308 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHI0

LA GRANGE

LA GRANGE is township number four, range seventeen. It presents to one who drives through its territory an appearance of thrift and plenty. Broad, well tilled fields, huge barns, almost bursting with their store, snug farm houses, and beautiful villas meet the eye upon all sides, and silently attest the wisdom, the energy, and the cultivated taste of their owners.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The township is almost perfectly level, except in the extreme eastern and western parts, where it is traversed by small streams. Here the surface is somewhat rolling, The east branch of the Black river flows from south to north, through the eastern portion of the township, and Wellington creek, a small rivulet, diversifies the western part, and adds a pleasing element to the landscape. The soil is, for the most part, clay, or a clay loam, though there are small areas in which sand and gravel appear. Deep down, under all, is the solid sandstone, which, had it lain nearer the surface, would have proved a vast element of wealth. It only appears at the surface in the northwest corner of the township, where it is quarried in a small way.

THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS

of La Grange township were Henry Champion and Lemnel Storrs, the former having drawn two-thirds and the latter one third of the land. These men also had three thousand, seven hundred acres in tract eight, range nineteen, now in Brighton and Camden. In 1825, Champion conveyed his portion of the lands to his son-in-law, Elizur Goodrich, of Hartford, Connecticut. Goodrich was not long in possession of his western estate, for he began exchanging it, in the summer of the same year, for New York State property. Nathan Clark, Roger Phelps, Noah Holcomb, and James Pelton, of Jefferson county, were the first to obtain land of him, and soon others followed their example, the " westward, ho!" fever extended, and so it came about that a colony of New Yorkers was located in the wilderness of southern Lorain county.

Phelps, Holcomb, and Pelton, in the autumn of 1825, came out to examine the land. After a short stay, they returned, and made so favorable a report that others, among whom were David and Asa Rockwood, Fairchild Hubbard, Joseph Robbins, Sylvester Merriam, and Levi Johnson were induced to purchase farms. They, too, exchanged lands with Goodrich.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT

was made by Nathan Clark, on the 14th day of November, 1825. Clark was a native of Harlem, Connecticut, and was married in 1816, to Ann Loomis, who came with him to Ohio. He settled near the east branch of Black river, and resided there for some time, but afterward bought lot number fifty-one, upon which he remained until 1855, when he removed to Michigan, in which State he died in 1860. His first wife died in 1833, and he subsequently married Lucy Barnes.

As soon as the season of 1826 opened so as to allow journeying over the rough roads, and through the almost unbroken woods, the families of Noah Holcomb, Sylvester Merriam, James Disbrow, Joseph A. Graves, James Pelton, Levi Johnson, Curtis Hastings, Charles Rounds and two sons, Joseph Robbins, David and Asa Rockwood and Henry Townsend came into the township, and each established a rude and primitive home. Fairchild Hubbard came in November, from Brighton, where he had been living for several months.

There were, in the latter part of the year 1826, seventy persons within the present limits of LaGrange, some in the east, some in the west, some at the center and still others in the northern and southern portions of the township. All however were neighbors. Men living five miles apart in those days knew more of each other than do many now-a-days who occupy the same city house, and felt more truly friendly concern for each other than exists at present, in most cases, between neighbors whose gardens adjoin. Half a century ago there was a vast deal of sincerity in the daily greetings of the people, a sincerity which the Amer-

Residence of Dr. E. D. Merriam, LaGrange, Lorain Co., Ohio

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loan of 1879 has met so seldom as scarcely to recognize.

Although there was now quite a settlement, people who had been accustomed to the more advanced conditions of life upon the farms or in the villages of New York, felt an almost unbearable sense of loneliness. The comparative isolation in which they dwelt was new to them, and their hearts turned fondly back to the old love, to the place of their birth and early life, around which hung the halo of the dearest associations and memories. At this period, there was scarcely a man or woman in the little colony who would not have gladly returned to the old home, had it been feasible to leave the new without sacrificing everything. Several did leave. Those who remained overcame more obstacles, and in the end accomplished more than their fondest hope had ever painted. The country, they found, was not all that the first enthuastic writers had represented it to be. The soil was of a nature difficult to handle with the rude implements they had; teaming was difficult, on account of the wet condition of the undrained ground; and the timber was of extremely large growth, rendering the clearing of the forest a greater task than in many other portions of the country. There were many hardships to be endured. Food was at certain seasons hard to obtain. Leeks grew in abundance, and were for a time about the only edible vegetable that the settlers could procure. The cows fed upon them, and their milk was tainted by the pungent bulbs. Cattle were too valuable to be slaughtered for food; and when game failed, some of the hardy pioneers were driven to expedients which their grand-children or great-grand-children of to-day would fancy they could not endure. It is related of the children in one family, that in a time when the provision store was low, they obtained their principal sustenance from basswood buds, which they climbed the trees to get. Murrain attacked the cattle, and often the pioneer was obliged to lose the value of considerable time expended in preparing the soil for a crop, because his oxen were suddenly stricken with this disease, to which they generally succumbed. There were few vehicles of any kind in the settlement. One man owned a wagon, of which he frequently made two carts, which he rented to the neighbors. The price paid for the loan of one of them to make a journey to Elyria was a day's work in logging.

There was every thing to overcome, and but very little at hand to do it with. The men who persevered in the long, hard struggle, and hewed out homes for themselves from the primeval forest, made the beginning of what is now one of the most thriving, wealthy and respectable communities in the county. Every pioneer who entered the Reserve, was a hero who should be reverently and thankfully remembered by those whom he prepared the way, and as fully as the limited knowledge of the facts and the limited force of words will permit.

Of all who came to La Grange in 1826, Joseph Robbins alone remains to tell of the privation and toil of the early settlers. He is still living at the age of ninety years, the father of eight children, three of whom, Nicholas L., George. H. and Mrs. Delos Dernier reside in the township. -Nicholas L. lives upon a farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres, a mile or more west of the center, with his wife Harriet Lamoure, daughter of an early settler, and is probably as well preserved a man of three score years, as the county contains. George H. is a merchant, and it is under his roof that his aged father's later years have been spent. Josiah, or Deacon Robbins, as he is generally known, came from Champion, Jefferson county, New York, in 1826, and settled one mile west of the present village, upon the farm now owned by Allen Sanders. He lived here with his wife, Mehitable Hurlburt, for thirty-five years, and then came to the corners. He is a man whom all revere, and his long life has been spilt for the good of all who have been within the reach of its influence. Mehitable, his wife, died in 1878.

Of the other settlers who came at the same time Deacon Robbins entered the county, and all of whom are now dead, but little can be learned. Noah Holcomb settled upoq a farm on the southeast corner of the township; Sylvester Merriam in the eastern part on what is now the River road. He died in 1862, May sixth. James Disbrow settled on the same road in the southern part of the township. Joseph A. Graves located on the east and west road near the boundary of Grafton. Fairchild Hubbard settled near the center, led a long and useful life, and was widely known and respected for his many good qualities. He died in 1859, at the age of eighty-eight years.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

David Rockwood, born in Manchester, New Hampshire, October 4, 1777, married Roba, daughter of Charles Rounds, of Champion, New York, and came to LaGrange in 1826, arriving on the 5th of June. He was the oldest man in the township when he died, having reached the age of one hundred years one month and twenty-five days. lIe died November 28, 1877, having been a resident of LaGrange for over half a century. The helpmate who came with him had an experience of pioneer life in strange disproportion to his. She died the year after coming into her new home and was the first person who passed over to the silent majority from the little settlement. Mr. Rockwood married Polly or Patty Graves in 1828, and she died in 1844. Two years afterwards he married Mrs. Lindsley, of Elyria. David Rockwood was the father of thirteen children, three of whom live in La Grange. F. W. Rockwood lives upon a farm in the northwest corner of the township, near the one upon which his father settled. There are also two daughters—Mrs. Emeline Gott and Mrs. Palina Bussell. There are twenty-two grandchildren, descendants of David Rockwood, and thirty-eight great-grandchildren.

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The one hundredth birthday of this patriarch and pioneer was celebrated by his friends and neighbors, and was a memorable occasion.

The funeral was held December 2d, four days after the decease of the centenuarian pioneer, and was one of the most impressive ceremonies ever witnessed in the vicinity. The sermon was preached by the Rev. John Mitchell, before a very large audience composed of the people of LaGrange and the aged friends of the deceased from adjoining and distant townships. After its conclusion the masonic fraternity, of which Mr. Rockwood had been a member for over seventy years, took charge of the service and conducted their solemn burial rite. David Rockwood well illustrated the truth of the old saying, that the longest life is too short. He said upon the one hundredth anniversary of his birth that as he looked back upon his pilgrimage it seemed brief, very brief.

Asa Rockwood, who came into the country about the same time as his brother David, remained in LaGrange but a short time and then removed to Pittsfield. John Rockwood, a nephew, came to the township in 1828, and made the first settlement on the street north of the center, on the farm now owned by W. W. Noble.

David Gott came also, either late in 1826 or in the early part of the following year.

In 1827 there were a number of additions to the population of the township, prominent among whom was Rev. Julius Beeman, of Otsego county, New York. He was promised by Goodrich fifty acres of land on condition that he would move into the township and officiate as a minister of the gospel for ten years. He accepted, and after the lapse of ten years, during which he had done good service in the settlement for his religion, received a deed of the property. He was the first preacher who settled in the neighborhood and the only one for miles around. His work Was not confined to LaGrange, for he rode into all of the adjoining territory and held services in a number of localities at considerable distance from his home. He died in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty, retaining his faculties in a marked degree of excellence to the last. He was a native of Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and was born January 28, 1773. He commenced preaching when twenty-eight years old, in Rensselaer county, New York, having been ordained in 1803.

Calvin Wilcox was another of the settlers of 1827. He was born November 7, 1796, in Charlestown, Montgomery county, New York, and came to Wellington in 1825. Two years later he settled at LaGrange center, and married Harriet, a daughter of Fairchild Hubbard. He was a man who held deservedly the high esteem of his neighbors, and through their election held various offices of honor and trust. He died in 1871.

Ephraim Lewis and brother, and Noah and Marcus Kellogg came in the same year as the above. Noah Kellogg settled on lot number forty.

Hewey Noble came in 1828 from New York, and made the second settlement upon the road north of the center, on the farm owned in 1878 by Mr. Blackwell. He died upon this place in 1871.

Russell Loomis, now living aged ninety-two years, came in 1829, and took up a farm lying next the one upon which he now lives, which is in lot fifty. He was born in 1786, in Coventry, Connecticut. He has one son living in the same house with him, R. N., aged sixty-two years.

Jeremiah Filley was a noteworthy and eccentric genius, who came into the township in 1830. It is said that he cleared and caused to be cleared over two thousand six hundred acres of land. He was a remarkably shrewd man in bargaining, an energetic, wide awake man in the now fast growing community, and a great hunter.

AN INDIAN INCIDENT

of curious character, in which Filley played a prominent part, is always suggested to old settlers by the mention of his name. Most of the Indians had disappeared from the county by the time Filley arrived, but a few remained, and usually made their place of rendezvous Indian Hollow, in Carlisle township. They were occasionally to be seen sweeping through the woods upon their ponies, in pursuit of deer, and sometimes camped within the territory of La Grange. Miley had met them more than once, and had doubtless resorted to various means' to get them to leave the country. At any rate, they were known to entertain anything but friendly feelings toward him. One day while hunting, he came upon a party of them, and after a short conversation, succeeded in rousing the red men's ire to such a point, that they threatened to kill him. He saw that there was no lack of intention on their part, and resorted to a bold plan to make good his escape. The Indians' rifles were leaning against a tree, at a little distance from them, and in this fortunate circumstance, Filley saw his deliverance from danger. He drew his own rifle to his face, suddenly, raised the hammer, and covering, with accurate aim, the little party of braves, told them that the first who moved would be the first to die. Keeping the gun to his shoulder, and his eye upon the Indians, he slowly retreated until he had gained a safe distance, when he changed his tactics, and ran for dear life. After that, he very naturally felt somewhat suspicious of Poor Lo, and avoided his society. Several weeks, or perhaps months, after his narrow escape from the tender mercies of the Senecas, the hunter bad occasion to pass the scene of the unpleasant little occurrence, and found blazed upon a large tree, his own portrait, full length and life sized, while upon other trees surrounding this one, were the figures of Indians, all with their guns pointed toward the central figure. This hieroglyphic work, the hunter interpreted as a threat to take his life, should the Indians ever have the pleasure of meeting him again. The scene of the occurrence was in the woods, only a short dis-

Residence of Boman Freeman, LaGrange, Lorain Co., Ohio

Residence of E. H. Sanders, LaGrange, Lorain Co., Ohio

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tance northeast of what is now the village of La Grange. The representations of men cut or blazed upon the trees have been seen by many persons now living, and are said to have been remarkaly natural and suggestive. Filley gave up the life of a woodman and hunter, became a preacher, and went to Michigan.

The settlement grew fast from the year 1830. In 1831 there were fifty-seven families in the township, more than twice as many as in 1828; in 1835 there were one hundred and seven, and in 1840 there were one hundred and thirty-four. The amount of public expenditures for the year ending March 2, 1829, was ten dollars and thirty-four cents.

Horace Sanders came to the township in 1830 or 1831, and is now represented by a son, Allen Sanders, who lives upon the old Robbins farm, lots fifty-eight and sixty-three.

H. C., or as he is commonly called, Casey Hastings, like most of the other settlers, came from New York. He first took a farm on the road running east from the farm of Mr. Adams, but sold out and bought in lots forty-four and forty-seven, a mile west of the center. He is at the present writing seventy-two years of age. He is the father of ten children, and they form a remarkable family. His five sons and himself aggregate a weight which makes their average over two hundred pounds apiece. Mr. Hastings has some lively recollections of the ferocity of the wild or "shack" hogs, which were quite numerous when he came to the country. He went out to hunt the next' morning after his arrival, and was very skeptical when told about the savageness of the undomesticated 'porkers. He was soon convinced, however, that all he had been told was true, for a small herd charged upon him, and he only saved himself from their tusks by climbing high up among the roots of a fallen tree, by which Ile was fortunately standing when the hogs made the onslaught. One of them fastened its jaws upon his boot-heel and bent it off. These wild hogs were perhaps a greater cause of annoyance than the wolves were, to the early settlers of La Grange and its - vicinity. They were certainly more savage, and unlike wolves, would never hesitate to attack a man in the woods. They were occasionally used for food, but the meat was coarse, spongy and ill flavored.

The year 1832 was a good one for the settlement, as it witnessed a large increase in the population. During the year came the families of Adolphus Gott, Peter Gott, Joseph Lincoln, William Lamoure, Jona. than Olmsted, and others, and in the same or the following year Phineas and Harvey Powers arrived.

Adolphus Gott bought a farm one mile south and two miles west of the center and Peter Gott, a farm about a mile and a half northwest from the center upon which his son, William H. now lives. He has two other sons and a daughter living in the township. Jonathan Olmsted bought a farm adjoining Gott's. Joseph Lincoln bought two miles southwest of the center. Lamoure bought west of the center. William Ormsby came in the same year as the above. He is still living, aged ninety-six years, and as Deacon Ormsby, is widely known.

A silk enterprise engaged the attention of Phineas Powers. He came from Worcester, New York, bought land southwest of the center, made a clearing, and, conceiving the idea of establishing himself in the silk producing business, he planted in 1836 upon six acres of ground, twenty thousand mulberry trees. fIe erected a factory, procured silk worm eggs from Ashland, and was soon rewarded for his enterprise by having a quantity of skeins ready for the market. He was assisted in the manufacture by his sister, Mrs. Sibley, and the two seem to have brought a large share of good judgment and industry to bear upon the business. The county paid a premium of fifteen cents per pound upon all silk manufactured, and this, with the legitimate profit of trade, led Mr. Powers to anticipate success. But unfortunately the worms all died the second year, and nearly all the money and labor expended in the enterprise was lost. Powers went to Ashland, remained there six years, returned to La Grange, and after a short time removed to Cleveland. Such, in brief, is the history of one among many failures in a business which, forty years ago, held out perhaps more inducements to the man of speculative turn of mind than any other.

The Freemans-Simeon and Olive-with their sons Boman, Glen J. and F. N., came in 1834, and the father settled upon lot forty-eight, at present owned by Boman, Sr. R. Freeman, Joshua E. Freeman, F. Freeman, and Henry Freeman, came about the same time. The heads of these families have all passed away.

Prominent among the settlers of 1833 was Nathan P. Johnson, of Hartford, Washington county, New York. He married eleven years before coming into Ohio, Laura Waite, of Champion. Mr. Johnson was elected to the legislature, in 1844 and 1855, and elected senator in 1846. While serving in this capac ity he took a strong stand against the repudiation of the State debt, a position which made him unpopular with his party at the time, but won respect for him in the end. His wife died in 1846, and he afterward married Mary Hart, of Elyria. In 1862 he moved to the center, and was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln. He held this office until his death in 1874. He spent his life in doing good, and he was highly esteemed by all who knew him.

David C. Pelton came to the township in the same year. He has been married three times, and is the father of twenty-one children, two of whom, a son, Floyd, and daughter, Mrs. Lydia Crowner, live in the township.

Allen Sheldon and his wife, Anna Maria, settled also in 1833, on a farm one and a half miles west of the center, now owned by a son, Colonel L. A. Sheldon. There are two other sons, Wm. E. and F. V. L. A. Sheldon was colonel in the Forty-second regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and was elected to congress three terms-1868, '70 and '72, from the

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second Louisiana district. Allen Sheldon, the pioneer, was a man of unquestioned probity of character. Elder Beeman baptized him, married him, and preached his funeral sermon.

Horace Knowles came in 1833, from Wellington, Massachusetts. He was until recently in excellent health, and is said to have done as much hard work as any man who ever lived in the township, accumulating thereby a snug fortune for himself and a competency for his children. His wife, Catharine, died in 1877. Mr. Knowles is at this writing eighty-three years of age.

Minor C. Noble and Peter Crowner arrived in 1834, and took up lands, the former in the northern part of the town and the latter about a mile north and a mile west of the center. Both are living. Mr. Noble is eighty-one years of age and Mr. Crowner eighty-three. Four generations of the Crowner family are living. Mr. Noble had three sons and three daughters. W. W. Noble and M. E. Noble own farms about two miles north of the center upon the old plank road.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first child, born in the township, was Eliza, daughter of Henry Townsend. The date of her birth is in dispute. It is said by some that she was born June 3, 1826, but there is a strong probability that she first opened her eyes upon this world in November of the same year. Miss Townsend went, when seven years of age, to Geauga county.

An event of considerable interest to the whole community, and particularly to Curtiss and Patty Hastings, their parents, was the birth of the twins, Goodrich and Hubbard Hastings, so named after the original proprietors of the township. They were born June 26, 1827. The twins were honored by visits from all the people for miles around, and were the objects of much curiosity and admiration. It is related that they were rocked to sleep in a sap trough. Both are now living near the place where born. E. H. Hastings has a farm of 'two hundred and twenty- six acres, and E. G. Hastings one of one hundred and forty-two, upon which his father also has his home.

The first marriage and the first death occurred in the year 1827. A very happy occasion was that of the marriage of Calvin Wilcox, of Wellington, to Harriet, daughter of Fairchild and Phebe Hubbard. The bridegroom and a party of friends rode upon horseback from Wellington, and their horses stood tethered out of doors all night, awaiting their return. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Alfred Betts, of Brownhelm, who earned his fee by riding twenty miles though the woods, to officiate at the wedding. The bridal trip was by bridle path to Wellington, and was performed upon the day following the wedding. This nuptial knot was tied March 8, 1827.

In the fall of the same year, November seventh, the hearts of the pioneer settlers were first saddened by the presence of the great destroyer in their midst. The family visited was that of David Rockwood, and the member taken was a loving wife and mother. She died after a short illness, of bilious fever, and the friends assembled at the bereaved home to attend the funeral, sad beyond the power of words to tell, and solemn in its simplicity. There was no sable hearse, no retinue of carriages, no luxurious or conventional expression of grief, no funeral sermon, but tenderly and lovingly the inanimate body was laid in earth after a homely, earnest prayer and the singing of a good old hymn. Hearts were left aching as they ever have since man came upon the earth, and ever will until the race is no more. That was all. Deacon Graves conducted what little there was of funeral service, and when the burial had been made, the sorrowing people dispersed to their homes. Mrs. Rockwood was a daughter of Charles and Lydia Rounds, of Champion, New York.

A terrible fate befel two young children of Joseph Lincoln and wife. These people, as has been before stated, settled in 1833 upon the farm now owned by Reuben Wright, two miles southwest of the center. A few years after,. as Mr. Lincoln and his wife were returning, one winter evening, from a visit to a friend about three miles distant, they were startled by finding their house on fire; and when they arrived at the place, they made the horrifying discovery that two of their children had been burned alive. Two older children, girls, had escaped from the house before it was completely wrapped in flames, but were so frightened that they lost their presence of mind, and were unable to render the fire-imprisoned little ones any assistance. They saw the children at the windows, and heard their agonizing shrieks until they perished in the flames. Speaking of the casualty in after years, the sisters said that the memory of the horrible scene would haunt them to their dying day.

The first frame building in the township was a barn erected by David Rockwood, on his farm

near the east branch of Black river; and the first frame building at the center was a store upon the southeast corner of the square, put up and occupied by Dr. Hubbard. Calvin Wilcox built for his own occupancy the first frame dwelling house. The first brick building was the store of Robbins & Gott, at the center, built in 1865.

Curtiss Hastings drove the first horse team owned in the township, It is said that on one occasion he was three days in making a journey to Elyria and back, such was the state of the road.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

The commissioners of Lorain county, at the June session, in 1824, attached La Grange township to Carlisle, for civil and judicial purposes, and it was not until 1827 that it was separately organized. It was detached in January, of the year mentioned, and the first election, at which twenty-nine ballots were cast, was held at the house of Fairchild Hubbard, in April following. These are the officers elected: Eber W. Hubbard, township clerk; Noah Holcomb,

Residence of Allen Sanders, LaGrange, Lorain Co., Ohio

Residence of Delos M. Sanders, Pittsfield Tp., Lorain Co., Ohio

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Noah Kellogg, and Fairchild Hubbard, trustees; James Disbrow, treasurer; Joseph A. Graves and Nathan Clark, overseers of the poor; James Disbrow and Henry Townsend, fence viewers; Henry Hubbard, constable; Henry Townsend and Nathan Clark, supervisors; Eber W. Hubbard, justice of the peace. Fairchild Hubbard, Joseph A. Graves, and Noah Holcomb acted as judges of election, and Eber W. and Henry Hubbard as clerks.

Following are the officers of 1878: M. W. Ingalls, clerk; J. B. Gott, treasurer; A. Ryan, Darius Nichols, and N. T. Wilmot, trustees; .L. L. Crane and J. H. Brown, justices of the peace; P. Holcomb and Wm. F. Woolcott, constables.

The township was given its name by Dr. Eber W. Hubbard, a great admirer of General La Fayette, whose country home in France was called La Grange.

CHEESE FACTORIES, SAW MILLS, ETC.

The first saw mill in the township was built on the farm of Noah Holcomb, by Andrew Holcomb, and the first grist mill was a very weak one-horse power affair, in the north part of the town, of which one Cross was the proud proprietor. La Grange has now its full share of manufactories, of various kinds, most of them are in the village. There is an old flouring and saw mill on the east branch of Black river, two miles east of the center, the property of Bradley Woodmansee, and there are three in the village.

Of cheese factories, there are three outside of the village, one owned by L. G. Parsons, half a mile east of the old plank road, and two miles and a half north from the center; one owned by George Kelner, two miles northwest from the center; and Crozier & Sheldon's factory, two miles east, and a mile and a half south of the center.

Joel Curtiss has a cheese box factory a mile west of the center, and two miles south, which supplies many cheese factories in the vicinity, and some at a considerable distance.

A small stone quarry, in the northwest corner of the township, is operated by Charles Kelner.

BURIAL PLACES.

The remains of Mrs. David Rockwood, the first person who died in La Grange, were interred in a small "chopping," or clearing, upon the farm of Deacon Robbins, in the western portion of the township, and rested there for seventeen years, when they were removed and re-interred upon Mr. Rockwood's farm.

The first cemetery laid out was the one on the north side of the road, just west of the center. Here repose, after toilsome and noble lives, many of the brave pioneers of La Grange. There are two other cemeteries, one upon the River road, in the eastern part of the township, and one in the northwest corner. The first burial in the cemetery at the center was a child of Lewis Rounds, aged two years.

LA GRANGE VILLAGE.

Lying exactly in the center of the township, quartered by the north and south and the east and west roads, built up about an open square, is the well-to-do, progressive little village of La Grange. It has a handsome brick town hall, seventy-eight by thirty-eight feet, built in 1875, three churches, a hotel, nearly a dozen stores, several quite extensive manufactories, and as well educated, well behaved class of citizens as any community in the county.

INCORPORATION.

The growth of "the corners," or the center, had been a slow and steady one through many years, but the size of the little village increased so fast during a few years prior to 1875, that the people began to think of having a corporation government, and accordingly petitioned for a charter in the year mentioned. The first election was held April 8, 1875, and the choice of officers resulted as follows: Mayor, J. E. Willard; clerk, D. D. Gott; marshal, P. Holcomb; councilmen for one year, A. Ryan, G. H. Robbins and Wm. Hopkins; for two years, D. Holcomb, E. L. Gott and 0. Dale; and treasurer, D. L. Gott. In 1876, the councilmen elected were: A. Ryan, Wm. Hopkins and Chas. Kelner. The officers elected in 1877 were: Mayor, E. W. Clark; clerk, A. A. Cragin; marshal, Horace Knowles, Jr.; councilmen, 0. Dale, J. C. Willard and George Whitney; treasurer, C. C. Manville; and street commissioner (appointed), Rufus Knowles. The office of mayor was made vacant by Clarke's departure from town, and at a special election, L. L. Crane was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1878, three councilmen were elected: Chas. Kelner, N. Marcey and J. B. Hastings.

THE RELIGIOUS HISTORY

of La Grange shows a stalwart growth from a small beginning. The people of this township, however, were of good material for the leaven of religious feeling to work in. The efforts of the early preachers were warmly seconded by the early settlers, who had come from a part of the country in which churches had long been established. There was from the first a feeling favorable to the organization of the institutions of religion. Something has already been said of the labors of the first preacher, Rev. Julius Beeman, and a few facts in regard to his son-in-law, Rev. F. R. Freeman, who was a strong and influential minister, will not be inappropriate in this connection. He was born October 6, 1805, in Worcester, Otsego county, New York, and was married, by her father, to Lucy Beeman, in October of 1826. In 1828, he came to La Grange, where he remained until 1850. He cleared two farms, set out two orchards, and shared nearly all of the hardships of pioneer life. It was while in the midst of these labors and trials that he entered the ministry. Up to the time of his departure, Mr. Freeman preached almost uninterruptedly in La Grange,

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Pittsfield ant neighboring townships. Ho was one of the seven men in La Grange who voted for Birney, abolition candidate for the Presidency, and was a member of the Buffalo Convention of 1848, whereat was formed the free soil party. Mr. Freeman is the only person living, of all the number who were upon the deck of the first steam packet in the world—the Cleremont-before, during, or just after the great trial from New York to Albany. He was a child two years of age at the time, and was carried on board of Fulton's famous steamboat, upon her arrival at Albany, by his father. Mr. Truman's age is now seventy-four years, and that of his wife seventy. His home, at the present writing, is and has been, since 1850, in Illinois.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH

was organized as early as 1828, only three years after the first settler came to the township. It might, perhaps, be called the first fruit of Rev. Julius Beeman's labors. May 13th there assembled eighteen persons who were the constituent members of the church,—Julius and Charlotte Beeman, Charles and Lydia Rounds, Hannah Pearce, Noah Holcomb, Sr., Eunice Holcomb, Polly Hastings, Noah Holcomb, Jr., Alice Holcomb, Win. Case, Alfred Stilwall, Phebe Stilwall, Laura Herrick, Joseph Robbins, Joseph A. Graves, Jerusha Graves and Asenath Morgan. Deacon Robbins is the only one of the original members now alive. The places of worship were two log school houses, one in the eastern and one in the western portion of the township. Services were held in them alternately for the accommodation of members living in their neighborhood. The present pastor of the church is the Rev. S. Jones, and the deacons are Thomas Perkins, Joseph Robbin sand D. L. Gott. Mrs. L. M. Noble is olerk and Mrs. Helen Gott, treasurer. The church building now in use is at the center; it was built in 1850. David L. Gott, W. W. Noble and Wells Chamberlain are the trustees.

METHODISM.

A Methodist class was organized in the east part of town in 1833, the members being Stephen Cottrell and wife, Mrs. Bunt, her son and his wife, Peter Gott and wife, and Mrs. James Belton. Peter Gott was class leader from the first and for many years. After a time, as the population in the settlement increased, it was thought advisable to hold meetings at the center. Mr. Munger's house was most commonly used, but a log school house across the street near where the Woolcott house now stands, was sometimes the place of meeting. Rev. Mr. Morey, a circuit preacher, occasionally was present and gave the little class encouragement. The first quarterly meeting was held in Munger's barn, there being no church edifice at the time and that being the largest building available. This meeting, we are told, was largely attended and very satisfactory. It was conducted by a Rev. Mr. Petty. The Methodists began building in 1839, upon a lot donated by Mr. Munger, a church, which was completed the following year. C. Noble made and presented the sash. Peter Gott, Carey Hastings, Otis Hastings and Nathaniel Smith were the principal financial pillars of the church at this time and contributed most of the means used in the erection of the small building. The old church is now in the rear of Robbins & Gott's store, and is used as a warehouse. It gave place in 1875 to a handsome wooden structure of Gothic architecture, thirty-eight by seventy-five feet in dimension, which cost about seven thousand dollars. The pastor in 1878 was the Rev. G. L. Hannawalt; stewards, F. V. Sheldon, Geo. A. Whitney, Walter Dale, H. A. Wilcox; recording steward, Henry Wilkins; trustees, R. Knowles, W. C. Butler, E. R. Hulburt, S. G. Humphrey, R. C. Hastings, E. Blackwell, H. A. Wilcox, F. V. Sheldon, George Smith.

The first protracted meeting was held at Elder Beeman's, and continued two or three weeks. Services were held every morning, afternoon and evening, and a great many conversions were made. Of the founders of Methodism in La Grange, two only still remain at that place. Peter Gott and Polly, his wife, live in the village, full of years, and beloved and esteemed by all.

THE CONGREGATIONALISTS,

though they were third in the order of organizing a church, built the first church edifice in the township. There is now no church of this denomination in the town. The constituent members of the Congregational church organized in 1834, were Nathan P. Johnson and wife, Calvin Wilcox and wife, William Dixon and wife, Sylvester Merriam and wife, William B. Dixon and Mehitable Robbins. Services were held at the house of Calvin Wilcox, and Rev. Mr. Talcott, of Wellington, for a time, supplied the pulpit. Rev. Mr. Fells, of Oberlin, was the first pastor. The society built, in 1835, a house which they used alternately with the Baptists until the latter denomination erected a church of their own which they invited the Congregationalists to share with them, neither church being strong enough to support weekly preaching. This relation continued until the Disciples built, when the Congregationalists purchased a half interest in their meeting house. The old Congregational church was bought by the town in 1853, and made into a school house, after which it became a feed store, and then a hardware store, finally disappearing in a neat building erected by Dr. Merriam. The Congregational society lost some of its members who were best able to sustain the church, through their removal from town, and those remaining being unable to keep up the church organization and work, it became extinct.

THE FREE-WILL BAPTISTS AND THE DISCIPLES.

The Free-Will Baptists and the Disciples have had churches in La Grange, but neither denomination is now alive. The Disciple Church was organized by Calvin Smith in October, 1853, and the first pastor

Residence of R. B. Munro, LaGrange,Lorain Co., Ohio

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 315

was Rev. S. R. Willard. The society built, in 1854, a house in which the Universalists now worship, and in which the Congregationalists still have an interest. The trustees were D. M. Adams, 0. Billings, D. Gott, Jr., R. Fulton and H. Freeman.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

was organized May 19, 1861, its first officers being the following: Deacons, Elisha Saxton, David Gott; clerk, J. H. Brown; trustees, D. T. Parsons, Horace Sanders, J. H. Brown. The first pastor was the Rev. H. R. Nye. The officers for 1878 are: Trustees, Allen Sanders, D. H. Gott, J. L. Rowell; clerk, J. H. Brown; treasurer, Maria Hastings. The church has, at this writing, no pastor.

SCHOOLS.

Throughout the Western Reserve the church and the school have been, from the days of the first settlement, almost inseparable, yet distinct institutions. They have sprung into being from one mother and one motive-the desire to perpetuate in the west the good influences of the older eastern States. Almost invariably the pioneers have taken measures for the mental advancement of their children at the same time they have established the church in which they shall receive their moral education. It was so in La Grange: the same year that witnessed the building of the first church, logs were hewn for two school houses, one in the eastern and one in the western part of the township. This was in 1828, only three years after the first settler came into the county. The first teachers were Henry Hubbard and Polly Greeves. After them came numerous others of all degrees of ability; most of them, however, but poorly qualified to teach.

A farmer from an adjoining township, anxious to get a school for his daughter, mentioned, as a strong recommendation, the fact that she had been part of a term to a high school. But, in those days, there was not as much required of a teacher as now, and the pay was considerably less than the young men and women of to-day receive for "teaching the young idea to shoot." Male teachers received from twelve to sixteen dollars per month, and young women three dollars per month.

There was a steady advancement in the quality of the district schools, and it culminated at the center about 1868, in the establishment of the union school system,. which has since been in vogue. A two-story brick building was erected in that year at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars, and a small frame building put up in 1877. F. V. Sheldon, Dr. Geo. C. Underhill and Geo. E. Freeman were the members of the school board at that time, and Dr. Geo. N. Snyder was the first superintendent. At present E. D. Merriam, D. L. Gott and H. C. Wilcox, constitute the board, and Dr. Snyder is again superintendent. His assistants are John Handyside and Emma Rawson. The school has three departments: the primary with fifty-five pupils, the intermediate with twenty-four, and the high school with forty-four, making a total of one hundred and twenty-three.

F. AND A. MASONS.

LA GRANGE LODGE, No. 399, was organized on the 13th, of November 1867,with the following charter members: Harlow P. Sage, Elizur G. Johnson, Martin Stroup, Orrin P. Robberts, Edson Hastings, Elijah Hastings Joseph E. Hastings, Reuben Curtice, Harvey Bartholomew, Silas Stroup, David L. Gott, Louis L. Crane, George C. Underhill, Albert Foster, George Foster, John B. Hastings and Edward L. Gott. The first officers were : Elizur G. Johnson, W. M ; John B. Hastings, S. W ; Martin Stroup, J. W ; Albert Foster, Treasurer; Harvey Bartholomew, secretary ; Orrin P. Robberts, S. D ; Elijah H. Hastings, J. D ; George Foster, steward ; Louis L. Crane, tyler. In 1878 the following were the officers: G. B. Chamberlain, W. M ; Edson Hastings, S. W ; George Foster, J. W ; H. B. Crozin, treasurer ; D. P. Crowner, secretary ; H. J. Wilkins, S. D ; J. E. Hastings, J. D ; A. Foster, A. W. Nichols, stewards ; S. Stroup, tyler ; D. L. Gott, George C. Underhill, F. V. Sheldon, finance committee. The Lodge has a handsome room, thirty by sixty feet, in the third story of the brick building erected in 1865. Robbins & Gott occupy the lower portion for a store.

PHYSICIANS.

The pioneer practitioner of medicine was Dr. Ebes W. Hubbard, oldest son of Fairchild Hubbard. He was born in Steuben, Oneida county, New York, in the year 1800, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, Herkimer county, the same State. He came to La Grange in 1826. Dr. Hubbard had quite an extensive practice and enjoyed the thorough confidence of the people among whom. he lived, as is attested by the fact that he was many times elected to important offices. He was the first clerk of the township ; was three times elected justice of the peace; became associate judge in 1831 ; was elected as representative three terms-1835, 1836 and 1837. In the last mentioned year he was appointed bank commissioner of the State, and in 1843 was made commissioner of the Ohio Canal fund. Dr. Hubbard married Honor Kingsbury of Brighton, and was the father of six children. He resided for many years in Elyria, and in 1853 removed to Staten Island, where he died in 1872.

Dr. Spencer was the next physician in town. He was followed by Dr. Julius Beeman, and then came Dr. Jonathan Gibbs. Other physicians who came at an early day, were Doctors George C. Underhill, James R. Pelton and E. D. Merriam. Pelton remained until about 1870. Doctors Underhill and Merriam are still in practice, as are also Doctors George N. Snyder, — Park, NE W. Ingalls. Charles W. Higgins and - Green, each remained but a short time.

316 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Dr. Underhill is the senior physician of the town. He came in 1842, and has been in constant practice in the village ever since, with the exception of two years, when he was in the army as surgeon of the Eleventh Cavalry. He is a native of Vermont, and a graduate of Willoughby (Lake county) medical college. His age in 1878 was fifty-eight years. Dr. Underhill, it is said, was the first physician in this part of the county who used quinine in cases of typhoid fever and inflammation of the lungs. He began to use this medicine in the first mentioned disease about twenty- five years ago, and in the latter as many as thirty years ago.

POST OFFICE.

Calvin Wilcox was the first postmaster. He had the office for about twenty years, and kept the few letters he received at his house where they were called for not, daily, as at present, but once a week or fortnight. George Wilcox succeeded his father. David Gott was postmaster for a number of years. Hon. Nathan P. Johnson was postmaster for fourteen years. His daughter, Mrs. E. M. J. Noble, was appointed to the office when he died, in 1873, and is the present postmistress.

MANUFACTORIES, BUSINESS HOUSES, ETC.

The first tavern was built and kept by J. K. Pelton. It was situated a few rods west of the center, upon the north side of the road. Pelton also built the Woolcott House in 1846, and Daniel Pelton built another hotel on the north side of the square, still standing but unoccupied. The present proprietor of the Woolcott House is William F. Woolcott.

Among the most important of the industrial pursuits in the village is the cheese factory and creamery of Butler, Crozier & Sheldon, which daily manufactures into cheese or butter, the milk of about five hundred cows.

The wood bending and grindstone turning establishment of Whitney Bros., James and George, is a manufactory of considerable extent.

A. Odell has a manufactory from which are turned out washing machines and .clothes wringers.

There are three saw-mills, Sheldon & Coleman's, W. C. Butler's, and Behner & Butler's, the latter also a cheese box factory. Ewing & Benschoter have a planing mill. Carriage making is carried on by Behner Bros., and by A. Ryan; the first named firm also has a foundry.

The following is a list of business houses, etc:

Robbins & Gott, general dealers; F. V. Sheldon, and D. P. Crowner, groceries; M. W. 1ngalls, and George N. Snyder, drugs; Cragin & Knowles, hardware: C. C. Manville, clothing, boots, shoes, and men's furnishing goods, etc. ; L. L. Crane, harness; F. Sweeney, meat market; Mrs. A. E. Stewart, and Mrs. Grace Bartholomew, millinery; Smith & Sheldon, and A. Ryan, blacksmithing.

STATISTICS.

The following are the statistics for 1877, showing the amount of the most important productions of the township, also the population for 1870, and the vote for president in 1876:

Wheat, 560 acres 10,115 bushels.

Potatoes. 96 " 7,498 "

Oats, 591 " 23,143 "

Orchards, 213 " 1,186 "

Corn, 792 " 29,809 "

Meadow, 2,343 " 2,611 tons.

Butter 130 pounds.

Maple Sugar 310 " 466,065 "

Cheese 310

Population in 1870 1309

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

Hayes 99

Tilden 163

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

E. D. MERRIAM, M.D.

The pioneer practitioner of medicine had many obstacles to surmount and difficulties to overcome. In the early days of a new settlement much sickness, particularly of a malarial form, was prevalent; and such also may be said to have been the case twenty-five or thirty years ago. Among those who have been prominent in battling with disease and in the professional care of the sick, none enjoy a better reputation than Dr. Merriam. For nearly thirty years he has steadily practiced the healing art, and during that protracted period has met with good general success.

E. D. Merriam was born in the town of Champion, Jefferson county, New York, July 18, 1824. He is the son of Sylvester Merriam, who moved to Ohio, accompanied by his family, including the subject of this sketch, in the year 1826. He settled in the eastern part of LaGrange township, on what is now known as the Dean farm. There were then but five families residing within the present limits of the township. The first few years of Dr. Merriam's life was spent in agricultural prusuits, and the acquisition of au elementary education at the common schools of La Grange. In 1842, he entered the Oberlin collegiate institute, where he received a liberal literary education, completing which, he commenoed the study of medicine under Professor Dascomb, M. D. The next few years were spent in alternate teaching. and professional study, and in 1849 and '50 he finished his medical education with Professor H. A. Ackley, M.D., at the old medical school of Cleveland. Returning to La Grange, in the spring of 1851, he commenced the practice of medicine under very favorable auspices, receiving from the first a liberal share of patronage. At the age of fifty-four years, we still find Dr. Merriam in the active practice of his profession.

In June, 1862, Dr. Merriam was married to .Laura A., daughter of Daniel Bartholomew, of Watertown,

316A - NATHAN P. JOHNSON

A man actuated in private and public life by motives founded on the right and good never fails to leave his impress on the community in which he resides. Few men had more to do in the healthy moulding of Lorain County than the Hon. N. P. Johnson, of Lagrange. He was of New England stock, his parents having been born at Old Haddam, Conn. They removed to Hartford, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1785. April, 1801, gave them a new home at Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y. Of their early history the writer knows little.

At Hartford, as above, their son, Nathan P. Johnson, was born Jan. 30, 1801; in Campion his early years were spent. Of this early life meagre are the details. However, such opportunities as he had for education and for self-improvement must have been eagerly embraced and worthily used. Ere he had reached the age of thirty he served his fellow-citizens at Champion for three years as trustee, and for five years was elected as justice of the peace ; commissioned a lieutenant in the 76th Regiment of the New York Militia in 1823, 1824 gave him commission as captain.

In the year 1833, exchanging real estate, he moved into Lagrange, Lorain Co., Ohio, where his remaining days were spent ; days full of work,—work for self and family ; work for his town, his county ; work for the good and the true everywhere.

On the 20th of October, 1822, Mr. Johnson married Miss Laura Waite, daughter of Dorastus Waite, Esq., of Champion, N. Y., who was to her husband a companion in his every endeavor in the early Lagrange life. She died very suddenly, on the 19th of January, 1846, while her husband was at Columbus, Ohio.

Mrs. Laura Johnson was a woman of singular merit. With gratefulness do her children—now men and women grown— look back to her kindly care, self-denial, and example that had so much to do in forming the characters that have made them valuable citizens.

On the 13th day of August, 1846, Mr. Johnson was again a husband, May R. Hart, daughter of J. Hart, formerly of Norwich, Conn., becoming the wife. She is yet living at the old home, hallowed by the memories of the past, and mourns the loss of the fond husband who has gone before her.

N. P. Johnson was father of the following children : Sarah L., born Sept. 14, 1823; living.

William H , born Sept. 19, 1825; died Oct. 11, 1829. Cynthia, born Sept. 25, 1827 ; living. Mary L., born June 29, 1830; living. Phoebe M., born April 24, 1832 ; died April 4, 1866. William H., born May 30, 1834; living. Elizur G., born Nov. 24, 1836; living. Ellen M. born Jan. 25, 1840; living. Ann Eliza, born Feb. 11, M., died Dec. 4, 1869.

Mr. Johnson's early life in Lagrange was that of all pioneers—daily toil. His occupation, farmer. His integrity and large common sense soon attracted attention. Township offices were showered upon him ; fidelity in the duties of such offices drew attention to his merits, local respect soon became general, and in the fall of 1844 he was elected to the Legislature of Ohio from Lorain County, and re-elected in 1845. So well were the duties of this position performed that the years 1847 and 1848 saw him a member of the Ohio Senate, from the district composed of Lorain and Medina Counties. Returning to Lagrange, there the remainder of his days were passed, each and every day made joyous to him by the numerous trusts confided to him by his fellow-citizens.

N. P. Johnson was noted for deep religious convictions and for true manhood. Strong and earnest in his feelings, prejudice was but a flitting cloud over his grand, kind heart. An ardent Whig of the old school, he was never the mere partisan, looking ever for the good. Party was no factor in any moral or political problem to him presented for solution. In 1846, while running for the State Senate, many prominent politicians took open and decided grounds for the repudiation of the State debt. Mr. Johnson took just as decided ground in favor of sustaining the faith and credit of the State. On this issue the people heartily sustained him.

Duty and right being to him the all, he found no difficulty in laboring with voice or pen, as a man and a legislator, for the repeal of the infamous Black Laws of Ohio, although temporary odium followed his efforts. Retiring from public life, so far as office was concerned, his voice and trenchant pen were ever found ready to defend and aid that which he considered the right. This was wonderfully true during the dark years of the Rebellion.

Quick in his decisions, of remarkable mental equipoise, Mr. Johnson was noted as a presiding officer. No one during his life was more frequently called upon in Lorain County to preside over conventions, whether religious, moral, or political.

Honored by all, giving always with no grudging hand of his means, and of the rich experiences of a well-spent life, he died Dec. 29, 1874. True of him is that said of another :

" This man, that thought himself nobody, is dead, is buried ; his life has been searched ; and his memory is hallowed forever."

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 317

New York. She was born in that city August 23, 1835, and with her parents moved to Ohio in May, 1856.

It is not only as a professional man that Dr. Merriam enjoys the respect and esteem of the community, in which he has passed nearly all his life, but also in the many other walks of life in which his general intelligence and rectitude carry him. As a man and citizen, the doctor is held in high regard, and deservedly occupies an exalted social position.

R. B. MONRO

was born in Herkimer county, New York, January 21, 1817. When he was three years of age his father removed with his family to Jefferson county, New York, where they remained until 1833, when they emigrated to Canada, residing there until about 1838, When they returned to York State, and continued to live there until 1844, when the subject of this sketch moved to Ohio, and settled in La Grange, Lorain county, whither he was followed by his father in 1846. He was born in Connecticut, and during his last sickness she resided with and was carefully attended by his son. He died in 1870.

R. B. Monro started in Ohio by working on a farm by the month, which he did four years, during which time he purchased fifty acres of land, paying for it with his earnings. In 1848 he was married to Margaret, daughter of John McGregor. They have one son, James, who resides at home, and also, an adopted daughter. Mr. Monro has held various township offices, among others those of road commissioner and school director. In politics he is a democrat. He is a self made man, and generally considered a worthy citizen, and an upright and honest man.