(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 800 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Postal facilities were first accorded to Greensburg, under the official name of Inland, in 1838, Mr. John Berger being then appointed postmaster by President Van Buren; the present incumbent (1891) being Sheridan G. Berger, grandson of the former; the old gentleman, at 81 years of age, dying at the residence of his son in Akron, May 30, 1889; the present incumbent being one of the youngest appointees in the service—a few days past 21, only, on receiving his commission. GREENSBURG'S GREAT BOOM.—About the year 1854, the citizens of Greensburg and vicinity organized a stock company with a capital stock of about $2,000, in shares of $50, for the purpose erecting a suitable building and establishing a seminary the village. About this time the Evangelical Association we looking about with the view of establishing an educational instil tution in the interests of that denomination, similar to that of t Methodists at Mount Union. As an inducement to the locatio the proposed school in Greensburg, the stock was transferred to association, some as a donation and other shares at fifty cents the dollar. Under this arrangement the institution was organi under competent teachers, and for many years enjoyed a rema able degree of prosperity, having, at one time, about 130 stude in attendance. This created a demand for boarding houses, a necessitated an increase of other branches of business, under stimulus of which the population, and private and public bu ings of the village rapidly increased. But for reasons which c not now be well defined, differences and difficulties arose, which the property passed into the sole ownership of Bis Joseph Long and the school was closed. About 1869, the citi again organized, purchased the property from Bishop Lo refitted the building, this time placed it under auspices of Disciples, by whom it was quite successfully managed for so three or four years. It was then placed, rent free, under the control of Professor J. R. Davis, who, for two or three years, kept most excellent private academy therein, but, by reason of th multiplication of similar and larger educational institutions the vicinity, the enterprise did not prove remunerative, and w given up. Complications among the stockholders forced th property to legal sale, and being bought by private parties, th building was taken down, and the grounds devoted to other purposes. But notwithstanding its decadence, in this regard, an notwithstanding the concentration of almost every kind of mer cantile and mechanical business in the larger towns and railroa centers of the country, Greensburg fairly holds its own as the local business point for quite a large section of the rich farming country by which it is surrounded. OTHER VILLAGE ENTERPRISES.—East Liberty, four miles northwesterly from Greensburg, was laid out by John Castetter, in 1839. This village has usually maintained a store, tavern, postoffice (called Summit), and sundry mechanical establishments, but nat possessing any special elements of enterprise, and being so near the city of Akron, can hardly expect to attain to anything mare than the pleasant hamlet that it now is. Myersville, three miles east of East Liberty, is an outgrowth of the location of the Valley Railway through that portion of the township. It was laid out on the lands of John B. Myers, about 1880, and as a railroad station is of INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL, ETC. - 801 very great convenience to the people of the vicinity. The village maintains a store and postoffice, with quite a number of private residences, and may be regarded as a permanent adjunct to the business interests of Green township. DARIUS F. BERGER, — born in Middlebury, March 5, 1835; educated in district schools, and Marlboro and Greensburg Seminaries ; raised to mercantile ,life in store of his father, Mr. John Berger, in Greensburg, in 1863, with his brother, Clinton F., succeeding to the business, the latter retiring in 1868; was married November 25, 1858, to Miss Arnestena C. Henkle, of Ashland county, who has borne him six children -Sheridan G., Arthur F., Homer E., Lottie C., Arlin E., and John H. During the War he was a member of the Ohio National Guards, and commanded company H., 164th regiment, in its 100 days' service before Washington, as elsewhere stated. In 1884, Captain Berger moved to Akron and engaged in the sale of engines and threshing machinery, in 1887 transferring his Greensburg business to his sons Sheridan G., and Homer E., the former also assuming the duties of postmaster, which position had been successively held by his grandfather and father for nearly half a century. and probably the youngest officer in the service, being barely of age when appointed. Captain Berger is now assisting his son, Arthur F., now a successful dealer in groceries and provisions, at 262 West Market street, in Akron ; the second son, Homer E., now officiating as bookkeeper for County Treasurer E. S. Oviatt. GREEN'S INDUSTRIES.—Agriculture, as before intimated, is the principal industry of Green township, as, from a drive in any direction, its well-kept farms, neat and comfortable residences, mammoth barns, and magnificent horses and cattle, will clearly indicate. In addition to this, the Tritt mill, already spoken of, the Stauffer mill, and sundry other mills for grinding grain and sawing lumber, were of infinite service to the early settlers, in their domestic and farming operations. Blacksmiths, wagon-makers, cabinet-makers, shoemakers, harness-makers, tanners, etc., have been maintained in different locations, wool-carding and cloth-dressing also being an early industry of the township. The township is also largely underlaid with coal, hitherto not very extensively worked for want of proper transportation facilities, quite an extensive mine now (1891) being operated by the Lake View Coal Company, near East Liberty, the switch of the Valley Road to their Coventry mine, being extended to this. Iron ore was mined to a limited extent in the days of the Middlebury furnace, 60 years ago. The production of lime for building purposes, in different portions of the township, has, at times, been quite extensively carried on, while the manufacture of drain tile, from an excellent quality of clay found on the line of the Valley Railway, in the southeast corner of the township, is quite an extensive industry. EDUCATIONAL MATTERS. — Green has been represented by former "historians" as lacking in educational enterprise and 51 802 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. intelligence, one writer saying: "Most of the early settlers were Pennsylvania Dutch, and many of these were very ignorant and superstitious, consequently at an early day the cause of education did not flourish." This statement I believe to be at variance with the facts. True, the early settlers were from Pennsylvania, and most of them of German descent, but that they were especially "ignorant and superstitious " beyond the general ignorance and superstition of their neighbors, and of the time, is undoubtedly an error, if not a downright slander. At all events, during the half century that the writer has been familiar with the people of that township, though simple in their habits of life, and quaint of speech and expression, he has found them fully abreast of the times in point of general intelligence and current events. And certainly, so far as outward appearances, are concerned, the numerous school houses of the township--all commodious brick structures —have always been far in advance of the average school houses of the Reserve townships of the county. ELECTORAL AND POLITICAL MATTERS.—For several years after its organization, the local and general elections of the township were held at such convenient places as could be secured, but after the village of Greensburg was established, the elections were held there until about the year 1860, since which time, by orders of trustees, they have alternated between that village and East Liberty. The Legislature of 1886, '87, however, divided the township into two separate precincts, with voting places at both villages, a much more convenient arrangement, considering the great distance that many of the voters had to travel, in whichever place the polls might be located under the former plan. Politically, Green is quite largely Democratic, and, though having many earnest and thorough-going Republicans within her borders, has never failed in returning a Democratic majority but twice; first, by scoring a majority of one for John Brough for governor, over Clement L. Vallandigham, in 1863, and by the same majority expressing a preference for General Grant for president, over Horatio Seymour, in 1868. CRIMINAL CATALOGUE.--Though staid, sober and honest to a degree seldom reached by so large an area of territory, Green has not been entirely exempt from criminal depredations and excitements. Passing by many minor criminal offences, and a number of convictions for forgery, burglary, grand larceny, horse stealing, etc., we will only notice those of a homicidal nature, in which citizens of the township have been involved. HORRIBLE DEATH OF MICHAEL MYERS.-One of the earliest sensations of Green township was the death of Michael Myers, who was employed in quarrying lime stone at the lime kiln of John Kepler, near his coal bank at East Liberty. Early on Sunday morning, February 24, 1844, the dead body of Mr. Myers was found lying near the edge of the burning kiln, under such circumstances as to render it probable that he had been foully dealt with; the forepart of one leg, from the knee down to the foot, being burned to a coal, and the foot of the other leg charred to the ankle, while his hands and other portions of his person were also badly burned, and what appeared to be a small punctured wound also being found upon the back part of his head. GREEN'S CRIMINAL AFFAIRS - 803 The ghastly discovery created the most intense excitement, not only in the immediate neighborhood, but in the adjoining townships, and at the county seat, and neighbors and interested parties immediately sought to ascertain the cause of his sudden and horrible "taking off. For some reason or other suspicion was directed against Mr. and Mrs. William Reed and Elijah Bowers, and warrants were sworn out for their apprehension. The preliminary examination was had before Justice Jacob Brown, of Akron, assisted by Justices Joseph D. Baird, of Springfield, and Henry Converse, of Akron, and Mayor Harvey H. Johnson. The examination resulted in the commitment of both of the men, on the charge of murder, Mrs. Reed being discharged. Notwithstanding the large array of magisterial wisdom before whom the examination was had, and their judgment, from the testimony adduced, that Reed and Bowers were probably guilty of the murder of Myers, n o record whatever of the case can be found in the Court of Common Pleas, nor do the newspapers of the day again allude to the affair. The recollection of the writer is that Prosecuting Attorney George Kirkum, Esq., on a fuller investigation of the case, concluded that the death of Myers was either suicidal or accidental, and that Reed and Bowers were entirely innocent of any complicity in the sad affair, and simply dropped the matter without bringing it to the attention of grand jury, or having the transcript filed in the Court of Common Pleas. THE STRIPE-COOPER TRAGEDY.-In 1862, Mr. John Stripe and Henry Cooper were operating contiguous coal mines, in the southeastern portion of Green township, Mr. Stripe's mine being in charge of his son, Isaac, then about 19 years old. Between Isaac and Cooper business jealousies had arisen, eliciting, as was alleged, threats of personal chastisement against Cooper by young Stripe, with perhaps counter threats on the part of Cooper. With this feeling of enmity existing between the two men, on the evening of November 10, 1862, in passing from his mine to his home, Cooper approached Stripe, saying, as is alleged, that he wished to have a talk with him, but, as Stripe maintained, in a menacing manner, with a stone in his hand, as if to assault him. Whichever version was the true one, Stripe having a long-handled shovel in his hands, struck Cooper two severe blows upon the head and face, felling him to the ground. Stripe then ran to his coal bank, saying to one William Dickerhoof, in his employ, as the latter stated at the coroner's inquest, that he had hit Cooper with a shovel, and wanted a pick or something to make it sure. But when Stripe, accompanied by Dickerhoof, came to the place where Cooper had fallen, he was not there, having so far recovered as to get up and and walk to his home, distant about 40 rods. After informing his family what had happened, Mr. Cooper was immediately taken with vomiting, and though attended by skillful physicians, rapidly grew worse until his death, which occurred November 19. A little son of Cooper, who had been working with his father in the mine, and who had passed on home while, his father stopped to talk with Stripe, while washing himself upon the door step, also saw the blows struck and his father fall. As it became apparent that Cooper was likely to die from his injuries, the excitement in the vicinity became very great, and on the 17th day of November, an affidavit was filed by Thomas 804 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Highton, before Justice Alexander Johnston, charging Stripe with assault with intent to murder, Justice Johnston, on preliminary hearing, holding him to bail in the sum of $500, to answer to the Court of Common Pleas on the above charge, his father, John Stripe, going upon his bond. The coroner's inquest found that Cooper died from the effects of the blows inflicted by Stripe, and the grand jury indicted him for murder in the second degree, the traverse jury on final trial, at the February term, 1863, finding him guilty of manslaughter, Judge Canfield sentencing him to 15 months' imprisonment in the penitentiary. He was taken to the penitentiary March 10,1863, and released April 14,1864-a discount for good conduct of one month and 26 days. Since his restoration to liberty Mr. Stripe—never addicted to excessive indulgence in intoxicating liquors—has been a sober, industrious and reputable citizen of Green township, having been for several years the proprietor of quite an extensive tile manufactory on the eastern border of the township, and contiguous to the Valley Railway. THE SEMLER-KEPLER HOMICIDE.—On the 1st day of May, 1852, Godfrey Semler was married to Sarah Jane Kepler, daughter of Andrew J. Kepler, of East Liberty. Living for a year or two near Canal Fulton, in Stark county, Mr. and Mrs. Semler returned to East Liberty and engaged in hotel keeping. This occupation served to augment the hitherto somewhat tippling habits of Semler, and he rapidly fell into dissipation and consequent domestic infelicities, being at times so grossly abusive of his wife as to compel her, with her children, to seek the protection of her parents and other friends in the neighborhood, her life at such times often being threatened by her inebriated husband. THE FATAL IMBROGLIO.—On Thursday, August 10,1871, Semler visited Akron, accompanied by one of his little girls, whose picture he had had taken during the day, as usual returning home considerably intoxicated. Showing the picture to his wife, and asking how she liked it, she replied that it was a very good picture, only the hands looked rather too large for such a child. At this Semler became very greatly exasperated; accused his wife of making fun of and ridiculing her own child, hurling at her the grossest abuse and threats until a late hour of the night and until finally overcome by drunken slumber. On finding, towards morning, that he was at length sound asleep, Mrs. Semler quietly awoke her three children—two girls and one little boy—and dressing herself and them left the house, but instead of this time going to the home of her own parents, as she had so often done before, walked nearly four miles to the home of Semler's parents, near Greensburg, to solicit their intercession in securing better treatment from her husband. Failing to secure the sympathy and co-operation of father and mother Semler, in behalf of herself and children, that she had anticipated, towards evening, Friday, August 11, they started back again on foot towards East Liberty, but getting a timely ride, a part of the distance, in a farmer's wagon. While thus riding, they were met by Semler, carrying a gun, who, threatening to shoot her, twice snapped the gun at her, but which, by reason of not being loaded, or owing to a defect in the lock, failed to go off. THE SEMLER-KEMLER HOMICIDE.805 Arriving at her father's house, but hesitating about obtruding her domestic troubles further upon her parents, who as she supposed had retired for the night, she seated herself with her children upon the porch. The little ones, being weary and restless. soon attracted the attention of the old people by their cries and moans, and were at once taken into the house and provided with lodgings for the night. About 10 o'clock, while Mrs. Semler and her parents were talking the matter over, Semler, who had not been inside of the house for three or four years, knocked at the door, and was invited in by his father-in-law. Semler demanded that his wife should go home with him, which she declined to do, as the children had gone to bed, but promised to do so early in the morning. Seeming satisfied with this promise, Semler left the house, and the two women went to bed, the old gentleman remaining up, or reclining upon the settee in the kitchen. After a time Semler returned, and being again admitted to the house by Kepler, again demanded that his wife should at once go home with him. Kepler replying that she was probably asleep, urged him to go away, promising that she should go early in the morning. Instead of complying with Mr. Kepler's request, Semler forced himself into the bed room in search of his wife. In the meantime, being alarmed at his return, Mrs. Semler had taken refuge under the bed. Not finding her in the bed, by the aid of the lantern he had with him, he soon discovered her hiding place, and pulling her out, raised her to her feet, and began choking her with such severity that she soon sank to the floor. At this point the old gentleman, seizing a cane-gun which was standing behind the door, ordered Semler to leave the room, which he did. The party then sat down in the kitchen to talk the matter'over, the old gentleman in the meantime standing the cane-gun in one corner of the kitchen. Semler again demanded of his wife that she should at once go home with him, but she declined to do so, saying that he had snapped his gun twice at her that evening, to which he replied, "Oh, that was all in fun!" Seeming, at length, to acquiesce in the promise of Mrs. Semler and her parents that she would return to him in the morning, Semler invited his father-in-law to go up town with him and get a drink of beer. The old gentleman declined on account of being too tired, whereupon Semler proposed to bring some beer to the house, if he would drink with him, to which Kepler assented. On Semler's return, while the two men were drinking the beer, the entire family were discussing the family troubles. At length, under the inspiration of his fresh potations, Semler renewed his demand that his wife should go home with him, which she refused to do. again reminding him of his attempt to shoot her earlier in the evening. A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.—Finding himself again repulsed, Semler, setting his lantern down near the door, started towards his wife, as if to forcibly drag her home with him. Divining his intention she took refuge behind the settee upon which her father was sitting. As Semler seized hold of his wife the old gentleman interposed, and being rather the stronger of the two, a terrible hand-to-hand struggle ensued, both falling to the floor. In the struggle, Semler, as was alleged, managed to get hold of the cane-gun in 806 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. question, which he discharged at the old gentleman while in a recumbent position, in such a manner that the slug shaped bullet plowed through the fleshy portion of the left leg, and entered the abdomen about two inches below the lower point of the breast bone, lacerating the liver and other internal organs, from the effects of which the old gentleman died on the night of August 16, 1871. Semler also received a wound in his arm, in the melee, and his version of the affair was that while he and Kepler were struggling on the floor, the old lady discharged the cane-gun at him, the ball of which, after passing through his arm, also wounded the old gentleman. BOTH SEMLER AND MRS. KEPLER ARRESTED.-The shape of the wound upon the person of Mr. Kepler, led the examining physicians, Drs. 0. E. Brownell and C. A. Perdue, to conclude that he had been stabbed with some slim, sharp instrument in the hands of Semler, and both Mrs. Kepler and Semler were taken into custody, the former for shooting Semler, and the latter for stabbing Kepler. A preliminary examination, in Semler's case, was had before Justice William D. Sweeten, of Greensburg, who held Semler to bail, in the sum of $1,800, on the charge of stabbing with intent to wound, John and Michael Semler going upon his bond as sureties. It transpiring, during the examination, that, after being wounded by Semler, while lying upon the floor, Kepler had probably struggled to his feet and seizing his loaded rifle standing in another corner of the kitchen, had fired at Semler as he was leaving the room, thus accounting for the wound in Semler's arm, the old lady was not proceeded against. A NEW PHASE OF THE AFFAIR.---Mr. Kepler dying from his injuries, August 16, 1871, a post-mortem examination by Dr. Thomas McEbright, revealed the fact that the wound in the abdomen of the deceased was caused by a bullet, instead of a stab, and Prosecuting Attorney Jacob A. Kohler, Esq., filed an affidavit before Justice William M. Cunningham, of Akron, charging Semler with murder in the second degree, on which charge he was held to bail in the sum of $3,000, in default of which Semler was committed to jail, the proper bond being filed before Probate Judge U. L. Marvin, September 2, 1871, with Michael and John Semler as sureties. INDICTMENT, TRIAL, ETC.-At the November term, 1871, of the Court of Common Pleas for Summit county, the grand jury indicted Semler for murder in the second degree, to which, on the advice of his attorneys, General A. C. Voris and Hon. Henry McKinney, he entered a plea of not guilty, and was duly put upon his trial before Judge Samuel W. McClure, and a jury. The trial lasted several days, and was closely contested at every point, Prosecutor Kohler being ably assisted by his law partner, Hon. Sidney Edgerton, on behalf of the State, and Messrs. Voris and McKinney defending with their usual vigor and ability. The charge of Judge McClure was an able exposition af the law governing homicides and the rules of applying evidence in cases of that character, the jury, after a brief consultation returning, through their foreman, George W. Weeks, Esq., a verdict of guilty of manslaughter. Motion for new trial being overruled, by Judge McClure, the defendant was sentenced to the State Penitentiary for a period of GREEN TOWNSHIP IN WAR - 807 five years, whither he was conveyed by Sheriff August Curtiss, on the 19th day of December, 1872, his age being at that time 32 years. PARDONED BY GOVERNOR ALLEN.-It afterwards appearing, from the revised recollections of the two women of the badly mud-died events of the fatal evening, that in the struggle between the two men, the cane-gun in question was probably accidentally discharged, and that Semler was entirely innocent of even the milder form of homicide for which he had been convicted, Prosecutor Kohler and others interested themselves in his behalf, and he was pardoned by Governor William Allen on the 27th day of March, 1874, after faithful service to the State of two years, four months and eight days. SUBSEQUENT HISTORY.--Satisfied that she could never again live happily with her husband, even should he not return to his cups, on leaving the prison, Mrs. Semler applied for and was granted a divorce, at the January term, 1872, with the restoration of her maiden name, custody of children, control of property, etc., and on the 31st day of December, 1874, she was married to Frederick Gindling, of Green township, with whom she is now living happily in the state of Michigan. And as to Semler, himself, instead of profiting by his bitter experience, and reforming his habits, while not regarded as especially vicious, the opinion entertained of him by those who know him best may be summed up in the single but expressive word—" worthless." GREEN'S MILITARY RECORD. It is presumable that among the large number of sturdy and patriotic immigrants from Pennsylvania, who settled in Green township, there were a number of the battle-scarred survivors of the Revolutionary War, but unfortunately their names have not been preserved in the local traditions of the township. Its inhabitants were so sparse, at the breaking out of the War of 1812, that but few recruits were furnished by Green for the defense of the frontier, and not all of those, even, have been handed down. John Kepler, being unable to go himself secured young John Dixon as his substitute, providing him with the necessary equipage, consisting principally of a gun, knapsack, and blanket. Andrew Kepler personally entered the service, and also Peter Buchtel, who died of disease at Sandusky; William Triplet, on reporting for duty at Canton, being rejected by the examining surgeon, because of his enfeebled appearance from a severe attack of fever and ague, from which he was suffering. In the Mexican War of 1846-8, the patriotism of Green did not "enthuse," for though generally in full sympathy with the political party then in power, her people did not apparently approve of the measures by which that war was brought about. But in the War of the Rebellion, notwithstanding the adverse feeling and action of a large proportion of their political partisans, Green was found to be eminently true to the Union cause. Up to July, 1862, she had furnished 62 volunteers. In the subsequent calls of that and the succeeding year, Green promptly responded; and, when in the Spring of 1864, Governor Brough tendered to Mr. Lincoln the Ohio National Guard to man the forts surrounding 808 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Washington, thereby releasing several thousand veterans to follow the fortunes of the victorious Grant, Captain D. F. Berger's large company turned out to a man, all of whom, except the very few rejected for positive disability, were duly mustered into service at Camp Taylor, in Cleveland, May 16, 1864, as a part of the 164th Regiment, 0. N. G. After a faithful service of 100 days, in the heat of an almost tropical Summer, the company was mustered out at the same place August 27, 1874. In the last draft of the war, in October 1864, prizes were drawn by several of the good citizens of Green, Captain Berger, who had just been mustered out of service as above, included. Such of these drafts as were not rejected for disability by the examining surgeons, either responded in person or by substitute; the total number of soldiers (including the 100 day men) furnished by Green township for the suppression of the rebellion, as reported to the writer by Captain Berger, and compiled from assessors' returns for 1865, being 176, as follows: Joseph F. Anderson, Daniel J. Angstadt, Jerome Ansbach, John L. Bender, Emanuel Buck, John Bussard, Henry Brumbaugh, Otho H. Beard, John Burkett, Elias Bickel, Darius F. Berger, John Burkhardt, Peter Corl (killed in battle), Daniel Cobb, Cornelius Cobb, Elias Cramer, Benjamin Chisnell, James Collar, Benjamin Corl, Gerge Denious (died in service), William Dickerhoof, William B. Dice, John F. Dickerhoof, George W. Dice (killed in battle), Amos Daily, George Dissinger, Henry D. Evans (killed in battle), George Foust (killed in battle), Daniel S. Foust, Hiram Foust, Joel Frank (killed in battle), Jacob Foster (died in service), Suel Foster, Jonathan Foster, John Fry, Levi Fasnacht, George H. Fasnacht, Henry Fees, James Fees, Elias Foster, Jacob Gardner (killed in battle), William Garmon, Harrison Garmon, Jeremiah J. Garmon, Jacob Garmon, Alexander Grable, Jacob Grable, Jerome Grable, Andrew Greenho, Frederick Gindling, William Guise (died in service), Hiram Haring, John Hugh, Elias Harrington, William F. Harrington (died in service), Milo Hunsberger (died in service), William Hartong (killed in battle), Lewis Hartong, Levi Hartong, James Howard, Isaiah Hunsberger, James Hayes (killed in battle), David Houser (killed in battle), Simon Humbert (killed in battle), Wellington Isbell, Rufus M. Jones, Henry Jarrett, Beneville Kinzy, Jonas Kahler, John P. Kepler, David Kline, Martin Kline, Alchia A. Koontz, Jonathan B. Kreighbaum, William Kramer, William Klinefelter, William Kline, Martin Kahler, Isaac Kinzy, Emanuel Kinzy, George Kleckner, John Lamberson, Daniel Lamberson (killed in battle), Noah N. Leohner, Jacob Lepard, George W. Lepard, Henry Linebaugh, Jacob Long, Obed Long, Ishmael Long, John L. Louby, Michael Lutz, Benjamin F. Manderbach, William C. McBride, D. O. Mottinger, Samuel Mottinger, Daniel J. Mottinger, John C. Musty, P. H. Musty, Rodney McPike, Joseph R. Mell, Jerome J. Musser, Isaac S. Miller, Henry Manderbach, M. E. McBride, Peter Nicholas, Isaac. Powles, Nicholas Pontious, Simon Peters, Frederick Pippus, Isaac Pontious, Frederick Remley (killed in battle), Christian F. Remley (killed in battle), Hiram Ream, Andrew J. Ream, Samuel Ream, Simon Ream, Lewis Ream, George Rininger, Samuel Rininger, Jehu Rininger, William H. Rininger, G. W. Rhodes, Samuel Raber, Manum Royer, John Stevens (died in service), Samuel Steese, GREEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE - 809 John W. Steese (killed in battle), William F. Spidel, Ezra Spidel, Ira Spidel, Isaas Shutt, David H. Shutt, Elias Shutt, Daniel G. Shutt, Charles C. Smith (killed in battle), Hiram B. Smith (died in service), Joseph D. B. Siess, Joseph Simon, Elias Shriver, Balser Shriver, Henry Shriver, Daniel Stamm, Franklin G. Stipe, Aaron Swartz, George Switzer, Urias F. Sefner, Edmund Shriver (drafted), Simon S. Stayer, Joel Stayer, Christian Schaffer (died in service), Jacob Sickmer, Elijah Shriver, William Smith, John Sayler, Andrew Tousley, Joseph C. Tousley, Albert M. Tousley, Joel T. Tousley, Jacob Tritehart, Peter Tritt, Samuel Winkleman, Henry L. Winkleman, John Winkleman, Franklin Winkleman, Isaac Weaver (killed in battle), William Weaver (killed in battle), Jacob Weaver, Reuben C. Wagoner, Elias Wise, Aaron Welty, Jacob White, Hiram J. Weckerley, Allen Whetstone, Adam Weston, Cephas Witwer, Peter Witwer, Henry Wagoner, Jefferson Yerrick (died in service), Alfred Yerrick, Andrew Yerrick, Hiram Yerrick, Lewis Yerrick. COUNTY, STATE AND NATION.—Though not, perhaps, numerically so prominent in public affairs as some of her sister townships, Green is able to present a highly honorable record in that regard. COUNTY RECORDER.—Alexander Johnston, Esq., one of Green's most successful and substantial farmers, was elected as Summit county's first recorder, in April, 1840, and re-elected in October of the same year; for three years and seven months rendering his constituents signal service, in organizing the real estate records of the new county, and in properly adjusting them with those of the several counties out of which Summit had been formed. STATE REPRESENTATIVE.—SO well pleased were the people of the county with Mr. Johnston's work as recorder, that, in October, 1846, they elected 'him, by a handsome majority, to a seat in the House of Representative, at Columbus, the county's interests being faithfully cared for during the session, 1846-7. Mr. Johnston, now (November, 1891), 84 years of age, in the pOssession of all his physical and mental faculties, still lives on his fine farm, in the southeastern portion of the township. [See portrait and biography on page 1011 COUNTY SHERIFF.—Jacob Chisnell, a resident of Green township, was elected to the important office of sheriff, in October, 1860, taking possession of the office on the first Monday of January, 1861. An accordance with the custom, and for faithful service during his first term, Mr. Chisnell was re-elected for two years, in October, 1862, his four years, while perhaps rendered more onerous thereby, being probably somewhat less remunerative, by reason of the war which continued through the entire two terms of his incumbency. COUNTY AUDITOR.—George W. Crouse, though born in staid old Tallmadge, rejoices in being known as a son of Green, going hither, with his parents, while yet almost in his infancy. Having, remarkable industry and perseverance, fitted himself therefor, 1855 he became an assistant to both the auditor and treasurer, his work being so well performed, that, in October, 1858, at the age of 25 years, he was elected county auditor, for two years, and in 1860, re-elected for the second term. 810 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. COUNTY TREASURER.—Some two weeks before the expiration of his term, as auditor, a vacancy occurring in the office of trea urer, the county commissioners-Messrs. David E. Hill, of Middlebury, George Buell, of Akron, and Nelson Upson, of Twinsburg unanimously appointed Mr. Crouse to the vacancy, which he fill with his usual fidelity for the seven remaining months of th term. STATE SENATOR.—Though by this time pretty well grounded as a resident of the city of. Akron, Green was still further honored by the selection of Mr. George W. Crouse, in 1885, to represent the 24th and 26th districts combined, composed of Summit, Portage, Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula counties, in the State senate, which he most acceptably did until "called up higher," by the voice of the people of the 20th congressional district of Ohio, composed of Wayne, Medina, Summit and part of Cuyahoga counties, as it REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, from March 4th, 1887, to Third) 4th, 1889, the duties of which position he performed with the same unswerving ability and integrity that have ever marked both his business and official life, declining a renomination for a second term. [See portrait and biography on page 152.] COUNTY COMMISSIONER.—Washington G. Johnston was elected county commissioner in November, 1890, making in all respect-, a first-class officer. PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS (1891).-Trustees, John F. Wise. Henry Brumbaugh, Jonathan L. Grable; clerk, Isaac B. Rohrer; treasurer, William Krumroy; justices of the peace, Clinton C. Foster, Sylvester S. Kepler; postmasters, Inland, Sheridan G. Berger; Summit, William Dreese; Myersville, Norman B. Bid leman ; Comet. Freeman Daily. CHAPTER XXXVIII. RUDSON THE PIONEER TOWNSHIP OF SUMMIT COUNTY—LONG AND PERILOUS JOURNEY—"HOME AT LAST," JUNE, 17'79—EARLY PRIVATIONS—FIRST PUBLIC THANKSGIVING—PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION, JULY 4, 1800—VITAL STATISTICS— WONDERFUL LONGEVITY OF EARLY SETTLERS—ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP—INDIAN AND WILD BEAST EXPERIENCES—RELIGION, CHURCHES, ETC.—EDUCATIONAL MATTERS—WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE, ITS RISE, PROGRESS AND DECLINE—HUDSON'S PAST AND PRESENT BUSINESS STATUS —MILITARY OPERATIONS—SPLENDID CIVIL RECORD—CRIMINAL MATTERS—THE MALONEY-STEPLETON HOMICIDE—EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE—PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER—TRIAL, LIFE SENTENCE, PARDON, SUBSEQUENT LIFE, ETC.—HUDSON'S PUBLIC SPIRIT, RAILROAD ENTERPRISE, ETC. HUDSON'S ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS. IN the original Survey of the Western Reserve, by the Connecticut Land Company, what is now called Hudson, was designated as Township 4, Range 10, and is so known on the county records and tax duplicates at the present time. In the distribution of the lands by draft, as elsewhere explained, this township fell to David Hudson, Birdsey Norton, Nathaniel Norton, Stephen Baldwin, Benjamin Oviatt and Theodore Parmelee. The township contained 16,000 acres, the purchase price of which was 52 cents per acre (a total of $8,320.00); but owing to the report of the surveyors that a large portion of the township was swamp, 10,000 additional acres, in the "equalizing" townships of Norton and Chester, was thrown in, making the actual cost of the whole 26,000 acres, just 32 cents per acre. FIRST VISIT TO TOWNSHIP.—This purchase, perfected in 1798, was first visited by Mr. Hudson, in 1799. Accompanied by his eleven-year-old son, Ira, and (as hired help) Jesse Lindley, William McKinley, and Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Lacey, and their two children), the party started from Goshen, Litchfield county, Connecticut, April 23, 1799, Mr. Lacey acting as caterer and teamster, and Mrs. L. as cook. At Albany Mr. Hudson hired Joseph Darrow, at $10 per month, to assist hint in making his surveys; at Fort Schuyler, Jonah Meacham, and at Onondaga, Richard Blin were taken on, the party reaching Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y., the home of Mr. Nathaniel Norton, on the 5th day of May. Here they were detained eleven days preparing for their long and perilous journey. Here, also, Mr. Hudson fell in with Mr. Benjamin Tappan, the proprietor of Ravenna, afterwards for many years, known as Judge Tappan, and a United States Senator from Ohio, from 1839 to 1845. Mr. Tappan bought one yoke of oxen, and Mr. Hudson two yoke, and two cows, which were placed in charge of Mr. Hudson's man, Meacham, and two of Mr. Tappan's men, who drove them safely through, on the Indian trail to Buffalo, and thence along the lake shore to about the present site of Painesville, thence southerly, on the marked township lines, to their respective destinations. 812 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Mr. Hudson, on reaching Geandiquot (pronounced " Gondigut”) Bay, on Lake Ontario, found the boat which had been provided for the conveyance of himself and party westward, unfit for use and engaged passage for himself and Darrow in one of Mr. Tappan's boats; also arranging with Mr. Elias Harmon, who was, with his wife, en route for 'Mantua, for the passage of Blin and McKinley; a part of his stores being divided between the two boats; the balance, together with his son, Ira, being left with Mr. and Mrs. Lacey, to work their way through the wilderness by land. DEACON DAVID HUDSON,-born in Bradford, Connecticut, February 17, 1761, and Anna Norton, born in Goshen, Connecticut, October 29, 1761, were married at Goshen, December 22, 1783, and moved to Ohio, settling in Hudson, in the Spring of 1800. They were the parents of nine children-Samuel, born April 4, 1785, died in Hudson, January 13, 1846 ; Ira, born September 19, 1788, died in Ravenna, September 20, 1817 ; William Norton, born November 8, 1789, died in Meigs county, July 28, 1863, from a gunshot wound received during the raid of the rebel John Morgan through Ohio; Milo Lee, born October 15, 1791, died in Chester, November 4, 1838 ; Daniel Norton, born February 27, 1794, died in Goshen, August 25, 1796 ; Timothy, .born May 20, 1796, died in Ligonier, Indiana, October 29, 1871 ; Abigail Laura, born June 30, 1798 (afterwards Mrs. Birdsey Oviatt), died in Hudson, April 24, 1860; A nner Mary (Mrs. Harvey Baldwin), born October 28, 1800, still living ; David Hudson, Jr., born September 7, 1805, died in Chester, May 14, 1836. The mother of these children, Mrs. Anna Norton Hudson, dying August 31, 1816, Deacon Hudson was again married, June 1, 1817, to Miss Mary Robinson, of Colebrook, Connecticut, Mr. Hudson dying March 17, 1836, at the age of 75 years and one month, the second Mrs. Hudson dying October 4, 1857. Deacon Hudson, as one of the original proprietors of Hudson township, and as the first actual settler in what is now Summit county, was not only an extensive farmer, but largely interested in many of the earlier mercantile and manufacturing enterprises of his township and village, and especially active in the promotion of its religious and educational interest as hereinafter more fully set forth. A PERILOUS JOURNEY.-The " fleet" started from Geandiquot Bay, May 16, but, from stress of weather, did not reach Niagara until the 22nd, and here they found the river full of floating ice. Getting, with very great labor, their boats and goods around and above the Falls, the little company pluckily persevered, against the rapid current and floating ice, reaching Buffalo Creek May 26, where they found an ice-gorge, at the mouth of the Niagara, according to Mr. Hudson's diary, "at least twelve feet high." That night, however, the gorge broke, leaving Lake Erie clear of ice, but with such a heavy swell and head winds, as to prevent further advance until the 29th. It was then noticed that the wind was less strong at night than during the day, and it was determined to travel by night, alternately rowing, poling and towing, as circumstances seemed to require. To this night work Mr. Lindley REFORMING A SHIRKER-PERILS OF THE DEEP - 813 objected, as he had hired out to work in the day time only. Without serious demur Mr. Hudson allowed him to have his own way; the others doing the work while he slept at his ease. While opposite Cattaragus Swamp, Mr. Hudson, one morning, provided Lindley with an ax and set him to work felling trees and chopping them up into cord wood, while the rest of the men were sleeping. After a few hours' labor in that line, Lindley, seeing the point of the joke, succumbed, and apologized to Mr. Hudson for the course he had taken, and promised thenceforth to do his share of the night work, if he would excuse him from cutting and piling cord wood hundreds of miles from any settlement. TEMPEST-TOSSED ON A LEE SHORE.-The party finally reached the mouth of Conneaut river, June 5, after leaving which, on the afternoon of that day, the wind, suddenly shifting to the north, blew with such violence as to drive them on shore, the boat in which were Mr. Hudson and Mr. Darrow; being filled with water, wetting all their provisions and other goods, and that on which were Blin and McKinley, having a hole stove in her bottom, through which a portion of Mr. Hudson's potatoes were lost in the surging waters of the lake. Lying by 24 hours, for repairs and drying their goods, the journey was resumed with favorable winds and fair sailing (blankets being used for sails), the party reaching Grand river (off the present city of Painesville), June 7th. This being the debarkation point for Mr. Harmon, he sold his dilapidated boat to Mr. Hudson for $1.00, with which, and Mr. Tappan's boat, the party safely reached the mouth of the Cuyahoga; Mr. Tappan's boat on the 9th and the other on the 10th of June. After almost infinite fatigue and trouble in ascending the tortuous Cuyahoga, the waters of which were at the time extremely low, the party reached the mouth of the Brandywine, in the present township of Northfield, June 17, 1779 (just one day less than a month after leaving Geandiquot Bay, a remarkably quick passage, indeed, under the circumstances), Mr. Hudson's boat having been plundered one night while the men were asleep, of quite a quantity of flour, pork, whisky, etc., supposed to have been done by a renegade Sandusky Indian and a white outlaw, who were known to be prowling about the neighborhood. AT LENGTH AT HOME.—After searching six days, Mr. Hudson found the western line of his township, when he and Mr. Tappan and their men set about cutting a road for the purpose of getting their goods to their respective localities, which they found very difficult on account of the hills and gullies in Northfield and Boston and the swamp in the west part of Hudson. But finally succeeding in getting a portion of his goods to the place selected, Mr. Hudson commenced his settlement by the erection of a rude bark shelter, near the southwest corner of his township, on the northeast corner of what is now known as lot eleven. Fortunately the men sent overland with the cattle, arrived the day after the "fleet" anchored at Brandywine. Rude sleds were constructed, by the use of which, drawn by the three yoke of oxen, which had, with immense labor, but good management, been brought safely through the wilderness, the goods of both Mr. Hudson and Mr. Tappan were speedily transported to their respective localities. RUNNING SHORT OF PROVISIONS.—In consequence of the loss of a portion of their supplies, as stated, and the non-appearance of 814 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Lacey and his wife, with the supplies that had been intrusted to them, Mr. Hudson became apprehensive that his little colony would soon begin to suffer for food while pursuing their labors in clearing a patch of land for a crop of wheat, and in surveying his township into lots. It afterwards transpired that Lacey, with a number of recruits furnished by Mr. Nathaniel Norton, and certain supplies forwarded by Captain Eliphalet Austin (proprietor of Austintown, Ashtabula county), had fitted, up the boat deemed unfit for use by Mr. Hudson, and had leisurely followed the original party, with about the same varied experiences and misadventures, arriving at their destination on the 19th of July; Mr. Hudson (also feeling very anxious about his boy)having gone down the lake in search of them, meeting them at the mouth of Cattaragus Creek. Thus, by the purchase of a small field of corn and potatoes from Mr. Lorenzo Carter, of Vermont, who had, a year or two before squatted upon the present site of the city of Cleveland; borrowing a small quantity of pork from a previous settler in a neighboring town, and temporarily appropriating a couple of barrels of Captain Austin's flour, the colony, with such accessions of game as they had time and opportunity to secure, managed to keep the wolf, hunger, at a respectful distance, though several of the party were assailed with the various forms of disease incident to change climate, exposure, etc. The first rude shelter (of bark) was soon superseded by a substantial log shanty, 16 x 18 feet, which, affording better protection to the men, soon produced improved health among them and the surveying, clearing, seeding, etc., rapidly proceeded; the survey, platting, etc., being completed on the 11th day of October; a small clearing having also been made a short distance north of the capacious public square, which had been laid out by Mr. Hudson on what is now known as township lot 56, on the east side of Main street, where Mr. Hudson the next year erected a two-room log house for his own use, a few years later building for himself, on lot 55, upon the opposite side of the street, the commodious frame house still standing there, and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Harvey Baldwin, as elsewhere alluded to. MR. HUDSON RETURNS TO CONNECTICUT.—Having placed his people in as comfortable condition as circumstances would admit of, and instructing them as to the work to be done in his absence, Mr. Hudson, on the 12th day of October, accompanied by his young son, Ira, Meacham and Darrow, in the frail craft purchased from Mr. Harmon, started on his return to Connecticut for his fa and such recruits for his family, new settlement, as he might be able to secure, after infinite toil, and many very narrow escapes, reaching Bloomfield in safety, about the middle of November. Leaving his little son with Nathaniel Norton, Mr. Hudson immediately pushed on to Goshen, on foot, arriving there November 19, the total expenses of his homeward journey, besides the suppliers carried along, being only $9.75; an example of pluck and economy that but few "pioneers" in any modern enterprise, would be able or willing, to undertake to emulate. In raising -recruits for his settlement, Mr. Hudson seem to have been exceptionally successful, and singularly fortunate Offering a bounty of 40 acres to the first recruit, the first party to FIRST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION - 815 step forward and claim the prize was Miss Ruth Gaylord—denominnated by a contemporaneous writer as " an ancient maiden " who afterwards gave the land thus secured, to her niece, a daughter of another of the new recruits, Elijah Noble. The other recruits were: Heman Oviatt (grandfather of Edward Oviatt, Esq.,) Joel Gaylord, Dr. Moses Thompson, Allen Gaylord, Samuel Bishop and his four sons-David, Luman, Reuben. nd Joseph—Stephen Perkins, Joseph and George Darrow, and three Vermonters named Stafford, Williams and Derrick, which with Mr. and Mrs. Hudson and their six children—Samuel, William N., Milo D., Ira, Timothy and Abigail L.—Mrs. Samuel Bishop, Mrs. Elijah Noble, Miss Ruth Gaylord, Miss Ruth Bishop, and the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Noble, made twenty-eight souls in all. AGAIN WESTWARD BOUND.—Some time in January, 1800, Mr. Hudson and his family, and certain of his own hired men, started in sleighs for Bloomfield, to make preparations for the journey westward in the early Spring. In addition to his own boat, which he caused to be thoroughly repaired, Mr. Hudson procured four other boats, which he loaded with grains and other supplies, including glass for the cabins built the previous Fall, and those contemplated, garden and fruit seeds, tools, etc., the entire outlay amounting to about $2,000. The other members of the party, having meantime reached Broomfield, and supplied themselves with three boats for the transportation of themselves and their effects, the entire party started, on the 29th day of April, 1800, and on the 20th, to quote from Mr. Hudson's diary, they "cheerfully launched out upon the great deep of Lake Ontario." We cannot follow them in all their journeyings, but after many vicissitudes, similar to those encountered on the former trip, the mouth of the Brandywine was reached on the 28th day of May, one day sooner than on the former passage, all, after a few days' delay, being safely transferred to the new settlement, where additional cabins, on chosen locations, were speedily erected for their accommodation. Before leaving Bloomfield, Mr. Hudson bought a horse, a bull, fourteen cows and some hogs, which, with a yoke of oxen bought by Samuel Bishop, had been placed in charge of Elijah Noble and Luman, David and Joseph G. Bishop, to be driven through the wilderness, which, starting a little in advance of the "fleet," arrived safely at the settlement about the same time. THANKSGIVING, PUBLIC WORSHIP, ETC.—After all the members of the colony were together, Mr. Hudson led his people in a public service of thanksgiving and praise to almighty God, who had brought them through " perils, seen and unseen," safely to their destination, and also took immediate measures to resume public worship on the Sabbath, which had been suspended during his absence, but which has since been continuously observed to the present time. The new settlers speedily and pluckily began the subjugation of the forest, and by indefatigable industry, in the clearing, seeding and cultivation of their lands, with the aid of such game as the woods afforded, soon became self-supporting, with an ever-cheerful welcome to the new-comer, or the stranger sojourning in their midst. INDEPENDENCE DAY.—Though far removed from the bloody scenes of the Revolution, the native patriotism of the colonists had in no sense become dormant, and on the Fourth of July, 1800, 816 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. the 24th anniversary of the National Independence, was, for the first time, duly celebrated on the "public green," consisting of about ten acres of land near the geographical center, which had been wisely dedicated to the public use by the liberal-minded proprietors of the township. The exercises consisted of an "anvil" national salute; martial and vocal music; the reading of the Declaration of Independence; an oration (by Mr. Hudson); regular and volunteer toasts, and patriotic responses, and a sumptuous dinner of wild turkey, venison, etc., the table being formed of poles laid across crotched stakes, and covered with layers of elm bark; forty-three persons, young and old—residents and invited guests—participating; and the writer ventures the assertion that the day has never since been celebrated with a greater degree of patriotic " vim," in Hudson, or on the liberty-loving Western Reserve. EARLY BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, ETC.-October 28, 1800, there was a native accession to the population of the township, in the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson—named Anner Mary—who, on arriving at woman's estate, was on the 6th day of October, 1817, married to the late Harvey Baldwin, with whom she happily lived almost on the same spot where she was born, for more than half a century (Mr. Baldwin dying June 12, 1880, aged 81 years, 8 months and 22 days), and where she still (November 1, 1891) survives, in full possession of all her faculties, in the 92nd year of her age. Mrs. Baldwin was born in Trumbull county, married in Portage county and now lives in Summit county, but has always, with one brief exception, resid upon the same farm where she was born, a paradox readily explained by the fact that Trumbull county, when organized, in 1800, embraced the entire Western Reserve, Portage county, organized in 1807, being carved out of Trumbull, and Summit count in turn, organized in 1840, taking two tiers of townships. includin Hudson, from Portage county. Early in 1801, Governor St. Clair appointed Mr. Hudson justice of the peace, the first marriage in the township, that of Geor Darrow to Olive Gaylord, being performed by him October 17, 18 Iris related that on account of the 'Squire's inexperience in th line, the affair was to have been strictly private, but that throng a hint dropped by his wife to a neighbor, when the 'Squire, by round-about way, got to the home of the bride's parents, he fou the little cabin filled with uninvited, but friendly and welco guests; Stephen Parker and Ruth Bishop, being married by t same functionary, November 5th, of the same year. The first death in the settlement, was that of Ira Noble, an eight-year-old son of Elijah Noble, who died of membranous croup, in August, 1800. WONDERFUL LONGEVITY.—In the Spring of 1801, a number of accessions, were made to the colony, mostly from Goshen, Ct., and Bloomfield, N. Y., the names of whom cannot now all be accuratel ascertained, though, in 1856, Rev. Caleb Pitkin published a list the adult pioneers immigrating into the township from 1800 1813 inclusive, as follows: David and Mrs. Hudson, Samuel and Mrs. Bishop, David Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. Luman Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. Gad Hollenbeck, Joseph Darrow,. Mr. and Mrs. George Darrow, Allen Gaylord, Mr. and Mrs. Jo Gaylord, Captain and Mrs. Heman Oviatt, Deacon and Mrs. Steph Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Steph PROLIFIC AND LONG-LIVED - 817 Thompson, Jr., Dr. and Mrs. Moses Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. George Pease, Mr. and Mrs. Eben Pease, Mr. and Mrs. William Leach, Mr. and Mrs. George Kilbourn, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford Kellogg, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Lusk, Mr. and Mrs. John Oviatt, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Whedon, Mr. and Mrs. George Holcomb, Mr.and Mrs. Zina Post, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. William Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. William Chamberlain, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Baldwin, Mr. and. Mrs. Samuel Hollenbeck, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kingsbury, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Ellsworth, Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Metcalf, Mr. and Mrs. Ariel Cobb, Mr. and Mrs. Gideon Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Case, 73 in all, who brought with them into the township 105 children. Up to 1856 there had been born to the 73 persons named, since coming to the township, 211 children, making a total of 316, or an average of nearly nine- children per couple. To Dar. Pitkin's list should properly be added, as corners to the township previous to 1814, the following, though some of them afterwards permanently settled in other localities:-Benjamin Oviatt, John Birge, James Newton, Rev. David Bacon, Zina Post, Christian Cackler, Jonathan Willi a ms, Dudley Humphrey, Rev. John Seward, and perhaps others whose names are not now ascertainable. All of the adults have probably long since passed away, as well as most of the children who came with them, though many of the native-born children of the original pioneers still linger, while a large number of their descendants are yet to be found among the sturdy and thrifty inhabitants of the township. Mr. Pitkin's statistics, compiled in 1856, show that of the 41 of the 73 pioneers named, who had died within the intervening 56 years, one lived to the age of 90; five, 80 to 90; fifteen, 70 to 80; five,. 60 to 70; eight, 50 to 60; seven, 33 to 50; and of the 32 then living, ten were in their 80th, nine, 60th to 70th, three-fifths of the whole number having lived beyond the age of 70 years, while quite a number of the 32, then alive, were permitted to live several years thereafter. Up to 1856, five of the pioneer couples named had hved together 55; 56, 60, 62 and 75 years, respectively, while several others had very nearly reached their golden anniversaries; a condition of longevity and of connubial intercourse, that few of the townships of the comity, or country can surpass, or even equal, either in ancient or modern times. ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP.—Aside from the judicial authority of Justice Hudson, by appointment of Governor St. Clair, early in 1801, Hudson was without legal organization until the Spring of 1802, when, by the action of the commissioners of Trumbull county, in connection with Stow, Boston, Twinsburg, Aurora and Mantua, it was set off as a township under the general name of Hudson. The first election was held at the house of 'Squire Hudson, April 5, twenty electors being present, ,Mr. Hudson being chairman. The officers then elected were as follows: Trustees, Heman Oviatt and Abraham Thompson, of Hudson, and Ebenezer Sheldon,. of Aurora; clerk, Thaddeus' Lacey, of Hudson; poormasters, Elias Harmon, of Aurora, and Samuel Bishop, of Hudson; fence viewers, Aaron Norton, John Oviatt and Jotham Atwater; appraisers of houses, John Gaylord and Elias Harmon; supervisors of highways, George Kilbourn, Moses Pond and Moses Thompson; constables,. Ebenezer Lester, Aaron Norton and Rufus Edwards. 52 818 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. HARVEY BALDWIN,—son of Stephen Baldwin, born in Goshen, Connecut, September 17, 1788 ; common school education ; in 1814 came to Hudson, clerking in store of his brothers, Augustus and Frederick, a three years ; October 6, 1817, was married to Miss Anner Mary Hudson daughter of Deacon David Hudson, born October 28, 1800, and the first white child born in what is now Summit county. The young couple settled on a farm two and a half miles northwest of the center, where they remained two or three years, when, at Mr. Hudson's request, they returned to the home farm, where they ever after resided. Mr. Baldwin thoroughly identified himself with the business and educational interests of the township and village, co-operating with, and, as his successor, fully carrying out Mr. Hudson's benefactions in educational, church and other public enterprises, being a trustee of Western Reserve College for over forty years. Mr. And Mrs. Baldwin were the parents of four children—Anna Norton, born October 17, 1818, died December 13, 1825 ; Harriet Maria, born September 3, 1824, died January 20, 1841 ; Clarissa Miriam, born October 27, 1830 (married to Professor Edwin S. Gregory, July 28, 1852, and now residing upon a portion of the old home farm), and Lucy Susanna, born October 8, 1843, and died August 12, 1860. Mr. Baldwin died June 12, 1880, in full possession of his mental faculties, at the age of 81 years, 8 months and 25 days. Mrs. Baldwin still occupies the paternal domicile, with sufficient mental and physical vigor to manage her household affairs, her 90th birthday, October 28, 1890, having been publicly celebrated by the good people of Hudson and a large number of invited guests, and, as this chapter goes to press (October 27, 1891), still tranquil and happy, is on the eve of celebrating her 91st anniversary. INDIAN EXPERIENCES, ETC.—It should be borne in mind that at the time the first white settlers came to Hudson, the Indians were in full possession of all the territory west of the Cuyahoga river, which was not ceded to the United States until 1805, and that quite a sprinkling of the red-skins still lingered within the territory east of the river, which had been ceded in 1785. Thus, much tact and skill had to be exercised by the leading men in the new settlement, to secure and maintain peace and harmony between the two races. This, largely through the liberality and fairness of INDIAN AND WILD BEAST TRADITIONS - 819 Mr. Hudson and the fearless good sense of Mrs. Hudson, was pretty generally maintained, though some turbulent and alarming episodes—chiefly caused by fire-water—would occasionally occur. After the shooting of Daniel Diver, in Deerfield, in the Winter of 1806-7, elsewhere written of, the course of the fleeing Indians was through Hudson, two of Hudson's earliest settlers—George Darrow and Jonathan Williams-joining in the pursuit, the latter shooting and killing the Indian, Nickshaw, in the present township of Richfield, and it was largely through the influence of Deacon Hudson and Captain Heman Oviatt, that a general Indian war was averted at that time. It is related that a troublesome Indian called George Wilson, delighted-especially when under the influence of whisky-to frighten the white women and children, when found alone in their cabins, and that upon one occasion, after one of his customary ugly visits to the house of Mrs. Newell, living in the southwest corner of the township, Williams followed him and shot him dead in his tracks, sinking his body, rifle, etc., in the mucky bottom of Mud Brook. Other similar exploits are attributed to Williams, both in Hudson, Stow and Northampton traditions, some of which may have a modicum of fact to rest upon, but are too vague to be recorded here as a matter of bona fide history. Bears, wolves, deer, turkeys and other wild animals and game ere, as in all the neighboring townships, abundant in Hudson in lose days, and many stories are extant of frightful collisions between some of the pioneer settlers and the two animals first named; one being that Governor Samuel Huntington, while riding through the woods from Tinker's Creek to Hudson, one evening after dark, was chased by a pack of wolves, which he kept at bay with his riding whip and umbrella, until, in nearly an exhausted condition, he finally reached the house of Colonel John Oviatt, in Hudson, about 9 o'clock at night; another that Elisha Noble, soon after leaving the house of Colonel Oviatt, one day, for his own cabin in the west part of the township, encountered a huge bear, who grappled with him, and would undoubtedly have squeezed the life out of him, but for the timely arrival of Colonel Oviatt, who heard his screams, and whose gun and ax soon caused bruin to relax his grip on Noble, and his Own hold on life; Mrs. Oviatt, herself, also, on one occasion, while returning from a distant neighbor's in the dusk of the evening, being chased by wolves, whose speed she checked by dropping pieces of dried venison, which had been given her by her neighbor, until her husband hearing her screams, came to her relief with a brand of fire and his trusty rifle. Among many other pioneer reminiscences extant among the good people of Hudson, is the following: Little Luna Pease, seven years old, started from her uncle Benjamin Oviatt's on a narrow trail through the forest, to go to her uncle Richard Croy's, with whom she lived, some three miles distant. Losing the trail, she became lost in the woods, and night coming on she lay down beside a log, and during the darkness some wild animal came and after smelling of her a few minutes, left her unmolested, Luna, young as she was, having the presence of mind to lie perfectly still. As soon as she was missed, searching parties were organized, provided with tin horns, to signal each other. Her uncle 820 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Croy's party first discovered her some time during the next day, by which time she had become so wild that she fled from them like a frightened deer, but was soon overtaken. Signaling the others, the entire party repaired to the village, where there was very hearty rejoicing over the recovery of the lost child, which child, now Mrs. John Ramsey, is still living in Collamer, nearly 80 years of age. RELIGION, CHURCHES, ETC.—As we have seen, on his arrival in his new township, to which his co-proprietors insisted his own name should be given, Mr. Hudson immediately established religious services, both private and public, and, in 1802, in connection with Deacon Stephen Thompson and Captain Heman Oviatt, he took measures for the organization of a church in the new settlement, of which Mr. Hudson himself was very properly elected one of the deacons—whence came the title by which Hudson's founder has been known to the present time. But, while strict in the observance of his own notions of religious duty, both private and public, unlike the chief agent in the settlement of Tallmadge--Rev. David Bacon—he did not, either by written or oral stipulations, seek to compel his associates, or subordinates, to adopt his own peculiar theological dogmas, but rather sought to mould them to his views, by the force of his example and the logic of his " daily walk and conversation" Thus, while embracing the very first opportunity of a visit to the Reserve, of a representative of the Connecticut Missionary Society--Rev. Joseph Badger—in 1802, Mr. Hudson entered zealously into the project of establishing a church in his new township upon the principles of his own religious faith—Congregationalism —he accorded to his fellow pioneers the utmost freedom to give or withhold their support, or to work in such other directions as their consciences and inclinations might dictate. The first church, therefore, to be organized in the township, was essentially Congregational, though for a time amenable to the Grand River Presbytery-afterwards coming under the jurisdiction of the Portage Presbytery the organization being effected September 4, 1802, with 13 communicants, as follows: Mr. Hudson, Stephen Thompson and Mary, his wife; Abraham Thompson and Susanna, his wife; George Kilbourn and Almira, his wife; Stephen Thompson, Jr., and Abigail, his wife; Heman Oviatt and Lucy, his wife Hannah Lindley and Amos Lusk; the eleven first named having been members of the Congregational church in Goshen, Conn., and the two latter of the church at Bloomfield, New York. The society for many years depended for such occasional preaching as they enjoyed, upon the ministrations of. Mr. Badger and other missionaries, Rev. David Bacon, after being recalled from the missionary field at Detroit, and before the inauguration of his Utopian scheme for the settlement of Tallmadge, in 1807, as elsewhere set forth, being, under an arrangement with a Connecticut Missionary Society, a regular supply for two or three years. Thus, sometimes with, and sometimes without preaching, but without omitting worship for a single Sabbath, the society gradually increased, so that on the installment of the first regular pastor, Rev. William Hanford (uncle of W. L. Hanford, of Stow, and W. A. Hanford, of Akron), August 17, 1815, there were 27 RELIGIOUS AND CHURCH MATTERS -821 communicants, with quite a large society membership and congregation. Mr. Hanford ministered to the congregation until 1831, adding to the church, in the 16 years of his pastorate, 133 members, the successive pastors of the church being Rev. Amri Nichols, July to December, 1832; Rev. Giles Doolittle, 1832-40; Rev. Josiah Town, July to October, 1840; Rev. Mason Grosvenor, 1840-43; Rev. William Hanford, 1843; Rev. John C. Hart, 1844-52; Rev. N. Barrett, 1853-58; Rev. George Darling, 1858-74; Rev. E. W. Root, 187476; Rev. J. Towle, 1876; Rev. T. G. Gardner, 1876-85; Rev. A. B. Cristy, February 7, 1886 until his resignation, January 18, 1891. Present pastor (October, 1891), Rev. A. Carroll ; membership, 264. DR., MOSES THOMPSON,—born in Goshen, Connecticut, January 22,1776; liberal education, including study of medicine ; December 22, 1797, married to Miss Elizabeth Mills, immediately moving to Kinderhook, New York ; practiced medicine there until Spring of 1800, when he came to Ohio, with Summit county's first settler, David Hudson, purchasing for himself, his father, Deacon Stephen Thompson, and his brothers, Abraham and Stephen, 750 acres of land in Hudson in Summer of 1800, went back to Connecticut on foot, walking 650 miles in twelve days ; in Spring of 1801, returned to Ohio with wife and one child, settling on farm two miles southwest of center of Hudson, where he afterwards resided, until his death, from an accident, November 20, 1858, at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 28 days. Dr. Thompson was the first practitioner in what is now Portage and Summit counties, his ride extending from Lake Erie south nearly fifty miles. During the War of 1812, Dr. Thompson served as surgeon in the army ; at close of the war engaged in raising and selling agricultural products in in Southern markets, Louisville, Nashville, Huntsville, etc. Mrs. Thompson shared with her husband the hardships and privations of pioneer life, both heartily promoting the religious, educational and material enterprises of the time, Mrs. Thompson, a member of the Congregational Church of Hudson, from 1808, dying November 20, 1850. Their children were : Eliza Lemira, wife of Horace Metcalf, deceased ; Susan, wife of Horace Holbrook, deceased ; Mills, deceased ; Emily, widow of Samuel Woods, deceased ; Sylvester H., deceased ; Virgil M., a prosperous farmer in Stow; Ruth B. wife of Leander Starr, deceased ; B., wife of John Hazelton, deceased ; Martha, died at 22 ; Elizabeth, unmarried, yet living, and two dying in infancy. EARLY CHURCH STRUCTURES. The early religious services of the township were held at private residences and in school houses, but about 1817, the question of building a church began to be mooted, resulting a year or two later in the completion of a small frame edifice on the west side of the green, under the name and style of the "Union Church," free to any denomination that might desire to worship in it. This sort of free and easy religious partnership did not comport with the strictly orthodox notions of Deacon Hudson, Captain Oviatt and other members of the Congregational Society, and in 1818 that organization began building for themselves on the site now occupied by the Town Hall; the house, costing about $5,000, being dedicated in March, 1820. As, with all 822 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. church structures of New England, at that day, there was, tor many years, no provision whatever for warming the building, with its bare floor and bare seats, the congregation depending altogether upon the foot-stoves carried from home, and upon the fervent heat of the discourse to keep them warm during the "firstly to the fifteenthly and lastly" elongated sermons in vogue in that early day. What would the lady church-goer (or the gentleman either) of the present day think of sitting two mortal hours, with the thermometer below zero, even in one of the comfortably cushioned and carpeted, but unwarmed, churches of the present day? This building was used by the congregation until the completion of their present handsome and comfortable brick edifice, on Aurora street, in 1865, when it was sold to private parties and converted into a public hall, for which purpose it was used until 1878, when it gave place to the town hall as already named. The Free Church edifice, after promiscuous general use for several years was also sold to private parties and relegated to secular business purposes. OTHER DENOMINATIONS.—In 1828, a Methodist Episcopal church was organized, among its early 'members being Daniel Gaylord, Perley Mansur, Moses Draper, and their respective wives, the society, at first, using the Union Church structure above spoken of, their present building on Aurora street, having been erected in 1836. Though for several years maintaining a fair standing as to members and influence, removals and deaths have so depleted its. membership that pastoral appointments by conference have sometimes either been omitted or made jointly with neighborin charges, the present pastor (October 1891) being Rev. E. J. Smith Present membership about 30 and church free from debt. In 1840, measures were taken by Frederick Brown, Henry O'Brien and others of that faith, looking to the organization of a Protestant Episcopal church in Hudson, Rev. T. B. Fairchild and other ministers of the Northwest Convocation, holding regular Sabbath services in the other churches, public halls, the academy building, etc., until the erection of their present elegant church structure on Aurora street, in 1846. Thirty-seven names, among' whom Anson A. Brewster, Dr. Israel Town, Arthur Sadler, Frederick Brown and Henry O'Brien, were subscribers to the original document for forming the "Parish of Christ Church of Hudson, 0.," and the church was duly organized July 11, 1842; Rev. Alanson Phelps being the rector of the church, at the time of the dedication of the new edifice by Bishop McIlvaine, in April, 1846. The church tower is equipped with a fine bell, the gift of Mr. D. H. Arnold, of New York, and a town clock, the gift of the late Anson A. Brewster, of Hudson; and the interior, besides its general elegant furnishings, provided with a fine-toned church organ, and a Sabbath School cabinet organ. Rev. S. W. Garrett officiated, as rector of the church from October 1, 1874, to December 12, 1887, a period of over thirteen years, resigning the pastorate to go to Canon City, Colorado, being followed November 1, 1888, by Rev. James A. Brown, for about two years. The parish is now without a rector, lay services, by direction of the bishop, being conducted by Mr. W. H. Lewis. The present membership of Christ Church is about 70. Catholicism, also, has obtained quite a foothold in Hudson and vicinity within the past 30 years, "their house of worship, St. HUDSON'S EDUCATIONAL MATTERS -823 Mary's Church, on Railroad street, having been built in 1858, though additions and improvements have been made upon it from time to time, as the necessities of the congregation seemed to demand. The present pastor is Rev. J. B. Dogherty, who is also pastor of the Cuyahoga Falls and Peninsula congregations, the church at Hudson embracing about 40 families, or an aggregate of about 200 souls. The Disciples of Christ, organized in June, 1890, now has a membership of about 45, with Rev. F. H. Moore as pastor, the society now being about to erect a house of worship on the east side of North Main street. DOCTOR JONATHAN METCALF, —born in Lebanon, Connecticut, June 26, 1787 ; educated in common schools, at family school of Rev. Dr. Nett, Franklin, Connecticut, and at Colchester Academy ; studied medicine three years with Dr. Bass, in Middlebury, Vermont, with two courses of lectures in medical department of Dartmouth College ; in Spring of 1812, started west, on horseback, locating in Hudson, June 12, of that year, his medical practice extending over many of the surrounding townships, without roads or bridges, involving exposure, danger and fatigue, wholly unknown to the profession of the present day. In 1813, Dr. Metcalf bought 290 acres of land, one mile east of the center, building a comfortable log-house thereon. December 26, 1814, was married to Miss Abigail L. Root, of Aurora, who bore him five daughters —Harriet, married to Rev. James Shaw, born in 1817, died in 1850 ; Caroline, married to Rev. T. H. Barr, born in 1819, died in 1889; Catharine, married to R. G. Perry, born in 1822, died in 1858 ; Mary, now wife of Rev. E. Chester, of Clifton Springs, born in 1825, and Emily E., born in 1831, for 15 years principal of Hudson Ladies' Seminary, and still residing in Hudson. Of rare intellectual endowments, Dr. and Mrs. Metcalf gave a hearty support to all of the educational, religious and benevolent enterprises of their day and generation; the former dying July 30, 1869, and the latter November 27, 1870. EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.—Hudson has been a prominent factor in the educational development, not only of the Western Reserve, but largely of the entire Western country. Its history in that regard has heretofore been so fully written up, that the briefest outline only will be here attempted. The first school in Hudson was taught by Mr. George Pease, from Enfield, Conn., in 1801, in a small log school house, on the green, nearly opposite the present store of Mr. C. H. Buss,c some of his more immediate successors being Miss Patty Field, Miss Amy Cannon, Titus Wetmore, Martha Filer, Benjamin Whedon, etc.; other schools than the one named being started from time to time, in convenient localities, as the population increased; the trustees, in 1825, dividing the township into five districts, denominated, respectively, the central, northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest; the central district being divided in 1838, and three 824 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. other districts created, making in all nine districts in the township. In 1855 the two central districts were consolidated, under the graded school system now in vogue, a high school department being added and a commodious high school building erected in 1868. In the meantime, however, in addition to the College enterprise to be treated of further on, a number of private seminary enterprises had been inaugurated, with varying degrees of success; Mrs. Nutting (wife of Professor Nutting of the College) opening a school for young ladies in 1827; her immediate successors being Miss Eggleston, of New York; and Miss Upham. In 1834 an academy for both boys and girls, was opened by Mr. H. H. Gross, on Aurora street, the brick building erected by Mr. Gross, being afterwards purchased by a stock company, and, under the title of Hudson Academy, furnished, free of rent, to such teachers as were willing to depend upon tuition receipts for their compensation. Successive teachers in this school were Miss Smith, Miss. Eunice Town, Miss Rebecca H. Dana and Miss Mary Strong, the latter erecting a new building on Main stret, in 1845, which she christened the "Hudson Female Seminary." Contemporaneous with this was the "Hudson- Young Ladies' Seminary, by Rev. Mason Grosvenor and his sister Mary; and the "Seminary for Ladies," by Rev. A. Phelps, the two former being boarding schools; Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, from Massachusetts, succeeding Mr. and Miss Grosvenor and a Miss Deven acting as principal of Mr. Phelps' school. Though pursued with commendable vigor, these several competing enterprises proved unremunerative, and gradually subsided. In 1853, Mr. J. W. Smith fitted up and furnished a suite of rooms in the " Pentagon," and employed Miss Elizabeth Burt, a graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary, as principal, the school being reasonably successful, until the general business collapse of 1855, '56, when it was discontinued. The old "Hudson Female Seminary" was then refitted by an association of citizens, and another graduate of Mount Holyoke, Miss Everett, employed as principal. This effort did not prove successful, and in 1860 Miss Emily E. Metcalf, of Hudson, assumed control, afterwards purchasing the property, and by her enterprise and good management, conducted the school with fair pecuniary returns for some twelve or thirteen years, Rev. H. B. Hosford and daughters, about 1874, reviving the academy for a single year, only. WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE. Western Reserve College was the outgrowth of the profound religious sentiment and educational aspirations of the earlier settlers of the eastern townships and counties of the Connecticut Western Reserve. As early as 1801, Rev. Joseph Badger, and sixteen other gentlemen of Cleveland, Hudson, Ravenna, Warren, Youngstown, etc., presented a petition to the Territorial Legislature, for a college charter, in which David Hudson's name headed the list of the incorporators. But for some reason not now apparent, the prayer of the petitioners was not granted. ERIE LITERARY INSTITUTE.—At the first session of the State Legislature, however, in the Spring of 1803, an act was passed incorporating the "Erie Literary Institute," Mr. Hudson's name