken by a storm, and lost everything except the clothes upon their persons. From Erie they hauled their boat across the country to a stream then called French creek, boated down the creek to the Ohio river, and down the river to a little village called Charlestown, situated on the Virginia side. At Allegheny they left Sarah Wells, a daughter of Mrs. Thompson s by her first husband. The family resided in Charlestown about two years; became disgusted with the society packed up their goods and started up the

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river, leaving their daughter Polly, aged thirteen, with an acquaintance on the Ohio side of the river. Arriving at the mouth of Beaver river, they found an empty cabin, in which they stored part of their goods, packing the remainder on an old horse they had brought with them from Charlestown, and, mounting the wife and child also on the horse, the husband on foot, they started for the lake, with no road but an Indian trail.

The son, James, had gone to Mentor the spring before, with an acquaintance named Ebenezer Merry. They had made a small clearing, raised a few potatoes and some corn, and built a cabin, and, when the family arrived, they had a comfortable home. This was in the fall of 1798.

There were one or two families living in Mentor at this time. The name of one of the families was Parker. In the January following this date, their son, John Thompson, was born. They remained in Mentor until the tenth or fifteenth of March, 1799, when Isaac informed his son James that they must get back to the Ohio river; Mentor was no place for them; the country would never be settled; there was no outlet to the ocean, and consequently the place was only fit for wild beasts and Indians. Soon after this the whole family started for the Ohio river. The previous summer the State road had been surveyed through from Pittsburgh to the mouth of Grand river. The family followed the line of the road by the marked trees, to the point now known as Johnson's corners, in Middlefield. Here a man by the name of Hill, with his wife, and a Mr. Lemoin, had built their cabins, a little southwest of the corners, upon land now owned by H. B. Johnson, and they followed trapping.

The Thompson family stopped here for the night. In the morning the men went out and took a look at the country. After a day or two they were so favorably impressed with the country, and being sick and tired of moving, they decided to settle. Selecting a site on lot twenty-nine, about twenty-five rods east of the Methodist Episcopal church, they erected a house, the first of any size in the township, and the workmen were Isaac and James Thompson, Hill and Lemoin. Soon after the Thompsons arrived, Hill and his wife left for parts unknown. Lemoin lived with the Thompsons a short time, and he left also, leaving the new settlers the only white people in the township. Consequently, Isaac Thompson and family were the first permanent settlers of Middlefield.

There was a small settlement at Burton, at this time, and no other in the county now known as Geauga. At this date, there were two or three settlers at Warren, about the same number at Painesville, and none nearer, except Burton. In these early days, there were no grist-mills nearer than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so that it was necessary to boil their corn and eat it in that condition, or grind it in rude mills of their own construction. The first mill, made by the Thompson family after this settlement, was made by cutting a stump off square, and digging a round hole in the top, then shaping a stone to fit the hole in the stump, with the upper part of the stone worked off for a handle; then putting a small quantity of corn or wheat in the hollow of the stump, the miller would pound it with a pestle until it was reduced to flour or meal, then take it out, and repeat the operation until the grist was finished.

After making a little clearing in the woods, and necessary arrangements, Isaac Thompson started for the mouth of Beaver river, for the household goods left there the fall previous, and found them all right. Loading them into a dug-out, he boated them up the Beaver and Mahoning rivers to Warren, and then packing them on the old horse, brought them to the settlement. At this date (1799), there was not a settler between Warren and Middlefield, and no road except the blazed trees, on the line of the State road, from Warren to Painesville. Middlefield is midway, by this road, and twenty-one miles from each of the above named places. Soon after settling, Isaac Thompson went to Warren and pur-

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chased all of that part of lot twenty-nine that lies east of the State road, containing about one hundred and ninety acres of land, paying only a small part down.

It was nearly impossible to raise grain without watching it night and day, to prevent the wild animals, which were very numerous, from destroying it.

The year 1799 passed without any other settlement in the township. This year the State commenced letting jobs for cutting the timber in a few sections of the State road. In the spring of 1800, there was more work being done, chopping and clearing the road. This brought more laborers into the country, and those in the vicinity of Thompson's made his house their headquarters, which much relieved their loneliness. He also entertained many strangers, who were passing through the country, "looking land"; and, though their accommodations were not very good, it was an improvement upon sleeping in the woods, where the wolves furnished a redundancy of music, gratis.

During the season of 1800 Joseph Johnson settled on lot number ten. He came, with his wife, Jane, and three sons, John, Joseph, jr., and James; his daughter, Charlotte, and son, Hugh B., were born in the township. The Johnson family were from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

About this time, a family, by the name of Heathman, settled on lot forty, now

owned by 0. M. Newcomb.

Another settler, Bazil Cahoe, built a cabin, near the head of Well's old mill-pond. James Heathman settled on lot thirty-one, now the property of Mrs. N. P. Treat.

There were no other settlers in I800, and the privations and hardships of the few inhabitants were trying. They raised but little grain, and found it difficult to secure that little from the ravages of wild animals. Their meat was wholly wild; they had neither hogs nor sheep, and very few cattle. Besides these, they encountered other privations. Linen was the only clothing for the ladies, and the clothing of the men was the skins of wild animals.

The first white person born in the limits of the town was a daughter of Isaac Thompson, on the sixth of April, 1801.

In the company that surveyed the State road, in 1798, were two brothers, named Wallace, from Walpole, New Hampshire. While surveying, they found time to chop each a small piece of timber; one where Jesse Bishop now resides, and the other, where the house of S. P. Donaldson now stands, on lot twelve. Subsequent to the settlement of the Thompsons (date not known), they returned and settled on their lands; John Wallace, on the Bishop place, and George, his

brother, occupying the Donaldson place.

Some time later, as George Wallace went to put up his log heaps, early in the morning in autumn, he discovered, lying by a burning log heap, a negro, two colored women, and several children. Wallace found, by questioning them, that they were runaway slaves, and told them he should arrest and detain them until their master came. The negro was armed with an old musket, and gave Wallace to understand that if he molested him he would shoot him. Wallace paid no attention to the threat of the negro, but started toward him. The negro fired, and Wallace fell. The negro was so much frightened that they all started for the woods in a westerly direction, and in crossing the Cuyahoga river they were all nearly drowned, but crossed and went to Burton, where they were overtaken by their master and taken back to the lovely condition of slavery. Wallace was not very seriously injured, except a broken arm.

About two weeks after the birth of Thompson's daughter, in 1801, Isaac Thompson and his son, James, located a lot of land in Richmond, near the mouth of Grand river. While working on their land two Indians came to their house in Middlefield, acting in a cowardly, sneaking manner, peering through the cracks of the house, talking low, and conducting themselves badly. After

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more ill-behavior, they left. The family were thoroughly frightened, and the more so for knowing the Indians to be bad characters. One was part French, and could speak English well. Mother Thompson was not well, and beside herself and babe, she had only her son William, a lad of twelve or fourteen, and a hired girl by the name of Umberfield, from Burton. They expected the Indians back the coming night. Mrs. Thompson, not able to leave the house, and no neighbors to call in, as the only thing practicable, they concluded to bar the door and windows, and leave the event with Providence. The boy, William, and the hired girl, barricaded every entrance to the house, and by night had a pretty strong fort. As soon as it was dark they put out the light and fire, and huddled in one corner and listened, in terrible suspense, for the cat-like step of the Indians. Soon a step was heard. Some one approached the door and rapped. No sound within. Then a louder rap. Then conversation in English. The inmates began to take courage, and enquired: "Who is there, and what is wanted?" The answer came: "We are travelers, and want supper and lodging; we are friends." Being satisfied they were friendly, they quickly unbarred the door, and were overjoyed to see two stalwart white men walk in. They were soon furnished with a supper, the. best the house afforded. When Mother Thompson told the men of the visit of the Indians, they put their trusty rifles in order and laid themselves down before the fire. About midnight one of the Indians came and opened the door, looking in very cautiously. He saw the two men, and hurriedly withdrew and disappeared rn the darkness, and was never seen there afterward. Old Grandmother Thompson always firmly believed the Indians intended to murder the family, and were prevented by an interposition of Providence, who saved them from a horrible death.

There is no account of any additions to the settlers during the year 1802. Many men were passing through the country looking for land, and others hunting, as game was abundant in those early days.

About 1803 or 1804 a family by the name of Menough emigrated from Walpole, New Hampshire, and settled on lot one. They had two children, one only is known by name—Rebecca, who became the wife of Robert Wallace, April 10, 1806.

A daughter, by the name of Charlotte, was born to Joseph Johnson in the year 1803, and she was afterwards married to John Leach and settled in Kentucky.

About 1803 Isaac Thompson and his son, James, entered into a contract with a man by the name of Paine, of Painesville, to build a grist-mill on a small stream running into Grand river from the west, a little north of Painesville. In consideration of putting said mill in operation, they were to receive eighty acres of land near Painesville. The Thompsons built the mill, but never got the deed. James converted the mill into a distillery, and made whiskey one winter, but abandoned it in the spring and returned to Middlefield. Soon after he got home he took the old horse and started for Charlestown, on the Ohio river, to get his sister, Polly, that was left there when the family moved from there in 1798. He found his sister, who was overjoyed to learn that her parents were alive and well, for she had mourned them as lost, not having heard a word from them in six years. She lived with her parents about two years, when she became the wife of Stephen Bond, of Hambden. They were married July 30, 1806, her father, Isaac Thompson, the first justice of the peace in Middlefield, performing the ceremony.

Soon after James arrived with his sister, Polly, he made the journey to Allegheny, to bring home Sarah Wells, his stepmother's daughter by her first husband. They arrived safe home in the early summer of 18o4, and in the early autumn of the same year they were married. So that James Thompson and

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Sarah Wells were the first couple, both parties of which lived in the township of Middlefield when married. This is supposed to be also the first marriage in the present limits of Geauga county. They commenced housekeeping in a log house that he built on the southeast corner of lot twenty-nine.

On June 26th the youngest son of Isaac Thompson was born; he lived to the age of twelve years, and died of quinsy.

Some time during the year 1804, there came a man of considerable wealth from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania—his name was James Glenn, a distant connection of the Johnson family. He purchased the whole of lot twenty-one, and commenced work. He soon encountered a number of black rattlesnakes, called here massengers. He could not stand these, so he went to Warren and exchanged his lot for a tract on Swine creek, in the northwest corner of Farmington, making the exchange with Simon Perkins. He settled on this tract, and soon after purchased the whole of lot forty-six, in Middlefield.

Silas Young came out in the fall of 1803, and bought on lot forty-eight. Returned home to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came out in the spring with his family, which consisted of himself and brother, John, part owner of the lot purchased, and Hannah Young, wife of Silas, and the children, as follows: John, Stephen, Nancy, Sally, Reece, Betsey, Polly, Thomas, Hercules, Abba, and two children who died in infancy, in all twelve. The young family encountered the privations and losses, the same as other pioneers in the township. They had five horses when they moved to this place, and before the next spring, they all died, and the family was left destitute of a team. Mr. Young soon commenced such improvements as were possible with his limited means. He first attempted to construct a grist-mill, and succeeded in making quite an improvement upon the Thompson mill. A smooth concave hole was made in the side of a square block of timber; then a hard stone was worked off to fit the concave in the timber, and a hole was drilled in the top of the stone, and a rope or chain was attached to the stone, and the stone suspended by the rope to a spring pole, and the mill was completed. In this way our pioneers made their meal for several years. Silas and his brother, John, continued to work together for sixteen years when Silas bought John's interest, and John moved to Farmington, and soon after died.

About the year 1810, Silas Young built a small distillery, and one or two years later, he built a grist-mill, which was run by water from Swine creek. The mill stones were made from two hard bowlders by himself. This is a great improvement upon the old way of grinding, and marked an era in our history. He also built a saw-mill in 1813 or 1814, about one-half mile east of the State road, upon Swine creek.

Early in our history, the road running from Burton through the northwest corner of Middlefield, to Huntsburg, was established; it crossed the State road on the land of Joseph Johnson, and since that time to the present, the point has been known as Johnson's corners. In clearing and making the State road, the settlers deviated from the surveyed route to avoid deep gullies and swampy

places.

In crossing lot forty-eight on the Silas Young farm, the road crossed Swine creek near Bourns' mill-dam, ascending the hill near the east line of the orchard striking the present line of the road at the school-house.

At Thompson's corners the road turned to the east, to where P. White's mill stands, thence along the high ground, east of J. Y. Tisdel's residence, and reached the present line at the residence of J. A. Pierce; then followed the survey to the north line of the township.

During all these years our sturdy pioneers suffered many inconveniences, and endured many hardships ; and one was finding a market' for their surplus pro-

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duce. Pittsburgh was the nearest point where they could procure salt and some other necessaries. They found it difficult to haul sufficient grain at one load to pay for even one barrel of salt. Almost the only thing that would bring money, was black salts and furs, and to dispose of them they had to be carted to Pittsburgh.

In the summer of 1805, James Thompson's first child was born—a son, and about the same time Isaac Thompson came very near losing his land, because he had paid nothing since first taking it up, and but very little then.

James Thompson assumed the debt, paid up in a few years, and purchased the balance of lot twenty-nine, lying west of the State road. About this time a brother of James' wife, Benjamin Wells, arrived, and bought of James a part of lot twenty-nine, and, some years later, Wells and J. Thompson erected a water, saw-mill on the lot purchased by Wells.

Some time in the year 1806 or 1807 Hezekiah King settled on lot twelve, eighty rods south of George Wallace. His wife was a sister of George Wallace's, also of Noah Page's wife, in Burton.

Hugh B. Johnson, the youngest child of Joseph and Jane Johnson, was born, and, at this date, or soon after, a family by the name of Sperry settled on lot twenty-two, about forty rods east of J. Y. Tisdel's residence. Some years afterwards he left his family, to work near Painesville. While he was gone his wife went to Windsor, to visit friends, leaving a son, eight years old, with the Thompson family. Sperry returned, in the absence of his wife, and called on his neighbor Thompson to learn her whereabouts. Taking supper, he went early in the evening to his cabin, built a fire, and laid down near it. During the night his cabin burned, and he and his faithful dog perished in the flames. His first name was Zera, and he was the father of Lemon Sperry, whose family lived in the east part of Burton. Some time after the widow of Zera married a man named Lyman, and moved to Portage county.

Two brothers, Otis and Eliakim Russell, their cousin, Moses Russell, and two other brothers, John and Samuel Granger, settled in Middlefield, from Franklin county, Massachusetts, about 1809.

Otis Russell purchased of George Wallace his interest in lot twelve, also the balance of the lot, in all about two hundred acres. Mr. Wallace moved to Cleveland, and from there to Northfield, Summit county. Hezekiah King moved to Painesville, and resided there the remainder of his life.

Eliakim Russell remained in town but a few years after the war of 1812, when

he left, and settled in the south part of the State, and his friends never knew what became of him.

The Granger boys, soon after the war, died, and were buried in Burton. One of them died going to Burton. He wished to be taken to Burton to see a friend living there. A bed was made on a sled, he was laid upon it, and carefully and comfortably covered with a quilt. On arriving at Burton he was found to be dead.

Moses Russell remained in the township but a short time. Where he went is not known. Out of that company of five young men, a few years found but one remaining in the township, and he became quite a noted man.

A man by the name of Roswell Manchester settled on lot forty-one, date of arrival not known, but early in our history; also, John Angers, John McCoy, and Samuel Harley, and Joseph Clark, who settled on the Menough place, lot one. This Dr. Clark was the first physician who settled in the township.

The Heatham family and the Cahoe family, moved to Medina county, after

a residence in Middlefield of ten or fifteen years. James Heatham remained in Middlefield.

A family named Huff rented a house of Otis Russell, and lived in this place from 1810 to 1816, and moved to Claridon.

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The year 1812, brought with it stirring events, but few settlers. Quite a number of the men of our township enlisted in the war of that year, and went to Cleveland to protect that place from threatened invasion from the British of Canada. The English had a fleet of war vessels, and held complete control of the lake, until after the battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813.

The following are the names of officers and privates, comprising the company, as nearly as can be ascertained.

James Thompson, captain, Fourth company, First battalion, First regiment, Fourth brigade, Fourth division. Commission issued, July first, 1812. Signed: Return J. Meigs, governor, at Chillicothe, capital State of Ohio. Commission sworn to and subscribed, before Lyman Benton, J. P., Burton, August 22, 1812. Those marked (M), are from Middlefield; (P), Parkman; (H), Huntsburg.

James Thompson, captain, M.

Samuel Hardy, lieutenant, M.

John Hopkins. ensign, P.

Lewis Smith, sergeant, P.

Banjamin Wells, sergeant, M.

Theodorus Miller, sergeant. P. *

Thomas Heatham, do M.

Seth Risley, corporal, P.

William Thompson, corporal, M.*

James Heathman, M.

Ely Webster, corporat, P.*

John Granger. Drummer, M.*

Joseph Young, fifer, M.

John Reed, private, H.

Henna Brown, private, P,

John Daston, private H., marked absent without leave.

Samuel Granger, private, M.*

Nathan Hansket, private, P.

John Jones, private, P.

Stephen Pomeroy, private, H.

Eliakim Russel, M.*

Elnathan Wilcox, H.

Holden White, P.

Robert Waller, private, P.

John Townsley, private, H.*

Twenty-five, including the captain.

The company reported at Cleveland, and was mustered into service of the United States, on the twenty-second of August, 1812, by order of major-general Elijah Wadsworth : company commanded by lieutentant-colonel Jedidiah Beard.

The return of the soldiers, caused a rejoicing among the settlers, who had lived in constant fear of the Indians, against whom they had lithe defence, in the absence of the men.

Christopher Cook, and his wife, Tabitha, a son, Amadeus, and a daughter, Delia, from Windsor, Ohio, came, in 1822, living first in a house of James Thompsons', standing upon the present site of town hall.

Isaac Thompson concluded to keep a hotel, and built for that purpose where the home of Patterson White now stands. His son, James, built on the opposite side of the road. Soon after Mr. Cook moved to town, he commenced keeping hotel at Johnson's corners. Remaining there two years, he removed to the Young settlement, four miles south on the state road; resided there a few years, moved to Burton, lived there until his death, 1823.

His widow moved baek into Middlefied, living in the house with James Heathman, until married to Jacob Morse, of Concord, living with him fifteen (15) years, and died. Joseph Johnson, the father of the Johnson family, in Middlefield, died in 1812, and a few years later, his son, Joseph, jr., also died, at the age of twenty.

In the summer of 1812, Miss Lucinda Walden taught the first school in the township. The school-house stood a little east from the present site of the town hall. The building was used for a corn-crib in the fall and winter, and for a school-house in the summer. The scholars were: John Thompson, thirteen years old; Isaac N. Thompson, seven years old; Lydia Thompson, eleven years old; Harriet Thompson, five years old; Robert E. Thompson, eight years olds; Martha Thompson, three years old. The teacher was paid one dollar's worth of flax-and-linen cloth per week as wages.

About the year 1811, or 1812, Isaac Thompson built a distillery upon the

* Volunteered to remain three months or more ; the rest returned home soon after Perry's victory.

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present site of the store and post-office building. The distillery building was used in the fall and winter for drying flax also, as people used to rot the flax in autumn, and put it in some old building, and smoke it, to make it tender and easy to dress. The old gentleman Thompson thought he would utilize the heat and smoke, while making whiskey, to prepare his flax for dressing, and so "kill two birds with one stone." It did not prove as economical as he expected. When his flax became dry it took fire, and distillery, flax, and all went up in smoke.

The year 1813 brought more prosperous times. Money was a little more plenty; still, few settlers came to stay. Pittsburgh was the nearest market, and no prospect of one nearer for some time to come, so there were few inducements for' people to settle where it required a week to go to the nearest market. But, notwithstanding these privations, the young people did, occasionally, marry.

James Heathman had got tired of living alone and decided to marry, and, June 3, r813, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Nancy Young, the ceremony being performed by Lyman Benton, esq., of Burton.

The years 1813 and 1814 passed with the usual routine of clearing, planting, harvesting, hunting, and gathering wild honey, which last was so plenty that the Thompson boys gathered, in a few weeks, one autumn, three barrels of strained honey, and could they have disposed of it, they could have obtained much more.

In 1815, the father and stepmother of Otis Russell arrived, with the following named children: Polly, Jerusha, Spencer, Diana, Roana,:children of the present wife. The father, Samuel Russell, was a pensioner, having served in most of the war of the Revolution. The wife's maiden name was Mary Rice, a descendant of one of the passengers in the Mayflower. The Russell family settled on the lot owned by Otis Russell. At a later date, the oldest son by the second wife —Samuel--settled with the family. Being somewhat crippled, he chose the trade of shoemaker, at which he always worked. The family settled on lot twenty-two, living there but a short time. They made the first settlement on lot thirty, stopped there but a few months, and made a stand on lot twenty-one, where they lived until the death of the father, in January, 1838, aged eighty-seven years. His widow moved to Indiana, with her daughter, Jerusha, and lived to be about ninety years old.

About 1816, Eliza, the oldest daughter of Isaac and Jane Thompson, died, aged about twenty-three.

In February, 1816, the wife of James Thompson died, and was buried in the cemetery northeast of the corners, being the first or second person buried there. At the time of her death she was the mother of six children, the youngest a few days old: Their names were Isaac N., Harriet, Martha, James M., Edward, and Edmund, all living January 1, 1878, except Harriet, who became the wife

of Chauncey Johnson, of Burton, and died soon after marriage. Those living are past three score years —the oldest seventy-three.

William Thompson, brother of James, was married February 8, 1815, to Lucinda Walden, of Southington, Trumbull county, Ohio. He purchased one hundred and eight acres of land on lot twenty-two, and settled on the east side of his lot. When the road was straightened, he was left back from it, and afterward built a frame house on the State road, which is now occupied by C. Glendenning. William's progress in clearing his farm was rather slow. His health was poor, in consequence of exposure and unwholesome food in the war of 1812. He regained his health, cleared his farm, and raised a family of nine children—eight boys and one girl—all of whom are alive at this writing except two, killed when young: one by the fall of a tree, the other by lightning. William Thompson lived on his farm until his death, October 6, 1873, aged eighty-five. His widow survives, and is in comfortable health for her age—eighty-six years. at this date [1878].

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Sometime in 1815 Benjamin White settled on lot one, northwest corner lot, formerly settled by Menough. With Mr. White came his wife and six children —Samuel, Elijah, Polly, Jane, Patterson, and Benjamin, jr. the last born two months after the death of his father, which was the fall after their settlement, and he was buried in Burton. They came from Bristol, Ohio, where her parents settled in 1803, and she and Mr. White were married in 1805. After the death of Mr. White she returned to Bristol, where her kinsmen resided.

James McElroy emigrated from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and settled on lot forty-six, in February, 1816. His family were: Isabella, his wife, and John, Polly, Glenn, Sarah, and Meander, children. Living where first settled about five months, then moving up Swine creek one mile, made a short stop, and moved further up the creek near Young's saw-mill, on lot forty-eight, and after a short stop moved, in the fall of 1817, into the house of James Heathman, and the next spring moved back to lot forty-six, one mile northwest of Bundysburgh ; lived there seven years; sold out to John Porter, and moved on lot thirty-seven, and there died, September 26, 1826. The rest of the family, except Polly, who married Silas Evans, of Parkman, returned to Pennsylvania. John and Sarah came back to Middlefield, and Sarah became the wife of William Glendenning.

About this time in our history settlers increased in number quite rapidly. A family named Hutchins settled on lot twenty-one, with his wife, and two daughters by a former husband, Jane and Margaretta Smith, and the following children by Hutchins: Nancy, Sarah, Diana, Jacob, and Caleb. They came from York State. Mrs. Hutchins' family was from Canada. Mr. Hutchins came in 1816, remained about fourteen year„ sold his improvements to William B. Gray, and went to Burton, where the old people soon died.

Reuben Scoville and wife, and Olive, William, George, John and Marshall, their children, settled in the township, on lot thirty, in 1816. His wife died soon after, in a time of much sickness, so much that the well people could not take care of the sick, and there was much suffering among the pioneers. Mr. Scoville married again in a short time, and sold his place to a man named Samuel Dunn, and settled again on lot twelve, lived there a few years, and sold to Emery Goodwin, and went to Burton.

A man by the name of Brainard early settled on lot thirty. The writer does not know from whence he came, or where he went, and this is true of many . others: of Aseph Saxton, who settled on the south side of Johnson creek, on lot eleven; also Shumaker, who made a settlement on lot one; Dickinson, who made a beginning on lot forty-one; also Samuel Butler, who built a cabin on lot fifty, where his wife died, and no one knows what became of him.

Jesse Bishop settled in 1816, coming from Connecticut. He purchased the whole of lot 32, about three hundred acres, the same place where John Wallace commenced. His family, were Molly, the wife, with Hiram L, Timothy, Mary Ann, Samuel, Eli ; and there were born in Middlefield, Harriet, Phoebe, Jesse, and Davis.

A young lady, named Rebecca Johnson, came with Mr. Bishop. They came by land, and were six weeks on the road, hauling their goods with ox teams.

Mr. Bishop paid for, and received a title to his farm, before he came to the state. He found, upon his farm, a comfortable log house, some clearing, and a young orchard. Mr. Bishop and family were quite an acquisition to our place ; he was considered wealthy, and better he proved to be honest, and upright, and good to the poor ; benevolent and charitable, and could be trusted on all occasions. And these sterling traits of character he maintained through a useful and eventful life.

Hiram L., the oldest son, married Delia Cook, and settled on the east part

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of the lot purchased by his father. Timothy married Diana Russell, and settled on the northwest part of same lot. Samuel, married Ruth Ann Chatfield, and settled on east part of same lot. Eli, married Clarissa, eldest child of William Thompson, and settled on north middle of the old farm. Mary Ann married George Adams. Harriet was married to Amadeus Cook. Phoebe, to E. J. Hays. Jesse Bishop, jr., married Harriet Huff Mr. Bishop never moved from the place where he settled. He died, January, 1849, aged sixty-six, and his wife died, May, 1862 aged 79.

In 1816 James Heathman's Wife died, leaving a son, who became a wild, reckless fellow, though good-hearted. His name was Stephen, and the reader of these lines can guess what became of him.

The family of Calvin Fuller settled in the township about 1816. His wife's name was Adams when he married her, and was the mother of eight children. Two of her sons, George and Charles, came with them, or soon after, and they all settled on lot ten. Charles married Elizabeth B. Hall, and they raised eleven children; and, as stated above, George Adams married Mary Ann Bishop. Mr. Fuller died in 1840, aged eighty years. His wife survived him eleven years, and died at the age of seventy-nine.

Charles Adams died in 1874, aged seventy-seven. George Adams sold out and moved to Garrettsville about 1852, and died soon after. The widow of Charles lives in Burton, aged seventy-six.

On the sixth of March, 1817, Horace Peck was married to Mary Johnson, by the Rev. Luther Humphrey. They soon after moved to Mesopotamia, where some of their descendants still reside.

John Johnson and Sally Young were married in 1817, on the seventh of April, by John Ford, justice of the peace. Mrs. Johnson lived twenty-two years afterward, and died August 13, 1839, and was the mother of eleven children. Mr. Johnson remained on the old place of his father, at Johnson's corners. When he was young he was a good hunter and trapper. Active and enduring, he could follow a deer, bear or wolf, until he overhauled them, and usually bagged his game before giving up the chase. Mr. Johnson became, later, a staunch and solid old farmer. Always firm and conscientious on any position taken, he was ready for a debate on any subject he undertook. For his second wife he married Mrs. Hawthorne, and his children were thirteen in number in

all. He died on the fifth of January, 1875, beloved and respected by those who knew him.

James Johnson, after arriving at the age of manhood, returned east, and learned the carpenter's trade in the city of Philadelphia; married Emily Burke of that city, returning to Middlefield about 1840, and settled on part of the old homestead, and a few years since he sold to Edward, one of the heirs of his brother, John. Soon after, he moved to Cleveland, and died.

Hugh B. Johnson, the youngest, married Caroline Hatch, of Mesopotamia, and settled on a part of the old farm, where he still resides. The mother of the Johnsons lived to see her children well settled in life, and died in 1841, aged seventy-five.

Benjamin Wells and Rebecca Johnson were married October 16, 1817, by Otis Russell, justice of the peace, and settled on his lot, where Eli Bishop now resides. He soon started a tannery, just north of where his house stood on the low ground. He also worked at shoemaking, which rendered him still more a useful man. He could also play the violin, which made his presence necessary at most of the weddings, and all the huskings and other social gatherings of those good old times. He was the first postmaster of the township. His tannery did not pay, so he left that part of his business, and gave more time to his sawmill and shoemaking. He was postmaster until 1851, when he sold his place

HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 727

to George Adams, and moved to La Porte county, Indiana. The following letter is all we can learn about his appointment:

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 5th, 1878.

The letter of your correspondent, E. R. Thompson, esq., of Middlefield, Ohio, submitted with your endorsement of the 21st instant, is herewith returned with the information that Benjamin Wells was appointed postmaster at Middlefield, Ohio, on the 20th day of March, 1826. The record of that day fails to show the date of the commission issued to him. Hon. John McLean was post-master general, at the time the commission was issued, and it is presumed the commission referred to was signed by him in person. I am sir, respectfully,

HON. J. A. GARFIELD,

House of Representatives.

JAMES H. MORE,

For the first assistant P. M. General.

The year 1818 brought quite a number of permanent settlers. Ambrose Perkins, a Baptist minister from Connecticut, first settled in Sandusky, Ohio, and the next year settled on lot two. In 1814 he married Miss Ford, and their children were one son and three daughters. Mr. Perkins did not continue in the ministry, and finally became skeptical with regard to the authenticity of the Bible. He lived on this lot until 1865, dying at the age of seventy-six. His wife survived him one year, dying at the age of seventy-nine.

John Ford, a brother of Mrs. Perkins, settled on an adjoining farm, coming from the same place, and settling the same year; his wife was a daughter of Paul Clapp, one of the early settlers of Huntsburg. Mr. Ford sold his farm to Lester Moffett, about 1850, and removed to Munson.

Orrin Newcomb settled in 181.8. He was born in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1787, and his wife in the same place, in 1793. He settled on the southwest corner of lot forty-three. The children coming with them were: Otis, Orman, and Olive; those born here were: Orris, Orell, Orlin, Ori Ann, Oriette, Orlando, Orrin, Ozro, and Orlow. They resided on the same lot until the death of Mr. Newcomb, in the winter of 1835. He was frozen to death. The morning before he died he started for the mill in Parkman with an ox team, being quite unwell. It was late before be arrived at the mill,—a very cold day—and it was about dark when he got his grist ground. It is supposed that he got on his sled to ride, became numb and sleepy, and in that condition froze dead. He was found dead next morning in front of his house. His age was forty-six. Soon after this the family sold to Mr. Richards, and moved to Parkman. The mother, Mrs. Newcomb, died in 1878, aged eighty-four. Seven sons and two daughters are living at this date.

The family of Theophilus and Clarinda Stone emigrated from North Guilford, Connecticut, in 1801. The family lived in the State of New York seventeen years, sold out there and came on to Middlefield in the year 1818, and settled on fifty acres of land purchased of Jesse Bishop, southeast corner, lot thirty-two. The children who came with them were: Russell, John, Rufus, Ruth, Eli, and Olive. Those born in Middlefield were: Thaddeus, Anson, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Stone lived on the same farm until his death in October, 1842, aged seventy years. In the year 1853 his wife died while on a visit to her daughter in Illinois. Her age was seventy.

Russell Stone married Mary, daughter of Stephen Bond. John married Rebecca Page, of Burton. Rufus married Nancy Fox, of Burton. Ruth was married to Samuel Russell, jr.

Ruth and John, a son and daughter of Theophilus Stone, have done their part to perpetuate the Yankee race. John has his second wife, and is the father of twenty children. Ruth, the daughter, is the mother of ten children.

Russell Davis also left York State in 1818, and made his home in Middlefield, with his wife Fanny, son Daniel, daughters Roxa and Naomi. In this. township were born Henry, Russell, Calvin, James, Hannah, and William. Mr. Russell settled on lot twenty-one. At that time the center road west to Burton

728 - HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO.

commenced on the State road, on south line of lot twenty-one and twenty-two, running on the center lot line of the township into Burton; thence west to the river, down the river on left bank to a point opposite the old cemetery, where it crossed the river; thence north to Burton village. Mr. Davis settled on the bank of a little stream that crossed the road a little west of the east line of lot twenty-one, and on the north side of the road. Some two years previous, Mr, Hutchins had settled on the opposite side of the road. About 1827 Mr. Davis sold to Enoch Alden and moved a little further west, on the same lot. This lot was previously occupied by a man named Chittenden, who died in an unusual way. He had been to Parkman and bought a barrel of whiskey, and being a man of unsteady habits, had imbibed too freely. Being tired and sleepy, he concluded to lie down and take a nap before going home. A day or two previous he had been burning some log heaps on his fallow, and as it was warm and pleasant, he laid down without stopping to choose a place, and lay so near one of the burning heaps he was severely burned, and survived but a few days. The family sold to Mr. Davis, and went to York State. On this place Mr. Davis lived until 1861, when he died, aged seventy. His wife died in 1878, aged eighty-six.

On the first of January, 1818, John Young and Polly Russell were married, by Otis Russell, justice of the peace. Mr. Young settled on part of his father's lot, and assisted in building a grist-mill. Subsequently he bought the interest of the heirs and became the owner of the old homestead and mill. The wife of John Young died in 1827. She was the mother of three children, who died in infancy. He married, for his second wife, Philura Hinkston. 'She was the mother of eight children, and he continued to occupy the old homestead until his death, in September, 1859, aged sixty-seven. His mother died in 1843, aged sixty-nine. His father, Silas Young, died in 1852, aged ninety-two. Stephen Young died at the age of nineteen. Polly married Ransford Bundy, and was the mother of ten children. Mr. Bundy lived in Parkman some time after they were married; settled in Middlefield in 1831, on lot forty-eight. Reece Young married Eliza Gates, and settled on lot forty-eight, but soon sold . and went to Knox county, Ohio, where his widow still lives, and is the mother of sixteen children, fifteen of them grown to the estate of men and women. Betsey Young was married to Isaac Gates, September, 1822; settled on lot forty-nine, lived there nine years, and sold out to a Mr. Rogers; bought on lot eleven, lived there three years, and sold to Chandler Alden; settled again on lot forty-eight, and there lived until his death, in 1868, aged seventy-three. Mrs. Gates lives on the old place, aged seventy-five. She is the mother of eleven children. Thomas Young married Triphena Robinson, and moved to Parkman. Hercules married Mary Warren, and soon after moved to Parkman. Abby married John Quiggle, and moved to Hambden, Ohio. She was also the mother of eleven children.

James Heathman was married to Almira Alderman, his second wife, April 23, 1818. They had two children, James and Nancy. He resided on his first purchase up to 1860, when he sold out and moved to Widsor, Ohio, where the old people soon died, at an advanced age. At the age of fifteen the daughter, Nancy, became deranged, and has continued so since.

About this time Ashbel Crampton settled on lot twenty-one, with his wife and two sons, Dennis and Harry. In a few years he moved to lot forty, and soon after died, when his family moved to Burton.

In 1819 Abell Crampton settled on lot twenty-one, near the residence of Russell Davis and Moses Hutchins. With him came his wife and children—Truman, Marcus, George, Fanny, and Eunice, they sold to John Thompson, and went to Burton after residing here four years.

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In the year 1818, James Thompson built his hotel, a few rods south of Thompson's corners, at which time it was the most commodious house, and the largest between Warren and Painesville, on the State road. Fairport was the principal shipping port for this region; consequently there was considerable travel from the south and southeast along the State road, to the lake. Thompson's hotel, being about half way from Warren to Painesville, became quite a noted point. Most of the township elections, company trainings, business meetings, law suits, etc., being held here. In those times, he often entertained ten or fifteen travelers and as many horses, over night, and frequently six or eight four- or six-horse teams would put up with him for the night. It would be quite .a sight to see a caravan of those old Dutch wagons, with their six horses, passing along, as in the early days. James Thompson married, for his second wife, Mercy Tracy, May 14, 1819. They were married by Amadeus Brooks, justice of the peace, of Mesopotamia. He continued his business of keeping hotel, and was also hunter and trapper, and farmer, and attended saw-mill. He was one of the best hunters in this part of the country. The first farm he bought was paid for, principally, with the money made in hunting and trapping. Mr. Thompson resided on the old homestead, upon which he and his father first settled, throughout his long and eventful life; outlived his second wife nearly twenty years; lived to see the township converted from an unbroken wilderness, into a thickly settled community of thriving farmers, and, after a residence in this place of almost eighty years, he died, October is, 1877, aged ninety-eight, respected by all who knew him. He was the father of fifteen children; six by his first and nine by his second wife. Eleven of them survive their father.

During the year 1818, Daniel Gilson settled on lot twenty-four, in the east part of the township. He was born in Groton, Massachusetts, and his father was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and in the battle of General Gates with Burgoyne. Daniel was also a revolutionary soldier. He and his brother immigrated to Vermont, married, and, in 1812, went to Genessee, New York, and, in

he, with his family, settled in the east part of our township, and this was the first settlement made in that part of the township. They were completely surrounded by a dense forest, without roads or neighbors for a number of miles. His family consisted of his wife, four sons and one daughter: Isaac, Daniel, jr., Eli, Willard, and Deborah. Isaac and Daniel remained in New York for a time. Mrs. Gilson died the next summer after settling here. About 1823, he married the widow of Benjamin White, who, with her husband, settled on lot one, in 1815. There were three children by the second wife: Joseph, who died in Calafornia ; the second died, aged about nine years, and one still living. Mr. Gilson resided upon the old homestead, where he settled, until his death, in 1845. His age was eighty-four. His last wife survived him thirty-one years, and died in Harts-grove, Ohio, in 1876, aged eighty-nine.

Abner K. Gilson came to this place in 1819, settled on the west part of the same lot upon which his brother, Daniel, lived. Their children were: Solon, Harriet, Erwin, and Eliza, and they resided at their homestead until 1824, when Mr. Gilson accidentally fell, was injured internally, and lived but a few days. His age was fifty-three. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. His widow lived to the age of eighty-three, and died in 1852.

Isaac came on in 1819, married Laurissa Frisby, of Mesopotamia. Daniel, jr. came in 183o, and settled on lot twenty-eight. These two last were brothers, and also sons of Daniel Gilson. Eli moved to Akron, and died in a few years, and Deborah Gilson married Mr. Ives, of Mesopotamia. Solon settled on the west part of lot twenty-six, and in 1833 sold to Bower, and moved to Kent, Ohio. Harriet married F. Curtis, of Farmington. Erwin married a lady by the name of Sperry, and Eliza married George Arnold.

730 - HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO.

Moses and Darius Morse, two brothers, of Norfolk county, Massachusetts, emigrated to this country in the fall of 1817, and resided in Painesville until the next spring, when they went to Mesopotamia, and, on the sixteenth of September, 1819, Moses Morse and Lydia Thompson were married, by Otis Russell, J. P. They settled in Mesopotamia, remained there two years, and moved to Middlefield, settling on the northwest part of lot twenty-nine.

Soon after, Moses and his brother erected a shop, and commenced making hats. At this early day there were not enough heads to make the hatter's business profitable, consequently they converted their shop into a blacksmith shop. Moses continued to work at the business for about forty years.

Darius became homesick, and returned to Massachusetts, remained a short time, and then came to Ohio again, stopping here a short time, and went back a second time to Massachusetts, where he soon died.

Moses resided on his first purchase until about 1850, then sold to I. N. Thompson, and settled again on lot 23, where, on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1875, his wife died, aged seventy-four. Mrs. Morse was the first white child born in the township, and, except two years, she spent her life here. What mighty changes have taken place in the life of this good old mother. Moses, her husband, still lives and enjoys comfortable health for one of his age — now eighty-five. Mrs. Morse was the mother of seven daughters and five sons, all now alive except one daughter, who died in infancy.

Fabiain Beard and Alice Tomlinson were married by the Rev. Luther Humphrey, November 19, 1819, and, a few years after, settled on lot thirty-one. He was a deacon of the Presbyterian church, which was organized quite early in our history. When there was no preaching, Deacon Beard always took charge of the meetings and Sunday-schools, and he was forward in all moral and religious enterprises. He lived on the lot he first settled on for thirty years, sold to G. S. Tolles, and emigrated to Iowa, and there spent the remainder of his life.

Sometime in 1820, a family by the name of Evarts came from the State of New York, and settled in Middlefield, on lot forty-one. The family consisted of Hubbard Evarts, his wife, Parnelle, and their children, Esther, Lydia, Henry, Sally, Elbert, Philo, Betsey Ann, and Hannah. Mr. Evarts resided where he first settled until 1829, when he was taken with small-pox, and, after a few days of great suffering, died, at the age of forty. His widow lived on the homestead until her family were all married, when she lived with her daughter, Lydia Wilson, until 1853, when she died, while on a visit to her daughter, in Delaware county, Ohio, September to, 1823, aged seventy.

Esther, their oldest daughter, married Horace Fowler, settled in Burton, remained there a short time, and, in 1824, bought out Clark Robinson, on lot forty-nine, in Middlefield; resided there five or six years, and sold to Peter Nichols; moved to lot thirty-four, and went into the business of raising silk, feeding the worms, etc. Getting tired of this, he sold to Philander Grant, and moved to Delaware county, Ohio, where he died, and his widow became the wife of Mr. Kelvy, a Baptist minister. Lydia Evarts was married to Solomon Wilson. Henry Evarts married Ann Hall, of Oberlin, and went as a missionary to the island of Jamaica, where he labored ten years, and died in 185o. Sally married Clinton Butler, and moved to Perry, Ohio. Philo and Albert both married in Delaware, Ohio. Betsey Ann married Winfield Gilson. Hannah married Lyman Reynolds, and went to Mesopotamia.

Thomas Wilson and his wife, Abigail, settled on lot forty-one in 1821. Their children were Edna, Lyman and Solomon. They emigrated from the State of New York to Pennsylvania, thence to Youngstown, Ohio, and thence to Middlefield.

HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 731

About four years before this, a man by the name of Dickinson had built a cabin on this lot, and soon left going, no one knew where. Solomon married Lydia Evarts four years after coming here, and built a house on a part of his father's lot. The dwelling of the father was burned with all their goods, and be went to live with his son. The mother died July, 1836, and father, Wilson, died May, 1852, aged eighty-six.

Lyman lived with his brother about eight years, and while chopping a little way from the house, a limb fell and struck him on the head, and injured him so that he died in three days.

Edna married Anson Messinger, moved to Windham, Ohio, and died about 1856. Solomon took charge of the farm, maintained his aged parents, smoothing their journey of life, and ministered to their wants with a generous and filial care. Solomon and his wife raised ten children, and only six of them are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson early connected themselves with the Baptist church when that church was organized in town, and continued to walk as consistent and conscientious members until the death of Mr. Wilson July 4, 1871, aged seventy. The widow is living at this date, a member of the same church in good standing, and respected by all who know her.

Darius Robinson was married to Maria Clark June 16, 1820, by Otis Russell, justice of the peace, and settled on number forty-nine, remaining in town but a short time. His brother, Clark Robinson, settled on the same lot, resided there about four years, and sold to .Horace Fowler, and moved to Russell, where he spent the remainder Of hrs days, and where some of his descendants still live.

Joseph Tucker and Polly Carlton were married by Rev. Woodworth, November 14, 182o, and some time after, settled on the east part of lot number two, resided there a few years, sold to Wanton Hathaway, and settled on lot number nine, where a man by the name of Beach had made a beginning, but where he went to, or whence he came, is not known. Mr. Tucker remained here but a short time, sold out, and moved to Claridon.

Some time, about 1820, Otis Russell married Laura Carlton, and settled on the lot he bought of Wallace in 1809. Esquire Russell resided on this lot, after he married, sufficient time to raise three children, but, as prosperity did not smile upon his labors, and, failing to suitably provide for his family, his wife parted from him, and he was compelled to sell his farm. He sold the north part, one hundred acres, to John Sweeney : the middle, seventy-five acres, to Reuben Scoville; the south part, twenty-seven acres, to R. C. Walden. This comprised the whole of his first purchase. He was not long in wasting all of his means, and, for the last few years of his life, he was forced to earn his living by daily labor. Mr. Russell was the leading officer, from 1814 to 1823, holding the office of justice of peace during that time, and meted out even and exact justice to all who left a cause to his judgment, being a man by nature well endowed. Ole died in 1841, aged fifty-two. The wife, from whom he was separated, is, at this date (1878), living with the society of Shakers, in Warrensville.

Isaac Chatfield moved into town and settled on lot forty, coming from Connecticut, with his wife and children, Lucius, Albert, Almira, Levi, Nathan, Ruthann, Charles, Charlotte, Maryette, LaFayette, and Georgianna. When he settled in town he was considered quite wealthy, for those times, by the people. He paid down, or nearly so, for about three hundred acres of land, and, about 1833, he sold, to Lathrop Moultrop one-half of his purchase. Mr. Chatfield erected a large two-story house, took an active part in town politics, and, having attended college, and being one of the best readers, he read sermons, and, after the organization of the Episcopalian church, he conducted the services, in the absence of the minister; also, he taught school severe winters. After, the children were all married off, the parents resided in that township until 186o,

732 - HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO.

when they sold to Ozro and Orlow Newcomb. They removed to• Ridgeville, Ohio, and have since died.

Josephus Hinkston settled in the township, on lot thirty, emigrating from Hudson, Ohio. He married, for his second wife, Mrs. Abigail Gates, the mother, then, of fourteen children. Mr. Hinkston and Mrs. Gates were married March 14, 1822, and they raised two children, Josephus and Harmon. Mr. Hinkston's family, by his first wife, were; Harlow, Laura, Heman, Betsey, Philena, Rozilla, Zada, Nelson, Danford, and Sally Ann. Mr. Hinkston and wife were the parents of twenty-seven children: Soon after settling on lot thirty, he sold to Isaac Betts, and settled on lot forty-eight, and lived there until about the time of his death, at the age of eighty-nine; his wife died about eight years later, aged eighty-four.

John Thompson and Jerusha Russell were married by Otis Russell, justice of the peace, Januaray 3, 1822, and soon after settled on lot twenty-one, previously occupied by Abel Crampton, resided there until about 1827, sold to Enoch Alden, again settled on lot nineteen, and resided there until the summer of 1832, when he died, at the age of thirty-three.

Some time about 1821 or '22, Randall Dean settled on lot forty-nine. It is. not known where he was from, or to what place he moved. It is known that he lived in the township more than twenty years, and that he was very deaf.

In the summer of 1823, Isaac Thompson sickened, and died after a residence of a little over twenty-four years in a new country, and most of that time in an unbroken wilderness. Enduring hardships and privations almost unheard of in any country, he quietly fell asleep in death, honored and respected by all who knew him. At the time he settled in the Genessee country, it was very new as also was his sojourn on the Ohio river, at Charlestown, Virginia, in an almost unbroken wilderness. The same is true of his stay in Mentor, and of his final settlement in Middlefield when all things were in the primeval state. Mr. Thompson was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and connected with the body guard of General Washington. He drew a pension from the government, and to obtain his money he was obliged to travel all the way to Pittsburgh for each installment, but with all the trouble it was a great help to him in his old age. At the time of his death he was seventy-two years old. His widow survived him about nineteen years. We considered grandmother Thompson, one of the most useful women that ever lived in the township. By the sickness in her own family and amongst neighbors, she acquired considerable knowledge of the medicinal properties of roots and herbs, barks, etc., which grow in the woods. She was useful as a nurse, and also, as a physician. In those early times there were but few doctors, and those not the best, grandmother had many calls, both in town and out of town, for her fame as a nurse had extended far and near. Perhaps, no woman that ever lived in our town or ever will live here, so much endeared herself to all the people of the town as this good old lady. She died in i842, without an enemy in the world, and aged seventy-eight.

John Robb settled in town in 1825, emigrating from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The family were John Robb and his wife, with William, Betsey, James, Jackson, and Harvey. They settled on lot fifty. Some time after they settled, the son, James, died, and a year later, the father died, leaving quite a family for the mother to care for, and not much property; however, she proved equal to the emergency, raising her family to men and women, and accumulating property. She died on the homestead in 1850, at the age of seventy-five, and had been the mother of eight sons and three daughters. Two of the daughters married before they left Pennsylvania. Betsey became the wife of Augustus Rose, and lived many years in Burton.

HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 733

One of the daughters married William Halliday, and came to this town in $27 and settled on the south part of lot fifty. They both died on their place about twenty years later; he in 1848, and his wife three years earlier. They were the parents of nine children, only two of whom are living.

Jesse Clements was an early settler in our town, beginning on lot forty-four, and building a saw-mill on Swine creek. He lived on the place about twenty feats, sold out, and moved to Allegan county, Michigan, where he was killed by one of his sons, who was deranged, or partially so, the son doing the bloody deed with an axe, for which he was sent to prison, where he soon died. Another son started for California, and got as far as the plains, and was never again heard from.

I find, in the list of electors for 1821, the names of Samuel Squire and Daniel Burke, and as I am unable to find anything about their families, it is presumed they were young men without families, and remained in town but a short time. J. W. Richardson was a citizen and voter here in 1825, and probably went to Claridon, about six miles north of Middlefield, on the State road.

Edwin Moffett, settled on lot thirty-four, in 1829; resided there with his family, five or six years; sold to Moses Fansler, and went to Iowa.

About the same time, a family of Campbells settled on lot thirty-seven, now owned by Benjamin Long. The names of the children, were Charles, John, William, Mary and Andrew. The parents died—Mrs. Campbell, very suddenly —being found dead in her bed. After a reisdence of fifteen years, the children sold out, and it is not known where they now live.

About 1829, William Baird and Evander Jones settled, the latter, on lot twenty-eight. Mr. Baird, on lot twenty-eight. Mr. Baird, on lot twenty-seven. After a few years residence, Mr. Baird moved to Mesopotamia. Mr. Jones, to Van Wert, Ohio.

The first school-house built in the east part of the town, was built about 1830, and the first teacher in it was Electa Richmond.

The house built by Bazil Cahoe, at the head of Wells' and Thompson' mill-pond, after Cahoe left town, was used for a school and meeting house, for quite a number of years. Mary Burrows, of Troy, was about the first teacher in this house, and a man by the name of Savage, early taught here. Also, John Thomas and Paul Clapp, an early settler in Huntsburgh, and many, whose names are forgotten. A missionary, Joseph Badger, was the first man that ever preached in town.

CHURCHES.

Two men, by the names of Charles and Ewing, missionaries, belonging to the Methodists, preached here as early as 1810 or 1812. Another, John Bayer, preached here very early in our history; he was a Bible Christian.

Reverend Pepoon, a Presbyterian, was also one of our pioneer preachers.

The first regular church organized in town, was the Presbyterian. The records of the church, in the hands of C. Goodwin, are from 1830 to 1865, and show that the church was organized January twenty-third, 1830 the ministers present, were John Barrett and Joseph Pepoon. A part of the records read : "The following persons, members of different churches, appeared, and at their desire and request, were examined according to the rules of Presbytery, and constituted into a regular church of Christ, to-wit: Thomas Wilson, Abigail Wilson, Fabian Beard, Alice Beard, Susan Robb, William Hallidday, Mary Halliday, Evander Jones, Cynthia Jones, John Campbell, Jenette Campbell, Charles Campbell, William Campbell, Andrew Campbell. They having presented letters from the churches to which they respectively belong.

"Deacon Fabian Beard was chosen deacon of the church. The twenty- fourth Lord's day, Rev. J. Barrett, preached with us, and administered the Lord's Supper."

734 - HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO.

Some of the first meetings of the church were in private dwellings, an d school-houses. Brother J. Barrett preached once in two or four weeks, and about 1836, they built their church edifice, at the Center.

The first church edifice erected in the township was the Episcopalian, just west of Thompson's corners, being built in the year. 1829. The names of members, as we have them, are: James Thompson and wife, James Heathman and wife, Benjamin Wells, Jesse Bishop and wife, Eli Fowler, Isaac Chatfield and wife, Enoch Alden and wife. Rev. Brion preached for the church a considerable time in the early history.

The First Baptist society organized about 1836, the members of that denomination in Parkman and Middlefield forming the church. The following are the names of the Middlefield branch: Solon Gilson and wife, William Beard and wife, Horace Fowler and wife, Solomon Wilson and wife, Mrs. Parnel Evarts, Mrs. Lois Fowler of Burton, Mr. Branch and wife of Mesopotamia, Amaziah Townley and wife of Huntsburgh. They built a log house near the center of the township, and occupied it a short time, and then purchased the Presbyterian house and used it until a few years since.

The Congregational church purchased the Episcopalian house about 1856, and sold it again, after a few years, to the Wesleyan Methodists.

The Episcopal Methodists organized their church about 1834, and built an edifice about 1840. It remains the property of the society, and stands about eighty rods east of Thompson's corners.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

The following are the names of the proneer officers of the township:

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

Isaac Thompson, the first justice of the peace, elected in 1805.

James Thompson, elected in 1808, served two terms.

Otis Russell, elected in 1814, served three terms.

John Young, elected in 1823, served two terms.

James Thompson, elected in 1827, served three terms.

John Thompson. elected in 1820, served until he died, 1832.

H. L. Bishop, elected in October, 1832, served until he resigned, 1840.

John Bower, elected in 1836.

Abner E. Gilson, elected in 1830, served two terms.

Emery Goodwin, elected in 1841, served three terms.

Almond Nichols, elected in 1843, served three terms.

R. G. Porter, elected in 1832, served three terms.

The first written record of township election for Batavia was in the spring of 1818. This election was at the residence of John Johnson, and by the names of persons, appears to have been for the territory of Huntsburg, as well as Middlefield. The officers of the day were: Abner Clark, esq., chairman; James Thompson and Stephen Pomeroy, judges of election. The officers elected were:

Paul Clapp, - Town Clerk.

Abner Clark, - Trustee

James Thompson, - Trustee.

Simeon Moss, - Trustee

Abner Clark, Overseer of the Poor

Calvin Fuller, - Overseers of Poor.

Paul Clapp, - Lister.

J. B. Bishop, - Appraiser.

SUPERVISORS

Jesse B. Bishop,

Simon Moss,

William Thompson,

Stephen Pomeroy,

John Randall,

HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 735

Moses Townley, - Fence Viewers.

John Young, - Fence Viewers

Stephen Pomeroy, - Treasurer.

Benjamin Wells, - Constable.

On the twenty-ninth of July after this election, B. Wells, constable, was ordered by the overseers of the poor, in the name of the State of Ohio, to notify John Angers, Roswell Manchester and John McCoy to leave the township of Batavia, forthwith. This is the first instance of warning the poor out of this township, of which we have a record. Manchester and family moved to Newbury,

or Russell, a few years later, and Angers and McCoy became a town charge in 1834, when Orrin Newcomb was paid one dollar and a half for two weeks board, and fifteen cents for one pound of tobacco, two pairs of trowsers, and two shirts for McCoy, all amounting to five dollars and twenty-five cents. April 21, 1834, paid Thomas Young sixty-six cents per week for keeping the township poor.

To give the readers an idea of the disposition made of the poor in those early times, we transcribe the following record: "Batavia township, April 14th. Met at Tames Thompson's hotel, and posted notices that we would sell Angers, a township pauper, to the lowest bidder, for his support the ensuing year. Sale on the twenty-fourth of April. Orrin Peck and Enoch Alden, overseers of poor." James Thompson seems to have been the lowest bidder—seventy-five cents per week and other necessary expenses. He was sold to him for the year.

Let us go back to our township record of 1818. Benjamin Wells was paid sixty-two and a half cents fees, as constable, for notice on the poor, and one dollar and twenty cents for collecting tax ; Abner Clark, overseer of the poor and trustee, two dollars and sixty-two cents and a half; Simeon Moss, two dollars; James Thompson, two dollars; Paul Clapp, clerk, one dollar and seventy-five cents; Stephen Pomeroy, treasurer, thirty-seven and a half cents. The year's expenses tot township officers being ten dollars and fifty-seven cents. In July, 1818, the trustees met and laid the following tax on personal property, subject to county rates: on each stallion, three dollars; each gelding, mare or filley, thirty cents; each head of neat cattle, ten cents; for the purpose of opening, clearing and repairing the roads and highways of the township, and for other expenses of the township, one half of the above rates on each animal. A copy was to be made out and delivered to the constable in twenty days.

In the spring of 1819 Samuel Russell was selected for grand juror, and Asa Church and Calvin Fuller, petit jurors. There were jurors selected for three years in advance, at the same time: 1820, Ebenezer Clark, grand juror, and Benjamin Wells, petit juror; 1821, Daniel Clark, grand juror, and Simeon Stodard, petit juror; 1823, Calvin Fuller, grand juror, and Ambrose Perkins, petit juror.

At the spring election of 1819, the following were the names of the officers chosen:

Paul Clapp, - Clerk.

TURSTEES:

James Thompson,

Abner Clark,

Daniel Clark,

Simeon Stoddard, - Overseers of Poor.

Reuben Scoville, - Overseers of Poor.

Simeon Moss, - Fence Viewers.

James Harper, - Fence Viewers.

Paul Clapp, - Lister of Taxable Property.

William Thompson, - Appraiser of Property.

Stephen Pomeroy, - Treasurer.

Guy Carlton, - Constable.

736 - HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY OHIO.

Supervisors

Benjamin Wells,

Reuben Scoville,

Ambrose Perkins,

Guy Carlton,

Simeon Moss,

Daniel Townsley,

Ebenezer Clark,

What is the present township of Huntsburg, and the township of Middlefield, elected their officers together under the name of Batavia, until, and including, the spring election of 1821. The offrcers chosen at that election were:

John Young, - Clerk.

Trustees

James Thompson,

Reuben Scoville,

Simeon Moss,

Overseers of Poor.

Abner Clark,

Calvin Fuller,

Fence Viewers

William Reed,

Moses Hutchins

Isaac Chatfield, - Lister.

James McElroy, - Appraiser.

Otis Russell, - Treasurer.

Constables

Joseph M. P. Clark,

Randall Dean,

Directly after this election, the voters of Huntsburg withdrew, and, on the sixteenth of April, the same year, the trustees filled by appointment the offices made vacant in Batavia. The first State election of which we have a record was on the ninth day of October, 1821. Below are the names of voters: Benjamin Wells, John Young, Isaac N. Gilson, Ashbel Crampton, Otis Russell, James Thompson, Christopher Cook, James Heathman, Isaac Thompson, Reuben Scoville, Russell Davis, Moses Hutchins, John Thompson, Wm. Thompson, Moses Moss, Silas Young, Daniel Brainard, Clark Robinson, J. B. Bishop, Samuel Butler, D. Crampton, Calvin Fuller, Randall Dean, fin Newcomb, Samuel Squire, Theophilus Stone, John Johnson, Daniel Burgess, Darius Rob- inson. John Young and Isaac N. Gilson were clerks, and James Thompson and Otis Russell were judges, of this election.

Samuel W. Phelps, for State Senator - 29 votes.

Eleazer Hickox, for Representative - 29 votes.

Eleaser Paine, for County Auditor - 27 votes.

Ralph Cowles, for County Auditor - 2 votes.

Daniel Kerr, for County Commissioner - 26 votes

Ralph Cowles, - 3 votes

The following is a list of township officers chosen in the spring of 1822, this being the first election since Huntsburg withdrew:

John Thompson, - Clerk.

Trustees

James Heathman,

Jesse B. Bishop,.

John Young,

Overseers of the Poor.

Joseph Clark,

 Darius Robinson,

Reece C. Young, - Lister.

Darius Robinson, - Appraiser.

Reece C. Young, - Constable.

William Thompson, - Treasurer.

Fence Viewers

Moses Hutchins,

Ashhel Crampton,

HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 737

Supervisors

Randall Dean,

Isaac N. Gilson,

Otis Russell,   .

Christopher Cook,

Russell Davis,

Clark Robinson,

BUSINESS.

Samuel Peffers was the pioneer merchant in this place. His brother, James Peffers, of Burton, furnished a small lot of goods, which were put up in the west part of the house built by Isaac Thompson, for a hotel, and occupied in part by his widow. This house stood upon the site of Patterson White's present residence. Mr. Peffers commenced trade here about 1833. After one or two years William Winters took possession of the same building, and, after trading there one year, he built the store on the northwest corner, now standing, and opposite the present hotel building. This store was completed in 1835, and in 1837 he took a partner by the name of John B. Harrison, who, after a time, bought enters' interest, and continued the business twelve years; then sold to Thompson, he to Tracy & Thompson, they to Clark & Upson, who sold to Heathman, and he to H. L. Bishop, who sold to the present occupant, E. L. Ford.

Joseph Clark was our first resident physician. He settled on lot one, about 1822. He lived there several years, but the time cannot be definitely stated. The place was known as "Dr. Clark's Hill," and is still called so by the old settlers. Dr. John Cox was quite an early settler; he practiced with the Thompsonian school, was a very skillful physician, but made too free use of liquor, which shortened his days.

When our township was first organized it was named Batavia, and was so called until 1841. The records for the spring of that year have the name Batavia, and in July, of the same year, it was called Middlefield, its present name.

MILITARY ROSTER.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Daniel Gilson, sr.,

Samuel Donaldson.

SOLDIERS OF 1812.

Benjamin White, sr.,

James Thompson,

Bennett Heathman,

Joseph Johnson,*

Daniel Gilson, jr.

Joseph Hinckston,

Guy Carlton,* 

Moses Morse,

Isaac Gilson,

Silas Young,

Isaac Thompson,*

James Thompson. sr..

James Heathman, sr.

Jonathan Heathman

William M. Heiges.

Jonathan Headman. - 15

MEXICAN WAR.

Carvin Davis,

George Gilson - 2

*Appear in Burton list.

738 - HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO.

WAR FOR THE UNION.

SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

1861-Daniel Rhodes, dead,

1861-J. A. Young.

1861-Frank Arnold. - 3

SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

1861-David Martin.

1861-John A. White, prisoner at Andersonville.

1861-Ozro Collins. - 3

SEVENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

1861-Charles T. Glendening. 

1862-L. D. Gates.

1862-C. G. Russell.

1861-R. W. Bower,

1861 - David Morse. 

1862-Russell Stone.

1861 - D. W. Waters.

1861 -R. S. Bower; dead.

1861 - D. W. White. 

1862- S. S. White.

1861 - Frank Smith.

1861-Samuel Vance.

1861-Geo. Baker; dead.

1861 - Seneca Tracy.

1861 George Brown. 

1862-W. H. Crittenden.

1861 - Geo. W. Bower ; re-enlisted in 1864, in the 179^th O. V. I.

1861-Wallace Brown; dead.

1862-W. 0. Johnson.

1862-Harvey Wright. 

1861 - W. J. Grant.

1862 - Hezekiah Sperry; prisoner at Libby

1861-W. H. Bower; dead.

1862 - Henry Tracy

1862-W. W. Fowler; dead.

1861- James Bishop; dead. Appears in Burton list - 26

FOURTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY.

1861-D. W. Ensign; dead. - 1

TWENTY-THIRD OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

1861-E. Leach, enlisted from Middlefield and credited to Burton

1861- L. F. Gilson; dead. - 2

FORTY-FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

1862- Burnard Patchin; dead. 

1862 . J. B. Johnson; dead.

1862 - Charles Gray; dead.

1862 - James White; dead.

1864-Ernest, Johnson.

1862 - Joseph Hill; dead.

1864 - Elliott Johnson; dead. 

1861- John L. Bowers; re-enlisted,

1861-Edward Morse; re-enlisted,

1861 - Leroy Bosley; re-enlisted,

1862- Erastus Gray; dead.

1862-M. L. Hamilton.

1862 - George Bosley; dead.

1861-Milton Worden; dead.

1861-Henry Buell.

1861 - P. A. Bower; re-enlisted,

1863-Henry Gray

1862-Palmer Patchin.

1861 -Harvey Belden; killed at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee

1861-Philo Tisdale.

1861 - H. W. Johnson; appears in Burton list.

1861 - Harmon Hinkston.

1862-William White; dead - 23

EIGHTY-SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

1863-A. C. Bower; re-enlisted in the 8th 0. V. I., 1865

1863-C. M. Pierce; re-enlisted in the 177th 0. V. I. , 1864 - 2

EIGHTY-SEVENTH IND. VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

1862-B. F. Bower; dead.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

1862-D. C. Boner; killed at Chickamauga,September 4, 1863.

1862-H. N. Steadman.

1862 - John Auxer.

1862 - Gilbert Cook.

1862 - Stephen Auxer.

1862-T. W. Porter; dead. - 6

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIRST OHIO NATIONAL. GUARD.

1864-A. E. Grant.

1864--Lyman Wilson; dead.

1864 - Abraham Rhodes; dead,

1864 - L. G. Pierce.

1864 - Augustus Moffet.

1864 - M. J. Johnson

1864 - B. F. Thompson.

1864 - Madison Adams,

1864 - Clinton Tracy; dead.

1864 - 0. N. Glendening.

1864 - Edwin Bishop.

1864 - 0. P. Smith.

1864 - Earl Talcott; appears in Burton list; enlisted from Middlefield

1864 - R. B. Smith.

1864 - W. S. Hodges

1864 - Goodwin Tolles.

1864 - Warren Bishop.

1864 - John A. Boner.

1864 - J. A. Pierce. 

1864 - W. S. Johnson.

1864 - J. A. Pierce

1864 - W. W. Fowler.

1864 - John Adams.

1864 - George Ketchum.

1864-John W. Johnson. - 24

TIME AND REGIMENT UNKNOWN.

A. E. White

Isaac Little.

Daniel Ketchum

John Patchin.

HISTORY OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO - 739

Edward Alden

John Stone, jr.

Edgar Worden; dead. 

Justus Townsley.

Eli Rhodes; dead.

Robert Davis; dead.

Edgar Belding;. U. S. A.

Robert Phillips.

Freeman Downing

S. R. Thompson. - 14

Total - 105

Besides the above enlisted soldiers, Middlefield furnished to the government the following named mechanics.

Enoch Slitor

Lucius Hollenbeck,

Moses Bower,

Simeon Bundy,

Eli Bower,

George Stone. - 6

Total Number - 130

Revolution - 2

War of 1812 - 13

Mexican War. - 2

1861-War for the Union - 105

Mechanics, 1861 - 6

Total Number 130

The oldest soldier, from Middlefield, in the war for the Union, was Erastus Gray, being sixty years of age when he enlisted; the youngest was A. C. Bower, aged fifteen years.

The family of John Bower furnished five enlisted soldiers and one mechanic,

and that of James Johnson furnished five enlisted soldiers for the war.

The above list was gotten up by John L. Bower, and if there be any mistakes they should be overlooked, as he spent much time and took great pains to get the

list as perfect as it is.

The family of John Bowers not only furnished brave soldiers, but the sons

have been active workers in the preparation of the military roster of their own township.