236 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO

HENRIETTA.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

THE TOWNSHIP is described on the county records as town number five, in range nineteen of the Connecticut Western Reserve. Its position in the county is in the western tier of townships ; to the north, Brownhelm ; to the east Russia ; to the south, Camden; to the west, the county line. The surface in its general features is quite level, with pleasing undulations in those portions through which its small streams run, particularly in the northwest corner. The soil is generally a clay loam, with a more sandy soil in small portions. The water courses are Chance creek in the eastern part, Leonard brook in the western, both tributaries of the Vermillion river, which makes a detour into the northwest corner of the township, from Erie county. The east branch of the Vermillion traverses the south west part. There are a few other smaller streams, mere rivulets, one of which is Division brook, in the northern part. The principal original kinds of timber were whitewood, white oak, hickory, walnut, white and black ash, beech, elm and basswood. At an early period, evidently long previous to settlement, a terrific hurricane swept through the township, by which all of the larger timber, for over a half a mile in width, was blown down. This district is called "The Windfall." It is plainly indicated by the younger and more uniform growth of the timber than that of the adjoining territory, the varieties consisting chiefly of white and black ash, elm, oak, hickory, maple and cherry.

SURVEY.

The township was surveyed by Edward Durand in connection with other territory. The three northern tiers of lots, constituting about one-third of the area of the township, formed a part of Brownhelm until the year 1827, when they were set off to Henrietta; and, on the county map, it will be noticed that those lots are numbered continuously with those of Brownhelm. The remainder of the township was surveyed in connection with territory lying south of it. The survey began at the southern boundary of the Western Reserve, in the township of Troy, then Lorain county, now Ashland, and the land divided into fifteen tracts, numbers twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen being in this township. These were subdivided into lots. That part of the gore embraced in Henrretta is divided into lots twenty-three, twenty-four and twenty-five. The part detached from. Brownhelm was originally owned by Col. Brown, by contract with the Connecticut Land Company, and the rest of the township by different persons.

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SETTLEMENT.

The family that is generally accorded the honor of being the first settlers in the township was that of Simeon Durand. Durand was a native of France. At the age of sixteen years, be and a brother, Merari, accompanied La Fayette to America, Simeon acting as the general's interpreter, and, in that capacity, continued to serve him until the close of the Revoluntion. He married soon after the close of the war, and settled in Essex county, New York. He lived there until the winter of 1817, when, with wife and youngest child, the older children coming subsequently, he removed to Henrietta. He settled on lot ninety-eight, and the family lived under a shelter made of poles and covered with bark until a more civilized habitation could be provided. His purchase comprised one hundred and sixty acres.

The life of this hardy pioneer came to a close on his original farm, May 25, 1831. His wife survived him many years, and reached the advanced age of ninety. Her death occurred in the year 1854, at the house of her son Merari, in the township of Russia. She possessed, in a marked degree, those qualities necessary to a successful combat with the hardships of pioneer life. The remainder of the children came into the township subsequently. Lucinda, the oldest, married Joseph Powers in New York, with whom she removed to Henrietta from the State of Vermont a ew years after the first settlement. Deacon Powers, as he came to be called, kept a public house here for many years, and was also a leading member of the Baptist church. His location was on the same lot on which Durand located. He lived for a time in (,Wisconsin subsequent to his settlement in Henrietta, but returned and died here. His widow died in New Jersey.

Hiram Durand, the next oldest of the children, with his family, settled on a part of his father's farm. He did not remain long in the township, however, removing to Illinois and, subsequently to California. Louisa married a cousin Durand. They, many years ago, removed to Michigan. Edward was one of the most prominent citizens of Henrietta, and was well known throughout the county for many years. He has held the offices of county surveyor and county auditor, justice of the peace and other township offices. He removed with his family to Wisconsin, and died there soon after of cholera. He was twice married; first to a daughter of Thompson Blair, of Amherst. She died some fifteen years afterwards, and he subsequently married a widow Burrell, of Sheffield. The next of the children was Teressa. She is now a widow, living in Avon. Betsey married Charles Wells, of Henrietta; afterwards removed to Illinois, and died there. Merari, the youngest, married twice and was the father of twelve children, ten of whom are living, and one, Dorleski, wife of L. N. Higgins, in Henrietta.

The next family that settled in town was that of Calvin Leonard. He was a native of Bennington county, Vermont, removed to Cayuga county New York, when eighteen years of age, whence, in the summer of 1816, on foot and alone with his pack on his back, he came to Henrietta. He purchased some three hundred acres on the lot (ninety-seven) next west of Durand, and twenty-five (gore). Choice of location with the first settlers was determined not so much by the quality of soil as by a desire for new neighbors, and we usually find them locating upon land adjoining, or near, that on which a settlement had been made. Young Leonard cleared a small piece on lot ninety-seven, built his log cabin, and, the following winter, returned to New York to consummate an arrangement previously made with Miss Tryphena Root, immediately after the fulfillment of which he set out for the far west with ox-team and sled and a few household goods. His wife came by stage to Buffalo, and there joined her husband. The weather was propitious for this primitive bridal journey. It is authentically stated that the first snow, that season, fell the day before they started and disappeared the day after their arrival in Henrietta. Where Elyria now is, a bear was seen to cross their .path a short distance in front of them. That part of the county was then an almost unbroken wilderness. Mr. Leonard was better off, as regards ready means, than perhaps any of the earlier pioneers. He had the money to pay for his land, and that can rarely be said of the settler in that early day. He was, moreover, an enterprising, hid ustrious farmer, and eventually became well off. Their family consisted of three children, Jeannette, Cuyler and Hervey. The daughter became the wife of Rev. Oliver W. Mather, a Presbyterian minister who was a graduate of Yale College. At the time of his marriage he was located at Birmingham, Erie county, but preached also at other points. He eventually returned to Connecticut, and died there. Mrs. Mather died many. years previous, at the residence of her brother Hervey, in Henrietta. Cuyler graduated at Hudson College, remained a tutor there for two years, then studied law, and was for many years a leading member of the bar of Sandusky City. He married a young lady of high social rank in Danbury, Connecticut. His death took place in 1859. Hervey Leonard resides in Oberlin, having, a few years since, removed there from Henrietta, where he had resided on the farm, on which he was barn, for forty-nine consecutive years. His first wife was Maretta 0. Wheden, of Washington county, New York, originally but subsequently of Oberlin, where she graduated. She died in 1868, and Mr. Leonard married, three years afterward; Mrs. Helen M. Dart, of Oberlin, with whom he is now living.

Next in order came Ruluff Aldress and John Denison, and their families, in the fall of 1817. They were also from New York, as were nearly all of the early settlers. The women and children came by boat from Dunkirk to the mouth of Black river, and were thirteen days on the water, and experienced an

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almost unprecedently rough voyage. Their store of provisions was exhausted on their arrival at Black river, having nothing in that line, except half a barrel of salt beef, which Denison had put aboard. Andress and Denison came through with their teams, and arrived at the mouth of Black river, where they expected to find their families, three days in advanes of them.

Andress located east of Durand, taking up a hundred and sixty acres. He was a carpenter and joiner, and was much employed in the building of mills, bridges, etc. He built for Perez Starr. of Birmingham, the first dam across the Vermillion. He also built a mill for Mr. Starr. Andress subsequently removed to Huron county, where, in a little place called Pucker-brush, he kept hotel for a time. His wife died while there, and he afterwards returned to Henrietta, where he died in-about the year 1855. His was a busy, useful life. Of his nine children, four are yet living. The oldest of these, Almon, lives in Birmingham, who, although feeble in body, retains his memory unimpaired, and we are indebted to him for many facts relating to the early settlement of the township. Milo is a Mormon, living in polygamy at Salt Lake. Charlotte (Mrs. Abbott) and Harriett (Mrs. Lang) reside in Iowa.

Mr. Denison made his location just west of Henrietta Hill. He was possessed of some ready means on his arrival, but instead of paying for his land, he kept his money for possible contingencies. A combination of adverse events exhausted his resources, and he was finally dispossessed of his land, by which he lost all that he had expended in the improvement of it. He then rented land of Calvin Leonard for a number of years, and then, his wife having died, he took up his abode with his daughter, Mrs. Bristol, in Birmingham, with whom he spent the remainder of his life. He died March 11, 1866. His wife died February 12, 1826. She was carried to the grave upon an ox cart, on which the mourners also rode. Four of his six children are living, viz: Mrs. Lewis, in Ridgeville; Mrs. D. C. Marsh and Mrs. Charles A. Bristol, in Birmingham; and John S., in Henrietta. The latter has lived in the town longer than any other present resident of the township.

Joseph Swift moved into town this same year, from Connecticut, and settled in the northwest corner of the township, then the southwest corner of Brown- helm, on lot eighty-one. He eventually owned a large amount of land on the Vermilion bottom, on which he raised immense crops of corn, and that locality claimed to be called "Egypt." His product of this cereal one season was five thousand bushels, which he sold for one dollar per bushel. He was an enterprising, successful farmer, and acquired a large property. He built a house as early as 1840, which cost some five thousand dollars. It was a grand structure for the time, with pillars which were brought all the way from Albany, New York. This house is now occupied by Nicholas Wilbur. Swift married a sister of Mrs. .Calvin Leonard, Elisabeth Boot, and had family of six children, four of whom are living, follows: Joseph, in Iowa; Elisha and Mrs. Coole near Jackson, Michigan; and Mrs. Griggs, in Detroit Mr. Swift died at Grass Lake, Michigan, about th years since, and his widow now resides there. Alm and Jedediah Holcomb and their families moved in, the spring of 1820. They have now no descendant in the township.

Uriah Hancock joined the settlement in 1820. It was a wheelwright, and had a machine shop on Leon and brook, in an early day. He subsequently remov to Illinois, and died there. His second son, Smith Hancock, was killed in a somewhat singular manned. He was riding in an ox cart loaded with hogs, one the wheels of which coming into collision wih stump, the cart was overturned upon him, killing him almost instantly.

Squire Abbott joined the settlement in June, 1825. He was originally from Massachusetts, but removed to New York at an early date, and thence to Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and subsequently to this township, as stated. He made his location on Henrietta Hill, and struck the first blow ever made there. His habitation occupied the spot on which is now the residence of Ansel Hales. Mr. Abbott w a Baptist preacher, and was the first settled ministe in town. His wife was Annie Spafford, also of Massachusetts. His death occurred in December, 1853,, at the age of eighty-one years and six months. His wife died in January, 1845. Their daughter Wealthy, is the wife of Almeron Stedman, of Henrietta, who came into the township in 1827. Mr. Stedman had previously made a journey from Litchfield, Connecticut, to Kingsville, in Ashtabula county, for th purpose of visiting an uncle, and while there met Miss Abbott, whom he afterwards married in Henrietta.

He took up fifty acres on lot one hundred and one, a short distance south of the Hill, on the north and south center road, and he still occupies his orig inal purchase, which has been increased by subsequent additions. His primitive log cabin stood a little south of his present neat frame house. Although Mr. Stedman settled here ten years after the first settlement was made, there was not even then a stick cut south of him to Brighton. Mrs. Stedman is a woman of much intelligence, possesses a tenacious memory as to early events, and has given the writer many facts in the history of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Stedman, now well advanced in life, raised a family of thirteen children, all of whom lived to adult life. Justin Abbott, the oldest of Squire Abbott's family, died in Minnesota. Anna was the wife of Amos Morse, one of the early settlers in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, and is now living in widowhood, in Nebraska. Susan became the wife of Ferris Webster, spent her married life in Jefferson, Ashtabula county, and died there. Orlan is living in Kansas. Thirza married Orlando Holcomb, both

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now living in Iowa. Mary (Mrs. William Hawkins,) lives in Camden, and Eli in Iowa.

Prominent among subsequent arrivals: was that of Moses Fuller, In 1831, from Mount Morris, Livingston county, New York, with his wife and one child. He located on the farm now occupied by Horace Sanders. He built on Chance creek, a sawmill, the first mill in the township and an embankment the terrains of his dam; can yet be seen. He ingeniously Attached a spinning-wheel, which was propelled by the same motive power, and his industrious wife :spent many an hour with it, behind the roaring dam.

He died in Wauseon, Fulton county, Ohio, in August, 1877, having removed there some seven or eight years previous. He was a worthy member of the Baptist church in Henrietta for forty years, and left at his death many friends, who revered him for his many admirable traits of character. His widow still survives him in Wauseon. He was the father of nine children, two of whom reside in this township. Mrs. S. 0. Wellman, whose husband died in December, 1875, and a son, Byron.

William Hales moved into the township at about this time, and located on the farm now owned by Adam Hensner, on lot eighty-eight. He subsequently changed his location to the hill, purchasing the farm now owned by his son Ansel. He resided here until 1872, when he removed to North Amherst, where he now lives in his seventy-sixth year. He is the father of eleven children, all of whom are living, four in this township, three in Amherst, and one in Brownhelm.

William Ferguson, Clinton Dunham and Nathan Bristol were also early settlers in this part of town.

Simeon Shepard, with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, came to Henrietta from Madison county, New York, in about the year 1830. He settled on the State road, about a mile and a half east of Birmingham, on lot ninety-eight. He cleared up a farm of one hundred acres, and lived upon it until his death, in 1868. His widow survived him three years. Three of the five children are living, viz: Jacob, in Henrietta on a farm of sixty-six acres, one- half mile south of the center, and. Oliver and Sarah, in Iowa. Simeon, Jr., died in Texas, September 17, 1878, and Lucy (Mrs. Sizer), many years ago, in Henrietta.

Silas Wood, a native of New York, removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio with his parents in 1824. The family settled in Greenfield, Huron county. He married, in 1827, Hannah Ennes, whose parents came to Birmingham in 1825. He afterwards became a member of the firm of Hawley & Whittlesey, proprietors of a woolen factory and carding machine near Birmingham, Erie county. Several years afterward he purchased a farm in Berlin, in that county, and took up his residence there for a year or two, and then moved into this town, buying one hundred acres of Calvin Leonard. He eventually removed to Birmingham, and built a stone grist mill, and also engaged in merchandise. Mr. Wood's life was one of great activity. He possessed excellent business qualifications, and amassed a fine property. He died of heart disease in 1860, and his wife died subsequently. Four of his five children are now living, viz: Mrs. Althida Arnold and George S., in Birmingham, and Mrs. Hannah A. Kline and Mrs. Sarah A. Strauss, in Oberlin.

A family by the name of Pike settled in the gore at an early date. A son, James, was a military officer, and fought at Lundy's Lane. He was afterwards much engaged in forming and drilling rifle companies. He was a man of local prominence, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was killed in 1821 while at work in the woods, a tree which he cut down falling on him.

The first permanent settler in the south part of the township was John Hunter, who removed from Cayuga county, New York, in about the year 1830. He bought one hundred acres in the north part of lot ten, in tract twelve, and afterwards added the north part of lot nine, erecting his cabin on the former lot. He eventually removed to Florence, Erie county.

John H. Hawkins came in in 1834, and made his purchase in lots ten and eleven. Ile rolled together his log house and cut out a door, and with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, "moved in." He added a roof and floor afterwards. Without means, not even a team, and with a large family to support, Hawkins found life in Henrietta woods an uphill struggle, and after several years of hard toil, which was only moderately rewarded, removed to the prairies of Illinois, where a farm could be brought under cultivation with less difficulty. He died there a• few years after, and his widow eventually became insane.

Sometime in 1834, might have been seen an aged couple traveling on foot along the angling road that led from Birmingham to Camden. They were William Bates and his wife, from New York State, on their way to Camden, to visit some of their children who had settled there, and to examine the country, reports of the excellence of which had been sent back by the children. After returning, Mr. Bates being pleased with the western country, disposed of his property in New York, and with the residue of his family, except William Bates, Jr., who remained in New York, emigrated to Henrietta, arriving in 1836. The family located on lots thirteen and fourteen in tract twelve, purchasing of Robert Johnson and James Peak, who had made a beginning there. The Bates' eventually owned the whole of those lots, and. except a small portion they are still in their possesion or that of their descendants. The pioneer Bates was twice married and became the father of fifteen children, ten boys and five girls. The family was not only remarkable for its size numerically, but also for the stature of its members, their great physical strength, and their longevity. The ten sons aggregated a hight of nearly sixty-two feet. These characteristics were doubtless inherited from the father,

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who, it is said, was a powerful man, weighing over three hundred pounds. He died in the fall of 1848, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, and was buried on the bank of the Vermillion. His remains, however, were subsequently removed to the South Henrietta burying ground. Two sons and three daughters are yet living, all of whom are well advanced in life. Two of the daughters are aged respectively eighty-eight and eighty-four. Bennett Bates and Thaxter Bates reside in Henrietta.

Henry Rosa, with his family of wife and four children, moved into Henrietta in 1835, from Birmingham, Erie county, whither be had come two years previously from Cayuga county, New York. He took up his residence on fifty acres of lot ten, tract twelve, which had been purchased by his oldest son, James H. Rosa. A log house had been built on the place some two years previously, by Alexander Ennes, of New York, who, on selling, removed to Birmingham where he now resides. This farm is still owned and occupied by Mr. Rosa, Sr., who is now eighty-five years of age. He married Mary Hawkins, who died about twenty years ago. Mr. Rosa served in the war of 1812. His son, James H. Rosa, resides on one hundred and fourteen acres in lot nine.

He is the present justice of the peace for the south part of the township.

Moses R. Mapes, a native of Pennsylvania, moved in in the spring of 1838, from Florence township, Erie county, taking up his residence on lot twelve, track fourteen. Ha married Elizabeth Hawkins, of Newburg, Orange county, New York, and raised a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. She died in the spring of 1843, and Mr. Mapes subsequently married a Mrs. Tisdel, of Vermillion, where he resided for several years previous to his death, which took place in March, 1861. Three of the children now live in the township. Harvey, who lives on the farm to which he removed over thirty years ago; Samuel, who lives on the farm first occupied by John Hunter; and Rosella, now Mrs. Barhyte, who resides on the farm cleared up by John Hawkins. Her husband, Richard Barhyte, was killed by a kick from his horse, December 25, 1874.

Robert Johnson was the first settler on lot thirteen. He died soon after settlement, and his widow subsequently married Jacob Ennes, of Birmingham. She finally became insane, and hung herself to a limb of tree on the bank of the river.

Further east we find as early settlers, John Balys, Medad Buckley, Aldridge and Roswell Allen, Benjamin Griffin, Levi Vincent, John Jewel, Thomas McCreedy, Richard Call, John Henderson, and two families by the names of Lewis and Billings. Balys and Buckley were the first permanent settlers on lots sixteen and seventeen, in tract twelve. Balys preceded his family, who arrived in 1834. After a residence of many years in Henrietta, he removed to Berlin, Erie county, but subsequently returned to this township, and bought out John Hunter. He afterward sold to Samuel G. Mapes, his son-in-law, and moved to Elyria, and died there. He was the first justice of the peace in South Henrietta.

The Allens located on lot fifteen. Roswell built a saw mill on the east branch of the Vermillion, in an early day, which, however, proved an unprofitable venture,—the dam continually breaking away. He some ten years since, removed to Iowa, where he now lives. Aldridge died in 1875, aged eighty.

Levi Vincent settled in 1834, purchasing fifty acres each in lots four and five, of Judge Ely. He was originally from Canada East, but emigrated to Lake county, Ohio, where he remained in the township eighteen months, and then came to Henrietta. and his aged wife are still living on the original purchase.

Thomas McCreedy was an early settler in Brownhelm, whence he removed to Henrietta. He is a native of Plattsburgh, New York, and removed to Cleveland in 1834. He remained there three or four years, engaged principally in chopping wood, cutting in eighteen months seven hundred cords. His next move was to Brownhelm, where he lived some thirteen years, and then moved to Henrietta, and purchased forty-nine acres on lot thirteen, tract thirteen. To this he has since added, and now owns something over seventy-one acres. His first wife died in 1845, while residing in Brownhelm, and he married, three years subsequently, the widow of Caleb Dunham. Mr. and Mrs. McCreedy are still living, aged respectively seventy-five and seventy-seven.

Jonathan Toof, and a man by the name of Mills, were also early settlers on this road.

Still further east, Captain Elias Mann and Andrew Peabody. Mann was perhaps the earliest settler in this part of the township. All we know of him is that he owned a small patch of ground on which he had a log cabin.

Peabody settled where he still resides, on lot one hundred and four. He came to Henrietta with his family, in 1835, his native State being New Hampshire. His first wife died ninny years ago. He remarried, and his second wife is also dead. She lived only a few months after her marriage. Mr. Peabody is in his eighty-third year.

Richard Kelly and John Petty were also early settlers in this section of the town. Petty emigrated to America from Yorkshire, England, when a young man, worked in a coal mine in Pennsylvania, for a time, and then came to the township of Russia, purchased fifty acres of land, married and raised a family. After a residence there of many years, he came to Henrietta. He is still living on the windfall road, with his younger children, aged seventy-six.

The most of lot seven, tract twelve, was originally settled by Newell, Jesse and Chapman M. Cook, brothers. The former two came to Henrietta in 1837, and the latter in 1838. They were from New York, and all very poor when they came to Henrietta; but they were industrious, and cheerfully endured the hardships of those early times. The first work of

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clearing that Newell and Jesse did for others, in order that no time might be wasted in going back and forth for their meals, they carried a store of provisions with them to the woods, and kept bachelors' hall in a largo hollow log. Newell was not long to enjoy the fruit of his toil; he died in 1843. Jesse moved to Camden in 1857; he served the Baptist Church in Henrietta for upward of thirty consecutive years. Chapman still lives on the old homestead, on lot seven.

PIONEER HARDSHIPS, DANGERS AND AMUSEMENTS.

The pioneers of Henrietta, while exempt from some of the hardships by which those of other townships, which were settled before the close of the war of 1812, were surrounded, were nevertheless subject to many privations and hardships of which it is difficult for

who have not actually experienced them, to form an adequate conception. The first settlers here lived in almost complete isolation. There were other settlers in Brownhelm, but they lived on the lake shore between which and the southern part of that township lay an unbroken forest of some five miles in extent, and there was, therefore, but little intercourse between the two sections. Provisions were sometimes scarce and difficult to obtain. The nearest grist mill was not far away—Col. Brown's, on the Vermillion- but it was not in operation much of the time and long journeys would have to be made to get the grain ground into flour. The earlier settlers in Henrietta frequently carried their grain to a mill at Cold creek, near Sandusky, to get their grinding done. Simeon Durand once carried on his back a bushel of wheat to Rocky river to get it ground.

Murrain attacked the cattle with terribly fatal results, and a disease among the sheep, of which they died in large numbers, while many were killed by the predatory wolf. The woods abounded in wild animals of which the wolf was the most annoying to the inhabitants, not only because of his frequent incursions into the farmer's sheepfold, but also on account of his nightly howls around the lonely cabin. He was a ravenous animal, and even deer would frequently become the victim of his rapacity. They showed a great deal of ingenuity in capturing the deer, an animal too fleet to be overtaken by pursuit. Christopher Shaffer, an old hunter through this region, now living in Florence, relates that on a certain occasion, as he was going to his traps in Henrietta, he came upon the path, in the show, of a pack of wolves, and he followed it up. For some distance the path showed that they had traveled along in single file, when suddenly it disappeared from the hunter's sight. On looking around him, however, he found numerous tracks on both sides of the path, indicating that from some cause they had suddenly dispersed. On further examination the skeleton of a large buck was found. The wolves, on discerning the deer had instantly broken ranks, surrounded him, and thus secured their prey.

Occasionally the farmers in several adjoining townships would organize a grand hunting party. The object was two-fold--to enjoy the fine sport which such a hunt furnished, and to rid the country of the wolf, which, however, was not frequently caught. The first of these hunts was organized in January, 1828, under the lead of Captain Tracy, of Amherst, and centered in this township. Men from Henrietta, Brownhelmn, Amherst, Russia, Brighton, and Florence, Erie county, participated. The method of the sport was to surround a large tract of country, the line thus formed moving gradually toward the center. The sport was not without danger from cross-firing as the hunters approached each other, and instances of fatal accident are not wanting. On this occasion a man by the name of Harris, of Amherst, who was on horseback, was shot in the ankle. A large quantity of game was killed, including a bear. Calvin Leonard, John Denison and Almeron Stedman, of Henrietta, were members of this hunting party.

Wild hogs were numerous, and the male often dangerous. A man by the name of Manville, living in Wakeman, was once attacked, and being without means of defence, the boar struck him in the leg, terribly lacerating the flesh. He ran to the nearest stump) climbed upon it, and remained there until the hog disappeared. Shaffer himself was thus once attacked, but having his rifle with him, he proved more than a match for his adversary. One night while he and his father lay in their hut, at the sugar bush, in the south part of Henrietta,—which they established long previous to the advent of the white settler there,—they were arroused by a commotion outside, in which their dog apparently had a part. On going out to see, it was found that the dog had seized a cub bear. The old gentleman ran into the cabin for his gun, the old bear, in the meantime, intent on seeing fair play, coming to the assistance of her cub. She rushed at Shaffer, Sr., furiously, but he quietly brought the rifle to his shoulder and fired, killing the brute on the spot. The cub escaped in the woods, the dog only too glad to part company with his embracing antagonist.

Indians annually visited Henrietta for many years after the settlement. They would come in the fall, and remain to hunt through the winter. They had a little camp, soon after the close of the war, in the southern part of the township, on the east branch of the Vermillion, and one, of twelve or fifteen families, long subsequent on Chace creek, just east of Mr. Stedman's. They were peaceably disposed, and the inhabitants experienced no annoyance from them.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first wedding was that of Joseph Swift and Elizabeth Root. This interesting event took place August 22, 1818. The nuptial knot was tied by Rev. Alvin Coe. Among the earliest marriages was that of Festus Powers and Sally Andress, which occurred sometime in 1819.

242 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

The first death was that of Betsey Holcomb. She died August 24, 1818, at the age of eighteen years. The male inhabitants met, and selected a site for a burying ground, on land belonging to Edward Durand. Smith Hancock and Almon Andress brushed off apiece of ground, and there dug the grave.

Henry Brown Holcomb was the first child born. It is said that Colonel Brown had promied to give the parents of the first child born in what was then Brownhelm, the sum of fifty dollars, and that that amount was endorsed on the land contract of Squire Holcomb, who had made his purchase of Colonel Brown. The births of Jeannette Leonard and Charlotte Andress were among the earliest.

Dr. Forbes was the first physician. He came into the township in about the year 1821; his family subsequently.

Joseph Powers' was the first house opened for the accommodation of travelers. Subsequently the large frame house on the hill, owned by Anson Hales, was built by James Durand, and kept by him as a hotel. The stage road was a great thoroughfare in those days, and Durand's large hotel was almost constantly filled. General Winfield Scott, accompanied by his staff, has been a guest at this house.

A post office was established on the hill, soon after the organization of the town, and Squire Abbott was appointed the first post master. The office was subsequently held successively by Edward Durand, Moses Fuller, Harvey Page, Stephen Jones, and Ansel Hales, the last-named being the present incumbent.

Edward Durand kept the first store in the town, in the house built by him, and now occupied by Harvey Page.

Thuman Bodfish, at the present time, has a store on the hill, which is the only one in town.

ORGANIZATION.*

Henrietta was organized in 1827. In November, 1826, the inhabitants in the south part of Brownhelm petitioned the commissioners to take off the three south tiers of lots and to attach them to unsettled lands lying south, and incorporate the same into a township. The petitioners look occasion to say that it was seven miles from the lake shore to the south line of the township; that there had been but little communication between the north and south settlements; and that it was extremely inconvenient for some of the people to attend on the public business of the town. The prayer of the petition was rejected; but at the same session of the commissioners it was ordered that tracts nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, in range nineteen, with surplus lots lying west of said tracts, be erected into a township by the name of Henrietta, and be attached to Brighton for judicial purposes. This township, as thus formed, included a large part of the present township of Camden and a little more than two-thirds

* Boynton.

of the present township of Henrietta. As organized, it was not satisfactory to the inhabitants in the south, part of Brownhelm, and in February, 1827, upon their petition, two tiers of lots, being over a mile in width, were detached from the south part of Brownhelm and annexed to Henrietta; and tract number, nine was detached from Henrietta and annexed to Brighton. An election was ordered for township officers, which took place in April, 1827. Calvin Leonard, Simeon Durand and Smith Hancock, were elected trustees; Justin Abbott, clerk; Joseph Powers, treasurer; Obed Holcomb, overseer of the poor; John E. Page, fence viewer; Joseph Weston, conga. ble; Orlando Holcomb, supervisor; Edward Durand, justice of the peace. In March, 1830, lots eighty-six, eighty-seven and eighty-eight were detached from Brownhelm and annexed to Henrietta; and in March, 1835, lots eighty-one, eighty-two, eighty-three, eighty- four and eighty-five, the remainder of the tier, were added.

The present township officers are as follows: C. L. Ferguson, clerk; W. A. Thomas, Washington Covenhoven, Sylvester Petty, trustees; L. A. Higgins, treasurer; Marsena Peabody, assessor; Henry Whitney and Eugene Walker, constables; G. L. Ferguson and James H. Rosa, justices of the peace.

SCHOOLS.

The earliest schools were held at private houses. The first teacher was Marinda Morrison, who taught in the summer of 1819. Soon afterward a rude log school house, with stick chimney, Dutch back fireplace, and whitewood slabs for seats, was erected on the farm of Simeon Durand. Dr. Forbes taught the first school in this structure in the winter of 1821-2. He was a medical practitioner, and was the first doctor in town.

The log school house served its purpose for a few years, and then a frame was built. It was the first frame school house in this section of the country. It was years afterwards sold to Carlo Andress, and is now used on his old place as a barn. Sarah Ann Ingham, James Durand, Lucinda Johnson, and Wealthy Abbott were among the earliest teachers. Durand taught in the winter of 1825, and Miss Abbott the following summer. Her wages were seven shillings per week which were paid in merchandise. The patrons of the school paid in proportion to the number of children they sent. Henrietta occupies a front rank among the townships of Lorain county with respect to the character of her school houses. They are exceeded in their aggregate value by only two other of the townships in the county in which there is not an incorporated village, and in the average value takes the lead. The report of the clerk of the board of education, ending August 31, 1878, gives the following statistics :

Number of houses 6

Aggregate value $2,000

Amount paid teachers $1,194

Number of scholars 247

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHO - 243

RELIGIOUS.

The pioneers of Henrietta were not behind their neighbors in providing for their religious wants. The earliest religious meetings were held at the house of Joseph Powers. This was before the advent of the preacher, and these services were very simple, and, of course, undenominational in character. The first preacher was Rev. Alva Coe, from Boston, a missionary among the Indians. He preached the first sermon in Henrietta, at the house of Calvin Leonard.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptists were the first to move in the matter of a church organization. A society was formed October 10, 1818, by Elder Goodell, of Painesville, of some fourteen or fifteen members, of whom we have only the following names : Joseph Powers and wife, Mrs. Simeon Durand, Betsey Durand, Jedediah Holcomb and wife. Joseph Powers was appointed deacon: The church had occasional preaching by Elder Joseph Phillips, of Berlin, Erie county, and by others, but it was not until 1825 that stated preaching was had. In that year Elder Squire Abbott moved into town from Kingsville, Ashtabula county, and became the pastor of the church. The society gradually increased in membership for two years following, when dissensions of a radical nature arose in the church, which continued for some time, "and were not healed until another doctrine was embraced by the pastor and a large proportion of the members," who withdrew from the church. " In this state of things trying scenes were experienced by those who maintained their allegiance to the church," yet the church kept up its organization, reported to the Huron Association, of which it was a member, and had occasional preaching. The records of the church were taken away by the seceding members, and were not restored until February, 1832. At that time there were ten members. During this and the following year, Peter Lattimer preached occasionally. After this, stated preaching was had. The salary of these early preachers was very small, and not always promptly paid. Until 1837, the meetings of the !church were held in the school house, west of the Hill, and for a year or two subsequently, in the school house on the Hill. In July, 1837, by resolution of the church, the following members were constituted a branch of the church in Birmingham : James and Catharine Daly, Henry and Mary Howe, John and Ann Blair, Richard and Catharine Laughton, and Hannah Brown, and the church took the name of the Henrietta and Birmingham Church. In May, 1840, the Birmingham branch organized independently.

In 1838, Edward Durand, Esq., erected the house on the hill, in which Harvey Page now resides. The upper part was fitted up for an audience room for the use of the church. It was completed in August of that year, and the Huron Association held their annual session with the church in its new place of 'Worship on the 29th and 30th of that month. An act of incorporation, on petition of the church, was granted by the legislatnre of the State, February 28, 1842, under the name of the "First Regular Baptist Church and Society of Henrietta." Chauncey Remington, Philemon Shepard, Daniel Axtell, Moses Fuller and Simeon D. Powers were constituted trustees by said act. In 1850, the church edifice on the hill was erected and dedicated to the worship of God on the 18th of November of that year, the Rev. Mr. Berton, of Elyria, officiating on the occasion, assisted by the pastor, Elder Fuller. Elder Julius Beeman of Lagrange, L. Wilder of Berlin, Erie county, and G. W. Allen of Amherst were present and took part in the exercises. The house cost about one thousand six hundred. The present pastor is Rev. Malcom Wood. William A. Thomas is clerk. Present membership, fifty. The salary of the pastor is five hundred and sixteen dollars. A Sabbath school was organized on the first Sabbath in July, 1832, of about thirty scholars; Philemon Shepard was appointed superintendent. The first teachers were Philemon Shepard, Dennis Powers, Patience Shepard, Venera Shepard and Jane Ellis. There are now eighty-three scholars ,enrolled, with an average attendance of fifty; William A. Thomas, superintendent.

THE UNION CHURCH.

Sometime prior to 1852 a Methodist Episcopal class and a Free Will Baptist society were formed. The constituent members of the Baptist society were the following: Jesse Cook and wife, George Conover, Mrs. Austin and James H. Rosa and wife. We are not informed as to the original members of the Methodist Episcopal class. They held their meetings in the school house in the former school district number three. In the above year they combined in the erection of a church building. The organization was effected under the name of the " Free Church Association," and immediate steps taken to erect a house of worship. Article four of the constitution specifies that the house is to be free to all denominations of Christians, and to all public speakers who have in view moral, religious or political reform, or the advocacy of any benevolent enterprise. A house was accordingly built on lot six, tract twelve, costing about eight hundred dollars, and was dedicated by Elder Whipple of Oberlin. The Methodists afterward withdrew and formed a class in Kipton, but were subsequently divided into two sections by the slavery agitation, and the more radical wing in regard to the question returned to worship with the Baptists as formerly.

The church has now a membership of thirty-two. J. B. Cook is clerk, Jesse Cook is deacon, and E. G. Wightman, officiating deacon. Rev. G. H. Damon of Medina, and Rev. Hushour of Pittsfield, preach every alternate Sabbath. The church has accomplished much good. It has a flourishing Sabbath school of some sixty scholars, of which Charles Buckley is the superintendent.

244 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

UNITED BRETHREN.

There were originally three classes of this denomination—one at the center, one on the first road east of the center, and another on the second road east of the center, called the " Windfall" class. The class at the center was formed in 1855. by Rev. Alva Prescott, an itinerant revivalist preacher, engaged in the organization of classes of this denomination. The other classes were formed a short time previously. They united in their meetings, which were held in an old log school house on the road next east of the center. Rev. Mr. Prescott was their first minister. He remained a year and a half with them. The center and middle classes subsequently united at the center, and erected a house of worship, which is still used by them. It was erected in 1864, and dedicated by Bishop Glossbenner. The present membership is fourteen or fifteen. It had, in more prosperous days, a membership of forty. Robert White is the leader of this class, and Charles McCreedy, steward. After the union of the two classes at the center, the "Windfall" class held their services in private houses in the immediate vicinity, until the erection of a school house, when they occupied that. Marsena Peabody is the present leader, and Thomas Johnson, steward. Rev. Peter Ish, of Oberlin, preaches for both classes.

THE GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH

was organized in the year 1868, with twenty-five or thirty members, by the Rev. George Berg. Meetings were held in the school house in district number one, until the erection, in 1875, of the present neat and commodious house on the State road. It cost some twenty seven hundred dollars, including the furniture, and was dedicated by Rev. Paoles, of Berea. The church is in a flourishing condition, having some fifty members, and has also a prosperous Sabbath school, of which Henry Haneisen is superintendent. Rev. Adam Weber, of Vermillion, preaches once every Sabbath.

THE GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

situated in the western part of the township, a mile south of Birmingham, was organized in 1872, and a building erected, costing eight hundred and fifty dollars. The first preacher of this church was Rev. Kuhler, of Vermillion. Rev. Mr. Brown is the present pastor. The original membership was some twelve in number, and is now twenty. The church has a prosperous Sabbath school, Adam Almroth being the superintendent.

ROADS.

The first road in Henrietta was the old State road, now usually called the telegraph road, which runs a diagonal course through the three northern tiers of lots, passing through lot eighty-eight on the east line, and lot ninety-seven on the west. It was origin ally half a mile south of its present location. Th are now two other east and west roads in the to ship, and five running north and south, besides t county line road; all of which extend through town except the second one east of the county line known as "log lane;" presumably so named from number of logs scattered along the street by t squatters who made their locations there. This is not opened north of the telegraph road.

PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES.

SAW MILLS.—As previously stated, the first saw mill was built by Moses Fuller, on Chance creek; Abner Hancock also had a mill on this creek, and Roswell Allen one at an earlier date in the south part of the town, on the east branch of the Vermillion: There are now two mills of this kind in the township that of D. S. Davis at the hill, and the Currier mill at the center. The Davis mill was built by Durand in about the year 1847. It was destroyed by fire in 1850, and rebuilt since then—machinery for the manufacture of shingles, a blacksmith shop and a wagon shop have been added. The Currier mill was built originally by one Ousterhout. It was burned Glow* after the Currier brothers came into possession, and by them rebuilt.

THE MAPLE GROVE CHEESE FACTORY—Lees and McDowell, proprietors—was by them established in the spring of 1870. It is in a flourishing condition, many improvements having been added during the past year. There is also a cheese factory in he southwest part of the town.

One of the most flourishing enterprises ever carried on in the township, was the ashery of Edward Durand, and although long since dead, deserves mention. It was established as early as 1835, and perhaps at an earlier date. It was originally located just west of the saw mill. Mr. Durand made potash only, but he subsequently removed to the opposite side of the street, and engaged in the manufacture of that article. James Lees, who was formerly in Durand's employ, bought the factory in 1853 or 1854, and carried on the business more extensively than ever before, making saleratus in addition to pearlash. He continued in the business until 1872, when, becoming unprofitable, it was discontinued. A large pile of ashes now marks the location of this early industry. There were at one time also, in the northwest part of the township, near the first settlement, the asheries of Abner Hancock and James Hosford.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Wheat, 803 acres 12,628 bushels.

Oats, 600 " 22,127 "

Corn, 860 " 80,042 "

Potatoes, 47 " 2,542 "

Orchards, 898 " 10,806 "

Meadow, 1,985 " 2,451 tons.

Butter 28,675 pounds.

Cheese 229,520 "

Maple Sugar. 8,575 "

Vote for President in 1876.

Hayes 151

Tilden 66