HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 317

BRIGHTON.

BRIGHTON consists of tract seven, and portions of tracts six and eight, in range nineteen of the original Western Reserve. It is upon the extreme west of the county, and is bounded upon the north by Camden, east by Wellington, south by Rochester and west by the township of Clarksfield, Huron county. The soil in the northern part is clay, principally, but in the southern portion a gravelly soil is found. The surface is more uneven than that presented to the eye in most of the southern townships of Lorain county, the west branch of the Black river having cut its way through the territory from a point near the southwest corner of the township to the eastern boundary, where it emerges about one mile south of the Camden line. Its course is very irregular, and its stream has left broad and very fertile bottom lands, which are as good for the general purposes of farming as any in the county.

THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS

of the lands now included in Brighton were Lemuel Storrs, Ephraim Root, James Ross, Peter Brooks, John Call, William Shaw, George Black and Pennewel Cheney. Tract seven, extending through the center of the township from east to west, and containing four hundred acres, was the property of Root & Ross. It was by them sold to Harmon Kingsbury and others, and was the portion first put into the market for sale to the settlers. Storrs, the owner of tract eight and the several owners of tract six sold to, or exchanged lands with, Tuckerman Brothers, of Boston, Norton and Stocking of Hartford, Connecticut, Frederick Hamlin of Berkshire, Massachusetts, Deming and Alford. Levi Bliss,of Massachusetts, bought out Tucker- man Brothers. The surplus lands upon the west side of the township were originally owned by Goodrich of Hartford, and several others. Brighton is what is known as an equalizing township. Its name was bestowed by Abner Loveland at the time of organization.

INDIANS

were quite numerous when the first settlers came in and all accounts agree as to their friendliness to, and fair treatment, with few exceptions, of the whites. They were of the Seneca and Wyandot tribes. Before the time of settlement, these Indians were in the custom of camping upon what they called the "big bottom," upon the farm which is now the property of Leonard H. Loveland, but after the first settlers arrived they seldom had an encampment within the territory now included in the township. They traded very frequently with their pale faced brothers, bringing fine venison hams, which they were always delighted to exchange for bread or pork. Leonard Loveland remembers seeing with them, upon one occasion, a very old, though remarkably well preserved man, who was said by the Indians to have seen the sun of one hundred and forty-five summers. It is probable that this was not far from being correct, for events that the Indian spoke of as occurring in the

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years of his young manhood were known to have a place more than a hundred years old in the history of the country.

SETTLEMENT.

The pioneer of Brighton was Abner Loveland, Jr. He entered the forest alone in the fall of 1820, with the intention of becoming a permanent resident, and built upon lot one, in tract seven, the first human habitation, save the huts and wigwams of the Indians, in the territory included a few years later in the limits of Brighton. He carried upon his back the poles of which he built his cabin. In the spring of 1821, he started for the east, but a great snow storm made it impossible for him to pursue his journey, and he stopped in Grafton, where he remained until fall, working for various settlers. In the fall he again prepared to go to his home, but, receiving a letter from his father, saying that he had bought land in Brighton and wanted him to begin olearing it, he went back to the place which he had originally selected and prepared for the coming of his father and the family by erecting a log house. In July of 1821, came the father, Abner Loveland, Sr., his wife Lois, four daughters, Sophia, Lovina, Pamelia, Minerva and a son Leonard H. with his wife Margaret Whitlock. They made this journey, with an ox team, in six weeks. The Lovelands were natives of Otis, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Abner, Jr., the first arrival, made the journey from Brunswick, New Jersey, upon foot. His wife was Paima De Wolf, and he had by her five children, three of whom are now living, Celestia A. in Wellington, Corelia J. (Mrs. D. Reamer) in Oberlin, and Franklin in New York. Abner Loveland, Jr., removed from Brighton to Wellington in 1834, and, his wife dying, he married some time afterwards, Mrs. Anna Kimmel. He is still living, at the age of eighty-two years, being born in 1796. Leonard H. Loveland still lives upon. lot one, tract seven, a few rods from the site of the first log house built in the township, and is eighty-four years of age. His children, beside Whitlock, who died when a babe, were Cordelia, born November 12, 1823, and died March 3, 1852, and Emeline Margaret, born March 4, 1853. Mr. Loveland, like his brother, is living with his second wife, and he is her second husband. Her maiden name was Fanny Allen. She was from Vermont, and her husband facetiously claims that she was a connection of Ethan Allen, "the Green mountain boy." Abner Loveland, Sr., and his wife have been dead for many years. Both were born in 1764.

The Kingsburys' arrived after Abner Loveland, Jr., and before all the others of this family. Joseph Kingsbury was the second settler. He was the father of Harmon Kingsbury, before mentioned as one of the original owners of the land. He came early in 1821, from Otis, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, bringing his wife, four daughters, one of whom died young, and two sons, Solomon and Austin. One of the daughters married Loren Wadsworth, another Ebel.' W. Hubbard, and Louisa A. married Calvin Roice. Joseph Kingsbury settled on lot thirteen, Solomon on lot ten, and Austin on lot nine—all in tract seven; which, as has been heretofore stated, was the only portion of the lands offered for sale. Harmon Kingbury was never a resident of the township, but was a frequent visitor. Austin Kingsbury reared a family of six children, of whom Mrs. Orrin Hall (Louisa A.) is one. A sister resides in Wellington. William Harvey is in Oberlin.

The next settlers, after the Kingsburys, were the Halls. Avery Hall and wife, and their grown-up sons, Alfred and Orrin, with Selden, who was of age soon after corning into the country, emigrated from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1822. Other children in this family were: Erastus, Sarah, Edwin (now in Elyria), Theophilus (in Litchfield), Julia (in Perrysburg), John and William. Avery Hall, upon arriving, settled upon lot two, and his son Alfred on lot six. Selden afterward settled on the same lot; he married a daughter of Luke Whitlock, and removed some years after to Wellington, where he died in 1878. Orrin Hall settled on lot nine, where he still lives. Alfred Hall removed to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Soon after the Halls arrived, a man named Bailey came into the settlement, but made no purchase of land, and remained but a short time. Another squatter came at the same time, but like Bailey left no mark upon the people among whom he had a brief residence, or upon the map of Brighton township.

Horace, John and Joseph Crosby, the latter not of age, and another brother who died quite young, came with their mother soon after the arrival of the Halls, from Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and settled upon lot three. John was married in 1825 to Locitte Sage.

Luke Whitlock came in the spring of 1822, and his brother John, at a later date. They settled upon lot seven. The Whitlocks were from South Brunswick, New Jersey. The family of Luke Whitlock consisted of his wife Elizabeth, a son John, who died early, Ellen, now Mrs. Augustus Fox, residing near the center, and Jane, who married Roswell Smith, and afterwards Seidel]. Hall, now living in Wellington. Luke Whitlock died suddenly and among strangers. He was in Pittsburgh upon his way home and was stricken dead upon the street and buried before his relatives, who left for that city as soon as the sad news reached them, had arrived.

Clark Loomis settled about the year 1825 upon lot twelve, and removed soon after to Chagrin Falls.

Justice Battle, Sr., and wife, and Justice Battle, Jr., and wife were among the first settlers, but the date of their arrival cannot be definitely ascertained. They came from Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts and located upon lot sixteen.

Calvin Roice came into the settlement early enough to be properly classed among the pioneers, though he

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 319

first settled in Wellington. On coming into Brighton he located upon lot ten. He married a daughter of Joseph Kingsbury, by whom he had three children, —Boughton, now in Clarksville, Eunice, in Avon, and Sarah.

There were several who arrived in the township soon after the first settlement was made but who could not be called settlers. Among these was Elijah Fox, a worthy man from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, who came in 1822 and boarded for some time with Leonard H. Loveland. He took up land a number of years afterwards. His son E. S. Fox now resides upon lot eight, in tract seven. David Fox, the aged father of Elijah, was a Methodist exhorter of considerable ability. Daniel Smith came to Brighton in the latter part of 1821 or early in the following year and worked for Joseph Kingsbury.

Of the later settlers we can only speak briefly. After the organization of the township and after the land in tracts six and eight were put into the market, the number of inhabitants rapidly increased. There being no land but that in tract seven, the center tract, offered for sale until 1833, many were deterred from coming into Brighton from apprehension that it would not for many years become a well settled township. It was this fear that led Abner Loveland, the pioneer, to sell out his land and remove into Wellington. It was bought by Daniel Clark, of Litchfield, Connecticut. Albert Niles came into the township between the time of organization and the year 1830. He owned altogether and at different times fifteen farms. — Fisk settled about the same time as Niles. Loren Loveland a brother of Leonard II. and Abner, came in a little later. Dr. Ebel. W. Hubbard and his father who were among the first settlers in La Grange, were residents of this township for a few years, and resided on the Kingsbury farm. James Whipple, of Whitestown, New York, came and located on lot twelve in 1833. Erasmus Judd and wife settled as early as 1832 on lot six, and brought up a family of five children. They were from Litchfield, Connecticut. Isaac Everson. settled in the summer of 1833, upon lot twenty-one. Henry Converse, his wife and five children became residents in 1833, settling upon lot ten. His children were Nelson, Lucinda, Harrison, Maria and Emma (Mrs. Jacob Wheeler, of Rochester). Nelson was drowned in the Black river, having been swept over his saw mill dam in a dug out. He is said to have been a phenomenal swimmer, and his drowning could only be accounted for upon the supposition that he was hurt in some way by his fall. Octavos Gillitt settled upon lot sixteen in the gore, in 1836, and his brother, Geo:ge, near him soon after. .John Dunbar, his son, Simeon, and Harriet, the wife of the latter, came from Wayne county, New York in August, 1835, and located upon lot eight in tract seven, James Humphrey, his wife and three children settled about the same time upon the same lot. They were from Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Philip L. Goss, a native of Winchester, New Hampshire, settled on lot seventeen, in 1836, coming from Brecksville, Cuyahoga county, where he had resided for a short time. He was one of the substantial, influential men of the town, and always prominent in its institutions until his removal in 1878, to Wellington, where he and his wife, Serena, at present reside with their married daughter, Mrs. Dr. Rust. He has a son, Charles P., in Oberlin, and another daughter, Sarah, who married a son of Dr. Beach, of Pittsfield. David Goss, brother of Philip L., arrived in 1842. His sons, Maurice and Otis, reside in Brighton, and his daughters in Illinois, and Huron county, Ohio.

Smith Stocking and Harry Haws came into the township in 1837, the former settling upon lot fifteen, in the gore, and the latter upon the same lot, a little to the north, where D. Johnson located two years later. Wm. Bunce and Samuel Lamb took up farms about the same time, upon lot one in tract seven, building houses upon the east and west road.

Cornelius Seeley came into Avon in 1821, and originally emigrated from Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York. His wife's maiden name was Rachel Smith. They had fourteen children, twelve of whom lived to maturity. H. S., the eldest, settled in Brighton, on lots thirty-one and thirty-two, where he now resides. Morrell E., Anna, and Dwight, his children, now live in Brighton, the first named upon, the Loveland farm.

The earliest settlers of Brighton endured many hardships. Food was for a time exceedingly scarce, and could only be had in small variety. When the wheat was harvested it was often found full of smut, and as there were no machines in those days for cleaning, it, the Smut went into the bread, making it so black that the Indians often refused to eat it. The nearest place where the pioneers could get a grist ground was at Clarksfield. Leonard Loveland was once pursued by wolves while returning from the mill in that place. These pests of every new country were very plentiful. They were not usually regarded as a source of danger, but of annoyance. They would often surround a settler's cabin and make night hideous with their horrible howling. Deer were found in the woods in large numbers, and venison was so common upon the tables at which hard working, hungry men sat down, that it was looked upon with no more favor than pork. As many as fifty deer have been seen in a single herd in Brighton. Enormous flocks of wild turkeys were often met with, during the first few years after the woods were invaded by white men, and all kinds of small game was found in abundance, but most of the pioneers had too much work to do with the ax and plow to spend their time in hunting. There were few who carried the rifle except when the larder was low.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first child born was John, son of Avery and Lucy Hall. He came into the world and into Brigh-

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ton August 26, 1823, and is now living in Wisconsin.

The first death was that of Whitlock Loveland, a nine months old child of Leonard H. and Margaret Loveland. He was born January 2, 1820, and died on the 13th of October. The burial was upon the clearing made by the Lovelands, a few rods south of their log house, and of Leonard Loveland's present home. Other members of the family now lie by the side of the little one for whom the first grave was made. The funeral was attended by only two or three persons beside the family, among them being the Rev. Mr. Parmele, a Baptist minister of Sullivan, who spoke the few words of comfort, and offered the prayer at the grave.

Sometime in 1823, Albert Niles, then of Wellington, and a native of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was married to Sophia, daughter of Leonard H. and Margaret Loveland. The ceremony was performed at Mr. Loveland's log cabin, by Squire Ephriam A. Wilcox, of Wellington, and was witnessed by about twenty or twenty-five persons, or the entire population of the township. In the evening, a substantial supper was served, all present sitting down to the table, which was more sensibly set than those which groan under the weight of modern marriage feasts. Steaming meats, home-made bread, and wholesome vegetables were in abundance, but cakes, confections, and ices, with French names, did not have a place upon the board. The young married couple settled in Brighton, upon lot seventeen, tract seven, where they remained for a number of years. Both have been dead for some time.

The first school was taught by Paima De Wolf, wife of Abner Loveland, after their marriage, and was held in the log house which they occupied. She gave instruction, to the best of her ability, to about a dozen children, and received therefor the sum of six shillings per week. This was previous to 1827. In that year a log school house was built, about three-quarters of a mile east of the center. Polly Warren was the first teacher of the school held in this building. The first frame school school house was built in 1836,-the frame being erected by the free labor of John Dunbar and his two sons, Hosea and Simeon, who took the timber from the woods. It was completed through repeated subscriptions by the citizens, and for several years served as both church and school house, until the Congregational church was built. Brighton is now well abreast of her sister townships in the excellence of her schools, as well as in general improvements.

In the earliest days of the settlement, the pioneers were obliged to go as far as Liverpool to obtain their mail, or to dispatch letters. Afterwards they were able to get their mail in Wellington, and in 1824, or 1825, they had a regular mail, carried by one Boyce. A man by the name of Wyatt carried the first mail that ever went through the township. He came through on the east and west center road on his first trip, March 13, 1821.

Alfred Hall went into service as postmaster at Brighton about 1830. He was only nominally postmaster however, for Ransom Foote, the deputy, had the real work to do, and kept the few letters and papers that came to the settlers at his house near the center, because Hall lived a mile and a half away. Jefferson Whipple is the present postmaster. He was appointed in 1876.

The first store was opened at the center about the year 1839, by Samuel Jones who continued in business some time. A large general store is now kept by Whipple & Hall who are the successors of Richmond & Whipple.

William Battle opened the first hotel in 1850, and kept a well conducted temperance house. George Peasley now offers food and shelter to the wayfarer and the stranger.

The first road of travel through the township was the east and west center road. This was laid out in 1819. The north and south center road was opened ten or twelve years later, and the various roads parallel to these two were laid out at different times as the number of inhabitants increased, and there was demand for new means of communication.

The township has but one cemetery, besides the several private burial places where were laid the remains of the first few persons who died in the settlement. The town cemetery is upon the west side of the road, just a few rods south of the center. The land was donated by Austin Kingsbury in 1845.

The Lovelands, father and sons sowed the first wheat in the fall of 1821. They put in eight acres, and the next summer harvested a wonderful crop. They also planted the first orchard, the trees in which were started from seed brought by them from Massachusetts. Several apple trees were still living, and bore fruit in 1878.

ORGANIZATION.

"The township was organized at the spring election of 1823. Joseph Kingsbury, Avery Hall and Calvin Roice, were elected trustees; Leonard H. Loveland, clerk; Abner Loveland, treasurer; and Abner Loveland, Jr., justice of the peace. There were twelve electors, just about the number of persons required to fill the offices in those days. The township belonged to Lorain, as then formed, but, with other townships, remained attached to Medina county, until the organization of Lorain was completed."*

The following are the township officers of 1878: Clerk, D. M. Hall; treasurer, J. C. Whipple; assessor. L. W. Hart; trustees, E. Anderson, C. D. Stocking, 0. Peabody; justices of the peace, D. M. Hall, 0. A. Johnson; constable, 0. E. Johnson.

THE RELIGIOUS BEGINNING.

In the death of the infant son of Leonard H. and Margaret Loveland, we find the cause of the bereaved

* Boynton.

Residence of James Whipple, Brighton, Lorain Co., Ohio

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parents' conversion, and, were we able to trace the sequence, should doubtless discover, in this taking away of life, the initial impulsion in a long series of causes and effects resultant in great good. There is here an illustration of the mysterious means of Providence. Mr. Loveland and his wife were the first persons to experience religion in Brighton. When their child died they began thinking that they were not good enough to follow him into the future world, and the result was that they accepted the teachings of the Bible as their guide, and tried to conform their lives to its precepts. The first religious service ever held in the township was at the grave of the little one taken from these parents. Not very long afterwards meetings were held in the vicinity, and, in 1823, or the following year, what was known as the Black River circuit was laid out and a Rev. Mr. Coston rode through a number of the townships, preaching wherever he could get together a dozen listeners. As the little clearings in the wilderness became larger and more numerous, the need of religious fellowship was felt by several, and hence, in the fall of 1827, it came about that the class was organized which was the beginning of

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

of Brighton. The church was organized by Rev. A. Brainard, and the preaching which its members attended during the first year of its existence was by Rev. Henry O. Sheldon, who was then traveling the circuit which included this point. Meetings were held at Loveland's and at the center, though most frequently at the former place. The constituent members of this church were: Abner Loveland, Lois his wife, Leonard H. Loveland, Margaret his wife, Pamelia Loveland, Minerva Loveland, Elizabeth Whitlock, Erastus Hall, Sarah Hall and David Fox. Leonard H. Loveland was class leader. As time wore on, the church received accessions, and it was found that the congregation had outgrown the capacity of a dwelling house, and must have a proper place of meeting. Accordingly, a neat but plain structure, the one now in use, was built at the center. The frame was erected in 1850, but on account of sickness of the workmen, and for want of means, it was not inclosed until the following spring; when, by the earnest efforts of T. Hall and E. S. Bidwell and others, the work was carried on to completion. It was dedicated, free from debt, November 6, 1852. The present membership is forty-five, and would be much larger, but many residents of the southern part of the township, of the Methodist denomination, attend the church at Rochester station. The present pastor is Rev. E. A. Warner, and the class leaders, O. Peabody and William Ward. The stewards are D. M. Hall (recording steward), Freeman Green and H. S. Seeley. The following are the trustees of the church property: D. M. Hall, Freeman Green, Simeon Dunbar, William Ward and H. S. Seeley.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

was organized in 1836, and the first meetings were held in the school house east of the center. The original members were: Justice Battle, and his wife Esther, his son's wife Bathsheba, Selden Hall and wife, Joseph Kingsbury, Austin Kingsbury, W. R. Strong and wife, Philip L. Goss, Serena S. Goss and Peter Dickinson. The first regular minister who preached in this church was Rev. Mr. Kellogg, from New York state. Much of the time, the pulpit was supplied by students from Oberlin. The first deacons of the church were Philip L. Goss and W. R. Strong. The society built a church at the center in 1840. The church now has a membership of thirty-five, the only ones upon the roll who were among the first members being Philip L. Goss and his wife. Rev. D. T. Williams is pastor; Lewis Hart and James S. Jones, deacons. The trustees are J. Bennett, Otis Goss and Mark Smith; clerk of the church, Lewis Hart; clerk of the society, Maurice Goss, who is also acting treasurer.

PHYSICIANS.

There is reason to believe that Brighton is at present an unusually healthful place. It has no resident physician. In the past the men of medicine were not numerous. The few who came into the township remained but a short time each, and none of them became so wealthy from their practice as to be able to retire. Dr. Holcomb was the pioneer practitioner, but did not come in until 1848. He was an excellent physician. After a moderately successful practice, extending througli five or six years, he moved away, and his place was taken by a Dr. Gilson, who, after a very short time, was followed by Dr. William Elder, whose practice in the township was concluded in about three years. Dr. Cannan, now of Camden, practiced in Brighton for a few months.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

Brighton is essentially a farming township. It has no manufacturing interests save those which are commonly found in the townships of Lorain county, viz:

CHEESE FACTORIES AND SAW MILLS.

The Brighton cheese factory, owned by Goss & Jones, is located upon the center road, a short distance, perhaps a quarter of a mile south from the center. It receives the milk of about five hundred cows, which is mostly manufactured into cheese. Only a small quantity of butter is made. The factory was first projected by Goss & Company, in 1867, and after running a number of years was burned down. The present factory building was erected in the season of 1874-5.

Horr & Warner, of Wellington, have a cheese factory on the town line road, adjoining Wellington, and nearly a mile from the southern boundary of the township, on lot thirty-one. They receive the milk

322 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

of about four hundred cows. This factory was started in 1872, by William D. Miner.

The Centennial cheese factory, so named from the fact that it was started in 1876, is the property of Henry Wood, who also owns the farm upon which it is located. This is what is known as a "full cream factory," and the proprietor does not manufacture any butter. Not far from three hundred and fifty cows are milked for this factory. Mr. Wood is a native of Cheshire, England.

The first saw mill was built by a man named Foote, some time previous to 1825, upon the western branch of Black river, and was washed away by a freshet. The next was upon the same stream and was the property of Solomon Kingsbury and Nelson Converse. There is now one steam saw mill in the township, owned and run by Otis Goss. It is located south of the center, upon lot sixteen.

TEMPERANCE.

As early as 1836, Brighton organized a temperance society, with the usual pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors (except wine and cider). Philip L. Goss was president of said society. A new impulse was given in the year 1841, under the name of the Washingtonian movement. Reformed drunkards related their experience in the degrading habit of drink, and of their new life in reformation, inspiring with hope the fallen, declaring total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks the only safeguard of sobriety. First among this class of reformers was one Captain F. Turner. Deacon Philip Goss was president. At the next annual meeting John V. Whitlock was elected president. In the summer of 1843, the county quarterly meeting was held at Brighton, Mr. Cheney, of Elyria, president. The Rev. Ansel Clark, of Huntington, and Mr. VanWagoner, were the principal speakers. At the close of the lecture, Mr. VauWagoner gave a description of how a person would act in a fit of delirium tremens. At the next election, in the year 1845, H. B. Dunbar was elected president of said society. He served five years, and obtained four hundred and thirty-seven signatures to the pledge. Deacon Eber Jones was next president of the society; and ever since, there has been, and is now, a temperance organization in Brighton. Although it has not been able to entirely suppress intemperance, yet its influence has kept the township free from the unmitigated curse of a saloon or place where intoxicating liquors, with the exception of cider, could be bought. The selling of cider to be drunk, is not reputable in Brighton.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Wheat, 238 acres 3,608 bushels.

Potatoes, 33 " 2,799 "

Oats, 360 " 14,735 "

Orchards, 149 " 760 "

Corn, 462 " 31,495 "

Meadow, 1,470 " 1,480 tons.

Butter 46,568 pounds.

Cheese 446,717 "

Maple Sugar 1,525 "

Population in 1870 508

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

Hayes 128

Tilden 27

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JAMES WHIPPLE

was born in the town of Pomfret, Windham county, Connecticut, March 16, 1811. His father, Charles Whipple, was born at North Providence, Rhode Island, April 28, 1779. His mother, Harriet Whipple, was born at North Providence, Rhode Island, November 14, 1786. In the year 1807, they moved to Pomfret, Connecticut; and in 1815, to Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York., where they resided until death. Charles Whipple died January 16, 1866, aged eighty- six years. Hannah Whipple died December 6, 1863, aged seventy-eight years.

In the 22d year of his age, May 24, 1833, James Whipple came to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, having first bought in Brighton one hundred acres of land, known as the Loomis farm. He has at present over two hundred acres. He was married to Melinda Dunbar, November 13, 1839; she was born at Sandy Lake, Rensselaer county, New York, September 6, 1819. Her father's name was John Dunbar, who was born at Bridgewater, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, June, 1777; he was of Scotch and English descent. He lived with his parents at Bridgewater until he was sixteen years of age; then he moved with them to Grantham, Sullivan county, New Hampshire; and in 1800, he married Sally Annadown, daughter of Joseph and Dorcas Annadown, of Southbridge, Massachusetts; she was born September 29, 1776. He resided at Grantham until February, 1818, and then removed to Sandy Lake. From there, he removed to Ludlow, Windsor county, Vermont, in 1820; and in 1831, he removed to Minerva, Essex county, New York. He came from Mernava to Ohio, the latter part of May, 1835, and located in Brighton, September, 1835, where he resided until his death, January 18, 1838, aged sixty-one years. He was a farmer, and his farm lay about three-fourths of a mile north of the center. Sally Dunbar, wife of John Dunbar, died September 22, 1854, aged seventy-eight years. Melinda was sixteen years of age when her parents removed into Brighton. She had a common school education. Since her marriage she has always resided on the same farm where they now live They have had four children, as follows: Jefferson C. Whipple, born August 18, 1841; Anzonette Whipple, born February 8, 1851; Emma Whipple, born April 2, 1857; Manette C. Whipple, born October 31, 1861. Emma died June 12, 1859, aged two years, two months and ten days; Anzonette died June 17, 1859, aged eight years, four months and nine days. The homestead is situated one and one-half miles from Brighton. The owner early identified himself with the religious and political interests of the town, bearing his share of the common burdens, and sharing in its general prosperity.

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 323

323A - LEONARD H. LOVELAND.

MRS. LEONARD H. LOVELAND.

LEONARD H. LOVELAND

was born in Smithfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, October 3, 1794, and lived with his father, Abner Loveland, until he attained his majority. His education was confined to that of the common schools, but by studing at night, while others slept, he qualified, himself for the honorable calling of teaching, and for two years taught school, with marked success. He then married Margaret V., daughter of Luke and Elizabeth Whitlock. She was born in Connecticut, June 25, 1794; and died August 18, 1855. This union resulted in three children, one son and two daughters, namely : Abner, born January 2, 1821, in South Brunswick, New Jersey ; died October 13, 1821. Cordelia, born November 12, 1823, in Lorain county, Ohio ; died March 23, 1852. Emiline M., born March 4, 1833 ; died October 30, 1874.

Abner Loveland, father of him of who we write, was born in Connecticut, April 18, 1764. He was married to Lois, daughter of Benjamin Hodge. In 1821 he removed with his family to Ohio. There were six children, namely : Dolly, Lovina, Parmelia, Minerva, Luman E., Loring, Luther, Leonard H. and Abner. At Buffalo they took a sister of Mr. Loveland's in their wagon. The brothers and sisters are all deceased, the last brother dying at Wellington, Ohio, March 2, 1879. Abner Loveland died September 6,1847. He was a man of many excellent qualities, and his death was a sad event in the then rather thinly settled country, where he settled, labored and died.

On the 18th, of August, 1855, L. H. Loveland sustained the loss of his wife, which was a sore bereavement to him and the children. For his second wife he married Mrs. Anna Rulison, widow of James Rulison, and daughter of Moses Allen ; a lady very generally esteemed by her acquaintances and friends. Mr. Loveland has followed farming nearly all his life, and has attained the dignity of being considered one of the best practical farmers of Brighton township ; as he is also one of its most substantial citizens. His unswerving personal integrity, and the general rectitude of his life, have gained for him an enviable reputation in the community where he is best known, and where his many qualities of head and heart are duly appreciated.

SELDEN HALL, SR.

Avery Hall, father of Selden, came to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, in the year 1823, being among the pioneer settlers of that town. He was married in Meriden, Connecticut, December 24, 1800, to Miss Sarah Foster. She died in 1803. He was married a second time in Woodbury, Connecticut, September 1, 1805, to Miss Lucy Bacon. She died October 28, 1852. A few years after, he married, for his third wife, Mrs. Leach, she only living three years after this marriage. He died at the age of seventy-four, and was buried in Brighton. He had two children by his first wife, viz: Selden, born September 19, 1801; Alfred born May 21, 1803. His second union was blessed with eleven children, viz: Erastus, born July 28, 1806; Sarah, born November 11, 1807; Edwin, born April 9, 1809; Avery, born February 28, 1812; Lucy, born April 12, 1814; Orrin, born April 5, 1816; Julia, born April 19, 1818; Theophilus, born May 15, 1821; John W., born August 26, 1823; William, born April 11, 1825; Clarissa, born August 22, 1829.

Mr. Selden Hall was born in Meriden, Connecticut, September 19, 1801, and died November 28, 1878. Tn 1822 he, in company with his brother Alfred, traveled on foot from Meriden, Connecticut, to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, preceding his father

324- HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

and family by a year. When they reached their destination, they found but four white families in the township to bid them welcome to an unbroken wilderness, where marked trees were the only guides to distant thoroughfares. He had come for the purpose of farming, and soon settled on a piece of ground one-half a mile west of the center of the town, built a substantial log cabin, and in 1828, he was married to Miss Emily A. Smith, who lived with her widowed mother and brothers on the old Smith farm, on the town line between Wellington and Brighton.

Under the management of this stirring pioneer, and his worthy wife, this forest home began to put on the look of a thriving homestead. They were the parents of five children, viz: Fidelia N., the eldest, born June 11, 1829, was married December 10, 1846, to Jason W. Gillett, the eldest son of Octavus Gillett. He came to Brighton with his father's family, when a boy of twelve years. The fruit of this union was three children. The eldest, Anice M., was born September 12, 1847, and was married on the twentieth anniversary of her mother's wedding day, December 10, 1866, to Howard H. Hall, the second son of Avery Hall. He served his country for more than two years, during the late rebellion, enlisting in the Twelfth Ohio volunteer cavalry, October 13, 1863, and mustered out with the regiment December 15, 1865. They have one child, Charlie M., born October 21, 1870. The second daughter, Minda J., was born August 28, 1851, and was married November 10, 1875, to Robert D. La Dow, youngest son of Abraham La Dow, of Camden. One daughter came to bless this union, Maude A., born June 22, 1878. The third child, Octavus M., was born March 3, 1853, and was married December 10, 1874, to Miss Mary L. Griggs, youngest daughter of John S. Griggs. One daughter was the fruit of this union,-Eda B., born August 6, 1876. The second daughter, Augusta M., was born February 14, 1832, and was married May 4, 1858, to James M. Jones, formerly of Pennsylvania. She died May 14, 1864. At the time of her death, her husband was fighting for his country, being in an engagement on the day of her death. He was a member of the One Hundred and Third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, served three years, and was mustered out with the regiment in June, 1865. She left two boys,-Willie W., born March 3, 1859, and Frank S., born May 8, 1860. The third child, Lorenzo J., was born February 3, 1836, and was married November 25, 1862; to Miss Redia Griggs, eldest daughter of John S. Griggs. He died December 29, 1866, leaving one child,-Horace E., born September 29, 1864. The fourth child, Louisa C., born March 26, 1842, and was married November 29, 1866, to James M. Jones, the former husband of her late sister (Augusta). They have one child, Emily A., born June 27, 1875. The youngest child, Selden S., was born March 26, 1843, and was married May 9, 1866, to Lorinda M., only daughter of Theophilus

He also was a faithful soldier of the rebellion, receiving a severe wound in the shoulder, at the battle of Resaca. Notwithstanding this, he served his three years, and was honorably mustered out with the regiment. He was in the One Hundred and Third Ohio volunteer infantry, a regiment whose record Lorain county may well be proud of. Two sons blessed this marriage,-Eber W., born March 21, 1868, and Eddie E., born February 28, 1871.

On April 24, 1867, Emily, wife of Selden, Sr., died from that dreaded disease, cancer, after protracted suffering for more than a year. April 29, 1868, he married Mrs. Roswell Smith, of Wellington. From that time until his death, he resided at the Smith homestead. He was a faithful husband, a loving father, a warm friend, and a good neighbor. Many an orphan in need has had reason to remember him with gratitude, for his kindly deeds and fitly spoken words. Early in life he made a profession of christianity, and for the past fifty years he has tried to be a faithful follower of his Master, and died with the full assurance of a glorious immortality, retaining his consciousness to the last. The thanksgiving he had planned to keep with dear ones at home, was spent with loved ones gone before.