400 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XV.

(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)

AURORA TOWNSHIP.

EBENEZER SHELDON-FIRST LEGAL BUSINESS- A LONELY COUPLE-A MODEL PIONEER WIFE-OTHER SETTLERS-EARLY HARDSHIPS-ORGANIZATION-THE METHODIST CIRCUIT RIDER-FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOLS-FIRST BIRTH AND DEATH AND OTHER FIRST THINGS-HUNTERS AND HUNTING STORIES- EARLY FACTS-A SMALL MEETING WITH LARGE RESULTS-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-BUSINESS, ETC.-STATISTICS

AURORA is known in the surveys as Town 5, Range 9. The original proprietors were David, Ebenezer and Fidelio King and Martyn Sheldon; John Leavitt, Gideon Granger and Ebenezer Sheldon, Jr., also had interests.

The first white man to enter the township for settlement was Ebenezer Sheldon, of Suffield, Conn., who arrived in his future far Western home in June, 1799. He selected Lot 40, and with the assistance of Elias Harmon and his wife commenced a clearing and made preparations for a small crop. Harmon and wife came in the same month as Sheldon, and were employed by him. Mrs. Harmon was the first white woman to come into the township, but after getting through with their job they moved to Mantua. Sheldon returned to Connecticut, and in the following spring (1800) brought out his wife, four sons and two daughters. They came all the way with an ox-team and a pair of horses, and a small, rude wagon. After arriving at Warren they rested over night, but the next day started across the wilderness of woods, and were over. taken by what we would now call a moderate cyclone. The wind tore up immense trees by the roots and split and splintered them and threw them about in such a manner that Sheldon and his wagons were penned in. They had to remain in their perilous situation all night, and were only released by getting assistance and cutting a road out. But Sheldon was of that sturdy race of pioneers, those grand old heroes to whose daring, perseverance and endurance we owe the settlement of this splendid Western country, so he quietly settled down on his place, built a log-cabin, put out his crop and lived there the balance of his days.

In the spring of 1801 St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest, appointed Mr. Sheldon Justice of the Peace, but the duties for the first three years, at least, were not very onerous; in fact, the only official act performed during that time by the Squire was marrying his daughter Huldah to Amzi Atwater, of Mantua, November 21, 1801. Sheldon used to say, facetiously, that he often tried, during the first few years of his official career, to kick up a fuss with his wife, in order to make business, but that she always got the upper hand of him. Mrs. Sheldon was one of those women that nature seems to provide for certain emergencies and conditions. She was large and healthy, and of great strength of character, besides being more than ordinarily handsome and intelligent, and although dignified in appearance and manner, had a flow of spirits and a buoyancy of disposition that seemed almost essential in the lonesome wilderness to keep up the courage and determination of the sterner sex. She used to tell her husband during those three years when they were the only

AURORA TOWNSHIP - 401

family in Aurora, and when anything would perplex him, that his wife was "the smartest and best-looking woman in the township," and well she might have thus boasted, for it was many a long day, even after the township became more thickly settled, that she had an equal, much less a superior. After the death of her husband, which occurred in August, 1829, she made her home with her daughter Huldah, in Mantua, and died December 11, 1846, aged eighty-six years.

In 1803 Samuel Forward came in from Granby, Conn., bringing several sons and daughters, and settling on Lot 18, where Gen. Nelson Eggleston now resides at the Center. His sons, Samuel, Oliver, Chauncy, Rensselaer and Dryden, were those who came with him, but another son, Walter, remained in Pittsburgh, where he afterward became distinguished in the law. He was editor of the first Democratic paper in Pittsburgh, the Tree of Liberty; was a member of Congress in 1822, Secretary of the Treasury under Tyler, and Charge D'Affaires to Denmark. The father died in 1821, aged sixty-nine years, having been a man of stern integrity, great strength of character, generous and genial in ordinary life, and an upright Judge, he having been honored by his fellow citizens with the position of Associate Judge. His widow died in 1832, aged eighty years.

In 1804 came James M. Henry, from Blandford, Mass., with his family, and settled on Lot 13. The wife of Henry was a lineal desccndant of the sister of Oliver Cromwell, and the descendants of the Henrys have in their possession to this day (we believe now in Cleveland), a Bible presented by the great Protector to his sister Margaret. Also in 1804 came from Massachusetts John Cochran, Jr. and David Kennedy, Sr., and George Holcolb, from Connecticut, and their families; also David Kennedy, Jr., Eber Kennedy and Justin Kennedy, sons of David Kennedy, Sr., Samuel Ferguson and several others, all single men. Eber Kennedy was noted for his remarkable strength.

In 1805 came Solomon Cochran and family, from Blandford, Mass., together with the widow, Mary Cannon, mother of Eli and Stephen Cannon, and Horace Granger, a single man, from Suffield, Conn.

In 1806 arrived from Middlefield, Mass., Moses Eggleston, father of Gen. Nelson Eggleston, who resided where he settled till a few years before his death, which occurred in Aurora Center in 1866. His brother, Joseph Eggleston, Robert Bissell and family, and Capt. Perkins and family, also from Middlefield, Mass.; Samuel McConnaughy and family, from Blandford; Isaac Blair and Col. Ebenezer Harmon, son-in-law of Squire Harmon, all came in this year and made settlements. John Cochran, Sr., in attempting to follow the fortunes of his son, who had come out two years previously, was taken sick at Buffalo, N. Y., and died, where he was buried, he being the first white person interred there. The balance of the family continued their journey, and after many hardships arrived at Aurora. In the family was a crippled daughter, Rhoda, then twenty years of age, who was intrusted to the care of a little sister, Laura, only thirteen years of age, who walked almost the entire distance beside the wagon in which Rhoda was transported. This little girl, Laura, afterward Mrs. Stephen Cannon, used to take great interest in describing how her feet were blistered and how tired she would get walking along the lonesome road. In this year, 1806, occurred a total eclipse of the sun, and as the event was unknown to, or forgotten by, the most of the early settlers, considerable consternation prevailed when the darkness began to obscure the sky.

During the spring of 1807 quite a boom occurred to the little settlement, and matters were very stirring, as wagon after wagon arrived in different por-

402 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

tions of the township, and the new corners were looking up their lands and making clearings. Seventy-two persons came out, almost in one body, and among the heads of families may be mentioned Benjamin Eggleston, Jeremiah Root, Samuel Taylor, Brainerd Spencer and Amos Sweet, all of whom are now dead but three. Also, in 1807, came John C. Singletary and Samuel and Caleb Baldwin and their families. October 12, 1807, the township was organized, and Samuel Forward was elected Justice of the Peace. The settlement now began to assume somewhat the appearance of civilization, as roads were beginning to be cut out, and an occasional wagon could be seen winding its way through the woods from the distant mill.

In 1808 came Justus and Horace Bissell and families, and settled on Lots 11 and 12; also Maj. Elijah Blackman, Elijah Blackman, Jr., Samuel Blackman and Abner Pease and their families, who settled on Lots 19, 20 and 27. Maj. Blackman served through the war of 1812-14, .and died in 1822.

In 1809 Bohan Blair, Septimus Witter and James W. Herrick came, and in 1810 the widow Anne Kent and three sons; also Dr. Ezekiel Squires, who settled on Lot 38. He was the first physician to settle in Aurora, and it can readily be imagined that he was welcome. From this year (1810) till 1820 many families settled in the township, all of whom were from the New England States. During this decade came the Sewards, Wheelers, Rileys, Pakers, Plums, Russells, Crooks, Parsons, Spencers, Laceys, Hurds, Jacksons and others.

In 1802 the first sermon was preached at Ebenezer Sheldon's house; there were present Mr. Sheldon and his family. This was the first sermon in the township, and, doubtless, the first in the county.

Previous to 1809 the settlers held religious services every Sabbath, but had no regular pastor, they conducting the services themselves; but on December 30 of this year a number of persons assembled at the house of John C. Singletary, pursuant to a call made by Rev. Nathan B. Darrow, a missionary sent out by the Congregational Missionary Society of Connecticut, and formed themselves the next day, Sunday, into a church organization. The names of those forming this society were Ebenezer and Laura Sheldon, James M. and Sarah Henry, Septimus and Anna Witter, Mary Eggleston, Thankful Lucretia Root, Mary Cannon, Jeremiah Root and Brainard Spencer. Jeremiah Root, at the first election, was elected Elder. Brainard Spencer succeeded Deacon Root. In 1811 Rev. John Seward became the pastor of the church and filled that position for over thirty years. The first church stood where the Presbyterian building now is.

The Congregational Church was reorganized and incorporated March 20, 1872, when Alanson Parker, J. L. Thompson, a Eggleston, Solomon Little and Frank Hurd were elected Trustees, and C. H. Root, Clerk.

The Disciples Church was reorganized under State law May 11, 1855, with Victor M. Cannon, A. V. Jewell and J. Bartholomew, Trustees, and Ebenezer Sheldon, Clerk. The name adopted was Disciples in Aurora.

The school was an institution here as early as the winter of 1803-04. Samuel Forward, Jr., opened one in a little building on the. Square at the Center, and he had as pupils Julia Forward, Ebenezer Sheldon, Jr., Gersham Sheldon, George Sheldon, Festus Sheldon, Chauncy Forward, Rensselaer Forward and Dryden Forward. The next school was taught by Oliver Forward, and the third by Polly Cameron, in 1807. As an illustration of the feeling of the times, and showing that politics ran fully as high as at present: "This old school-master, Oliver Forward, delivered a Fourth of July oration at the Center in 1808, and all the Federalists went to Hudson to avoid it. They didn't

AURORA TOWNSHIP - 403

want to be in the same town while it was being delivered." The following statistics show the condition of schools in August, 1884: Boys enrolled, 76; girls, 71; revenue, $4,632.41; expenditures, $3,963.92; number of school buildings, 7, valued at $5,500; average pay of male teachers, $54; of female, $33.

The first birth in the township occurred in the family of Oliver Forward, when a son was born to him April 6, 1804, whom he named Cromwell, after his distinguished ancient relative. The second birth was that of James Henry, son of James M. Henry, in 1806; and the third, in the same year, was a son born to John Cochran, Jr., whom he named Leveritt W., and who in after years was an honored member of the Ohio Legislature, besides holding other offices. The first death was that of Rhoda Cochran, he crippled girl who came out with her mother in 1804. She was afflicted with infiammatory rheumatism, and died December 25, 1806, aged twenty-two years.

The first human habitation erected in the township was a log-cabin put up about two miles east of the Center, by Ebenezer Sheldon, and Samuel Forward built the next at the Center. They were, of course, of the most primitive pattern, consisting of round logs, puncheon floors, cot and clay chimneys, etc., etc. The first mill, it being a combination saw and grist, was located near the Station, and was run by Septimus Witter. It was a great convenience to the settlers when first erected, as they had, up to that time, to go many miles to get their grinding done. The first distillery, a small one—and the only one, by the way—was erected at an early day, but it did not thrive as well as they do in some other localities, and it was abandoned many years ago. The first tavern was built about 1812, and is the present residence of Gen. Eggleston, the building having been remodeled. It was kept by Judge Samuel Forward. A large ashery was run for many years by Hopson Hurd, who also had a pearl ash oven, and shipped large quantities to Pittsburgh. Hopson Hurd also brought the first stock of goods, and sold hem for a good round price, at least his wet goods, getting 50 cents and 75 cents per drink for brandy. Mr. Hurd was also the first Postmaster at the Center. In the fall of 1809 $200 was raised by subscription for the purpose of erecting a Town House, but as money was extremely hard to get, and the cash not being forthcoming, a vote was taken on the second Tuesday of January, 1810, which resulted in the affirmative, that the articles of sugar and lumber which were subscribed should be "delivered by the 1st of May, and the grain by the first of November, next." The building was finished in the early part of 1811, and on the following Fourth of July a ball was held within its sacred walls, but it was sacred nevermore, for the church people, who had, ever since its erection, been using it as a place of worship, would never enter it again for religious purposes. Joseph Skinner, the versatile Joseph, of Mantua, of whom more hereafter, furnished the "catgut," as an old settler remarked to the writer.

Some of the most noted hunters were Benjamin Williams, Marcus Taylor, Jarvis McConnaughy and William Crooks and his son George. Game was, of course, plenty, and bear, deer and turkey meat were had almost for the asking. There was a famous hunt participated in by the Nimrods of Aurora, which took place in Streetaboro, but further mention of that will be made elsewhere. One of the largest bears ever killed in the county was brought down from the limb of a tree on Squire Forward's place, and he was so large and fat that the gambrel upon which he was hung up is preserved to this day with date, weight etc., marked upon it. About ten or a dozen wolves were caught in a swamp in 1827, and the boys, awed mostly with clubs, dispatched every one of them. A. den of yellow rattlesnakes was unearthed in the southern part of the township,

404 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

and over fifty were killed. Miss Sally Taylor, who afterward married Moses Eggleston, taught school in Springfield, now Summit County, and during one of her trips across the country, lost her way and had to stay in the forest all night. Not long after she had tied her horse and laid down, a pack of wolves came howling around, which, scaring her horse, caused him to break loose. She then thought it was all over with her, when, to her delight, the horse came up and stood over her, evidently seeking protection from her whom he was best protecting by his position. She held him by the bridle all night, and the rays of the morning sun, glinting through the trees, were the most welcome she had ever seen.

Capt. Harmon, during the war of 1812, at the time of Hull's surrender, formed a company for service, but they were not needed, although they marched as far as Huron and remained in the service several weeks. Worthy Taylor, who is now about ninety years of age and the oldest man in the township, was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812. Owen Brown, father of " old John Brown " whose soul went marching on so peacefully a couple of decades ago, married one of his wives, Sallie Root, in this township. She was not the mother, however, of the immortal John. Some years ago Truman Howard and sons operated a hand rake factory near the depot and sold wagon loads of their product, but the horse rake spoiled their business. Cheese making was one of the earliest industries, and the handicraft of the thrifty New Englanders in that line has not passed away from them to this day, as they yet make the finest cheese in the northwestern section of the county. November 8, 1859, Alanson Baldwin was murdered by his nephew, Lemuel W. Price, who was tried and sentenced to the penitentiary for life. A somewhat noted slander suit occurred in Aurora in the early days. Harriet Perkins said something derogatory to the character of Thankful Bissell, for which she was tried and a judgment rendered against her of a gallon of whisky. Old Squire Forward was the referee.

November 26, 1835, Gen. Nelson Eggleston issued a notice for a preliminary meeting to be held at the Eggleston Tavern for the purpose of arranging for a larger meeting to be held, to take into consideration the feasibility of constructing a railroad. The meeting was held, being attended by Alanson Baldwin, Chairman; Nelson Eggleston, Secretary, and Moses Eggleston, A. W. Stocking and two others. The result of this meeting was the building of two important lines of railway through Portage County.

Aurora Iron Company was organized February 1, 1866, for the purpose of manufacturing wrought iron from iron ore. The capital was $60,000. The members were Evan Moses, William Davis, T. G. Rees, T. .T. Rees and M. N. Gardner.

The history of apple stealing from P. P. McIntosh in 1819, points out the arrest and trial of a few of the boys. It appears that Royal Taylor and Harvey Baldwin, of Aurora, went south to avoid arrest in re the apples, and took with them a small stock of cheese. This resulted in the Southern cheese trade, which became the leading industry of northern Portage County. McIntosh, the prosecutor of the boys, died March 9, 1832.

There is a very fine Presbyterian Church at the Center, Rev. George C. Lyon, pastor; also a Christian Church with no regular pastor; both have good Sunday-schools. General stores, C. R. Harmon, Hurd & Bro.; Postmaster, C. R. Harmon; John Gould, Editor.

At the Station, general store, Charles Russell; grocery, Burroughs; Postmaster, C. Russell. There is a grist-mill owned by Herbert Carleton and a saw-mill by C. R. Howard; two cheese factories and creameries.

BRIMFIELD TOWNSHIP - 405

Aurora furnished for the late war seventy-two soldiers, fourteen of whom died and four were disabled.

There are seven good schoolhouses with a fair attendance of pupils.

Township Officers.—Trustees, Julius Granger, Daniel Lacey, John Gould; Assessor, R. L. Granger; Treasurer, W. E. Hurd; Justices of the Peace, R. P. Cannon, Ed. Shoupi Constables, John Leisun, Emmett Lacey.

The statistics of this township for 1884 are as follows: 443 acres of wheat; no rye; no buckwheat; 487 acres of oats, 15,088 bushels; no barley; 385 acres of corn, 1,440 bushels; 2,320 acres meadow, 2,647 tons of hay; 8 acres of clover, 16 tons of hay; 32 acres of potatoes, 3,420 bushels; 7,695 gallons of milk; 3,550 pounds home-made butter; 86,900 pounds factory and creamery butter; 522,300 pounds cheese; 82,651 maples, yielded 12,285 pounds of sugar and 1,490 gallons; 19 hives, 100 pounds honey; 280 dozen eggs; 438 bushels of apples; 4,195 pounds wool; 1,401 milch cows; 55 dogs. There died of disease 23 hogs, 69 sheep, 41 cattle and 6 horses. Acres of cultivated land, 1,154; pasture, 10,294; woodland, 2,223; waste land, 150 acres, aggregating 13,731 acres. Population in 1850 was 823, including 329 youth; in 1870, 642, and in 1880, 666.