Residence of Lemuel Abby, Eaton Tp., Lorain Co., Ohio

EATON.

THIS is town five, range sixteen. The original proprietors were Daniel Holbrook, Caleb Atwater, Turhand Kirtland and ten others. To equalize it with the selected townships there was annexed tract one, gore four, in range eleven. Until December 3, 1822, the date of its organization, it was called " Holbrook," after one of its principal owners, Daniel Holbrook.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The surface is generally monotonously level, with a prevailing clay soil, modified by sand and gravel along Butternut and Chestnut ridges, which cross the northwest corner of the township, about half a mile distant from, and nearly parallel with each other. North, and for some distance south of these ridges, the soil is a clay combined with a black loam, strong and fertile. Besides the east branch of Black river, which crosses merely the southwest corner of Eaton, two other unnamed tributaries of that stream comprise the only water courses of the township worthy of mention. One of these rises in Grafton and drain-the southern half of the town. The other rising east of the center, with a northern branch with which it unites on lot eighty-eight, and flows thence southwesterly into Black river west of lot ninety-four. There were formerly several swamps in Eaton, the largest of which was the Hance swamp, in the southeast part, and one embracing within its extent some seventy-five acres, in the northern part. With cultivation and drainage these formerly unsightly marshes have become the most fertile portions of the township—the soil a deep, black muck, rich, mellow and enduring. Eaton was originally covered with a magnificent growth of timber, differing in variety not materially from that of adjoining towns. On Butternut and Chestnut ridges those kinds of timber were respectively found in abundance, from which circumstance the ridges derived their names. Whitewood, walnut, beech and hard maple were also native to this portion of the township. In the less elevated portions, beech, hard and soft maple, hickory, black-ash, basswood and elm were among the leading varieties.

THE FIRST LOCATION

was made in the fall of 1810, by Silas Wilmot, Asa Morgan and Ira B. Morgan. They were from Waterbury, Connecticut, and all unmarried at the time of their arrival in the township. They erected a cabin on Butternut ridge—lot eighty-nine—which for a time they jointly occupied. The next summer Wilmot married Chloe Hubbard, of Ashtabula county, and began married life in the log cabin on the ridge, which by consent had become his property, and he has the honor of being the first settler in the township. This pioneer couple had, as all pioneers ought to have, a large family of children. The number was fourteen, and all lived to mature age., Eight are now (fall of 1878) living, and four are residents of the county, as follows : Mrs. J. L. Tucker in Eaton, Artemas in Carlisle, Jeannette-unmarried— and Norris in LaGrange. A son-Don Carlos—now residing in the west, was the first white child born in the town. Wilmot lived on his original location until his death, in 1855.

In the spring of 1813, Ira B. Morgan married Louisa Bronson, daughter of Levi Bronson of Columbia, and took up his abode on Butternut ridge, lot seventy-two. The land is now owned by Barney Jackson. He was the second son of Asahel Morgan, who settled in Ridgeville in the fall of 1813. He came to Columbia in the spring of 1810, with a party of some twelve or thirteen men, most of whom settled in Ridgeville. He was a surveyor, and surveyed much of the territory through this section.

Asa, an older brother, came into the country with Tillotson Terrell and family, who were the first settlers in Ridgeville. He afterwards married a daughter of David Beebe of Ridgeville, and located just west of Wilmot.

Sylvester Morgan, another brother, married a daughter of Borden Beebe of Ridgeville, and settled, in 1817, on the same lot on which Ira B. had settled. He afterwards sold his place and moved into Ridgeville, settling on Chestnut ridge, and later on Center ridge. He finally sold and removed to Portage county, where he died.

Thurot F. Chapman, also from Connecticut, removed to Chenango county, New York, in 1808. In 1811, he married Lydia Andress, and, in 1817, emigrated to Ohio. At Ashtabula his money was entirely gone, and he was compelled to remain there two' weeks. He located first in Ridgeville, where he arrived July 3d of the above year. In the fall of the same year he moved into Eaton. He erected his house where Mr. Varsey's now stands; but, on discovering subsequently that he was on the wrong lot, he vacated, moving into a house then owned by Levi Mills. In March, 1821, while the family were absent, the house burned to the ground with its contents, leaving the family very destitute. They received some assistance

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from friends, and were enabled to commence housekeeping again, but, for a long time afterward, were without many articles of household necessity. The first year they had neither a table nor a chair in the house, and two cups and saucers, two knives and forks each, and two plates, comprised their entire stock of crockery.

Mr. Chapman worked at chopping and clearing by the job for a number of years after settlement. He cleared and fenced for others over two hundred acres, besides about seventy-five acres for himself. He was in the war of 1812, and was made a prisoner at Queenstown. He died, at the age of seventy-one, December 16, 1860. Three children are living, Alonzo A. in Henry county, Emily in Oberlin, and Harlan in La Porte.

INDIAN INCIDENT.

For a few years succeeding the war of 1812, the forests of Eaton were a favorite resort of a band of Indians, who came every winter from Sandusky, and remained until spring. One winter, they had an encampment of fifteen families on Butternut ridge, near the swamp. The names of some of them were Good Flint, Tobago, Silver Heels, Yellow Jacket, Bill Harris, Seneca John, Joe Seneca and Little Billy. Of their subsequent history, nothing is known with the exception of Seneca John and Bill Harris, the former of whom was executed for alleged witchcraft. Chapman on one occasion saved the life of the latter, and the Indian always afterward manifested the warmest gratitude toward his deliverer. When the report of the destruction by fire of Chapman's house reached Harris, he hastened to Elyria, and inquired of Levi Mills, who was then carrying on a distillery there, if it was true that his "good friend's house was burned." Mills answered in the affirmative, and jokingly added that Chapman suspected him of setting it on fire, and. that he had better keep out of the way or Chapman would shoot him. The Indian believed the cruel joke and disappeared. Chapman, in endeavoring to ascertain his whereabouts that he might undeceive him. learned that he went to Sandusky, crossed over into Canada, and there died a few months after.*

During the next few years, the following named persons became settlers of Eaton: Sylvester Morgan, A. M. Dowd, Levi Mills, Seneca Andress, Merrit Osborn, Dennis Palmer, Erastus Case, Borden Handley, James Field, Archibald Harper and others. Of the most of these there are at present no descendants in the township, and we are unable to give particulars as to their settlement. Mills took up his residence near the west line of the township, on lot ninety-two. The farm is now owned by J. O. Humphrey. He subsequently removed to Illinois. Samuel Finch located on lot seventy, on land now owned by W. H. Phillips. Fields settled on lot eighty-eight. His son Gilbert now occupies the place. Jeremiah Finch arrived a few years after his brother Samuel, and

*A. A. Chapman, in Elyria Democrat.

settled east of him. Jeremiah Hance, a shoemaker by trade, was the first settler in the town south of Butternut ridge. With his son Hiram, then a lad some, fourteen years of age, he left Cranberry, Niagara county, New York, for the woods of Eaton, February 1, 1824, having previously exchanged his farm there for one hundred and fifteen acres, on lot twenty-two here. The journey was made with a single horse and a sled, with which some bedding and provisions were brought. He drove on the ice for two days after leaving Buffalo, and with other emigrants, who subsequently joined him, experienced many dangers— the ice in many places breaking, at one time when the party were several miles from shore. Afterwards, the snow disappearing, the sled was Abandoned, the bedding placed upon the horse, and father and son footed it. They arrived at their journey's end about the 1st of March, having been about a month on the way. A mere pole shanty was provided for their immediate necessities. This was then the only habitation between the center of Columbia and LaPorte. The settlers on Butternut ridge were five or six miles away; there were no roads, and several swamps to traverse in order to reach them: consequently but little intercourse was had with them.

Mr. Hance found his nearest neighbors in Grafton, one and a half miles distant. The father and son kept bachelors' hall through the summer, working Samuel Curtis' sugar bush on shares. They next under-brushed and cleared out a road from North street to their land, after which preparations were made for the erection of a log house, in which their Grafton neighbors assisted. Indians from Sandusky frequently visited this region at that time, the same, probably, as previously mentioned, having camped on Butternut ridge. After clearing a piece of land ready for logging, Mr. Hance went to Cleveland and worked at his trade until the arrival of his family, who had been previously sent for. They reached Eaton late in the fall. Many events in the life of this hardy pioneer could be given, illustrative of the hardships endured by early settlers, but want of space forbids. Mr. Hance died a few years ago at the advanced age of ninety-seven, and a few years after his widow followed, aged ninety-four. The son Hiram occupies the old homestead, himself quite advanced in life.

In 1826, Henry J. Phillips joined the settlement, locating on lot fifty-one. He came from Tompkins county,.New York. Phillips made the first wheeled vehicle in town. His son, W. H. Phillips, is a well known resident of Eaton.

On the township records we find the following persons, not previously mentioned, elected as township officers between the years 1823 and 1830, who must have settled prior to the latter date: Tyler, Day, Beebe, Burr, Pond, Edson, Whitcomb, Boughton, Blain, Nichols.

John A. Ferguson arrived in 1831, and made his location on Chestnut ridge, lot seventy-one, where

RESIDENCE OF JOHN ROACH, EATON TP., LORAIN CO., OHIO.

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 201

J. L. Tucker now resides. He subsequently changed his location to the center of town, and resided there until his death in 1874.

In 1832, Alva Brooks and Richard Crowell moved in, coming from Tompkins county, New York. The .former was originally from Vermont, mid the latter from New Jersey. Brooks, who was a widower, was accompanied by a little daughter, two years old. Crowell's family consisted of his wife and four children. They both settled at the center, the former on the farm which he still occupies with his son James, kind the litter on that, a part of which is occupied by his son Aaron. He built his house immediately after his arrival, which was the first habitation in this portion of the township. Mr. Brooks chopped off twenty acres of his purchase and built his cabin the first year after his arrival. There was at that time no road in this part of the town, except the center road to Columbia, and that was merely cut out. In 1841, he assisted in cutting out the southern half of the north and south center road. In 1852, he erected the large frame house which he now occupies. Mr. Crowell died in the fall of 1875. His widow and one son reside in Grafton: two sons and a daughter are residents of Eaton.

Edmund Holden, from Waterbury, Connecticut, arrived in about the year 1833, and settled on lot forty-six. His house was the first frame erection at the centre. He was a man of much public spirit, and 'did much for the advancement of public interests. He removed to Michigan many years ago, and now resides there. A daughter is the wife of James Brooks.

Benjamin S. Brush, Robert Moon, and Jacob Taylor moved in about the year 1834.

Oel Durkee, one of the earliest settlers in the southwest quarter of the town, and who continues to reside there in the seventy-second year of his age, moved in from New York in the spring of 1834. He located temporarily on Butternut ridge, remaining there until August following. He then removed to his purchase of one hundred and eleven acres on lot eighty-three. A log cabin had been previously erected on this farm, and was then occupied by a tenant, Forrester Langdon and family, consisting of wife and six children.

Mr. Durkee moved, with his family of wife and three children, into the house with Langdon, which was about twenty-four feet by eighteen in size, and without a chimney or window. There was only one room for the thirteen occupants; but they continued to live thus until the following November, when Langdon moved out.

Among the early settlers of this portion of the town, some of whom arrived previous to Durkee, were the following: Voman Felt, William Burchard, James Johnson, John Shadford, Thomas Moran, Oliver Terrell, William Wallace, Job and William Clark, William Dobson, John Sayre, John Gamble, William Lawson, William Wilson, Peleg M. Terry, Michael Montague and others. Harvey Coy came to Eaton in 1834, remaining until 1850, when he removed to Columbia. J. D. Swift and Thomas Sutton were among the earliest settlers on Chestnut ridge. The former now resides in Williams county, Ohio.

Ransom Tyler located on the west part of lot thirty- five, in 1834, He afterward moved to lot fifty-five, and resided there at the time of his death. His widow now resides in Elyria.,

Jacob Tucker, a native of New Hampshire, removed to Vermont when twenty years of age, was married there and afterwards became a resident of Buffalo. There he remained until the spring of 1817, when, with his family, which at that time consisted of his wife and five children, he removed to Ohio, by boat, settling in Erie county on land now occupied by the village of Vermillion. In the spring of 1819 he moved to Windham, Portage county. With an open row boat the family proceeded by way of the lake to Cleveland, and then up the Cuyahoga about two miles. Here Mr. Tucker left his family while he proceeded on foot to Windham and obtained an ox team with which he returned for wife and children. They resided in Windham until the year 1832 or 1833, when they came to Eaton, purchasing of John A. Ferguson the farm on which his son, J. L. Tucker, now resides. He occupied this farm until his death, which occurred in 1863. His wife died two years previous. Four of the family are residents of this county and three of this township, as follows : R. F. Tucker, J. L. Tucker, and Hannah, unmarried. The first is a justice of the peace in Eaton. Wm. H. resides in Elyria, where he is engaged in insurance and real estate.

Nicholas Taylor, formerly from Pennsylvania, moved into Eaton from Carlisle, in 1832, and settled east of the center. He now resides in Iowa.,

Chilion Sperry, now residing in Mansfield, arrived in 1834, and settled a mile and a half east of the center. Walter Giles came in 1833, and located north of the center, where he now resides.

Royal Eaton was an early settler in the south part of the town, and Alexander Cotter in the southeast part.

Thomas Bennington was a native of England. He emigrated to the United States in 1829, landing at Quebec. From there he went to Grafton, and a few months subsequently to Eaton and purchased a farm of fifty acres in the southern part of the township. This farm is now owned by James Johnson. After erecting his log house he sold his farm and then returned to England, and while there married. The spring following he returned to this country with his bride, remained in Elyria through the summer, and then bought the farm on lot seventy-six, on which his widow now resides at the age of seventy-two. Mr. Bennington died in September, 1874.

Ebenezer Abbey, when thirteen years of age, removed from Windham county, Connecticut, to New York, where he resided until the year 1830. In December of that year he removed with his family,

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consisting of wife and eleven children, and a grandchild, to this township, making a temporary location of about two months on Butternut ridge. He then moved to Carlisle, settling on the east line of that town. He built an ashery the first or second year of his settlement, on the little stream near his house, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of potash, pearlash, and saleratus. He became a settler in Eaton in 1833, erecting, a short distance north of the present residence of his son, Lemuel Abbey, a house which he used jointly as a residence and cooper-shop. Five years subsequently he built the frame house now occupied by hiS son Lemuel.

In December, 1836, Mrs. Susanna Wight took up her residence on lot thirty-five, purchasing a portion of that lot, and now resides there with her son Harrison, who is unmarried, and a mathematical genius, by the way. Mrs. Wight was born in Saratoga, New York, April 4, 1793, and was married to Reuben Wight, July 17, 1814. They removed in August, 1834, with their ten children, from Fowler, St. Lawrence county, New York, to Rockport, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. Mr. Wight died of cholera, the twentieth of that month, and was buried at midnight in the Alger settlement burying ground, a box of rough whitewood boards containing the remains. Mrs. Wight is now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, and reads without the aid of spectacles.

Samuel Alexander emigrated to the United States from England in 1835, and located in St. Lawrence county, New York, remained five years, and then removed to Elyria. The purchaser of his farm in New York was unable to pay him until long after the date stipulated, and he, and his wife also, were compelled in consequence, to work at whatever they could find to do, after their arrival in Ohio, in order to obtain the necessaries of life. Mrs. Alexander was a daughter of John Elbro, an English nobleman, and because of her marriage with Mr. Alexander, was disinherited by her father.

After a residence of a few years in Elyria, he removed to Grafton, locating two miles southeast of that village. He erected a log house, which he occupied before it was "chinked," and while yet without a floor or chimney. He subsequently moved to this town. His first erection here was a log house, which, in more prosperous days, gave way to a frame, which is yet standing, though unoccupied.

In 1837, Timothy Cooley located on lot thirty-four. He was formerly from Hampshire county, Massachusetts. At the early age of twelve, circumstances compelled him to work out for a living. With his last employer he remained seven years, according to contract, by which he was to receive, at the end of his term of service, one hundred dollars in money. When the day of settlement came, his employer asked him if he was ready to receive his money. The thought of possesing such an immense sum in cash, appalled the young man. Having determined to emigrate to Ohio, visions of robbery and murder haunted him.

He therefore determined to make his late employer his banker, until he should find use for his funds; and then, with his bundle of clothes on his shoulder, he started forth on foot, determined to go where he could obtain some land of his own. This was in the fall of 1817. Arriving in Geauga county, he procured work on a farm near Welshfield, and purchased forty acres of land in the township of Newbury, in that county. He went, soon after, to Portage county, and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. About two years after his arrival, he sent for his money, which his employer promptly sent him. Soon after his settlement in Portage county, he married Sally Lewis, whose brother, Oliver H. Lewis, has long been a resident of Ridgeville. After a residence of some fifteen years in Portage, he removed to Ridgeville, and located on Center ridge. Five years afterward, he came to Eaton, arriving in the year above stated. He purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres, and erected his shanty a short distance west of his present residence. This farm Mr. Cooley still occupies.

In November, 1838, a little daughter of Mr. Cooley wandered away from home, and became lost in the dense woods. A few days afterward, a hunting party found the child just across the Columbia line, about three miles from home. She had nearly perished from hunger and cold.

Mr. Cooley is eighty-two years of age, and resides on his original purchase, with his son, Truman Cooley. His wife died in the fall of 1876.

Chester Cooley was also au early settler of this town.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

At the time of the organization of Ridgeville, in 1813, that township embraced Eaton, then called Holbrook, and the union was continued until December 3, 1822, when number five, range sixteen, was detached by order of the commissioners of Cuyahoga county, on petition of the inhabitants, and organized as an independent township under the name of Eaton.

The first election of township officers was held in the spring of 1823, when the following were chosen: Ira B. Morgan, clerk; Merritt Osborn, Archibald Harper, Asa Morgan, trustees; Silas Wilmot, David M. Tyler, overseers of the poor; Eleazer Day, appraiser; William Beebe, Dennis Palmer, fence viewers; Levi Mills, lister; Sylvester Morgan, treasurer; Freeman Burr, constable; Archibald Harper, Jr., supervisor of highways. We find no record of a justice of the peace being chosen at this time.

Township officers for 1878 are as follows: R. F. Tucker, clerk; Job Alexander, Gilbert Fields, Ed. Hance, trustees; Wm. H. Giles, treasurer; Wm. H. Phillips, assessor; Wm. H. Phillips and R. F. Tucker, justices of the peace.

RELIGIOUS.

The earliest meetings of this character were held at private houses, and were attended by the inhabit-

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 203

ants generally, being unsectarian in character. At these meetings some missionary or Methodist circuit preacher would usually officiate. We have been unable to ascertain when the first class or society was formed. Probably the first church edifice erected in town was by the Roman Catholics. It was a small frame building situated on the west line of the township. The Methodists erected a frame building on lot forty-five, in 1846, by voluntary contributions in Work, and was used until the erection by the Congregationalists of the present frame structure at the Center in 1857, which the two societies have since used in common.

Stephenson Burke was an early Methodist preacher in Eaton. On one occasion, while preaching at the house of Almond Loomis, he abruptly finished his discourse, informed his hearers that they were incapable of appreciating talent, closed his Bible, and, in disgust, quit the ministry and the town. He tried the law with success, and afterwards served as judge of common pleas for Lorain, Medina and Summit counties. He is now a prominent member of the Cleveland. bar.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

was organized not far from 1839, but with what membership we are unable to state. The society, in membership, is at present very weak, there being at this time about a dozen members. Timothy Cooley is deacon. Rev. Mr. Hyde of Grafton, preaches every alternate Sabbath. The present church edifice was built in 1857, at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. A union Sabbath school of this and the Methodists exists, numbering some fifty or sixty scholars. Truman Cooley is superintendent.

THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.

In regard to the earlier history of this church we get the following facts from Hayden's "History of the Disciples on the Western Reserve." It was first established in North Eaton. Mrs. Chloe Tucker, who came to Eaton from Windham, in 1833, while visiting her native place in 1840, entreated a young preacher of the church, by the name of M. J. Streator, to come to Eaton and conduct a series of meetings. He came in October of that year. Meetings were held at the brick school house and resulted in the conversion of two sons of Mrs. Tucker. Meetings were again held by Mr. Streator in March following, and also in October, 1842, when an organization was effected, with a membership of twenty-five. J. D. Swift was appointed overseer, and J. A. Ferguson, deacon. In the fall of 1843 the location of the church was changed to the center, on which occasion Jared Patchen was chosen overseer, and Chester Cooley, deacon. In 1845 the church building was erected. J. D. Benedict, formerly a Baptist minister, then a lawyer filling the position of prosecuting attorney for Lorain county, officiated at the opening of this church. The congregation increased until a larger house was required and in the fall of 1862 a new edifice was erected at the center. Brother J. H. Jones, chaplain of the Forty-second regiment Ohio volunteers, under Colonel Garfield, conducted the dedicatory service. The church continues to be prosperous, having at present a membership of one hundred and fifty- five. Brother W. IL Scott is the resident preacher. S. M. Streator, A. Rollin, and R. Hinkley are overseers, and A. Dawley and R. Haven, deacons. It also has a Sabbath school of about one hundred and fifty scholars, of which James Robinson is superintendent.

MORMONISM IN EATON.

Eaton was for a very brief period afflicted with this religious fanaticism. In 1842—'43, Lyman Wight preached the doctrine at La Porte, while his son, Orange, held forth in Eaton, in that portion of the town then known as the "Island." Several other Mormons also preached there. Nearly all of the inhabitants of the "Island" were converted to Mormonism and baptised by immersion. Their last assemblage was at the house of Almond Loomis, at the center, February 14, 1843, when a doctrinal discussion arose between their leaders and a Campbellite preacher who was present. Soon after this they dissolved, some of the recent converts joining the Disciple church, more went back to the world, while a few went to Nan voo, and subsequently to Salt Lake. And thus ended Mormonism in Eaton.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was taught on Butternut ridge by Julia Johnson, daughter of Phineas Johnson, of Carlisle, in the summer of 1819. A son taught the succeeding winter, and another daughter the second summer. Maria Terrell, a man by the name of Cadwell, D. C. Wilmot, and Deborah Phillips, who subsequently became Wilmot's wife, were also among the early school teachers in town. The first frame school building burned down in February, 1832. The present brick building was erected in the summer of 1859.

The school district at the center was organized January 16, 1834. At a meeting convened for that purpose, Joseph Fauver, Horace J. Terrell and Richard Crowell were chosen directors, N. H. Crowell clerk, and Nicholas Taylor treasurer. It was voted that a tax he levied for the purpose of building a school house on lot forty-six. This primitive house was a log, twenty feet square, and was located about twelve rods north of the center, on land belonging to Edmund Holden, and was used as a town house also, until 1842, when it gave way to a frame costing about two hundred and fifty dollars. The present brick structure at the center, was erected in 1868, at.a cost: of three thousand eight hundred dollars. It is a two story building, thirty by forty feet in size, the upper story being used for a town hall, and the lower for school purposes. The report of the board of educa-

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tion for 1878, contains the following information in regard to the schools of this township :

Number of houses, 8

Value, $4,400

Amount paid teachers, $1,298

Number of scholars, 249

CHEESE FACTORIES.

This industry is extensively carried on in this township. During the last season, there have been four, and a part of the time five, factories in operation.

THE EATON FACTORY,

located a short distance south of the center, is the oldest. It was established by Nichols, Haven and others, in the fall and winter of 1868, at a cost of about four thousand dollars. In the winter of 1873, a feed mill was added, which was destroyed by fire in the March following, but was immediately rebuilt. It was again burned in November, 1876, together with the factory, and three hundred and fifty dollars worth of cheese, besides the engine and boiler, costing eleven hundred dollars, were ruined. New buildings were erected the following winter, by the enterprising proprietors, at a cost of two thousand, eight hundred dollars. The following is the report of the factory for the season of 1877, as made by its efficient secretary, Harrison Wight:

REPORT OF EATON CHEESE FACTORY FOR 1877.

WHITE CLOVER FACTORY,

located on the west line of the township, was established in 1869, by Thomas Bennington and Lemuel Abbey. The building was erected at a cost of about one thousand dollars. Capital now employed in the business, about one thousand four hundred dollars. During the past season the consumption of milk averaged about six thousand pounds daily,. making fourteen cheese of forty pounds each.

THE STREATOR FACTORY.

This is located between the Center and North Eaton station, and is owned and operated by S. M. Streator, by whom it was established in the spring of 1870, with a capital of about two thousand dollars. It is much less now, owing to depreciation of property. The building was erected in 1871. The past season the business averaged about four thousand pounds of milk daily, manufacturing eight cheese of fifty pounds each per day.

ORCHARD FACTORY

is situated on Butternut ridge, and was established by Oel Durkee, Jr., in the spring of 1872. Two years subsequently it was purchased by Charles Jackson, who, with S. Stephens, now owns it. It has worked about two thousand pounds of milk durig the season of 1878. The factory has done a very limited business during the last few years, and will probably soon be discontinued, there being too many cheese factories in this section to render the business profitable.

SAW MILLS.

The first saw mill in town was built by Rico and Smith of Litchfield, Medina county, in the fall of 1851, and was located on lot forty-three. This mill is now owned and run by Philo Bannister. There are two other saw mills in the township, that of Angelo Rawson, in the southwest part of town, and one near North Eaton station, owned by John Page.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS FOR 1878.

Whcat, 1,000 acres 18,339 bushels.

Corn, 1,289 " 39,160 "

Oats, 809 " 41,766 "

Potatoes, 160 " 20,470 "

Orchards, 284 " 3,308 "

Meadow, 2,492 " 2,421 tons.

Butter 40,900 pounds.

Cheese 278,153 "

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1876.

Hayes   205

Tilden  81

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LEMUEL ABBEY.

The life of the pioneer, with its manifold struggles and privations, offers an interesting study, and one replete with instructive lessons. It admirably illustrates the old aphorism " Industry is the parent of plenty;" for we rarely find one who toiled to reclaim the wilderness, and cultivate the soil in the primitive days of the settlement, but that accumulated a competence, who, if blessed with a ripe old age, which is generally the case, enjoy the fruits of his labors and frugality. The subject proper of this brief narrative came of a pioneer race. His parents, Ebenezer and Mary (Blanchard) Abbey were of New England origin, and possessed the requisite qualifications of early settlers. The former was born in Tolland county, Connecticut, June 9, 1781, and died March 19, 1862; the latter in Rutland, Vermont, December 19, 1787, she preceding her husband to the grave by but ten days. They lived together nearly fifty-seven years, having been united in marriage April 6, 1805. They had a family of fourteen children, of whom ten grew to maturity.

Residence of Oel Durkee, Eaton Tp., Lorain Co., Ohio

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1 Polly A. born March 10, 1808.

2. Ebenezer, " July 17. 1807.

3. Smyth, " July 12, 1808.

4 Orsemus, " February 21, 1810.

5 Lucy M. " April 22, 1812.

6 Alonzo, " August 29, 1818.

7 Lyman, " June 19, 1815.

8. Nelson, born October 18, 1816.

9.Volton, " March 30, 1818.

10.Marinda, " September 8, 1819.

11.Lemuel, " January 28, 1821.

12. Almina, " May 28, 1822

13.William, " February 15, 1827.

14. Emma A. " August 20, 1824.

Six of the sons were teachers in common schools, two became physicians, one a lawyer, and four farmers. Mrs. E. A. Abbey Brush is well known as one of Elyria's most devoted women in the cause of temperance.

Ebenezer Abbey was a man of somewhat remarkable business ability. In 1794, he accompanied his parents to Otsego county, New York, where they became respected and influential citizens. December 15, 1830, he commenced the then laborious journey of removing to Ohio. January 15, 1831, found him on Butternut ridge, North Eaton, Ohio,—his large family and worldly effects on two wagons, drawn by one span of horses, and one pair of oxen,—with but seventy-five cents in his pocket, which he paid out for a bushel of wheat. Then commenced the trial in earnest with the wilderness. He selected a place for his future home, where his son Lemuel now resides. It was not, however, until April 6, 1831, that he permanently located thereon. His purchase consisted of one hundred and thirteen acres, of which seventy- five were located in Carlisle township, and thirty- eight in Eaton. He is accredited with having hauled the first load of wheat from Wayne county, Ohio, which he distributed among the settlers.

While in New York State he had been extensively engaged in the manufacture of pot and pearl ashes, and had also learned the cooper's trade, both of which industries he carried on after settling in his new western home. His father had once been in comfortable circumstances, but he sold his property in the east, taking in payment four thousand dollars of continental money, just prior to the congressional act of repudiation. He lost everything, and, on returning to Otsego county, then an old man, he never recovered either his health or his fortune. Hence, it fell upon Ebenezer to make his own way in the world, which he did, meeting with many reverses, among others, losing a large number of barrels of ashes by the embargo placed on American products, during the war of 1812. With a perseverance commendable of his race, he moved to the then " far west," as above stated, and there resumed his old time avocations, utilizing the surplus timber, and bringing into the then infant settlement considerable money for his ashes.

November 9, 1840, he commenced building a saw mill on Black Creek, sawing the first log therein on the day of General Harrison's inauguration as president of the United States, March 4, 1841. Mr. Abbey was a man of but little school education, but of native shrewdness and natural ability. After accumulating enough to make his family comfortable, he applied his surplus to paying some old debts from his old home in New York, of more than two hundred dollars, thus freeing himself from all old obligations, and allowing him to enjoy a clear conscience for the remainder of his days. His wife was of the same family of Blanchards as that from which sprung Mrs. President Hayes, and in her humble sphere did equal honor to her respectable ancestry.

Lemuel Abbey, son of the above, was born in- Otsego county, N. Y., January 23, 1821. He was early taught sound practical lessons of industry and self-reliance, which have since been of great benefit to him. On the 25th of March, 1859, he married Sarah, daughter of William Lawson, of Eaton, formerly of Yorkshire, England. She was born August 29, 1826. They have had _ no children. In early years, Mr. Abbey was taught to "follow the plow," and has most of his life been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a man of sound judgment, and of an intelligent and inquiring nature. In political faith, he is a staunch and unswerving republican, and in religious belief, a liberal thinker, and not a member of any particular denomination. His sterling integrity and the even rectitude of his life require no orthodox affiliations to bring him within the pale of consistent christianity, nor do any who as closely live up to the Golden Rule as does he.

OEL DURKEE.

The Durkee family in America traces its ancestry to three brothers who left Scotland at an early day and settled in New England. Prior to the commencement of the present century, we find Joseph Durkee, grandfather of our subject, settled in Connecticut, where Alba Durkee, son of the latter and father of Oel, was born. They were a hardy and industrious race, and also possessed the quality of economy, that has become a well-known characteristic of their race. The mother of Oel Durkee was Thankful Whitcomb, and she died at Pottsdam, St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1811, when he was but four years of age. On the death of his wife, Alba Durkee returned to Pittsfield, Rutland county, Vermont, where he had resided previous to his removal to New York State. Two of his daughters rode horseback, and Mr. Durkee carried on a pillow an infant of only four months old.

Oel Durkee was born in Pittsfield, Vermont, October 28, 1807. His early boyhood was passed in Stockbridge, Windsor county, in the same State, where he lived until he was about seventeen years of age. On his parents' removal to York State, he was an infant, and, on his father's return to Vermont, he rode behind him on the same horse. He then went to live with an uncle, Norman Weber, and resided with him until he was about fifteen. His sisters made their home with Ebbe Durkee, an uncle. The father married again and returned to Pottsdam, New York,

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where he remained a few years, returning temporarily to Pittsfield, and subsequently removing to Bethany, Genesee county, New York, where he died. His second wife's maiden name was Sarah Newton. By her he had six children ; by his first wife, seven, namely: Elizabeth, Joseph, Cynthia, Thomas, Lucy, Oel and Nancy, of whom the first, third, sixth and seventh named survive.

At the age of seventeen, Oel went to Nashua, New Hampshire, and worked on the canal five years. He met with many reverses. He made his home, winters, at Stockbridge, Vermont. He afterward removed to Allegany, now Wyoming county, New York, where he engaged as a farm laborer. He there married Betsey Terrey, in 1830. Four years later, he came to Ohio, and settled on the farm where he still resides, in Eaton township. Their children numbered eleven, of whom six are living. They were Mason A., born November 12, 1831; Nancy, born July 16, 1833; (two dying in infancy unnamed); Fidelia, born June 20, 1838, died July 17, 1871; Hiram, born January 2, 1840, killed at South Mountain, Maryland, September 14, 1862; Persis, born March 12, 1841, died February 29, 1848; Oel, Jr., born December 2, 1843; Betsey Eveline, born February 18, 1845; Horace A., born June 29, 1848; and Oscar A., born August 1, 1849. Those deceased are Fidelia, Persis and Hiram. Those living are all married, and are respectable members of society. Mr. and Mrs. Durkee have three great-grand children and twenty-two grand-children, with fair prospects of having these numbers largely augmented. Mrs. Durkee was born in the town of Pike, Allegany county, New York, June 12, 1810. Her father was Peleg Mason Terry; her mother, Betsey Swift. They were married on Thanksgiving day, 1808. They had three children: Lorinda and Betsey, the other dying in infancy. The Terrys moved into Ohio in 1836, settled in Eaton township, and lived and died there-Mrs. Terry dying in 1838, and her husband January 28, 1875. He married the widow of a Mr. Nye, and she survives.

Mr. Durkee can recall the time when there had not been a tree cut from a half mile south of Butternut ridge and Rawsonville, the whole territory being covered with a dense forest. On arriving in Eaton, he moved into a log shanty, with eight others, all living in one room, and continued to live in this way for almost three months. The shanty served as a habitation for almost two years, when he built a small frame house, which was succeeded in 1849, by his present residence—an illustration of which appears on another page of this volume.

Mr. Durkee and his excellent wife are in every sense a worthy couple. They have lived together nigh unto half a century, and we trust they will both live and enjoy good health and prosperity for many years after celebrating their golden wedding. Mr. Durkee is in politics a staunch republican; in religion, a free thinker.

WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS, ESQ.

Among the few surviving pioneers of Eaton township, none ante-date the arrival of 'Squire Phillips, It is nearly fifty-three years since he settled in Eaton, and with the exception of a few years' absence, has continued to reside where he now lives during that period. William H. Phillips was born in Greene county, New York, September, 17, 1809. He is the son of Henry and Abigail (Finch) Phillips, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, on the 9th of June, 1786, the latter in the same State, October 12, 1784. The family is of Anglo-German descent, and combines the sturdiness of the former with the frugality of the latter, in their character. On the 26th of October, 1826, William H. Phillips removed to Ohio and settled in Eaton township, Lorain county, upon the place he now lives and has almost ever since occupied. He married Maria Slater, November 10, 1839. She died January 16, 1868. They had six children, namely : William A., Letitia (deceased), Edgar A., who was shot July 9, 1864, near Martins_ burg, Virginia, while serving his country as a soldier, Gorda C., and Lena M. Phillips. Mr. Phillips is a republican, and has been honored with nearly every township office, notably those of assessor, which he held over twenty years, and justice of the peace for fifteen years at the completion of his present term. He honestly performs the duties of his office, and gives general satisfaction in the same.

JOHN ROACH,

was born in Market Arborough, Leicestershire, England, April 20, 1811. He embarked at Liverpool, in March, 1857, and landed at Castle Garden, New York, in the following May. The ship he came over on had quite a tempestuous passage, but arrived at its destination safely. While waiting to move west, the wharf on which was stowed the baggage of the emigrants

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gave way, and nearly all the personal effects were precipitated into the ocean, and most of the same were lost. After a brief stay in New York, Mr. Roach proceeded up the Hudson river to Albany, and took the cars there for Amherst, where he remained until the following fall. In the meanwhile he lost his wife, Elizabeth Eames Roach, of Clipsom, England, to whom he was married in 1831. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Mary, who married Samuel Maddock of Henry county, Ohio; Ann, who married Henry Townsend of Carlisle township; Joseph, who married Eliza Bonner, now living in Nebraska; William, who was killed in the army, by the accidental discharge of a comrade's revolver in 1862; Betsey, who married Henry Montague, and resides on the adjoining farm to her father; Sophia, who married Peter Watts, Kingston, Indiana; Thomas, unmarried, and resides with his father:

In 1860, Mr. Roach settled on Plum Creek, in Carlisle township, where he remained about one year. In 1861 he permanently located on the place where he now lives, which is a neatly kept and well cultivated farm of fifty acres, having upon it comfortable buildings, an illustration of which appears on another page of this work.

In politics Mr. Roach is a republican. He has held the offices of township trustee, and supervisor of the road district in which he resides. In religious belief he is a Baptist. He is an industrious and economical farmer; honest and fair in his dealings with others, and one of whom it can be truly said that he is an upright man, a good neighbor and citizen.