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CAMDEN.*

THE TOWNSHIP OF CAMDEN is situated in the western side of the county, being town number four, in range nineteen, and was originally included in Brighton and Henrietta. The surface is for the most part level, though in some parts it is rolling, and the land is broken by small streams. The soil is in some places gravelly and sandy, but clay predominates. Running through the township, from south to north, entering at the southwest corner, and leaving at a point near the north and south center road, is the eastern branch of the Vermillion river. There are no other streams of any importance in this territory, but numerous small rills and rivulets brighten the landscape and lend value to the farms.

Like all of the other townships in the nineteenth range, Camden was originally laid off in tracts, and the territory included within its present limits was annexed to other townships for purposes of equalization. These tracts extended from east to west across the range, and were numbered from the south line towards Lake Erie. The township, as at present constituted, contains two tiers of lots (as subdivided) in the northern part of tract number eight and the whole of tracts number nine, ten and eleven, together with the surplus lands lying west of said tracts.

ORIGINAL OWNERS.

In the original drawing of the Western Reserve, tract number nine, was drawn by Lemuel Storrs,

* This history is written, largely, from information furnished by the kindness of Reuben Eddy, Esq.

tract number ten by Nehemiah Hubbard and Joshua Storrs, and tract number eleven by Henry Champion and Lemuel Storrs. When the land was put into the market, tract number eight (or that part of it lying in the present township limits) was the property of Abagail Deming, of Hartford, Connecticut. Philip L. Goss was her agent. Aristarchus Champion, of Rochester, New York, became the proprietor of tract number nine, and he conveyed it, in 1835, to Ezra S. Allen, of Brockport, New York. Cyrus Butler, of Norwalk, Huron county, became the agent of Hubbard. Tract number eleven came into the possession of the heirs of Sylvester Mather, of New York, whose agent was John W. Allen, of Cleveland. The surplus lands on the west side of the township were owned by Homan Ely, of Elyria, and by Washington College of Hartford, Connecticut.

GAME.

Game of the smaller kinds was very abundant before the hunters became too numerous. It cannot be positively stated that any old bears were killed in the township after the settlement was begun; but there is a vague tradition to the effect that Solomon Root and Joseph Ross once found two in a whitewood tree in the southwest part of the town, and killed them. Reuben Eddy discovered three cubs in a tree, and fastening his cap and coat upon the bark to keep them from coming down, he went after his gun and dog, and returning, killed two of them and took the third captive. Only one wolf was killed after the

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settlement of the town. Wild hogs .were frequently met with and killed by the hunters. Moses Pike and Leonard Clark were aroused one night by the outcry that their dog made, and knowing that some animal must be prowling about their cabin, they held a short diseussion, the object of which was to decide who should go out and make an investigation. Clark declined assuming the responsibility, and Pike, seizing a heavy club, used as a fire poker, threw the door open and stepped out, fully expecting to see a bear. He found instead a couple of wild or shack hogs. Swinging his club with tremendous force, he struck one of them a blow which broke the savage brute's back, and then calling to Clark and informing him of the success of the attack, he made an onslaught upon hog number two, but did not kill him. The tusks of the animal killed by the first well-directed blow, measured between three and four inches.

The wild hogs were but little valued for their flesh, and as a general thing the hunters killed them only for the reason that they were savage and dangerous pests. Deer, wild turkeys and raccoons were found in abundance, and made much more palatable food.

SETTLEMENT.

When the first settlement of Camden was made, the territory, at present included in its bounds, belonged to Henrietta and Brighton, the dividing line between those townships being what is now the east and west center road through Camden. As the township was not settled until several years later than those adjoining, the pioneers had no experience with the Indians. The red man had retreated before the vanguard of the great advancing hosts of civilization and left but faint traces of his presence in the forest, which Leonard Clark invaded in 1829. Clark might be more properly termed a pioneer than a settler. He remained but two years and then passed on, in all probability, to some point farther west, where he may have remained a longer time. He built a small log cabin on lot twenty-five, tract eleven, and cleared off three or four acres in lot twenty-six. Clark brought with him his family and his father-in-law, Moses Pike.

The second log cabin was built by one Johnson soon after Clark's arrival. Johnson had his family with him. He built his house upon the northern part of lot sixteen, made a small clearing upon lot fifteen, sowed it with timothy seed and then left the country.

John White was another settler who remained but a short time and left no record behind him. He moved on to lot fourteen, tract eleven, and chopped some timber in 1831.

Herod Pike, a son of Moses Pike, moved his family into a log cabin upon lot fifteen, tract eleven, in 1831. Moses Pike lived with his son after the departure of Leonard Clark, and the two, working together, chopped and cleared three or four acres which they sowed in wheat in the year 1832. Herod and his wife Eliza left soon after this, but the father staid to harvest the wheat which he and his son had sown. When the crop had been secured in the summer of 1833, he, too, took his departure, going to Henrietta, where he remained for several years. He returned, however, to Camden, and lived there to a good old age.

in March, 1833, William Scott and John Johnston, natives of Scotland, put up a log cabin on lot five in tract eleven, and moved their families into it. They were the first families who came into Camden after the land was put into the market, and the first permanent settlers in the township, all before them being "squatters."

The settlement increased rapidly during 1833, and the following year or two. Gideon Waugh and his wife Minerva came from Oswego county, New York, in the summer of 1833, and settled upon lot twenty- three, in tract eleven. Their family consisted of Gideon, Chapman, Alanson, and James H. The mother of this family died soon after coming into the country, and Gideon Waugh afterward married Mindwell Shepherd, by whom he had a daughter, (Mrs. M. W. French). Gideon Waugh removed to Wakeman in 1852, where he died in 1869.

Thomas Lee and his wife, Lucinda Waugh, of Oswego county, New York, settled in 1833, upon lot twenty-four, tract eleven. Mrs. Lee walked all the way from Birmingham to Camden, and carried a small child in her arms. Thomas Lee was one of the most indomitable spirits among the pioneers of Camden. He had much to contend with, but in spite of all difficulties, and beginning with nothing, achieved independence and won respect from all. Soon after coming into the country he lost the use of one of his hands by erysipelas, and was unable to perform any work with it for many years. He neverthless accom plished more than some men who had the use of both hands. The first season he was in the country he sowed two acres of wheat upon the place where his wife at present resides. He died in 1877. The family consists of six children: Andrew, Norman, Margaret (Rose), in Camden, two in Wisconsin and one in Clarksfield.

Robert Douglass, also of Oswego county, New York, came in 1833, and settled upon lot three; in tract ten.

William Hawkins, of Auburn, Cayuga county, settled in 1833, on lot thirteen, tract ten, where he is .Mill living with his wife, (Mary Abbott, of Henrietta) !laving reared a family of eight children.

Hiram Smith came in previous to 1833, and took land in lot seven, tract eleven.

Thomas. Sigsworth, a native of England, was a prominent arrival in 1833. He came to Camden from Binghampton, New York, his wife, Mary, accompanying him. They had two sons; one of them, John, now living on the place taken up by his father, lot fourteen, tract eleven, and five daughters, all of whom are living.

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B. Bayless came from the vicinity of Auburn, New York, during the same year, and took up land on lot six, tract ten, though he made his home wih Thomas Lee. Platt Squires, who was also a New Yorker, came about this time. The Gagers, of Binghampton, New York, came to Camden in the fall of 1833. Thomas Gager and wife, with Israel, settled upon lot twenty-six, tract eleven, and Aaron upon lot twenty-five. Edwin and Joseph came a year or so later. David Wells, of Connecticut, was another of the settlers of 1833, taking up land in lot seventeen, tract eleven. He was without family, remained but a short time, and is now a resident of Brownhelm.

Reuben Eddy, in the fall of 1833, bought lot twenty, tract ten, and in February, 1834, moved on to it with his household, which then consisted of his father, John, his mother, Experience, and one sister. Reuben Eddy was born in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York, and reached his seventy-third year in 1878. He has been one of the most prominent and influential men of Camden, and has been honored by being called upon to fill offices of trust and honor. He has served eighteen years as a justice of the peace. He was married in February, 1835, to Hannah Sigsworth, who still lives with him. Their family consists of four children,—Charles, now in Michigan; John, a resident of Camden; Luther, in Michigan; and Annette, at home.

Obadiah Holcomb, and his wife Rachel, moved into Camden in 1834, from Henrietta, and settled on lot six, in tract ten, but left in about three years for a point near Columbus, Ohio. The family consisted of Montgomery, Almina, Orlanda and, Henrietta, who was named after the township in which she was born.

Truman Holcomb and Phebe, his wife, came in from Henrietta in 1835, and settled upon lot six, tract ten. Truman died in 1872, and his wife in 1875. They had seven children, Moses, Mehitable, (dead); Harriet, (Mrs. E. C. Williams, of Camden); Arvilla, (in Iowa); Ambrosia, (dead); Ann Janette, (in Michigan); and William, (also in Michigan). Moses Holcomb is a resident of Camden, and has a family, which consists of his wife, Hannah Tennant, and four children; Olivia, (Mrs. D. R. Brown); Truman T., (in Iowa); Fred and George, at home. Elida and William are dead.

How fast the settlement increased in size during 1834 may be inferred from a fact stated by W. W. Cook, who came into the township in June of that year, and attended thirty raisings, during the next six months. Mr. Cook and his wife, Maria Durfee, came from Binghampton, New York, and settled on lot twelve, in tract ten. Otis Bates came from Lewis county, New York, in the same year, and settled on lot two, in tract ten.

Harrison Hurd and wife, of Lewis county, New York, settled in 1834, on lot eleven, tract ten, and reared there a family of ten children, who have shown great musical ability. Judson and Frances (Mrs. Lee,) are now in Camden.

John F. Hovey, a native of Vermont, settled upon lot twenty-one, tract ten, early in 1835. John Vosburg and Jared Watkins, both of New York State, came during the same year.

It was in 1834 that Norman Breckenridge settled on lot twenty-six, tract ten. His descendants of the first generation are: Alonzo L., Norman, Daniel, Benjamin, Justin, Henry, Mary and Francis. George Arnold came during the year, and his brother James a little later. Both settled on lot twenty-seven, tract ten. E. Arnold, of Saratoga county, New York, settled on lot nineteen about the time that James came.

During the same or the following year came the Whitneys. William W. and his family settled on lot fifteen, tract eleven; and in the following year, Calvin, a brother, settled near the line. Hiram, another brother, came in 1836, and located on lot twenty-six, tract ten. John R., the father, and Catharine, came soon after; they were from Binghampton, Broome county, New York. William W.'s children, born before he came to Camden, were: Catharine, Mary and William; afterwards Hannah, Jane, John F., Samuel H. and Reuben. Hiram's children were: Henry, Hiram and Hannibal. John R. married a second wife, by whom he had six children: Mary, Elisha, Warren, Warner, Lucretia and Frank. Calvin Whitney's children, by his wife Emma L. Morse, were: Will K., now in Camden; George, in Kansas; Charles, in Pittsfield; Caroline, Olive, Alice and Lizzie. John R., William W. and Hiram Whitney are dead.

Azel Washburn and his wife, Elizabeth N., came in January, 1835, and settled on lot twenty-nine, tract ten. They were formerly from Orange, New Hampshire, but had resided in Lake county, Ohio, three years. They had three sons: Azel D., George G. and Frederick S.; and one daughter, Francis E. Only one of the family is now living. The oldest son, Azel D., died in Camden, February 10, 1842. Frances E. died in Montgomery, Alabama, May 31, 1852. The mother died in Waterloo, Iowa, March 9, 1859. Frederick S. fell mortally wounded in the assault on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, while leading his gallant Ninth Iowa regiment in the charge, and died the day after he reached his home in Waterloo, Iowa, June 16, 1863. The father died at the home of his son George, in Elyria, December 30, 1867. George G., the only survivor of the family, removed to Elyria in 1847, where, for twenty-nine years, he has been engaged as a journalist; he is now editor and proprietor of the Elyria Republican.

Rufus Washburn bought lot thirty, tract ten, in 1834, but did not settle in Camden until 1841. He married Mrs. Mary Allen, who survives him and still resides at the old home on lot thirty. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him, and died April 23, 1877.

John Farmer settled upon lot 22, tract ten, in 1834; he was from Binghampton, New York. Hancock, another New Yorker, who originally settled in Henrietta, came in the same year, but remained only

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a short time. John Cyrenius and wife, from near Oswego, New York, settled in 1834, upon lot nineteen, in tract ten, but returned east two years after. Joseph and Benjamin Wilcox, brothers, from Pennsylvania, sometime during this year, took up lots thirty-one and thirty-two, in tract ten.

Among the settlers who arrived in 1835 were Francis Bates, of Lewis county, New York, who took up land in lot three, tract ten, and Johiel Bailey, who settled upon the same lot, but afterward took lot twenty-one. Neither of them is now living, and neither has any descendants in the town.

Daniel, a brother of Gideon Waugh, settled about 1835 upon lot fourteen, tract ten. He married Abigail Hovey, and some time afterward removed to Kansas. Another brother, Lansing, generally known as Elder Waugh, took up lot five, tract ten, at a later day, but afterward became a resident of Wakeman .

Solomon B. Clark came into the township in 1834, or the following year, and took lot twenty-five, in tract eleven. He was from near Binghampton, New York.

John D. Williams and his wife, Jane, from the vicinity of Cuyuga Lake, New York, settled upon lots twenty-five and twenty-six, tract eleven, in 1836. Elisha C. now lives upon lot twenty-three, same tract. S. B. is in Kipton village. John W. and Wilson are also residents of the township. Mary Jane lives upon the old place. The only other living member of the family of brothers and sisters is Heman. Albert R. died in 1878. Clarissa and Minerva are also dead.

Samuel Morgan, and Amy, his wife, came from Monroe county, New York, in 1840. The family consists of two sons and two daughters. D. S. is in Brockport, engaged in the manufacture of mowers and reapers. David is a farmer in Camden and Sarah (Mrs. Hill) and Celestia, (Mrs. Hinman) are also living in the township. The family of David Morgan consists of Charles D., D. B., (in Michigan,) Celestia, Celia (dead), Edna, Mary M., and Elmer Ellsworth. Mrs. Hill has two children, Emma and Nelson Morgan, and Mrs. Hinman, a son, A. F.

Jacob Devener was quite an early settler, coming from Pennsylvania before 1840, and taking land in lot three, tract ten.

Tract number nine was not put into the market until 1835 when it was bought of Ceristarchus Champion by Philemon Allen, who deeded it to Ezra S. Allen, of Brockport, New York. After the land came into market, it was taken up by settlers quite fast. Some came from the east, and others moved into the newly opened tract from the northern part of the township. Ezra S. Allen removed to Camden where he resided about four years, and died in 1841. He willed this property to Hiram Allen, who settled upon what has since been known as the Taylor farm at the corners. H. H. Crandall was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the township, west side. He removed to Birmingham, but came back to his Camden home where he now lives, one of the influential residents of the town. Among the earliest settlers in the southern part of the township Solomon Root and a man by the name of Heath. They occupied respectively lots thirty-four and thi five in tract nine. Marcus Bartlett took up lot thirty-nine; Francis Bennett bought out Root about 1849. Henry Bates took up lot nineteen; — Warner lot thirty-eight, and Seneca Andrews a part of lot thirty-nine,—all at an early day. Charles Kingsbury, of Brockport, New York, settled in 1840, east of the Taylor farm. Moses S. Tennant and wife, Jane Billings, of Rochester, New York, came in 1847, and located upon lot seven in tract nine; a son, William, is now circuit judge in Saginaw county, Michigan. Allen R. Tennant and his wife, Nancy Cook, settled upon lot six in the year 1838. Selden Tennant, father of William and Allen came to Camden in 1845,, bringing with him two children, David R. and Margaret. He took up considerable land, including lots nine and ten, where he lived. Ira Hill came in 1839. The Rev. John Carman and his son by the same name came into Camden in 1846, the father purchasing a farm upon the east part of lot eight, tract eight. The elder Gillman preached in his own neighborhood for several years, and in the Free Will Baptist Churches of Henrietta and La Grange. He was a strong and original thinker, and a man of most conscientious and practical piety. Of his son, Dr. John Cannan, mention is made in another portion of this chapter. He is still living upon the old place surrounded by his family. A sister, Isabella, is the wife of W. S. Gifford, of Camden. The southern portion of Camden is now nearly as well settled as the northern part. Its history not extending back to pioneer days, has few, if any, elements of interest.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

During the months of January and February, 1835, a petition was circulated among, and numerously signed by, the inhabitants of what was then the southern half of Henrietta and the northern half of Brighton, praying the county commissioners to set off a separate township. The petition was presented to the commissioners at their annual meeting in March, and its prayer granted, an order being issued for the completion of the organization, by the election of officers on the first Monday of April, in the same year.

Pursuant to this order, on the 6th of April, 1835, was held the first election ever had in Camden. The electors met at the school house, and prepared for the exercise of their right of suffrage by choosing as judges, Platt Squires, Solomon B. Clark and Robert Douglass; and as clerks, Israel D. Gager and John Cyrenius. Every person in the township limits entitled to a vote had a ballot in the box, except one who was detained at home. Following are the officers who were chosen: Trustees, Azel Washburn, Robert Douglass, Obed Holcomb; clerk, John Cyrenius; treasurer, David Wells; overseers of the poor,

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Thomas Lee and Joseph Wilcox; fence viewers, James Smith, Joseph Wilcox and Benjamin Wilcox; supervisors of highways, Gideon Waugh, James Smith and Reuben Eddy; constable, Thomas Lee. In October of the same year, D. Waugh was appointed township clerk, to fill the vacancy caused by John Cyrenius' departure from the township. Gideon Waugh was elected justice of the peace in June, 1835, with but one dissenting vote.

When the township was carved out of Brighton and Henrietta, Gideon Waugh suggested to the county commissioners the name of Camden, and the name was accordingly bestowed.

The present township officers are as follows: Trustees, Wm. Prince, Charles Hardy, Matthew Tucker; clerk, John Eddy; treasurer, Alonzo L. Breckenridge; assessor, Henry Sheffield; justices of the peace, Joseph B. Flickinger and John Rose; constables, Charles Bayles and William Eastman.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first log cabin that was built was the handiwork of Leonard Clark, and was raised by him upon lot number twenty-five in tract eleven, in the year 1829. The first framed dwelling was built in the year 1837 on lot number twelve in tract ten, by Roswell Babcock. It was not finished immediately, however. William Hawkins moved it to the adjoining lot, number thirteen, and completed it soon after. About the same time Edwin Gager put up a small, rough frame house on lot number twenty-six, tract eleven. A year or so later, Ezekiel Arnold built a frame house on lot number nineteen, tract ten, moved into it and lived there during the remainder of his life, dying in 1840. All three of these early erected dwellings have been destroyed. The first framed barns were built in 1836 by David Wells and Reuben Eddy. There was only a few days difference in the date of the raisings. The first brick building was a store erected at Kipton in the year 1856, by H. McFarland. It is still used for the purpose originally intended.

The first suit ever tried before Squire Gideon Waugh, the earliest dispenser of justice in the township, was the State of Ohio vs. James Smith for assault and battery, William W. White, complainant. The defendant was discharged. The first civil suit was Reuben Eddy vs. Platt Squires for damages on contract for chopping and clearing land. Judgment was given for the plaintiff. These two suits are given by Mr. Eddy from memory.

The first white child born in the township was Betsey, daughter of Herod and Eliza Pike. She was born in July or August of the year 1832. The first male child was polite enough to keep out of the world until the first female child had come into the township. Minerva, wife of Gideon Waugh, became the mother of a bright boy babe on the 24th of August, 1833, and gave him the name of James H.

Moses Pike cut the first tree within the limits of the township for the purpose of improvement.

Four years after the first settlement of the township, in 1833, occurred the first death among the pioneers; Minerva, wife of Gideon Waugh, died of consumption on the second day of October. The funeral was attended by the few persons then denizens of the almost unbroken wilderness. Elder Call conducted a simple service, and the mortal remains of the deceased were buried in lot number twenty-three, tract eleven, not far from the desolate cabin of the bereaved husband. After a burying ground had been laid out the body was removed to it.

The first couple joined together in the bonds of wedlock were Reuben Eddy and Hannah Sigsworth. The marriage was celebrated February 12, 1835, James Durand, Esq., of Henrietta, officiating. Reuben Eddy was born in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York, and Hannah Sigsworth in Yorkshire, England. They are still living together, and both enjoy a degree of health that makes the prospect good of their attaining the fiftieth anniversary of the wedding.

The first tavern was a small log structure, located three-quarters of a mile west of the center. It was opened in the year 1845, by Levi Forbes, who is said to have been a very accommodating and obliging landlord; he was succeeded by James Weeks.

The first store in Camden was opened in the spring of 1841, in the woodhouse of Samuel Morgan. It was a branch of a store at Brownhelm, which was owned by the Glendale and Goodrich manufacturing company of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

This company, at that time, had in operation an extensive ashery, shipping large quantities of potash to the eastern market. They manufactured from seven to ten tons per week, and received from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and sixty dollars per ton. This ashery was under the supervision of a Mr. McFall, and later by one Hammond. The store was started for the purpose of exchanging goods for ashes, and was put in operation by Ezekiel Goodrich, of Brownhelm, with Obadiah Prentiss as storekeeper. Winslow Fay succeeded Prentiss in the fall of 1841. About four months after he had assumed charge of the business, the stock of goods was removed to better quarters, in a building erected expressly for the mercantile business, at a place called "Sam Town," about three-fourths of a mile west of Camden center. After an experience of one year, Mr. Fay was called to the Brownhelm store, Mr. G. D. Hinman succeeding him in Camden. Dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and hardware comprised the stock. It cannot be definitely ascertained how long this store existed. The business carried on by this eastern firm was one of the most extensive at that day, in this part of the country. Wood was furnished for the ashery at twenty-five to thirty-one cents per cord, cut and piled up, showing but a small remuneration far labor. There is nothing left of the ashery to mark the place, unless it be a huge pile of old ashes that still remain near the bank of the river.

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THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

Samuel Morgan was the first voter of the abolition ticket in Camden. He was a station agent on the "underground railroad," the long zigzag line of travel which led from slavery to freedom. Many a poor, dazed darkey slave was spirited over this branch of the road which ran through Camden, and many a fugitive, trembling between hope and fear, has had to come to thank Samuel Morgan for helping him upon his journey toward a place where he was safe from the pursuer—a place where he need no more stand in terror of the lash and bloodhound. The runaways were almost invariably ignorant of the names of their friends, and it was often the case that one man in the long chain extending from the Ohio border to the lake did not know who extended the helping hand before him, Mr. Morgan would occasionally find a colored man at his door, and, without asking any questions as to where he came from or who had brought him thus far upon his journey, he would take him to Oberlin, or some other point where the fugitive would be quietly placed in charge of some other friend. Sometimes the fleeing slaves came through in companies of half a dozen or more. One party, consisting of six men and women, were left at Mr. Morgan's house upon a dark, dreary night, and helped upon their way to Oberlin, after being properly cared for. At another time four stopped at this station, and, soon taking the road again, went traveling on to freedom, the place of their destination.

A RAISING INCIDENT.

When Otis Bates got the frame of his house ready to be raised, he notified his neighbors, as was customary, and at the same time signified his intention to abstain from furnishing any whiskey upon that occasion, which was not customary. He promised to furnish cider, however, and this partial concession to established prejudice, was sufficient to bring together quite a large number of men. A barrel of cider was sent for, and that innocent apple juice would doubtless have arrived in condition mild enough to have been within the limit of beverages allowed a teetotaler, had it not been for the mischievousness of two or three young men. The cider was bought, and started upon the road for the scene of the house raising, but there was, unfortunately, a distillery upon that road, and in this fact lay the secret of the quite phenomenal strength of the cider furnished at the Bates' raising. Two gallons of cider were taken from the barrel and replaced with an equal amount of simon-pure whiskey. The barrel being rolled some distance over a rough road, the two elements became thoroughly mixed. The contents of the cask was sampled, at first quite gingerly; but it was noticed that after the first drink had been taken, many who had formely expressed themselves as indifferent toward cider as a beverage, seemed suddenly to have acquired an intense liking for it, and lingered about the vicinity of the bung-hole with a pertinacity that was at the time inexplicable. The secret of their newly acquired and strong liking for cider, was explained when the raising was over, and the joke was exposed by the perpetrators. There were several men who got decidedly well drunk at this temperance house-raising.

FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICE.

The first sermon listened to in the township was preached by Elder Call in the little cabin where Mrs. Johnson taught the first school. This was sometime in 1833. Religious services were held in July or August of the following year at the log school house, by the Rev. Xenophon Betts, a Presbyterian minister from Wakeman.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptists were pioneers in Camden in the organization of a church. The church was formed September 6, 1835, and there were only seven constituent members, viz: Harrison Hurd and Rebecca his wife, John F. Hovey and his wife Elizabeth, Margaret, wife of David Morgan, Huldah, wife of Chauncey Spencer, and Wm. W. Cook. The church was organized by Elder Mack, a home missionary. Elder Brown was the first pastor of the church. In 1848 a good substantial meeting house was built at the center. This house was unfortunately completely destroyed by fire in the following year. A small dwelling house which stood very close to the church took fire, and although the alarm was immediately given and a number of people who assembled upon the spot made every effort within their power to save the church, it was very quickly enveloped in flames and burned to the ground. The members of the church and society promptly went to work to raise funds for the building of another church, and applied themselves perseveringly to the task until success was assured. The new house, which is still standing and in use, was completed in the summer of 1860, the contract having been let to John Ames, the man who built the first structure. This church is now in a flourishing condition. At close of 1878 it had a membership of one hundred and sixty-five persons. Pastor, the Rev. J. H. Smith. Officers: trustees, W. W. Cook, D. Morgan, Joseph Flickinger, Cyrus Robinson, Wm. Pomeroy; clerk, Selden Tennant; treasurer, D. Morgan; deacons, C. M. Cook, D. Morgan.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In the winter of 1836 and 1837 Elder Kilburn organized a Methodist class in the northern part of the township, and about two years later another was organized in the southwest part. The Methodists kept up their organization until a few years since. Some died, some moved away from the township, and having but few accessions the church passed out of existence. No house of worship was ever built by this denomination.

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FREE WILL BAPTISTS.

About the same time or a little before the Methodist organization, the Free Will Baptists organized a church and kept up meetings for several years. The society never became strong enough to build a church, and after a short existence ceased the struggle for life. A few people of the Free Will Baptist faith are still resident in the township, but they are not sufficiently numerous to hold meetings and they have no organization.

THE DISCIPLE CHURCH

of Camden, came into being in May, 1842, the organizing members being John Cyrenius, Norton Bates, Jane M., his wife, Henry Crandall, and Irene Cyrenius. The church soon increased in numbers, and its members began to feel the need of a place for holding other meetings. To meet this want a church was built in 1851 at the center. This church was the regular place of worship for the society until 1871, when, for the accommodation of the majority of members, the church took possession of a new brick meeting house at Kipton. The first person employed to fill the pulpit of the Disciple church was the Rev. Mr. Miller. The desk is now filled half of the time by the Rev. F. M. Gibbs, and half of the time by the Rev. Walter D. Close. The church, at the close of 1878, had over two hundred members, fifty being added in December through interest awakened by a revival. Following are the officers of this church : Elders, William Anderson, Hiram Prentiss; deacons, William Douglas, Chauncey Cloe, H. H. Crandall, F. Dauzy; clerk, H. V. Hawkins; treasurer, Hiram Prentiss; trustees, H. H. Crandall, James Van Deusen, William Anderson, Chauncey R. Close, Hiram Prentiss.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

About the year 1845, though possibly not until 1846 or 1847, a Congregational church was organized by Rev. Dr. Betts, of Brownhelm. The names of the constituent members cannot be procured. Meetings were held wherever and whenever it was convenient, until the year 1849, when funds were raised through the efforts of Dr. Betts and applied toward the building of a small church, three-fourths of a mile west of the center. The church kept up its organization until about 1864, when it was dissolved, the members all taking letters to other churches. Rev. Dr. Betts was the first pastor. Otis Bates and wife, Israel Gager and wife, and Mrs. Azel Washburn, were probably among the members, and at no time were there many.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The first Sunday school was organized in the month of July, in the first log school house built in the township. The officers were: John Cyrenius, superintendent; William W. Cook, assistant; Daniel Waugh, librarian. There were but three scholars on the first Sunday, but from this small beginning grew a large and prosperous school, which is still in existence.

SCHOOLS.

The trustees of Henrietta, at their March meeting, in 1833, set off that portion of the township now in Camden as a separate road and school district. The inhabitants of this district went to work and put up a log school house, and employed Miss Laura Allen as a teacher during the summer months. Her wages were seventy-five cents per week, and she "boarded 'round." She had but a small number of quite young pupils, and they came from all parts of the township to receive the first elements of an education. Other school houses were provided as the population increased; and as the necessities of education became more apparent, the wages of teachers were advanced, and the character of the schools as well. The first brick school house was built three-quarters of a mile west of the center, in 1863. There are at present six school houses in the township, and five of them are brick. A new sub-district was made in the spring of 1778, in which it is the intention of the trustees to build another brick school house. The number of youth of school age, enrolled in 1878, is two hundred and twenty-six.

KIPTON.

Sometime during the year 1852 the first locomotive and train of cars came sweeping through the northern part of Camden, upon the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, bringing with its rumbling thunder, a suggestion of stimulated industry and the possibility of opening new enterprises.

During the same year that the railroad was put in operation, or perhaps in 1853, William W. Whitney, the owner of the land upon which the station is now located, laid out a town which was at first called Binghampton upon the town plat. But not long afterward the name of the station and of the post office being changed to Kipton, the little village growing up by the railroad became also Kipton by common consent. Obadiah Bowen built a hotel at the station which he conducted for some time. One room was finished off for a store, and was taken by Hector Taylor, who immediately put in a varied though not extensive stock of goods. The place has slowly but steadily increased in population until, at the present writing, it contains quite a fair sized cluster of dwellings. It has one good country store, kept by Benjamin F. Breckenridge, a grocery and drug store kept by William Douglass, a hotel of which John Sigsworth is "mine host," a boot and shoe shop, a tin shop, two blacksmith shops and other provisions for the needs of its people.

POST OFFICE.

The first post office in Camden was established in the year 1835, its name being Panalize. James Arnold was the first postmaster deputized. The office was located three-quarters of a mile east of the center. The name of the post office became, after a time, the same as that of the township, but it was again

296 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

changed to distinguish it from an office by the same name in Preble county, to North Camden. When the railroad was built, a post office was located at the station, and James Weeks was commissioned postmaster. A mail route was established between the office known as North Camden and this office. Finally, there still being much inconvenience arising from the similarity of name between the Preble county office and this one, the name was changed to Kipton. The present postmaster is Benjamin F. Breckenridge.

NORTH CAMDEN GRANGE, NO. 1058

was organized October 26, 1874. The first officers were, John Eddy, master; C. W. Allen, overseer; Gideon Lattimer, lecturer; A. M. Tennant, steward; D. 0. Gibson, assistant steward; James Van Denson, chaplain; Hiram Prentiss, treasurer; A. Hovey, secretary; A. J. Redington, gate keeper; Mrs. A. M. Tennant, lady assistant steward; Mrs. Flora Gibson, ceres; Mrs. R. E. Allen, pomona; Mrs, H. B. Bartlett, flora.

The present officers are as follows: Philip Ritzenthaler, master; Gideon Lattimer, overseer; William Jickels, lecturer; W. W. Ward, steward; John Eddy, assistant steward; J. N. Hurd, chaplain; H. P. Draper, treasurer; S. D. Tennant, secretary; A. J. Redington, gate keeper; Mrs. W. W. Ward, cores; Mrs. J. N. Hurd, pomona; Mrs. John Eddy, flora; Mrs. D. C. Gibson, lady assistant steward. The grange has about forty members.

THE BURIAL PLACE.

In the year 1837, the inhabitants of Camden township began to feel the need of having a proper resting place for their dead. At a meeting called for the purpose of devising some place for the establishment of a cemetery, it was agreed that a committee should be appointed to select a suitable site, and that the trustees of the township should purchase it at town expense. Ezekiel Arnold, Harrison Hurd, and Reuben Eddy were appointed said committee, and after examining several pieces of ground, they selected a location on the south side of lot number twenty-seven, in tract number eleven, on an east and west road, in the northeast part of the township. The trustees of the township purchased an acre of ground of Thomas Sigsworth, and cleared it of timber, for at this time, the little piece of ground which was to become "God's acre," like most of the land lying around it, was covered with trees of a heavy growth. It was fenced in and lotted off, one lot being assigned to each resident of the township, who was the head of a family. Since the first purchase, half an acre has been added to the burying ground, and as the whole has been well cared for, it is now one of the best cemeteries to be found in the rural townships.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician in Camden was Dr. Sterling W. Allen, who came in the year 1837, and settled on lot number four in tract nine, near the center. He remained about two years, during which time he had a very successful practice.

Dr. William Grout moved into the township November 1, 1843, and his family came in February following. He settled about three-fourths of a mile west of the center where he still lives. He has been a very reliable and successful physician throughout his long practice, and a useful member of society. He is no longer in practice.

Two physicians by the names of Grant and Jackson practiced each a short time in the township.

Dr. John Carman came into the township with his father, when a boy. After studying medicine and surgery, he settled on a farm in the southeast part of the township, and had quite an extensive practice. When the rebellion broke out, he volunteered his services to aid the Union, and served as assistant surgeon during a greater part of the war. At the close of he rebellion he returned to Camden, and resumed practice. He is still living upon his farm of two hundred and sixteen acres.

Another resident physician is Dr. G. W. Monosmith who settled at Kipton in 1877, and has already won a respectable share of the patronage of the community and the unqualified respect of the people among whom he lives.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

The first and only grist mill ever built in the township was a small steam mill built at Kipton in the year 1859, by H. McFarland, and run by different parties for about fourteen years. Horace Hoover was its last owner, and lost the mill by fire.

CHEESE FACTORIES.

The first cheese factory in this township was started in the spring of 1867, by L. A. Parker, G. R. Parker, D. B. Morgan and J. P. Hovey, under the firm name of Parker, Morgan & Hovey. This was the only cheese factory in the township, until 1874, when A. L. Perkins started one about a mile south of the center (the first was about the same distance north). Parker, Morgan & Hovey owned and ran their factory until the spring of 1876, when they sold out to B. F. Morrison. The same season, Perkins and Morrison consolidated their interests in the business, and they have managed since then both factories. Parker, Morgan & Hovey, when they commenced business, took the milk of about three hundred cows, but the industry gradually increased in magnitude until the time of the consolidation of the firms, when nine hundred cows were milked for the two factories. Perkins & Morrison make now about three hundred and fifty thousand pounds of cheese. The Morrison factory is located on lot four, tract ten, and the Per-. kins factory upon lot twenty-two, tract ten.

SAW MILLS.

In the summer of 1836 the Gager brothers, Edwin, Joseph and Israel, put up a water power mill on lot

Residence of John Rose, Kipton, Lorain County, Ohio

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 297

number twenty-six, which proved a great convenience to the people in the vicinity. It was about eight miles at that time to any other mill. There were no roads—nohing but narrow and difficult trails. After the mill was put in operation it was run constantly whenever there was sufficient water, and even then turned out scarcely enough lumber for house use. Very little was at any time carried out of the township. The greater part of the lumber sawed was whitewood, and it only brought an average of five dollars per thousand feet. The best black walnut was worth but a little more. The mill was kept running until it wore out, rotted down and was never rebuilt.

In the year 1847, Hiram Allen, David Morgan and Edwin Gager built a steam saw mill on lot number two in tract nine. The mill was burned down after it had been in operation about two years.

In 1850, Messrs. Preston & Blodgett built a mill on lot number thirty, tract nine. The ownership of his mill was several times changed, and finally the mill was moved into the black swamp, near the farm of Benjamin Eldridge.

REVOLVING HORSE RAKES, ETC.

In the year 1862 or 1863, A. S. and James P. Hovey put up on lot twenty-one, in tract ten, about a mile and a half west of Kipton station, a shop in which they did quite a lively business for three or four years in manufacturing revolving horse rakes, cultivators and other farm implements and utensils.

ROADS.

There are five roads running north and south through the township, except that there is about a mile in that upon the east side of the township which has never been opened. There are three roads running east and west entirely through the township, one in the south part extending east from the center road to the next road, and one in the north part of the township, running from Kipton west to the first north and south road. The north and south and east and west center roads were the first ones laid out. They were established before the land came into the market, and the others were opened soon after the commencement of the settlement.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Following are the statistics for 1877, showing the amount of the most important productions of the township, also the population in 1870, and the vote for president in 1870:

Wheat, 448 acres. 5,485 bushels.

Potatoes, 20 " 1,557 "

Oats, 698 " 31,400 "

Orchards, 378 " 6,153 "

Corn, 717 " 28,780 "

Meadow, 2,335 " 2,312

Butter 18,590 pounds.

Cheese 132,080 "

Maple Sugar 873 "

Population in 1870. 858

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

R. B. Hayes 153

S. J. Tilden 83             

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN ROSE.

Jesse Rose, grandfather of the gentleman whose name is found at the head of this sketch, was a native of Virginia. He married Susan Smith, (whose home was not far from the resort known as the Warm Springs,) and six weeks subsequent was drafted into the service of the United States. Leaving his youthful bride and his pleasant home on the banks of the Potomac, for the hardships and dangers of soldier life, he did not return until the war was over. He was in the last engagement at Yorktown, and helped to swell the glad shout of victory at the final surrender of Cornwallis, October 17, 1782. A few years later Mr. Rose removed to Ohio, locating in Poland township, Mahoning county. Here was born to them four sons and three daughters. Jesse Rose, Jr., was the third son. He married Susan Everhart in the year 1816, and settled on a farm in Ellsworth township, where he died. John Rose, the subject of this biography, was the eldest son of Jesse, Jr. He was born September 25, 1819. November 4, 1846, he was married to Lucinda Parshall, of Youngstown, Ohio, by the Rev. Dillon Prosser of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination both were members. In the spring of 1854, he settled in Camden township, Lorain county, where he yet resides. He was accompanied by his youngest brother, Preston B. Rose, now professor in the university at Ann Arbor, Michigan. The children of John and Lucinda Rose, are: Euphrasia, who died when eight years of age; Eugene, who entered Oberlin college, when fourteen years of age, enlisted in the army at the age of seventeen, served until the close, was honorably discharged therefrom, and is now in business in New York City: Ezra Norris, who married Mattie Close, and now lives in Chester, Eaton county, Michigan, and Olin who remains with his parents on the old homestead. Of the political history of Mr. Rose, we learn that in 1840 he came out against the party of log cabins, hard cider, and coon skins, and his first ballot was cast for Martin Van Buren. He continued with the democratic party until they nominated that arrant rebel, Vallandingham, for governor, when he became a republican, and continues to this time a firm adherent to the sterling principles of that party. He has served as township trustee and justice of the peace for many years.

Mr. Rose has been an earnest, steadfast christian from early life. At the age of nineteen years he helped to organize the Methodist Episcopal church at Ellsworth, Mahoning county, Ohio, and not only he but his worthy and estimable companion have ever been foremost in promoting the interests of the cause of christianity, and are now engaged with others in the erection of a Union church edifice at Kipton.