RIDGEVILLE. *

THIS TOWNSHIP, known as number six, in the sixteenth range, was drawn by Ephraim Root, of Hartlord, Conn.

The surface rises from the north in successive ridges, parallel to the lake shore, the principal of which are Center ridge, Chestnut ridge and Butternut ridge. The soil is varied and fertile, producing abundantly whatever the hand of the husbandman entrusts to it. The township is one of the most highly improved in the county, presenting to one who rides through it an almost constant succession of cultivated fields and tasty homes. Along the ridges originally prevailed the chestnut, butternut, whitewood, white oak, beech and maple—the chestnut being !specially abundant. On the lower land, the elm, basswood, black ash and hickory were the leading varieties. The streams are few and unimportant, the principal being East creek, Center creek and West creek, so called from their position in the township. The first two flow into Avon, where they unite and form French creek, a tributary of Black river. West creek flows into the township of Elyria and is also an affluent of Black river.

There are two stone quarries in the northeastern part of the township, owned and worked by Lovel and Sydney L. Beebe. The stone underlies a considerable tract of land and is sandstone of the newer formation. Some of the finest building stone in the country are obtained at these quarries. It is finished up by the owners, at the present time, chiefly for monumental use. There is a similar quarry on the farm of Wyllis Terrell, though not extensively worked.

FIRST ARRIVALS.

In the fall of 1809, Oliver Terrell, Ichabod Terrell and David Beebe, Sr., of Waterbury, Conn., exchanged their New England farms with Mr. Root for something over one-fourth of the township. Having the privilege of selecting their land, they chose the northeast quarter, with some additional territory on Butternut ridge.

In April of the next year, a company of men, some twelve or thirteen in number, on foot and with their knapsacks on their backs, set out from Waterbury for the western purchase. Their names were David Beebe and two sons, David and Loman, Joel Terrell, Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Elihu Terrell, Lyman

 * Wyllis Terrell, Ichabod Terrell and Laurel Beebe will please accept thanks for information

furnished the writer in the preparation of the May of this township.

Root, Sheldon Wooster, Mansfield Webb, Amos and Orrin Hotchkiss and Ira B. Morgan.

At Buffalo they bought an outfit consisting of axes, saws, planes, chains, and some other articles for their use in the Ridgeville woods. A man with a small sail boat was engaged to carry the tools to Cleveland, one of the men, Lyman Root, accompanying to take charge of the valuable cargo on its arrival at Cleveland. The rest of the company resumed the journey the next morning and reached Cleveland only a day after the arrival of the vessel. From this place, then a little settlement of only a few cabins, they proceeded to Ridgeville, by way of Columbia, carrying in their knapsacks some of the lighter implements and leaving the rest to be brought afterwards on pack-horses. They reached the end of their long journey on Tuesday, May 10th. As they approached the Ridgeville line David Beebe, Jr., quietly passed ahead of his associates, and arriving first on the ground, cut down the first tree. The first improvement was made on lot fifteen, on land now owned by John Lonsby. Here the men erected a rude log cabin, the roof of which consisted of bark. The structure was without even the luxury of a puncheon floor. In this the men kept bachelor's hall, while on their selected locations they prosecuted the work of clearing and preparing for the arrival of their families later in the season.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT

in the town was made July 6, 1810. On that day Tillotson Terrell and his family, consisting of his wife and three children, from Waterbury, Connecticut, came upon the pound and took up their abode in the cabin with the men on lot fifteen. They all lived here as one family until the following September. Mr. Terrell remained until October, when he moved into a house which, in the meantime, had been erected for him on the place now occupied by the residence of the widow of Harry Terrell. On the arrival, soon afterwards, of his father, Ichabod Terrell and his family, Mr. Terrell changed his location to the east- bank of Center creek, and afterwards to a more permanent one two miles farther east, on lot eight. The farm is now occupied by his son Lovinus. Here he spent the remainder of his life. He was born in Waterbury, Conn., May 1, 1785. He married, at the age of eighteen, Eleota Wilmot, daughter of Elisha and Hannah Wilmot, and lived in Waterbury until his emigration to Ohio. The life of this pioneer came to an untimely end December 23, 1838. While in the woods hunting, about a mile from his house, he was

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158 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

shot by one Sylvester Powers, who, seeing Mr. Terrell at some distance from him through intervening brush mistook him for a deer qe lived until the following morning, and although conscious from the first that he was mortally hurt, exhibited the greatest coolness and self possession in the midst of surrounding grief and excitement, and died without a murmur at his fate, or a word of reproach for the man who was the cause of it. His widow continued to carry on the farm until her younger children were settled in life, when she made her home with her youngest son, on the old homestead. She died November 23, 1861, aged seventy-six. There were eleven children, and all were living at the time of the father's death. Five are now (January, 1879,) living. Eliza lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan. She married Rev. William Peters, a Methodist minister and resided in Ridgeville for some years. Esther is the wife of John H. Faxon, Esq., of Elyria, and Harriet the wife of Dr. George Underhill, of LA, Grange. Two sons, Marcus and Lovinus, are residents of this town. Lucinda was the first wife of Laurel Beebe, a well known resident of the town. She died in 1851.

LOST IN THE WOODS.

It was during the residence of the family in their first location on the Ridge that the following incident occurred. One morning while Mr. Terrell was at work preparing for the erection of his house on Center creek, Mrs. Terrell went to the stream at a point further east to get a pail of water. Instead of returning immediately as she had intended, she concluded to go over to her husband and see how his work was progressing and started, as she supposed, in the right direction. But she soon became bewildered and lost in the dense woods, and could neither find her husband nor her home, where she had left. little children. After wandering about in the woods nearly all day, over logs and through brush and swamp, she came by accident upon the "Indian trail". which led from Columbia through Ridgeville to the mouth of Black river. This, by chance, she followed in the right direction, and finally reached her home, though in a terribly worn and wretched condition. It will serve to indicate the newness of the country to know that the spring to which Mrs. Terrell went for the water was only about thirty rods from the house.

In the latter part of October, 1810, the families of David Beebe, Sr., David Beebe, Jr., and Lyman Root, who arrived under the care of David Beebe, Jr., and Ichabod Terrell, his family and his aged father, Oliver Terrell, were added to the infant colony. There were in the party some twenty-two persons, the oldest eighty-two years and the youngest five weeks. Two wagons, three yoke of oxen and one horse, brought the emigrants and their effects.

At Cleveland, Ichabod Terrell bought a barrel each of flour and salt, paying therefor the snug sum of forty dollars. Instead of going around through Columbia, as their predecessors had done, they took a more direct course, and from Rocky river to the place of destination, had to cut their own road. This part of the journey, only twelve miles in extent, consumed nearly four days. As the party approached the house of Tillotson Terrell, Mrs. David Beebe, Jr., who was a near neighbor of Mrs. Terrell in Waterbury, led the way so as to be the first to greet her friend. The two women were so moved by the meeting, that neither could utter a word for some time, during which they stood with hands clasped across the brush fence that surrounded the Terrell cabin. Mrs. Beebe was the first white woman Mrs. Terrell had seen for over three months.

When the party reached the settlement Lorin Smith who had driven aim of the teams through, was told that each of the pioneers had done sonic special act to signalize the settlement of the colony and that it was his work to do the first plowing. He complied with the suggestion, and thus he his the honor of turning the first furrow in Ridgeville Mr. Smith afterwards settled in Delaware county, where he died in March, 1878.

The Beebes located on lot twenty-one. David Beebe, Sr., was born in Waterbury, Conn., April 23, 1747. He married Lydia Terrell, February 11, 1768, who was born in Waterbury, January 10, 1747. They had eleven children, as follows, named in the order of their birth: Alice, Ava, Electa, Lydia, Esther, Eunice, David, Molly, Chester, Augustus, Loman.

Mr. Beebe became blind some years previous to his death, which occurred in the year 1840, at the advanced age of ninety-four. Mrs. Beebe died in 1833, aged eighty-eight.

FOUR DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE WOODS.

Early one morning in the fall of 1811, Mr. Beebe went into the woods in search of his horses, and the day being cloudy, he lost his way and wandered about all day without the least knowledge of the direction in which he was going. Night overtaking him, he crept into a hollow tree and there passed a sleepless night. The next day he moved about unceasingly to discover some object by which he could determine his whereabouts, but without success, and in looking for a lodging place, to his great amazement, he found the same hollow tree in which he spent the previous night. Convinced by this that he had been travelling in a circle, he adopted the plan the following day of selecting three or more trees in range, and in this way was enabled to travel in a direct course. Another night, however, was spent in the woods, making his bed on mother earth under one of the trees which he had selected in line. In the forenoon of the fourth day he reached the lake shore in Avon, which he followed westward until reaching the house of John S. Reid at the mouth of Black river. Here he was given a little food, his famished condition not permitting the quantity his wasted physical condition craved, and was then sent by Mr. Reid in the care of a guide to the house of Asahel Porter, on the lake

158A - JOHN TERRELL

John Terrell, with two brothers, Roger and Jesse, emigrated from England to America about the year 1630. Roger is mentioned in history, in 1639, as one of the New Haven colonists who settled Milford, Conn..; he coming from Wethersfield, and probably from Watertown, Mass., to Wethersfield, Jesse settled at Naugatuck. The first mention of John, at Milford, is on the church record, as follows : John Terrell and his wife, Abigail, baptized August, 1644; so that probably he came to Milford a few years later than his brother Roger. Subsequently he settled in New York, and owned two acres of land where the city hall now stands. John had a son John, who was born in 1655, This John had eight children, among whom was Josiah, born in 1691, Josiah married Mary Goodwin, Jan. 1, 1723. They had seven children, among whom was Oliver, born in 1730, Oliver had two children, Ichabod and Lucinda. Oliver came, with his children and their families, from Waterbury, Conn, to Ohio in 1810, when he was eighty years old. He was very spry and active, and rode on horseback the entire distance. He died in Columbia, this county, in 1816, aged eighty-six. Ichabod, the only son of Oliver, was born in 1763. He married, in 1783, Rhoda Williams, one of the very few survivors of the Wyoming massacre. To them were born ten children, as follows,-Tillotson, born May 1, 1785; married Electa Wilmot in 1804, and died Deo. 23, 1836; they had eleven children. Lydia, born Nov. 1, 1787; married James Emmons in 1807; they had thirteen children; she died Oct. 25, 1871, aged eighty-four. Philander, born Dec. 10, 1789; married Lora Beebe in 1811; had fifteen children, and died in April, 1875, aged eighty-six. Oliver, born Sept. 2, 1791 ; married, in October, 1815, Anna Bunnel ; had three children ; he died Feb. 19, 1865, aged seventy-five. Lucinda, born Nov. 6, 1795 ; married Aaron Warner, June 29, 1813 ; had five children, and died Sept. 3, 1872, aged seventy-seven. Orpha, born May 2, 1798; married John Shaffer in 1817; had twelve children, and died in August, 1872, aged seventy-four. Ichabod, born Oct. 1, 1800; married Sally Humphrey, Oct. 8, 1823; they have six children, and live in Ridgeville, on the farm where they commenced their married life. Elihu F., born Jan. 3, 1802; married Electa Marsh in 1822 ; he had four children, and died April 9, 1843, aged forty-one. Horace, born Aug. 10, 1803; married Minerva McNeal, July 4, 1823 ; he has had thirteen children, and now lives in Iowa. Harry was born at Waterbury, Conn., April 7, 1806; he married, March 2, 1826, Annie, daughter of Joseph and Betsey Humphrey. She was born at Simsbury, Conn., Jan. 7, 1807.

Ichabod, the father of Harry, exchanged his lands in Waterbury, Conn., for an undivided third of the northeast quarter of the township of Ridgeville. On this tract of land he settled with his family in October, 1810, then an unbroken wilderness. They came from Connecticut with ox-teams, and were seven weeks on the way. They out their road from Rocky River, a distance of twelve miles, camping out three nights between that and Ridgeville. Ichabod Terrell was a man of sterling traits of character, holding different offices of trust among his people. He lived to see a home built up for his family amid this wilderness. He died July 23, 1825, aged sixty-one.

His wife survived him a number of years, and died in June, 1851, aged eighty-five. She was pre-eminently fitted to endure the privations and hardships of frontier life; a woman of unflinching courage, and fearless among the Indians and wild beasts of the forest. She was a mother to each pioneer family as they made their advent into the new settlement, and far and near she was known as " Aunt Rhoda."

Harry, their youngest son, and subject of this sketch, was but four years old when he was brought into this unbroken wilderness to battle with the stern realities of frontier life. He very early learned to use the rifle with unerring aim, and many were the trophies of deer, bear, wolves, etc., of which he and his brothers were the victors. He met with two very narrow escapes with his life from wild animals while hunting alone in the woods ; but these incidents were quite common to all the early settlers.

His early education was such as he could pick up in this pioneer settlement, where every one was battling to clear the soil of its dense forest. His arithmetic was learned by figuring with a coal on the puncheon floor, his father being the instructor. Eager and quick to learn, he soon mastered reading, writing, etc., and was much in advance of the other pioneer children of his age, so that we find him at the age of nineteen teaching their school. He was commissioned by Governor Allen Trimble as captain in the 9th Company, 2d Regiment, 2d Brigade, 9th Division, in the Ohio Militia, to rank as such from the 7th day of November, 1829. He held various offices of trust, both from his town and county. Elected justice of the peace in 1835, he held that office for many years for which he was so well qualified. Several instances are mentioned in which he adjourned court and went with the parties to their homes to effect a settlement and reconciliation. Among the German settlers he was known as " the man vot makes it all right."

He was proverbially neat in his person and appearance, and correct and exact in everything he did, Always cheerful and social, in his later years nothing pleased him better than to have a houseful of young people " as visitors."

He died Sept. 4, 1864. His wife survives him, and still lives on the farm and in the same house where they commenced their married life fifty-three years ago, and where he had lived since he was four years old.

To them were born ten children,-Jay, born Feb. 7, 1827; Ann, born Jan. 22, 1829; Jane, born Dec. 10, 1832; Arys (1st), born Feb. 21, 1834, and died July 25, 1836; Arys (2d), born April 25, 1836, and died Sept. 28, 1878; Joseph H., born Oct. 15, 1838; Emeline (1st), born Dec. 28, 1841, and died Oct. 6, 1844; Orson J., born Dec. 13, 1844; Emeline (2d), born Oct. 25, 1847; Juline, born Aug. 9, 1850, and died Sept. 25, 1852.

Jay married, Nov. 16, 1848, Etna E., daughter of Hon. Elah and Etizabeth Park, of Avon. To them have been born seven children,- Clay, born Nov. 30, 1849; married Mary Metcalf, Sept. 30, 1874; Elah, born Sept. 29, 1851; Harry, born Sept. 22, 1856; Park, born Aug. 27, 1858; Alice (1st), born Dec. 23, 1861, and died April 16, 1864 ; Alice (2d), born Feb. 25, 1866; Charles M., born Oct 15, 1870.

Jane married Charles S. Mills, May 1, 1852, They have had Grace, born April 27, 1854, and died Aug. 18, 1855; Allie, born Dec. 8, 1857, and died Dec. 1, 1861; Ada, born June 23, 1859; Jennie, born Sept. 19, 1863; and Harry, born Nov. 1, 1869.

Arys (2d) married F. B. Powell, May 15, 1866; had three children,- Claud and Maud, born in 1871; Madge, born in 1875. Joseph married Irene, daughter of T. A. Benham, May 27, 1864.

Orson J. married Lucinda Faxon, Dec. 16, 1865; and second, Narcissa C. Smith, May 3, 1874. By his first wife, George was horn, Jan. 5, 1867. By his second wife, Clara A., born July 7, 1875; Grace E., born Nov. 2, 1876, and died Aug. 17, 1878. Emeline married Erwin J. Herrick, Jan. 22, 1869.

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 159

shore in Dover, where he was again refreshed with food and rest, and then conducted to his home. Every possible effort had been made to find the unfortunate man—men from adjoining towns assisting his immediate friends and neighbors in the search. While in the woods he subsisted on a few hickory nuts which he had been carrying in his pocket.

David Beebe, Jr., or Major Beebe, as he was generally called, built a distillery at an early date on Center creek, opposite the Cahoon grist mill, operated it for a few years and then abandoned the business. He a mason by trade and was much engaged in brick d stone laying in this region of country, especially Elyria. His death took place August 27, 1847, seventy-six. His wife, Belinda Beebe, survived in many years; her death occurred at the age of nearly eighty-seven. There were seven children, two of whom are living, viz: David, in Elyria, and Mrs. Bennett Smith, in Buffalo.

Lyman Root removed to Dover the next spring r his arrival in Ridgeville, but returned in 1815,

and settled near East creek, on what is known 'the Mills farm. He manufactured the ashes the settlers into black salts, and also kept a le store in an early day. He died in Ridgeville in 6; his wife many years after, in Wood county, hi̊. They had eleven children, and seven of them now living, though none in town.

Ichabod Terrell moved into the house then occupied by his son Tillotson, who vacated when his house on nter creek, then in course of erection, was comleted. Mr. Terrell was born in Waterbury, Conneccut, in 1763. He married Rhoda Williams, also of aterbury, who was a survivor of the Wyoming masre. They had a family of ten children, of whom illotson was the oldest. The other children were ydia, Philander, Oliver, Lucinda, Orpha, Ichabod, Franklin, Horace, and Harry. They all, with one xception, settled and resided in the town for longer or shorter periods

Ichabod, now living in Ridgeville, has been a resident of the place for nearly sixty-nine consecutive years. He is the sole survivor in town of those who arrived in 1810. lie is now seventy-eight, and his wife, who was Sally Humphrey, seventy-seven.

Ichabod, the pioneer, died in 1825. His wife died sin Columbia, in 1851, in the eighty-sixth year of her age. She left, at her death, ninety-one grand-children and a large number of great grand-children surviving her.

Noah Terrell came from Waterbury, with his family, when Tillotson Terrell came. He stopped in Columbia, for a short time, and then removed to Ridgeville, occupying, for a while, the first cabin built in town. In 1811, he settled a short distance east of where Laurel Beebe now lives. He afterwards moved to Columbia, and later, to Dover, but, eventually returned to this town, and died here. He had a turning lathe, with which he made wooden ware, such as trenchers, or plates, milk bowls, and many. Other useful and, almost indispensable, articles for the inhabitants.

In the fall of 1810, Joel Terrell returned to Waterbury, and in July, of the next year, he and his wife, and their son Wyllis, and his family, of wife and five children, started for their home in the distant west. They joined the infant colony in September following. They erected a house on the ground now occupied by the frame tavern at the Center, and the two families jointly occupied it, until the elder Terrell built a house where his grandson, Wyllis Terrell, now lives. He moved into his cabin January 13, 1812. It was a very primitive structure, when Mr. Terrell and wife began house-keeping in it. It was without a floor, and indeed, had not a board in it, except two planks used as a foundation for the bedstead, and through an opening in the roof, over the fire-place, the tops of three large oaks could be seen. This house was occupied for thirteen years, and then a frame was built on the same spot, or nearly so.

Mr. Terrell being a shoemaker, was a valuable acquisition to the little settlement. The settlers paid him, for the shoes he made them, in clearing and logging. He was a very successful bee hunter, and for years, now and then, a tree was found in Ridgeville forests, bearing the inscription of his name. He was a man of much energy .of character, and was one 'of the most prominent men in the place. He was the first justice of the peace elected in the township. His death occurred in 1825, at the age of sixty-eight, and his wife, Eunice, in 1842, aged eighty-four.

They had but one child, Wyllis. He, Wyllis, soon opened his log house as a tavern. It was a favorite place of resort for the Indians, both before and after the war.. Major Terrell always treated them kindly, occasionally yielding to their importunities for liquor, but always exacting from them the promise that they would not get drunk, a promise which, it is said, they always kept. Major Terrell bought the Cahoon grist mill, soon after it was built, and the Indians often came to him for their corn and meal. He always yielded to their requests to be trusted for payment, and this gained their further admiration. They frequently brought the family presents. They fitrally gave the tavern the name of

 "THE INDIAN TAVERN,"

and, on one occasion, some twenty of the men brought their squaws and pappooses to see the wonderful place. Some time afterwards, one of their number brought a pair of deers' horns, and fastened them up to the front side of the house. For a number of years, small bands of them would pass and repass the place, and would often stay over night in the house. In 1821, the old structure was torn down, and the following year a frame was built, and in this Major Terrell kept tavern up to the date of his death, in 1830. His wife died in 1857. There were six children in this family, four of whom are living, as fol-

160 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

lows: Albert, Willis, and Levi, in Ridgeville, and Joel, in Cleveland.

During the year 1812, a few additions were made to the settlement. George Sexton, with his family of wife and one child, arrived in the spring of that year. He was originally from Bennington county, Vermont, but had resided for a short time in Newburgh, Cuyahoga county. He settled on Center ridge, on lot thirty-nine. The location is now occupied by the saw mill of John Cahoon. He "remained there three years, and then sold to Samuel Cahoon, and moved farther west on the same road. Sexton married a daughter of Joseph Cahoon, and the two families emigrated from Vermont together, Cahoon settling in Dover, Cuyahoga county. Mr. Sexton died in November, 1829, and his wife in the fall of 1859. Of their seven children, all but two are dead. Cyrus S. lives in Ridgeville, and Amos in Cuyahoga county.

Jonathan A. Sexton, a brother of George, arrived in town in 1812, and married here and settled. His wife was Betsey Shellhouse. He lived on lot thirty- nine for several years and then moved to Carlisle, and later to Wisconsin, where he died. Soon after, another brother, James Sexton, came into the township with his family, and settled on the lot on which his brother George last lived. He sold out in 1834, and eventually removed to Wisconsin and died there. His widow, who was a daughter of Martin Shellhouse, is now (January, 1879,) living in St. Joseph, Mo., at the age of eighty-seven.

INCIDENT.

One night, in 1817, Mr. Sexton was aroused by a fracas in the direction of his sheep pen, and, on going out to ascertain the cause, found, in the corner of the fence, his large dog and a wolf engaged in deadly conflict. Sexton procured a club and went to the assistance of the dog. In a few moments Mrs. Sexton arrived with the ax, with which her husband quickly despatched the wolf. The ground was covered with snow at the time, and both husband and wife were barefoot. Mrs. Sexton, herself, with only a broom for her weapon, once rescued a pig from the jaws of a bear.

HARDSHIPS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.

There were now some ten families in the township. Their nearest neighbors were in Columbia, and between them lay the unbroken forest. West of them the nearest settlement was at Florence, Erie county, twenty-two miles away. But their comparative isolation was not their greatest hardship. Food was sometimes very scarce and hard to procure. After the land was once brought under cultivation it produced abundantly, but it was covered with an extremely heavy growth of timber, which rendered the work of Clearing, slow and difficult. The price of many articles of food which the people of to-day would regard as indispensable, was so high as to render them beyond the reach of the pioneers, and their food was consequently of the plainest character. A mush,

Made of "jointed" corn, milk and stewed pumpkin, were some of the dishes composing the meal. Until the erection of the Cahoon mill, in the spring of 1813, it was often difficult for the settlers to get their grinding done. They sometimes carried their grain to the mill at Chagrin Falls, forty miles distant, and, at others, depended on the "mortar and pestle."

The clothing of the early settlers was as simple as their food. For a number of years after settlement, every farmer whose land was suitable for the growth of flax, cultivated more or less of the product, from which most of the clothing for summer wear was made. In the winter the men occasionally wore whole suits of buckskin, and their pantaloons were frequently of that material. It was far more durable than agreeable. The pants would often be wet to the knees, and, when dried in the evening before the blazing fire, something of a struggle would be required for the wearer, on going to rest, to bring about a separation; and the experience of getting into them of a morning, with the thermometer, perhaps, down to zero, can be better imagined than described.

While their condition was one of poverty, it was softened by the fact that none were exempt from it. They all shared the same lot, endured the same hardships, subsisted on the same food, and were arrayed in the same rude garments, and there was, therefore, no occasion for envy or uneasiness on the part of any one.

There were many things, however, that tended to discouragement. The cattle died in large numbers of murrain—a disease from which they were not wholly exempt for many years. Wolves attacked and killed the sheep, and considerable expense was incurred in building enclosures to protect them from the carnivorous designs of those annoying animals. Not only were the sheep unsafe from them, but they would frequently kill calves and young cattle. Joel Terrell, one night, thus lost two young cattle only a short distance from his house.

In the prosecution of the work of clearing, the larger trees were generally girdled, and, when dead, would frequently in a dry time take fire from burning logheaps, when an arduous struggle would be required for the settlers to save their homes. A fire, originating in this manner, destroyed, in the summer of 1815, the log house of the elder Beebe, with all its contents except a single bed.

In August, 1812, Hull surrendered Detroit, and a few days after, a report reached Ridgeville that a party of British and Indians were seen landing at Huron. This information created the greatest excitement among the inhabitants, and preparations for flight were immediately commenced. Household goods were secreted in brush heaps, stowed away in hollow logs, and even buried in the earth, while a few blankets and other camp equipage were packed on horses, or in wagons, a general hegira was made for Columbia. There were about ten famlies living in Ridgeville at this time. David Beebe, Sr., David

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 161

Beebe, Jr., Joel Terrell, Wyllie Terrell, and Loman Beebe, and their families, with a wagon and two yoke of cattle journeyed along the ridge road, until they reached the old mud road leading to Columbia. Ichabod Terrell and his family, with a cart and a yoke of oxen, took the old Indian trail to Columbia. In preparing for the journey, Mr. Terrell discovered that one of his oxen was suffering intensely from the bite of a rattlesnake, his swollen tongue hanging out of his mouth, and the family traveled only a mile and a half the first day. They camped in the woods the first night, and the next' day, the disabled ox having partially recovered, they arrived in Columbia. The Beebe party, after many mishaps, reached Hoadley's Mills, on the north line of the township of Columbia, and spent the night in a deserted log cabin. The Columbia settlement was found to be nearly abandoned. The next day, word reached them that the party, supposed to be Hull's victors, were the paroled prisoners, and the refugees returned to their homes, all surviving their terrible fright. From this time until Perry's victory, the settlers lived in almost constant fear of Indian massacre.

All the men in Ridgeville, who were subject to military duty, were stationed at the block house, in Columbia, and thus the women and children were left to the protection of a few old men. Thus things continued until September, 1813. On the tenth day of that month, the roar of cannon was plainly heard in Ridgeville, booming, at first, so slowly that, it is said, Mrs. David Beebe distinctly counted sixty guns when the firing became a confused sound. The inhabitants knew that a battle on the lake was in progress, and that on its result, depended the safety of their homes, and perhaps their lives, and hence their minds were intensely agitated. Soon the joyful news arrived that Perry had won a glorious victory, and further fears were dispelled.

The following are the names of those from Ridgevine who were on duty at the block house, viz: Wyllis Terrell, David Beebe, Jr., Loman C. Beebe, Samuel Beebe, Leverett Terrell, Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Tillotson Terrell, Noah Terrell, John W. Hill, and Sheldon Wooster.

A few additions were made to the settlement during the war. Stephen Cables came into the township in 1812, and settled on lot thirty-three. Three years afterward, he removed to Amherst, where he lived the remainder of his life.

John Reading arrived in the same year. He located on the farm on whioh Bradford Race now lives. He married a daughter of John Barnum.

Asahel Morgan settled on center ridge, lot sixteen, in September, 1813. He came into the country without his family in the fall of 1810, driving one of the teams of the party that came at that time—as far as the eighteen mile woods, in New York. He soon after returned to Connecticut for his family, but was dissuaded from moving at that time by the prospect of war. Mr. Morgan died in 1837, on his original location. His wife died in 1832. They had seven children, as follows: Asa, Ira B., Sylvester, Martin, Minerva, Eli L. and Maria. The first three emigrated to Ohio a few years before the remainder of the family, and were among the first settlers in Eaton township. The rest of the children, except Maria, who died early, married and settled in Ridgeville. Eli is the only surviving member of the family; he lived in Ridgeville until 1862. He now lives in Carlisle, and is seventy-four years of age.

Martin Shellhouse and family, and his oldest son Martin and his family, came into the township in 1813, and located on center ridge. The old gentleman was in very feeble health at the time of arrival, and died a week afterward. The wife of Martin Jr. also died shortly after settlement. The rest of the two families, except two daughters who intermarried with the Sextons, removed to Florence, Erie county.

Amos and Samuel Cahoon settled in 1813.

Moses Eldred came into the township in December, 1813. He was a native of Massachusetts, whence be removed to Dover, Cuyahoga county, in March, 1811. His location in Ridgeville was on center ridge, lot forty-six. At the time of his settlement there was not a house west of him nearer than Florence, Erie county. He lived in Ridgeville until 1836, and then again took up his residence in Cuyahoga county, in Bedford, and later in Carlisle, where he died in June, 1857. Mrs. Eldred died in 1832. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living. Clark, Noah and Melissa (Mrs. Wm. 0. Cahoon) live in Elyria township, and Francis in Ridgeville. Aaron lives in Medina county, Ohio, and Jarvis in Michigan.

Mr. Eldred served in the war of 1812, and was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians on the peninsula, near Sandusky, in September, 1812. Joshua R. Giddings, then a young man, sixteen or seventeen years of age, was in the same engagement, and carried Mr. E. from the field of battle. He was the first postmaster in Ridgeville, and at a subsequent period was associate judge for Lorain county.

Asahel and Sylvester Powers settled on Stony ridge in 1814 or 1815, and Jonah Hanchett and John Gould about the same time.

Calvin Smith and Zenas Barnum came into the township in 1815. The latter bought out Stephen Cables. His father, John Barnum, arrived the next year.

Chauncey and James Emmons were the first settlers on Butternut ridge, in this township, settling in 1814. In 1818, Joseph Cole planted himself between them. Buel Peck, N. H. Hinkley, N. Case, Philo Murray, E. Rice, Peter Cole, Miles Tyler, and a family of the name of Chanter, came about the same time.

Borden Beebe, originally from Connecticut, removed from Canandaigua to Ridgeville in 1813, and located on Center ridge, lot twenty-eight. A few years subsequent, he moved to Chestnut ridge, and bought the farm previously owned by his son-in-law, Truman Walker, and spent the remainder of his life there.

162 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Aaron Sexton, father of the Sextons previously mentioned, with his wife and three sons, arrived in 1816, and took up his abode on the lot on which James and George were then residing, they erecting a house for him. His son William afterward married and settled in Carlisle, and Platt in Huron county. The other son, Eastus, was a cripple and never married. The father died in 1827 or 1828, and his wife many years after, in the ninety-fourth year of her age.

Truman Walker was the first settler on Chestnut ridge. He located in the year 1813 or 1814. John Shaffer was an early settler in this part of the town. Harris Emmons and Seth R. Alcott located further west on the same road, in 1818.

John Kibby settled here on lot fifteen, in the summer of 1821. He and his wife are living, and on their original location. A little romance is associated with their marriage, which occurred on their journey from Connecticut. Having suddenly determined to emigrate with Origen Adams and family to the "far west," a compliance with the law, requiring the publication from the pulpit of the marriage bans for three successive Sundays preceding the marriage, was impossible. But as soon as the party got out of their native county, a justice of the peace was sought, to whom the young man stated his case, accompanied by a request to unite him to his traveling companion, "if he could do so in view of the law." The magistrate expressed his contempt for the law, tied the nuptial knot, and the young people resumed the journey as man and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Kibby are now aged respectively eighty and seventy- eight. Mr. Kibby has been blind for the last four years. Adams located in the western part of the town on Center ridge. Some twenty years afterward, he removed to Wisconsin, where he subsequently died. A son, Elmer, lives in Elyria; and a daughter, Mrs. Jeremiah Van Wormer, in Ridgeville.

Ebenezer Porter settled on Sugar ridge in 1822, and died here in 1867, at the advanced age of ninety-two. Two of the children live in the county, viz: Mrs. Cyrus L. Sexton in Ridgeville, and Mrs. Williams in Avon. The family was from Massachusetts, as was also that of Richard Van Wormer and his father, Jeremiah, who located on the same road in 1823.

'Thomas Phelps arrived in 1822, locating on lot twenty-eight, where Borden Beebe previously lived. He eventually removed to the township of Sullivan and subsequently died there.

Isaac S. Terrell and a family by the name of McNeal settled on Butternut ridge in 1822.

Chester Beebe, son of David Beebe, Sr., with his family, consisting of his wife and two sons, joined the settlement in October, 1818. He settled on the northeast corner lot of the township, known as the " windfall" lot, erecting his house on the location now occupied by his son, Sidney L. Beebe. He raised a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. The sons, Laurel, Lovel, Sidney L., are residents of the town. Mr. Beebe's death occurred October 22, 1862; and that of his wife in May, 1868.

William Blain and his family moved into town in the same year. They were from New Jersey. Mr. Blain made his location on Butternut ridge. He cleared up the farm now occupied by the widow of his son, Richard, and lived on it until his death in 1849. Mrs. Blain died in 1861. They had a family of seven children, two of whom, Mrs. Lydia Abbey and Isaac Blain reside in the township.

James Blakesley and his family, consisting of his wife and five children, moved into town in February, 1820. They were originally from Waterbury, but came from Trumbull county to Ridgeville. Mr. Blakesley located on Butternut ridge, on lot fourteen, and lived there until his death in 1858, aged eighty-two. His wife died in 1840. Chauncey Blakesley is the only member of the family now living in the town. A daughter, Eliza, married Elijah Rigby, in Trumbull county. He came to Ridgeville with his family in 1819, settling on lot fourteen. He subsequently went to Illinois, where his wife died. He now lives in Wisconsin.

Joseph Humphrey and family, consisting of wife and four children, came to Ridgeville from Connecticut, in 1822. He settled at the Center, on the location of the brick hotel, which he built hr 1830. His tavern bore the name of "Farmer's Inn." His death occurred in 1853 or 1854. His widow died many years after, aged eighty-six. Three children are now living, and in Ridgeville, viz : Mrs. Ichabod Terrell, -Mrs. Harry Terrell and Mark Humphrey. HeMark—continued the hotel for a number of years after his father's death.

E. Byington settled in 1822 or 1823. Oliver Lewis moved into town in 1829. Otis Briggs in 1830, settling on the farm on which he now resides, aged eighty-one.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first couple married in the township was Jethro Butler, of Dover, to Clarissa Beebe, daughter of Borden Beebe; They were married in the whiter of 1813, by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. The first child born in Ridgeville of civilized parents, was Harriet Terrell, daughter of Noah and Esthe Terrell. This event occurred in the spring of 1811, and, very appropriately, in the first house built in the township. Wyllis Terrell, in writing of this event in the Elyria Constitution, says :

"During the winter frequent rains and heavy snow-fall tilled the swamps and low places with water, and at the opening of Spring, to make the matter still worse, there came an unusually heavy rain, and center creek swelled to the size of a river. David Beebe becoming alarmed at the situation, started up the creek to took after his daughter and family, and found her and her babe, three weeks old, in bed, and the water four inches deep on the floor, and a little fire in a kettle near the bed. He moved the family to his home on the ridge, and thus the cabin was deserted after being the home of the first settlers for eleven months."

Miss Terrell married Paul Taylor, and subsequently removed to Illinois. The second child born in the

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 163

township was Nancy Beebe, daughter of David and Belinda Beebe. She was born April 18th, 1812. She me the wife of Mark Humphrey, now living in .Ridgeville. The first male child born in the town was Owen A. Cable, son of Stephen Cable. He was born n 1813. The first death was that of Martin Shellhouse, an old gentleman who was brought from Vermont to Ridgeville on a bed. He died Nov. 27, 1813, ne week after his arrival in the township. The secnd death was that of Lydia Terrell, daughter of Noah Terrell. She died in August, 1814, before completing the first term of school taught in the town. The first place selected for the burial of the dead, was on the farm of Asahel Morgan, on lot sixteen. Only a few interments were made there, however, the location being abandoned a few years after, and a site selected at the center of town, the ground for which was given by Joel Terrell, The change of location was the cause of much displeasure to Mr. Morgan, who is credited with the remark, when it was decided upon, that he would never be buried in the Terrell burying ground as long as he lived and had his senses. 'John Barnum, who died in 1819, was the first person buried in this cemetery. Most of the bodies in the old graveyard were removed to the new. That of Lydia Terrell, however, was never disturbed, and the precise spot in which it rests is not now known. The first frame erection in the township was the barn of Amos Cahoon, built in 1813. The old structure was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1878. The first frame house was the tavern of Wyllis Terrel Sr., built in 1822. The first blacksmith was Zenas Barnum. His first shop was located at the center of town, and consisted simply of a few forked stakes and poles, with a roof of shakes. Afterwards lie had a better structure in the west part of town. The first doctor that practiced in the town was Zephaniah Potter, of Columbia. The earliest settled physician was Dr. John Butler, The first wolf killed in the township was shot by Garry Root, in 1812,, hen a lad of fourteen years. This was quite an vent, as the cunning animal was rarely bagged by the most experienced hunter. The

FIRST CHEESE

made in the township, and, very probably, the first in Lorain county, was made by Mrs. Belinda Beebe, in 1813. She pressed it with a fence rail, one end of which was stuck in between the logs of their cabin, while, on the other end, was hung a basket filled with stones. The basket consisted simply of a bark hoop peeled from the body of a tree. A forked stick conituted the cheese ladder. Thus is necessity fertile in expedients.

FIRST LAW SUIT.

The first law suit was between Loman C. Beebe, plaintiff, and Joseph Cahoon, defendant. It was held at the house of David Beebe, June 17, 1813, and before Asahel Osborn, a justice of the peace of Columbia. It was an action for damages, the plaintiff claiming unfaithfulness, wasteage and poor work, on the part of defendant in the grinding of a quantity of wheat for plaintiff, in May of the above year. The decision of the court, rendered June 18, 1813, was in the following words:

It appears, from evidence before this court, that, from twenty-eight bushels of wheat, which said plaintiff carried to said defendant's mitl, said defendant made one hundred and eleven pounds' weight less flour, and that not so good as Capt. Calvin Hoadley generally makes out of similar wheat. From a mature consideration of the evidence and circumstances, it is the opinion of this court that the said plaintiff, Loman C. Beebe. is entitled to receive of the said defendant, Joseph Cahoon, the sum of six dollars damage, and five dollars and seventy-seven cents costs of suit, for which judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff against defendant by this court."

The first legal process issued by a magistrate of Ridgeville after its organization, was a writ of attachment, taken out by Loman C. Beebe, against Simeon Tylor. It was dated August 2, 1813, and signed by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. This was served on Tylor by John Reading, constable.

RELIGIOUS MATTERS.

In emigrating to the new country, the pioneer's of Ridgeville did not leave behind them the New England habits in which they had been trained. A religious service was held the first Sunday after the arrival of David Beebe and his associates. Joel Terrell conducted the exercises, which consisted of the reading of a portion of scripture, -a prayer, and the singing of a psalm, or two, to which David Beebe "pitched" the tunes. Very few of the earliest settlers were members of the church, and a church organization was not formed until twelve years after settlement; but .during all this time, Sabbath services were regularly kept up. For this, much credit is due Joel Terrell, who was by profession a Baptist. He did more to establish religious worship, and to regularly maintain it, in the absence of a minister and a church organization, than any one else. He usually conducted the meetings, which were at first held at the dwellings of the inhabitants, and subsequently at the school house at the Center. The

FIRST CHURCH

was formed December 20, 1822, Rev. Alfred H. Betts, of Brownhelm, and Rev. Lot R. Sullivan officiating in its organization. The people, on the occasion, assembled at the school house, but it was found to be too small to accommodate the large number that came together, and the congregation repaired to the barn of Joseph Humphrey, on the opposite side of the road, where a sermon, appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by Dr. Betts. The organization was called "The First Presbyterian Church of Ridgeville," and was composed of six members, as follows: Chester Beebe, and Marcia Beebe, his wife, Hezekiah Case, Samuel Eldred, Seth R. Alcott, and Lucinda Cahoon. Mr. Alcott was appointed church clerk.

The next Sabbath after the organization, the following persons, who had necessarily been absent on

164 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

that occasion, presented letters for admission, and; on examination, were received into the church, viz: Mrs. Hezekiah Case, Marcus Case, Laura Case his wife, and Ora Case. The church never had a settled pastor, but depended upon neighboring towns for the ministry of the Word. Meetings were held in the school house, at the center of town, and in the school house at the west part of town, until the erection of a house of worship in

The church was never very prosperous. It struggled along, under adverse circumstances, for many years, but gradually lost ground, until it practically ceased to exist. Such was the condition of things when, in February, 1841, D. C. White, a lay member of a church in New Jersey, came into the place, and began to preach the gospel. "Under his labors," (we quote from the church records), "the church seemed somewhat resuscitated, and agreed to renounce its creed, or articles of faith and covenant, and take the simple word of God, as recorded in the Bible, for their only rule of faith and practice. They also agreed to have a communion season, and that they would covenant together anew; and although some cases, of discipline existed, the past should be forgotten, and each member should receive his brother, and for the future walk in love, one with another."

On the fourth of July, of this year, Mr. White was invited, by a unanimous vote, to become the pastor of the church. He aocepted, and, on the third of the following September, he was ordained and installed by a committee of the " Lorain County Association," the sermon, on the occasion, being delivered by Rev. Chas. G. Finney, of Oberlin. The church embraced, at this time, a membership Of fifty-five. Oliver H. Lewis was church clerk, succeeding Ebenezer Porter who was appointed to the office January 31, 1825.

June 27, 1873, work was commenced in the erection of the fine brick church edifice, now occupying the former location of the old church, which was removed to the opposite side of the street, and now stands a few rods west of the residence of Albert Terrell, and is unused. The new church was not completed until January, 1876. The first service in it was held on Christmas immediately preceding. It was dedicated January 12, 1876, Rev. Dr. Wolcott preaching the dedicatory sermon.

According to the figures of Mr. Bradford Race, who was treasurer of the building committee, presented on that occasion, the cost of the church was ten thousand, two hundred and forty-four dollars and fourteen cents. The church had previously been named; at a meeting called for the purpose, the First Congregational Church of Ridgeville. The number of members now (January, 1879,) belonging to the church, is forty-seven. Chas. Herrick is clerk, and Henry D. Rogers, T. T. Winkles, Le Roy Race, Edward Ames, deacons. There is no settled pastor at present, but preaching is had once every Sabbath, by ministers from Oberlin. Job Lickorish is superin tendent of the Sabbath school, which contains about one hundred and fifty scholars.

THE METHODISTS.

A Methodist Episcopal class was formed on Butternut ridge in 1825, by Rev. Harry 0. Sheldon, one of the earliest circuit preachers in this region. There were seven members composing the organization, namely : Wilson Blain and wife, Elijah Rigby and wife, and Harris Emmons, wife and daughter. Wilson Blain was the first leader of the class. John Bibby and wife joined the class the following year. The meetings were first held in the log house of Mr. Blain, and later in the fra:ne school house then standing on the site of the present brick school house at the cross roads. The circuit preacher officiated once in two weeks. According to a class-book in the possession of Mrs. Richard Blain, the class contained in 1843, forty-three members. Rev. Adam Poe was the presiding elder of the district. John Tibbals was the pastor in charge, and Richard Blain class-leader. The membership now numbers twenty-eight. Rev. N. J. Close, of Avon, is the pastor of the church. James Nye is tha class-leader. He is also the super. intendent of the Sabbath school. The church building was erected in 1850.

During the pastorate of Rev. Dissette, in 1875, some eight or nine members of the church, including among the number some whose connection with it embraced a period of nearly fifty years, were expelled for non-attendance Avon church service. The expelled members, who absented themselves for the alleged reason of dissent from the doctrines enunoiated by the pastor, with a like number who withdrew from the church, were organized by a Rev. Mr. Bell into a class under the name of Free Methodists. The organization was effected in February, 1876. Meetings were held at the school house and at the house of Henry Dickson, until the erection of a house of worship on Butternut ridge, in the summer of 1876. Revs. Hart and Bell officiated in the dedicatory services. Rev. Scott Marshall is the present pastor of the church. Osborne Hale is the superintendent of the Sabbath school.

ST. PETER'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

This church was formed in February, 1875. It embraced a membership of some forty-five at its organization. A church building at the Center was erected in the fall and winter of the same year. The present membership is about sixty. The Sabbath school contains nearly fifty scholars. Rev. J. Heidegger, the priest in charge, has been connected with the church in that relation since its formation.

SCHOOLS.

The first house in which school was kept was built of logs, and stood on ground now occupied by the brick tavern at the center. The seats consisted of

HISTORY OF LO RAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 165

slabs resting on pins, and hewed on the upper side. In one end of the building was a fire place with stoneback, but without jambs, and the logs would frequently catch fire. In the end 'opposite was the window, made by cutting out, for a distance of ten or twelve feet, a single log of the structure, and placing glass in the opening. Along the window, and for a few feet at each end beyond it, was a rude desk at which the scholars practiced their writing lessons.

The first teacher was Lydia Terrell, who taught in , the summer of 1811, but died before completing the term. The next school was kept by Betsy Shellhouse. John Reading was the first male teacher. Abigal Davis taught in the summer of 1817. She has lived, until recently, in Cleveland for many years, and is well advanced in life. Samuel Mills Was the last teacher in the old school house, which was destroyed in the winter of 1817 by lire of unknown origin.

Another house, also of logs, was built immediately afterwards on the opposite side of the street, and a short distance further east. Wyllis Terrell, Sr., was an early school teacher in this structure, and he is thought by some to have taught in the old house.

The town was subsequently divided into two school districts, and a house built in the west part of the town and one in the east part. The latter was the first frame school house in town, and, it is believed, the first in the county. It was erected in 1821. It was situated in what was then called the northeast . district, on the farm then owned by Philander Terrell, now owned by Olivcr 11. Lewis. The nails used in the construction of this building were made in Talmadge, then in Portage county, and cost twenty, five cents per pound.

The first school taught in this house was kept by Peter Barton, in the winter of 1821-22. Merritt Osborne taught the following winter. His term ended with a school exhibition, a novel feature then. It was held in the barn of Asahel Morgan, old and young alike participating in the exercises.

The division of the township, with the location of the two school houses, as previously stated, was un satisfactory to the people at the center of town, and they erected for themselves a house at the center. Subsequently they succeeded in obtaining a school district in this portion of town.

The present condition of the schools is shown by the report of the clerk of the board of education, for the year ending August 31, 1878, which gives the following statistics:

Number of school houses 10

Value $8,800

Amount paid teachers 2,415

Number of scholars 410

A catholic school was established at the center in October, 1876, with about forty-five scholars. The number now enrolled is fifty-five. The school is lucid in the town hall.

ORGANIZATION.

The township was organized the first Monday in April, 1813, at the Terrell tavern. There were fifteen voters, and they were all at the election, which resulted as follows: Wyllis Terrell, clerk; David Beebe, Sr., Ichabod Terrell and Joel Terrell, trustees; David Beebe, Jr., and John Reading, constables; Joel Terrel, justice of the peace.

The township officers elected at the spring election of 1878 are the following: Albert G. Terrell, clerk; Wm. D. Fuller, Randall Stetson and Lester C. Sexton, trustees; Chauncey Blakesley and James Healy, justices of the peace.

POST OFFICE.

A post office was established in Ridgeville in 1815. Moses Eldred was the first postmaster, who kept the office in his own house. He held the office until 1828, his successors being as follows:

Edward Byington, until 1836; Levi W. Terrel, 1842; Alonzo Benham, until 1846; Joel Terrel until 1851; Joseph Humphrey, until 1854; David Beebe, now of Elyria, until 1860; Alonzo Benham, until 1864; Doctor Palmer. until 1866; John Browen, until 1867; II. G. binder, until 1868; George P. Burrell, until 1869; Bert Wilmot, until 1870; E. P. Smith, until 1874; Orson J. Terrell, is the present incumbent of the office, which is located at the center of the town.

There is also a post office at Shawville, the postmaster being O. H. Ramsdell.

STORES.

The first store in the township was kept in his own house by Lyman Root. There are at the present writing four stores in the town, the name of the owners being as follows: Orson J. Terrell, Nicholas Diedrich, H. Ramsdall, M: Bruce.M

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS

In 1812, and prior to the partition of their lands, Joel, Oliver and Ichabod Terrell, and David Beebe, Sr., gave to Joseph Cahoon sixty acres of land at the center of the town, the consideration of the conveyance being that the grantee build a grist mill on the land so conveyed. 'The deed was executed December 3, 1812. This was the first real estate transfer in the township. In the spring of 1813 the mill was erected. It stood on the west bank of Center creek, a few feet north of the bridge that now crosses the stream. The mill was about eighteen by twenty feat in size, constructed of basswood logs, hewed on the inside, and was the best mill in the county in its day. It had but one run of stone, which was made out of a common "hard head." Wyllis Terrell, Sr., bought the mill a few months after its completion and operated it until 1826 or '27, when he sold to Orson Humphrey. The mill long since ceased to exist, and there is now none of the kind in the township.

166 -HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

THE RIDGEVILLE CHAIR WORKS.

This enterprisehas grown up to its present importance from a small beginning. It was established by A. H. Mooers, the present proprietor, in November, 1853, with a capital of seven dollars and fifty cents. He served his apprenticeship with his father, who was a chair maker, and had worked in Elyria, making chairs by the piece, the year previous to his location in Ridgeville. He rented a room, eighteen by twenty-four feet in size, in Joel Terrell's saw-mill at the center of the town, and with the capital previously stated, a few tools and a turning lathe which he borrowed, started in business for himself. He was alone for over a year. He made about one hundred chairs a month and those of the cheapest character. For these he found a market, mostly at Elyria. After running for three years he sold out to William Young for two hundred dollars, but bought back within two weeks, paying a bonus of twenty-live dollars. Some two years and half afterwards, (luring which he engaged in other enterprises, he bought a small building near the Bushnell mill, and moved it to its present location, in the rear of his house. In this building, which ho now uses for a barn, Mr. Mooers prosecuted his business for about six months, using a horse power, when he commenced the erection of the first of the three large buildings now comprising his works. In addition to his factory proper, Mr. Mooers has a saw mill twenty-eight by sixty feet, two stories high, the motive-power of which is a forty-horse power engine. The goods made by these works consist of every variety of wood chairs, all kinds of double cane-seated chairs, settees and the round-cornered cottage bedstead. Mr. Mooers finds a market for his goods in Cleveland. In 1873 he employed nearly seventy-live hands. At the present time he has forty employees, live of whom are women.

These works furnished for the Saengerfest building in Cleveland, in June, 1876, six thousand chairs in nine days, all carried to the city in wagons. The capital invested in business at the present time is upwards of thirty thousand dollars.

Since this enterprise was started by Mr. Mooers, nineteen establishments, within a radius of twenty miles, have had an existence and failed or success. lie attributes a great part of his success to his strict temperance principles, to which he has adhered from childhood, never having tasted a drop of malt or spirituous liquor.

Just south of the saw mill is a building used by Mr. Mooers, exclusively for the manufacture of an implement called the "Griffin Land Leveler," of which Mr. Seth Griffin of :Elyria, is the patentee. It is a combined roller, harrow and scraper, and is used for leveling roads and tracks, and for the preparation of land for seeding. It was first patented in 1874, and its manufacture begun in 1877. About thirty machines are turned out yearly, and there is- an increasing demand for it.

Recognizing the necessity of means for the greater security of the dead from the nefarious business of grave robbers, Mr. Mooers applied his mechanical genius in this direction, and patented in the spring of 1878, a "Metallic Coffin Shield" which he is now manufacturing. It is made of wrought sheet iron, and is used in the place of the ordinary box in which the coffin is enclosed. Efforts in this direction are most commendable.

SAW MILLS.

The first saw mill in this township was built by Major Wyllis Terrell, on Center creek, near his grist mill, in 1819. It continued in operation until 1830, when Major Beebe and Joseph Humphrey, out of sanitary considerations, bought the property and tore it away. It overflowed their hinds with water much of the time, causing a great deal of sickness.

Capt. Bush erected a saw mill on West creek at an early day, but it never went into operation. A freshet carried away the dam, and the enterprise was abandoned.

THE HERRICK MILL, at the Center, was built by Joel Terrell, son of Major Terrell, in the year 1850. He established at the same place a button factory, which he operated in the day time, and the saw mill at night. It ceased to exist some live or six years since. Successive owners of the saw mill were men by the name of Viets, George Burrell and Dr. Herrick, of Cleveland, the present owner.

THE ROBISON MILL, located on lot fourteen, was built in 1850, by Messrs. Peek and Heston. The former subsequently bought the latter's interest, and ran the mill until 1866, when the present proprietor, J. Robinson, came into possession of the property. It is a steam mill, and has facilities for sawing from two thousand five hundred to three thousand feet of lumber per day, but has been idle much of the. time of late years.

THE MOOERS MILL—This is by far the most important mill of the kind in the township, and, indeed, in this section of the country. .It was built and is used mainly as an adjunct to his chair works, but the mill also does a great deal of custom work. It was built in 1873. It is a two-story frame, thirty by sixty feet, with a substantial brick boiler and engineroom with an iron roof, making it as nearly fireproof as possible. The engine is a forty-horse power. The capacity of the mill is five thousand feet of lumber per day. The upper story is used by Mr. Mooers for his turning works, and is replete with all the varied machinery necessary to that branch of his chair factory.

CIDER MILL.

The only cider mill in the township is owned and operated by W. H. Eldred, who, with his father built it in 1856. The entire machinery, with the exception of the engine, is of Mr. Eldred's own manufacture. It possesses facilities for the manufacture of eighty barrels of cider per day. With a small force of hands

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 167

the average is about thirty-five barrels per day. Mr. Eldred does a general custom business, and also ships largely to Cleveland. In 1874, he added a feed mill with one run of stone, and run by steam, the engine being a twelve-horse power. Its capacity is about twenty-five bushels per hour.

CHEESE FACTORIES.

THE EXCELSIOR FACTORY.-The original factory on this location, lot twenty-four, was built in 1869 Jackson & Roe. It was destroyed by lire in 1871, when the present factory was erected by Adams & Aldred. In 1873, Jackson & Eldred, the present proprietors took charge, and have continued its opera,- tion up to the present time. This factory makes especially of the manufacture, of what the proprietors call "Cheshire cheese," the entire product being shipped direct to England. It consumed the milk of 'about four hundred and fifty cows the last season.

THE FULLER FACTORY was established in 1870, by a stock company. W. D. Fuller, the present owner, ''`has operated it about three years. It formerly consumed the milk of about two hundred cows. It was 'supplied the last season by about one hundred and fifty.

THE CHEESE FACTORY, situated a short distance south of Briggs' Corners, was built in the spring of 1871 by a stock company. The present 'Manager of the factory is C. I. Mead. The directors; are Homer Terrell, John McNeIley and Edward Hill. The production for the season of 1878 was about sixty thousand pounds of cheese, consuming the milk of about two hundred cows.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

Wheat, 925 acres 17,495 bushels

Oats, 1,491 " 38,451 "

Corn, 1,251 " 40,722 "

Potatoes, 192 " 253;14 "

Orchards, 267 " 3,419 "

Meadow, 1,901 " 2,333 tons.

Butter 42,760 pounds.

Cheese 164,000 "

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1870-

Hayes 194

Tilden 157

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

C. LESTER SEXTON.

Soon after the marriage of George Sexton and Miss Mary Cahoon, at Vergennes, Vt., in the year 1819, they moved into Ohio, stopping at Judge Kingsbury's, Newburgh, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where they remained until March 12, 1812; then, with family, Mr. G. Sexton moved into the west part of Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio, where he resided until his decease, November 7, 1829, aged forty-two years, leaving a widow and seven children, five of whom are since dead. Mrs. Mary Cahoon died September 17, 1849.

The two, children living are Amos 0, Sexton, who is a farmer in Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; the other, C. Lester Sexton, of whom this sketch is written, following the same &ling as his brother, resides in Ridgeville, Lorain county, Ohio. He was born at Newburgh, as above, on April 20, 1810.

The parents of Mrs. Lester Sexton, viz: Ebenezer Porter and Miss Eunice Yale, were married at Lee, Berkshire county, Mass., in 1800.• They left Lee, in 1822, with a family of eight children, for. Ohio. Spending the winter in Dover, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in the early spring they removed to Ridgeville, where they built the first ''log house" on Sugar Ridge, As a farmer, there lie lived until death, which occurred on July 6, 1867, he having reached the advanced age of ninety-one years; his more aged father having died at his son's residence, in 1839. ninety-four years of age. Mrs. Eunice Sexton died November 19, 1847.

Mr. C. Lester Sexton and Frances C. Porter were married at Ridgeville, December 5, 1833. Soon after they removed to Ashland, Ashland county, Ohio. Returning to Ridgeville on the 9th of March, 1838, they commenced in the unbroken woods to make for themselves and children a home. How pleasant that home and its surroundings have become, the artist shows in the view accompanying.

In Ridgeville they have since lived, with the exception of three years in Elyria,- where Mr. Sexton engaged in brick making.

Mr. Sexton was father of five children. Lydia Louisa, their eldest child, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, November 26, 1834. Becoming the wife of Harlo C. Emmons, of Elyria, she was left a widow in March, 1869. In San Francisco, California, she was re-married to John Dunbar, and has since resided in Petaluma, California. George P. Sexton and E. Porter Sexton were both born in Ridgeville; the one November 5, 1838, the other April 15, 1841. At the commencement of the rebellion, both brothers enlisted in Company K, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George died in hospital at Paintville, Kentueky, February 7, 1862; aged twenty-three. E. Porter serving his full enlistment, was honorably discharged, since which time he has generally been in Ridgeville.

Frances M. was born August 21, 1847, and became the wife, February 9, 1869, of W. 11. Bastard, of Columbia, Lorain county, Ohio, where they now live with their sons, Robert Lester and George Harry.

The remaining child, Elizabeth, was born in Ridgeville April 21, 1850, and is still living with her parents.

Mr. Sexton has filled, and now holds the office of township trustee. Still vigorous, at a ripe age, loved and respected by his neighbors, lre remains one of the makers of Ridgeville. To him belongs the credit of being one of the first, if not the first, of using tile drains, to any great extent, in Lorain county, he at an early day, laying over two miles on his farm.

Many are the incidents he can relate of early life.

168 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Soon after the arrival at Elyria, of Judge Ely's first wife, Mr. Sexton's mother, and another lady, started on foot through the woods, to make a friendly call on the new-comer. The visit being made, the ladies commenced their journey home. Losing their way, and night coming on, they were forced to spend the night under a partially fallen tree. The next morning brought them kind neighbors, who had passed the night in vain search for them. Such was "calling" in Lorain county pioneer life.

RICHARD BLAIN.

Wilson Blain was born April 24, 1789, and married to Hannah Van Natten, in May, 1810. They moved to Ridgeville, this county, in September, 1818, where he bought a farm on the Butternut ridge, and lived there until his death. He had four children. Richard, the eldest son of Wilson, and subject of this sketch, was born October 13, 1812, and married Fanny M Fuller, November 20, 1886, who was born October 18, 1820; she was the daughter of Warren and Vesta Fuller. Warren Fuller was born May 8, 1790, and died July 1, 1870. Vesta Fuller was born January 7, 1795, and died July 11, 1870.

To Richard Blain and his wife have been born four children: Warren W., born November 6, 1837; James M., born December 30, 1839; Vesta H., born February 11, 1841; and Harlan I., born March 14, 1843, and died April 5, 1856.

Warren W. married Elizabeth Watson, February 17, 1861. They have seven children: Martin W., born December 15, 1865; Arreain F., born March 28, 1867; Elfa E., born November 30, 1869; Harlan W., born January 14, 1871; June L., born May 23, 1872; Fanny B., born Juno 25, 1875; and Marcia C., born March 25, 1877.

James M. married Lydia Percival, December 29, 1861; she died January 1, 1866, and he married, second, Emma Poets, December 25, 1866, who was born June 29, 1850. • To them have been born: Gracie M., born May 17, 1868; Lucien A., July 26, 1870; William W., born August 8, 1871; Jessie M., born October 8, 1872, and died July 27, 1873; Richard, January 30, 1875; and Baby, born July 12, and died February 18, 1876.

Vesta H. married Noah II. Peck, :February 19, 1860. They have Edith F., born January 11, 1861; Ella C., born January 13, 1864; Lydia C., born April 29, 1866; Eddie IL, born December 16, 1868; and Lora C., born November 18, 1870.

Richard Blain united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1829, when he was seventeen years old, and remained it faithful, devoted member until the close of his life. In all these years, after lre became of age, he was either class leader or steward, and usually both. lie was always at his post, and filled his place with honor to himself, and great benefit and credit .to the church. He was a man of decided and unblemished character, one who lived to do his neighbors good; and was truly devoted to his wife, his children and the church of his adoption.