250 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
CHAPTER III.
HARTFORD.
This township was known under the surveys of the Connecticut Land company as number five, first range, in the. Connecticut Western Reserve. It was called Hartford, after the State capital of the same name. According to draft book, page 225, draft seven-three was drawn by Urial Holmes and Ephraim Root. This draft drew all of Hartford township, containing seventeen thousand three hundred and seventeen acres of land. The Connecticut Land company executed a deed April 22, 1798, to Root and Holmes for a consideration of $12,903.23, being less than seventy-five cents per acre.
The township was surveyed into lots by Raphael Cooke. It was bounded on the east by the Pennsylvania State line ; on the north by Smithfield, afterwards named Vernon; on the west by Westfield, afterwards named Fowler ; and on the south by Brookfield,
According to Stowe's map of Trumbull county in 1800, numbers four and five in range one and two, and also numbers six, seven, eight, and nine in range one, two, and three, were known as Vernon,
Elections were held at Burg Hill, number five, for this territory of Vernon, which is now divided into sixteen townships, lying in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
Burg Hill, located in the north part of the township of Hartford, may have received its name from the fact that it was the business point and place fo1 elections and militia musters for many years early in the century.
The earliest records to be found show that a separate township organization must have been in existence in 1811. Elam Jones was elected township clerk at the April election of that year.
Legal papers bearing date as late as 1814 were drawn in some cases, as if the names of Vernon and Hartford were both used to designate this township.
The deed of Holmes and Root to Titus Brockway, drawn in 1803, in which they reserved one acre 0f land for a " green," on which to build a " meeting-house," speaks of the township as " Hartford." In a deed of Edward Brockway to his son Titus, drawn in 1802, the township is called Vernon, " in the territory of the United States, northwest of the Ohio river."
The first deed by said Urial Holmes and Ephraim Root was made September 23, 1799, to Edward Brockway, conveying 3,194 acres and a fraction of land, being lots seven, eight, fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one, and twenty-two, for a consideration of $500, being less than sixteen cents an acre, According to tradition he exchanged his farm of two hundred acres in Hartford, Connecticut, for nearly one-fourth of the township, and perhaps this formed a part of the consideration in addition to the amount mentioned in the deed. A number of others exchanged their farms for land here.
GENERAL FEATURES.
The soil is clayey through the central portions, but becomes less so as you approach the principal streams—Yankee run on the west, and Pymatuning in the northeastern part of the township. The first named takes its rise in the marsh and runs in a southern direction in the western part of the township, until it meets the Little Yankee, which runs nearly east from Fowler to its junction with the main stream. Near the south line it runs to the east, crossing the Brookfield and Hartford road at Burnett's mrll, and a short distance further leaves the township.
Yankee run is said to have been so named by the Indians because they found the body of a white man at the forks of the stream. Mill brook rises in the north central portion of the township, and runs north into Vernon. The Pymatuning was first called Smith's creek, after General Marti- Smith, later Venango, the latter name appearing in old deeds which were made out by pioneer proprietors early in the century, and als0 in maps of a similar date. For many years it has been called Pymatuning. By some this is supposed to be an Indian name, by others it is claimed to be of French origin. This stream furnishes the water-power which has been so long utilized at Orangeville. Hewitt run rises on the farm which bears the same name, and the larger stream in that vicinity was known on early maps as Brockway run, named after Edward Brockway, the pionee1 settler, and as its course nearly all lay within lands purchased by him, it should still bear his name. They are both tributaries of the Pymatuning. McCullough run rises in the central and south central portion of the township. The two branches unite on the farm of T. A. Bushnell, and run thence nearly
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 251
due east to the State line. It was named after a pioneer settler who resided near its mouth.
In the west central portion of the township is a sandstone ridge known as the ledge. It extends for
some distance from north to south, being an abrupt precipice of rocks, of varying height, with some small caves. At different places the rock appears to show the action of water, as if it had at one time been the bank of a stream, and near the road a rocky ravine extends a short distance from east to west. It has been a favorite local resort for school pic-nics, and is not entirely devoid of interest to oldet persons who have not been accust0med to the rocks and hills of New England, or some similar region. Across the run to the southwest, on the McFarland farm, a similar formation occurs, but of less extent. This stone has been quarried fo1 many years, and is quite valuable for building and bridge purposes.
The land at Burg Hill is a circular knob or knoll comprising some fifty or more acres, and rising to an elevation of perhaps fifty feet above the general level, and is noted for the large number of springs near its base. The hill itself appears to be composed of conglomerate rock, with a thin covering of surface soil. Since the building of the railway the post-office and the store have been moved a little north to the station of the same name, within the township of Vernon. It is now sometimes called Old Burg Hill, and was formerly the residence of Colonel Richard Hayes and his three sons, Seth, Alvin, and Richard.
There are a few things of local interest, which since the first settlement of the township have been to some extent objects of curiosity to our citizens. The first to which we will refer, is known as the old road. It is located near the center of the northeastern part of the township, perhaps a mile or more west of Orangeville. It is nearly a half mile in length, and its general direction is from northeast to southwest. A portion of the road, or whatever it may have originally been, varies but little from a straight line; the remainder is more winding, but retains the same general course. It has the appearance of having been at some time thrown up like a turnpike. At some points it seems as if the depression was still visible which was made by the removal of earth in constructing.
The embankment is generally the highest on the southern portion, which is also the highest ground, and as you go to the northeast the land gradually descends, and at a short distance from the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railroad, it entirely disappears. At one point, south of the Orangeville 1oad, it resembles a railroad embankment where it has been cut through by a stream of water. The first settlers found it covered with forest trees as large as at other places. Tradition says that whenever deer were started by hunters in that vicinity, they always made for the old road, if possible, and used it as a runway during their flight.
It seems to us it must have been of artificial construction. It could hardly have been a fortification, however, and it does not seem to meet any of the requirements of military science. A gentleman who has resided in the vicinity some seventy years, informed the writer he had heard It suggested that it was made as a boundary line between two Indian tribes, but it would seem to have been constructed by a more civilized race.
A boulder of large size, sometime in the history of the world, took up its residence in this vicinity, and is another of our few local curiosities. There are many others of the same class, but so much smaller as to 1eceive but little attention. It is located near the top of Brockway's hill, on the south part of the farm formerly owned by the late Calvin Cone, and has been variously estimated to weigh from seventy-five to one hundred tons. It is surrounded by material which has evidently formed, at some period, part of the rock itself, but from the action of the elements has been reduced in size.
There are a few places in the township where we find a bed of gravel, resting upon the ordinary surface soil, and having all the appearance of being artificial, but no possible reason can be assigned for their construction, and no similar material is found in the vicinity. One bed that has been carefully examined, on A. P. Kepner's land, is some forty feet in diameter, about three feet deep in the center, growing thinner as you approach the circumference o1 outer edge. It certainly shows no correspondence to drift deposit, and cannot well be classed as kames.
On the farms of Luther and John Fitch, and also on the farm of William Rathbun, at the time of settlement were quite a number of exca-
252 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
vations very similar in general appearance. They resembled wells, which having been dug and left for years had partially filled up. In early days they were so deep in some cases as to require fencing to protect stock from danger. They were known in the neighborhood as " old wells." No examination has been made to determine their original purpose.
Coal has been found at various places in the township, and a few thousand tons have been recently mined at the ledge, but none has yet been found in sufficient thickness to warrant extensive operations in mining.
FIRST SETTLEMENT,
The first settlement was made in 1799, by Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and Asahel Brainard, who spent their first night by a large tree, then standing about one-fourth of a mile north of the center of the township, nearly opposite the residence of the late Elijah Woodford, now owned by Oliver Perrine.
They commenced a clearing on the farm long owned by the late William Bond, Edward Brockway cutting the first tree. After having built a cabin and sowed a field of wheat, Brockway and Jones returned East and brought out their families in the summer of 1800.
Brainard remained alone through the winter, engaged in clearing land. His nearest neighbor was Martin Smith, of Vernon. Settlement had been made previously at Vienna, Youngstown, and Warren. It was during this winter that two Indians, Flin and Kanoshua, came to Brainard's cabin, and after partaking somewhat freely of whiskey, left apparently on good terms, but soon after fell into an altercation, in which the former was killed. He was shot near the residence on the dairy farm of D. R. Chapman. After the transaction it was feared that trouble with the Indians might grow out of it, and Smith being best acquainted, started for their village near Greenville, Pennsylvania, to notify them and put the best face possible on the matter, but had proceeded no farther than Orangeville, when he met them coming. The Indians having collected from the various encampments, a consultation was held, and after due deliberation, it was decided that " Indian no kill him, but whiskey kill him." He was soon after buried by them with the usual ceremonies, near the east line of the farm on which the first cabin was built. The surviv0r, instead of departing for parts unknown, as it was feared he might, leaving the blame to rest on others, had informed his friends of the matter, who were coming to bury their dead. A few years later some medical students exhumed his remains, and his bones were kept by them for a l0ng time in the office of Dr. Wilcox, at Burg Hill.
Isaac Jones settled at Burg Hill on the farm now owned by Osman Hull. Charles Merry came the same year with his family, and settled within the present limits of Orangeville.
William Bushnell, the pioneer settler in the south part of the t0wnship, bought three hundred and twenty-seven acres in lot thirty, of Holmes and Root, for a consideration of $816, the deed being dated December 31, 1800.
He came into the township with his family in June, 1801, and located on the diagonal road about half way up the hill. Hrs first place of shelter was made by felling a large chestnut tree, taking of the bark, placing one end on the body of the tree and the other on the ground, thus, making a shed under which the family found shelter for nine days, during most of which time a rain storm kept them closely "housed."
Titus Brockway also came into the township in 1800, and was land agent for Holmes & Root. He located in the central part, on the farm now in the possession of his grandson, U. H. Brockway. His first cabin was built on the opposite bank of the run, a little north of the present residence. It is raid he was an unmarried man at this time, and with a hired man kept "bachelor's hall." Also, that Urial Holmes found it convenient at times to share his cabin, and partake of the plentiful game with which the immense forest abounded. One day they were so fortunate as to kill a bear. Thinking to have a little joke they put it into the hired man's bed, and with much gravity awaited the time for him to retire. We are left to imagrne his surprise, and perhaps fright, and the uproarious laughter of the jokers.
In 1803 Daniel Bushnell located on lot thirty, near the present 1esidence of John Craton.
Samuel Spencer located in Burg Hrll.
Captain Thomas Thompson came from Farmington, Connecticut, in 1803. He purchased some five hundred acres, including two of the center lots of the township, and a portion of a third one, and located about one-fourth 0f a
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 253
mile south of the center, where H. Bennett now resides. William C. Jones probably came in 1802, and located on the farm now occupied by A. D. Fell.
Asahel Brainard, previously mentioned, located at an early period on the farm where Jacob Kepner now resides, one-half mile south of the center.
Aaron Brockway first settled in Vernon in 1798, but in 1801 or 1802 changed his location to Hartford.
Asa Andrews purchased about one thousand acres of land and settled on lot twenty-seven, where John McFarland now resides.
In 1803 Robert McFarland and family settled on lot three on the State line, near the residence of hrs grandson, Thomas W, McFarland.
The following named persons also came into the township during 1804 and 1805. All but two or three of them were married men and brought their families : Richard Hayes, Thomas Bushnell, Asahel Borden, Andrews Bushnell, Asa Andrews, Jehial Hulburt, Samuel Tuttle, Captain Alexander Bushnell, Shaler Fitch, Asahel Borden, Jr., Elam Jones, Chester Andrews, Jehial Hulburt, Jr., William Rathburn. These were nearly all residents of Hartland, Connecticut. In 1804 a colony of some ten families left Hartland at the same time. The occasion of their departure from Connecticut was considered of so much importance that a meeting was held, a farewell sermon preached, and then the general leave taking took place, as their old friends and neighbors bade adieu to their late homes and started on their journey of six hundred miles for the State of their choice. Some of them were men far past the prime of life, Revolutionary fathers; one had borne a part at Bunker Hill, that sad, yet glorious day, when Warren fell; another, barefo0ted at Valley Forge, had camped with Washington, yet rather than part with children and grandchildren, they concluded to forego the comforts of civilization, and endure the fatigues of a six weeks' trip to New Connecticut, as it was then called, to build up homes in a wilderness, not only for themselves, but for coming generations.
DUTCH RIDGE SETTLEMENT.
The southeastern portion of the township was first settled by families of German lineage from Cumberland county, in eastern Pennsylvania.
John Kepner was the pioneer settler. According to tradition, he commenced a clearing in 1805 and burlt a cabin. The next spring it was burned, and a hewed log-house was then built, which stood until 1880, when it was replaced by a fine frame house erected by his grandson, Lucius Kepner. His deed was made July 2, 1806, for six hundred and thirty-six and one hundred and thirty-nine one-hundred and sixtieth acres of land in lot nine, The consideration was $1,785.
John Pfouts came in the fall of 1806 and settled on the farm now owned by his son Isaac Pfouts. The first cabin stood some forty rods southwest of the present residence. Frederick Shull located where Seth Carnes now resides. Michael Quiggle settled on the farm now owned by Orvis Shatto.
Later, settlement were made by Hull, Reeder, George and John Snyder.
INDIAN HUNTING CAMP.
The remains of a large Indian hunting camp were in existence for several years after the first settlement, on the west side of lot twenty-four, on the farm formerly owned by General Andrews Bushnell. Some of the lodges were apparently new, with all the appearance of having been occasionally occupied; others were quite old and dilapidated.
A DEN OF SNAKES,
During the year 1804, while Samuel Spencer was residing at Burg Hill, some travelers having called for water were directed to a spring near the house, but soon returned, having discovered a rattlesnake den at the head of it. The neighbors were called upon for assistance, and in digging them out it was found necessary to use a yoke of cattle to remove the stone surrounding the den. It was quite cool weather in early spring, and they had just begun to stir, and were not fairly active. The boys used flails in dispatching them. One hundred and seventy of the spotted reptiles were dug out and killed. Soon after Mrs. Spencer found one under the bed, which she dispatched; another fell from overhead to the floor, and last, not least, one day on going into the pantry and taking down a basin, she found one curled up within it—an uninviled guest, truly ! What w0uld our modern belles say to an adventure like this ? I am afraid his
254 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
snakeship would have had a better chance for his life than in the hands of Mrs. Spencer.
Early in the century the banks of Brockway run were quite a harbor for rattlesnakes. Edward Brockway was bitten by one of them, and came near losing his life in consequence, but by the aid of an old Indian's prescription, he finally recovered. He, however, became the sworn enemy of the whole fraternity of snakes, and soon an agreement was made by those living in the vicinity, to hunt for snakes, whenever they crossed the stream at the proper season. It was his ens, tom, when going to and returning from church, to stop and hunt for them.
The northwestern part of the township, from the " marsh " for some distance south on the run, seems to be the favorite home of the massassauga. Formerly large numbers were killed. Even in later years fair crops of them have sometimes been harvested. Some forty or fifty have been killed on one farm, in a single year. The war still goes on, and it may be a long time before they are entirely extirpated.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.
The following named persons came into the township during its early settlement, most of them probably from 1804 to 1811 : Titus Hayes, Russel Borden, Linus Hayes, Lester Hayes, Philo Borden, Nehemiah Andrews, Davis Fuller, Horace Flower, Sylvester Borden, Martin Gangyard, Ebenezer Chapman, Elijah Woodford,Thomas Dugan, David Lane, Lebbeus Beach, Levi Giddings, and Isaac Olmstead.
EARLY EVENTS.
Linus Hayes and Jerusha, daughter of Thomas Bushnell, were married September 11, 1805. They were the first couple married within the township. Previous to this time, however, in 1801, Titus Brockway, of this place, was married to Minerva Palmer, of Vernon. Harriet Merry, daughter of Charles Merry, was born in 1801, and died August 24, 1864. She was the first white child born in the township. She married John Burnett. They resided some years in Vernon and then removed to Ravenna, Ohro, where she died, and was buried at Burg Hill.
William Bushnell, son of Colonel William Bushnell, born June 11, 1802, was the first white male child born in the township. He married Jane Potterfield June 19, 1828. They both died at the same time and were buried in one grave.
The first death was that of a child of Isaac Jones, from small-pox. It was buried at Burg Hill, near the residence of Osman Hull. Mrs. Samuel Tuttle died soon after and was buried at Vernon. Lucy Andrews, a child of two years, was the next, and was the first person buried in the graveyard at the center. The site was selected after her death, and the grave was surrounded by an enclosure of logs in the forest. She died October 11, 1805. Mrs. Jerusha Hayes, wife of Linus Hayes and daughter of Thomas Bushnell, died in 1806, and was the first adult buried here, the next being Mrs. Daniel Bushnell, who died July 7, 1809.
Edward Brockway was elected as the first justice of the peace, in honor of having been the first settler and cutting the first tree, but not wishing to serve, Titus Brockway, his son, was elected and served as the first justice, and was also the first postmaster.
The oldest framed house in the township now standing, and said to have been the second, if not the first one built, is the present residence of Seth Thompson, Jr., standing on the top of the hill on the diagonal road. It was built by Colonel William Bushnell, who sold it to Russel Borden, and a few years later it passed into the hands of the Thompson family, who have occupied it nearly seventy years.
The first dwelling house at the center of the township was built by Seth Thompson, Sr., in 1810. It was a log house and stood north of the "green," where James Stewart now resides, and the second was built some years later by Joseph A. Gould,.on the west corner, who also built a blacksmith shop near it.
The first apple-tree which bore fruit in the township was planted by Titus Brockway, and is still standing, a little north of the residence of U. H. Brockway. The first crop consisted of one peck of apples, which were carefully put into the cellar, and when they were visited by their neighbors, two or three were brought up and exhibited, then carefully pared and cut into pieces enough to go around. So the peck furnished most of the people a sight and taste of the apples. Soon, however, fruit became so plenty it had but little market value. Peaches were a drug in the market at a shilling a bushel, and
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 255
large quantities were taken to Lester Bushnell's still, at the foot of Brockway's hill, to be made into peach brandy. Cider, at the nominal price of fifty cents per barrel, was taken to the same place to be made into "apple-jack," and then stored in the cellar, to be used in treating friends on extra occasions, as parties, weddings, etc., especially after the ten or twelve barrels of crder, "all ripening in a row," in the cellars of most farm-houses, had run low.
At this time the privations and hardships of the early pioneers were growing less; fields of corn and wheat gave evidence of present abundance and a prospect of future luxury.
Additions were yearly being made to the settlement by emigration from the older States, of friends and neighbors, who hoped to better their c0ndition by making a home in the West. Thus a few years swiftly passed away, with little to vary the monotony of frontier life, save an occasional foray upon the sheepfold by wolves, or being awakened from sleep by the squeals of a luckless pig, taken away from his sty by bruin, and borne away to make a toothsome repast for himself, varied by his pursuit and capture, to pay him for his pains. Frame houses and barns were already beginning to take the place of log ones; orchards being set out, clearings enlarged, and roads improved, until the 18th of June, 1812, when the war cloud which had for a long time hung over the Nation, culminated in a declaration of war against Great Britain.
The necessary demands upon the pioneers for military service after Hull's surrender, and their location near the frontier, served to check emigration and general improvement until the close of the war.
EPIDEMIC OF 1813.
The epidemic which prevailed so extensively through the whole Western country during the year 1813, visited this township, and carried off fifteen persons, mostly elderly people, all the deaths of the year except two or three, resulting from it. Among the deaths were Asa Andrews, Jehiel Hulburt, Titus Hayes, Russel Borden, and Mrs. Lucy Fitch, widow of John Fitch, the inventor of steamboats, whose descendants by one branch are still residing here.
A BEAR STORY.
In November, 1817, a large black bear was caught in the woods of Daniel Bushnell. He was in the habit of visiting Mr. Bushnell's corn field at pleasure, going in and out at the same place until the corn was harvested. At length, frnding no more corn he went to an adjoining field, where he helped himself to a fat hog weighing near two hundred pounds. After killing it and eating as much as he desired he attempted to get it over the fence into the woods. Finding it too heavy to lift he covered it with leaves and left it in the corner of the fence for his next meal. Mr. Bushnell's son George (now Dr. Bushnell) finding the hog thought it best to put a stop to bruin's depredations, and obtained the assistance of two good hunters, William Waters and T. H. Thompson. They tied the hog to the fence and set two bear traps. At night he came, pulled the hog away from the fence, breaking the straps by which it was tied, dragged it over the traps, sprung them, and then ate his meal. The next night they chained the hog to the fence, and set the traps again. He came, and crawling up on the side rails of the fence avorded the traps, reached the hog and again got his supper. They then put the hog on the woods side, fastened it tight to the fence, staking around it with heavy stakes driven into the ground, and leaving a door just large enough for him to enter, planted or buried a twenty pound trap outside and another of twelve pounds inside the door, That night. he came, pulled up the traps with the log chain with which they were fastened, turned them over and sat down on them. The next night was nearly a repetition of the last. Then moss from old logs was crowded under the pan of the traps to make them hard to spring, but this scheme availed nothing. He still sprung them and secured his supper as usual. They then built a pen of logs, about four feet by eight, with the door end between two trees, securely fastening it to them with pins and withes. The other end was staked and witlied as well as notched together. A door was made of split puncheons and the pen was finished with a log floor, and logs on, top. They then fastened the hog to a stick, one end of which was put through the back end of the pen, somewhat like the spindle to a box-trap. A pole was then placed over the pen to the end of the puncheon door (which was raised above the entrance) and with a cord at the other end was
256 - TRUMBULL AND COUNTIES, OHIO.
tied to a top-piece which had one end put in a place in one of the logs, and the other into a notch in the stick or spindle, to which the hog was fastened—a huge log box trap. The traps and chains were then put at the door to remove his fear of danger in the pen, At night he came, and this time his bearship was outwitted. He walked in and was caught.
He was kept in the pen a portion of the next day for exhibition, and many of the people of the township came to see him, as he had become quite noted among them for his sagacity and cunning. He had gnawed some of the logs half off and would steadily continue to do so, unless he was watched by some one to take his attention. He would spit, snort, and scratch on the logs of the pen, jarring it until the tops of the trees to which it was fastened would shake.
Those who approached the pen would receive such a salute as would sometimes make them start and jump, to the great amusement of the spectators. Towards noon the bear was shot and taken on an ox sled to the house. His live weight was variously estimated from four hundred to four hundred and fifty pounds. He dressed three hundred and fifty pounds. His skin weighed thirty pounds. In his spine was found a half-ounce rifle ball, and a scar of another shot through the ribs, also ,an ounce ball and a buckshot in his neck. Thompson and Waters took the skin and one-half the meat for their share. Daniel Bushnell had the 1emainder, which furnished him sixty pounds of oil, in addition to the meat, His family had doughnuts fried in bear's oil all winter, and bear meat in place of the pork he had 1ntended to use. The meat is said to be between beef and pork in appearance and taste. Strangers on eating the meat would sometimes pronounce it beef and sometimes pork, but always good meat, at the same time perhaps remarking they never could eat bear meat. After the meal they were generally informed of what they had partaken, when they would exclaim in great surprise : " Bear's meat ! Impossible !"
This same historical bear is well remembered to this daysi (1882) by the postmaster, H. B. Thompson. At that time the roads were full of stumps which had been blackened by frequent attempts to burn them out. He, a little fellow of four years of age, returning from school, was leisurely wending his way homeward down the diagonal road swinging his dinner basket and occasionally turning around to look back. He remembers well on one occasion of seeing an unusual number of black stumps behind him, but did not understand the reason till next day it was explained to him by the excited children at school, who informed him that some men working on Davis Fuller's barn, near the road, happening to look after the boy saw old bruin walk out of the woods on the roadside and leisurely trot on a short distance behind him. Some of the men ran for their guns while the others kept watch. In the meantime the unconscious little fellow was walking on, occasionally looking back, at which times bruin would immediately sit down, then as the boy again walked on he would arise and follow. When the men had procured their guns, however, and started in pursuit, he suddenly increased his speed and taking to the woods was soon lost to them. One can readily imagine the pleasure the boy experienced when he visited the trap and saw the old fellow caught at last,
BEAR HUNT,
A Mr, Hummason having recently arrived from Connecticut on a visit, was anxious to have a bear hunt, and Colonel William Bushnell, as anxious to gratify him, started with dogs and gun to accompany him. On reaching Yankee creek, below Asahel Borden's, they went north on the bottom lands, and very soon were so fortunate as to strike a bear track. They followed it, and soon the dogs treed a white bear a little north of Bates' corners on the hill. Before the men reached them, however, it came down, and was at length run into a thicket or wind-fall, near Parson's corners. Bushnell fired and wounded the bear. Hummason, much excited, got upon a log to get a better sight of the animal, when he slipped and fell. The wounded bear immediately pounced upon him. Bushnell did not wait to charge his gun, but turned in the powder from the horn, and in his haste got in too much. He went within three feet and fired at the head of bear killing him instantly, but burst his gun and injured himself. It was three months before Hummason recovered sufficiently to return home, This was the only white bear ever known to have been killed in this region. The skin was
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 257
taken to Philadelphia, stuffed, and placed in a museum.
RING, OR WOLF HUNT.
The first settlers, having suffered in the destruction of their flocks from the incursions of the wolves, as well as their cousins, the bruin family, who made their chief rendezvous in the cranberry marsh in the southeast corner of Johnson (rattlesnakes and cranberries, with an unlimited amount of the former, being the principal production), organized at different times, conjointly with the citizens of the adjoining townships, what was called a wolf, or ring hunt. Those in each township who wished to share in the sport met together and elected a captain for the occasion. These four men were to have entire control, and make all needful rules for the day. Before the time set for the hunt the captains proceeded to lay out a line around the swamp by blazing the trees, usually comprising a circle of one-half or three-quarters of a mile in diameter. On the day appointed the men were to start at the highway leading from the center of one township to the other, and at a given time or signal move forward to the inside line, keeping as nearly equally apart from each other as possible, and drive all the game before them. By the time the line was reached the game, deer especially, would become aroused, passing raprdly around to find a place of escape, serving the while as a target for the men on the line. Sportsmen were allowed to shoot square across or at right angles to the line,but not otherwise for fear of accidents, Occasionally some old denizen of the forest would make for a weak or unguarded portion of the line, and succeeded in making his escape. After all were shot that sought to make their exit, the captains would select some of their most careful men to go and shoot all the game found with the lines. The game was then collected and sold at auction to buy whiskey to treat the hunters. At one hunt fifty deer were killed, besides bears and wolves. At an0ther time nine wolves were among the trophies of the day. On the last occasion of the kind one man was severely wounded. In the fall of 1821 (according to George Hallock's diary), at one of these hunts four black bear, six wolves, two hundred deer, a number of turkeys, and considerable other wild game was killed.
THE OLD CHURCH.
The old church was erected in 1819--20 by John Northrop and Oliver Stanford, of Boardman, for $1,30, materials being furnished, one-third of the amount to be paid in grain, cattle, and labor, and the balance in money, Daniel Bushnell, Titus Brockway, Richard Hayes, Andrews Bushnell, and Seymour A. Moses were the building committee. Contract signed December 1, 1818.
It stands on the "green." The main part of the building is forty-five feet square, and according to the original contract, still in existence, was built in the Doric style of architecture, had two rows of small windows, and two large Venetian windows, one in each end, and originally had a high pulpit, a gallery on three sides, square, pews, a broad aisle in the center, with two narrow ones on either side, a tall spire and weather vane, all after the old Connecticut fashion, It was built by the Congregationalists, with some assistance from the people of the township, with the understanding that it might be used for all town purposes, and be free to all denominations when not in use by themselves. In addition to the names of the building committee, among the largest subscribers were Thomas Thompson, Davis Fuller, Chester Andrews, William Bushnell, Elam Jones, Calvin Cone, Philo Borden, Seth Thompson, Shaler Fitch, Asahel Brainard, and Aaron Brockway. These were followed by the names of nearly all the men in the township; the young men subscribing an amount sufficient for the erection of the steeple, which was not included in the original contract.
This was the first church built in the county. In 1846 it was repaired and materially changed. During the decade following, the churches having unrted, and the "old church" being no longer used for religious purposes, it has been devoted entirely to schools.
During its early history it was used for all public purposes, political as well as religious. Within its walls in years past theories of all kinds have been promulgated.
LATER SETTLERS.
After the close of the War of 1812, emigration to the West largely increased, and the following named persons, most of them with families, settled in the township within a few years:
258 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Calvin Cone, Seymour A. Moses, John Banning, Lory Norton, Spencer Parsons, Romanta Norton, Daniel Spencer, Elihu Bates, Nathan Spencer, Azel Tracy, Joseph A. Gould, Amos Jones, Ambrose Hart, Dr. J. C. Wilcox, Thomas Dutcher, Theron Plumb, Mira Hart, Gad Hart, Chester Fancher, Oris Mason, William Waterhouse, Robinson Truesdale, Titus Rowe, Paul Wellman, Hosea Mowrey, Isaac Tayl0r, Louis Canfield, Levi Canfield, Jarvis Gates, Luman Canfield, Matthias Gates, Richard Gates, Amos Hart, Captain Asa Hutchins, Julius Miner, Jeremiah Learning, Andrew Messersmith, Arial Chapman, Iaac Leaming, William Hull, Benjamin Reeder.
Calvin Cone was one of the pioneers of Gustavus in 1804, and changed his residence to this place in 1817.
Captain Asa Hutchins came from Vienna in 1816.
William Hull was a pioneer settler of Vernon in 1805, changing his residence to Hartford in 1821.
At a still later date came William Bond, William McCord, Norman E. Austin, Ira Fowler, the Bakers, Bennetts, Beebes, Hulls, Truman Parks, Billings O. Plimpton, Milton Holcomb, and Asa Newman.
At this time almost every family made the material for their own clothes. The clatter of the loom, the humming of the great wheel, or the buzzing of the little wheel, sometimes called "grandmother's piano," gave life and bustle, as well as business, to the whole household. Currency was so scarce that families were compelled to live within themselves, and barter became the usual rule in business. It was difficult at times to raise money for the payment of taxes; property being sold at almost any price to obtain the necessary funds to pay the county treasurer. School "marms" taught at seventy-five cents a week, or less, even, and were sometimes partly paid with "store orders," or "white backs," as they were sometimes called, and with these they purchased calico at fifty cents per yard for their "Sunday best." Butter at six cents per pound, pork and beef from two to three cents, did not allow of large store bills. Men and boys, to some extent, used buckskin breeches for everyday wear. They had one merit, at least, that of being durable if not elegant.
In the summer of 1828 the township was visited by the typhoid fever ; some thirty deaths occurring within a few weeks, nearly all young people, the family of Colonel William Bushnell losing seven members in a short time. It commenced in Brookfield, came north into this township, and spread to some extent from this place. For a time it seemed to baffle the skill of the best physicians in the country. Those first taken with it and having the most care and attention, nearly all fell victims to the scourge. Dr. Kirtland, of Poland, Dr. Manning of Youngstown, Dr. J. C. Wilcox, and Dr. Asahel Jones, of this place, were in constant attendance for some weeks.
ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT,
About 1832 the anti-slavery agitation commenced in this community. A society was soon formed, and for a long time Hartford was a prominent place for all lectures of that class. As a result of this agitation a branch of the memorable underground railway was run thr0ugh the township, with many farm-house stations on its route, from which no fleeing bondsman were ever turned away.
MILLS.
Jeffery Bently bought of Holmes & Root, for a consideration of $1 00, two acres of land in lot twenty-three, near the south line of the township, the deed bearing date September 7, 1803. Upon this lot, according to the wording of the deed, mills had previously been built by him. The property was soon after sold to Titus Brockway and Daniel Hummason, for a consideration of $700, deed bearing date April 9, 1805. The first grist mill was so poorly constructed that the grain when ground, had such a peculiar appearance a facetious pioneer named it the "maggot mill." Improvements continued t0 be made, with some additions of land to the original purchase, until finally Hummason sold his one- half interest to Brockway, December 12, 1808, for a consideration of $1,500.
Previous to the building of this and the Orangeville mill, some families made mortars in the tops of stumps, and with a pestle and spring pole pounded their grain ; others boiled wheat for food when the supplies ran low, and could not be renewed.
For a short time the pioneers were compelled to go to Beaver and Neshannock to mill, or supply
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 259
their wants with more primitive means. In 1822 both mills were burned. It was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. They were immediately rebuilt, however, with the sawmill at the first location and the grist-mill a short distance farther south. The second gristmill was burned in 1826, and was never rebuilt. The saw-mill is still standing, which was built at this time. This property soon after passed into the possession of Titus Brockway's son Edward, who sold it to its present owner, Joseph Burnett, in 1855. Water was the motive power for mills of all kinds early in. the century.
About 1817 Asa Hutchins built a saw-mill on Yankee run, west of Burnett's mill, but it never did much business and soon went to decay. At a later date Alexander Spears built one, stilt farther west, on the same stream, which was used many years. On the west township line one was built by Mr. Foot at an early period, At the head of the ravine at the ledge a saw-mill stood, some forty years ago, owned by Daniel G. Andrews. On Brockway run west of Orangeville Lymon A. Moses built a mill, which was afterward owned by Bradford Hewitt, and at a later period was run by steam-power, On McCullough run Wilson Bushnell and Harry Parker built one, and only the remnant of a mill-dam and race are now to be seen. On the ridge George Snyder built a mill of the same class. ,It was also used as a steam-mill for some time. It has been removed.
So little reliance could be placed on the water saw-mills, and steam as a motive power for making lumber being unused, a project was started for using oxen for this purpose. Such a mill was built in 1821 and 1822, after original plans by the proprietor. It was situated on lot nineteen, a half mile east of the center, on land now known as the Tracy farm.
The steam-mill south of the center was built in 1849 by Jarvin Gates and Jay Parsons. It was bought soon after by Danrel Parsons, who sold to Benjamin Finn, Jr. It is now the property of Hummason & McCullum. It has attained to an unusual age for a steam saw-mill, having been in existence thirty-two years.
INDEPENDENCE DAY,
The first celebration of our National independence in this place is said to have taken place July 4, 1802, all the inhabitants in this vicinity assembling for the purpose.
In 1805 the day was spent by the pioneers in clearing the common, and was certainly a practical as well as patriotic way of spending the day.
In 1813 the day was celebrated with more formality at the barn of William C. Jones, which is now owned by his grandson, Robert C. Jones. An oration was delivered by Rev. Harvey Coe, and a dinner was provided at the tavern of David Lane.
In 1824 a celebration on a large scale was held at the center, and in 1842 the occasion partook more of a political character on account of the anti slavery agitation, and that in 1861, on account of the breaking out of the war, engendered a military spirit and resulted in the organization of local military companies.
Our National centennial was celebrated in Hartford at Instrtute hall, in the " old church " building, by a Centennial tea party, which was an occasion of much interest.
SCHOOLS.
Like all people of New England origin and education, the pioneer had no sooner laid the foundation of a church than a school was established in the same vicinity.
In 1804 the first school in the township was taught at Burg Hill by Miss Bartholomew, consisting of twenty-four scholars from Hartford and Vernon.
As soon as the " green " was cleared from trees and brush, in 1805, the first school-house was erected. It was a frame building and stood nearly east of the town hall site. It was the first public building and nearly the first framed one in the township. After some fou1 removals it now stands on the farm of William Mitchel. It has some historic interest connected with it, as for a time it was the only school-house, and for many years served also as church and town-hall. The first summer school was taught by Miss Amanda Finney. The following winter, school was taught by Wells Andrews. Among the early teachers we may mention Philo Borden, Ambrose Hart, Chester Andrews, Joseph Trues- dale, George Hallock, Miss Hannah Bushnell, Miss Sally Gates, Miss Lura Bushnell, and Miss Olive Hickox. Theodore Trade at one time taught a school for two seasons in this school-
260 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
house, numbering one hundred and six scholars. Besides his day labors his evenings were occupied with special schools for writing and spelling, for all of which he was paid the then large salary of $17 per month.
For a time there were but two school districts in the township, one at Burg Hill and one at the center. The first log school-house at Burg Hill stood opposite the residence of the late Seth Hayes. Soon the increase of population, however, made others necessary. The first schoolhouse in the " Mill district " was of logs, and stood on the township line where the Methodist Episcopal church now stands. It was probably built in 1808, and the first school was taught by General Charles Woodruff. The second schoolhouse stood under the " old elm tree" north of the mill-dam, and the first teacher in it was Miss Lavinia Flower, in the summer of 1816, followed by Thomas Bushnell, Jr., the next winter.
The first school-house in the east district was also of logs, and stood upon the corner opposite the residence of John B. Jones. The oneirst two terms were taught by Miss Electa M. Jones. The first school on the ridge was taught by Miss Pluma More. The first school-house in the west district stood on the Bates farm about one-half mile north of Bates's corner. Among the names of those who have since taught in various places in the township may be mentioned Buel Barnes, Sarah M. Jones, Dr. William Bushnell, now of Mansfield, Ohio, Joseph Marvin, James Beebe, James L. Gage, whose wife was the well known Mrs. Frances D. Gage, Bethuel Beaman, Ira L. Fuller, Stephen Watkins, Miss Maria Austin, Miss Hannah Hutchins, Miss Amanda L. Beer, Miss Mary J. Leslie, A. R. Bushnell, Miss Mary Hoadley, Amos Thomas, N. G. Hyde, Riley Hull, and Marshal Woodford.
In 1827 a two-story brick school-house was erected at Burg Hill, the upper part of which was used for many years by the Free-will Baptist society. The first schools in this building were taught by George Hallock and Miss Sarah M. Jones.
In 1828 a two-story brick school-house was built at the center. These two buildings were used for some twenty-five years, when for some good cause they were demolished, and the present less pretentious and more modern houses were erected.
At the present time the common schools of the township are nine in number. Number one is known as Hartford special school district, number five as Orangeville special school district; the remaining schools, comprising four sub- school and three fractional school districts, are known as Hartford school districts. The school enumeration for 1880 in this township was four hundred and thirty-three. The amount paid for the support of common schools for the same year was $2,413.16.
The first school of a higher grade was taught by John Crowell in 1824, in the house now standing, long known as the residence of Captain Thomas Thompson. At a later date the Rev. Wells Andrews, Miss Caroline Andrews, Miss Lorain Marvin, and Miss Ann Brigham were also engaged at various times in teaching.
About 1840 a young ladies' school was taught for a number of terms by Miss Caroline Billings, and after a lapse of forty years is frequently referred to by crtizens of the township as one which has left a lasting impression.
Seth A. Bushnell taught in 1843; Rev. Horace Palmer a little later. About this time Mr. and Mrs. Curtis taught at Burg Hill. In 1847 and 1849 John Lynch taught four months in the upper room of the old brick school-house, and gave general satisfaction. During the next summer a room was fitted up in the lower part of the old church for school purposes, at an expense of some $400. Dr. George W. Bushnell, Paul Wellman, Dr. Robert M. Beebe, George Hallock, and William Truesdale were chosen as a board of trustees.
In the winter of 1849 an act was passed by the General Assembly to incorporate the Hartford high school, and the board organized under the provisions of this act. In September, 1849, John Lynch commenced teaching in this new schoolroom, and in the winter following had over one hundred scholars under his charge. Miss Mary Conant, E. M. Cotton, Isaac W. Case, T. A. Bushnell, and F. V. Hayden were his assistants. He left to take charge of the union schools of Ashland, and still later was principal of the schools at Circleville, Ohio. Mr. Lynch possessed a peculiar faculty as teacher, which has never been equaled by any of his numerous successors, and is held in high esteem by all classes. List of principals and assistant teachers: Andrew
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 261
Patterson, F. V. Hayden, 1850-51; Cornelius Powers, Mrs. Minerva Powers, 1851-52; Henderson Judd, Mrs. Sarah C. Judd, 1852-53; A. K. Warren, Miss Emeline Warren, 1853-54; A. B. Lyon, Miss M. J. Goodrich, 1854-55; J. R. Kennedy, 1855-56, Edward Whiting, Miss E. Post, 1856-57; Erastus M. Cravath, Miss Mary J. Andrews, 1857-59; E. H. Merrill, Miss J. A. Bushnell, 1859-61; A. H. Brown, Mrs. M. E. Brown, 1861-62; J. G. Knight, 1862-63; Miss Jerusha
A. Bushnell, 1863-64; Mrs. Ophelia Forward, 1865-66; John Hamilton, 1866-67; Ransom Davis, 1867-68.
In 1871, the old church berng no longer required for religious meetings, it was entirely devoted to school purposes, and repaired at an expense of some $2,000, the lower floors being devoted to school-rooms, and the upper part converted into a hall for public exercises. A board of nine trustees was chosen by the subscribers of the school fund, viz: Homer B. Thompson, Peter Carlton, Edwin Bennett, Rev. George W. Anderson, Seth Thompson, Rev. J. B. Davison, T. A. Bushnell, Dr. James Irwin, and Benjamin Fenn. These trustees became incorporated under a general law of the State, made and provided for such cases, and the school was named Hartford Academic Institute.
The list of teachers since the reorganization has been as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. James W. Cheney, and Miss Ermina J. Day, 1871-72; J. W. Bowen and Miss Ermina J. Day, 1872-73; Mr. P. D. Dodge taught for three years, from 1873 to 1876, with Miss Hattie Linn as assistant for two years, and the third year with Miss F. M. Rogers and Miss Etta Gorseline ; Mr. E. P. Madole, with Miss M. C. Hulbert and Miss Albertson, 1876-77 ; Mr. L. G. Spencer, with Miss Martha Hyde, in 1877-78, and also in 1879; C. B. Shaw, in 1879-80 ; Peter Vogel, 1880-81 ; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rice, 1881--82.
For over thirty years, this school of a higher grade has been maintained by tuitions and private contributions, and during that time has been of great benefit to this community and neighboring townships. It has in these years had its time of prosperity and adversity, but as long as the spirit of the pioneer fathers exists among the inhabitants, it wrll doubtless be sustained and supported.
MILITARY.
Among the pioneers were a few men who had served in the Continental army at various periods during the Revolutionary war, all buried at the center, except William C. Jones, who is buried at Burg Hill. He took part at the battle of Bunker Hill, and also served under Gates at Saratoga. Captain Alexander Bushnell, who received his commission while serving under Washington ; Titus Hayes, who endured the hardships of the winter at Valley Forge ; Edward Brockway, who took part in the capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga ; Thomas and Daniel Bushnell, who served in their father's company for a time near the close of the war.
At the first military election, held May 7, 1804, William Bushnell was elected captain, Daniel Hummason first lieutenant, and Ebenezer M. Combs ensign. This company at that time formed a part of the Second regiment, Second brigade, Fourth division, Ohio militia, under Major-general Wadsworth. At a little later period it became the Third regiment, Third brigade of the same division, and was so designated during the War of 1812.
The following imperfect list of soldiers in the war is given. It includes a few who settled here since that period, and also two or three who resided here many years, and were long identified with the township but have since removed: Colonel Richard Hayes, Seth Thompson, Thomas McFarland, Hosea Mowrey, Davis Fuller, John Pfouts, Alexander Bushnell (3d), Selden Jones, Michael Quiggle, Selden C. Jones, Elijah Woodford, Jehiel Hurlburt, Wilson Bushnell, Archibald McFarland, Peter Quiggle, Ezra Hart, Harry Parker, Asa Andrews, A. W. Moses, Lieutenant Andrew Bushnell, Alva Hart, Captain Asa Hutchins, Elisha Bennett, Elijah Sawyer, Mathias Gates, Lester Hayes, Frederick Shull, John Groscost, Sherman Andrews, Joel Hall, William Bates, George W. Cassiday, 0. S. Goodrich, Jacob DeWitt, John Kepner, Luman Brockway, Ambrose Hart, Lester Bushnell.
Azariah W. Moses was the last surviving member of Colonel Hayes' regiment in the township.
In 1823, by permission of Andrew Bushnell, brigadier-general First brigade Fourth division, Ohio militia, a company of light infantry was organized here, and for some years, under the command of Captain Philo Borden, Captain
262 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Robinson Truesdale, Captain Azel Tracy, and perhaps other officers, it was maintained with a good degree of military pride. The company was ordered out for guard duty at the execution of Gardiner by Sheriff Mygatt.
In 1835, during the border troubles, the State militia were called upon by Governor Lucas, through the proper officials, for volunteers to " march at a moment's warning to the northern frontier of Ohio, to protect our fellow-citizens residing within its constitutional limits, from the lawless aggression and outrage of the authorities of Michigan."
They probably all volunteered, as was customary in such cases. The matter was soon settled, and their brief vision of military service passed away. The company was made of good material, and at a later date would doubtless have made a good military record. After this the company and regimental musters were all that served to keep alive the military spirit, and even these in a few years were abandoned. .
The following is a list of those who died in the war of 1861-65 : Lieutenant Calvin C. Hart was killed at Murfreesboro December 31, 1862. Christopher A. Bennett was also wounded at Murfreesboro and died January l0th. Charles Bennett was wounded at Brown's Ferry October 7, 1863, and died December 8, 1863. Asbury Hewitt was wounded at Resaca and died at Atlanta, and was buried by the rebels. Albert McFarland was killed at Murfreesboro. George Norton died in hospital at Louisville, Kentucky. Milo Bushnell died in hospital at Gallipolis, Ohio, April 17, 1863. Daniel W. Brockway died in Cleveland April 12, 1864. Virgil Holcomb died June 24, 1863, at Reedsville, Tennessee. Owen Spencer died at Manchester, Tennessee, August 16, 1863. Stewart Grosscost died in Andersonville prison. William Shirey was killed at Murfreesboro December 31, 1862. William Law died in hospital September 29, 1864. Harry Messenger, a member of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania regiment, was killed in July, 1863. Elliot S. Gilky, a member of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania regiment, was killed May 7, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness. George Dutcher, a member of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania regiment, was wounded at Bermuda Hundred by a grape shot, and died in hospital at City Point, Virginia. H. H. Brown was known to have died of starvation in Andersonville prison September 14, 1864. Frank Curtis, J. Pelton, S. Mountain, Luftus Murray, Harrison Allen, Melker Mellinger, John Decker, and William Paden also either died in battle or hospital during the war.
Lieutenant Davis Fuller has since died from disease contracted while in the army.
LADIES' AID SOCIETY.
Soon after President Lincoln's call for troops in April, 1861, the ladies of the township, anxious to bear their small share in the exertions and privations to be imposed by the war, organized a society for the purpose of sending needed aid to the soldiers of our army in camp or hospital. The first meeting was on June 5, 1861, at the session room of the Congregational Church. In records still preserved it is shown that Mrs. Joel Miner was elected its first president, Miss Malinda Brockway and Miss Fanny Jones, vice- presidents ; Mrs. A. G. Hart, secretary, and Mrs. D. Parsons, treasurer. A committee was then appointed to canvass the township to solicit donations of money and goods. It consisted of Mrs. D. S. Tracy, Miss Harriet Jones, Celia Gallespie, Mary Fitch, Jerusha Bushnell, Mrs. Gad Hart, Carrie Brockway, Mary Hoadly, Laura Olmstead, Mrs. Seth Hayes, Mrs. M. Cook, Jane Hale, Helen Hart, Ellen Bushnell, Matilda Lafferty, Mrs. E. Space, Mrs. Jerome Hall, Miss Elizabeth Myers, Miss Rebecca Jones.
With this competent and energetic corps of officers and committee, commenced the three years and a half of patient, unremitting, and persevering labor which followed. Each week the society met once, if not more, and much work was given out to those who found it not convenient to attend. After the first six months the society was reorganized as a branch of the Cleveland Aid society, and thenceforward received directions for work from it. After this time the officers were as follows : Presidents, Mrs. Benjamin Fenn, Mrs. Daniel Parsons, Miss Eliza Spear, Miss Jerusha Bushnell, Mrs. James Mattox. Secretaries, Mrs. Albert Hart, Mrs. Robert Johnson, Miss Mary Beebe. Treasurers, Mrs. D. Parsons, Mrs. J. Mattox, Mrs. Jay Baker, Miss E. Spear, Mrs. Augustus Drury. The disbursements amounted in all to $ 18,000, part of which was sent through the Cleveland branch of the sanitary commission, and part sent direct to
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 563
the army. Beside this, quite an amount of sanitary stores and money were left on hand, at the close of the war, which in time was divided between the Freedmen and sufferers by the Chicago fire. Among the earnest workers of this society were Miss Lizzie Beebe, Mary Bushnell, Mary Bennett, Anna Bates, Rhoda Moses, Mrs. Elmer Moses, Miss Jerusha Fuller, Esther Wier, Ida Thompson, Malinda Kepner, Mrs. Eliza Bennett, Mrs. Solon Gilky, Mrs. Calvin Hart, Mrs. Homer Thompson, Miss Deborah Borden, Anna Hart, Sophia Bennett, Kate Bushnell, Mm Henry Chamberlain, Miss Sarah Bushnell, Janett Spear, Miss Caroline Dutcher, Lavina Gallespie. The officers of the Orangeville society, also in this township, consisted of Mrs. Charles Hull, Mrs. Shelden Palmer, presidents; Mrs. Edward Jones, Mrs. Jesse Hahn, vice-presidents; Mrs. Augustus Moffitt, Mrs. Henry Reed, secretaries and treasurers. Estimate of disbursements, $15,000.
A society was also formed at Burnett's mill, but soon after was united with the center society.
PUBLIC HOUSES.
The first public house was kept by Aaron Brockway at Burg Hill, as early as 1802 or 1803. David Lane soon afterward engaged in the same business, and followed it for many years. He was located on the south side of Burg Hill, the old military headquarters, and near the old parade ground, where now stands the residence of his grandson, Henry Lane.
" In days long gone ' his was deemed of goodly inns the chief."
The sparkling spring near by, freely as of yore, yields to thirsty man and beast refreshment pure, but,
"Never more the sign board swinging, flaunts its gilded wonder there;
Never, as with nearer tinkle through the dust of long ago, Creeps the Pennsylvania wagons up the twilight, white and slow."
This pioneer host is said to have been very obliging and very funny. As people often halted at the spring near his house to water their horses, he would kindly assist them, and of course receive the usual thanks. It is said of him that he always counted a "thank you" worth a shilling (12 1/2 cents), and a "thank you, sir" worth a quarter of a dollar, and he used to say some days he made several dollars just by obliging people passing by.
Once in early days a band of sneaking Indians entered the kitchen and appropriated for their own use a baking intended for special company, without even a "thank you," much to the discomfort of the weary housekeeper. That time the joke seems to have been on the landlord, and he was consequently "out of pocket."
It was often customary in those days to have a peculiar sign. His had represented upon it a horse, and a plumb line suspended from the center above it, accompanied with the following quotation: "Amos 7th Ch. 7th, 8th v."
Later, Samuel Hewitt and Lester Lane were engaged on the "Hill" in the same business.
The first public house at the center of the township was built by Elam Jones, and opened in 1829. In 1846 he retired, and was followed by Cornelius Srlliman. Later by William Christy, J. B. Nelson, and the present proprietor, Daniel Parsons.
About 1841 G. C. Reed opened a second public house a little south of the center. He sold to Jehiel Lane, who was succeeded by Alva Merriam ; later by Solon Gilky, who, after a time, converted it into a private residence.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The first postmaster was Titus Brockway; Philo Borden, however, acting as his deputy for many years. Edward Brockway held the office a short time while his father was a member 0f the Legislature. Later the office has been held successively by James Miller, Elam Jones, G. C. Reed, L. C. Jones, John Yeatman, J. H. C. Johnson, Jay Baker, and H. B. Thomas, the present incumbent.
At Burg Hill the first postmaster was Erastus Olin, the office being in Hayes & Plumb's store building; it was, however, soon removed to the railroad station of the same name in Vernon.
A weekly mail for years supplied our citizens with news of the outside world. About 1830, however, postal facilities were increased, and mail was carried in a four-horse Concord coach. The route became an important one between the lake and the river, for the conveyance of passengers as well as mail. After the financial crash of 1837 mail service was reduced, to be again increased at a later date. For a long time it was a tri-weekly mail between Conneaut and Youngstown. A weekly mail between Warren and Franklin, Pennsylvania, and later a tri-
264 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
weekly from the former place to Greenville, Pennsylvania, passed through here, but was discontinued after the building of the Atlantic & Great Western railway. The north and south route was also shortened, so that it now extends only from this office to Burg Hill station, from which point daily mails are received.
MERCHANTS.
The first store was opened in 1814 at Burg Hill by James Heslep, who sold out in a few months to Colonel Richard Hayes. At this time goods were brought from Philadelphia in large Pennsylvania six-horse covered wagons, carrying nearly three tons. Colonel Hayes soon learned that the new country must pay its debts in a currency which could transport itself to the seaboard and accordingly engaged in buying large droves of cattle, some numbering as high as five hundred head, which were driven by him over the mountains to Philadelphia market. It is said that Benjamin F. Wade was employed on two or three occasions to assist Colonel Hayes' son Alvin in driving these cattle to the eastern markets.
Goods were also bought to some extent by dealers who would go among the farmers and purchase butter, cheese, and produce, take it to Pittsburg in wagons and exchange it for dry goods and groceries, school books and almanacs, or anything their customers saw fit to order. About two weeks were required to make the round trip. Frequently farmers for themselves and neighbors would carry their produce to Pittsburg and make the needed exchanges.
Colonel Hayes continued in buying until his death in 1837. Seth Hayes, his son, succeeded him in business.
Ralph Plumb was for many years a partner of Seth Hayes. He was an active, energetic business man. He is now a resident of Streator, Illinois. Plumb was succeeded in the partnership by Thomas Vernon.
On West street Draton Andrews carried on a small store for some years.
Horace Flower sold goods in the south part of the township for a short time.
About 1820 Ambrose Hart opened a store in a two-story log-building, which then stood on the north and south center road near the southwest corner of lot eighteen. At a later period he removed to the center of Brookfield, and with Alva Hart and Seth Thompson as partners continued in the same business.
About 1829 Alva Hart returned to Hartford and with his brother, Gad Hart, built the store building now standing near the northeast corner of the public square, and opened the first store at the " center." Gad Hart soon after sold to his brother and engaged in farming. Alva Hart continued in trade until 1846, a part of this time with S. H. Benton and Salmon N. Hart as partners. In 1837 G. C. Reed opened a store in a building standing near the present location of the east church. Later L. C. Jones, Milton Graham, G. L. Woodford, M. Christy, Jay Baker, Joel Miner, J. L. Pierce, A. R. Gates, and H. B. Thompson have each been engaged in merchandizing at various times and places.
PHYSICIANS.
The first resident physician was Dr. Daniel Upson. Previous to his settlement Dr. Jeremiah Wilcox, of Vernon, practiced here. Upson soon after removed to Hudson, Ohio, and was succeeded by Dr. Jeremiah C. Wilcox, who practiced some twenty years and then removed to Richfield, Ohio.
Dr. Asahel Jones, a student of Dr. Wilcox and a cotemporary also followed the profession for some years until the time of his decease.
Dr. George W. Bushnell, still residing here, and Dr. Robert M. Beebee, deceased, then followed with many years of .successful practice. Dr. Daniel W. Atherholt and Dr. James Irwin are the present medical practitioners.
At Orangeville Dr. Asahel Brainard commenced practice in v837, and resided here until his death in 1881. He was a son of Asahel Brainard, the pioneer, who came into the township in 1799.
Dr. G. W. Hamilton settled here in 1864, and is at present the only physician in the village.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Rev. Joseph Badger, who was sent out by the Connecticut Missionary society, first visited Hartford late in December, 1800, and soon after preached in Vernon. The people of the townships, five families in Vernon and three in Hartford, collected to attend the meeting. The three families in this township were doubtless those of Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and Charles Merry.
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 265
Some preliminary steps were taken as early as 1802 toward the formation of a church society, but it was not until September 17, 1803, that Mr. Badger met the following persons for that purpose : Edward Brockway and Sarah, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Bates, Timothy Crosby, Titus Brockway, Plumb Sutliff, Sarah Palmer, and Sarah Smith. They adopted the commonly received Congregational confession of faith and covenant, and were constituted a church of Christ.
On the following Sabbath the first season of communion was held in a grove, there being no building that would accommodate the people. Rev. Mr. Tait, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, preached the sermon, and assisted in the communion service. About forty communicants were present.
In 1804 a four-days' meeting was held in the barn of Thomas Thompson, which stood where the steam saw-mill now stands, near the present 1esidence of Henry Bennett. Some additions were made to the church as the result of this meeting. Wells Andrews, who afterwards became the pastor of the church, was one of the number.
This was probably the first Congregational church formed within the present limits of the county, as the Warren church was not organized until October 9th of the same year. This church was known as "The Church of Christ in Hartford, Vernon, and Kinsman." The church adopted the "plan of union" as proposed by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church of America, and approved by the general association of Connecticut known as the "accommodation plan."
Meetings were held in rotation in these townships, the citizens of each attending church in the other as often as convenient. The barn of Thomas Thompson was used as a place of worship for a time, afterwards the school-house, until the erection of the church in 189. The society had no settled pastor, but enjoyed the occasional labors of Revs. Badger, Darrow, Robbins, and Leslie for the first twelve years of its existence.
In 1813 the church had increased to eighty members, and at this time made the acquaintance of the Rev. 'Harvey Coe, of Granville, Massachusetts, and invited him to become their pastor.
34' On the 4th of April, 1814, he was installed at the residence of Dr. Wilcox, in Vernon, the school-house, the usual place of holding meetings, not being large enough to accommodate those in attendance. The Rev. John Seward preached the installation sermon.
The church had been until this time under the care of the presbytery of Hartford, which embraced ministers of western Pennsylvania as well as those living on the Western Reserve, and belonged to the synod of Pittsburg. Among these ministers were Revs. Badger, Barr, Leslie, Darrow, Wick, Hughes, and Tait. This presbytery seems to have been merged into Grand River presbytery about 1814.
For some nine years Mr. Coe's pastorate included the three branches of this church.
Titus Brockway and Daniel Bushnell were the first deacons of the Hartford branch of the church, and served in that capacity for many years. Chester Andrews was afterwards elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Daniel Bushnell.
In 1821 the membership had increased to two hundred and ten. A church having been built in Hartford in 189 of sufficient size to accommodate the people, it became desirable to have greate1 religious privileges than were possible under the united church of Hartford, Vernon, and Kinsman, and accordingly the following persons, forty-three in number, were dismissed by letter September 15, 1823, for the purpose of organizing a separate church in this township, viz : Titus Brockway, Chester Andrews, Philo Borden, Abigail A. Borden, William Rathbun, Dorothea Rathbun, Asahel Brainard, Polly M. Brainard, Sarah Jones, Phebe Borden, Shalor Fitch, Lovisa Fitch, Joseph A. Gould, Orrey Gould, Lament Bushnell, Lucy Andrews, Davis Fuller, Hannah Fuller, John B. Fitch, Rebecca Bushnell, Phebe Tracy, Phebe Olmstead, Rebecca Woodford, Chester Francher, Thomas Dutcher, Jemima Francher, Daniel M. Bushnell, Betsy Spencer, Alva Hart, Fanny W. Hart, Amoret Border, Polly Jones, Daniel C. Bushnell, Polly Bushnell, Seymour A. Moses, Rhoda Moses, Gad Hart, Lucretia Hart, Lucy Jones, Lorena Wilcox, Hope ,Beach, Hannah Andrews, Hannah Hutchins.
On the 4th of December, of the same year, they were formed into a church at the meeting-
266 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
house in Hartford by Rev. Harvey Coe. About this time Mr. Coe resigned the pastorate of this branch of the church. In 1826 the Rev. Wells Andrews, pastor of the second Presbyterian church of Alexandria, District of Columbia, accepted a call to this church, and for some ten years remained here. He had formerly been a resident, and was a relative of many members of the church and society, and at an early day cleared up a farm, chopping days and studying nights during his preparation for college, being one of the pioneers of the township. This seems to have been the . golden age of this church, Mr. Andrews having been able to exert a great influence in the community.
During this period quite an extensive revival occurred, and many additions were made to the church. The Rev. Lucius Foot assisted Mr. Andrews in these revival labors. Revs. Rockwell, Cochran, and Young, each successively filled the pastorate about this period. The church at this time (1837) numbered a hundred and sixty-four communicants. In October, 1840, Chester Andrews, Alva Hart, Seymour A. Moses, Edward Brockway (second), Michael Quiggle, Amos Jones, and others to the number of forty-two persons, withdrew to form a Presbyterian church, which was immediately organized with the Rev. George D. Young as pastor. They first met in the brick school-house at the center. Soon after a room was fitted up in the upper part of Alva Hart's store building, now the post-office, where meetings were held until the building of the new church in 1846. The Hon. Seth Hayes contributed the greater portion of the funds for this purpose. Mrs. Sarah B. Hayes, his wife, contributed funds for the purchase of the bell. It was known at this time as the Presbyterian church. Rev. Horace Palmer, and the Rev. Benjamin Fenn, each had pastoral charge of this society for a time, until it was again united with the original church in 1852.
In 1842 the Rev. John Keep became the pastor of the Congregational church, and remained some four years. He was one of the prominent anti-slavery clergymen at that time, and during his residence here the church took quite an advanced position on the subject of slavery. This church was considered by people generally to hold extreme views on that subject.
In 1842 Philo Borden. one of the pioneers of the township, and his son, Russell Borden, gave to the church three-quarters of an acre of land on which to erect a parsonage, which was accordingly built in 1843, and first occupied by the Rev. John Keep.
The church at this time obtained an act of incorporation, for the purpose of becoming a corporate body, with all the rights and privileges incident thereto.
In 1847 the Rev. Theodore J. Keep accepted the pastoral charge, but owing to ill health was compelled to resign in 1849.
The Rev. Henry Fairchild (at present president of Berea college, Kentucky), was called to fill the vacancy thus made, and during his pastorate in this church, and that of the Rev. B. Fenn in the Presbyterian, the churches were reunited under its original name of " The Church of Christ in Hartford," as before mentioned, in April, 1852. Soon after this period the Rev. Robert Burgess preached for a time, and was followed by the Rev. Benjamin Walker, who was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Torrence, Rev. J. B. Davison, and Rev. U. T. Chamberlin, who resigned on account of ill health, and died January 10, 1880. At the present time (1881) the church has no settled pastor.
In 1868 the society sustained a great loss in the death of Deacon Edward Brockway, who had become greatly endeared to the church by many years of faithful Christian service. Deacon Norman E. Austin was elected his successor, but in a few years he also died, and the vacancy was filled by Deacon Truman Jones, who was soon called by death to follow his predecessors.
The present officers of the church are Deacon Simeon C. Baker, who has acted in the capacity of deacon for over thirty years, and Deacon Charles Hyde. Mr. James M. Jones is clerk, and the three above named are also the trustees. From a very early day Sunday-schools have been maintained. Deacon Daniel Bushnell was the first superintendent. He gave catechetical and Bible instructions, as was the custom in those times. Out of this grew the present form of conducting Sunday-schools. After other churches were formed for many years three Sunday-schools were kept up, but in time, churches having been formed at different places in the township, the number 0f attendants at the
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 267
"center" was greatly diminished, and it was thought best to unite the different schools. This was accomplished about 1860, since which time a union Sunday-school has been conducted, which meets alternately, in the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal churches at present. Thomas Miller, superintendent ; Frank Stewart, secretary and treasurer.
HARTFORD METHODIST CHURCH.
This society was first organized within the present limit of Vernon by Rev. Obed Crosby, with five members—Obed Crosby and wife, Ewing Wrrght and wife, and Eunice Brockway, afterwards Mrs. Daniel Bushnell, of this township. It was the first church of this denomination on the Western Reserve, having been organized in 1801. The place of meeting being near the line of Vernon and Hartford, and the members increasing in Hartford more rapidly than in Vernon, it was removed into Hartford and took its name. Their place of worship was in the school-house at Burg Hill until 1836, when they removed to the center of the township, and built the present house of worship, Isaac Winans being elder, and S. Hubbard and W. French preacher in charge during this year. In 1874 the church was repaired at an expense of $1,1 00.
So many churches of the same denomination having been formed in this immediate vicinity, the membership of this center church has been materially decreased.
Among those who have been prominent members of this church during its later history may be mentioned the McFarland families, Mr. and Mrs. Asahel Borden, Dr. Robert Beebe and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Miner, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Rathbun, and Mr. and Mrs. U. H. Brockway. The old members have all passed away, and it has been impossible for the writer to obtain a full history of this church.
DISCIPLES CHURCH.
This church was organized May 1, 1830, by William Hayden, with the following named persons as members, viz: Elihu Bates, William Vince, George W. Bushnell, John Bates, Julius Miner, George Fell, John Jones, Sally Vince, Sally Bushnell, and Julia Bates. Two of these, George W. Bushnell and Julia Bates, are still living.
Marcus Bosworth, John Henry, Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, Harvey Brocket, and Andrew Burns, were the early preachers of this denomination.
This church was organized on West street, and for over twenty years their place of worship was the school-house in that vicinity. In 5853 it was changed to the center of the township.
The membership at this time is about seventy. G. W. Bushnell, Alexander Spears, James Fowler, Samuel Bates, Abner Banning, and A. D. Drury, have been prominent members of this society for many years. Elder Peter Vogle is the present preacher.
BROCKWAY MILLS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Quite early Brockway mills school-house became one of the occasional preaching places of the early preachers of the Methodist church.
Dr. Charles Elliot and Rev. Alfred Bronson were probably the first (about 1820). About 1822 preaching was regularly furnished by Rev. William Tipton and Rev. A. G. Richardson, who traveled Youngstown circuit, which then included this place.
Subsequently a class was formed, among the members of which were Abner Fowler and Esther, his wife, John Newcome and wife, Benjamin Reeder and Polly, his wife, with other members of their family, Jane and Margaret Lafferty, Abel Walker and wife, David Snyder and family, Michael Bear and family, and also members of the Byers family. For a long time meetings were held on week days and Sunday evenings, as most convenient for the preachers.
About 1850, however, regular Sunday preaching was established by Rev. Ahab Keller, and in 1857 a church was built. It was dedicated in January, 1858, Elder Norton preaching the dedication sermon, Rev. J. W. Hill being preacher in charge. Miss Sarah Fowler, daughter of Abner Fowler, was one of the largest subscribers to the building fund, and during her life was one of the most faithful members.
At present the church numbers some forty members, and has a flourishing Sunday-school under the superintendence of Miss S. C. Burnett.
MASONRY.
The first meetings of Jerusalem lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hartford, Ohio, were held under a dispensation of the Grand
268 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
lodge of Ohio, dated February 15, 1812, and issued by Lewis Cass, grand master. Regular meetings were held under this dispensation until 1814.
The following were the officers appointed for their first meeting : Martin Smith, W. M.; Daniel Bushnell, S. W.; Samuel Spencer, J. W.; Joseph DeWolf, treasurer; Richard Hayes, secretary; Sterling G. Bushnell, S. D.; Lebbeus Beech, J. D.; Thomas McMillen, tyler.
At the first meeting recorded under this dispensation, May 20, 1812, Linus Hayes, Plumb Sutliff, Zopher Case, and Gilbert Palmer were initiated.
A number of the early members of this lodge appear to have previously been among the petitioners for the charter of Old Erie No. 3, established at Warren in 1804, and are known to have been members of Turkey Hill's lodge in Connecticut.
Their first place of meeting is not definitely known, but as early as September, 1812, it was at the public house kept by David Lane at Burg Hill.
At a meeting of the Grand lodge held at Chillicothe January 4, 1814, an application for a charter was presented signed by the following members, viz : Martin Smith, Daniel Bushnell, Samuel Spencer, Richard Hayes, Joseph DeWolf, Sterling G. Bushnell, Lebbeus Beech, and Linus Hayes.
A charter was granted dated January 5, 1814, with the above mentioned persons as charter members, and signed by Henry Brush, grand master, and Robert Kercheral, grand secretary.
Soon after this their place of meeting seems to have been for a short time in the township of Vernon at the public house of Ambrose Palmer, but in 1817 they were for a time located at the residence of Titus Brockway, Esq., in Hartford, and afterwards at the residence of Daniel Bushnell, and in 1829 at the public house of Elam Jones, at the center of the township, where they remained till 1844, when they again removed to the public house of G. C. Reed. In 1854 the present lodge rooms were erected by the society where their meetings have since been held.
In 1816 St. John's Day was celebrated at Vernon by Jerusalem, Erie, and Western Star lodges, sixty-three members of the fraternity being present. The oration was delivered by George Tod.
Clergyman present, Adamson Bentley and Harvey Coe. Among the visiting fraternity present were Elisha Whittlesey, Asahel Adams, Seth Tracy, John W. Seely, Arad Way, and Francis Freeman.
It is recorded that this society laid the cornerstone of the brick church in Vernon on August 3, 1826.
The following are the past masters from 1812 to 1881 : Martin Smith, Sterling G. Bushnell, Theron Plumb, Horace Flower, Andrews Bushnell, John C. Smith, Garry C. Reed, Marion Hyde, L. C. Jones, D. S. Tracy, Joel Bushnell, Rev. R. W. Crane,- Willis Reeder, A. D. Fell, J.
D. Burnett, and Brunell Hull. The officers elected for 1882 are Joel Bushnell, W. M.; D. S. Tracy, S. W.; D. H. Artherholt, J. W.; A. D. Fell, treasurer; L. G. Spencer, secretary: C. W. Hawkins, S. D.; James Weir, J. D.; N. A. Reeder, tyler. The number of members that have been enrolled in this lodge is three hundred and eleven, and the present number ninety-three. The society owns the building in which its commodious lodge-rooms are situated. The ground floor of this building is occupied by a store, and the second floor is devoted to lodge-rooms. The society was never in a more prosperous condition.
BURG HILL GRANGE NO. 1107.
This society was organized January 4, 1875, in the school-house at Burg Hill, by O. P. Laird, deputy of the National Grange. The following are the charter members:
Colonel Edward Hayes, Mrs. E. C. Hayes, A. D. Fell, Mrs. H. M. Fell, William H. Bushnell, Mts. Eliza Bushnell, Job Biggins, Mrs. Sarah Biggins, C. H. Roberts, Mrs. L. B. Roberts, James Fowler, Mrs. Lorinda Fowler, Osman Hull, Mrs. L. E. Hull, Ransom Hull, Mrs. N. S. Hull, H. G. Bates, Mrs. S. E. Bates, R. R. Miner, Mrs. Paulina Miner, Lucius Holcomb, Mrs. Orra Holcomb, George K. Pelton, Mrs. E. P. Mizener, George W. Holcomb, Brunel Hull, W. A. Bacon, Isaac Pfouts, Joel Bushnell, Henry Biggens.
First officers elected : Colonel Edward Hayes, W. M.; A. D. Fell, W. O.; James Fowler, W. L.; O. Hull, W. S.; R. R. Miner, W. A. S.; H. G. Bates, W. C.; George K. Pelton, W. Treasurer,. L. B. Hull, W. Secretary; Henry Biggins, W. G. K. Lady officers—S. E. Bates, W. C.;
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 269
E. Roberts, W. F.; L E. Hull, W. P.; H. M. Fell, W. L. A. S.si
This grange met at M. C. Graham's hall until 1878. They then built a hall at old Burg Hill, where they have since held their meetings.
CEMETERIES.
There are three cemeteries in the township, the one at the center being the oldest. The site was selected in 1805, after the death of Fidelia Andrews, the land being given by Titus Brockway. She was buried in the forest, and her grave was surrounded by an enclosure of logs.
Among the marble headstones of later years are scattered here and there the old brown flag and sand-stones, which mark the early graves. On many of these the inscriptions are rudely chiseled, and some are almost obliterated by the hand of time. Beside them grow the roses planted by hands long since folded to rest in other graves.
Here lies the first pioneer, Edward Brockway, and a large number of his descendants are also buried here. The soldier of the Revolution and the soldier of the Rebellion are found here, and near them lies Asahel Brainard, the first settler, who spent the winter alone in this unbroken forest, the only representative of this pioneer family buried in the township. The Hon. Calvin Cone, the Hon. Titus Brockway, Colonel William Bushnell, and the Hon. James Beebe are among the prominent persons interred in this old cemetery, including Captain Alexander Bushnell, Thomas Bushnell, Titus Hayes, Edward Brockway, and Daniel Bushnell, who were soldiers of the war of the Revolution. Here also are buried Thomas McFarland, Davis Fuller, Alexander Bushnell, Elijah Woodford, Selden Jones, Seth Thompson, Hosea Mowrey, John Pfouts, Wilson Bushnell, Michael Quiggle, Matthias Gates, S. C. Jones, Elijah Sawyer, Ambrose Hart, Jehial Hulburt, Lester Bushnell, General Andrews Bushnell, Archibald McFarland, and Elisha Bennett, soldiers of the War of 1812. Also D. W. Brockway, Milo Bushnell, Lieutenant C. C. Hart, Christopher A. Bennett, Charles Bennett, and Lieutenant Davis Fuller, soldiers of the Rebellion.
The burying ground at Burg Hill has been the burial place of the pioneer families of Hayes, Jones, Merry, and Hull. The first grave was that of Eliza Hayes, daughter of Colonel Richard
Hayes, who died August 14, 1814. This site was afterwards presented to the township by the Hayes family. Isaac Jones, one of the first pioneers, William C. Jones, a pioneer and a veteran of 1776, Colonel Richard Hayes, Lester Hayes, Luman Brockway, and James Henry, soldiers of the War of 1812, and Robert Mizener, a Vernon soldier of the late war, are buried here.
The west burying ground was given to the township by Deacon Elihu Bates, and the first grave was that of Mrs. Samuel Bates, in 1837. Romanta Norton, Joel Hall, and William Bates, soldiers of 1812 and George Norton, a soldier of the late war, are buried here. This has been the burial place of the Bates, Learning, Norton, Parsons, Newman, Spencer, Mason, and Hall families, mostly settlers of a late1 date. John Groscost, a soldier of 1812, was buried on lot one, on the farm formerly owned by him.
At Orangeville no permanent place of burial was selected until 1841, when Augustus Reed made a donation of land for that purpose. Previous to this time most of the interments were at the centre of the township, a few, however, being made near the residence of Mr. Patton. According to tradition, early in the century a man was buried where the shop of Mr. Davis now stands, and also two children by the name of Totman on the south bank of the Pymatuning east of the State line. The first interment in the present cemetery was Ann Catherine, a daughter of Rensselaer Root, who died June 10, 1841. John Cassidy, Jacob Dewitt, 0. S. Goodrich, William Carnes, and A. W. Moses, soldiers of the War of 1812, are burred here. Of the late war Harrison Allen, Caleb Leonard, Milton Mellinger, George Wait, and a non-resident soldier by the name of Fitzpatrick, who was killed on the railroad, are also buried here.
ORANGEVILLE.
For many years the northeastern portion of the township has been known by the name of Orangeville.
The construction of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railway, and the opening of coal mines east of it, has given some impetus to business at this place. No good reason seems to exist why it may not become a point for manufacturing interests of various kinds, much more -extensive than at present, if residents will only take hold of the matter in earnest by investing
270 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
In such enterprises and hold out inducement to others to do so.
The village was incorporated in 1868, and is situated in the northeast corner of Hartford township. It extends one mile from north to south, and seven-eighths of a mile from east to west. One of the principal streets being on the State line, the business interests and history of the place can not be fully shown, without, to some extent, including territory outside of the present corporate limits of the village, yet practically forming a part of it.
The first mayor was R. E. Grey ; and A. M. Brockway, N. E. Austin, E. B. Jones, Dr. A. C. Brainard, and S. H. Spear, were elected as members of the first council. Nelson Hyde held the office of mayor for one year, and from that time to the present it has been filled by the present incumbent, George W. Snyder.
A village special school district was organized in 1868, and a fine school-house was soon after built. The school is at present being taught by L. G. Spencer and Miss Bell Pollock. The enumeration of scholars for 1881 was a hundred and ten.
The territory comprised in the village limits forms a portion of the land purchased of Root & Holmes, in 1799, by Edward Brockway. Charles Merry was the first pioneer settler within the present incorporate limits of Orangeville. He settled on what is now known as the N. E. Austin farm, at present owned by Willard C. Hull. He remained but a short time, however, removing soon to Vernon. Not long after, Edward Brockway removed from his first location, and settled on the farm now owned by his grandson, E. B. Jones.
According to the history and atlas of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, the pioneer settler and founder of Orangeville was Jacob Loutzenhiser, who came in 1797 or 1798, probably in the former year. He built a hewed log mill, with an under-shot wheel twenty-five feet in diameter; and on the 9th of April, 1802, sold to Adam Hahn. This was the first mill in Pymatuning township, Pennsylvania. This place was known for several years as Hahn's mills. Judging by all the facts that have come to the writer's knowledge, he is of the opinion, however, that the mill did not go into operation before 1801. Accord- - ing to tradition it was a rude structure, like others of its day, yet served a good purpose in relieving the pioneers of long trips to mill. A sawmill was also built at a later period, so that two of the prime wants of early settlers, f0od and lumber, could be supplied. The era of steam-power having taken the place of water in lumbering, the old saw-mill has passed away, The grist-mill soon gave place to a better structure, which was used for many years. It has since been successively in possession of Keck, A. & L. Moffatt, Hoadley, Clark, and perhaps of some others. In 1869, being in possession of Shafer Brothers, the principal improvements were made at an expense of $40,000 for mill and dam. The present proprietors of the flouring-mill are Hendrickson & Walworth.
The first village lots were laid out in 1818 by Augustus and Levi Moffatt.
The last named was a clothier by trade, and the brothers built the first carding machine, which they afterwards sold to Charles and Richard Hull, who settled here in 1834-35. Augustus Moffatt remained here until his death, engaged mostly in the occupati0n of farming.
In 1835 his three brothers, Levi, Lot, and Zelotus, built two flat-boats and launched them in the 1ace below the mill. They were loaded with produce likely to find a market on the way, and with their families embarked on a journey by river to the West.
About 1821 a flat-boat was launched here which was loaded with butter and cheese and sent to the New Orleans market.
A woolen factory was carried on here for some years by Hull Brothers & Hurlburt. This pr0perty was purchased by George McFarland, and the business was soon after discontinued. Moffat & Fell were engaged in the foundry business for many years.
The present industries of the villages not heretofore mentioned are a saw-mill owned by G. W. Arnold, one by Dwight Wilson, a stave-mill by W. R. Field, and the carriage factory of S. H. Spear.
The first merchant at Orangeville was Moses Beach. He was followed first by the firm of Hyde, Reed & Bushnell, later by Morris Jones, Horace Baily, Joel Smith, Hurlburt & Co., Ernst & Hahn, Nathan Showers, Sylvester Fell & Son, Shafer Brothers, Nelson Hyde & Co., Lewis Reno, E. & A. Fell, Aurelius Fell, and at the
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 271
present time Trimble & McIntosh are engaged in trade, and E. R. Fell & Co. in drugs and general merchandise.
The first postmaster was Rensselaer Root. The office has since been held by Dr. Asahel Brainard, N. E. Austin, John Scaling (who held it for over twenty years), Nathan Showers, Jonathan Ernst, Eliza Johnson, Shelden Palmer, and G. W. Snyder the present incumbent. The office was established about 1845. The first mail route was a weekly between Warren, Ohio, and Franklin, Pennsylvania. Later it became a tri-weekly from Warren to Greenville, Pennsylvania, which was superseded by railway service after the construction of the railroad in 1862.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1816 Elder Jonathan Sheldon settled . in Fowler, and through his instrumentality a church was organized called the Baptist church of Fowler, Hartford, and Vernon. Its meetings were mostly held in Fowler and Hartford, in schoolhouses and private dwellings, as circumstances dictated.
Mrs. Nancy Lane, of Hartford, is said to have been the first person in the township baptized by immersion, Elder Jonathan Sheldon officiating.
The early records of the church were burned, but according to tradition Elihu Bates, Ruth Beach, Norman Holcomb, Osman Williams and wife, Mary Black, and Joseph DeWolf were probably among the pioneer members of this church.
Among the Baptist ministers who occasionally supplied the church were Elders Freeman, Gorman, Woodworth, and Sydney Rigdon, of Peters Creek, Virginia, afterwards of M0rmon notoriety. He resided in Hartford for some months, preaching a portion of the time in the "old church" at the "center."
About 1827 the doctrines of Alexander Campbell began to prevail, and so many of the members embraced the new faith that for some time the church was almost extinct, yet a few held fast to the old tenets.
In 1835 it was reorganized at Orangeville. Mr. and Mrs. Chares Hull, Lyman Phelps and wife, and a number of others from this vicinity united with the church about that time, and as Orangeville was now the most central point for the members, the church began to hold meetings here and took the name of this place. At first meetings were held in the Methodist house of worship, but about 1845 the present church was built. This society belonged to the Beaver association until the f0rmation of the Trumbull association.
In 1843 quite an addition was made to the church as a result of the revival labors of Elder John Winters. In 1844 Elder R. B. Phelps was pastor of the church, and continued until 1848, when Elder T. W. Greer became the minister, and during his pastorate many additions were made to the church. After this time Elder R. B. Phelps again preached for this society for a time. At the present time (1882) Elder T. W. Greer again holds the pastorate of this church. Mr. James Russel has been a prominent member of this church for over fifty years, and at the present time is one of its most stanch supporters. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Luce, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Phelps, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hull have all been prominent members of this church. The present membership is sixty-seven.
ORANGEVILLE METHODIST CHURCH.
This church was organized probably in 1837. Among its first members were Augustus Reed and wife, Charles Reed, Maria Reed, Harriet Reed, Mrs Daniel Totman, Elisha Fox, and George Fell. A small meeting-house was built soon after, and used until the building of the present church in 1872 at an expense of $5,000. At present the church has eighty-seven members.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
This society was organized in Pennsylvania, and was removed to. Orangeville in 1872. The ministers who have served this people since, that period are Revs. Cone, Williams, and Bedow. It is now a small but prosperous society. Liberal contributions were made outside of church membership for building purposes, with the understanding that it is to be open at all times for the use of other denominations, and for lectures when not occupied by the said church of the United Brethren in Christ.
OLD PEOPLE.
Mrs. Chloe (Wait) Bushnell, wife of Captain Alexander Bushnell, was born June 20, 1738, at Lyme, Connecticut, and died here October 28, 1832, the oldest person deceased in the township during the first seventy years of its history. Nearly thirty years before she came here with three generations of descendants, and but for an
272 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
accident might have lived her hundred years. At the time of her death her descendants numbered three hundred and twenty-two, four being of the fifth generation.
Mrs. Sarah (Hyde) Jones, wife of Elam Jones, was born May 18, 1776, at West Hartland, Connecticut, and died August 30, 1870. She retained her memory in an unusual degree, and to her more than to any one else is the writer indebted for his data of our pioneer history. She had been a resident of the township sixty-five years at the time of her decease. She had, during her life, a personal acquaintance with all of our early citizens, and her narrations of incidents in pioneer times were full of interest. She was a daughter of Uriah Hyde, whose family has been noted for its longevity.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Hyde) Hewitt, wife of Samuel Hewitt, and daughter of Uriah Hyde, was born in West Hartland, Connecticut, January 4, 1772. She resided here for many years but removed with her son, S. N. Hewitt, to Vernon. At ninety-eight years of age she removed to Kansas and a few months later to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she died July 22, 1873, being over one hundred and one years of age.
Mrs. Anna (Hyde) Hull, wife of William Hull, and daughter of Uriah Hyde, was born November 16, 1778, at West Hartland, Connecticut, and died July I r, 1874, being in the ninety-sixth year of her age, and at the time of her death the oldest person ever deceased in the township.
Mrs. Lovisa (Borden) Fitch, wife of Shaler Fitch, was born December 10, 1779, and died June 6, 1871. They emigrated to Ohio in 1804.
Mrs. Mary Kepner Pfouts, wife of John Pfouts, was born September 5, 1771, and died January 9, 1864.
George W. Cassidy was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1780, and died April 2, 1870. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and lost his right arm at the battle of Chippewa.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Allerton) Cassidy was born April 5, 1785, and died June 24, 1875.
Mrs. Phebe (Bushnell) Borden, wife of Asahel Borden, was born August 2, 1784, and died December 4, 1875. She was the last of the adult pioneers to pass away.
Mrs. Catharine (Lavley) Roberts was born near Baltimore, Maryland, August 20, 1776, and died here January 10, 1881, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Jacob Barnhart. She had attained the great age of one hundred and four years, four months, and twenty days. In 1794 she was married to Peter Roberts, and for the almost unparalleled period of seventy-eight years they journeyed through life together, he having reached the advanced age of ninety-srx years at the time of his death. She always possessed a strong constitution and in her earlier years was accustomed to doing much out-door work and boasted of having been able to reap more wheat than any man, not excepting her husband. She kept house and did all her own work until her husband's death, although she was then ninety-eight years of age. She was the wife of a soldier of the War of 1812, and granddaughter of a soldier of the Revolution. She was undoubtedly the oldest person in the county, and probably on the Western Reserve, if not in the State.
Nathaniel Wilson, for many years a resident here, died in his ninety-second year.
Among the old people still living in the township who have arrived at fourscore years and over, are Mrs. Alexander Bushnell, at the age of 87; Mrs. Seth Thompson, 85; Lory Norton, 84; John Jones, 82; George W. Bushnell, 82; Mrs. Isaac Learnrng, 84; Edward Bowmiller, 83; Dorothy Bowmiller, 83; Mrs. Elisha Cannon, 82; Margaret Bear, 82; Michael Pfouts, 80; Bradford Hewitt, 82; Rebecca Craton, 81; Mrs. Louisa Laird, 80; Mrs. Julia Bates, 80; John Adam Sonk, 87. He was born in Bavaria May 10, 1794. In 1814 he was drafted into the German army, and served in the second company of fusileers, Ninth regiment, commanded by Ferdinand of Wurtemburg. He served six years, nine months in active service, and the rest of the time in garrison.
According to the census of 1880 fifty-three persons in the township had passed their threescore and ten years.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
A library was established early in the century, and for a long time continued in a flourishing condition. Elam Jones was librarian for many years, some of the first books being brought by him from Connecticut in 1805.
The first blacksmith who located here was
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 273
Levi Giddings, whose shop stood on the farm of Peter Carlton, on lot twenty-three.
Captain Azel Tracy, a coach and chair maker, from Norwich, Connecticut, came to Ohio about 1818, and soon after located here and engaged in the building of carriages and wagons. His son D. S. Tracy is pursuing the same vocation at the same place.
Early in the century Isaac Taylor built a tannery at Burg Hill. About 1826 the property came into possession of Arial Chapman, who followed the business of a tanner for over thirty years in the same place.
Davis Fuller was the first saddler and harness maker, having located on lot twenty-five in 1806. He followed the business in the same place for nearly fifty years.
Since the settlement of the township four small distilleries have had an existence here. Three of them were built in pioneer times, when whiskey was thought to be one of the necessities of life, and it was considered a breach of hospitality not to pass the bottle to friends when present. At the present time, however, there is none made Jr openly sold in the township. At an early period the citizens took a decided stand against the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, and the prevailing sentiment, until the present time, has been in favor of temperance, and in strong opposition to the use of alcohol as a beverage.
A carding mill was built at an early period at the foot of Brockway hill by Lester Bushnell.
Another was built by C. & R. Silliman, a little north of the center, and was soon after ('hanged into a clock factory by Hart & Truesdale. For some years quite a business was done in the manufacture of wooden clocks. Later it was converted into a sash factory. Near the same place a hat shop was carried on for a number of years by D. Root & Co. Also a chair factory by T. C. Davis & Son.
The pioneer cheese factory of the State, and probably of the country, was started in this township in 1846 by Samuel Cone. He died during the second season of the new enterprise. From this has grown many or all of the modifications that have been made in the dairy system since that time. W. Pellon, Oris Mason, Sydney Mason, Ralph Mason, A. O. Woodford, C. Spencer, L. Fitch, John Fitch, and Peter Carlton have each been engaged in the business since that period. Eli W. Bushnell was engaged in the manufacture of cutlery for some twenty years. A new factory was built on lot nineteen in 1850, which was 'burned in September, 1859. The business was then discontinued.
Giles M. Hayes, who resides near the west line of the township, has established a factory for using the surplus products of the orchards in making vinegar, apple butter, and jellies. This enterprise gives promise of being beneficial to the fruit growers in this vicinity.
The township has few or no large farms, and all of her interests are purely agricultural, especially so for the last thirty years. The growth of mining and manufacturing towns around tends to draw away all interests save those strictly pertain. ing to agriculture.
A portion of the township is well adapted to fruit growing, and although it has been an important business in our past history yet it deserves more attention than has so far been given to it.
According to the census of 1820 the population of the township was six hundred and twenty- five, and it made a good per cent. of an increase during the next decade, but for the last forty years the numeration has gained but slowly. For at least two generations our people have been emigrating to the West. The sons and daughters of the pioneers, inspired by the same spirit which led their parents to leave New England for Ohio, have been following the star of the empire westward until this township has representatives in almost every western city and State. They have been heard in the halls of Congress, in the Legislatures of different States, at the bar, and in the pulpit; they have held positions in the army and navy of the United States; on the mountains and prairie we find them seeking after wealth and fame, worthy sons of honored sires, whom old Hartford claims with pride.
274 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
EDWARD BROCKWAY.
The subject of this sketch, one of the three pioneer settlers, formerly resided in Branford, Connecticut. He removed to Hartland about 1786, and emigrated to New Connecticut in 1800, having in company with Brainard and Jones visited the township, purchased his land, and with them commenced a clearing in August, 1799. He arrived with his family June 9, 1800. He had purchased of the proprietors, Root & Holmes, nearly thirty-two hundred acres of land. At the present time over one hundred families are residing on this property.
He first settled on lot twenty-two, but soon after removed to lot eight. He was a soldier of the Revolution, taking part in the battle of Saratoga. He died March 4, 1813, aged seventy- seven years. He had a family of seventeen children. Three of his sons, Aaron, Titus, and Philemon, settled here. Aaron Brockway first settled in Vernon in June, 1798, with his family, where his wife is said to have lived seven months without seeing the face of a white woman.
Three years later he removed to Hartford. At five different times during his life he shouldered his axe and started anew to make a home for himself and family in the woods, making, as we think, a practical pioneer.
He died in Forest county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. Eight of the daughters of Edward Brockway married and settled in this township. Five of this number married into the Jones family.
Titus Brockway settled a little south of the center, where he resided until his death, September 6, 1840, at the age of sixty-five. He served as postmaster, justice, member of the Legislature, land agent, and was a prominent member of the Congregational church. He had but two sons, Edward, and Daniel Webster, and five daughters, Maria, Julia, Melissa, Martha W., Sophronia, and Caroline.
HAYES FAMILY.
If it is fair to judge a man by the impression he has produced upon the minds of those of his cotemporaries who survive him, then Colonel Richard Hayes, wh0 came to Hartford from
Hartland, Connecticut, in the spring of 1804, must have been a man of remarkable energy and power. He early engaged in trade, and was one of the first to see that the new country must pay its debts in a currency which could transport itself, and he therefore organized the cattle trade with Philadelphia, sending over the mountains droves of from three to five hundred head.
When there was any doubt as to the price which ought to be paid, the people would frequently tell him to take their stock along, sell them, and pay what he could afford, and such was his reputation for probity and fair dealing that it is said his returns were never questioned.
When the War of 1812 came on, the Third regiment, Fourth division, Ohio militia, was called out, and we find him in command. The order calling out the regiment came late on Sunday night, and the colonel at once mounted his two sons, Seth and Alvin, as messengers, to notify the captains to report on Monday for orders. All preparations were completed on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning the regiment marched for the frontier. When we consider that the regiment had to muster from a territory ten by thirty miles in extent, and that stores and transportation had to be provided, the military reader will see that the achievement was a remarkable one. The late Joshua R. Giddings, who was a private in the regiment, once gave the writer a graphic sketch of the colonel as a commanding officer, which we regret that we cannot repro duce, but he described him as a man who could be in more places and think of more things at once, than any man he had ever met.
After the war he held the position of county commissioner and associate judge of court of common pleas, and although not a lawyer, it is said that his decisions were marked by great good sense and fairness. He often used to ride to Warren over a winter road, remain all day in court, and ride home at night, making thirty-six miles in the saddle besides his day's work in court. This life of a pioneer had told upon him, and he died in 1837 at the age of sixty-five years. He left three sons—Seth, Alvin, and Richard, of whom only the last named is living, All of them were active business men and inherited the old colonel's sturdy uprightness of character. Seth Hayes was a member of the
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 275
Ohio Legislature in 1836. He was for many years engaged as a merchant, and was noted for his public and private generosity, and had an enviable reputation as an honorable business man, and as a worthy Christian gentleman. He died March 9, 1865.
Alvin and Richard Hayes were never in public life, The former died in 1880, nearly eighty- five years of age, leaving a reputation for integrity and uprightness which any of his descendants may be proud to emulate.
There is a soldier streak in the family. Titus Hayes, the father of Colonel Richard Hayes, wintered with Washington at Valley Forge, and at least three of his sons, Richard, Titus, and Lester, were in the War of 1812, and when the war of 1861 came on, it "cropped out" in the fourth generation. Among the number was Edward, grandson Of Richard, and son of Alvin Hayes. When the war broke out he felt it his duty to keep out of it, if possible, as he had a young family, and being an only son his aged father and mother looked to him for care, but after the first battle of Bull Run he saw that it would be impossible for him to do so, and raising part of a company he went into the Twenty- ninth Ohio infantry under Colonel Lewis Buckley. He was unfortunate in the outset of his military career, being taken down with fever while at Camp Chase, and to add to his ill fortune, his 1egiment was ordered into West Virginia upon the very day he was taken ill. As a natural consequence, when he rejoined his command some six week later, he found it in a quasi mutiny, the members of his company having been led to believe that he was not actually sick, but that he had shirked duty. His emaciated and generally used-up condition went far to convince the men of their mistake, and he informed them that he did not intend to resign until the company had been in at least one fight.
They got this fight at Kernstown near Winchester, Virginia; March 22, 1862, and Hayes .decided to stay with the company and let the other fellows do the resigning, which proved satisfactory to all concerned. It may be remarked of the Kernstown fight, that it was the only time .during the whole war that Stonewall Jackson got a good square thrashing.
Hayes was next engaged at Port Republic, June 9, 1862. 'There he with a part of his com pany had the misfortune to be taken prisoner. The company had gone for a stand of rebel colors and got them, but they had gone in too deeply and could not get out, He summered in the Confederate military prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, and on his exchange in the fall of 1862 rejoined his command at Frederick City, Maryland, finding it much cut up from the disastrous fight at Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862. He was at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 1, 2, and 3, 1863, where he commanded the left wing of the regiment as acting major, and two months later was at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he commanded the regiment, there being no field officer present for duty, and Captain Stephens, the ranking officer, being disabled very early in the action. He was commissioned major the week following Gettysburg, and lieutenant-colonel in October following. He went to Chattanooga with Ho0ker's Twentieth army corps, and was in a part of the Wauhatchie affair, and in the battle of Lookout Mountain; was within reach at the battle of Missionary Ridge, but did not participate, being on other duty at the time. He was active in inducing his regiment to- re-enlist, and after it did so came home with it on veteran furlough in January, 1864. Returning to the field with it he wintered at Bridgeport, Alabama, and started with the army on the Atlanta campaign, but on the 8th of May, 1864, at the battle of Mill Spring, Georgia, he received a very severe wound through the right shoulder. Major Fifield, regimental surgeon of the Twenty-ninth Ohio, performed for him the difficult, and at that time new, operation of " exsection," removing the whole of the shoulder joint, and other portions of the shattered bone, and a good deal to his own surprise he got well; but as he was unfit for service he was discharged in November, 1864, on account of wounds received in action,
In 1865 he was elected county treasurer, and held that position from September, 1866, to September, 1870, with a good degree of ability. He is now employed in the Post-office department at Washington, District of Columbia, and is satisfactorily filling a responsible position.
276 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
BUSHNELL FAMILY.
Among the early pioneer families of Trumbull county the Bushnells are probably the most numerous. Captain Alexander Bushnell, the immediate ancestor of the family, emigrated with his descendants. He was born in Lyme, Connecticut, December 2, 1739, and was a descendant of Francis Bushnell, one of the first settlers of Guilford, Connecticut, who landed in Boston about 1630.
He married Chloe Waite, of the same place, February 12, 1761. She was a descendant of Thomas Waite, member of Parliament, one of the judges who signed the death warrant of King Charles I, the Waite family coming to America soon after the restoration in 1660. Their descendants are numerous, and very many of them reside in Trumbull county. They had ten children, all of whom were married in Connecticut, and these families all emigrated about the same period to Ohio.
He was a captain in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, receiving his commission while serving under Washington. After the close of the Revoluti0n the tide of emigration first set toward northern Connecticut, and he with many others moved to Hartland, Hartford county, in that State, about 1784.
In 1800 the tide of emigration started towards "New Connecticut" in Northern Ohio, and this now greatly increased family were swept by the torrent to the Western Reserve, the first one coming in 1801 and the remainder following soon after, He died March 8, 1818, in Hartford, Ohio. Captain Bushnell's children were Thomas, Daniel, and William, who with their families settled in Hartford; Chloe, the wife of Obediah Gilder, one of the pioneers of Gustavus, where their descendants still reside; Alexander, Jr., who with his family settled in Pittsburg; Sterling G., who with his family first settled in Vernon and in 180 removed to Richland county, Ohio; Mary, the wife of Hon. Calvin Cone, who was one of the pioneers of Gustavus in 1804, but in 1817 removed to Hartford, where some of their descendants still reside. He served as member of the Legislature from Barkhamsted, Connecticut, previous to his emigration, and was State Senator in Ohio from 1806 to 1809. Hannah was the wife of Davis Fuller, who was a pioneer of Hartford; Lucy was the wife of Aaron Brockway, who was one of the first settlers of Vernon. They soon removed to Hartford, and about 1835 again removed to Forest county, Pennsylvania. Phebe was the wife of Asahel Borden. They settled on lot thirty in Hartford in 1804, where they both lived to a good old age, she dying at the age of ninety-one, and was the last of this family of pioneers to pass away.
Thomas Bushnell, eldest son of Captain Alexander and Chloe (Waite) Bushnell, was born in Lyme, Connecticut, January 11, 1762. He served during the last years of the Revolution in his father's company. He married Rebecca Andrews, of Hartland, Connecticut, and emigrated with a family of ten children to Ohio in 1804. He located first on lot twenty four, and in a few years re-located on lot seventeen. He only lived to endure the hardships and privations of pioneer life, not long enough to enjoy its pleasures which follow. He died of fever April t0, 1817. His was the first death in his father's family. He was greatly respected in the community and much beloved by his numerous relatives, and his death was a severe shock and a great loss to his own family.
His children were General Andrews Bushnell; Rebecca, wife of Colonel Horace Flower, who settled first in Hartford, and afterward in Bloomfield; Jerusha, wife of Linus Hayes ; Hannah, wife of Colonel Asa Hutchins and mother of Hon. Wells Hutchins, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Matilda, wife of Lester Hayes ; Lorena, wife of Dr. Cullin Wilcox; Thomas, Jr., who lived for many years in Bloomfield; Amanda, wife of . Samuel Corning; and Eli, who lived and died in Hartford.
General Andrews Bushnell, eldest son of Thomas, was born in Hartland, Connecticut, August 14, 1782, married Sarah Lane, of the same place, and immediately started for New Connecticut as it was then called. He settled on lot twenty-four, in Hartford, where he died June 17, 1851. He was an extensive farmer and one of the pioneer breeders of blooded cattle in northern Ohio. He was also in early life an efficient and accurate surveyor; Was for four years sheriff of Trumbull county, and held various other positions of trust and honor. He held a lieutenant's commission in the War of 1812 ; commanded a company at the Thames
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 277
where Tecumseh was killed, and did brave and honorable service in the defence of Fort Erie, where he was wounded by a musket ball through the left lung, for which he received a pension the remainder of his life. He was an able and well drilled officer, and after the close of the war was made brigadier-general of militia, which position he held with honor many years. He was a member of the Congregational church, and a Whig in politics until the formation of the Liberty party, which he supported until his death. His children were Jerusha, who died at the age of nineteen years, a young lady highly esteemed and sincerely regretted by the community; David E., who is supposed to have died in Palestine in January, 1840. He was intelligent young farmer of great originality and very studious habits, fond of historical reading and investigation. Restive of farm life he laid extensive plans for foreign travel and research, for which work he had remarkable qualities. He accordingly left home in December, 1838. He landed at Liverpool, traveled through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy, spent some time in Egypt, traveled up the Nile to Abyssinia, visited the missionaries at Beyroot, and left that place January 8, 1840, with a guide, intending to visit Jerusalem and other points in Palestine. The guide soon returned and reported that Bushnell was short of money and had gone on alone, since which time no tidings were ever received, and it is supposed he was killed by his guide for his money. General Bushnell's next child was Mary, wife of Simon R. Estabrook, of Warren; and the youngest, Seth A., for many years a resident of Hartford, now of Oberlin, Ohio.
Eli W. Bushnell, youngest son of Thomas and Rebecca Bushnell, married Electa, daughter of Elam Jones, one of the pioneers of Hartford. He was a resident of the township of Hartford the greater part of his life. He was well known in the county as one of the best mechanics in the State. For many years he was proprietor of an axe-factory, and manufactured edge tools of all kinds. At one time every tool in his establishment was made by his own hands, including anvils, vise, screw-plates, trip-hammers, etc. It was a matter of pride with him to be able to make or repair any tool which was constructed of steel or iron, no difference how large or small. His factory was destroyed by fire in 1859, after which he was not again engaged in active business.
He was an honest, conscientious man who always remembered to practice the Golden Rule, His heart was ever open for deeds of charity, and the poor and oppressed always found in him sympathy and help. He was one of the advance guards of the old Liberty party, being one of the twelve first voters of that party in his township.
He was long a member of the Congregational church, of which he was one of the deacons. He died September 8, 1862. His children are Thomas A., who resides at the old home of the family ; Cordelia A., wife of F. B. Plimpton, political editor of the Cincinnati Commercial ; and Sarah Pauline, residing with her brother.
Daniel Bushnell, the second son of Captain Alexander and Chloe Bushnell, was born in Lyme, Connecticut. December 18, 1763, and married first Rebecca Banning, and second Eunice Brockway.
He also served in the army for a short time near the close of the war for independence in his father's company. He emigrated from Hartland, Connecticut, in 1803, and settled on lot thirty, where he resided till he died, August 12, 1842. He was in early life a carpenter, having been the builder of the Congregational church in Hartland, Connecticut, in 1801. He also took an active part in building the Congregational church in Hartford in 189. He was a devoted and active church member, and in early times, when ministers were not always to be had, he conducted religious meetings and gave catechetical and Bible instructions to the children of the vicinity. He was an enthusiastic and industrious man, and possessed the requisite elements of a first class pioneer. He was a lifelong and faithful member of the Masonic fraternity. He raised a family of seventeen children, most of whom lived to maturity; some becoming residents of this county and others going west. Their names were Lewis, Lydia, Ziba, Amoret, Daniel Milton, Clarissa, George Willis, Hiram, Rhoda, Elijah Newton, Alexander, Joseph, Joseph second, Rebecca, Philena, and Benjamin. Of this large family but one, George W., is at present a resident of Hartford, though many of the descendants reside in Trumbull county.
278 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Dr. George W. Bushnell, third son of Daniel and Rebecca Bushnell, was born in Hartland, Connecticut, August 11, 1800, consequently was three years of age at the time the family emigrated, and has the most of his life been a resident of Hartford. He married Miss Sally Bates, September 8, 1824.
He endured as a child the privations and hardships of pioneer life, and early learned that patience and industry were indispensable to success. Striving to keep pace with all the necessities of a new country, he learned anything necessary to be learned. First, farming ; second, carpenter work being in demand he learned to be a carpenter ; shoes being one of the great necessities, he learned shoe-making. Early becoming dissatisfied with the allopathic treatment of diseases, he studied the botanic practice for the purpose of treating his own family. His success at home was such he was soon called upon to treat his neighbors' families. By faithful study and strict attention to his patients, he soon acquired a reputation as a successful physician, and has since devoted his entire time to the practice of medicine. He has made for himself an honorable reputation for skill and integrity worthy of emulation. In view of his worthy labors the Physio-medical Institute of Cincinnati conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor of medicine.
He has been in the field of medical reform for over fifty years ; for forty years has not used tea or coffee, believing them to be useless, if not hurtful. He has never used tobacco in any form, considering it a vile poison. Intoxicating drinks he never employed. He has sought to obey the laws of life in all things ; "to be temperate in all things," and to practice what he preaches, "the proper use of things proper for use, and the total abstinence from things naturally hurtful."
Dr. Bushnell was an active agent in the first organization of the church of the Disciples of Christ in Hartford, May 1, 1830, and was at that time chosen overseer of the church, which place he filled with credit to himself and advantage to the church. September 3, 1843, the church gave him a certificate of 1ecommendation to go forth as an evangelist teacher, in which capacity he faithfully labored for some years in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
On June 21, 1846, he resigned his office as overseer of the church on account of the opposition to his antr-slavery sentiments, and finally withdrew July 2, 1847, and united with the Congregational church, where he remained till the Disciple church passed the following resolutions January 15, 1853:
Resolved, That we as a church of the Disciples of Christ in Hartford, Ohio, do consjder slave-holding to be man- stealing.
Resolved, That we will have no Christian or church fellow. ship with slave-holders, or those who hold their fellow-men as chattel property, nor with those who justify and willingly uphold, aid, or abet them in so doing.
Upon the passage of the above resolutions he again united with the Disciples, and was again chosen overseer, which office he continued to fill until May 31, 1881, when he tendered his resignation of office with good will to all, being eighty-one years of age. His remarkable executive powers, his untiring zeal, his undying devotion to his belief of the truth, has made hrm the most active worker in the church. His services were never for filthy lucre's sake, his labors always having been gratuitous. He has done more work, contributed more money, and done more preaching during the fifty years since the organization of this church, than any other person in it, and is yet a lrve member of the church, ready to do his part of whatever may be needed, although eighty-two years of age. The children of Dr. George and Sally Bushnell that have arrived at maturity are Curtis W., born October 14, 1825, and died at the age of twenty-nine years; Sarah B., born September 8, 1827, married first Stephen Watkins, and second Charles Davis; Ed- ward, born February 22, 1831, died at the age of nineteen years; Allen R., born July 18, 1833; Amoret, born June 20, 1835, married Addison Ruey; John L., born December 13, 1837; Annie, born December 7, 1841, married Dr. James Irwin; Milo F., born July 18, 1844, enlisted into
the United States service June r 1, 1862, and died in the United States hospital at Gallipolis, Ohio, April 17, 1863. His father being notified of his danger reached Gallipolis the evening of the 14th, but on the morning of the r 7th he died, He caused his body to be embalmed and encased in a metallic coffin, and returned with him to his native place, where he was interred some days later with military honor, the funeral being one of the largest ever attended in the township. All
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 279
the sons of the family living in 1861 were Union soldiers in the war of the Rebellion,
Allen R. Bushnell, son of Dr. George W. Bushnell, is a resident of Lancaster, Wisconsin. Receiving his education in his native State, he went to Wisconsin in 1854, where he studied law with Judge Stephen R. Payne, at Platteville; was admitted to the bar at Lancaster in 1857, commencing practice in Platteville. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in company C, Seventh Wisconsin volunteer infantry. He was made a first lieutenant and afterward captain, and served with his regiment in the Iron brigade until 1863, when he was discharged for disability, and resumed practice at Platteville. He removed to Lancaster in 1864. He is very little of a politician, but has been district attorney and member of the Legislature.
Colonel William Bushnell, third son of Captain Alexander and Chloe Bushnell, was born in Lyme, Connecticut, May 18, 1766, and married, first, Mary Borden, of Hartland, Connecticut, and second, Mrs. Candace Adams, of Bristol township. He was the first of the Bushnell family to emigrate and was the first settler in the south part of the township of Hartford, his deed being dated December 31, 1800. He came with his family, then consisting of eight children, in June, 1801, and located on what is now known as Thompson hill, on the diagonal road. A portion of his first purchase is still in the possession of his grandson, Austin Bushnell. He was elected captain of the first military company organized in the township, in 1804, and afterwards served as colonel of the regiment. He was among the early commissioners 0f the county and filled other county and township offices during the early part of the century.
He was a man of great firmness and decision of character, ardent in all his feelings and honorable in all his dealings, and in his day a man much respected.
His children were : Wilson, Daniel Cone, Lester, Fanny, Alexander, Polly, Lovissa, Sophia, William, and Austa, the last two only natives of the township. These all lived to maturity, married, and all settled in the township. In the summer of 1828, when the typhoid fever prevailed, his wife, five Children, two grandchildren, and a daughter-in-law all fell victims to the dis ease. Daniel Cone and Alexander lived for many years and died in the township, respected and worthy farmers, the latter having been trustee of the township twenty-one years. Lovisa was the wife of Ambrose Hart, for many years merchant at Brookfield. Sophia married Amos Hart and settled first in Dartford, and about 1840 emigrated to Brighton, Iowa. William was the first white male child born in the township; born June 11, 1802. Many of the descendants of Colonel William Bushnell reside in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
Daniel Cone, born August 0, 1788, married Polly Hutchins and their children were : Upson, who resides in Gustavus; William, of Epworth, Iowa; Dr. J. Hutchins Bushnell, of Washington, District of Columbia; Nelson Bushnell, Esq., of Franklin, Pennsylvania; and Austin, a resident of Hartford.
Alexander, son of Colonel William Bushnell, was born in Hartland, Connecticut, April 14, 1794, and married, first, Nancy Hummason, and second, Martha Bailey. Their children are : Luman, Lester, Candace, Joel, William, Huldah, and Ellen.
Joel married Mrs. Mary G. Bussey, and resides on the farm where his father first settled in 1816, and on land first purchased by his great-grandfather, Captain Alexander Bushnell, from the original proprietors of the township. He is at present justice of the peace and trustee of the township.
THE BORDEN FAMILY.
Among the pioneers who came into Hartford during 1804 were Asahel Borden and his sons Asahel, Jr., and Sylvester. They left Hartland, Connecticut, May 29th, and arrived at their destination July l0th, having been fifty-three days on the journey, traveling with an ox team. A few years later Russel Borden, a brother of Asahel Borden, Sr., and their mother, Widow Mary Borden, also came. She was born in 1731, and was probably, at the time of her death, the oldest pioneer. She died in 1818, at the age of eighty-seven. Asahel Borden and his son Asahel, Jr., settled on lot twenty-four on the diagonal road. He died July 26, 1826, and his wife Jemima (Jones) Borden, died December 22, 1818. Asahel Borden, Jr., and his wife Phebe (Bushnell) Borden, continued to reside at their first location
280 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
nearly seventy years, and will long be remembered as social and hospitable pioneers. "The latch-string of their log cabin was always out," and in later years their residence was as freely opened to their numerous friends. They outlived all their pioneer associates, he dying in 1869, at the age of eighty-seven, and she in 1875, at the age of ninety-one, being the last one of the early settlers.
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church nearly half a century. They were always active and energetic people. In early times they are said to have made journeys to Pittsburg and Beaver with oxen, taking their cheese and farm produce to exchange for family supplies; often making journeys to Warren, Ohio, and Mercer, Pennsylvania, on horseback to trade. Once Mrs. Borden made a trip to Mercer and back in one day, the round trip being a journey of over forty miles, bringing home on her horse a tea-set of crockery, groceries, and other articles for the family. Their children were all daughters. Eliza (who was brought a baby on the long journey from Connecticut) married Richard Gates, Elsa married Paul Wellman, Phebe married George Hallock, Jemima married Daniel Loomis, Hannah died at the age of fourteen, Polly married Abel Whitney, Maria married Abner Banning, and Deborah L. still 1emains at the old home with her sister, Mrs. Banning.
Sylvester Borden married Amoret Bushnell, daughter of Daniel Bushnell, and their children were John, Edmund, Truman, and Amelia, wife of Rev. Robert Crane, of Green.
Russel Borden settled on the farm now occupied by the Thompson family, on the diagonal road, where he died in 1813. His family consisted of Captain Philo Borden, a resident of the township over fifty years, a prominent man in the Congregational church, a teacher many years, and a respected citizen, who married first in Connecticut, Miss Betsy Priest, and second Abigail Thompson; Florilla, wife of Seth Thompson; Fannie, wife of Alva Hart; Polly, died in 1813; and Catharine, wife of Robison Truesdale. This name of worthy pioneers, once so familiar, is now almost extinct in the township.
DAVIS FULLER.
Davis Fuller, one of the pioneers of Hartford, emigrated from Hartland, Connecticut, in 1806, and settled on lot twenty-five. He was a saddle- and harness-maker, and pursued that vocation during his life. He was a soldier in Colonel Hayes' regiment in the War of 1812; an active member and deacon of the Congregational church, also a prominent man in the anti-slavery movement. He died May 5, 1855, at the age of seventy-three. His wife, Hannah (Bushnell) Fuller, died in 1849, at the age of seventy-one. As an incident of pioneer life it may be related that the first Sunday after moving into their log-cabin a peculiar hissing sound was heard under the floor, which was recognized as that of a rattlesnake. "Uncle Davis" having removed a puncheon, discovered the intruder, and with an old-fashioned fire-shovel struck the snake and held him fast while his wife got down under the floor and cut off his head with a butcher-knife. The snake had eighteen rattles and was five feet long.
The children of Davis and Hannah Fuller were Eunice, Samuel, Henry (who died of fever when eighteen years of age, in 1828), Chloeo Harvey, and Alexander. Of this family only Samuel is a resident of the township. He married Eunice Holcomb, and their children were Emeline, who died at the age of five years; Jerusha, wife of Albert Rathbun, and died in Chicago October 27, 1868, at the age of thirty-three; Emeline, wife of Warren Bates, and Lieutenant Davis C. Fuller, who died October 13, 1870, at the age of twenty-nine, from disease contracted in the army.
THE JONES FAMILY.
All the Jones families now residing in Hartford, with the exception of one, are descendants of the same family. The earliest account of this family in America which we have been able to obtain is of Benjamin Jones, who was a resident of Enfield, Connecticut, and in 1706 removed to Somers, Connecticut, and was the first settle1 in that township. His grandson, Israel Jones, removed from Enfield to Barkhamsted, Connecticut, and was the second settler in that township in 1759, fixing his home on East mountain.
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 281
This farm is now, by regular descent, the property of his great-grandson, Hon. Edwin P. Jones.
The children of Captain Israel Jones were Samuel, Thomas, Colonel Israel Jones, Jemima (wife of Asahel Borden, Sr.), Mrs. Joshua Giddings, Mrs. John Billings, William, and Isaac. Many of this family, like their ancestors, became "first settlers," Isaac, William, and Jeminia, also Elam, son of Samuel, being pioneers of Hartford ; others of this family, including Samuel, Jr., and the Giddings family, being pioneers of Ashtabula county, Ohio.
Isaac Jones, youngest son of Captain Israel Jones, was the first to emigrate, coming from Barkhamsted, Connecticut, with his family in the spring 0f 1800, and settling on lot twenty-two, near Burg Hill. He was one of the three first settlers in the township. His wife, Abigail, was the daughter of Edward Brockway, who came at the same time. Their children were Mrs. Asahel Brainard, Mrs. Abner Moses, Mrs. Aaron Rice, Selden, John, James F., and Mrs. George Hewit; the most of them residents of Hartf0rd many years.
James F. Jones was the only son of Isaac and Abigail Jones born in Hartford, and is now the oldest man living who is a native of the place. He was born January 31, 1804, resides on lot eleven, and married first Sarepta Wilson, second Mrs. Mary Pfouts. Their children are Malinda, Asahel, Albert, Mary Ann, Lorinda, Florus, Mandana Juliett, Anal Gordon, Calvin Judson, and Willie Dayton.
William C. Jones, son of Captain Israel Jones, emigrated from the same place in 1802, and located on lot twenty-seven, and on the farm now occupied by Amos Fell, where he died in 1841, at the age of eighty-one years. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, having taken part 1n the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. His children were William, Jr., Selden C., Dr. Asahel Jones, Amelia, Sallie, and Allen. From .his family are descended Philander Jones and Asahel Jones, Esq., of Youngstown, Ohio; Dr. Allen Jones, of Kinsman, Ohio; R. C. Jones, of Burg Hill; William C. Jones, of Hartford, and Edward B. Jones, of Orangeville.
William C. Jones, son of Selden C. and Laurinda (Brockway) Jones, was born in Hartford, June 29, 1817, and married Elvira Gates, of the same township, December 27, 1843. She was born December 27, 1823. Their children are : Eliza Laurinda, born October 13, 1844, and married James D. Burnett, June 21, 1866 ; Alice Minerva, born August 25, 1846, and died November 8, 1854 ; Edna Luella, born July 21, 1850, died November 22, 1854; Asahel Hallock, born January 15, 1852, and marrred Clara L. Sponsler, May 16, 1875.
Edward B. Jones, also son of Selden C. and Laurinda (Brockway) Jones, is a resident of Orangeville. He was born on the farm where he now resides, May 8, 1822. This farm has been in the possession of his ancestors since 1799, his grandfather, Edward Brockway, having purchased the same of the original proprietors of the township. He first married Miss Mary E. Leonard, October 24, 1850, who died September 8, 1851; she left one son, Edward M. born September 8, 1851, and died October 14, 1852. He was again married to Ellen D. Jones, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, May 14, 1856. She was b0rn August 26, 1827. Their children are : Lizzie E., wife of Willard C, Hull ; Ivah L., and Hattie L.
These brothers, William and Edward, early left fatherless, learned lessons of industry, perseverance, and economy, which have enabled them each to acquire a competency, and they are among the most prosperous farmers in the township.
Elam Jones, son of Samuel, and grandson of Captain Israel Jones, was born at the old Jones home, on East mountain, Barkhamsted, September 29, 1774. He was a man of more than ordinary education and acquirements f0r his day, having received private instructions of Rev. Aaron Church, of Hartland, Connecticut, and followed the profession of a teacher tor many years rn his native State. He married Sarah Hyde, of Hartland, April 27, 1801. They emigrated from Barkhamsted in 1805, making the journey in six weeks. They settled on lot twelve in Hartford, Ohio. Their children were : Sarah, wife of Jarvis Gates, a resident of Hartford; Harriet, wife of Linus Parker, a resident of Kinsman ; Electa, wife of Eli W. Bushnell, a resident of Hartford ; Eunice Lemyra, wife of George Hezlep, for many years a merchant of Gustavus ; Hannah, wife of Dr. Edward Best, who died at Freedom, Ohi0, October 2, 1838 ;
282 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
and Hon. Lucian C. Jones, a resident of Warren, Ohio. In 1828 he built the first public house at the center of Hartford. He was for many years postmaster, and held the office of town clerk twenty years, in early days. He was a surveyor in early life. He served in the War of 1812 in Colonel Hayes' regiment. He died December 2, 1851, at the age of seventy-seven. Mrs. Sarah Hyde Jones died September 30, 1870, in her ninety-fifth year.
McFARLAND FAMILY.
Robert McFarland, the first settler in the east part of Hartford, was from the north of Ireland, and of Scotch descent. He came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1803, with one son and one daughter. He built a cabin about seventy rods from the State line, and west of the present residence of his grandson, Thomas W. McFarland. In the spring of 1804 the remainder of the family followed to the new home prepared for them in the wilderness of Ohio. He only lived to see his family well established, as he died in May, 1814. Mrs. McFarland's maiden name was Martha Burnside. She lived until 1836, and died at the age of eighty-six. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Their children were Martha, Robert (who was killed by lightning in Washington county, Pennsylvania), Archibald, Jane, Margaret (who was blind and died soon after her father), John, and Polly,
The three sons all settled in the township, John remaining at the old h0me, Thomas settling a short distance south on the same road, and Archibald locating on lot thirty-seven, in the southwest part of the township. They all lived and died on the farms they had labored so faithfully to clear of trees and convert into fruitful fields, and these farms are each occupied by their descendants. Thomas and Archibald both served as soldiers in the War of 1812, in Colonel Hayes' regiment.
Thomas McFarland was born September 24, 1785, and died October 27, 1862, at the age of seventy-seven. He married first Martha Fell, and second Mrs. Agnes McKnight. Their children were Nathan, Robert, Smith, George, Cynthia, Thomas F., Phebe, and Amelia.
Thomas F,, son of Thomas and Agnes McFarland, was horn April 13, 1828, and married first, Parthenia Leslie, who died September 23, 1871; and second, Alice B. Brockway. Their children were Wright D., born February 17, 1854, and married Rosie Wallahan; Julia M., born September 17, 1855, wife of Scot Bates; Mary Florence, born July 2, 1857, died August 9, 1871; Selma A., born June 22, 5859, wife of Wright Banning; Bertha, born May 31, 1864; and Agnes Jane, born June 15, 1873.
John McFarland, youngest son of Robert and Martha McFarland, married Esther Fell. Their children were Mary, Archibald, Thomas W., Eliza, Harriet, and Lucinda. He died in 1857, at the age of sixty-five.
Thomas W. McFarland, son of John and Esther McFarland, married Olive Brockway, and resides at the old ancestral homestead of the family, where Robert McFarland first settled nearly eighty years ago. The family of McFarland includes some of the most thrifty and enterprising citizens of the township.
KEPNER FAMILY.
John Kepner, the pioneer settler of the southeastern portion of the township of Hartford, and the ancestor of all the Kepners in this vicinity, was born October 7, 1784, in Cumberland, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. In 1805 he made his first journey to Ohio on foot, and immediately purchased a tract of six hundred and thirty-six acres of land, being lot nine in the township of Hartford. He brought the gold and silver coin to pay for the same, in two small, homemade linen bags. He soon made a small clearing and erected a log cabin which was burned. This accident was occasioned by Indian frres running in the woods. After this he returned home and spent the winter, but returning in the spring of 1806 he built a second log house, in which for a time greased paper performed the office of glass in the windows. A second time he returned home for the winter and married Elizabeth Dubs, who was born in Cumberland September 4, 1785.
Early in the spring of 1807 they emigrated to their new home in the forest, coming with large Pennsylvania covered wagons over the Alle-
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 283
gheny mountains, camping out wherever night found them, and arrived at their new home in time to put in spring crops. Content and pr0sperity took up their abode with them, and on this farm they lived and died. Their children were: John, born February 15, 1808, and married Lucinda Hull; Sallie, born September 2, 1809, married John Carnes; Benjamin, born August 9, 1811, and died in infancy; Jane, born March 13, 1813, married Eli Myers; Mary, born May 22, 1815, and married Alex. Spencer; Jacob, born June 12, 1818, married Eliza Parsons, and then Mary McKnight; Catharine, born March 18, 1821, and married Charles Banning; Elizabeth, born March 7, 1823, and married John VanGorder; David, born May 23, 1825, and married first Mary Bates, second Laura Simons; Ruhama, born June 0, 1827, and married John Bates; Henry, born May 23, 1825, and married Adaline Lynch.
The father of this large family, as faithful to his country as to his children, served in the War of 1812, in Colonel Hayes' regiment. In the spring of 1833, while assisting to re-roof his barn, he fell and received fatal injuries from which he died March l0th. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. She was a woman of uncommon executive ability, and after her husband's death faithfully performed her duty to the large family thus left in her care. She lived to see them all married, and in he1 last days resided with her youngest son on a portion of the original estate, and died July 6, 1862, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.
John Kepner, the eldest son of the pioneer, settled on a portion of the original property. His son Lucious, Lorenzo, and Luzerne each have homes and reside on the original Kepner farm.
Jacob, second son of the pioneer, resides on the farm, and in the house formerly occupied by the pioneer, Asahel Brainard, on lot eighteen. He married, first, Eliza Parsons, who died soon, leaving one son-Allen Parsons Kepner. He then married Mary McKnight, and their children are Thomas Eugene, Linda, Florence, Frankie, Emory, Adell, Maud, and Frederick.
David Kepner is a resident of the northwestern part of the township.
Henry, youngest son of John and Elizabeth Kepner, also retains a portion of the original estate, and his 1esidence stands near the home where his pioneer parents resided. He married Adaline Lynch March 22, 1859. Their children are Sanford H., William L., and John H.
These Kepner brothers, sons of the pioneer, are all industrious and wealthy farmers and respected citizens of the township.
FOWLER FAMILY.
The first settler in the township of Fowler was Abner Fowler, formerly a resident of Southwick, Massachusetts. He was a brother of the proprietor of the township, Hon. Samuel Fowler, of Westfield, Massachusetts, for which place the township was first named; this name afterwards being changed in honor of the proprietor to the name it now bears. In 1798 he came to the township in the employ of his brother as surveyor of his western lands ; finally located and remained till death, February 18, 1806, his death being the first in the township. Abner Fowler, Jr., born July 25, 1782, married Miss Esther Jennings, August 18, 1807, in Fowler. She was from Fairfield, Connecticut, and a descendant of the Rev. Peter Bulkley, who came to America in 1635. Their children were Julia, who married Thomas J. Collins; Ira, Sarah, Abner, Harvey, James, and Rhoda, who married Daniel Parsons, Mr. Fowler remained in Fowler till 1816, when he changed his location to Brookfield, where he resided till his death April 23, 1843. He was a very intelligent farmer, a man of the utmost integrity, and of high Christian character. He was identified with the Methodist church in Fowler at its first organization, also, after his removal, wrth the Brookfield church.
In politics he was a Whig till the formation of the Liberty party, when he took his stand on the side of humanity, and was one of the first five voters of that party in Brookfield. His son Ira Fowler, born in Fowler township, January 21, 1810, married Miss Sarah Ann Williams, May 6, 1840, and settled on lot twenty-three, on the south line of Hartford township, where he now resides. She died May 15, 1841, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. Fowler was again married, to Miss Lovina Wheeler, and they have one son, Harvey, James Fowler, born February 1, 1820, mar-
284 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
ried Miss Lucina Miner ; their children are Esther L., Addison J., Dwight A., Albert R., James C., Sicily, and Ida.
These Fowler brothers, sons of Abner Fowler, Jr., are both residents of Hartford; intelligent farmers, courteous, worthy Christian gentlemen, and highly respected citizens, in whom the virtues of their ancestors are perpetuated, Ira Fowler and family being connected with and among the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal church near his place, and Mr. James Fowler long having been an elder in the Disciple church at Hartford center.
The Fowler family have a long line of ancestors in America, the first of which, William Fowler, was one of the company which came from London with Rev. John Davenport, Governor Eaton, and others, and arrived in Boston June 26, 1637, and settled in New Haven in 1638. He was a prisoner in Bridewell, England, with other Puritans in 1592. He was at the famous meeting in Mr. Newman's barn in New Haven, where the peculiar constitution and policy of Mr. Davenport, which afterwards characterized the New Haven colony, was agreed upon, and Mr. Fowler subscribed to that agreement. In 1639 he was elected one of the " seven pillars " of the church of Milford, Rev. Peter Pruden pastor. He was elected magistrate yearly till 1654.
GEORGE SNYDER, SR.
George Snyder, Sr., was born March 9, 1799, in Mahatonca, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. His father, Thomas Snyder, dying when he was about four years of age, he was raised by his maternal grandfather, John Kepner, till he -was fourteen years of age, when he went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker. Although in a school-room but three days in his life, he acquired a fair education. He came on foot to Hartford, Ohio, in 1817, and purchased seventy acres of land of his uncle, John Kepner, in lot nine, near Messersmith's corners, for the consideration of $300, on which he immediately built a house. When he was only nineteen years of age he married Elizabeth Carnes, daughter of Godfrey Carnes, a Revolutionary soldier and pioneer of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Here he erected a shop, and was the first cabinet-maker in the township; also working at the carpenter business part of the time for some years. Their children, all born on thrs farm, were Mary, Margaret, Jane, Ruhama, James, A. C., Uriah, and George W.
In October, 1835, he purchased an addition of two hundred and thirty-seven acres of land lying cast of his original purchase, for the consideration of $1,513. On this land he erected a saw-mill, which was run by water for twenty years, when he purchased an engine and run the mrll by steam till 1858, when he sold the mill and seventy-nine acres of this land to his son James, and the remainder of this tract to his sons, Uriah and Cornelius Snyder, and in 1861 sold his old h0me of seventy acres, where he first settled, to Benjamin Messersmith, and 1emoved to the center of the township, purchasing the store and property formerly owned by G. L. Woodford, where he resided for a time, and carried on a grocery store. This property he sold to Dr. Daniel Artherh0lt, and removed to Brookfield township, where he resided for a time, but being afflicted with paralysis he sold his Brookfield property to his son George, spending the remainder of his days with his children, dying March 8, 1880, aged eighty- one years. Mrs. Snyder was born in 1795, and died June 6, 1859, aged sixty-four years.
George W. Snyder, the youngest son, was born in 1839. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and attended district school till he had reached the age of eighteen years. He then spent three years in Hartford academy, and one term in Folsom's Commercial college, Cleveland. He began the study of law 1n Hartford, in the office of L. C. Jones, now of Warren. He enlisted unde1 the first call for volunteers, in 1861, being the first man in Hartford to offer his serices, but the quota having been filled, he, like many others, was discharged without being mustered in. In 1862 he again enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served with that 1egiment four months. In 1867 Mr. Snyder was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Orangeville, He has been elected mayor of the village five successive times, and since 1879 has been postmaster. Though his whole family belonged to the Democratic party, Mr. Snyder, in 1860, cast his first vote for Lincoln, and has been an active Republican ever
PICTURE OF G. W. SNYDER
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 285
since. He has been a member of every county convention and several State conventions since attaining his majority. He married, in 1871, Julia A. Wilson, daughter of Nathaniel Wilson, of Orangeville. Their family consists of three children, Sharlie L., Blaine Carlisle, and Vera E.
DR. R. M. BEEBE.
Robert McEwen Beebe was born in Winchester, Connecticut, April 28, 1811. His parents were James Beebe, a prominent citizen of Litchfield county, Connecticut, five times a member of the Legislature of that State, and Abi Mc- Ewen Beebe, a sister of the Rev. Dr. Abel Mc- Ewen, of New London, Connecticut.
He was a member of Yale college class 0f 1835, but did not finish his course for want of means. Soon after leaving he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Benjamin Welch, Jr., in Norfolk, and continued his medical studies in Yale and Berkshire Medical schools, graduating from the latter in the class of 1836-37. In 1837 he married Miss Huldah Case, of Norfolk, and in 1838 removed to Hartford. Here he entered immediately on a large and successful practice of medicine, which he continued till his death, November 16, 1864. Few physicians ever enjoyed more of the love and confidence of the community where they lived, or have been more deeply mourned in their death.
The following is taken from a letter written by Hon. L. C. Jones, who was a resident in Hartford at the time Dr. Beebe came to the township, subsequently was a student in his office, and continued to live in the place till 1862: Professionally Dr. Beebe almost at once took rank among the first physicians in the vicinity. Among his brethren his thorough scholarship and learning in his profession, his urbanity and courtesy, rapidly won for him their good will and high esteem. They soon learned to know that his judgment and conclusions in critical cases of disease were of the highest value, and as a necessary consequence he was oftener called in consultation than any other physician in this part of the county.
As a citizen he was active and zealous in all matters of public interest, and always, notwithstanding the great demands upon his time by his large practice, took a leading part in civil and political affairs.
Among the most marked traits in his character were his liberality and self-sacrificing labors to the poor. The needed relief, both professional and pecuniary, was prompt and. ready, cheerful, and without evasion or excuse.
To his self-sacrificing labors in his profession may be attributed in a great degree his early death. He died in the height of his usefulness, in the prime of his life, with the harness on, leaving behind him a reputation for honor, integrity, professional skill, second to none in the county of his residence, which is remembered by none better than the writer, to whom he was the valued friend and counsellor, the sincere and constant friend."
He left a family of four children, one of whom, Robert, follows his father's profession, and resides in Cleveland. Lizzie G. (Mrs. J. Jones) was a poetess of considerable local reputation.
SULLIVAN HUTCHINS
is the second son of Hiram and Eliza (Lane) Hutchins, and grandson of Samuel Hutchins, who was one of the pioneers of Vienna township. Samuel Hutchins was born in Bolton, Connecticut, August 30, 1777, and was raised by Colonel Holmes, the original proprietor of Vienna and Hartford townships, in Hartland, Connecticut. He came to Vienna with Uriah Holmes, Jr., and his company of surveyors in 1798, and for his assistance in surveying Mr. Holmes gave him his choice of a farm in Vienna, which farm was located in lot four in that township. He married Miss Freelove Flower in January, 1803. They ale said to have been the first couple married in Vienna. She and her half sister were the first white women to arrive at this new settlement. The teams with which the family came not being able on account of bad roads to proceed farther than Youngstown, they continued the journey on foot alone through the unbroken wilderness to Vienna settlement to procure assistance, and, strange to say, arrived safely and were received with great ast0nishment and pleasure.
Samuel and Freelove Hutchins' children were: Hiram, born March 24, 1804, who married Eliza Lane; Aurora Amoret, wife of Richard Treat; Mary Amney, wife of Augustus Fuller; John, married Rhoda Andrews and was Representative in Congress from 1859 to 1863; Serena, wife of Augustus M. Reed; Urial H., married Emily Bennett; Lucia, wife of L. Cotton, who died and she again married Norman Andrews; and Betsey, wife of Larman B. Lane, who went as missionary to Siam.
Hiram and Eliza (Lane) Hutchins first settled in Vienna and afterwards removed to Vernon,
286 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Their children who lived to maturity were : Sulivan, Lovisa, John L., and Elmer.
Sullivan Hutchins was born in Vienna February 6, 1834, and married, first, Hannah Akins, of Vernon, April 6, 1859. She died April 7, 1875, and left one child, Hiram Howard, born August 10, 1874, died August 8, 1875. Mr. Hutchins was again married, to Martha Bushnell, of Johnson, Ohio, May 0, 1876. They have Grace Adel, born June 18, 1877. Mr. Hutchins is the only descendant of Samuel Hutchins bearing the name residing in Trumbull county.
WILLIS REEDER.
Willis Reeder was born in Brookfield, Ohio, October 28, 1830, and was the son of Washington and Caroline (Mattocks) Reeder, and grandson of Benjamin Reeder, who came from Geneva, Cayuga county, New York, and settled on lot twenty-nine, in Hartford, July 9, 1817. When he was a boy of thirteen he found employment on the Erie extension canal. In 1845 the family removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and soon he secured a situation on a flat-boat as cook ; subsequently he became a pilot on a coal boat, and continued on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in that capacity until the outbreak of the Rebellion, when the business becoming unsafe it was discontinued and coal was transported by steamers. In 1862 he became a licensed steamboat pilot running between Pittsburg and New Orleans, and during the last three years of the war of the Rebellion was engaged in the transportation service. After the close of the war he took command of a tow-boat until failing health caused him to retire from river life, and in 1871 he settled on lot forty-three, in Hartford, where he now resides. He married Maryett Bartholomew August 8, 1854, who was a descendant of Seth Bartholomew, one of the pioneers of Vienna township. Their children are Charlie Willis, Ruby Ann, and Frank Carlyle. Mr. Reeder has served two terms as trustee of the township, and three years as justice of the peace. He is a member of Jerusalem lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, also a member of Mahoning chapter No. 66, Royal Arch Masons. The first ancestor of this family in America, Joseph Reeder, came from London, England, and settled on Long Island some time previous to 1700, and according to tradition in the family his wife was sister to William of Orange, who superseded James II. on the throne of England. Their sons were Joseph, Benjamin, and William. Joseph settled in New Jersey, and his son Jacob settled in Pennsylvania, and his eldest son, Benjamin, who was born May 15, 1769, with his family settled in Ohio. Thus families follow the " star of empire " westward.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Peter Carlton was born in Liberty township, October 28, 1821. He is a grandson of Francis Carlton, a Revolutionary soldier, who emrgrated from New Jersey in 1799, and was one of the first settlers of Warren, Ohio, and son of Peter Carl. ton, a soldier of the War of 1812, who was one of the boys present at Salt Springs when Captain George was killed by McMahon, July 20, 1800. Peter Carlton, Jr., married Miss Catherine Caulfield, of Brookfield, in 1850, and removed to Hart- ford in 1857, and settled in the south part of the township, on lot twenty-nine, on the farm where he has since resided. Their children are Mary B., Lizzie A., Jennie D., John B., and Bertha. Mr. Carlton is a much respected citizen and a peaceable, industrious farmer. He was elected justice of the peace in 1866, and has been successively re-elected four times, holding the office fifteen years. Although he is an active worker in the Republican party he has had the support of all parties. He has considerable reputation as a juror, often having served as grand, common pleas, and United States juror. He was one of the corporators of the Harvard Academic instrtute. He was the only man in the township who attended the inauguration of President Garfield in 1881. He now holds the office of notary public. William Hull emigrated from Hartland, Connecticut, to Ohio in 1805, and first settled in Vernon, where the family resided till 1821, when they removed to Hartford, and in 1831 located at Burg Hill, on the farm now owned by his son Osman. He married Annie Hyde in Hartland, Connecticut, September 18, 1802. Their children were Harriet, wife of Elisha Beman, of Gustavus; Horace; Clarissa, wife of Alexander Morris; William, John, and Emeline, wife of
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 287
Simeon C. Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Hull were members of the Congregational church, and during their life most worthy citizens. They lived to a good old age, he dying November 30, 1857, at the age of seventy-eight years, and she living till July 11, 1874, reaching the advanced age of ninety-five years and eight months. Osman Hull retains the old home, and is now an enterprising and prosperous farmer, in early life, however, having been a mechanic. He married Miss Lorinda Roper, of Braceville, April 22, 1841. They are both earnest Christran workers in the temperance cause. Their sons are Ransom and Brunell. Mr. Hull is in politics a Republican.
Norman E. Austin was born in Goshen, Connecticut, February 20, 1812. In the year 1815 his father, Russel Austin, removed to Geneseo, New York, where Norman's early life was spent. In 1836 Norman E. Austin came to this county and purchased of John Kinsman the farm near Orangeville, which still bears his name. He married Mary C. Hamilton December 24, 1839, and in 1846 came to Hartford to make a permanent home. He brought with him a superior flock of fine-wool sheep, and in 1848 brought the Morgan horse Bulrush. During his life he was a prominent and successful farmer. He served as county commissioner, and at the time of his death was deacon of the Hartford Congregational church. His only child, Lizzie M., married Willard C. Hull, who now occupies the Austin farm. She died June 14, 1862; Norman E. Austin died April 10, 1870. His wife, Mary (Hamilton) Austin, continued to reside on the farm with her son-in-law till her death in the spring of 1881.
Arial Chapman was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1800, and was of English descent. His early home was at Cooperstown, New York, but at fourteen years of age he went to Busti, Chautauqua county, in the same State. Here he learned the trade of a tanner, and also married Miss Mary Derendorf, who was born in Columbia, Herkimer county, New York, and was of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1826, settling at Burg Hill in Hartford. Here Mr. Chapman carried on the tanning business for many years. In later life, however, he was engaged in agriculture, and resided at the same place till his death; and here Mrs. Chapman continued to reside till 1881, when she died at the age of seventy-nine. They were highly esteemed in the vicinity, and will long be remembered. Their children were Dwight R., Margaret, Charlotte, and one adopted son, Albert Reed. Dwight R. was born June 13, 1827, and married Maria, only daughter of William Bond, December 9, 1849. They have one son, Frederick H. Chapman, and five daughters—Louisa, wife of James Morrow; Kate, Lizzie, Lucy, and Blanche. D. R. Chapman occupies the farm where the first clearing was made in the township of Hartford, in 1799.
Charles Hull was a native of the State of New York, and with his younger brother, Richard Hull, came to Orangeville in 1834 and engaged in business as clothiers, which they followed for some length of time. Charles Hull was born September 17, 1805, and married Miss Jane Ann Chapin January 20, 1835. She was born September 10, 1814. They were active members of the Baptist church in Orangeville during their lives, and much respected citizens of the township of Hartford. Their children were Willard C., George, and Emogene. In the later years of Mr. Hull's life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died on his farm in Hartford, a little south of the village of Orangeville, April 30, 1863. Mrs. Hull died in Orangeville, June 11, 1872.
William Bond was a resident of Hartford over forty years, a worthy farmer, who left behind him a reputation for probity, uprightness, and honor. He was born in Sandersfield, Massachusetts, September 22, 1793. His father's family removed to Avon, New York, where he married Miss Lucy Cook, November 27, 1823. She was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, January 28, 1800. They had but one daughter, Maria, wife of D. R. Chapman. They removed to Hartford, Ohio, in 1833, settling on the farm east of Burg Hill, where they resided the remainder of their lives. She died January 18, 1873, and Mr. Bond died January 2, 1874.
Among the citizens of the township of Hartford are a number of the descendants of John Fitch, the inventor. His wife died here in 1813. To him belongs the honor of having constructed the first steamboat. Twenty years before the great experiment of Fulton and Livingston, on the Hudson, a steamboat was constructed and
288 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
put in operation in Philadelphia, under his sole direction, and was found to go at the rate of eight miles an hour. He was considered, in his day, as quite visionary, and being a poor man found it difficult to command the means to make his experiments. Had his means been equal to the accomplishment of his designs, there can be no doubt that he would now hold undisputed the honor of having given to the country this most noble and useful invention. He at last became discouraged and disheartened, and ended his days by suicide in 1798, and lies buried at Bardstown, Kentucky. This unhappy man, weary of the world and disappointed in all his expectations, still most honestly believed in the correctness of the darling dream of his life, and expressed a wish to be buried on the banks of the Ohio, where the sound of the steam engine would, in future years, send its echoes abroad. For years there was nothing to mark his grave. Some pains has been taken to identify it, and a rough, unhewn, unlettered stone placed upon it as a memorial. For genius and misfortune, neglected in life and unhonored in death, it is perhaps a more fitting monument than any storied urn which might be placed over his last resting-place. Let honor be given to whom honor is due. Justice to his memory demands that his name be recorded as the successful inventor of steamboats, he having demonstrated their practicability by his experiments beyond the power of denial.
James D. Burnett is a grandson of William Burnett, one of the pioneers of Hubbard township, and son of Benjamin Burnett, who settled in Hartford, in 1844, on the farm one mile south of Orangeville, where he died. Benjamin Burnett was the father of eleven children, seven of whom lived to maturity, and are all, except one son, residents of Trumbull county. James D. Burnett was a soldier of the war of 1861, and was the first man in the township to enlist for the three years service, his name being enrolled May 27, 1861, in company F, Twenty-fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and honorably discharged June 18, 1864. ' He served in the Army of the Cumberland; was at Shiloh, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and many small engagements, being under fire thirty-four days while in the service. After the war (June 21, 18660 he mar ried Eliza Jones, daughter of William C. Jones
Giles M. Hayes is a prosperous, enterprising young farmer, residing on lot forty near the east line of the township of Hartford; here he located about 1875, and married Miss Emma Barnhart. He is a son of Almon Hayes and grandson of Elias Hayes, late of Harrison county, Ohio, and on his mother's side a descendant of Wilcox Akins, one of the pioneers of Vernon, who came from Norwalk, Connecticut, about 1810.