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CHAPTER XXXII
SUFFIELD TOWNSHIP.
A FINE TOWNSHIP-ONE LONELY SETTLER-BENJAMIN BALDWIN, AND THE "BALDWIN" APPLEI-OTHER SETTLERS-HONEST JOHN FRITCH-A NOTED . HUNTER-TWO ORGANIZATIONS-A "FLUSTRATED" JUSTICE-FIRST MILLS, STORES, ETC.-COMING OF THE GERMANS-FIRST CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-FIRST BIRTH AND DEATH-MOGADORE-SUFFIELD CENTER-A DUPLEX TOWN, ETC.-STATISTICS, ETC.-BUSINESS, RESOURCES AND OFFICERS.
SUFFIELD, at the division of the Reserve lands, fell to the lot of parties in Connecticut, living at Suffield, the principal one of whom was Benejob Kent. Royal Pease also owned a considerable portion of the land, and as he was the first to come out the township was known as Peasementown, being in the surveys Town 1, Range 9. The township was slow of settlement, and although it was one of the first in the county to receive a set-tler, yet some sixteen years elapsed before it was regularly organized. The land is highly productive, and although somewhat hilly throughout and swampy in the lower sections, it is finely adapted to wheat. It is excellent for sheep and general grazing, and the soil being principally a sandy, light grav-elly loam, with the many southerly exposed uplands, makes it peculiarly well
564 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
adapted to grape culture. Fruit is raised easily and abundantly, and it is here that originated the famous "Baldwin" apple. One of the first settlers, Benjamin Baldwin, brought with him from his home in Connecticut a large quantity of apple seeds, gathered at different times and from many orchards. Be planted some of these seeds and gave some to his neighbors. In a few years he had a fine young orchard, and among the bearing trees he found an apple that was particularly fine. Only here and there was a tree of this kind, so he wondered where he had obtained the seed that grew such good fruit, and no mat-ter how much he puzzled over it, he could never think where they came from. From those few trees the "Baldwin" apple has spread, not only over Ohio, but to many other States.
About the 1st of May, 1802, Royal Pease started from his home in Connecticut and made his way slowly and with many hardships to his land on the Reserve, arriving here in June. He located on what was known as the Bent place, where he made a clearing, built a cabin, and put out his first crop. It must be remembered that 1802 was quite an early date to be in the woods of Ohio, for there were at the time probably not much over a dozen families in the county of Portage, or rather what is now Portage. There were no roads leading to where Pease settled, and not.a human being nearer to him than five or six miles. He had many neighbors, however, in the dense forests that surrounded him—entirely too many—and their howlings through the long and dreary nights of this first winter in the wilds was enough to "fright the souls" of sterner men than Royal Pease.
In April, 1803, arrived Benjamin Baldwin from Connecticut, the origi- nator, as stated above, of the "Baldwin" apple, and at the same time came Elia- kim kerriman, also from Connecticut. In the same month David Way and family moved in, and located on the northern part of Lot 9.
The first birth was that of a daughter, Rebecca, to David Way, in Decem-ber, 1803. The first death, that of Orestes Hale, son of Samuel Hale, occurred in June, 1805. The first couple married after the organization were Alpha Wright and Lucy Foster.
In 1804 John Fritch, a Pennsylvania German, arrived, and made his settlement at the small lake southwest of the Center, for whom it has since been called Fritch's Pond. This lake is about one mile in diameter, and is one of the sources of the Little Cuyahoga River. Here honest John, the first of the Germans to make this township their habitation, but who have since come in in such numbers as to form fully three-fourths of the population, erected a mill, which was a great accommodation to the settlers, but in the construction of the dam it uncovered considerable soil, which bred malarious diseases, and it had finally to be destroyed, thereby putting an end to the mill as well. Also in this year came from Connecticut Daniel Warner, and soon after Ezekiel Tupper, 'Bradford Waldo and Champlin Minard, the latter in 1816 removing to Brimfield Township, where he remained. Waldo built the first house in Mogadore on the Suffield side.
In 1805 Martin Kent and family, and Jonathan Foster, a single man, came in. 'Foster afterward married Betsey Eggleston, of Aurora, moved to Mantua, became a prosperous farmer, a useful citizen, and for many years was a Justice of the Peace, besides filling the position of Associate Judge. Both him-self and wife died in 1867. In this year came Samuel Hale and his two sons Thomas and Orestes, the latter dying shortly after his arrival, from small-pox, which he had contracted at Pittsburgh. The father died in 1808 and was the first person interred in the grave-yard north of Josiah Bent's.
Settlers now began coming in more frequently, and in 1808 quite a number
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arrived, among whom was Moses Adams from Massachusetts. He had a large family of children, but his wife died on the road out. In 1810 he was elected Justice of the Peace and served nine years; he also represented Portage County in the Legislature. Mr. Adams took as his second wife Sarah Packer, a widow with six children. His son Horace, born in 1811, is now a hale and hearty old gentleman. His father settled on Lot 48. Moses Adams, Jr., was a noted hunter in his day, also Miles and Hiram Culver and John Fritch, and many are the stories related by the old settlers of how they would bring a fine buck in before breakfast, or a bear, or a brace of turkeys.
In April, 1808, Springfield Township was organized, embracing the terri-tory of six toivnships now included in this and Summit Counties. Benjamin Baldwin was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and about his first official act was to marry Freeman Upson and Sally Culver.
Suffield with its present boundaries was organized April 6, 1818, and at the request of some of the land owners in Suffield, Conn., was so named in place of retaining the unofficial title, Peasetown, by which it had been known. At the election held at the house of Thomas Hale, Martin Kent was chosen Chairman; Thomas Hale, Clerk, and Samuel Hale and Isaac Miller, Judges, the election resulting as follows: Trustees, Martin Kent, James L. Van Gorder, Ebenezer Cutler; Clerk, Thomas Hale; Treasurer, Samuel Hale; Overseers of the Poor, Isaac Harget, John Martin; Lister and Constable, Arad Upson. On the 7th day of May, following, Thomas Hale was elected Justice of the Peace. On May 15, 1818, the first list.of taxable property was filed by Arad Upson, with the Township Clerk, Thomas Hale. The present Township Officers are: Trustees, G. F. Newbaur, Joseph Paulus, George Lutz; Clerk, G. D. Fritch; Treasurer, Lawrence Memmer; Assessor, J. B. Stine; Constables, Lewis Knapp, Henry Weaver; Justices of the Peace, William Paulus, M. 0. Martin.
Suffield sent to the war for the Union 104 gallant boys in blue and twelve of them were sacrificed on the altar of their country.
In 1807 Harvey Hulbert presided over a school of nine pupils. In the summer of 1809 Laura Moore (Mrs Thomas Hale), presided over a school of six pupils in the same house where Hulbert taught in 1807. The present con-dition of schools is shown by the following statistics: Revenue in 1884, $4,936.48; expenditure, $3,083.15; number of houses, 10, valued at $10,000; pay of teachers, $20; enrollment, 220 boys and 185 girls.
Mogadore Union School District.—Revenue in 1884, $497.70; expenditure, $414.35; one schoolhouse valued at $2,000; pay of teachers, $35 and $55; enrollment, 66 boys and 59 girls.
Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1875, a house of worship erected in 1876, is served by Rev. Harshman, of Mogadore. The membership enrolled is about thirty. John Royer is Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and Isaac Slabaugh, Steward.
Suffield Reformed Church was founded in 1841, by Rev. Ham, of Manchester, under the name German Reformed Church. In 1883 the society was reorganized under the present name with sixty-five members, and Rev, J. H. Beek, pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Nov inger. The house now occupied by the Newbauer family contains the logs of the first church; the frame of the second building is now Smith & Walter's store. In 1882 the present church was erected at a cost of $3,500. The Trustees are G. F. Newbauer, Daniel Bolander, Ambrose Garris and; Cook.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Randolph Township claims a large number of its members from this township (see Randolph Township).
The first store was opened in 1816, by James L. Van Gorder, .at the mill,
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when he was trying to find out, like the rest of the owners of that property, what it was best suited for. The next store was opened in Mogadore, in 1827, by William Richards, on the lot owned by Dr. J. C. Ferguson. The first postoffice was established in 1833, one mile and one-fourth west of the Center, and Benjamin Fritch was the first Postmaster. The first tavern was opened in 1840, by Seth Dustin, at the Center.
In 1835-37 a large German immigration set into the township, and as lands were cheap, soon largely increased the population. The emigrants brought with them principles of strict economy, industry and honesty, and they have made Suffield "blossom as a rose." Some of the best farms to be found anywhere are here; splendid orchards everywhere, and the finest barn on the Reserve can be seen on the road between the Center and Brimfield.
On the 18th of May, 1825, a fearful wind storm passed through the township from southwest to northeast. It was a genuine cyclone, and tore down trees as though they were so many dry weeds, killing quite a number of cattle and destroying all buildings in its path. It also passed across the southeast corner of Brimfield, and other points to the northeast.
Mogadore. —This village lies exactly upon the line dividing Portage from Summit County, and most of the business is on the west side of the line. The name is singular, and it is not known who suggested it. There is only one other Mogadore, and that is in Africa. The stores are in Summit County, but there are here two large potteries, operated respectively by Monroe & Son, and Martin Bros. also a steam clay-mill, a water clay-mill, a cider-mill and a grist-mill. There is a tile factory one mile from this village, and a pottery two miles therefrom. S. Bitterman keeps a hotel. Drs. Ferguson & Bowers are the physicians. Dr. Francis Schuck lives in the east part of the township.
Suffield Center.—General stores, Geidlinger Bros., Smith & Walter. Car-riage factory, Michael Bletzer. Harness shop, F. E. Schumacher. Carriage shop, Nicholas Luly. Tinners and slaters, F. C. Sweeney & Co. Physician, Dr. F. P. Russell. Postmaster, C. R. Geidlinger. There is at the Center a Reformed Church, no pastor, and a Methodist Episcopal Church, pastor, Rev. G. L. Norris.
The Fritch Mills at 'ritch's Pond were erected in 1805 or 1806; but owing to the miasma generated by the damming of the pond, the whole industry was declared a nuisance, and the dam destroyed. The second mill was built by James Shields, who sold it to Van Gorder. After passing through many hands, Daniel Harper converted it into a carding shop. Sometime after this David Ely put in saw-mill machinery and operated it for some years. In after years David and Samuel Ely established a pottery here.
Nicholas Luly's carriage shop on the east side of the village was established many years ago. About 1878 Mr. Luly established it as a carriage shop. Ile gives employment to five men.
The new Fritch saw-mill was established seventeen or eighteen years ago, by G. W. Frit& This mill employs three men annually. In 1884 he put up a cider-mill and operated it that fall.
The harness shop was established by F. C. Sweeney and Jacob Ebell three years ago (February, 1882). In 1884 they sold their interests to F. E. Schu-macher (at the time he sold his carriage shop to Michael Bletzer) who carries on the work of harness making. Ambrose Garris is employed here. He has worked at this trade in the township over twelve years.
The carriage and wagon factory of Michael Bletzer was started by F. E. Schumacher seven years ago. This industry gives employment to three hands.
George Michael established the first harness shop and Ambrose Garris the
second.
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There is a Schweitzer kase factory near the southern border of the township, where is manufactured an article almost equal to the imported. A number of schoolhouses dot the township at different points. The business of pottery is the largest interest in the township, the clay being obtained across the line in Summit County.
The statistics of the township for 1884 give the following figures: Acres of wheat, 2,556, bushels, 41,005; rye, 2 acres, bushels, 26; oats, 1,226 acres, 46,544 bushels. corn, 1,203 acres, bushels, 33,851; meadow, 717 acres, 1,062 tons of hay; clover, 977 acres, 1,373 tons of hay and 547 bushels of seed; flax, 15 acres; potatoes, 151 acres, 18,938 bushels; home made butter, 53,835 pounds; honey, 462 pounds from 77 hives; eggs, 22,887 dozens; vineyards, 8 acres; sweet potatoes, 1 acre; orchards, 362 acres apples’ 11,832 bushels; peaches, 154 bushels; ',ears, 97 bushels; plums, 82 bushels; wool, 5,595 pounds; mulch cows, 520; dogs, 142; killed, 6 sheep; animals died of disease, 48 hogs, 161 sheep, 27 cattle and 10 horses; acres cultivated, 7,564; in pasture, 2,223; in woodland, 1,904; waste land, 1,410, total, 13,101 acres. Pop- ulation in 1850 was 1,275, including 626 youth; in 1870, 1,444; in 1880, 1,530; in 1884, 1,550 (estimated).