300 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE under three times by a drowning man who had him by the leg, but he finally kicked him off. "We buried eighty-seven in one grave. There have been a good many things said about the grave being opened and robbed, but Henry M. Mosher says the statement is untrue. The grave was on his father's farm. I have always thought that when we buried those bodies we buried a lot of money. in the petticoats of the women.. "There is but one man living who was there with me when the boat burned. His name is D. Carver. He lives near Little Mountain. I was fishing at the time, and we were just going to ship the net when the boat passed us and we saw it afire. I told the men with me not to ship the net, as the boat would turn to shore inside of ten minutes ; and I was right, for it started inside of ten minutes. "About 9 o'clock thieves from Cleveland began to arrive and began to loot. The wreck-master, Mr. Coleridge, had his house full of people. We brought out a girl who had a pair of solid gold earrings. A thief stepped up and tried to pull them out of her ears. Mr. Coleridge struck him over the head with a cane and he left soon. "There has been quite a little said about the distance from the shore to the bar. It was just forty rods to where the boat foundered. I know, because my seine lines were just forty rods long and just reached the bar. I was fishing for sturgeon. They used to lay on the bar. Four years after the boat burned I was there and saw the hull. It was there a number of years after that. "I will tell you now of the most heroic thing that happened at the burning. With the wheel-house afire, the wheelsman stood there undaunted. The mate asked him if he could hold her until she struck. He said he could try, and he did, and when the boat struck the bar the wheel-house flew into a thousand pieces. The wheelsman jumped overboard and went to the bottom, never to rise again. When we brought-his body to shore he was literally cooked. You could not touch him without the skin sticking to your fingers. "It is amusing to me now to see the hundreds of people who were there in the afternoon and hear them tell what they would have done, if they had been on the boat. I don't think they would have done any better. In conclusion, I will say that I never saw such a sight and hope I will never see another. This is a true story of the burning of the `Griffith,' as I saw it fifty-eight years ago. "WILLIAM MELTON." STORIES OF EARLY MENTOR. It is related of Ebenezer Merry, who came to Mentor in 1798, that, like most pioneers, he had only one pair of shoes. "He was very careful of them and covered them with grease to save them. A wolf liked the grease and carried off. the shoes, and Mr. Merry was obliged to go barefoot all the summer. So hard had his soles become by fall that he could stamp chestnuts out of the burrs without feeling any pain. In the fall he sold his crops, walked to Erie, bought another pair and went on into New York state to hunt a .wife. Of course, he was successful in the chase." One of the pioneer mothers of Mentor, who had -five boys and four girls, became discouraged at the way boys wore out their clothes. She therefore made their trousers of tanned deerskins. In the chapter of Mentor in "Pioneer Women" we read : "When these (the breeches) were wet from rain, it made them very stiff and in turn the boys sat upon the grindstone while the others turned the crank. This process had the effect of softening the leather, although it helped very seriously to wear out the garment." MENTOR AND "LAWNFIELD." Mentor is a pretty hamlet of about 500 or boo people, six miles west of Painesville, but HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE- 301 is chiefly noted because not far away is the beautiful Garfield home, known- as Lawnfield. It is located a short distance from the post-office of West Mentor, nearly opposite what is known as "Stop 55" on the electric line. Since the lamented death of President Garfield, the estate has been several times divided and all that remains in possession of the widow is the spacious and beautiful residence and the immediate grounds. The portion of the property which was devoted to agricultural and live stock purposesabout 160 acres north of the railroad—is now owned by W. P. Murray, of Cleveland, who purchased it in 1908. To the east of the homestead is the property in possession of Harry A. Garfield, the eldest of the sons. This amounts .to about seventy-five acres. James Garfield, another son, resides to the west, and at least once yearly the widow of President Garfield, her children and grandchildren, meet at Lawnfield for a general family reunion. Mrs. Garfield's health failed a few years ago and she took up a home in Pasadena, where her daughter, Mrs. Stanley Brown, lives. The Lawnfield farm, as it was called, was purchased by Mr. Garfield about 1877, his idea being to eventually operate a model stock farm. The house was originally but one and one-half stories high, but in 1880, the year before his death, a story and a large piazza were added. In 1885 Mrs. Garfield added to the modest frame house of her husband a Queen Anne structure of stone ; but the old house in which the President lived, and which he so loved, still remains the center of general interest and affection. There are probably thirty rooms in both the old and new houses, and they are all furnished with considerable elegance. The main entrance is through the old house. In the hall facing the door is an old wall clock, while to the left and right are what were formerly a smoking room and parlor. Bibles and other books are upon the tables, and the furniture is much the same as when the family left for Washington, just before President Garfield's death. One of the most modest of the rooms is that once occupied by the mother of Garfield, now deceased and lying with him in that grand mausoleum in Lake View cemetery, Cleveland. Half a dozen portraits of the former president hang upon the walls, one of them representing him as a young man in 1852; another, an oil painting, was made in 1862 upon his return from the war. But perhaps the most precious relic treasured by Mrs. Garfield and her family is the letter which the president wrote to his beloved mother while upon his death bed: It is worded thus : "Washington, Aug. 11, 1881. "Dear Mother : Do not be disturbed by conflicting reports o,f my condition. It is true I am still weak, but am gaining every day, and need only time and patience to bring me through. Give my love to all the friends and relatives, and especially Aunt Hetty. "Your loving son, "JAMES A. GARFIELD." KIRTLAND'S FIRST SETTLERS. Joshua Stowe, who had charge of the commissary department of the Moses Cleaveland party, owned land in Kirtland, which, by the way, was named for the Kirtland family, which settled in Poland and was so prominent in the early history of the Reserve. In 1811 Christopher Crary came out to take charge of the Stowe property. He brought his surveying instruments and, incidentally, his wife and nine children. He settled at a place first called Crary Corners, and later Peck's Corners. The Chillicothe road ran by this land. Mrs. Crary was "a tip top manager." She must have been to have raised her family, even after some of them were married. One of her daughters, an early Lake county school teacher, when coming from her school, encountered a bear. She saved her life by frightening him with her umbrella. Before the author began writing this his- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 303 tory, if she had been going into a bear country, she would have armed herself with all sorts of deadly weapons. Now, however, she would simply carry her umbrella and a box of berries. Possibly, she would substitute honey for berries, if the trip in the bear-belt was to be long. Kirtland in the early day had more than its share of children. The same year Christopher Crary and his brood arrived Mr. and Mrs. Barzillia Millard brought fourteen. A few years later came David and Mary Howe, with eleven. This Mary mother was a regular church attendant, and rode her horse with one child in front and usually two behind. The quiet little hamlet of Kirtland is situated away from all the bustle of railway travel, being almost midway between West Mentor and Willoughby, a few miles to the south. The east branch of the Chagrin river runs through it. Prior to the general exodus of the Mormons from this locality in 1837-8, their famous temple was the center of a population of the Faithful, numbering about 4,000, and all around it clustered substantial dwellings and business houses. It was here that the Saints took their first decided stand, commencing the erection of their temple in 1832 and completing it in 1835. The great exodus of the Mormons occurred in 1837-8, seven hundred leaving in one day. For many years afterward their temple fell into disuse and decay, but in 1878 the title to the property was decided by judicial authority to rest with the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," a powerful branch of the original organization which has always been opposed to the institution of polygamy. The temple is still in possession of this branch of the church. The local organization of the present is composed of members whose morality and industry are beyond question, and they constitute an esteemed and a valuable element in the community. (For an authentic and official history of the establishment of the Church of Latter Day Saints at Kirtland the reader is referred to the general history.) The Temple of today is a massive structure of rough bluestone, plastered over with cement and marked in imitation of regular courses of masonry. It covers an area of 6o by 8o feet and is surmounted by a belfry or cupola. Over 3,000 small windows admit the light to the spacious interior. In front, over the largest window, is .a tablet bearing the inscription, "House of the Lord, built by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, A. D. 1834." The temple is practically a three-story structure, and, being located on a high plateau, can be seen from some directions, several miles away. The first and second stories are divided into two grand rooms for public worship, while the attic is partitioned off into twelve small apartments. At each end of the lower rooms is a set of pulpits, four in number, rising . behind each other. Each pulpit is arranged to accommodate three persons, so that when they are full, twelve persons occupy each seat, or twenty-four in all—to accommodate Melchesidek and Aaronic priesthoods. These pulpits were originally designed for the officers of the Priesthood. The temple, from its base to the top of the spire, is 142 feet. Besides the temple, Kirtland also has another building which is of historic interest—that which witnessed the birth of Joseph Smith, Jr., on November 6, 1832. Since 1860 he has been president of the Rebrganized Church, whose headquarters are at Independence, Missouri. The house in which he was born at Kirtland, for many years has been occupied as a general store. WESTERN RESERVE TEACHERS' SEMINARY. B. A. Hinsdale, an authority on education in the Reserve, says : "As public schools increased in number and improved in quality, the academies began to lose ground. Wholly dependent, as a rule, on tuition charges for existence, they could not compete with free schools of equal grade. The law of 1853 gave them the finishing stroke—some of the build- 304 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ings were sold to the boards of education and many of the teachers entered the public schools ; some of the old schools struggled bravely for existence, but in time nearly all, if not indeed all, of them passed into history. There are two reasons for mentioning another celebrated institution which will appear in the sequel. "The Western Reserve Teacher's Seminary opened its doors to the public in September, 1839, being established in the upper stories of the Temple at. Kirtland, ,which the Mormons had abandoned a short time before when they SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME, MADISON. left the 'First State' for the far West. The seminary existed about twenty years, and for much of the time was a flourishing school. It drew to itself, as teachers and students, a number of persons who made a name in the world. Its foundation was mainly due to the efforts of the Rev. Nelson Slater, who served as first superintendent or principal. F. W. Harvey came from a printing office, at Painesville, and M. D. Leggett from the farm in Montville to study at Kirtland. Leggett was also employed for a. time as one of the teachers. The other fact for which the seminary is noteworthy is the great attention it paid to the preparation of teachers of both sexes for the common schools. In this respect it far surpassed any school on the Reserve that had gone before it and, relatively speaking, it has perhaps not been equaled by any school that has succeeded it. It was founded only two years after the first normal school in the United States was established at Lexington, Massachusetts." THE VILLAGE OF MADISON. The village of Madison, eleven miles east of Painesville, is on the old stage route from Cleveland to Buffalo and on the present line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern. It is the largest township on the Western Reserve. The Gazetteer of 1837 says of Madison : "Madison, an agricultural post town, in the northeastern corner of Geauga county, contains the flourishing village of Unionville, and also the harbor of Cunningham. creek. Large quantities of iron are here manufactured into hollow ware, mill iron and other articles, much of which is exported to the various ports on the lake." The Madison of today has 700 people and is of sufficient importance to support a brisk weekly paper, the Madison Review, which is now in its twelfth year. The finances of the HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 305 place are transacted through the Madison Exchange Bank and among its industries are manufactures of baskets- and automobile' wheels. THE MADISON SEMINARY. Not far from North Madison is the well known institute known as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. This building occupies the site of the old Madison Seminary, which was established about 1845, largely through the efforts and donations of the Genung family. For nearly forty years the seminary was one of the best known educational institutes in this part of the Western Reserve. During the first ten years of its existence it was under the control of male teachers, but in 1857 two ladies, Miss Smith, a graduate of Ingham, and Miss Chadwick, of Willoughby College, were duly installed. In 1859 the new seminary buildings, including a boarding hall, were completed, and under the new order of things C. H. Cavatt became principal, with Miss Chadwick as assistant. Under the management of Prof. W. N. Wright the school rapidly increased in attendance and efficiency, and at one time had reached an enrollment of 150 pupils, one-half of whom were boarders. SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME. The Madison Seminary continued as an institute of learning until about 1884 and in 1888 the buildings and grounds were donated to the National Woman's Relief Corps. Soon afterwards it was transferred into a home for Ohio soldiers and sailors, with their dependent relatives. Through the efforts of Hon. E. J. Clapp, a representative in the Ohio Legislature, the state donated $25,000 for its establishment, and a good brick building was erected. This has since been improved and added to, the home being under the management of General W. M. Weber. Its purposes are well indicated by its description, as given in the record of recent state appropriations, viz.: "Home of the Ohio soldiers, sailors, ma- Vol. 1-20 rines ; their wives, mothers, widows and army nurses." The original school building and boarding hall of Madison Seminary are now utilized by C. W. Genung, in the manufacture and storage of various agricultural implements. FAVORED CITIZENS OF LAKE COUNTY. The pleasant duty remains of mentioning several residents of Lake county who were not identified with her material development, or with public affairs in any phase, but earned fame in the fields of art and high thought. THE BEARD BROTHERS. William H. Beard, who died in 1900, was born in Painesville and became famous for his caricatures cif humanity presented through characteristic animals. At the age of twenty-one he began his career in this county as a portrait painter ; visited Europe for purposes of study in 1856, four years afterward settling in New York city, where he was elected an active member of the National Academy. The career of the brother, James H. Beard, was somewhat similar. He was born at Buffalo in 1814, and was brought in his infancy to Painesville, where he spent his boyhood and youth. At sixteen he met in that city a wandering sign and portrait painter, and concluded to try his hand "at the business." For his first important contract, painting a full-length portrait of a gentleman from Ravenna he received ten dollars, his net proceeds being somewhat reduced by the expenditure of $1.25 per week for board at the city hotel. From that time until he was eighteen he was also a wandering artist, with all that name implies. Pittsburg was the first' large city which he ever visited, his journey from that point to Cincinnati being made as a deck-hand on a river boat. Thence he wandered to Louisville, but returned to the Ohio city, where he first posed as a skilled chair painter and afterward made a national reputation as a portrait and animal painter. In 1870 he settled perma- 306 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE nently in New York, one of his daughters and several of his sons, natives of Cincinnati, having since become widely known as illustrators and authors. MRS. BEARD, THE MOTHER. The father of these two men,. James Beard, married Harriet Wolcott, in 1810, and they went to Chicago (Fort Dearborn) on their bridal trip. It is recorded she was the second white woman to visit that locality. In 1823 Mr. and Mrs. Beard moved to Painesville, and the next year Mr. Beard died and Mrs. Beard reared and educated her five children. She was an unusual woman as the lives of her children testify. She lived to be nearly ninety years old. THOMAS W. HARVEY. Thomas W. Harvey, a native of New Hampshire, came to Lake county in 1833, when twelve years of age. By persistency, under most adverse circumstances, he acquired a thorough education and became a dominant force in the development of the public school system of the state. For fourteen years he was superintendent of schools in Massillon, served many years in a similar capacity at Painesville, and for three years was state superintendent of schools. He also furthered the cause of education as an able lecturer as an author of several valuable text books. GEORGE T. LADD, D. D.; LL. D. Dr.. George Trumbull Ladd, professor of philosophy at Yale University since 1881, is one of the most eloquent speakers and profoundest scholars in the county. He is a native, of Painesville, born January 19, 1842, son of Silas T. and Elizabeth (Williams) Ladd. Through his paternal grandmother he is descended from Elder William Brewster and Governor William Bradford. Dr. Ladd graduated from the Western Reserve College in 1864, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1869; and for the succeeding ten years occupied the pulpit of Congregational churches in Edinburg, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was then called to the chair of philosophy of Yale University. Dr. Ladd's lectures on philosophical subjects have made him famous in the new and the old worlds. He is decorated by the emperor of Japan with the order of the Rising Sun, and is accepted as great .by the most profound scholars of the Orient, while his publications compose an impressive list. Lake county has no native son in whom she takes greater pride, because of his Christian character and broad and deep scholarship, than Rev. George Trumbull Ladd, D. D. ; LL. D. CHAPTER XXII. GEAUGA COUNTY. Geauga county, one of the smallest in the state of Ohio, contains only four hundred square miles, and, according to the census of two, it has only 14,744 inhabitants. Lake Erie lies on the north, Ashtabula and the northern part of Trumbull county on the east, Portage on the south, and Cuyahoga on the west. It was named from the Grand Geauga river. In the Indian tongue that stream was called "Sheanga sepe," or Raccoon river. NATURAL FEATURES. It is a rolling and picturesque country, watered by the head streams of the Cuyahoga and Grand rivers and the eastern branches of the Chagrin river. The stream first named, which, translated from the Indian tongue, means "crooked," rises in the northeastern part of the county, flows southerly and, with a sluggish current, enters the Portage river, thence crossing into Summit county, and, in a northerly direction, emptying into the lake at Cleveland. In making this tortuous circuit, the Cuyahoga flows through a course of more than one hundred miles. The headwaters of the Chagrin rise in Munson and Claridon townships, furnishing fishermen with quite an abundance of speckled brook trout, so uncommon in the state of Ohio. The county is virtually a succession of highlands and valleys and in the latter lie many beautiful little lakes, such as Geauga, in Bainbridge township, Crystal lake in Newburg township, Bass lake in Munson; and Aquilla lake in Claridon township. Around the shores of several of these pretty little bodies of water have been built cottages and boathouses, so that the county as a whole has become quite a favorite resort for summer tourists from Cleveland and the adjoining country. The second highest point of land in the Western Reserve is at Claridon, this county—1,366 feet above sea level—and there are places in almost every township where the land rises to a height of over six hundred feet above the level of the lake. The leading ridge, or table-land, from which the Cuyahoga, Grand and Chagrin rivers flow, is generally in the northern part of the county. On the river bottoms grow large elms, white maple, black ash, swamp oak and birch, this being particularly true of the Cuyahoga and its tributaries. The soil of these river bottoms is generally rich muck, sometimes many feet deep. In the early days of the county the uplands were timbered with birch, maple, chestnut, oak, white ash, hickory, black walnut and wild cherry, and there are still considerable tracts of land which are clothed with these varieties of wood. MAPLE SUGAR AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. Geauga county ismaple valued for its abundant production of sugar and all dairy products. In 1866 there were manufactured in Geauga 5,112,537 pounds of cheese and 529,099 pounds of butter, which constituted - 307 - 308 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE the greatest dairy product in an equal extent of territory in the. United States. As from the nature of the country the land is especially adapted to the support of milch cows, it has' always maintained quite an important position in this regard, although it is now far behind many sections in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, and has, on the whole, decreased in its total output of these products. In 1909 the county produced 815,978 pounds of cheese (manufactured, of course, in factories) and 77,990 pounds of butter. It also furnished for family use 1,660.908 gallons of milk. It has declined as a dairy country since 1866. In 1862 a notable change commenced in the manufacture of cheese, the farmers sending their milk to factories, to be worked up on a co-operative system at a given price per pound. Anson Bartlett, of Munson, was the first to suggest and the most active to introduce the change, In that year Mr. Bartlett, with Arnold D. Hall, Burton Armstrong, Elnathan Chase and several others, visited Rome in Oneida county, New York, to study the eastern process and learn the secrets which had brought the Oneida dairies into such high standing. Messrs. Bartlett, Hall,' and. Parker soon afterwards built a factory at Chardon, which was virtually the commencement of the present-day system of cheese-making in Geauga county. In 1876 the first oleomargarine cheese was manufactured at that point by E. G. Ellis, agent of the American Dairy and Commercial Company of New York, which was ever produced in the state. MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR AND SYRUP. As a maple sugar and syrup producer, Geauga county retains its old time supremacy, there being no county of equal area in the Union which surpasses it in this regard. In 1885 the entire amount of sugar produced in the United States was 2,000,000 pounds, of which this county produced 631,O00 pounds. The general condition of the industry and the methods of producing both sugar and syrup in those days is thus described by Henry C. Taylor, of Burton : "The undulating and somewhat hilly character of Geauga county. seems especially adapted to the growth of the sugar-maple and the production of a large supply of sap. Not only does it make the largest quantity, but also the best quality of maple sweet. From using troughs hollowed (nit of split logs in which to catch the sap and boiling it in big iron kettles in the open air to a thick, black sticky compound of sugar,. ashes and miscellaneous dirt, which had some place in the household economy, but no market value, sugarmakers today use buckets with covers to keep out the rain and dirt, the latest improved evaporators and metal storage tanks, and have good sugar-houses in which the sap is quickly reduced to syrup. All this has been done at a large outlay of money, but the result proves it. to have been a good investment, as the superior article made finds a ready market and brings annually from $80,000 to $100,000. “The season usually opens early in March, when the trees are tapped and a metal spout inserted, from which is suspended the bucket. When the flow of sap begins, it is collected in galvanized iron gathering tanks, hauled to the sugar-house and emptied into the storage vats, from which it is fed by a pipe to the evaporator. The syrup taken from the evaporator is strained, and if sugar is to be made, goes at once into the sugar pan, where it is boiled to the proper degree, and caked in pound and one-half cakes. If syrup is to be made, it is allowed to cool, and is then reheated and cooled again to precipitate the silica. It is then drawn off into cans and is ready for market. "The greatest care and cleanliness is required to make the highest grade of sugar and syrup, and the fragrant maple flavor is only preserved by converting the sap into sugar or syrup as fast as possible. If the sap stands HISTORY OF WESTERN RESERVE - 309 long in the vats, or is boiled a long time, the flavor is lost and the color becomes dark. "The groves or 'bushes' vary from 300 to. 3,000 trees each, the total number of trees tapped in 1886 being 375,000. The industry is still growing, and there are probably enough groves not yet worked to make a total of 475,- 000, which, if tapped, would increase the output about one-third. The sugar and syrup is mostly sold at home. The principal market is Burton, centrally located, and from there it is shipped to consumers in all parts of the country, the larger proportion going to the western states." A GEAUGA COUNTY SUGAR CAMP. Since the period thus described the. methods manufacturing have not materially changed xcept in the use of more machinery, but the production itself seems to have been more centered in the manufacture of syrups than of sugar. The figures of 1909 indicate that 349 gallons of syrup were produced throughout the county and only 33,109 pounds of sugar. To obtain this tremendous mass of sweets, 657,616 trees were tapped, as against 375,000 in 1886. The latter comparison alone denotes the decided growth of this branch of industry. Its main centers are Burton and Middlefield, one of the largest producers of the county being a resident of the latter place —F. I. Bartholomew, who usually receives the majority of the prime awards at all the Geauga county fairs. As intimated, the county has little standing as an. agricultural. producer, its total area devoted to the standard grains being only 14,435 acres and, of this amount, 14,292 acres are given up to oats. Its status as a live-stock producer is indicated by the following figures, taken from the last reports of the county assessors : Number of cattle in the county, 18,741 ; sheep, 15,701 ; horses, 5,623, and hogs, 5,131. GROWTH IN POPULATION. The advance of the county considered from the standpoint of population is indicated by the following figures, taken from the different national censuses : 1820, 3,919 ; 1830, 7,916 ; 1840, 16,297 ; 1850, 17,827 ; 1860, 15,817 ; 1870, 4,168 ; 1880, 13,251 ; 1890, 13,489 ; 1900, 14,744. 310 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN- RESERVE CIVIC ORGANIZATION. Trumbull county was created by a proclamation of the governor of the Northwest territory on July 10, 1800, and on the 31st of December, 1805; an act was passed creating Geauga county from that county. The legislative act noted took effect on the 1st day of March and the original limits of the county are thus described : "That all that part of the county of Trumbull lying north and east of the line, beginning on the east line of said county, on the line between townships number eight and nine, as known by the survey of said townships, and running west on the same to the west line of range number five; thence south on said west line of range five to the northwest corner of township number five, to the middle of the Cuyahoga river, where the course of the same is northerly ; thence up the middle of said river to the intersection of the north line of township number four ; thence west on the said north line of township number four to the line Of range fourteen, where-ever the same shall run when the county west of the Cuyahoga river shall be surveyed into townships, or tracts of five miles square each ; and thence north to Lake Erie ; shall be, and the same is hereby set off and erected into a new county, by the name of Geauga." The county was organized as a civil body by the establishment of its Court of Common Pleas and the formation of its Board of County Commissioners. These events occurred at New Market, a point between the present towns of Painesville and Fairport. The court of Common Pleas was held on the first Tuesday of March, 1806, the judges present being Aaron Wheeler, John Walworth and Jesse Phelps. Robert B. Parkman was appointed prosecutor for the county and Abraham Tappan, county surveyor. Joel Paine was the first sheriff. On the 6th of June fol lowing occurred the first meeting of the county commissioners. It appears from the records that the business transacted, after the organization of the board, was the offering of the following bounties for wolf and panther skins: For every wolf or panther skin six months old, $1.25, and under six months, 75 cents. As an encouragement to would-be settlers these rates were materially increased within the next four years, namely : Four dollars for animals over six months and two dollars for the young ones. As these "varmin" were then thick in Geauga county, the bounties from their skins proved quite a source of revenue to the early settlers, and for several years also had a good effect in ridding the country of their presence. CHARDON, THE COUNTY SEAT. On June 16, 1810, all that part of the county Tying west of the ninth range was organized into Cuyahoga county, and until the following year the courts were held at New Marke and Champion (now Painesville). In the fall of 1811 the county seat was established at Chardon, then an unbroken forest. The original town site was owned by Peter Chardon Brooks, of Boston, a man of wealth, with an ambition to see his name immortalized in the geography of the new county. He appointed one Samuel W. Phelps as his agent, but it was nearly four years before the first actual settler located on the future site of the town. In 1811, soon after the place was designated as the county seat, Captain Edwin Paine, then of Painesville, with the assistance of Mr. Phelps, cleared most of the dense timber from the public square, and until the following spring this clearing was devoted to the raising of grain and a crop of meadow grass. At that time the son of Captain Paine -settled at Chardon with his family, and erected a large log house near the residence for many years occupied by D. W. Canfield. This structure was utilized both for a court house and a dwelling house until the fall of 1812. At that time Norman Canfield and Captain Paine were the only permanent residents of the place. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 311 FIRST COURT HOUSE. The court house consisted of one room, with. but one door. The floor was laid with wide, rough boards, and the judges of the court of common pleas sat upon a large split log supported by blocks, for a seat, while for a desk the lawyers used. a long cross-legged table belonging to Captain Paine, but kindly loaned by him to the members of the bar. Of course, the witnesses and spectators were obliged to be content with. less luxurious accommodations. When a case Was given to the jury "the twelve good men and true" retired outside and sat upon a large log to deliberate. GEAUGA COUNTY COURT ROUSE (1830-1868). THE SECOND COURT HOUSE. Samuel King, who came to Chardon from Long Meadow, Massachusetts, in July, 1812, was the builder of the second court house. He moved into the old Paine building,. before described, and also occupied it as a residence. But soon after his arrival in the town he set about to provide a more convenient place for the county judges and commissioners, and completed this court house in the fall of 1813, a term of court being held in it soon afterwards. The building was constructed of blocks of hewn timber to the top of the first story and the second story was framed and therefore considered quite ornamental. The court room was above and 'the county jail below. At first the court room was warmed by a huge Franklin, stove brought frOm Painesville, which was considerefromerything which could be desired. This court house was regarded at the time as an ornament and honor to the place, and all over northern Ohio was pronounced by bench and'bar, a model building. Many years afterwards a brick court house was constructed and occupied until it was destroyed by fire in 1868. Its appearance is indicated in an accompanying illustration, the architecture, as will be seen, being of the pure colonial style. THE COUNTY JAILS. The first county jail was a little eight by ten, low-roofed structure of logs attached to the west end of Norman Canfield's tavern. It had neither stove nor fireplace in it, and was therefore occupied only during the summer of 1812. The second and more pretentious lockup for the county was the basement of the King court house. 312 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE THE COUNTY. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Geauga County Agricultural Society was the oldest organization of the kind formed in the Western Reserve and for many years has enjoyed the reputation of presenting to the public one of the best organized fairs anywhere in the state. Its large and well arranged grounds are located at Burton and include commodious and attractive structures known as the Agricultural and Floral Halls, as well as a large refectory building. There is also a good speeding course and racetrack, with a grandstand and other necessary conveniences for the crowds which yearly attend these fairs. Besides these features, there are large barns for cattle, live stock and fancy poultry. The general appearance of these attractive buildings are in great contrast to the conveniences provided in the earlier times of the society's history, when a few rude and temporary buildings were pitched in the public square and spectators came from miles around and hitched their oxen 'to convenient shade trees. The first organization of the Geauga County Agricultural Society was effected at Chardon on the l0th of February, 1823, the following officers being elected at that time : Judge Peter Hitchcock, president ; Eleazer Hickox and Samuel Phelps, vice-presidents ; Ralph Granger, Lemuel G. Storrs and Lewis Hunt, corresponding secretaries ; Eleazer Paine, recording secretary ; Edward Paine, Jr., treasurer; John Hubbard, Daniel Kerr, Vene Stone, prudential committee ; Warren Corning, Abram Skinner, John Ford, first awarding committee ; Benjamin F. Tracy, S. H. Williams, Augustus Sissons, third awarding committee ; Solomon Kingsbury, R. B. Parkman and Asa Cowles, fourth awarding committee. For more than "twenty ,years these fairs occupied one day annually, the forenoon for inspection and the afternoon for reports of committees and addresses. Among the best known orators of these early days were judge Hickox, Ralph Granger, James H. Paine and Lester Taylor. From 1840 to 1854 the fairs were held alternately at Burton and Chardon, but in the latter year the association located permanently at Burton. About tweny acres of land were appropriated near the town, with a beautiful grove in the eastern part, and these constituted grounds which have been improved from year to year until they present the attractive appearance above described. BONDSTOWN LOGGING ASSOCIATION. The first co-operative organization in Geauga county, however, antedated the agricultural association by thirteen years. In the summer of 1810 they formed what was called the Bondstown Logging Association, whose constitution and by-laws provided that each member was to complete all his logging within a period of four years. Although the object of the association was evidently to .prevent unnecessary destruction to timber, no restriction was placed upon the activities of any member of the association, as he had a right to chop as much as he pleased or could hire others to do. It appears that all the fines imposed were paid in whiskey, the following being some of the provisions of the constitution : "First, no man had a right to furnish over a. gallon of whiskey for ten men. If a man called for a bee, before clearing off the brush in a proper manner, he was to be fined one gallon of whiskey. If a man failed to appear on the ground at the proper hour, after being notified, unless he or some of his family were sick, he was to be fined one gallon of whiskey. If he did not get to the place in proper time, he was to be fined two quarts of whiskey." The Bondstown Logging Association endured for but one year, as many of the more wealthy members of the community objected to having their operations tin limited. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 313 GEAUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The Geauga County Historical Society was the outgrowth of the social gatherings, held by old settlers during the county fairs. In July, 1873, a family gathering was held on the grounds at Burton of the relatives and descendants of. John and Esther Ford, to the number of one hundred and seventy-two. At the suggestion of W. J. Ford,. then of New Castle, Pennsylvania, which was warmly seconded by General Garfield, it was resolved to form a society for the preservation of the history- of Geauga county. In September, 1873, a formal meeting was called and General Garfield delivered the address. The temporary organization resulted in the appointment of Hon. Peter Hitchcock as secretary. The constitution was subsequently adopted and Hon. Lester Taylor, who for years had been urging the formation of such an association, was elected its president. The latter continued in office for many years. The Geauga County Historical Society was subsequently merged into what is known as the Pioneers' Association. GOVERNOR SEABURY FORD. As this narrative has traced the civic organization of Geauga county, and provided accommodations for the civil courts, for the county commissioners and for violators of the law, it may be well to briefly note two of the historical characters whose early work was largely within the limits of this county. It happens that the two most noted men connected with the history of the county were both horn in Cheshire, Connecticut—Seabury Ford, the eighteenth governor of Ohio, in 1802, and Peter Hitchcock, in 1781. Mr. Ford came to Burton when a child, being brought thither by his parents from his Connecticut home. He received his early education at Burton Academy, pursued a law course at Yale College, and became a public man of high standing. He was an ardent Henry Clay Whig and greatly instrumental in carrying the Buckeye state for his idol. Governor Ford was a man remarkable both for his intellectual and physical strength. While 'a student at Yale College he was enthusiastically elected what was then known as the university "bully," this word carrying with it no approbrium, but, rather, such honor as is accorded the present-day champion athlete. In fact, it was the strongest man physically at Yale College who was elected to preside at the class meetings and lead the fights against the town boys. All through life Mr. Ford maintained this reputation of college days as a brave fighter, who was proud to champion any cause in the open field. He is generally recognized as one of the most efficient men known to the legislative history of the state of Ohio, and .seems to have followed the excellent advice which he gave to his son, Sea-bury, in the following words : "Avoid politics and public life until, by a careful and industrious attention to a legitimate and honorable calling, you have accumulated a fortune sufficiently large to entitle you to the respect and confidence of your fellow-men as a business man and a man of integrity, and sufficiently large to render you thoroughly and entirely independent of any official salary." HON. PETER HITCHCOCK. Hon. Peter Hitchcock, the year after Mr. Ford's entrance to Yale College, completed his course in that institution ; was admitted to the bar, and In 1806 moved to Ohio, where he engaged in farming, teaching and the practice of his profession. Four years later he was elected to the legislature. In 1814 he was speaker of the senate, in 1817 a member of congress, in 181g judge of the supreme court, and, with a slight intermission, held that position until 1852, a portion of this period being chief justice. He was elected a member of the constitutional convention of 1850, and so largely was his advice followed in framing that instrument that he is often called by scholars and admirers "the 314 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Father of the Constitution of Ohio." In December, 1852, then in his seventy-second year, he conducted several important cases at Columbus, but upon leaving the state capital in the following February he found himself so exhausted that he was able to proceed only .as far as his son's home at Painesville, where he died March 4, 1853. Like Governor Ford, the deceased was a man of impressive physical proportions, of profound learning and character. Both personalities were calculated to arouse both reverence, because of their substantial qualities, and love, because of their profound and wide sympathy ; although both were undoubtedly remarkable men, each seemed unconscious of the possession of any unusual attainments. THOMAS UMBERFIELD AND THE BEARDS. The first settlers of Geauga county were Thomas Umberfield and Amariah Beard. Mr. Umberfield, with his family, came from Connecticut and arrived at Buffalo in the spring of 1798. With several others, they took boat from that place, arrived at Conneaut on the 28th of May and reached their destination, Burton, by ox team on Thursday, the 21st of June. All around them was a dense forest, but the loneliness of this first family to locate in the county was broken on the following day by the arrival of Amariah Beard, accompanied by John Morse, of Euclid. On the 23rd of June Mr. Beard assisted Umberfield to select his location for a family dwelling. Thus the household and with it, civilization, was planted in Geauga county. In the following month David Beard, the surveyor of the party employed by the Connecticut Land Company to run the lines through this part of the Western Reserve, arrived in the vicinity of the Umberfield home and completed his survey of Burton township east of the river, on Saturday, the 28th of July. In the fall of 1799 Jedediah Beard, the brother of Amariah, arrived in Burton township, thus materially adding to its population. Among the early settlers of Burton township were also Judge Peter Hitchcock and Sea-bury Ford, already mentioned at length. PIONEER SCHOOL HOUSES. The first school house was erected in 1803, east of the creek on the north side of the road. Charity Hopson, afterwards the wife of Judge Stone, taught the first term in it. In the winter of 1805 and 1806 Squire Hickox taught the first village school in his store. The first frame school house was built in the memorable year of 1813, during the excitement of the war, and stood on the northwest corner of the square at Burton, a little east of where the Congregational church was afterward built. The founding and progress of the Burton Academy are elsewhere described as a very important feature in the educational history of the county. RELIGIOUS MEETINGS AND CHURCHES. The first religious meetings held in Burton township were in the log house of Isaac Clark, east of Beard's Mill.. This was in July, 1802. The first regular church organized was the Congregational. In August, 1808, Rev Enoch Burt came as an agent of the Missionary Society of Connecticut and founded the society with eight members—Andrew Durand and wife, Marimon Cook and wife, Joseph Noyes, Esther Ford, Elizabeth Patchin and Elizabeth Durand. The first meetings of this pioneer church were held in the Burton Academy, but in August, 1836, the Congregationalists dedicated what was then a large and elegant religious edifice, it being located in the public square. About 1850 it was moved to its present location west of the park. About the time of the founding of the Congregational society the Methodist organized into a body ; also utilizing the academy building for their meetings. Samuel Burton was the first leader of this church. In 1838 the Dis- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 315 ciples organized their first church at Burton, and erected a house of worship on the east side of the square in 1843' THE VILLAGE OF BURTON. Although the oldest Village in Geauga county, Burton is also the smallest, its population being not far from 900. As will be indicated hereafter, its prospects received a decided setback in the failure of the Ford Brothers bank several years ago. It is situated, however, in the midst of a rich dairy and sugar-producing country and although its revival may be slow. it undoubtedly will be sure. Its industries. are confined to two small establishments devoted to the manufacture of plows and handles, but its general merchants carry complete stocks of goods and there are several .large and substantial business blocks along its main streets. It has a well edited paper, the Geauga Leader; a substantial bank, the First National, under the presidency of Charles A. Paine, and a substantial brick building devoted to the High school and grammar grades. The leading church is still the Congregational, the society occupying a large building of brick and wood erected in 1892. The Town Hall, built in 189o, is also devoted to amusement purposes. The I. O. O. F. Hall is also a well-built structure for a town, of Burton's size. THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEFIELD. The present village of Middlefield conn-. prises about 1,200 inhabitants, and is a bustling industrial community as well as a pretty resident town. Among its growing factories may be mentioned several plants devoted to the manufacture of baskets, tubs and cheese. The last named is conducted by the BelleVernon-Mapes Dairy Company of Cleveland. The village has one substantial bank conducted by the' Middlefield Banking Company, a flourishing newspaper and several well constructed public. buildings. Among the latter are the Town Hall, erected in 1887, and the Union school house, built in 1892. The existing religious societies are sustained by the Methodists and Lutherans, the former having dedicated a tasteful edifice in February, 1909. As Middlefield has become quite an industrial center, its railway facilities are of the. utmost importance, and at the present time. they consist of both electric and steam railroads which afford thorough transportation for the products of its factories. Samuel Peffers was the pioneer merchant of Thompson's Corners, or Middlefield, and conducted business at this point about the year 1833. His brother James Peffers, of Burton,. furnished the small stock of goods which the local merchant placed in a room in the hotel then run by the Widow of Isaac Thompson. MR. AND MRS. ISAAC THOMPSON. Both Isaac Thompson and Captain James Thompson, his son, were among the earliest hotel keepers of Thompson's Corners—in fact, operated taverns on opposite sides of the State road for a number of years after 1818. The father, who was the pioneer of the township, was a Pennsylvanian, had served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war—one of Washington's body guard; and when he came to Middlefield in March, 1799, was drawing a well deserved pension from the government. For a short time prior to his Migration with his wife and four children, he had resided in the Genesee country, New York state, and for about two years, at Charlestown, West Virginia. James, the oldest son, preceded other. members of the family to Mentor, Ohio, and about the middle of March, 1799, the little party commenced to move through the forest for what is now Middlefield. After several days of wandering and prospecting Isaac. Thompson and son selected a site for a homestead about twenty-five rods east, of the old Methodist church, and there erected the first house of any size in the township, the family becoming its first permanent settlers. Both, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Thompson became greatly endeared to the community, dying in the years. 316 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE 1823 and 1842 respectively. At the time of their decease Mr. Thompson was seventy-two and "Grandma" Thompson, seventy-eight years of age. JAMES THOMPSON. In 1818 James Thompson built the hotel a few rods south of Thompson's Corners. As it was the most commodious house on the state road betyveen Warren and Painesville, and about midway between them, it was for years not only a favorite resort for travelers, CENTURY INN, MIDDLEFIELD. farmers and merchants, but most of the township elections, company trainings, business meetings and legal conferences made Thompson's hotel their headquarters. As a proof of the rushing trade transacted by this hostelry it is narrated that mine host "often entertained ten or fifteen travelers and as many horses, over night, and frequently six or eight four or six-horse teams would put up with him." Mr. Thompson resided on the old homestead upon which he and his father first settled throughout his long and eventful life, outlived a second wife nearly twenty years ; lived to see the township converted from a wilderness into a thickly settled community of thriving farmers, and, after a residence in that locality of almost eighty years, died October is, 1877, aged ninety- eight years. He was the father of fifteen children, eleven of whom survived him. THOMPSON'S "CENTURY INN." The old Thompson tavern (somewhat remodeled, but substantially like the original) is still in possession of the family, being the property of Henry Thompson, grandson of James and a prosperous merchant of Middlefield. Most appropriately, it is known to the traveling public of today as the. Century Inn, still retaining its old-time character.It appears from the records that the township of Middlefield, when first organized, was named Batavia, acquiring its present name in 1841. THOMPSON TOWNSHIP. Thompson was the third township to be settled in the county, its pioneer being Dr. Isaac Palmer, a native of Plainfield, Connecticut. His active practice was confined mostly to hi, home town, as he was virtually retired when HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 317 he became a resident of the county. Dr Palmer came to this section in 1800, as an agent for the Connecticut Land Company, but, becoming dissatisfield with his prospects, removed two years later to a farm about two miles from Painesville, where he died in 1840, a large land owner and wealthy man. While residing in Thompson, in 1802, a son was born to Dr. and Mrs. Palmer, who of course, was the first native child of the township. Colonel Davenport arrived in the township from New Haven, Connecticut, about the same with his son and son-in-law, came from Charleston, New York, and on the first of May, 1801, commenced the first clearing and soon afterward built the first log cabin in the township. They GEAUGA SEMINARY (REMODELED), CHESTERLAND (WHERE GARFIELD ATTENDED SCHOOL). time as Dr. Palmer, and eventually became the owner of 1,158 acres of land.. This large tract, however, far from .making him prosperous, placed him in the class of the "land poor," so that he was obliged to return to the east and sell his real. estate at a great sacrifice. Eventually, however, most of it came into the possession of. his five sons who remained in the township, becoming prominent as prosperous citizens. CHESTER TOWNSHIP. The first prominent resident of Chester township was Justus Miner, who, in company cut the timber from some three or four acres in the following June and then returned to New York, and when they again returned to Chester township in May 1802, they were accompanied by Mrs. Filo Miner, who came to preside over the domestic department of the family, as the first white woman to settle in this section of Geauga county. GEAUGA SEMINARY. The first school house erected in Chester township was begun in the spring of 1810, and soon after was placed under the care of Susannah Babcock, of Burton, who was the first teacher in the township ; but this section of the county did not acquire a decided educational standing until the founding of Geauga Seminary in August, 1842. This institution of higher learning was established through the influence of the Free Will Baptist church, and opened under the superintendency of Asahel Nichols of Chester. The Geauga Sem- 318 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE inary continued operations until 1854, and in 1856 its property was purchased by the Union Educational Association, the proceeds of the sale being given to Hillsdale College, Michigan. Among the scholars of Geauga Seminary who afterwards became famous was President Garfield. HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP. The first person known to have taken up his abode in the township of Huntsburg was a man named Finley, a hermit and eccentric character who settled in a but near a little stream of water which was afterwards called Finley's creek. About all that is known of him is that he came from Maryland, and was an intelligent and educated man. He obtained his living mostly by hunting, but remained only a short time in the township after the arrival of the first settlers, disappearing in 1814. The township was originally owned by two men, Eben Hunt and John Breck of Northhampton, Massachusetts, who bought their land of the Connecticut Land Company in 1803. The origin of the township name is evident. Soon after making their purchase Messrs. Hunt and Breck became anxious to have their land settled, so they offered inducements to young men in the vicinity of their home town, one of whom, Stephen Pomeroy, became the first permanent settler of the township in 1808. In the previous year he secured his land and erected a log cabin, returning to Massachusetts for his wife and six small children. The family commenced their pioneer life August 19, 1808, and two other young men settled on land near them in the same year. The township of Chester was not politically organized until 1821. HAMBDEN TOWNSHIP. The township of Hambden, with other portions of the Western Reserve, was purchased by Oliver Phelps, of Suffield, Connecticut, November 8, 1798. Twelve thousand of the fourteen thousand acres comprising the township were sold by Mr. Phelps in February, 1801, to Dr. Solomon Bond, of Connecticut. The township was therefore at first called Bondstown. Its chief proprietor first came to Hambden in the summer of 1801 to examine his farm of twelve thousand acres, which, of course, he had never seen. Arriving upon this great tract of land, the Doctor built a small shanty in the southwestern part of the township, about half a mile east of the present village of Chardon, where he resided alone most of that sea-on. He did not see a white man once a week, and according to his own statement, his household utensils were so limited that he was obliged to milk his cow in a bottle and bake his bread on a chip. The country around commenced to be settled in 1802 and 1803, when some nine families moved into the township. The first minister of Hambden was Rev. Mr. Robbins, a Presbyterian minister from Connecticut, who arrived in the year 1804. Five years thereafter the first school was taught by Miss Anna Pomeroy, on what was then known as the Gridley farm. PARKMAN TOWNSHIP. Parkman township was named after Samuel Parkman, of Boston, Massachusetts, one of its original proprietors. Robert B. Parkman, of Cayuga county, New York, who was a nephew and business agent of the former, visited this locality in the autumn of 1801. In the following year he spent some time in this section, surveying the township and dividing it into lots of six hundred acres each. In June, 1804, he left his New York home to begin the first settlement of the new township. It is said to be the only township of that name in the United States, except one in Maine, which was also owned by Samuel Parkman, the uncle of Robert B., named above. The Parkman family, which thus became the pioneers of the HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 319 township, consisted of Robert B., his wife and infant child. PARKMAN VILLAGE. The water power of the Grand river de-. termined the location of the first settlement. At the time when Mr. Parkman built his small cabin on the bank of that stream, there were but three families in Nelson, the adjoining township in .Portage county, and about the same number in Farmington. The men of these townships, with a few others from Burton, assisted him in putting the logs in place and laying the roof of his house. In September of the same year the `building of the saw mill was commenced, near the location of the present flour mill. In 1868, after the settlement known as Parkman had become quite flourishing, six acres north of the village were purchased by the town and set apart for burial grounds. This pretty cemetery is still in use. The flour mill originally erected by Mr. Parkman was burned in 1830, but was rebuilt in 1834 by John P. Conyers. In 1839 it. was enlarged and was in active operation up to a comparatively recent date. Messrs. Parkman and Converse were in partnenship in various lines of industry such as distilling, the sawing of lumber and the manufacture of linseed oil, as well as of flour. They remained thus associated until Mr. Parkman's death in 1832, and were considered among the leading manufacturers and business men of that part of the county. CLARIDON TOWNSHIP. The beginning of Claridon township as an industrial community antedates its actual settlement, as Stephen Higby, of Hambden, erected a saw mill and grist mill about thirty feet over the township line and within the present bounds of Claridon township. It was nearly three years thereafter before an actual settlement was made in this township—the pioneers named being Asa Cowles and wife with their children, Elijah Douglass and wife, with Miss Chloe Douglass, sister of the latter. Mrs. Douglass was Mr. Cowles' daughter. This little party left their homes in New Hartford, Connecticut, and traveled the entire distance overland through what was then an almost unbroken wilderness. Several parties from Burton and Newbury assisted in the erection of the log cabin which sheltered both of these families, and among those who was unusually skilful with the ax was Peter Hitchcock, after ward the famous judge and public man. The month of July, 1811; marked the settlement of these pioneers of Claridon township. NEWBURY TOWNSHIP. The first improvements undertaken in the township of Newbury were made by Judge Stone near North Newbury, about 1802. That sturdy pioneer settled in the township of Burton, but acquired land in both townships about the same time. LEMUEL PUNDERSON. Soon after, Lemuel Punderson came from Connecticut, named in 1808 and settled with his wife at Burton, as a land agent, and likewise commenced improvements , in the township. In 1808 the latter and Mr. Hickox entered into partnership and built a grist mill, as well as a saw mill and distillery, near the foot of the big pond, now so well known as Punderson's Pond. After building their dam it was .carried away by a freshet, but was immediately rebuilt, and in the year 1810 both grist mill and distillery were in active operation. In July, 1810, Mr. and Mrs. Punderson moved from Burton and settled on the land near the foot of the pond, which became their homestead. Punderson's pond has been the resort of fishermen for years and has now passed into private hands. In 1816 Mr. Punderson completed his saw mill and may therefore he called the industrial father of this locality. After his coming the settlement of Newbury became a reality, and family after 320 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE family came into the town from the various states of the east. In the summer of 1815 Joshua M. Burnett generously gave the use of his back parlor in his log house for school purposes, and this pioneer educational institution was taught by Miss Chloe Humphrey. In the year following its opening the first school house was erected just north of the old Parker farm. TROY TOWNSHIP. Jacob Welsh, a citizen of Boston, Massachusetts, was employed as agent by a representative of the Connecticut Land Company to GRAMMAR AND HIGH SCHOOL, CHARDON. locate the tract now embraced within the boundaries of Troy township. Accordingly, with his eldest daughter Betsey, he came to Burton in the fall of 1810 and occupied his time during the winter of that year in exploring his territory and selecting a location for the first log house to be built in the township. He employed a man named Phineas Pond, of Mantua, to erect a small log cabin near the house where his son, Captain John Welsh, afterward lived and died. Mr. Welsh also employed Solomon Charter, afterward a resident of Burton, with his brother, to cut the brush and clear the way so that a wagon could follow the Indian trail on the east side of the river into Troy township. This was early in 1811. Chester Eliott of Bondstown (now Hambden) surveyed the township into sections. In February, 1820, the territory now known as Troy township was set off and called Welshfield township, in honor of the Jacob Welsh above, mentioned. The death of its founder occurred April 19, 1822, and since 1834 the township has retained its present name of Troy. BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP. The first settler in what is now Bainbridge township was David McConoughey, a Scotch Irishman from Blanford, Massachusetts, who, on the first of January, 1811, arrived with his wife and six children at the cabin of Samuel McConoughey, his brother, who five years before had settled in the northwestenn part of Aurora. On Thanksgiving day of the same year David McConoughey and family moved into the cabin that the father and sons had constructed, which was located in the southeast corner of Bainbridge township. This was the first family to make this section of Geauga county their home. The first saw mill in the township was built by General Chauncey Eggleston, a wealthy farmer of Aurora, in HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 321 1820. The following .year he erected a grist mill, and in 1823 the first tannery of the township was started by John and .James Lowry. These were the first industrial plants in the township. THE VILLAGE OF CHARDON. The first permanent settlers of Auburn and Chardon townships arrived in the year 1812 Bildad Bradley was the pioneer of Auburn, his house being located on the Mills tract near the north line of the township. The early history of Chardon township has already been given in the section of history devoted to the organization of the county itself and the location of its seat of justice. CHARDON IN 1837. A definite idea of the advantages and attractions of the village and township of Chardon may be obtained from the following extract taken from the Ohio Gazetteer and Travelens' Guide, published at 'Columbus in 1837: "Chardon, a post town (office of the same name) and seat of justice for Geauga county ; situated on the height of ground between the headwaters of Grand, Cuyahoga and Chagrin rivers, and fourteen miles south of Fairport, on Lake Erie. It is computed to be about six hundred feet above the lake. The mail stages from Pittsburg and Zanesville meet at this place; the first running three times a week, the second twice. There is also a daily line" of stages lately established, running from Fairport, through Chardon to Wellsville, on the Ohio, a distance of ninety-four miles, which has been performed in fifteen hours. This will be an important route when it is better known to the public. The village contains sixty-five dwelling houses, some of which contain more than one family. Inhabitants, about six hundred ; four stores, &c. The public buildings are a court house, meeting house, school house and jail. Distance southwest from Jefferson, 28 miles ; 35 northwest from Warren ; 30 north from Ravenna ; 28 east by Vol. I-21 north from Cleveland, and 168 northeast from Columbus. N. lat 41 deg. 36 min. ; W. ion. 4 deg. 16 min." "Chardon, a central township of Geauga county, in which the above town is situated. It contained 881 inhabitants at the census of 1830. It is a good township of land, a considerable portion of which is under a high state of cultivation. It returns 16,340 acres of land for taxation, valued at $60,485, exclusive of town property." CHARDON OF THE PRESENT. The present village of Chardon is a pretty and well constructed town of some 1,500 people, located on a sightly eminence, and, together with Bass Lake, three miles distant, and Little mountain, seven miles away, is somewhat of a summer resort. It is located on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and also has abundant communication with the surrounding territory through various electric lines. It is only twenty-eight miles from Cleveland. As stated, the town was laid out for the county seat in 1808 and named after Peter Chardon Brooks of Boston. In the center of the village is a handsome square of about eleven acres in which stands a substantial brick court house, and across its bounding thoroughfares are commodious public school buildings and a most creditable City. Hall. The, grammar and high schools occupy separate buildings, accommodations for the advanced students being provided by a handsome two-story brick building which was erected in 1908. In the same year was completed the City Hall and fire station ; an attractive building of stone and brick, with tile roof. The two leading religious denominations are the Congregational and Methodist, the former occupying a beautiful building erected in I8"75, and the latter an edifice built in 1883. There is also a well sustained Christian church and the Catholics have a small charge known as St. Mary's. The business of the place and the surround- 322 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ing country is transacted through two substantial institutions, the First National and the Chardon Saving banks. One of the largest and most attractive business blocks of the place is Memorial Hall, a three-story brick structure erected in honor of the G. A. R. Two substantial newspapers sustain the reputation of the place, viz :—The Republican and the Record, the latter being a Democratic journal. Sketches of these newspapers will be found in the section devoted to the history of the press. MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP. Montville township was one of the last to be settled in the county, its pioneer being Roswell Stevens, who selected his land. in the early summer of 1815, being then a resident of Morgan, Ashtabula county, and in the following December located in section thirteen, near the center of the township. This section was part of what was then known as the Torringford tract, which consisted of a belt of land a mile in width extend- ing from the east to west through the township. In various other portions of the Western Reserve, especially in Ashtabula county, the Torringford Land Company of Connecticut was a large land owner. MUNSON TOWNSHIP. In 1816 Munson township received its first permanent settler in the person of Samuel Hopson, then residing in Mesopotamia, who had previously lived in Burton several years. In the spring of that year he purchased a farm on the west side of the Chagrin river, erected a log house, and in July brought his family to reside in it. On account of a partial failure of crops Mr. Stevens returned to Morgan, Ashtabula county, but two years afterward again made Montville his home, where he remained to develop the country and reap substantial benefits, as well as general honor. In the meantime Orizon Cleveland, Jehial Wilcox and Hazard Andrews had taken up land and located in the Torringford tract near the center of the town. Mr. Cleveland also became discouraged over the drought and failure of crops and left the country, but he never returned. Two months before Mr. Stevens' return from Ashtabula county, an addition to the population of Montville township was made by the coming of James Wintersteen, who settled on the highlands toward the north. He was also a "stayer" and his son, James Wintersteen, patterned after him in this, as well as in other good qualities. These were the first of the pioneers in this part of the county. The territory of which Montville township as composed, prior to the year 1822, was attached to Hambden, but in March of that year was erected into a separate township. Its northern sections are said to attain the highest elevation in the county ; this high altitude accounts for the naniie of the township. RUSSELL TOWNSHIP. The township of Russell was the last section to be settled in Geauga county, being at the time embraced within the limits of Lake county. At the commencement of this settlement it was called the West Woods by the people of Newbury and the adjoining country, and for some reason yet to be explained this land was withheld from the market for several years by the proprietors of the Conneticut Land Company. The first settlers of the township consisted of Gideon Russell, his wife and five children, who located there, in 1818, on the Chillicothe road a little south of the center of the township. For about two years they appear to have been the. only inhabitants of this section of the county, but in the fall of 1820 Simeon Norton and family joined the Russells. The homestead of the latter was about half a mile south of the center of the township and about the same distance from the Russell farm. As Mr. Norton's house was built of split. and hewn logs, it was considered in those days quite an advanced type of architecture.   HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 323 After 1820 the settlement of the township commenced in. earnest. It was however, seriously retarded by the great drought of 1845, Russell township being one of the greatest sufferers in the county. It also was a victim of the great freshet of 1878, during which the Chagrin river reached high-water mark. The destruction of property in Russell township and the adjoining county was especially great; cattle, sheep, fields of grain, mill, dams and bridges being swept away. THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1845. In the history of Geauga county two disasters are to be recorded which caused widespread suffering, especially to the agricultural populace—one resulting from a visitation of nature, and the other, the outcome of human short-sightedness. The great drought of 1845 is still remembered by a few of the oldest pioneers of the county as a season of terrible apprehension and actual suffering, the district of the county which suffered the most being about one hundred miles in length and fifty or sixty in width, lying along Lake Erie. Within this area Geauga county was perhaps the greatest sufferer. From April 1 until June 10 of that year no nain fell throughout that great extent of country, and on the latter date only a few drops moistened the parched soil. There was then a complete cessation of rain until the second of July; then a slight shower, and nothing more until September. Many wells, springs and streams of water which were considered unfailing dried up completely. The grass crop failed and the pastures became like hard-beaten roads, so that in traveling over them great clouds of dust would arise. All the grains were a complete failure ; it was with the utmost difficulty that bare sustenance for live-stock could be obtained and even- the orchards were shriveled, as a whole. To complete the devastation, grasshoppers were unusually plentiful, and whatever green thing might have been left to sustain life was greedily devoured by these insects. They became so ravenous that they often trimmed thistles and thorny twigs growing along the dusty roadside. So great was the scarcity of food for the domestic animals that early in the autumn of that terrible year large droves were sent into the Scioto country, where the crops were more abundant, while others were driven into Western Pennsylvania in order to keep them alive during the winter. Many hundreds of dairy cows were, however, sold for less than five dollars a head, as the cost of wintering them would have more than consumed their value before the following spring. Foreseeing these dangers to the very existence of their livestock, many Of the farmers sowed fields of turnips in August and September, hoping thereby to raise winter food for their cattle ; but the seed did not even vegetate for lack of moisture. These statements but faintly convey an idea of the financial losses experienced by the farmers and live-stock dealers of Geauga county, and nothing could be said to depict the awful suffering experienced by both human beings and dumb brutes. THE FORD BANK FAILURE. The second disaster which is to be noted was of an entirely different nature, caused as it was, by the short-sightedness of the Burton banking firm, so widely known as Boughton, Ford & Company. The failure of this firm for more than $1,000,000, which started this and adjoining counties in January, 1903, involved the future and in many cases the actual lives of nearly three thousand creditors. It is probable that there is not another instance in the history of bank failures in the United States where such poignant suffering was caused to so many people as in this case to be described. The bank firm was composed of George H. and R. N. Ford, the sons of ex-Governor Ford, and Mr. Boughton, their un- 324 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE cle. The basis of the supposed security of the bank consisted of large tracts of land comprising about four hundred acres, which were owned by various members of the Boughton and Ford families and. located principally in Geauga county. But unsound judgment in making loans, as well as unfortunate oil speculations in Western Pennsylvania fields, brought about the collapse of the bank's finances, so that on January 26, 1903, it was obliged to make an assignment to Culton E. Williams, a well known citizen of Burton, long engaged in the real estate and other lines of business. The affairs of the bank were first thrown into the Probate court, but upon petition of the creditors the estate was finally placed for liquidation in the United States Court of Bankruptcy, under the special supervision of three trustees—Mr. Williams, before noted, W. C. Mumaw, of Troy and C. E. Thorpe, of Auburn. Legally these three trustees are still in service, although Mr. Williams is in reality the only active member. In settling up the affairs of the bank it was ascertained that the 2,500 or 3,000 creditors were scattered through Geauga, Portage, Cuyahoga and Lake counties, about eighty per cent, however, residing in the first named. So loosely had affairs of the bank been managed that virtually no available assets. were at once found, although as the investigation progressed the trustees were able to turn over to the creditors seven and three-eighths per cent of the liabilities. Many merchants and hundreds of farmers were thrown into bankruptcy. Widows and orphans were made paupers. This latter statement is no figure of speech, for it is a matter of actual record that many of the victims of the Ford bank failure were obliged to go to the poor-house ; and even a number of deaths are directly traceable to the suffering caused by it. Although the largest loss which any one individual sustained was but $23,000, the effects of the failure are indescribable and can never be measured in dollars and cents. HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Geauga county has always maintained the high standard of the Western Reserve for substantial and thorough institutions of learning. Not only have her schools been conducted on a broad basis, especially since the institution of the Akron Law, but, like nearly all the other counties of the Reserve, she had founded academies and seminaries whose reputation has extended far beyond her immediate boundaries. The Burton academy was instituted in 1804, and as it was the predecessor of the famous Western Reserve College its histony is here given in detail. In 1825 an academy was founded at Chardon, and the higher branches commenced to be taught in the fall of that year ; but eventually the academy was merged into a high school connected with the township system. Parkman Academy was built in 1839 and Geauga Seminary, of Chester, where Garfield received a portion of his early education, was established in 1842. Every township, in fact, has maintained a school for the benefit of advanced scholars during the winter months. Teachers, institutes have also flourished for years in the county, and nothing has been left undone to advance the cause of higher, as well as a common-school education. BURTON ACADEMY. As stated, Burton Academy was founded in 1804, its building being occupied in 1806. It was the first institution of the kind on the Reserve. In the winter of 1806 and 1807 Peter Hitchcock, whose career has already been noted, was the first teacher in the academy, but the attendance was so small that the school closed temporarily for a few months. Seabury Ford was one of the scholars in attendance during the winter of 1809, Judge Hitchcock still being the chief instructor in the academy. Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by fire in December, 1810. It stood on the west side of the square, a little north of the present   HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 325 union school building. At the time of its destruction, its teacher was Gilbert Ferris, whose enthusiasm for the academy induced him to build an addition to his log dwelling house in which to teach the scholars under his: charge. The war of 1812 seriously interfered with the progress of Burton Academy, as it did with all things on the Reserve. In 1817 a new building was started on the east side of the square and completed two years afterward.. In May, 1820, David L. Coe a graduate of Williams College, Massachusetts, opened the new structure and continued in charge until 1824. The original charter of Burton Academy was then extended for ten years, and the Presbyterian and Congregational churches of the Western Reserve induced the old management to add a theological department to the curriculum, but the widespread fever epidemic which visited Burton and the vicinity during the years 1823 and 1824 induced those in control of the academy to consider a proposition to remove the institution to Hudson, Ohio, and for this purpose a charter was obtained February 7, 1826. This proposition, it is needless to say, was strongly opposed by Judge Hitchcock and others; and the success of the academy while located at Burton, as well as the health of the residents of the section in after years, proved that the fears as to the unsanitary condition of Burton was groundless. Notwithstanding, in 1830 the academy was .removed to Hudson, and still later, to Cleveland, as the Western Reserve University. Says B. ,A. Hinsdale : "This academy flourished and narrowly escaped expanding into a college." It may be added—Norwalk had its Delaware and Burton, its Hudson! PRESENT EDUCATIONAL STATUS. A fair idea of the present status of the schools and teachers of Geauga county may be obtained from the last yearly report of the State Supenintendent of Public Schools. From this document it appears that the county is divided into fifteen township districts, seventy-three sub-districts and sixteen separate districts ; that the. total value of school. property is $165,750 and that the following number of teachers are employed :—seventy-nine in the township districts and one hundred and eleven in the separate districts, of whom thirty-one are omen and eighty; women. From the same authority. it is learned that the average monthly wages paid in the elementary schools of the county are—in the township districts, $38 to men and $40 to women, while in the various high schools of the county, as well as in the separate districts, the men command. the. higher wages. The average monthly wages of women in the high schools amount to $47,. while those of the men are $78 ; in the separate districts $47 and $68, respectively; to women and men. The annual receipts from all public school sources in Geauga county amount to $97,053.60 ; expenditures $93,757.69 ;.balance on hand, S64,499.50 EARLY EPIDEMICS 1N THE COUNTY. The reader will doubtless recall the fact that it was a widespread epidemic of fever and malaria which frightened away the Burton Academy and fixed its location at Hudson. In fact, for many years prior to that time, the county suffered greatly from a series of epidemics which are, of course, incident to many new countries before they are thoroughly settled and their drainage provided for. A description of these draw-backs, with the mention of the typhus epidemic which raged in Burton and vicinity in the early twenties, is given in an address prepared by Dr. Orange Pomeroy for the annual meeting of the Geauga Historical Society held at Burton in 1878. "The diseases from which the early settlers suffered," he says, "were from natural causes —malaria. The soil, in all parts, consisted of decomposing vegetable matter, which, upon the clearing away of the dense forests and the 326 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE overturning of the plow, exposed this rich compost to the sun's ray's, causing the development of a subtle poison, which becoming mixed with the atmosphere in sufficient quantities developed intermittent and remittent fevers, which were, at an early day, very general upon the high as well as upon the low lands. "There was another cause which may still be said to exist, but only to render those diseases endemic, that is, the general topography. "Geauga county is an elevated plateau, and is drained by the following streams ; the Grand river drains about one third of the area on the north and east ; the Cuyahoga, the central third ; and the Chagrin river, the western third. The branches of the Grand river are generally rapid, and there is but little swamp land in that portion. Therefore, there is not a suitable field for the development of the miasmatic poison. The same may be said of the Chagrin and its branches, with the exception, perhaps, of that portion which runs through Munson township ; that, however, for a number of years, has been quite free from malarial diseases ; but some years ago they prevailed to an alarming extent. "With the Cuyahoga river the condition is different—it has but little fall and therefore the current is sluggish, from its source in the northern part of the county to the extreme southern end of the same. It has broad bottoms, which, in Middlefield, Burton and Troy townships, become very low and swampy. A few years ago a special tax was raised for the purpose of lowering the bed of the river at the rapids and also to ditch the swamp. That work has now been completed, and has resulted in materially lessening sickness which was formerly so severe among the inhabitants in the vicinity. It has also had the effect of reclaiming thousands of acres of, heretofore, worthless land, and rendering it valuable for meadows and pasture. "I Will now briefly touch upon the history of the various epidemics which have from time to time visited this county. As I have said before,. the first and most prominent diseases whith prevailed here were the malarial fevers. There were some years in which they had more the appearance of an epidemic, as in such years nearly all of the people were more or less severely affected with intermittent or remittent fever. In the years of 1812 and IN those diseases were particularly prevalent, during the autumn and spring. About the same time (I am unable to learn the exact year), an epidemic of erysipelas prevailed in the eastern part of the county, as well as in Ashtabula and Trumbull counties. It was called at the time `black tongue.' It was fatal and was accompanied by puerperal fever, which was also exceedingly fatal in its results. In 1816 typhus fever made its appearance, and was very fatal, on account of its malignity and the mistaken ideas of its pathology. The most of the physicians having come from New England, where the diseases were of an inflammatory type, requiring the free use of the lancet and other active depleting agents, were not prepared to meet a new disease differing so completely from those with which they had had to deal—a disease the essence of which was a peculiar blood poisoning, and the treatment best adapted being tonics and stimulants and not sedatives. This fever left an impression which is felt to this day—all diseases being more or less of an asthmatic type. "After the typhus fever I have no information to. lead me to think that there was any unusual sickness until 1821, when remittent fever prevailed to an alarming extent in the valley of the Cuyahoga. In Burton it was particularly severe, and there wene a great many fatal cases." THE PROFESSIONS. There has always been quite a discussion as to the comparative importance of the professions in the establishment and promotion of new communities. The safest way out of such a discussion, which has distinct merits on both HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 327 sides of the question, is to say that it would be impossible to get along without physicians, editors or members of the bar in any new and struggling country. EARLY PHYSICIANS. Among the early physicians of Geauga county may be mentioned several of both ability and lovable qualities. Dr. Kennedy, who came to Burton in 1812 and had quite a large practice in the northern townships was the earliest doctor. In the same year, Dr. Clark settled on the State road near the northwest corner of Middlefield township. In 1814 Dr. Goodwin, who had been a surgeon in the War of 1812, also became a resident of Burton, and acquired a very extensive practice which he retained for many years. Dr. Denton located at Chardon in 1820, and during the succeeding decade acquired a fine practice in the northern towns of the county. He was both a skilful surgeon, a graduate of Columbia College, and an accomplished scholar, as well as an excellent physician. Dr. L. A. Hamilton located at Chardon in 183o, about the time of Dr. Denton's death, and continued in practice at that place until his own decease in 1867. Dr. E. Breck, of Huntsburg, and Dr. Ludlow, of Auburn township, both came in the early twenties and enjoyed large practices and substantial reputations. Those mentioned were perhaps the most prominent physicians who made Geauga county their home prior to 1830. It is universally conceded that Judge Hitchcock was the most prominent member of the legal profession in Geauga county during the entire period of his active services, on the bench and at the bar. Both he and Samuel W. Phelps were not only pioneers in their profession, but for years gave a decided moral tone to the entire county bar. Ralph Granger was also a noted lawyer, as well as a prominent real estate operator. He came from Canandaigua, New York, and located at Fairport as early as 1820. His father, General Granger, had been postmaster general in Madison's administration, and at his death left the son a large estate. The younger Granger was therefore in comfortable circumstances and increased his fortune by natural business abilities. Furthermore, he had acquired a liberal education and, in all probability, was the most thorough scholar of the Geauga county bar. FIRST NEWSPAPER. The first paper published within the present limits of Geauga county was the Chardon Spectator and Geauga Gazette, established in 1833, with Albert Phelps, editor and proprietor. Prior to that year the county depended upon Painesville for its news and its editorial inspiration. Unfortunately, Mr. Phelps was not a practical printer and it is almost needless to say his enterprise was short-lived. After publishing the paper nearly two and one half years, as he announces in his valedictory, "at a constant pecuniary loss, besides the loss of his own services, by no means inconsiderable, however inefficient," he was reluctantly compelled to abandon the enterprise November 27, 1835, and on that date the establishment was sold to J. I. Browne, editor of the Toledo Gazette. JOSEPH W. WHITE. On May 23, 1840, the first number of the Geauga Freeman appeared, under the editorship and proprietorship of Joseph W. White. Like its predecessor, it was a Whig paper, and was especially established to promote the candidacy of General Harrison for the presidency. Of all the Whig counties in the state, notwithstanding its comparatively small population, Geauga was considered the most enthusiastic for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." The character of the editor of the Freeman was in direct contrast with that of Editor Phelps of the Gazette; he was not only a practical printer, but a man of action, whose experiences had been even romantic. Born in 328 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Fort Duquesne, July 3, 1788, Mr. .White's parents, with many others, were forced to take refuge in the fort, and after the conclusion of hostilities the boy spent several years in Pittsburg where he served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade. .He was married in 1810, and soon afterward started, with his young bride and .her younger sister and husband (also a printer), for the infant settlement of Marietta. The little p.arty embarked from Fort Duquesne in midwinter, and in an open canoe floated down the Ohio river (then filled with ice) for Marietta, where they anrived in safety, and going thence to Zanesville, the two young men established the Ohio Patriot, of which Mr. White was the editor. His paper survived the war of 1812 and its editor also had the honor of serving in the closing year of the war with his old class-mate, Lewis Cass. Mr. White was therefore well adapted to assist in the conduct of such an aggressive campaign as that of 1840, and, although he remained editor of the Freeman, only. two and a half years, he afterward removed to Medina, Ohio, and later to Chardon, where he became well known as a journalist during the Civil war period. In fact, it was his boast that he had had the honor of participating, as a journalist, in every national war in which the United States had been engaged. His death occurred near Youngstown November 17, 1869, in his eighty-first year; and he was then considered the oldest ex-editor in Ohio. In November, 1842, the Geauga Freeman was purchased by David T. Bruce, who changed its name to the Geauga Republican and Whig. Mr. Bruce's connection with the paper ceased six years thereafter, but as he had received into partnership his two sons, William W. and Eli Bruce, the. management of the paper was continued in the family. In December, 1849, the sons mentioned changed its name to the Geauga Republic, and thus continued its publication until January 17, 1854, when they removed the plant and newspaper to Cleveland, and established in that city the .daily and weekly Express. The Bruces, both father and sons, have the reputation of being among the strongest journalists who flourished during the ascendancy of the Whig party in Geauga county. CHARDON FREE DEMOCRAT. The first number of the Free Democrat was issued at Chardon, in December, 1849. A number of prominent citizens were interested in its establishment, but only the names of O. P. Brown and M. C. Canfield appear as editors. Both were able writers and thorough believers in the "Free Soil" movement, upon which principles the paper was established. In August, 1850, however, the paper passed into the hands of Hon. J. F. Asper, who afterward became widely known as lieutenant of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, colonel of the 171st, which was stationed at Johnson's Island, and as a member of congress from the state of Missouri. J. S. Wright became its editor in March, 1852, and being a practical printer and journalist established the paper on a sound financial basis, changing its, name in January, 1854, to the Jeffersonian Democrat. During the seven years of his editorship Mr. Wright earned a solid reputation in his profession and also acquired high standing in county politics, serving as chainman of the Republican Central Committee; and also twice as county treasurer. He died August 12, 1859, only a few months after resigning his editorial labors. JULIUS ORIN CONVERSE. In the meantime (on January 1, 1859) the Democrat had been purchased by J. o. Converse, who edited the paper vigorously and earnestly for a period of forty-five years. Mr. Converse changed the name of his journal in January, 1866, to the Geauga Democrat, having in the Meantime served as postmaster of Chardon under the .first Lincoln administration. On the third of January, 1872. it be- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 329 came the Geauga Republican, as it is still known. Its editor was postmaster of Chardon for three terms—under Lincoln, Harrison and McKinley, and at the time of his death, Septemben 6, 1902, had served as postmasterfor five months under Roosevelt. Mr. Converse had continued as editor and proprietor of the Republican until January 1, 1902, when he sold the paper to Lewis S. Pomeroy, who, in September, 1905, disposed of it to the Geauga Printing Company, with H. C. Parsons as managing editor. Julius Orin Converse was born in Chardon, May 1, 1834, and died on the premises where he first opened his eyes upon this world. With the exception of a brief period, his entire life was passed in this locality—virtually the only exception to this life-long residence being the two years which he passed in Cleveland during his boyhood. It was there that he acquired his taste for the newspaper business as a carrier and seller of city journals, and on his return to his native town he learned the trade of a compositor. His connection with the local press has already been given and his identification with the Republican politics of the county was as prominent as his leadership in journalism. From his early boyhood he took a deep interest in the political affairs of the county, joining the Republican party when it was organized, and ever afterward being a faithful supporter of its principles. He cast his first presidential vote for Fremont and served his party well and repeatedly, as chairman of its county committee. For four years, beginning with 1880 he was a member of the State Central Committee (its chairman, during the last year), and in 1884 was chosen as one of the two delegates from the Nineteenth district to the Republican national convention, held at Chicago. In 1886 he was a candidate for the Congressional nomination and received the solid support of Geauga county for that honor. In every way and for nearly fifty years, he was one of the leading representatives of this section of the Western Reserve; and maintained during this long period the confidence and esteem of such national leaders as Garfield, McKinley and Sherman. His admiration for the first named found expression in an essay entitled, "Garfield the Ideal Man," which received high praise from not only his personal friends, but from literary critics as well. In whatever field of endeavor Mr. Converse worked, he was universally acknowledged to be a man of thoroughness and absolute trustworthiness—faithful in all things, both small and large. The deceased married, December 24, 1862, Mrs. Julia P. Wright, of Freedom, Portage county, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David H. Wright, widely respected citizens of Chardon in their last years. He was survived by both a widow and daughter—the latter, Miss Mary E., having been connected with the Chardon postoffic for thirteen years, and had charge of the office for several months after her father's death. "GEAUGA COUNTY RECORD." The Geauga County Record, of Chardon, now edited and published by Paul E. Denton, was established on December 23, 1886, by R. L. and H. P. Denton, under the name of the Democratic Record. The office was loated in a small room in the town hall, and the original sheet was a six-column folio of home print. In those days the Record was printed on an "Army hand press," one page at a time, the forms being inked by a hand roller. A few weeks after the appearance of its first number W. G. King was admitted as a partner and the firm was known as Denton Bros. and King until the following spring, when Mr. King withdrew from the business and removed to western Kansas to engage in the practice of law. For about sixteen years the paper was published in a room over No. 6 Main street. In April, 1888, H. P. Denton sold his interest to his brother, R. L. Denton, who was then its sole proprietor until 1890. when he disposed of the business to Dr. O. 330 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Pomeroy and J. E. Smith, of Chardon, and removed to Bismarck, North Dakota. H. P. and G. M. Denton edited the paper for a time and were successively succeeded by S. E. Colgrove, of Cleveland (editor), and the late R. N. Traver, of Painesville, as editor and publisher. James A. Davidson and son (the late W. H. Davidson) were then editors and publishers for a year or more until the paper was bought by John W. Harter, of Akron, and in July, 1900, was sold to Elmer F. Reinoehl, of Massillon, who was its editor and publisher until the journal was sold to the Geauga Printing Company on February 5, 1909, with Paul E. Denton (then its news editor) as its managing editor. In 1903 the office had been removed to the second floor of the Postoffice block, and three years thereafter occupied its present quarters in the new Printing block. The Record has continually improved in mechanical excellence and general influence and resembles in its general make-up a small city daily, rather than a country newspaper. At the Democratic convention held June 25, 1887, it was made the official organ of the Democracy of Geauga county, and is its only exponent in that section of the state. The Geauga Leader was established at Burton December 18, 1874, by J. B. Coffin. He was succeeded by A. R. Wolsley and its present editor and proprietor, Charles J. Olds, has been in charge since 1894. The Leader is a Republican weekly and stands stanchly by the colors of its party. The Middlefield Messenger is the latest accession to the newspapers of Geauga county and was established about a year ago by Carlton Lovejoy, a young man who had previously had experience in journalism at Warren. OLD COUNTY ROADS. The first public road built through the Western Reserve, known as the old Girdled road, was laid out by Thomas Sheldon, of Suffield, Connecticut, who acted for the Connecticut Land Company, in January, 1798. It commenced at the southeast part of Trumbull county, passed near the Salt Springs, passing through the northeastern part of Middlefield township, the southwestern part of Huntsburg and the central portion of Claridon township east of Chardon to a point near the Perkins camp in Concord, thence in a northwesterly direction to the Ridge on Lake Erie. At various places along the route of this old road scarred trees appeared as late as 1876, these indicating beyond a doubt the actual route of this old historical highway. This road is often spoken of as Wayne's road, but not a few thorough historical scholars of the Western Reserve object to its being thus designated. The following article on this point, written by C. C. Brownson, of Summit county, to the Painesville Telegraph, is self-explanatory : "I have heard the Girdled Road called 'Wayne's Trace. Why it is so called I have yet to ascertain. General Wayne defeated the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timber, August 20, 1794. Wayne's army marched north from Cincinnati, and returned the same route. Wayne had command, after this, of the U. S. garrison at Erie, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1805, and was buried at the foot of the flag-staff. His remains were removed to his native county, Chester, Pennsylvania. I am not able to find any disturbance to call out troops under General Wayne that would need a military road through northern Ohio." The old Chillicothe road was laid out in 1802. It passed through the western tier of townships in Geauga county from the Lake Shore road to its terminus at Chillicothe, and Captain Edward Paine, of Chardon, was one of the committee engaged in laying out the highway. The old State road from Painesville to Warren was laid out in 1805, and the County road, from Painesville to the south line of Parkman township, was surveyed in 1806. It passed through both Chardon HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 331 Burton in a southeasterly direction. Justice Miner, Noah Page and Daniel Kellogg were commissioners, and Chester Elliott, surveyor. RAILROADS OF COUNTY. It was fully twenty years from the inception of the first railroad enterprise in Geauga county before any train commenced actually to run. In August, 1852, the Painesville and Hudson Company was incorporated and in the following July the Clinton Line Railroad came into existence. Rights-of-way were secured and a large amount of capital was used for preliminary grading and construction, but a financial crisis finally caused a complete suspension of work, the corporation went into the hands of its creditors and eventually reappeared under the name of the Painesville and Youngstown Railroad Company. The certificate of incorporation of the latter company was filed in November, 1870. The Painesville and Youngstown Railroad used the old road built by the Painesville and Hudson line, from Painesville to Chardon, and laid out a new road from Chardon to Youngstown, through Claridon, Burton and Middlefield townships. The road was finally opened to Chardon in the summer of 1872, and the freight department was in full operation at Burton in December, 1873 ; at Middlefield in the following April and at Farmington, Warren, Niles and Youngstown in the summer and fall of the same year. This road, which is now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio system, passes through Geauga county from its northern line, diagonally, to its southeast corner. Chardon, Burton and Middlefield are also connected by thorough electric service with Cleveland, and are therefore provided with complete means of communication and transportation. PART IN THE WAR OF 1812. The war of 1812 gave birth to the military spirit of Geauga county. Prior to that period no full regiments had been organized, partly owing to the sparse population and partly because of the lack of general interest in military affairs. But during the legislative sessions of 1812-13 the seventeen organized counties of Ohio were divided into four military divisions. Geauga county was in the fourth division, commanded by Major General Wadsworth, of Canfield, Trumbull county, and also in the 4th brigade, commanded by General Joel Paine, of Painesville, Geauga county. The first regiment of the fourth brigade was commanded by Captain Jedediah Beard, of Burton. The first regiment had the following colonels-commandant : Joel Paine, Eli Bond,. Hezekiah King, Justin Cole, Julius Huntington, Abel Kimball, Hendrick E. Paine, Josiah Tracy, Benjamin Frisby, Wilcox and Billings. The Second regiment (Chardon) had one militia company and one light infantry company ; Kirtland, one militia and one rifle company. The following townships had each a militia company : Chester, Munson, Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg and Montville. Colonels-commandant : C. C. Paine, Jeremiah Ames, John F. Morse, Lester Taylor, Erastus. Spencer, Colonel Ames, of Chester, Huron E. Humphrey and L. J. Rider. The Third regiment (Burton) had one militia and one light infantry company ; Bainbridge, one militia and a squad of cavalry. The following townships had one militia company each : Parkman, Troy, Middlefield, Newbury, Auburn, Russell. Colonels-commandant were : Jedediah Beard, Major Allyn Humphrey and Major Horace Taylor ; each commanded one or more regimental musters. Colonels, P. D. McConoughey, C. C. Paine. Until this time it had embraced the territory of the Second regiment. S. H. Williams, Chester Treat, Stephen, Elijah Ford, of Troy ; Seabury Ford, John McFarland, Colonel Henry, of Bainbridge ; Colonel Riddle, of Newbury. Benjamin Mastick and Henry Ford were their respective colonels.. 332 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE THE COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR. Although the county militia was maintained as a loosely organized body for many years after the war of 1812 and was temporarily -revived at the time of the Mexican war, it was virtually non-existent at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war in April, 1861. There was, in fact, no military organization within the limits of the county at that time, but hardly had the echo of the guns trained on Fort Sumter died away before the old-time military spirit was called into full vigor. Among .the first in the state to answer President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men was the company organized in Lake and Geauga counties under command of Captain George E. Paine and assigned to the Nineteenth Regiment for the three months' service. Companies were also formed in Chardon under command of Captain Ganson, in Huntsburg under Captain Philander Kyle, and in Burton, under Captain H. H. Ford. As the county embraced no large city or town which could be designated as headquarters for recruiting, these meetings, were generally held at such places as Painesville, Cleveland, Akron and Warren. In August, 1861, five young men of Burton—Elias A. Ford, Chauncey N. Talcott, Henry W. Johnson, Lester T. Patchin and lames B. Cleveland—determined that one company, at least, should go into the field with officers credited to Geauga county. They were so successful in their recruiting campaign in the southern part of the county that they succeeded in organizing the first full company of what afterwards became the Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel William B. Hazen. Another full Company was also organized in the northern part of the county. These companies were designated B and G and were under the command, respectively, of Captain William R. Tolles and Captain M. H. Hamblin. A little later in the same year (1861) was organized the Nineteenth Independent Ohio Battery, the men of which were largely enlisted and partly officere from Geauga county. Many men fnom this county also enlisted in the Twenty-ninth regiment of infantry. The northern township furnished a number of recruits for what were known as Wade and Hutchins cavalry regiments. In August, 1862, Geauga county fu nished the entire company known as E, under Captain Byron W. Canfield, of Chandon, and part of company F, under Captain Sherburn H. Williams, of Parkman, as well as a number of men in companies B, C, and I, all o which were attached to the 105th Ohio regi ment. In June, 1862, a large party of me from this county were enlisted and taken to Columbus, where they were incorporated into a company and attached to the Eighty-second regiment for three months' service, the balance being mustered into the Eighty-eighth regiment for three years and assigned to guard duty at Camp Chase. The 128th negime also received a small quota of Geauga count men, who were assigned to guard duty at the Confederate prison on Johnson's Island, north of Sandusky, being there stationed at the time of the famous conspiracy that so nearly resulted in the liberation of the rebel prisoners. Two companies of Geauga county men were also raised and sent to Cincinnati, in 1862, forming part of the force there assembled to repel the attack upon that city by the Confederate cavalry leader, Kirby Smith. One of these companies was commanded by M. C. Canfield and the other was captained by Peter Hitchcock, of Burton. As is well known, "The Squirrel Hunters," although eager to prove their prowess, were not called into active service, as the raid of Kirby Smith was repelled south of the Ohio river. Under a law of the state providing for a volunteer militia various companies were also Organized in the county as a portion of the Ohio National Guard. Judge . Hitchcock formed one company from Burton, Middlefield, Claridon and Huntsburg townships, and HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 333 in the summer of 1863 another company was formed from recruits in Newbury, Munson and Russell townships, under command of Captain John Cutler. These two commands constituted the Eighty-sixth Battalion, Ohio National Guard. Subsequently, they were consolidated with the Fiftieth regiment, Ohio National Guard, and ordered to Johnson's Island ; but upon their arrival there in May, 1864, they were consolidated with the 171st regiment, afterward entering active service and fighting under Grant throughout the terrible campaigns of the "Wilderness." On the 1st of May, 1866, in pursuance of an act passed in the previous April, the members of these companies mentioned were discharged from the State service and exempted from military duty. Altogether, Geauga county furnished over 1,300 men to the Union armies, or nearly ten per cent of its entire population, which certainly is a record eminently creditable to its patriotism. CHAPTER XXIII. SUMMIT COUNTY. The two northern townships of Summit county embrace the geographical center of the Western Reserve, and its two southern townships (Green and Franklin) are just outside of the Reserve. In its southern portion also lies a section of the watershed between Lake Erie and the Ohio river. The county is also the center of a region that, for a radius of forty miles, has more natural lakes than any other section in the state of Ohio. Silver creek is the highest point on the Western Reserve, 1,392 feet above lake level. It is, therefore, evident that from the standpoint of physical characteristics and geographical position Summit county is of the utmost importance and interest in treating of the history and the development of the Western Reserve. This is particularly true of the educational affairs of northern Ohio, as for many years the Western Reserve College, located at Hudson, was the center from which radiated many of the most striking intellectual and educational influences which dominated this part of the state. PRIMITIVE NATURE 1N ACTION. and formed an immense dam across the Ohio river. The physical evidences show that the prehistoric waters backed up as far as the headwaters of the Allegheny river, and formed an immense lake, four hundred by two hundred Summit county bears out the general rule that the ultimate importance and destiny of any locality are largely the result of geological forces. The vast glacial or ice sheets, whose action is manifested in such remarkable forms at Kelley's Island, at the northern limits of the Reserve, plowed down through the central portion of Summit county, miles in area, and submerged the site of Pittsburg, and much of the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, at the same time burying Summit county under a mountain of ice. When this barrier was finally disintegrated the waters rushed northward and formed what Ohio geologists have termed the Cuyahoga lake and Akron river. At what time the glacial barrier was broken through and the Cuyahoga turned toward the north are matters of pure conjecture. Before this time what is now known as Cuyahoga river is supposed to have flowed in a southern direction through Glendale Cemetery (Akron) and the Water Works Park and Akron river, to Summit lake. Some years ago workmen who were drilling for, the Akron Water Works found huge antlers of a deer about thirty feet below the present surface, thus proving that at one time there was a great river valley north of Summit lake. As has been stated in the foregoing narrative, with the shrinkage and drainage of the Cuyahoga lake and the forcing of its waters toward the Lake Erie, the valley of Cuyahoga river was formed ; and the prehistoric Akron river shrank into what is now known as Sum mit lake, with its small and somewhat mysterious outlet. With the falling of the waters, HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 335 or their shedding southward over the divide, was also formed the valley of the Tuscarawas river. Thus geology fixed the picturesque channels of these two streams in Summit county, and the power derived from their currents provided the primary means by which Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and other localities became •great manufacturing centers. THE CUYAHOGA VALLEY. Akron, the county seat, and one of the great manufacturing centers of the Reserve, derives its name from the Greek word which signifies "Point," and its massive court house stands upon one of the highest elevations in Summit county., The city, in fact, is the center not only of the most important industrial life of the county, but the starting point of its most impressive and beautiful physical features. The Cuyahoga valley, which begins at Akron, expands as it approaches the northern limits of the county, and thereafter, in Cuyahoga county, loses much of its impressiveness and beauty. The gorge of the Cuyahoga which extends from Cuyahoga Falls, three or foun miles westward nearly to the joining of the Big and Little Cuyahoga rivers, is famous throughout the West both for the ruggedness of its beauty and the power which it furnishes to the ,great manufactories along its precipitous banks. In summer its banks are graced with oaks, maples; and elms, ash and evergreens, and in the winter months present to the visitor, especially in the vicinity where manufactories are found, fantastic and changing formations of ice, snow and frost. THE DIVIDE AND PORTAGE PATH. The famous Lake Region stretches from Akron to the southern limits of the county, and include Turkey-Foot and Long lakes. In the northenn portion of the county are Silver and Wyoga lakes ; Springfield lake lies to the east; and Shocolog, White and Black ponds are in the west. As far back as history runneth, in the country now covered by the Western Reserve, the divide between the headwaters of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers has been historic ground. When white men first came upon the scene they found the Indians using this portage as the most common means of passage between the region of the Great Lakes and the Ohio valley ; and by the treaty which the United States made with the Indians the Portage Path, or Red-Men's Trail, became the legal boundary" between the Six Nations and the Western Indians. As finally surveyed by the second expedition sent out by the Connecticut Land Company in 1897, its length was eight miles, four chains and fifty-three links, and its exact course is thus described : It leaves the Cuyahoga river at the present village of Old Portage, about three miles north of Akron; ascends westward to high ground ; thence turning south parallel with the present Ohio canal to near Summit lake ; hence along low ground south to the Tuscarawas river about a mile above New Portage. "Since the memory of man runneth," these eight miles have separated the headwaters of the Great Lakes from those of the Ohio and in many respects this locality is very similar to the so-called Divide at Summit, a few miles south of Chicago, which marks the division between the waters of Lake Michigan and the Illinois, or Mississippi river. The historical significance and interest of this ancient Portage Path, which, when Summit county was first settled by white men, was the distinct frontier line of the United States, are thus depicted by Gen. L. V. Bierce in his "Reminiscences of Summit County," published in 1854 "When we cast our eyes north and see Old Portage, a celebrated boundary in the treaty of Fort McIntosh in 1785—south, and see New Portage, from which boats we fitted out to New Orleans—when we look west and see within our township and almost within our corporation, the celebrated Indian Trail, once the boundary between the Six Nations and 336 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE the Western Indians, and, by the treaty of Greenville in 1795 made the boundary between the United States and Indians—we find ourselves on classic ground. On the bursting out of the war of 1812 so important was the Old Portage deemed as a military post that General Wadsworth, with a portion of the army, was stationed there on the bank west of the two locks ; but so signal had been the defeat of the Indians at Tippecanoe that few, if any, have ever returned to their favorite haunts on the Cuyahoga, or traversed their war paths across the Portage. On the extinction of the Indian title the settlers began to flock in, and in 1811 Major Spicer, Amos Spicer, Paul and B. Williams settled a little east of the present corporation. When we look forward we are lost in wonder. The' Portage Path, the ancient boundary of the United States, is now the dividing line between the east and the west." DAVID HUDSON, FIRST SETTLER. In 1799, David Hudson, familiarly known throughout much of the Western Reserve as "Deacon" Hudson, started from his home in Goshen, Connecticut, to investigate his new purchase of a "swamp township" in this fron tier country of the United States. His associates in the enterprise were Birdseye Norton, Nathaniel Norton, Stephen Baldwin, Benjamin Oviatt and Theodore Parmele. They had purchased their land at fifty-two cents an acre, but as it was considered among the most undesirable tracts in that pant of the Reserve, ten thousand acres were added from a so-called "equalizing township," which reduced the purchase price to about thirty-four cents an acre. As stated, Mr. Hudson came on to ascertain the nature of his purchase, and in Western New York fell in with Benjamin, afterwards Judge Tappan, bound for his home in Ravenna, the county seat of Portage. The Hudson party took passage in the boat which Mr. Tappan had already engaged, and started from Gerondigut Bay, Lake Ontario, early in May. They: soon overtook Elias Harmon and wife, who were bound fon Mantua. Upon reaching Niagara, they found the river full of ice and in fact were much impeded during their entire journey along the shores of the lakes to Ashtabula county. At this point the boat was driven ashore and the Harmon craft partially wrecked. Its owner. left it stranded and passed on to Mantua, while Mr. Hudson repaired the boat and used it for the descent OLD HUDSON RESIDENCE, HUDSON. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 337 of the Cuyahoga river. Before he reached his landing place, where he Was to disembark for his purchased township, the Indians stole all his provisions which he had shipped ahead. Upon reaching the site of Hudson with the twelve persons who comprised his colony, he also found that the cattle which were to have been driven from Buffalo to this point had not arrived. After clearing a small plat of ground upon which to plant wheat, the leader of the colony retunned to Cleveland and thence to Western New York to trace the lost provisions and stray cattle. This is but one illustration of the difficulties which stood in the way of permanent settlement in this wild frontier country. On July 25, Mr. Hudson commenced the town survey which was not completed until nearly three months afterwards, as he was the only member of the party who was not stricken with fever and the ague. This was particularly fortunate, as he was again disappointed in the arrival of provisions and was obliged to go to Cleveland to replenish the communal larder. Considering now that the affairs of his community were in such permanent shape as to warrant him in establishing his family at Hudson, he returned to Goshen, Connecticut, and on January 1, 1800, began his second journey to the Western Reserve, accompanied by his wife and six children; Mesdames Bishop and Nobles ; Misses Ruth Gaylord, Ruth Bishop, and eighteen others — comprising altogether a party of thirty. This colony sailed in four boats, but, although they were much delayed by ice and contrary winds, finally reached the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, where they were obliged to wait for the falling of its waters on account of the tremendous rain of the previous night. On May 28 they reached the landing place from which they started for Hudson, arriving there about the same time as the herd of cattle which had been driven from West New York for the uses of the colonists. David Hudson came by his pioneering and colonizing instincts both by inclination and Vol. I-22 inheritance. At the time he settled in Hudson he was a vigorous young man of thirty years, and took just pride in remembering and repeating that he was a lineal descendant of Hendrick Hudson, the discoverer of the Hudson river and among the first explorers of the arctic regions, in which he was to meet his tragic death. The historic Hendrick Hudson named his youngest son David, and the David Hudson of Summit county was the youngest son of the youngest son for six generations. In Deacon Hudson the chain was broken, as his youngest son died without a male heir. THE BALDWINS OF HUDSON. Mr. Hudson died March 17, 1836, at the age of seventy-five years. The first birth within the bounds of Hudson, or Summit county, was his daughter, Maria, October 28, 1800. As Hudson had not then been organized as a township, therefore her birth occurred in the "Northwest Territory." She married Harvey Baldwin and spent her entire life in the house of her birth. Harvey Baldwin belonged to a good old New England family. His brother, Norman, the father of Eliza B. Perkins, of Warren, was one of Cleveland's enterprising citizens, while his brother, Frederick, who lived in Hudson, was a man of mental vigor and great ability. His daughter, Caroline, married Mr. Babcock, of Cleveland, and is interested in civic work. The Puritan education of Harvey and Maria Baldwin clung to them through their lives. Although of comfortable means, they lived so plainly that to some they seemed to stint themselves. They were devoted to the interests of the college and, during the college year, boarded the students. Many men who now are prominent in the world's work sat at "Uncle Harvey's frugal board." In her whole life-time "Aunt Maria wasted nothing." The price charged for this simple fare was low, and the food wholesome. The schoolboys of 1870 rather enjoyed the spirit of this home, but they disliked the Bible reading, the table 338 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE blessing and the long prayers. However, they had to submit, or seek other quarters. The daughter of Harvey and Maria Baldwin married Edwin Gregory. They were exceedingly happy. He was an educator of prominence, being for years the principal of the Rayen High School, of Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory had two daughters—Hattie, who married Julius Whiting, of Canton, and who died a few years since, and Anna, who married Henry Lee. Mrs. Lee, although a young woman, is the oldest descendant of David Hudson living. Her grandmother, Mrs. Baldwin, at the time of her death was nearing the century mark, the celebration of her ninetieth birthday at the Congregational church of Hudson, October 28, 1890, being an event of widespread interest throughout Summit county. THE OLD HUDSON HOUSE. The Hudson residence is undoubtedly the oldest house now standing in Summit county and is also one of the best preserved. (Here Anna Gregory Lee, her husband and interesting family live.) Although an addition has been made to the original building, and it has been variously improved, its original massive foundation, consisting of walnut logs fully eighteen inches square, still stands to bear testimony to the thorough and honest work of its builder. Originally, they supported a tremendous fireplace. The cellar is as "dry as a chip." It is hard to imagine how any water could permeate the massive stone walls and stone-like cement. As the Hudson house now stands, it is a two-story homelike and pretty modern cottage, shaded by elms. Behind the house is a picturesque ravine, containing a bubbling and protected spring. It was this spring which made Mr. Hudson locate here. From it not only himself and family drew their water supply, but John Brown, who was to become the ,noted Abolitionist, as a boy at Hudson was wont to quaff his thirst at this fount. JOHN BROWN AT HUDSON. After John Brown, "whose soul goes marching on," had become a character of world-wide fame, the citizens of Hudson recalled him as a very interesting character of their community, although when he lived among them he was considered little better than a mischievous youth and rather a hot-headed and violent young man. His father, Owen Brown, established one of the first tanneries in son and Summit county, and the son there obtained his first real taste of hard work. The elder Brown Ts considered a great wit, and is said to have even enjoyed a joke though he were the butt of it. Upon one occasion it is told that young John Brown had been caught in some mischievous prank which warranted his father in inviting him to the barn, where such matters were usually discussed between them. But before the actual meeting took place the boy managed to loosen a plank in the barn floor, beneath which were stored a quantity of plows, harrows and other agricultural implements. The interview came off at the appointed time, but as the first blow from the paternal strap was about to land upon the son, he retreated in such a way that his sire stepped upon the loose plank and was precipitated upon the various implements below. Although badly bruised, Owen Brown was so appreciative of the joke played upon him that the interview proceeded no further. Hudsonians also were fond of telling how, even in his very young manhood, John Brown showed decided ability in defending what he considered his personal rights. After reaching his majority and when he had become the head of a family, for some time he cultivated a farm in northeast Hudson ; but, failing to make it pay financially; he placed a mortgage upon the property, Which he could not raise. He called upon a neighbor for financial assistance. The property was bid in by his friends, Mr. Brown being allowed to remain upon the homestead. Not finding it convenient to vacate when the allotted time 340 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE had expired, he was ejected from the premises by officers of the law ; but when they left the farm he returned to his house and armed his family with shotguns and rifles. He thus held the fort for several days, and his enemies were finally only able to circumvent him by drawing him out of the township, upon the pretext that he had been summoned away on another law suit. In short, John Brown's fighting propensities were demonstrated at a very early period in his life. Notwithstanding, he seemed to have been a young man of varied industries, for, besides mastering the tanner's trade, he did more or less building in Hudson. One of the houses which he erected is still standing in the quaint and interesting old town. THE WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE. The David Hudson house stands on the beautiful knoll nearly opposite the deserted grounds of the old Western Reserve College, which for thirty or forty years was one of the leading educational centers .of this section of northern Ohio. While Ohio was still a territory, a petition was sent to its legislature asking for a charter to establish a college in the Western Reserve. After the admission of Ohio as a state, in 1803, the petition was renewed and a charter granted to the Erie Literary Society, which possessed full power to establish such an institution. After several unsuccessful movements in connection with the academy at Burton, the town of. Hudson was selected by the Presbytery as the most feasible point for the establishment of a college "to educate pious young men as pastors for her destitute churches"; "to preserve the present literary and religious character of the state, and redeem it from future decline" ; "and train competent men to fill the cabinet, and for the bench and bar." As provided by their charter, the trustees of the Western Reserve College held their first meeting at Hudson in March, 1826. Rev. Charles B. Storrs became its first president in. 1830, and its last president while located at Hudson was Dr. Carroll Cutler, who served from 1871 to 1886 President Cutler is still remembered with affection by many of its old-time students some of whom still reside in or near Hudson, and his grave in the beautiful old local cemetery is an object both of pride and affection. The college removed to Cleveland in 1882. During the last ten years of its career as Hudson institute it was opened to women as well as men, but in 1888, six years after its removal to Cleveland, the trustees formally decided against co-educ1tion. Although the number of students of the Western Reserve College was never very large, its graduate number many who afterward became quite prominent in statesmanship and the professions. Among those who completed the collegiate course therein was President Hayes. THE VILLAGE OF HUDSON. Hudson was incorporated on the 1st of April, 1837, but was simply an academy and college town until 1852, when its citizens were seized with the railroad fever. The Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad was completed iron Cleveland to Hudson, and the Akron branch was built not long afterward. Professor Henry A. Day, of the Western Resenve College, was a prime mover in all of these enterprises, as well as in the promotion of the so-called Clinton Line extension and the Hudson and Painesville Railroad. The two last named proved to be only dreams, and in 1856 these projects completely collapsed, leaving the entire village almost bankrupt. The roads remain today in precisely the condition in Which they were left in 1856. ELLSWORTH CAMPAIGN FOR DRY HUDSON. Although growing and substantial manufactories were afterwards established, Hudson is best remembered as an old-time educational center, and the nucleus of much of the most radical slavery agitation in the Western Reserve. Of late years it has also been con- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 341 vulsed over the wet and the dry question. The contest has waxed particularly strong from the fact that the most earnest leader of the temperance crusade is James W. Ellsworth, a native of Hudson who has accumulated several million dollars in the east and is ambitious to benefit his home community; both from a material and a moral standpoint. In 1898 the village voted against thee saloon. To make the issue doubly sure, in .1900. Mr. Ellsworth offered the village a model system of water works provided it cast a majority of votes against the liquor element. The result. was anothen victory for the drys, by a vote of one hundred sixty-two to ninety-seven. The, matter, so far as Mr. Ellsworth. is concerned, does not nest here, for he has so arranged matters that if the village votes "wet" during the next fifty years the water works shall become the private property of his heirs. The unique features in the local politics of Hudson are not only of interest, but may be suggestive to wealthy men in other communities who desire to influence public opinion on the side of morality. Further details of his campaign and his improvements for the town are given in the subjoined extract, taken from a late Cleveland paper : "Two years ago Mr. Ellsworth submitted a proposition to the town council by the terms of which he was to build an electric light plant and sewage system. In return, the village was required to rid itself of saloons by a local option election; bar electric lines from running through its main streets ; care for the shade trees of the village and plant new trees every fifty feet along the streets ; bury all telephone and telegraph wires and extend the boundaries of the village to include, as part of the corporation, thirty-five acres of land owned by Mr. Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth also gently intimated his wish that the houses should be painted white, with green blinds ; that red tiles should replace shingles, and that green hedges should supplant picket fences. The proposition had no sooner been submitted than it was the center of a bitter war. The 'wets' claimed business would be ruined if the saloons were abolished, and that very. few of Hudson's citizens could affond to install: electricity and water in their homes, even if these improvements were brought to their very doors. They also quoted figures showing the burden the taxpayers would be under in Main- taining the improvements. "The 'drys' replied that the value of village property would be greatly increased and that the improvements Would draw a desirable. element of residents from Cleveland to the village. The first battle was waged On, the `wet' and 'dry' issue alone, and the 'wets' were overwhelmingly defeated: As soon as the result. of the election was announced Mr. Ellsworth bought several pieces of unsightly property. On the site of a deserted stone building opposite the old Westefn Reserve Academy he built a boys' club and a residence for the pastor of the Congregational church, Rev. L. J. Hoyt. "The pastorage was completed some time ago and the boys' club is practically finished. He also remodeled an unsightly building at one corner of the town square into a pleasing structure along old colonial lines. The bank is now housed in this structure. While this work was completing, the disgruntled `wets' continued their activity. They pointed to the fact that most of the storekeepers were complaining because their business had fallen off, and reiterated their demand that active work be started on the water works and power plant. As 'Dutch' Grabers', 'Hen' Hill's and Frank Capri's cheerful bar rooms were no more, the discontented and thirsty ones made their headquarters around one of the stores. Here of an evening, gathered around a glowing stove, they over-exerted their already ill-irrigated throats discussing how the Congregational pastor, Rev. Mr. Hoyt, could fill his big rooms with furniture—which was not included in Mr. Ellsworth's gift—could keep the hardwood floors properly waxed and the 342 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE great lawn close-cropped on the stipend the church affords. Then, too, they derived much satisfaction on figuring out just how much coal the parsonage required to keep it warth under varying weather conditions. The same overwrought throats were exercised daily, too, speculation as to how the boys of the town would be able to maintain their club house when it was opened. They took a malicious delight in counting over the score or so of boys in the village large enough to top one of Mr. Ellsworth's pool tables, and wondering how the coal bills and incidental expenses of the club were to be met. "Of course, the 'wets' admit that the village has not fulfilled all of Mr. Ellswort conditions. It has not sunk its telephone wires below the streets. The wires are still strung on poles in the common, unmodel town way. And then they point in justification to the long and bitter fight the village has waged with the telephone companies. That the boycott which was started failed, they blame upon their wives. And, tilting their chairs toward the box of sawdust, speculate at great length upon the fate of those who were rash enough to subscribe to the stock of a new telephone company which will comply with Mr. Ellsworth's conditions. Meanwhile the 'drys, having no store for a meeting place, point proudly to the good which has already been accomplished under Ellswouth's plan. The town is cleaner, more attractive, they claim, under the new order than it ever was under the old. The numberarnestsests has grown so small that the sole duty of the village .marshal is to light the gasoline street lamps every night when the moon is not on the job. In other days, they maintain, street fights were common, and the lock-up in the town hall was well populated every Saturday night. " 'Yes,' retort. the 'wets' ; 'there aren't enough people on the street any more to start a fight.' "When the discussion gets to this point life-long ties are broken, relatives solemnly vow never to speak to each other again, and gray-haired friends part in the heat of anger." Hudson is a quiet village of about one thousand people, with a fair business for a place of its size, but its hopes for a decided growth in the future are largely based upon the efforts of several of its leading citizens to bring about the location of a normal institute in their midst, utilizing therefor the former OLD, WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE, HUDSON.   HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 343 buildings occupied by the Western Reserve College, which are still in a fair state of preservation. TOWNSHIP'S FIRST MARRIAGE AND DEATH. The first marriage which occurred in Hudson township united George Darrow to Miss Olive Gaylord, and the ceremony was performed by Deacon David Hudson, October 11, 1801. As it was his maiden attempt, in this line, the Deacon was naturally somewhat bashful as to the presence of spectators, and attempted in every way posssible to keep the coming marriage a secret. However, when the blushing bride and groom appeared in his best room, Mr. Hudson also found quite a large gathering assembled, fully prepared to witness the happy event. The first death in the township was that of Ira Noble, son of Eliza, a bright boy of eight. He died in August, 1800. The first burial of an adult was also in, 1800, and consigned to mother earth the remains of the beloved mother of John Brown. As stated, the first tannery was conducted by John Brown's father, who established his. business in 1805. FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE. The first school house was a log structure which David Hudson erected in 1802 ; but a school had been taught. in the previous year by George Pease, in a little building which stood on the southwest corner of lot 56, near the center of the public square. The first house erected in the town of Hudson was for a private residence and was built by Thaddeus Lacey, who resided in it with his wife during the winter of 1799 and 1800, while Mr. Hudson was absent in Connecticut making preparations to return with his family to his new home in the Western Reserve. Somewhat later, Mr. Kellogg, also a member of the Hudson colony, erected a log house on lot 56, residing therein until Mr. Hudson and' his family neturned in June, 1800. In September, 1802, the first church of Hudson township. was organized. HUDSON TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED. On April 5, 1802, the township of Hudson was organized by the election of officers. Fifteen votes were cast upon this occasion. The first mail route in any part of Summit county. and one of the first in the Western Reserve, was established by Postmaster-General Granger in 1805, and ran from Pittsburg to Warren, Ashtabula and Cleveland, and thence to the village of Hudson. At the time of these first happenings, Indians were quite plentiful in and around Hudson. The most celebrated character among the red men was the widely known Ottawa chief, Ogontz. He had been educated by. the French missionaries at Quebec for a Catholic priest, but his savage instincts were too strong to be overcome by any amount of education, and he therefore returned to the ways of his fathers and his people. In 1805, when the Indians ceded all their lands west of the Cuyahoga river, Ogontz became a wanderer over the lands of the Western Reserve. At the time of the first settlement of Hudson, Ogontz had no power except what was given him by his talents, his education and his natural force of character. But his character was such that he was bound to rise whenever he came in contact with his people. An account of his life is given in the. Erie county chapter. STOW TOWNSHIP. Stow township followed closely the settlement of Hudson. It was the property of Joshua Stow, who was commissary of the surveying party under Moses Cleaveland, who came from Connecticut in 1796. His connection with the company is dwelt upon in the early' chapters of the general history. Being a housekeeper and a home-maker, the author always has believed that the commissary department in time of war is as important and requires as much ability to manage as the field. This was surely true of the party of Western Reserve surveyors. Mr. Stow ran 314 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE no lines, made no discoveries, but he did that which made the other things possible. In 1799 Joseph Darrow, another Stow township pioneer, had become a resident of Hudson as one of the Deacon's colonists there. He remained in that locality until June, 1804, when Mr. Stow joined him and the two proceeded to locate and survey the township toward the west. Nearly two years before, in 1802, William Walker, the first settler in the township, at the time of its survey was living in his cabin in the northeastern part of lot 89, where his descendants resided for many years afterwards. In April, 1803, Surveyor Darrow married Miss Sally Prior, of Northampton, and they were the first couple thus united in Stow township. In 1805 there was quite an immigration to this part of the Western Reserve, and in 1808 the township was organized, Judge Thomas Wetmore being elected the first justice of the peace. MONROE FALLS AND ITS FALL. Like other sections of this new country, and, in fact, of the United States, Stow township had its full quota of "paper towns." In 1837-8 a gentleman from Boston by name of Monroe laid out a town a few miles east of the present site of Cuyahoga Falls, with the design of making it a rich manufacturing center. Monroe Falls soon blossomed out in its embryo industries, such as fas flourls and blacksmith shops, and a number of stores and a bank soon followed. Its proprietor induced not a few well-to-do Bostonians to erect residences in the locality, and for a time it seemed as if the place would really develop according to his expectations! But the country around was not sufficiently settled to support any such enterprise, and, although much money was spent upon Monroe Falls, its life was short. All that now remains of it are several irregular banks of earth, marking the site of business houses and residences and the old mill, which is now used for the manufacture of paper. There are also a few later-day stores and houses which give the place an excuse to remain upon the map as Monroe Falls. The prime cause of the downfall of the place was the failure of the local bank, which abounded in promises, but was sadly short in fulfillments. SILVER LAKE AND OTHER RESORTS. Stow township is beautifully diversified wit hill, dale, river and lake ; the Cuyahoga pass through it from the east to the southwes corner. It is now perhaps best known as the location of Silver, lake. This is really a beauty spot among the many picturesque places in the Western Reserve, with a varied and substantial basis of natural charms. Artificial improvements have also taken place which make it one of the most popular summsummenorts in northern Ohio. It is the favorite gathering place of a flourishing Chautauqua circle, and the so-called Chautauqua Park is familiar to many literary people in the middle west. Near Silver lake are two other beautiful sheets of water, already mentioned as Wyoga and Crystal lakes. NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP. The townships of Northampton and Stow received their pioneer settlers at about the same time. In June, 1802, Simeon Prior, of Norwich, Massachusetts, exchanged his eastern farm for four hundred acres in what was known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, or New Connecticut. He left Massachusetts in the month named, journeying to Seneca, New York, where he purchased a boat of three tons burden, finally reacneaching beginning of his trip up the Great Lakes, by way of the Mohawk river, Oneida lake, and the Oswego river. Completing his voyage up the Cuyahoga river, he then visited "Deacon" Hudson, who had begun his well known settlement two years before, and re. mained with this helpful pioneer until he had located his own land in Northampton township, and completed the log house for the re- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 345 ception of his family. In .August, 1802, this rude home was occupied by the first white family of Northampton township. Mr. Prior brought with him a number of fruit trees which he planted near his home, and these were the commencement. of large and prolific orchards.. This old pioneer was a Revolutionary soldier and died at his Northampton home in 1837, at the age of eighty-four ; his wife passed away the following year, and they are both buried in the northwest corner of the Northampton graveyard. Simeon Prior brought with him from Massachusetts a sturdy family of eleven children,' most of whom remained in the locality, becoming well known residents of Summit county, and many of them died not far distant from the scene of their old home. STORIES QF "SENECA." The Indians who frequented the banks of the Cuyahoga river in what is now Northampton township were Ottawas, one of their villages consisting of a portion of. the tribe of which the celebrated Logan was chief. But the Indian leader, known by the name of Seneca, was more particularly identified with the country now covered by Northampton township. He was tall, dignified, and of pleasing address, but. in his youth was an ardent lover of "fire. water." In one of his drunken frolics of the earlier days he attempted to kill his squaw ; but the tomahawk blow intended for her killed his favorite pappoose which was lashed to her back. This mishap so affected the young chief as to make him a temperate drinker during his entire after life, and he is said to have even indulged sparingly in cider. Seneca, however, joined the British in the war of 1812, and a son of Simeon Prior relates that one of his friends saw the old chief in Detroit after Hull's sur- render, dressed from Head to foot in a British uniform with two swords dangling by his side. It is needless to say that he never returned to the vicinity of his native village in Northampton. NORTHAMPTON AS A WAR CENTER. The growth of Northampton was seriously retarded for many years because of the warlike dispositions of the Indians living within its borders. The stationing of. General Wadsworth at the old Portage, with a force of American soldiers," first gave the inhabitants of this section of Summit county complete assurance of protection. But the settlers did not commence to locate largely until after the war of 1812. Northampton his another claim to be considered as an important center of warlike and military. operations ; although it is not generally known that three of the vessels of Commodore Perry's fleet, which really brought victory to the American arms by its decisive naval victory, were built in this township and floated down the Cuyahoga river to Lake Erie. The town also responded nobly to the call for men during the Civil war, nearly one hundred and fifty of her citizens going eagerly to the front. In 1836 the village of Niles at the mouth of the Yellow creek was platted, and although its future seemed bright at one time, its site is now covered by the small hamlet of Botzum. Others centers of settlement which may be mentioned are Steele's Corners, Northampton Center, McArthur's Corners, and Portage Mills. BOSTON TOWNSHIP. The third township in Summit county to be permanently settled by immigrants from Connecticut was Boston. Its first settlers were Samuel Ewart, who had come to this country from Ireland, and Alfred Wolcott, a citizen of Hartford, Connecticut. These men had purchased holdings of the Connecticut Land Company covering most of the present township. Ewart settled east of the present village of Boston Mills and Wolcott in the southern part of its future site. The former appears to have been rather an uneasy character, did not remain long in the locality, and died at Sandusky in 1815 ; but Mr. Wolcott remained in 346 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE the vicinity until his death and his family became very prominent in after years. At the time of the coming of these pioneers, there was an Indian settlement near the northern line of the township. The locality appears to have been a celebrated place for the assembling of war parties previous to starting out on their expeditions, and the old settlers were wont to relate that the savages had there erected a wooden God to whom they made their offerings before starting on the war path. BOSTON AND ITS DOWNFALL. In 1814 George Wallace, of Cleveland, erected the first saw mill of the township on the site of Brandywine village, afterward Boston. The tract embraces the old village of Brandywine and Wallace Mills, afterward attached to the township of Northampton. In the same year Mr. Wallace built a grist mill and a store, these being the first business establishments on the present site of Boston. In 1826-7 it seemed as though the village .might sometime rival its eastern namesake. It was a leading center of the widespread land speculation which so absorbed and excited residents of the middle west and brought many thousands of dollars from the east into the new country. In accordance with the general fever, two Boston capitalists named Kelley, with others, formed the Boston Land Company, purchased a large tract of land and laid it out as a great city. The plat is still in existence and on file, but inhabitants of this ambitious Western Boston are mostly missing. Several years before its collapse, however, Boston had become widely advertised throughout the Western Reserve for its extensive banking operations. In 1832 it contained the largest banking establishment in Ohio, if not in the Union. But its downfall and the disgrace of its promoters were matters of only a few years, and are thus described by one who had an intimate knowledge of the subject : "The officers of the Boston Bank were William G. Taylor, who lived on the lower end of Water street, Cleveland, nearly opposite the Light House; Dan Brown,. of Rising Sun, Indiana; James Brown, of Boston, and Col. William Ashley, from Vermont. A more noble set of men never met to consult on the affairs of the State Band of Ohio ; and, excepting the fact that they never had a charter from the State authorizing them to swindle, a more honest set of men never congregated as a Board of Control. Taylor was a lawyer, a man of education and talent, and wealthy. Dan Brown was a merchant ; the finest looking and most accomplished gentleman in the West. James Brown is too well known to need a description. Those who knew him twenty years ago will endorse the portrait when I say he was one of the finest looking men in Ohio. Oyer six feet in height, well proportioned, his hair black as a raven, a little curly; and it was proverbial that his word was as good as a bond. Col. Ashley was from Vermont, where he started his banking operations; but being hard pressed he fled to Slab City, in Canada, from which he was a fugitive when he came to Boston in 1822. Qne of the finest specimens of a man, with the exterior and manners that would adorn any society, he sunk the Gentleman in the Banker. After various vicissitudes, in 1832 they started a grand scheme of financiering, in which, if they had succeeded, they would have rivalled the Board of Control of the State Bank of Ohio. "This was their scheme to swindle the world. They discounted an immense amount of bills on the United States Bank, with which they contemplated visiting Europe, and even China, and exchanging the United States Bank paper for the products of those countries. They were arrested, however, in New Orleans. Dan Brown died there in the calaboose, James Brown was used as a witness against Taylor, who was acquitted, and became a vagabond on the earth. James Brown was subsequently arrested and sent to the penitentiary for ten HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 347 years, but was pardoned by President Taylor. Ashley died in the penitentiary of Ohio in 1838. Abram Holmes, one of the stockholders, became a fugitive from justice, but returned in 1837, with a consumption, of which he soon after died. Daniel Brown; a son of James, was arrested when but eighteen years old for discounting their issues in Lorain county, but was liberated by a technicality of law; from thence became a fugitive from justice, not having a place on which to set his foot in safety until 1851, when he saved the officers of justice any further trouble by dying. The balance of the stockholders having more skill in the science of banking, shared the profits, but avoided the liabilities. Thus fell the bank of Boston ; since which no township has been superior in morality, good order, and intelligence to 'Boston. Since speculators and hankers have left, industry, honesty, and prosperity are characteristics of the township." Boston township was organized in 1811 as a part of Portage county. The first marriage within its limits occurred on July 29th of the following year between William Carter and Betsy Mays. Milanda Wolcott, daughter of Alfred Wolcott, the prosperous surveyor of the township, was the first white child born therein, April 14, 1807. Lois Ann Gear taught the first school in the summer of 1811. Boston township was very patriotic during the Civil war, and furnished one hundred and forty men to the Union army, the most distinguished of its soldiers being Arthur L. Conger. On July 4, 1889, the Colonel and his wife presented the township with a fine soldiers' monument which stands on the western limits of the village of Peninsula. Boston Mills, Peninsula and Everett are the three villages of the township. The first named contains saw mills, as well as the paper mills of the Akron-Cleveland Paper Bag Company, while Peninsula has not only an extensive flour mill but a large stone quarry, whose output chiefly consists of mill stones. COVENTRY TOWNSHIP. Coventry is one of the southern townships of Summit county, which bounds the Western Reserve in that direction. The chief early interest in the township centered in the fact that the Old Portage Indian path passed through the township from north to south and terminated at what is now the village of New Portage. HOPOCAN, OR CAPTAIN PIPE. As this was the head of the Indian trail, the locality was always an important one for the Delaware Indians, whose chief, Hopocan (called Captain Pipe by the whites), was a veritable king over his tribe. Hence Coventry was for many years called the State on the Kingdom of Coventry. Captain Pipe or Hopocan, the chief mentioned, was a great warrior, being one of the chiefs who took part in the battle which caused St. Clair's defeat ; in fact, he afterwards boasted to the white settlers of this locality that upon that bloody day he tomahawked white men until his arm fairly ached. He is better known in history for his connection with the defeat of Colonel Crawford at Upper Sandusky, in June, 1802, and his torture of that unfortunate, whom he burned at the stake a few miles west of the present location of the city. Captain Pipe was also in the battle of the Rapids of the Maumee, in 1794. After this crushing Indian defeat, he returned to his tribe in Coventry, where he professed great friendship for the Americans, but upon the breaking out of the war in 1812 he left the country to join the British. He finally left this part of the country in 1817 to occupy his portion of the Reserve granted to the Delaware Indians in Marion county. Twelve years later he moved west of the Mississippi and died there. With him perished one of the most powerful Delaware chiefs who ever lived on the Western Reserve ; and the "Kingdom of Coventry" passed away with him. 348 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE The original proprietor of the township of Coventry was Samuel Hinckley, of Northampton, Massachusetts ; the first settler was David Haines, a Pennsylvanian who came. in 1806, and after the war of 1812 the country received quite an accession of settlers. For many years before the .coming of the Ohio canal, New Portage was considered as among the places of greatest promise in the Western Reserve, being at the headwaters of the Tuscarawas river and, through the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, placed in direct. connection with the Mississippi valley and New Orleans: By a considerable stretch of the imagination it was designated for years as a leading "sea port." As early as 1819, William H. Laird constructed a number of flat boats at New Portage, loaded them with all kinds of produce, and after a two months' voyage brought them to New Orleans without breaking cargo. The place promised to be such an extensive emporium that various large projects were put under way of an industrial character. In 1821s2 quite a large plant for the manufacturing of glass was established here, and operated for a number of years, but, with the construction of the Ohio Canal, trade and commerce were diverted. northward to Akron and the Great Lakes, and New Portage collapsed. It is Coventry township which embraces the dividing ridge between Lake. Erie and the valley of the Ohio. Summit Lake, two miles south of Akron, feeds the Ohio canal both north and south ; so that it is really the reservoir which connects the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence with those of the Gulf of Mexico. The township was organized in 1808 from Springfield township, Portage county, but, with the rapid expansion of Akron, Barbertown and Kenmore, it seems likely that within a short time the township will be completely absorbed by these growing municipalities. THE VILLAGE OF CUYAHOGA FALLS. From the earliest times of settlement in the central portion of the Western Reserve, both the picturesque features of the Cuyahoga river in the locality of the Falls and the immense practical value of the water power at this point, have given the locality particularly strong claims to distinction. The township comprises four and One eighth square miles, instead of the usual five, and is cosextensive with CUYAHOGA FALLS WATER POWER. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 349 the village itself. The origin of the name Cuyahoga has been variously explained. It is undoubtedly of Indian origin and has been translated as signifying both "crooked" (in the Delaware language) and "shedding tears" (Indian, Coppacaw).. The section of falls and rapids which characterizes this portion of the Cuyahoga river is more than two miles in extent, and has a fall from head to foot of two hundred and twenty five feet, During this passage down the river four distinct falls are encountered, from fifteen to twenty-two feet in height. The gorge throughout has been cut through sandstone in a fashion most rugged, picturesque and fantastic. The town was originally laid out by Elkenah Richardson in 1825, and resurveyed by Birdseye Booth in 1837. By 1840 it had made such progress that it was the strong competitor of Akron for the county seat. CUYAHOGA FALLS WATER POWER. The first manufacturing improvements made at Cuyahoga falls were by Henry Wetmore and his brother William Wetmore, Jr., descendants of one of the original proprietors of the town. On April 1, 1825, was commenced the building of the dam across the river, which is still known as Upper or Wetmore's dam, and has a fall of twelve feet. In 1826 Henny Newberry built an oil mill and residence, and in 1827s8 laid out that part of the village located in Tallmadge township. Newberry's dam, which he constructed, had a fall of eighteen feet. It eventually furnished power to a paper mill, saw mill and grist mill, tool factory, engine factory and many other establishments. The next dam of early days was constructed and owned by Cyrus Prentiss, and the fourth was constructed by the "Portage Canal Manufacturing Company." The object of the last named was to convey water power from the falls to Akron, and assist in the building up of that place as a manufacturing center. The dam and canal were constructed, but the object of the com pany was not accomplished, although the improvement became important in the development of the local water power. SCHOOLS AND NEWSPAPERS. Early in its history the village of Cuyahoga Falls commenced to provide for the educational needs of its juvenile population, two of its earliest schools being opened in 1834 and 1836 by J. H. Reynolds and Miss Sarah Carspenter, respectively. In 1837 the Cuyahoga Falls Institute was opened for pupils, and for several years had a high reputation as a school for advanced 'students. The village high school was organized in 1855 and its present substantial building erected in 1871. The first village newspaper was founded in 1837 as the Ohio Review. In 1870 the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter was founded by E. O. Knox and is still published as a flourishing weekly newspaper by Bauman and Orth. The founded in 1906 and now issued by J. C. Rairigh. The only local bank is the Cuyahoga last publication established was the Telegram, Savings Bank, established in 1904. Cuyahoga Falls, as it now stands, is a well-built city of two thousand people, its large manufacturing plants lining both sides of the Cuyahoga river, even far beyond its corporate limits. THE FALLS' CLAIMS TO FAME. The especial claims which Cuyahoga Falls puts forth as a maker of history are that the paper mills founded by the Wetmores manufactured the first paper made by machinery west of the Alleghany mountains, on December 8, 1830; that the first bituminous coal ever sent to Cleveland was mined at the Falls ; and that one of the first steam engines manufactured by any of her establishments was ordered by President Taylor and long used by him on his Louisiana plantation. In Cuyahoga Falls not a few men of wide fame and usefulness spent early periods of their lives. In this class may be instanced John Hamlin, so well known as the manufacturer of Hamlin's Wizard Oil,