424 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIX.

(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)

EDINBURG TOWNSHIP.

EARLY SETTLEMENT-ABBOTT AND CHAPMAN-OTHER PIONEERS-RIAL McARTHUR AND R. M. HART-SOME NOTED NAMES-ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS-THE CHAMPION HUNT-OLD TIME ADVENTURES, PACTS AND SOCIAL EVENTS- CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-EDINBURG CENTER--BUSINESS, RE.- SOURCES AND STATISTICS.

EDINBURG, at the partition of the land of the Western Reserve, was drawn by Gen. William Hart, of Saybrook, Conn., who owned, in addition to this township, which in the survey was laid off as Town 2, Range 7, Sheffield and Saybrook on the lake and fractions of other townships. Gen. Hart was a very wealthy man for those times, and invested $20,000 in Western Reserve stock. He was a Major-General of Militia, and served in the Revolutionary Army in Rhode Island. He died in 1817, at the age of seventy-two years.

In the spring of 1811 Eber Abbott, of Tolland County, Conn., arrived in the township and settled on Lot 2, Subdivision 5, being the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of the township. He built a cabin and made a clearing, but met with an accident that rendered him a cripple for life. A tree fell upon one of his feet, and broke several of the bones. His wife afterward dying, he removed to Ravenna Township, and settled on a piece of land owned by Dr. De Wolf, about the same time marrying a sister of Jacob Stough, who lived near by. Abbott afterward moved to Michigan, where he died.

Shortly after Eber Abbott came in, Lemuel Chapman, Jr., whose sister was the first wife of Abbott, settled on Lot 2, Subdivision 5, being the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of the township, made a clearing and built a cabin. He boarded with his father, who lived just across the line in Rootstown. The winter following his settlement he returned to Coldbrook, Tolland Co., Conn., for his wife and children, but just before starting, his wife died, and he brought his six children, part of whom lived with their grandfather, Lemuel Chapman, Sr. He afterward married a Widow Waller, of Palmyra, who also died, when he married as his third wife a maiden lady. Dorothy Bond, by whom he had five children. He was the father of fifteen children, eleven of whom were living at the time of his death, which occurred in November, 1857, he being a little over eighty years of age. His youngest child, a boy, was only twelve years old at the time.

In 1813 a man by the name of Howard settled and made an opening near Silver Creek, where he resided till 1815, when he exchanged his place for one near Sandusky to a James Stoops, who came in and still further improved the Howard settlement. Stoops was originally from Beaver County, Penn., and in 1790 the Indians made an attack on the settlers at Brady's Run, where hie father lived, and carried off a number of prisoners, among them being Stoop who was then a child. They were all carried to Canada, and several year* elapsed before they were released.

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In February, 1815, Alanson and Justin Eddy started from their homes in Williamstown, Mass., and came all the way through in sleighs, with their families. Alanson made the first settlement on the farm afterward occupied by C. H. Rowell, and Justin broke the first ground and made the first clearing on the splendid farm now owned by Theodore Clark. Justin had been out the year previously with his father and made his selection. A young man, who drove one of the teams for the Eddys when they came in, afterward married and settled down, and in after years became an excellent citizen, owning a fine, highly cultivated farm, all the result of his own industry and perseverance. This was Russell Clark, who not only was a good driver, but an expert in handling an ax ; the first trees cut on many of the farms of Edinburg were laid low by his sturdy strokes. He used to point with pride to many a huge stump, as the result of his early labors.

In the year 1816 a large accession was made to the population. Besides several others there came from Connecticut in seven wagons forty-two persons, being the families of Henry Botsford, Amasa Canfield, Capt. Trowbridge, Edmund Bostwick, Elizur Bostwick, Cyreneus Ruggles, Rial McArthur and Mr. Cowell, the father-in-law of the latter. They started some time in August and arrived on the 30th day of September. This number of persons arriving in one body, gave an impetus to immigration that made the little settlement feel like putting on organization airs, and it materially advanced the price of land.

Robert Calvin, a bachelor from Virginia, came in about this time and settled on Lot 8. He afterward married Miss Fisher, of Palmyra, and June 15, 1820, his son, John Calvin, who now resides in the northeast corner of the township, was born. David Trowbridge and Sylvester Gilbert also came in 1816, and settled in the northeast corner of the township.

Richard M. Hart, who was born May 9, 1795, and who still resides upon a portion of the land whereon he settled, was a nephew of Gen. William Hart, he original proprietor of Edinburg, and went to live with his uncle when he was six years old. The rich old uncle took a liking for the boy and provided well for him, giving him the entire northeast quarter of the township; so the young land-holder in May, 1817, came West to look up his possessions, and liking them so well, went back to Connecticut, married his sweetheart, and in the spring of 1818 returned and settled down for a good long life, which he certainly has enjoyed. He first settled at Silver Creek, near the east line of the township, cleared eight acres and put it in wheat. At the organization he was the first Treasurer, one of the Justices of the Peace and one of the Supervisors.

In 1819 many settlers came in; among the number was Adnah H. Bostwick, of New Milford, Conn., who settled on Lot 8, Subdivision 2, being in the northeast quarter of the town. He first came to Ohio in 1805 with his father, who settled in Canfield, and from there went to Rootstown, then to Palmyra, where he married, and from there to Edinburg.

The township had now arrived at the point when the inhabitants desired to become organized and have their own officers, and, application, being made to the Commissioners and granted, an election was held April 5, 1819. Edmund Bostwick, Justin Eddy and Daniel Trowbridge were the Judges of the Election. The following officers were chosen: Trustees, Alanson Eddy, Daniel Trowbridge, Edmund Bostwicki Justin Eddy, Clerk; Fence Viewers, Enoch Martin, Benjamin Brown; Overseers of the Poor; Amasa Canfield, Robert Calvin; Appraisers Lemuel Chapman, Jr., Amos Thurber; Lister, Lemuel Chapman, Jr.; Supervisors, Lemuel Chapman, Jr., Justin Eddy, Richard M. Hart; Constables, Daniel Trowbridge, Benjamin Brown; Treasurer, Richard M. Hart.

426 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

At a subsequent election Justin Eddy and Richard M. Hart were chosen Justices of the Peace. There were twenty votes cast, and sixteen tax-payers in the township. The name of the township arose from the fact that Levius Eddy had purchased the first land in the township (although he never came into possession of a foot of it, he not having complied with the contract of purchase, and it passed to another), coupled with the fact that the two other Eddys were among the first settlers and prominent men. It was called Eddysburg and from that the transition was not great to Edinburg. It had, originally, been called " Hart and Mother," but just exactly why, does not now appear, unless it was in honor of the mother of Gen. Hart, an exemplary old lady, who had been known to some of the first settlers.

Edinburg was not settled up as rapidly as some other of its neighbors, owing to the fact that the southern half had not yet regularly come into market; but it must not be supposed that it was entirely unsettled at that time. Several "squatters," as they would be called now, took up lands, and when they came into market bought them. This accounts for the settlement of 1811 by Abbott and Chapman, as some have supposed that date was too early for them. Besides, where they settled was near the Rootstown line, and Rootstown at that period was far advanced, a number of Chapmans, relatives of the one who settled in this township, being there as early as 1804. It is altogether probable Lemuel Chapman, Jr., and his brother-in-law, Abbott, reached this place from Chapman's father's settlement across the line in Rootstown, as all east of them was what might be called a howling wilder. ness, and very correctly so, for the accounts the old settlers give of the number of wolves in those primitive forests, especially at night, was something not to be ignored.

About the biggest hunt that ever happened inside of Portage County was the Army Hunt of 1819, participated in by Edinburg, Rootstown, Atwater and Palmyra. It took place on the day before Christmas, and the slaughter ground was the south half of Edinburg and the north half of Atwater. It was conducted in the usual way, having officers and a cordon of hunters within seeing or hearing distance all the way around. Trumpets were sounded by the leaders,which signal was passed along the line, taking about five minutes to make the circuit. This being the summons to advance, a forward movement was made by all till they enclosed a space of half a mile square, when shooting began. .After nothing else could be seen alive, the hunters gathered their game, and found they had 103 deer, 21 bears, 18 wolves and about 500 turkeys, which were equitably divided.

Lemuel Chapman, late one evening whilst in search of his cows in the woods east of his house, lost his way, and night coming on had to remain where he was, as he knew that wandering around would, possibly, take him farther away from home; so he "clum" a tree and prepared to pass the night in that position, in order to be safe from wolves. His family getting uneasy about him went in search of him and found him, but as they approached his tree, not knowing he was there, one of his sons, Joel, remarked: " Well, I guess the wolves have got daddy," when the old man sang out, " I'll get you when I come down," almost soaring the boys out of their senses.

Justin, Polly and Sally Clark and Harriet Canfield went nutting one day, and were caught in a rain storm, and had to stay, in the woods all night. Justin helped each of the girls up a tree, placed the nut bags around them, and made them as comfortable as possible, and there they stayed till morning, but they were all terribly exhausted from their strained positions, and their hands badly swollen. Polly afterward married Seth Day, of Ravenna; Sally married

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Edwin Howard, of Edinburg; and Harriet married George Bostwick, and many a laugh those ladies used to have over their adventure.

In the ledge of rocks on the land where Justin Eddy settled, there was an immense den of yellow rattle snakes, and the boys used to pass many a Sunday killing the "varmints." Seventy-two were killed at one sitting, as it were and the Jumbo of the lot was hauled out and tormented by having sticks poked at him, until, finally, a green stick with the bark taken off was thrust at him, into which he struck his fangs, and the virus could be seen, we are told, ascending through the pores of the wood, twenty-two inches, and almost dripping out of the end of the sticks

" Uncle " Thomas Brigdon says that the first corn he planted was put in ground plowed with an ax, the "bull plow" even in that day being scarce. He cleared the land where the town house now stands. Also, that since he came here, there have died in four families thirty-six persons. Justin Eddy and John Campbell built the first saw-mill in 1816, on Barrel Run, on Lot 2. Henry Botsford built another saw-mill and run it for many years. The first house was built at the Center by James Stoops in 1818, and the first orchard was set out by Lemuel Chapman in 1815. In 1819 Frederick Wadsworth donated an acre of ground about three-fourths of a mile north of the Center, for a burying place. It is said that a cabin was seen in the township as early as 1808, by Lemuel Chapman, Jr., while on his way to his father's in Rootstown, but it is possible it may have been ,just over the line in the township named, as no settler can be traced here earlier than Abbott.

The first child born in the township was a daughter to Lemuel Chapman, Jr., born July 23, 1815, and the next was Richard, son of Amass Canfield, born April 24, 1818, he being the first white male child born in the township. The third birth was a son, Asa H., to Harvey Botsford, born October 13, 1818.

The first death was Mary J. Eddy, aged four years, a daughter of Alanson and Rachel Eddy, who died August 4, 1819, and the grave of this little girl, which remained solitary and alone for nearly a year in the grave-yard north of the Center can now be seen surrounded by others so thick that one cannot walk without treading upon them. The next death was that of Mrs. Nancy Bostwick, wife of Elizur Bostwick, died July 17, 1820.

The first marriage was in February, 1817, when Greenbury Keen and Betsey Hitchcock joined fortunes. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Caleb Pitkin, a Congregational minister, at the house of Alanson Eddy, with whom the young lady had come to Ohio.

During the early days there was no regularly organized church in the township, but occasional sermons were delivered by ministers of the Connecticut Missionary Society and the Methodist circuit riders, the first sermon being about 1812, by Rev. Nathan Damon. In 1823, however, a Congregational Church was organized by Revs. Caleb Pitkin and Charles B. Storrs, the members being Edward Bostwick and wife, Benjamin Carter and wife, Mrs. Alan- son Eddy, Mrs. Amass Canfield, Mrs. Greenbury Keen and Ethel Strong. They afterward erected a small church, but in 1844 put up a neat and beautiful building.

In the latter part of 1826 a Methodist organization was effected. They had no house of worship, but Rev. P. D. Horton and Rev. Phillip Green officiated occasionally, preaching at the houses of the settlers. The first class was formed by Edward P. Steadman, assisted by his brother, Rev. J. J. Steadman. In 1834 a small building was commenced, but the flock being few in numbers and poor, the house was not finished till 1837, being used, however, in the meantime, in its unfinished condition. This building was occupied till 1865, when becoming

430 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

ing almost unfit for use it was remodeled and rededicated January 23, 1866, Bishop Kingsley preaching the dedicatory sermon. The building was finished in a modern and tasteful manner.

The first school was taught in a log-house on the land of Amasa Canfield in 1818, and the teacher was Miss Clarissa Loomis, of Charlestown. Her echo!. ars were Juliette A., Edwin A. and Harriet Eddy, children of Alanson Eddy; Henry, Julia, Harriet, Polly and Charles Canfield, children of Amasa Canfield. The second school was taught by Miss Electa Bostwick, in 1819, during the summer, and another was taught in the following winter by Jesse Buell, near Campbellsport. In 1823, however, the fathers and mothers becoming a little more ambitious, desired a school of a higher grade than those up to that time, so they employed Austin Loomis, of Atwater, to fill their bill, who entered into a contract with them as follows: " December 3. Agreed with Austin Loomis, of Atwater, to teach school in Edinburg three months for twelve,. bushels of wheat per month, one-half to be paid at the end of three months in grain, and the remainder in some other trade, such as cattle, sheep and whisky.' A reference to the school statistics of the present day conveys a full idea of a half century's progress:

Edinburg Schools.—Revenue, $2,506; expenditure, $2,375; 7 school buildings valued at $4,000; pupils enrolled, 108 boys and 75 girls; average pay of teachers $25 per month.

Edinburg Special District.—Revenue, $1,893.66; expenditure, $1,178; 2 school buildings valued at $4,000; average pay of teachers, $40 per month; pupils enrolled, 89 boys and 27 girls.

Edinburg Center.—General stores, Goss Bros., D. D. Davis; wagon shop; blacksmith shop; Postmaster, Smith Sanford; physician, Dr. H. H. Spiers.

There is an excellent high school at the Center with Prof. Work as Principal, and Misses Georgia Gladding and Hattie Frazier assistants. There are seven other schools in the township. An excellent brass band, with W. G. Gano as leader, furnishes music for the Edinburgers. There is also at the Center a Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Joseph Gledhill, pastor; Congregational Church, Rev. A. E. Colton, pastor; Disciples Church, Elder White, pastor. There is a Methodist Episcopal Chapel, a branch of the church at the Center, but with no regular pastor. At Silver Creek is a good-sized tannery owned by Shultz Bros., and a saw-mill one mile southeast of the Center, F, B. Chapman, proprietor. Campbellsport, which partly lies in Edinburg Township, used to be a place of considerable importance during the old canal days. It now has one store kept by James Beardsley who also has the post- office.

Township Officers :—Trustees, Chauncy Porter, F. L Byers, Joseph Featherby; Clerk, H. A. Marsh; Treasurer, H. H. Spiers; Assessor, Thomas IL Clark; Constable, D. D. Hill; Justices of the Peace, John R. Giddings, William Willsey.

Edinburg is strictly an agricultural township, and has some of the finest, land on the face of the globe, although hilly in some sections, and splendid crops are raised, besides being finely adapted to grazing. Much improved stock are bred and handled, and at their fairs an excellent showing is made. In 1856 the first sale and show exhibition occurred, at which, on March 22 of that year, seed corn, oats, spring wheat and potatoes were placed in the To Hall for inspection and sale. The Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad just touched the southwestern corner of the township. Edinburg furnished forty-nine sok diers for the Union, nine of whom were lost in the service.

The first saw-mill was erected by Campbell and Eddy on Barrel (Lot 2), in 1816, which was the first manufacturing industry of the town.

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Edinburg Farmers' Association was founded January 13, 1873, with A. S. Plummer, H. Horeon, W. D. Turner, James L. Dale, W. H. Weir, Daniel Ewing and S. Strong, for the promotion of agriculture and mutual improvement of members.

Grange Hall Building Society of Edinburg was organized February 2, 1878, with the following members: Smith Sanford, Isaac Williams, M. 0. Gano, L. B. Wright, E. B. Higley, E. C. Myers and Hezekiah Hann. The purpose of organization was to build houses for a store and hall, and conduct the same at Edinburg.

Edinburg Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company is one of the best conducted associations of this order in the whole Reserve. The entire Board of Managers for 1885 are named as follows: President, J. R. Giddings; Vice-President, T. H. Clark; Treasurer, D. D. Davis; Secretary, George P. B. Merwin; Directors, Vespu Clark, B. W. Gilbert, Calvin Hutson.

The statistics of the township for 1884 are: Acres of wheat 957, bushels 14,16.5; 41 bushels of buckwheat; 24,338 bushels of oats; 4,075 bushels of corn from 520 acres; 2,169 acres of meadow, 3,090 tons of hay; 49 acres of clover, 49 tons of hay and 33 bushels of seed; 5 acres of flax, 105 bushels of seed; 50 acres of potatoes, 6,295 bushels of potatoes; 80,682 pounds home-made butter; 1,660 pounds of maple sugar, and 6,174 gallons of syrup; 25,268 maples tapped; 1,580 pounds of honey from 68 hives; 19,180 dozens of eggs; 200 pounds of grapes; 7,315 bushels of apples; 1,455 of peaches, and 29 of pears; 16,468.pounds wool; 123 milch cows; 2 stallions; 93 dogs; animals died of disease, 3 hogs, 76 sheep and 1 horse; acres cultivated 4,456; pasture 15,872; woodland 2,816; aggregating 23,144 acres. Population in 1850, 1,101, including 474 youth; in 1870, 929; in 1880, 910; in 1884 (estimated), 950.