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CHAPTER VII.*

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP—INTRODUCTION—TOPOGRAPHY—EARLY SETTLEMENT—CANAL LOTTERY—THE COUNTERFEITING PLOT—TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. ETC.

THE township of Portage possesses a peculiarly interesting history. Its celebrated " Portage Path " not only furnished a name to the township, but also to the county in which it was situate prior to the erection of Summit County. As the Portage Path has served so many uses as a boundary line, it will not be out of place to here briefly note them. In the first place, it constituted a portion of the ancient line of separation between the confederated Six Nations and the Western Indians. By the treaty of Fort McIntosh, near where is now Beaver, Penn., in 1785, the United States acquired from the Indians all the territory beyond the Ohio River and east of this line. When the great Northwest Territory. including this and more. was established in 1787. by ordinance of the Continental Congress. the Governor and three Judges thereof were appointed by Congress. These men entered upon their duties with headquarters at Campus Martins. now Marietta. Their first act was to create the county of Washington. July 27, I788. named in honor of Gen. George Washington. Its western boundary was the Cuyahoga River, the old portage path, and the Tuscarawas River as far south as the southern line of the Western Reserve. This was practically the western border of the United States. and so remained until the year I805. In I796. August I5, the county of Wayne was set off, having for its eastern limit the same line. July 29. 1797, Jefferson County was erected out of Washington. its western line being so far coincident with that of Washington.

On the 4th of July, 1805, at Fort Industry, on the Maumee River, representatives of both the General Government and the Connecticut Land Company, after much delay and reluctance on the part of the Indians, succeeded in negotiating a treaty with them, by which a final settlement of their un-extinguished claim to all lands of the Reserve west of the Cuyahoga , River, the portage path and the Tuscarawas

By Charles Whittlesey Foote.

River, was accomplished ; all their right and title to the lands in question were thereby ceded to the United States. Thus we see that for a considerable time a portion of what is now the township of Portage was within the United States. while another portion was not. After several further unimportant territorial modifications. the counties of Cuyahoga and Portage were authorized the same day, by act of the Ohio Legislature, February 10, 1807, and were both within a few years erected in accordance with that act. Now, for the first time. the Portage Path" loses its distinctive service of importance as a dividing line. All the early conveyances of land in its vicinity make frequent reference to it as a well-known monument, and all parcels abutting upon it were so described and hounded. And now, having at such length evolved it historically, let us inquire as to just what the path was. Years before the white man invaded this country. the Indians had been in the habit of traveling across between Lake Erie and the Ohio River. The canoe was their most natural and easy mode of journeying. Ascending the Cuyahoga as far as the great bend, then transporting the boats and luggage by this. the shortest trail. a little more than eight miles in length. over to the head-waters of the Tuscarawas, they could reach the Ohio by way of the Muskingum River without again touching land. Many a burden of those various things in which their traffic consisted has been packed "over the portage." one of the links in this chain of communication and commercial highway. One of the very earliest maps of this section known, is that of Evans'. published in Philadelphia in the year I755. Upon it appears, with tolerable geographic accuracy, the "Cayahoga" River, the " Portage." and a stream evidently designed to represent the Tuscarawas.

In a publication by Capt. Thomas Hutchins, London, I788, is a mention, among the " Carrying Places between the Ohio and Lake Eric," as follows : "From Muskingum to Cayahoga,

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a creek that leads to Lake Erie, which is muddy and not very swift, and nowhere obstructed with falls or rifts, is the best portage between the Ohio and Lake Erie.^"

Evidences of the location of the path were plainly visible many years after its original followers were sunk again into the retreating forests. In fact, the track may now be observed in places, and the entire course closely followed from end to end. The path was very winding, a characteristic of all Indian trails, avoiding hills wherever possible and sidling up them when they must be climbed. Leaving the Cuyahoga near the present village of Old Portage, perhaps three miles north from Akron, it ran up. the hill westwardly a half mile, then southerly until near Summit Lake, passing just west and outside of the present corporation of Akron City ; thence nearly south to the Tuscarawas. which it reached about a mile above New Port-age.

In July, 1797, Moses Warren, one of the Connecticut Land Company's surveyors, ran the path from the Cuyahoga southward. meeting Seth Pease, who, with his party. had been running the southern line of the Reserve. He made the length of the path 644.55 chains, or 8 miles 4 chains and 55 links. The path was again surveyed in 1806, by Abraham Tappan.

To Col. Whittlesey's valuable Early History of Cleveland," we are indebted for the following interesting description of a scheme looking to the improvement of this highway of commerce :

The improvement, of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas was then (1807) the great idea of this part of the country and of Ohio.

It was thought if $12,000 could by some means be raised, the channels of those streams could be cleared of logs and trees and the portage path made passable for loaded wagons. Thus, goods might ascend the Cuyahoga in boats to the Old Portage, be hauled seven miles to the Tuscarawas, near New Portage, and thence descend that stream in batteaux. This great object excited so much attention that the Legislature authorized a lottery to raise the money. A copy of the scheme and one of the tickets is here given:

Q No. 11441

CUYAHOGA AND MUSKINGUM NAVIGATION
LOTTERY.

This ticket entitles the bearer to such Prize as shall be drawn against its number (if called for within twelve months after the drawing is completed), subject to a deduction of 12 1/2 per cent.

No. 11441 J. WALWORTH,

Agent for the Board of Commissioners.

SCHEME

of A

LOTTERY

FOR
IMPROVING THE NAVIGATION
BETWEEN LAKE ERIE AND THE RIVER OhiO. THROUGH
THE
CUYAHOGA AND MUSKINGUM.

THE Legislature of the State of Ohio having, at their last Session, granted a Lottery to raise the sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars, for the above-mentioned purpose and appointed the subscribers commissioners to carry the same into effect. They offer the following SCHEME to the public:

FIRST CLASS.
12,800 TICKETS AT $5 EACH. $64,000.

1 Prize of... .....$5,000 is.................$5,000

2 do .... 2,500 5,000

5 do .... 1,000 5.000

10 do ....500 5,000

50 do 100 5.000

100 do.... 50 5.000

3400 do.... 10 34.000

3568 $64.000

Prizes subject to a deduction of twelve and a half per cent.

The drawing of the First Class will commence at Cleveland on the first Monday of January. 1808. or as soon as three-fourths of the tickets shall be sold; and the prizes will be paid in sixty days after the drawing is completed.

Holders of Tickets. drawing prizes of Ten Dollars. may. at their election. receive the money. or two Tickets of Five Dollars each in the Second Class.

For the convenience of the owners of fortunate numbers, Persons will be appointed in Boston. Hartford, New York and Albany, to pay Prizes. Their names. together with a List of Prizes, will be published in some Newspaper printed in each of those places, and in three of the Newspapers printed in the State of Ohio. Persons will also be designated to pay Prizes in Zanesville and Steubenville.

The subscribers have taken the Oath and given the Bonds required by Law, for the faithful discharge of their trust, and they flatter themselves that an object of such extensive importance will not fail to attract the attention and patronage of many. who are not allured by the advantageous prospects held out in the Scheme.

John Walworth, Esq., of Cleveland, is appointed Agent of the Commissioners, to sign the Tickets and transact the business of the Board in their recess.

(Then follow the names of the twelve members of the Board of Commissioners.)

CLEVELAND, May 23d, 1807.

CRAMER, PRINTER.

The drawing never came off. Those who had purchased tickets, many years afterward received their money back without interest.

The price of each ticket was $5.

The native timber of this section was oak, hickory. maple, chestnut and box, according to

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the notes of Moses Warren, Jr., before referred to.

The white man who first settled permanently within this township came from Groton, New London Co., Conn., Maj. Minor Spicer, in the summer of I8I0. He purchased from the Connecticut Land Company, whose headquarters were at Hartford, Conn., and who originally bought the entire territory of the Western Reserve from the State of Connecticut (excepting two tracts previously sold, together aggregating something over a half million acres, or about one-sixth part of the whole area). Maj. Spicer's farm consisted of 260 acres of land, two-fifths of a square mile. and was situated about midway between what is now Akron's Sixth Ward and South Akron. From that time to this there have always been members of the Spicer family living upon the site of the original purchase, and "the Spicer settlement" is a well-known section of town. Just what was paid for the land we have been unable to ascertain. It is worth noting, however, that the State of Connecticut. in October of I786, several years prior to her sale of the Reserve to the Land Company as mentioned above, by resolution fixed the selling price at three shillings (50 cents) per acre. With a spirit strongly characteristic of the time and thought. she also provided that 500 acres of land in each township should be reserved to the support of the Gospel ministry (in those days there was no opposition to a union of church and State), 500 acres to the maintenance of' schools. and 240 acres to the first minister who should locate within the township. As Connecticut did not succeed in disposing of her land at the figure above given, she once more, in May, 1795. resolved the price at not less than one-third of a dollar an acre. The ensuing summer developed only fruitless negotiations, but. finally, on the 2d of September of the same year, a bargain was struck by the terms of which 3,000,000 acres of the Reserve next west from the Pennsylvania line (which was afterward found to be a little in excess of the exact quantity of land then actually remaining within the limitations of the Reserve, after deducting the " Salt Spring Tract" of 24,000 acres already sold to Gen. Samuel H. Parsons, and located in Trumbull County, and the grant of 500,000 acres commonly known as the Fire Lands, from the western end (in 1792), were deeded to the Land1 Company for the consideration of $I,200,000, or 40 cents per acre.

To return from our digression : At the time when Maj. Spicer prospected and located his purchase, he was the only white person within the township. About him stretched the unbroken forest with no clearing nor path, save that made by the hostile aborigine. In a sense more literal and forcible than comes to most men, was it true that

"The world was all before him, where to choose His place of rest."

With admirable judgment he made his selection. After some little labor and improvement, he returned in the fall of the year, to his home and family in the East. Leaving Groton again in June, of 1811, with the sturdy conveyance of an ox team and wagon, and this time accompanied by his family, his brother Amos and Paul Williams, he once more reached the spot that was for more than twoscore years to be his home. Vigorous efforts soon erected a log house, the first in Portage Township, the site of which was but a few rods from the comfortable residence where still lives Avery Spicer, son of Minor, in the dignity of a ripe old age and the assurance of the esteem and respect of an entire community, sprung up beneath his observation, and the recipient of many and substantial favors at his hands. Mrs. Avery Spicer, a daughter of Joshua King, Esq., was born at Old Portage, and was the first white child born in the township.

We subjoin an incident in the life of Maj. Spicer, as we find it narrated in Howe's " Ohio. its History and Antiquities : "

One night just before retiring. he heard some one call in front of his house, and went out and saw a large Indian with two rifles in his hand, and a deer quartered and hung across his horse. Spicer inquired what lie wanted. The Indian replied in his own dialect, when the other told him he must speak English or he would unhorse him. He finally gave him to understand that he wished to stay overnight, a request that was reluctantly granted. His rifles were placed in a corner, his venison hung up and his horse put into a large pig-stye, the only stable attached to the premises.

The Indian cut out a piece of venison for Mrs. Spicer to cook for him, which she did in the usual way, with a liberal quantity of pepper and salt. He drew up to the table and ate but a mouthful or two. The family being ready to retire, he placed his scalping knife and tomahawk in the corner with his rifles, and stretched himself upon the hearth before the fire. When he supposed the family were asleep, he raised himself slowly from his reclining

324 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

position and sat upright upon the hearth. looking stealthily over his shoulder to see if all was still. He then got up on his feet and stepped lightly across the floor to his implements of death. At this juncture, the feelings of Spicer and his wife may be well imagined, for they were only feigning sleep and were intently watching. The Indian again stood for a moment, to see it he had awakened any one, then slowly drew from its scabbard the glittering scalping knife. At this moment. Spicer was about putting his hand upon his rifle, which stood by his hed to shoot the Indian, but concluded to wait further demonstration, which was an entirely different one from what he had anticipated. for the Indian cut a piece of his venison. weighing about two pounds. and laying it upon the live coals until it was warmed through, devoured it and went to sleep. Mrs. Spicer's cooking had not pleased him, being seasoned too high.

In the year 1811. a large body of Indians. under the leadership of one of their braves. Onondaga George. evidently ill-natured and bent on trouble, suddenly appeared along the Cuyahoga River. A few days later, they as suddenly disappeared. Soon after their departure came tidings of the battle of Tippecanoe. It then became clear that these Indians were plotting to act their part in a great intended tragedy, the massacre of all the frontier whites, but were deterred from carrying the terrible project to an accomplishment by the intelligence, brought them by their fleet runners three days before it reached the settlers, of the disastrous issue of that battle. While they remained hovering about the neighborhood, they kept a lookout stationed upon the high bluff west of the canal lock at Old Portage.

During the war of 18I2, a camp was established at Old Portage (or as it was then known and had been since the exploring expedition of the surveyors of 1797, the Upper Headquarters) by Gen. Wadsworth in September. The post was regarded as of great importance through-out the war. In order to reach the immediate scene of action, Gen. Wadsworth's soldiers, not ' daring to follow the lake shore from Cleveland to Huron on account of the British, ascended the Cuyahoga as far as the Upper Headquarters. Thence they felled trees and cut a road north-westerly through the woods to Camp Avery on the Huron River, not far from where Milan now stands, a distance of sixty-five miles. This road was of great service to the American forces. It was afterward known as the " old Smith road," and portions of it are to this day used for purposes of travel.

The next year. 1813, there were built at Old Portage and floated down to Lake Erie, two vessels, the Portage and the Porcupine, which took a conspicuous part in the ever memorable naval victory achieved by Commodore Perry, September 10.

For a time, Minor Spicer, Amos Spicer and Paul Williams, with their families, constituted the entire settled population of the township. Others, however. began to come in, among them being Charles W. Brown, in 1816, and Talmon Beardsley, Andrews May and Julius Sumner, in 18I8.

In 1825, the town of Akron was laid out ; the same year work was here begun upon the Ohio Canal, and a great number of laborers were imported for its construction.

Ohio Canal.—We, of a day of steamboats and a multiplicity of railroads with the full and rapid transportation they afford, cannot appreciate the importance to the early pioneers of this enterprise, which was regarded as a wonderful accommodation, inasmuch as by its means the few necessities unobtainable from their wilderness surroundings could be brought from the regions of civilization at the remarkable speed of four miles an hour, and as often as once or twice a week. The Ohio Canal. originally denominated the " Lake Erie and Ohio Canal," was first formally suggested in a resolution brought before the lower body of the Assembly, January 7, 18I9.

Six and a half years elapsed before work was actually commenced. Finally, on the 4th of July, I825, in the presence of Gov. De Witt Clinton, of New York—the man to whom more than any other is to be accredited the honor of the successful accomplishment of the great Erie Canal—and other notables, the first spadeful of earth was upturned upon the Portage summit near Summit Lake. The thing first required was the lowering of the surface of that lake five feet, which was done by means of a ditch cut to about where Lock No. 1 now stands.

It was worth noting, in passing, that the water of Summit Lake flows both north by way of the canal, Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean, and south via canal, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and Gulf of Mexico, ultimately reaching the same great depository. The work all along the line from Portage summit to Cleaveland (as it

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was then spelled), was speedily let to contract and energetically prosecuted. Precisely two years to a day from the practical inception of the work, on the 4th of July, 1827. the first boat—the Allen Trimble—with Gov. Trimble, the Canal Commissioners, and other prominent persons on board, cleared from Akron, passed over the thirty-seven intervening miles of water, and reached Cleveland the same day. Here was an event of no slight moment to the people of Akron and vicinity. It constituted an epoch in the town's history. Henceforward there was to be easy communication with the most considerable town west of Marietta, and Akron's certainty of development was secured.

After many obstacles overcome and vast labor expended, the canal was completed from Cleveland to Portsmouth in the summer of 1833.

The total of the receipts for tolls and water rents at the Akron office for the year 1835 was $7,028.33. a very creditable showing for so early a clay.

Immediately upon the opening of the canal for business between Akron and Cleveland, in 1827. Wolsey Wells was appointed Collector of the Port. He appears to have been a man of versatile talents, or at any rate of varied occupations. Besides his Collectorship, he held the position of Postmaster. and was also attorney at law and a Justice of the Peace. Notwithstanding all these respective duties, a desk of two feet by one and one-half, sufficed to contain all his business papers.

Doubtless every one, during the last year, has read or heard of the early experience, as driver upon a canal, of the man who now fills the highest place within the gift of the American people. James A. Garfield once, when a young man, worked upon this same Ohio Canal, and, as in everything else to which he turned his hand or attention, did his work well. As he was passing down the Valley Railroad one day last fall (1880), in company with President Hayes and others, he pointed out many familiar places along the line of the canal, and regaled, his companions with anecdotes and incidents connected with his former acquaintance with it under so diverse circumstances.

The Counterfeiting Plot.—We have also to record as matter of history, a thing which for years rendered the northern portion of Portage Township and vicinity very notorious, and impressed a blight which never has been, and probably never will be, effaced. We refer to the remarkable operations of the gang of counterfeiters, which, through a period of nearly or quite a score of years, made their headquarters and conducted their business at Old Portage and Yellow Creek. Without question, this was the most thorough, daring and successful scheme of the sort ever devised and carried out in this country or any other. The system had its ramifications throughout the whole United States and Canada ; not a State or Territory but had its agents, and scarcely a county in any State without them. The head and front of this stupendous complication was one James Brown, a man of rare talent, of wonderful energies, and possessed of a degree of personal attraction and power few men have ever wielded. He was six feet and two inches in height, with a well-proportioned fine physique, of commanding presence, and keen, penetrating eyes, like an eagle's. Just how early he began the work is not known, but early in the thirties he was notorious as the " Prince of counterfeiters " in all the country round. Many marvelous stories are told of his achievements. One of the earliest of his exploits consisted in passing off upon a prominent New England bank a forged draft. Relays of fleetest horses had been previously provided at a series of stations known to himself, and in care of his agents. He departed instantly, rode day and night until he reached home at Yellow Creek. He was arrested, taken East, and, upon trial, established an alibi to the satisfaction of the Court, proving by numerous and trustworthy witnesses that he was seen here so soon after the occurrence at the bank that, as the Court held—" it was utterly impossible that he could have been there so shortly before." In conversation, he seemed to delight in letting fall remarks confirmatory of his general reputation, yet never saying anything distinctly declaring its well-foundedness. A young man, whose youth had been spent in Western New York, and who, like every one else, had heard many tales of the prowess of Jim Brown, became an assistant teller in a Cleveland bank. One day. a tall man of impressive appearance called at the bank, produced a large amount of money and an account book, stating that he wished to make a deposit. Upon the book the clerk noticed the name, James Brown. Half frightened and thrilled to the marrow at sup-

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posing that he was at last beholding the veritable genius of the wonderful stories of his boyhood, he stepped to the cashier, and in an awed whisper inquired if this were the Jim Brown, and if so, whether he should receive the money. The cashier replied " certainly." The clerk stepped back to the counter, when Brown, who readily guessed the nature of the quick conference, observed, " Young man, you need not be concerned that I should bring anything but good money here ! "

He had some traits of character which any man might well emulate. It is said that his word was always as good as a bond. That he should be so rigid in keeping a promise and entertain so high an idea of personal honor. coupled with a profession seemingly so devoid of everything of the kind. was indeed strange. About the year 1832. he was tried in the Medina Court of Common Pleas upon the usual charge of counterfeiting. The confinement of the jail was exceedingly irksome to one of his vigorous. energetic temperament. So great confidence had the Sheriff in Brown's veracity, that, upon his request and a parole promise to return at night, he permitted him every morning to go out, unattended, and spend the day as and where he chose. He never proved recreant to the trust, but returned regularly and voluntarily each evening. He was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary. The Sheriff started with him for Columbus, but was over-taken by the service of a writ of error at Mt. Vernon, and obliged to return. The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas was reversed. Brown gave bail for his appearance at the proper time, but before the trial came on, two or three essential witnesses had disappeared, and the indictment was nollied.

So great was Brown's popularity in his own neighborhood that he was repeatedly elected to township offices. He held the position of Justice of the Peace several successive terms ; in fact, was an incumbent of that office when, in 1846, the first check was put upon his career. It was largely due to this condition of things that it was impossible to secure his conviction by the ordinary methods of the lower courts. This was often attempted and as often failed, until it was generally recognized by every one else as well as himself and friends. Of this immunity he publicly boasted ; when at last, by the intervention of Federal processes, he wasbrought to bay, he is said to have observed : Well, boys, now the United States have takes hold of me, I may get floored, but I could have worried out a county." In 1846, William S. C Otis was the Prosecuting Attorney for Summi County. That year proof was obtained that Brown was at the time engaged in counterfeiting the circulating coin of the United States

Through the efforts of Otis, Samuel W. McClure, Esq., then a young lawyer of Cuyahoga Falls. was appointed a United States Commis stoner for the State of Ohio (the State being then comprised in one district), for the purpose chiefly of instituting proceedings against Brown through the media of the Federal Courts, those of the State being found insufficient, as Comssioner McClure issued a warrant for his arrest. While the warrant was yet in the hands of Sheriff Janes, then Sheriff of Summit County but. prior to its service, McClure had occasion to represent a party litigant before Brown in his capacity as Justice of the Peace. Brown reserved his decision of the case for further consideration. In the meantime. he was placed under arrest and imprisoned. McClure. in behalf of his client in the case, called upon Brown in the jail, before the day assigned for the preliminary examination. Brown then announced his judgment as Justice in favor of McClure's client, and, at the same time remarked. that when his case should come before him (McClure) he hoped 1w would be able to render a judgment in his favor. The preliminary examination came on for hearing ; the United States was represented by Otis, and the defense by R. P. Spalding, afterward Judge Spalding of the Supreme Bench. The examination was held at the court house and continued several days. It resulted in Brown's being held to bail in the sum of $20,000 for his appearance before the Circuit Court of the United States at Columbus at its next session. In default of bail, he was returned to jail ; but afterward, upon application to a Federal Judge, the bond was reduced to $5,000. That amount was furnished, and Brown set at liberty. He appeared at Columbus for trial. The District Attorney was assisted by Mr. Otis. Pending the trial, affidavits were filed, satisfying the Judge that if at liberty when the verdict would be rendered, and that verdict should be guilty, it was the intention of Brown's friends—of whom Columbus was full—to put him out of the way of the consequences.

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A bench warrant was issued, and he was again imprisoned. He was convicted, and, for the first time in his life, incarcerated in the Ohio Penitentiary, though he had run a career of crime for over twenty years. During the short time of Gen. Zachary Taylor's Presidency (March, 1849, to July, 1850), the Asiatic cholera broke out in the Ohio Penitentiary. Brown was himself an attendant in the prison hospital at the time, and such was the courage with which he cared for the cholera patients, and his unwearied attention to them, that he secured the influence of that institution, and some of the State officers, so that President Taylor was induced to and did pardon him. He returned to his former place of residence in Northampton, and was believed to be as extensively engaged in the counterfeiting business as ever, though it was not known that he then dealt in spurious coin. Experience had taught him that it was easier, more profitable, and less liable to detection to manufacture false paper money than coin. It is said that he had a confederate in the very banking house which then stamped for and furnished bills to the United States Bank ; that through the agency of this pal, the genuine plates themselves were conveyed into Brown's hands, and immense quantities of the illegal issue (not exactly counterfeit, inasmuch as they were struck from the identical plates with the true, and, therefore, also not discoverable through any peculiarities of impression), particularly of $100 bills, were accumulated. About this time, James, and a brother Daniel, engaged in the same enterprise, conceived a scheme of bold magnitude, and extremely flattering in promise. This was no less than to procure a suitable ship, load her with this spurious scrip, and visit China and other oriental countries, where United States Bank bills circulated at par, purchasing a cargo of teas, coffees, silks, etc., to be disposed of again in England and upon the continent. They had associated with them in this device a man by the name of Taylor. They proceeded to New Orleans, obtained a vessel, filled it according to programme, and set. sail for China. A discovery of their real character, however, was just then made, the vessel overhauled before fairly out of the Mississippi, and the three rogues committed to the " calaboose." There they were detained some time. Daniel became sick, and finally died, as it was reported, but not generally believed, in this section of the country. Certain it is, however, that he never appeared hereabouts thereafter, and so, possibly, the report may have been true. The wife of James, who, though believed to have had nothing to do with her husband's operations, remained faithful and devoted to him until some years beyond this period, traveled on horseback from Old Portage to New Orleans in order to be present at the trial, and use her influence in his behalf. Several other witnesses also went down from here to testify in his interest. Brown turned State's evidence, implicated Taylor, and himself escaped. This is one of the few really mean incidents related of him.

A few years later he was arrested in Michigan, convicted of the same crime, and sentenced to the Jackson Penitentiary. He there served a full term of three years, whence he returned to Northampton, but returned a broken-down man and a confirmed drunkard. Not until now did his fond wife give him up. His habits of drink rapidly grew upon him ; his good traits began to deteriorate, and finally departed altogether ; his wife obtained a divorce, and Jim Brown, who, had his abilities been honorably directed, might have been a man of great power and influence, became a perfectly worthless fellow, not even commanding the respect of his associates in crime. Finally. in 1865, as he was one day returning from Cleveland upon a canal boat, he fell from the walking plank to the hold, striking his head upon a beam. The concussion rendered him unconscious ; from that state he never rallied, but died two or three days later. So miserably closed the life of a man of whom it was said that " he was as well known by reputation as any President of the United States."

Officers of the Township.--The following is a list of the officers elected on the 2d day of April, A. D. 1838, at a meeting held at the house of Mr. Warren H. Clark.

Trustees.—William B. Mitchell, Simon Perkins, Jr., and George Babcock ; Clerk, Horace K. Smith ; Treasurer, Samuel A. Wheeler.

Since that time the following persons have been elected and served as Trustees:

1839, William B. Mitchell, Simon Perkins, Jr , John Sherbondy ; 1840, Charles W. Brown, Jesse Allen, John Ayres ; 1841, Simon Perkins, Jr., Jesse Allen, Charles W. Brown ; 1842, Simon Perkins, Jr., Eber Blodget, Charles W.

328 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

Brown ; 1843, Simon Perkins. Jr., Eber Blodget, Charles W. Brown ; 1844, Simon Perkins, Jr., Moses Smith, John Sherbondy ; 1845, Simon Perkins, Lucius V. Bierce, Silas M. Wilder ; 1846, Silas M. Wilder, Lucius V. .Bierce, Justus Gale ; 1847, Henry Converse. Lucius V. Bierce. George Sherbondy ; 1848. Webster B. Storer. David Miller, John Ayres ; 1849, David Miller. Nathaniel Finch, George Sherbondy. In October, Miller died, and George D. Bates was appointed to fill the vacancy ; 1850, Nathaniel Finch, George Sherbondy. Joseph F. Gilbert ; 1851, Joseph F. Gilbert, Ira Hawkins. Robert Jackson ; 1852. Elias W. Howard. George Sherbondy, Robert Jackson ; 1853. Joseph F. Gilbert, Robert Jackson, George Sherbondy ; 1854. Ira Hawkins. Elias L. Munger. George Sherbondy ; 1855, George W. McNiel. Elias L. Munger, George Sherbondy ; 1856, Benjamin McNaughton. George W. McNiel. Reuben Sherbondy : 1857, Charles Merriman. Clement J. Kolb. Webster B. Storer : 1858, George Miller. Melchiah Sherbondy, Jacob Snyder ; 1859, Houston Sisler. Clement J. Kolb. John R. Buchtel ; 1860, Houston Sisler, John R. Buchtel, Clement J. Kolb ; 1861. Houston Sisler. John R. Buchtel, C. Oberholtz ; 1862. Houston Sisler, John R. Buchtel. C. Oberholtz. In June of 1862, Houston Sisler died and Roland O. Hammond was appointed for the unexpired term ; 1863. John R. Buchtel. Simon Perkins. G. F. W. Fisher : 1864. Simon Perkins. John R. Buchtel. G. F. W. Fisher ; 1865, Simon Perkins, John R. Buchtel, G. F. W. Fisher ; 1866. John R. Buchtel. James F. Scott. Clement J. Kolb ; 1867, John R. Buchtel, F. T. Husong. Joseph Babb ; 1868, Joseph Babb. F. T. Husong, Abraham Sichley ; 1869, F. T. Husomg, Joseph Babb, Millard F. Hamlin ; 1870. Joseph Babb, Millard F. Hamlin. N. C. Hawkins ; 1871. Millard F. Hamlin, N. C. Hawkins. Abner C. Caldwell ; 1872, N. C. Hawkins. Millard F. Hamlin, H. Sherbondy ; 1873, H. Sherbondy, Millard F. Hamlin, Frederic Oberholtz ; 1874, A. L. Caldwell, Abraham Sichley, Henry Frederick ; 1875, Henry Frederick, Abraham Sichley, A. L. Caldwell ;. 1876, Henry Frederick, A. L. Caldwell, Abraham Sichley ; 1877. Simon Perkins, Hiram Sherbondy, Abraham Sichley ; 1878, Stephen H. Pitkin. Avery Beardsley. John McCausland ; 1879, Stephen H. Pitkin, Albert H. Mallison, Ephraim Erdly. In July, Erdly died and Uriah Sherbondy was appointed to serve out the term ; 1880, Jacob Carpenter, Albert H. Mallison, Charles W. Brown ; 1881. Jacob Carpenter, Albert H. Mallison, Millard F. Hamlin.

Clerks.—1838. Horace K. Smith ; 1838. Joseph Cole; 1840, Nahum Fay ; 1841. William H. Dewey; 1842, H. C. Crosby ; 1843, William H. Dewey ; 1844, Nahum Fay ; 1845, Charles W. Tappan ; 1846, Charles W. Tappan : 1847, Charles W. Tappan; 1848. Tillman Wagener; 1849. Tillman Wageman ; 1850. Edward W. Perrin ; 1851, Edward W. Perrin ; 1852. Roland O. Hammond ; 1853. Roland 0. Hammond . 1854, Roland O. Hammond : 1855. Roland 0. Hammond : 1856. Roland O. Hammond , 1857. Newell D. Tibbals: 1858. Jacob A. Kohler. 1859. Jacob A. Kohler : 1860. George T. McCurdy: 1861, George T. McCurdy : 1862. George T. McCurdy ; 1S63. William C. Allen : 1864. William C. Allen : 1865. William C. Allen

1866. William C. Allen : 1867. William C. Allen . 1868. John McGregor ; 1869. John McGregor . 1870. John McGregor: 1871. John McGregor . 1872. G. Tod Ford ; 1873. G. Tod Ford : 1874. G. Tod Ford : 1875, G. Tod Ford. In September. Ford resigned and Charles Baird was appointed to the office. 1876. Charles Baird 1877. Charles Baird : 1878. Peter J. Moersch 1879. Peter J. Moersch ; 1880. Peter J. Moersch ; 1881. Peter J. Moersch.

Treasurers,—1838. Samuel A. Wheeler : 1839 Lewis P. Buckley : 1840. Samuel A. Wheeler 1841, Samuel A. Wheeler : 1842. Samuel A Wheeler : 1843. Samuel A. Wheeler : 1844 Samuel A. Wheeler ; 1845. Samuel A. Wheeler : 1846. Samuel A. Wheeler : 1847. Samuel A. Wheeler : 1848, Zebulon Jones ; 1849. Zebulon Jones ; 1850. Benjamin McNaughton: 1851, Benjamin McNaughton ; 1852, Benjamin McNaughton : 1853. Benjamin McNaughton ; 1854, Edward W. Perrin ; 1855. Edward W. Perrin 1856. Edward W. Perrin ; 1857. Houston Sisler ; 1858, John T. Good : 1859. John H. Chamberlin ; 1860, John H. Chamberlin : 1861. Charles Cranz ; 1862. Charles Cranz ; 1863. Charles Cranz ; 1864, Charles Cranz ; 1865. Charles Cranz ; 1866, Charles Cranz : 1867. Charles Cranz ; 1868. Charles Cranz ; 1869, Charles Cranz ; 1870, Arthur L. Conger ; 1871. Arthur L. Conger ; 1872, Arthur L. Conger ; 1873. David R. Paige Jr.; 1874. Jacob H. Wise ; 1875, Frank B. Buchtel; 1876. Frank B. Buchtel ; 1877, John McGregor ; 1878. John McGregor ;

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP. - 329

1879, John McGregor; 1880, John McGregor; 1881, John McGregor.

Assessors.—The first Assessor elected was Minor Spicer in 1841; 1842, Justus Gale ; 1843, Justus Gale ; 1844, Justus Gale. Gale declined to serve and John H. Crawford was appointed in his stead. 1845, Albert G. Mallison ; 1846, Nahum Fay ; 1847, Joseph F. Gilbert ; 1848, John Sherbondy ; 1849, Alfred R. Townsend ; 1850, Nahum Fay ; 1851, George Howe ; 1852, George Howe ; 1853, John Sherbondy ; 1854, Nahum Fay ; 1855, Nelson C. Hawkins ; 1856, Ira Hawkins ; 1857, Alfred R. Townsend ; 1858, Frank Adams ; 1859, Alfred R. Townsend ; 1860, Nahum Fay ; 1861, Jacob H. Wise ; 1862, Jacob H. Wise ; 1863, Nahum Fay ; 1864, Charles Hanscom ; 1865, Edward A. Barber ; 1866, Edward A. Barber ; 1867, Homer C. Ayres ; 1868, Augustus Curtis ; 1869, John G. Goble ; 1870, Aaron Teeple ; 1871, Aaron Teeple ; 1872, Albert H. Mallison ; 1873, George Miller ; 1874, Albert H. Mallison ; 1875, George Miller ; 1876, Hiram Sherbondy ; 1877, Randall McAllister; 1878, Randall McAllister ; 1879, Randall McAllister ; 1880, Joseph Schnee ; 1881, H. Sherbondy.

Justices of the Peace.—[The Justice has always been a township officer, and therefore is elected by the voters of the township. His commission is for three years.] Jacob Brown, 1836-39 ; Seneca L. Hand. 1836-39 ; Harvey H. Johnson, 1837-40 ; Leander L. Howard, 1839-42 ; Ebenezer Martin, 1839-42 ; Harvey H. Johnson, 1840-43 ; William M. Dodge, 1842-45 ; Lewis P. Buckley, 1842-43 ; Henry Converse, 1843-46 ; Jacob Brown, 1843-46 ; William M. Dodge, 1845-48 ; George Babcock, 1846-49 ; Noah M. Green, 1846-49 ; Joshua C. Berry, 1848-51 ; George Babcock, 1849-52 ; Noah M. Green, 1849-52 ; Abel B. Berry, 1851-54 ; Daniel B. Hadley, 1852-55 ; Noah M. Green, 1852-55 ; Joseph F. Gilbert, 1854-57 ; John W. Stephens, 1855-58 ; Noah M. Green, 1855-58 ; William L. Clark, 1857-60 ; John W. Stephens, 1858-61 ; John L. Robertson, 1858-61 ; Edward Allen (died in June, 1861), 1860-61 ; John W. Stephens (died in March, 1863), 1661-63 ; John Lugenbeel, 1861-64 ; William L. Clark, 1861-64 ; Lewis N. Janes (died in July, 1865), 1863-66 ; William L. Clark, 1864-67 ; William M. Cunningham, 1865-68 ; William L. Clark, 1867-70 ; Henry Purdy, 1868-71 ; William M. Cunningham, 1868-71 ; William L. Clark, 1870-73 ; Henry Purdy, 1871-74 ; Florence Weber, 1871-74 ; Dudley Seward, 1873-76 ; Thomas C. Brandon, 1874-77 ; Thomas H. Goodwin, 1874-77 ; Dud-ley Seward, 1876-79 ; Henry Purdy, 1877-80 ; Thomas C. Brandon, 1877-80 ; Dudley Seward, 1879 ; Henry Purdy, 1880 ; Thomas C. Brandon, 1880.