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CHAPTER XXVII.*

RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP— DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY —EARLY SETTLEMENT—DEVELOPMENT

OF INDUSTRIES—VILLAGES—CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS—INCIDENTS

—THE GREAT SLEIGH-RIDE. ETC.. ETC.

IN writing the history of even so small a part of the earth's surface as is contained in one of the Western Reserve townships, it becomes evident that nothing like absolute justice and impartiality can be attained in any history whatever. The truth is, no history absolutely correct in every particular was ever written. To give just the right amount of importance and space to each individual and interest would manifestly be impossible. It might be a curiosity to see a book wherein each

* Contributed by Dr. A. E. Ewing and S. R. Oviatt.

individual was allowed to dictate or write up his own consequence and that of his family ; but such a production would give a very incorrect idea of individuals and their affairs. Some would be swelled out of all proportion to their real importance in the community, while others, through innate modesty, would only occupy a few lines, if they allowed themselves to appear at all.

Gen. Bierce, of Akron, published in 1854 a small volume of "reminiscences." His labor must have been great, and his reward small.

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From his book many items in this sketch are taken and duly acknowledged. Where his words have been copied, quotation marks are used ; but, in some cases, his facts are given without such credit. Of Indian history, treaties, etc., Gen. Bierce says : " By the treaty of Fort McIntosh in 1785, the Cuyahoga River, Portage Path and Tuscarawas River were the western boundary of the United States. This was confirmed by what was called ' Wayne's Treaty,' made at Greenville, August 3, 1795 ; the chiefs of twelve tribes were present and ratified it. The land on the west side of the Cuyahoga was not purchased until 1805, when the United States acquired it by the treaty of Fort Industry, on the Maumee. This fort was on the land of a Wyandot chief by the name of Ogonst, who, with his tribe, hunted on the grounds between the Maumee and Cuyahoga. in connection with the Miamis, Pottawatomies. Delawares, Shawanese, Ottawas and Senecas. There was also a small band of Mingos on the west bank of the Cuyahoga, being a part of the Cayugas, but formed a distinct band." Here follows in Gen. Bierce's book some further particulars, which will be found in fewer words, and with a trifling error or two corrected further along in this chapter.

The township of Richfield is known as Town 4, in Range 12, and may well be considered one of the choice townships in the Connecticut Western Reserve. Its estimated value in an early day as a township was adjudged above the average. A strip of land, designated as " Tract 7," about seventy-two rods in width east and west, and extending the whole length of the township from north to south, containing about seven hundred acres, was cut off the east side of the township and annexed to the township of Boston, thereby placing the geographical center about thirty-six rods west of the centers of other townships in the same range.

The surface of' the land in Richfield, from a point about a mile northeast of the center, in what is called " Furnace Run Valley," to the southeast corner of the township, is very broken and hilly, but the township generally exhibits a rolling and undulating surface, possessing a rich and fertile soil, and consisting of a gravelly loam, with a clay subsoil, producing good crops of both grain and grass, and distinguished likewise for its fine fruits. The extreme altitude of the township is about eight hundred feet above Lake Erie, and 1,365 feet above tide water at New York, giving to it a circulation of pure air, free from miasma or any malarial influence. One of the old pioneer physicians, Dr. Rawson, after forty years' practice, said that he never knew a case of fever and ague that originated in this township. Richfield is bounded on the north by Brecksville Township, in Cuyahoga County ; on the east by Boston Township ; on the south by Bath Township, and on the west by Hinckley Township, in Medina County. It abounds in springs of pure water well distributed, and two considerable creeks, viz.: a branch of Rocky River, which flows for a mile or two through the west part of the township in a southerly direction, then enters Medina County and Furnace Run, which rises in the northwest part of Richfield, flows southeast and empties into the Cuyahoga River at Everett, in the southwest part of Boston Township. The name of Furnace Run was obtained through the discovery of iron ore in the valley bordering it, and the probability of the erection of a furnace in the immediate neighborhood. When first seen by white men there were in the west and south parts of the township a heavy growth of beech, maple, hickory, ash, black and white walnut, interspersed with large oaks of the different varieties, while nearly all the eastern part was covered almost exclusively with white oak.

When the Western Reserve was conveyed to the State of Connecticut, and, in turn, by the State to the " Connecticut Land Company," Richfield, in " the draft," became the property of five or six proprietors or land speculators. Col. Benjamin Tallmadge owned the northwest quarter, which was designated as '' tract one ; " Capt. John Smith, tract two, and a fraction north, in southwest quarter ; Edwards & Green, tract three, in south and southeast part of the township ; Uriel Holmes, a tract in the north-quarter, and J. Wilcox tract six, in the east part. The northwest quarter, or tract one, containing 4,000 acres, was sold in 1811, by Col. Tallmadge to Capt. Heman Oviatt, for the sum of $5,000, who, soon after, had it resurveyed into quarter-sections by Alfred Wolcott, the father of Hon. A. Wolcott, of Boston Township. For this service he received fifty acres of land, and was allowed to take his choice of any fifty acres in tract one. He chose a lot near where John Comstock now

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lives. The name Richfield seems to have originated from a weed which grew here in great abundance, in an early day, and which was very nutritious and greatly relished by stock. It was called by some " ox-balm," but more generally known as " rich-feed," and. by a very slight corruption, it became " Richfield." This name was given to the township at the time of its organization in 1816, by the Commissioners of Portage County. For two years after the organization of Richland, it included what is now the township of Bath. The first officers elected for Richfield, in April, 1816, were as follows : Daniel Keys, Nathaniel Oviatt and William Jourdan, Trustees : John Bigelow, Clerk ; Isaac Welton, Treasurer ; Jared Barnes and John Farnam, Overseers of the Poor ; John Bigelow and Isaac Hopkins, Constables ; John Farnam; Jason Philips, Isaac Welton, Elijah Hale and John Holmes, Supervisors. In the year 1818, the township of Bath was set off from Richfield, leaving the boundaries of the latter as they are at the present day.

The first white man to settle in what is now Richfield Township was Launcelot Mays, who came here in 1809, and was followed, in 1810, by Jared Barnes, Daniel and John Mallet (father and son), with their families. During the same year, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Mallet, which was the first white child born in the township. In 1811. Nathaniel Oviatt, of Goshen, Conn., came to this town with his family, performing the journey with oxen and cart the whole distance. The same year, also, Enoch D. Buck, Mr. Nelson, Jason Philips and Ben Payne arrived, with their families. In 1812, the first death of a white person occurred, that of Polly Payne, who died at the age of eighteen years and three months. She was a sister of the venerable John Payne, who, at the age of eighty-four years, is still living in the town. The first couple married was William Carter and Miss Betsey Mays. They were married by Alfred Wolcott, a Justice of the Peace, in 1812. Alfred Wolcott and Lernan Farnam were the two Justices of the Peace for the territory now comprising the townships of Richfield, Bath, Boston and Northampton from 1812 to 1816, when, upon the organization of the township of Richfield, Isaac Welton was elected Justice of' the Peace, his commission (now in the hands of I. T. Welton) bearing date July, 1816.

In 1812, Amos and Johnsey Barnes also settled in the township. Judge Isaac Welton came in 1812, cleared off the ground and sowed six acres of wheat. He then returned to Connecticut on foot. and moved back here with his family in 1813. John Farnam and family came also in 1812, and located north of the center, on what, with its numerous additions; is called the "Farnam Domain," and is owned by Everett Farnam, who is still living, at the age of fourscore years. At about this time, and for two or three years following, we find Amos and Jonathan Searles. Timothy Hurlburt. Moses Worden, Jacob Spafford, !John Bigelow, Stephen Welton. Elijah Welton. Bildad and Israel Hubbard. Stephen Pixley, John Wilcox. Nathan Carpenter, Daniel Moulton (father of Col. Moulton, now of the Treasury Department), Earl Moulton. William West. Reuben Cooley, Alvin Cooley, Newcomb Carter, Bradford Sturtevant. Salmon Oviatt. Elijah Ellsworth, Augustus Adams, Birdsey H. Oviatt. Samuel Robinson and John Newton. as settlers in Richfield Township, nearly all of whom came from Connecticut and Massachusetts. Vigorous in mind and body. and with willing hands, they came prepared to battle with the wild beasts of the forest, and have succeeded in leaving to their descendants the beautiful homes they today enjoy.

[The following narrative, which scarcely belongs in the history of Richfield Township, is given herewith, as illustrative of pioneer life. and, at the request of the writers of the chapter on Richfield. many of whose citizens are descendants of the " captives " mentioned. The narrative was originally published in the Litchfield (Conn.) Enquirer in 1833, and in the Observer in 1846.—Historian.]

Soon after the "French and Indian war," Mr, Nathaniel Carter removed from Killingworth to Cornwall (Conn.). where he purchased a farm and resided for some years. But, as the tide of emigration was at that time setting from New England toward the pleasant and fertile valleys of the Delaware and Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, early in 1768. Mr. Carter, with some of his hardy neighbors, began to make preparations for removing thither. The accounts which they had received of that country had filled them with glowing anticpations. though they were by no means unmindful of the fact that the life of a pioneer was one of hardship and peril. Mr. Carter's family at this time consisted of a wife and six children—Jemima, the eldest daughter, having a short time before been married to Mr. John Bates. of Warren. The other

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children were Nathan, Sarah aged eleven years, Elizabeth eight, Nathaniel six, and an infant.

On a beautiful morning in the spring of the year above mentioned, this family (except the married daughter), together with two other families from the same neighborhood, took up the line of their journey to the " land of promise." After a tedious tour, marked with the usual vicissitudes and adventures of such a journey, they arrived in safety at the forks of the Delaware, where they remained a short time, and ultimately settled on the Lackawaxen Creek. in Wayne County. about twelve miles below the site of the present town of Bethany. They advanced about fifteen miles beyond any other white settlement., cleared a small spot near the bank of the stream and erected a building of logs, in which the three families resided. Here they passed a few months in apparent security, engaged in various employments to improve the safety and comfort of their new residence. The tall trees immediately before their dwelling they had in part cleared away. some grain and garden vegetables were growing near by, while around the doorway a few flowers, transplanted from their dear native New England, were budding and blossoming—adding variety and beauty to the scenes of their wilderness home. While some were laboring. others carried the muskets and ammunition, acting as sentinels, that they might seasonably be apprised of approaching danger. Every day seemed more promising of future happiness and security, and added something to their little stock of comforts. The wild scenery had become familiar to their view. and an agreeable interest had associated itself with most of the objects which were embraced by the little horizon, formed by the tall and unbroken forests which stretched away to an almost interminable breadth around them.

One day in the latter part of September, when the inmates of this little settlement were occupied in their usual pursuits, Mr. Carter, with his eldest son and one or two others, being engaged in building a house a short distance in the woods, and the man whose business it was to act as sentinel having gone a few rods out of sight of the house to examine some traps. the Indians. who had been secretly watching for their prey, uttered their savage war-whoop, and rushed upon these defenseless women and children. At this moment, Mrs. Carter and her daughter Elizabeth were a few yards from the door engaged in picking corn for dinner, Elizabeth. seeing them before the war-whoop was given, and knowing from their peculiar appearance that they were banded for war. turned to her mother and gave the alarm, but her words were scarcely uttered before she saw that beloved parent turn deadly pale, and the next moment she beheld the tomahawk buried deep in her skull. The Indians, twelve in number, then rushed into the house, where were the elder females, one of whom was confined to the bed by illness, a daughter of the same woman aged sixteen, who was also ill; the infant daughter of Mr. Carter and five other children. One of the Indians seized the infant and dashed its brains out against the logs of the house; and the two sick women were instantly put to death withtomahawks. The man who had gone to examine the traps, hearing the shrieks of the sufferers, hastened to their defense, but had only time to discharge his gun once, before he received a death-blow from the hands of the assailants.

The Indians, having selected such of their captives as they supposed could best endure the hardships of savage life and taken the scalps from those they had killed, and also having taken the clothing and utensils which they thought would best serve their convenience, they set fire to the house, and then hurried off to their encampment a short distance from thence, on the opposite side of the creek. The captives were three children of Mr. Carter (Elizabeth, Sarah and Nathaniel), Mrs. Duncan, and three children belonging to the other family. At the encampment they found about 200 Indians, principally warriors. Several large fires were burning, around which the Indians began to regale themselves with roasted corn and other refreshments, which they had brought from the white settlement. After having freely indulged themselves in exultations at their recent success, and, night approaching, they secured their captives with cords and stretched themselves on the ground around the fires. Sarah. the eldest of the three children of Mr. Carter, appeared perfectly distracted by the circumstances of her situation. She continued crying and calling for her father to come and rescue her. The Indians several times appeared determined to silence her screams with the tomahawk. At length. when they had become buried in sleep, Sarah obtained a small brand from the fire, with which she barely succeeded in burning the cord which bound her to the savages, but leaving her hands still tied together. In this situation, and surrounded by the midnight darkness, she succeeded in finding a canoe, and loosing it from its fastenings, in which she reached the opposite bank, and, finally, found her way back to the smoking ruins of her recent home, where she gave way to the most violent lamentations. Though her cries were distinctly heard at the encampment, she was not pursued until morning, when she was retaken.

The Indians then commenced their journey through the woods, carrying their captives on horseback. After pursuing their route three days in a westerly direction, they halted and sent back a war party of about one hundred. After five or six days, the party returned with several scalps, and the horror of the unfortunate captives can scarcely be imagined, when they discovered among the number, those of Mr. Carter and Mr. Duncan. These men on returning from their labors and seeing the desolation wrought by the Indians, repaired to the nearest white settlement, and procured the aid of forty men, with whom they returned for the cattle, and with the faint hope of recovering the captives. Just as they gained the vicinity of their recent home, they were suddenly surprised by the yell of these savages and by the flight of their arrows. About half of Carter s men instantly deserted, and left their companions to fight the battle as best they could. Yet. though struggling against such fearful odds, these brave men stood their ̊round, till Carter found himself alone—all besides having been

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either killed or disabled. He had stationed himself behind a rock, and still kept up the fire until struck down by the tomahawks of the enemy. Some four or five of those wounded in the early part of the engagement, succeeded in crawling so far into the forest as to elude the subsequent search of their wily foes, and at length reached their homes.

On the return of the Indian warriors to the encampment, there was great lamentation and mourning among the savages, over those of their number who had fallen in the battle. more than half of the 100 being Among the slain. The Indians then recommenced their march through the woods to the residence of their nation. As nearly as the captives could recollect, they traveled several days diligently in a northwesterly direction, and at length arrived at their place of destination. Here in dark filthy huts, ornamented with the scalps of their parents and friends, separated from each other. did these lonely captives spend the long and tedious winter, in astute of almost perfect starvation. The Indians would never go abroad to obtain new supplies of food so long as one morsel remained. and then sometimes returned with little success.

Nathaniel, the youngest of the captives, having from the first been a general favorite with the Indians, was treated by them with great comparative kindness and attention, and with so much success. that the little white stranger soon ceased to mourn his bereavements, and join heartily in the amusements and pastimes which they devised for the purpose of diverting him, and making sport for themselves. Early in the spring they deserted their winter quarters and journeyed toward the lakes. After a tour of several weeks they arrived in the vicinity of Fort Niagara. where Elizabeth and Sarah were ransomed through the negotiations of Sir William Johnson. But all efforts to obtain Nathaniel were unavailing. No consideration would tempt the Indians to part with him, and. strange as it may appear, he had become so much attached to them that he would not consent to leave them. His sisters, after bidding him an affectionate and final farewell, were conveyed to Albany. where their Connecticut friends, being apprised of their ransom, met them, and they soon had the unspeakable gratification of once more visiting the home of their nativity, and of finding themselves surrounded by sympathizing friends and relatives. Yet it was long. very long, before they ceased to mourn over the dreadful scenes through which they had passed, and their sad bereavements.

The reader who has followed thus far our narrative, may feel an interest to know something of the subsequent history of the captives. Sarah Carter, from her ill treatment and mental sufferings never fully recovered. Though she lived to old age, her intellect was permanently ' paired; she died in Goshen, Conn. Elizabeth was married to Mr. Benjamin Oviatt, of Goshen, and died in that town in 1835. Among her children were Mr. Luman Oviatt, of Goshen; Heiman Oviatt, Esq., an enterprising citizen of Hudson. and a liberal patron of the college at that place, more recently a resident of Richfield; Mr. Nathaniel Oviatt and Mr. Salmon Oviatt. of Richfield.1 Nathaniel grew up among the Indians, imbibed their habits, and married one of their daughters. It is a remarkable circumstance that among the articles which the Indians carried away with their captives was a Bible, which they afterward gave to their young favorite. He had previously learned to read, and by means of this book. which lie kept till manhood, he ever retained that knowledge. He died in the Cherokee nation, at the , age of about seventy.

Some years later. while the foreign mission school. was in operation at Cornwall. Conn., Mr. Isaac Bates, a warm friend of the school, received a letter from a missionary among the Indians, stating that he had sent on to be educated a young half-breed Indian, of fine talents and exemplary piety, named Carter, expressing a wish that he would become acquainted with him. An early acquaintance with the young man was sought by Mr. Bates, and greatly to his surprise he discovered in him a son of the long lost captive. The youth remained at the school some time, frequently visiting his relatives in that vicinity. After completing his studies, he returned to his native country with a view of there preaching the Gospel.

The first sawmill was built in 1818 by John Farnam. about one and one-fourth miles north of the Center, on Furnace Run. near what is now called Lake John." A few years later, it was moved lower down the creek. In subsequent years, there were no less than seven sawmills on Furnace Run at different times, and two sawmills and one gristmill in the west part of the township. But the first and most primitive grist-mill was built by Enoch D. Buck. It was made by hollowing out the top of a white-oak stump, and using a pestle worked by a spring-pole to crack or grind the grain.

There are two villages in the township, one at the Center and one (now the largest and most flourishing) about three-fourths of a mile west of the Center, and is called West Richfield. Between the two villages, and near West Richfield, is a steam grist and saw mill, that has been in successful operation for twenty-three years, owned by A. C. Shepard. The oldest frame building now standing is at the center of Richfield (occupied by S. R. Oviatt), and was built by Gen. O. M. Oviatt in 1820. He also built the store at the center of Richfield in the same year. Two of the old pioneers who assisted in building the store are still living, viz., John Payne and Lester Hall. The following year, the frame houses of John Farnam, John Newton, Salmon Oviatt and Nathaniel Oviatt were erected. The two latter

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were built by two young men who were carpenters, and who came on foot from Guilford, Conn., in 1820, with their knapsacks, and settled for a short time in Brecksville ; their names were Martin Chittenden and James W. Weld. A few years later, they settled in Richfield, and, together with Deacon T. E. Ellsworth, were for some years the building mechanics of Richfield, and were among our most worthy citizens. Deacon T. E. Ellsworth still is living in West Richfield. Mr. Chittenden served a few years as Justice of the Peace, and died in 1841. James W. Weld, about 1830, built and occupied the first frame hotel (now called the Ellas House) at the center of Richfield. It was the stopping-place for the four-horse stagecoach on its route through from Cleveland to Massillon. He was Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and a well-read lawyer, although he never practiced at the bar. He was Treasurer of Medina County two years, from 1840 to 1842. He returned to Richfield, and was an active leader in every moral and religious enterprise. He died in March, 1863.

Among those who devoted considerable attention to fine fruit, for which Richfield was distinguished in an early day, may be mentioned the Weltons, Lernan Farnam, J. Humphrey and Wadhams; and, at a more recent date, J. W. Weld.

William Wheatly and Robert Garget have paid special attention to Durham cattle, and are among the largest owners in the township. In an early day, I. T. Welton did much to improve the stock of this section. Richfield, although a grazing and farming township, is not without its mechanical industries. Three or four blacksmith-shops, two harness-shops, two carriage and wagon shops, two furniture-shops, two drug stores, two dry goods stores, two hotels, one grocery and meat-market, and one barbershop are among its business industries.

Richfield contains four churches, viz., Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and United Brethren. The first church organization was effected May 15, 1818, under the name of the " Church of Christ," and is now known as the " First Congregational Church of Richfield." It was organized by two missionaries, viz., Rev. William Hanford and Rev. John Seward, from Portage County, with thefollowing members : Elijah Welton and Hannah, his wife ; Isaac Welton and Anna, his wife ; Stephen Pixley, Newcomb Carter, Birdsey N. Oviatt, Augustus Adams (now living), Mary Oviatt, wife of Salmon Oviatt, Sarah Sturtevant, wife of Bradford Sturtevant, and Lydia Carter. Newcomb Carter was the first Clerk, and he and Isaac Welton the first Church Committee. Meetings were occasionally held under the auspices of Missionaries Seward and Hanford until November 2, 1820, when Revs. J. Treat and Israel Shaler, as missionaries, officiated. Rev. Israel Shaler was duly installed the first Pastor of the " Church of Christ " April 24, 1821, and Stephen Pixley elected the first Deacon August 30, 1822. The church formerly united with the Grand River and Portage Presbytery February 18, 1824. In April, 1837, it united with the Western Reserve Congregational Association at Oberlin. April 1, 1833, the First Congregational society, of which this church formed a part, was " incorporated " and organized. It hired the Rev. Horace Smith as its Pastor until 1849, and again from April, 1854, to April, 1860. Rev. S. C. Leonard occupied the pulpit from 1849 to April, 1854, and Rev. Reuben Hatch from 1860 to 1863. From August, 1864, to the present time, Rev. J. A. McKinstry has supplied the pulpit. The church building was erected in 1832, and is still in good condition.

The first Methodist church building erected was raised and inclosed in 1822, but not finished for many years, and was burned in 1852. It was succeeded by the present beautiful building, nearly west of Richfield, with a flourishing society worshiping therein. The Baptist Church, built at West Richfield in 1838, is still in good condition, and has sustained religious services most of the time since its erection. The Church of the United Brethren, in southeast Richfield, is a large and flourishing church, with a new building, recently erected, called the " Centennial Church."

The old Richfield Academy is worthy of mention. It was built in 1836, and was in successful operation for about thirty-five years ; then, yielding to the modern free-school system, it passed away with other relics of the pioneer days. Under the administration of Rev. Harvey Lyon, who was its Principal for many years, it stood in the foremost rank of the academical institutions of the West. From

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its spacious halls, where " studious lore was conned," went forth many of our practical business men. Teachers in vast numbers, students for college, merchants, mechanics. surveyors, etc., etc., here received their education and the foundation for their higher honors.

Richfield was one of the foremost townships in Summit County in establishing a township library. Such an organization was made in 1825, under the supervision of Dr. Rawson. It contain at one time several hundred volumes of the best standard works to be obtained, and was ell sustained and patronized until recently when our common and high school libraries have superseded it.

Among the historical incidents of Summit County, and one which attaches to Richfield Township, possessing more than a passing interest to its citizens, is the great sleigh-ride of 1856. The following is the substance of this memorable event, as taken from a recent newspaper article : The winter, like the one just past (1880-81), was one of unusal severity, with much snow, which lay on the ground until far into the spring. Upon a certain occasion during the winter, a border township turned out quite a number of four-horse sleighs. while one of the number bore a rude banner made of cotton, a yard square, upon which was painted a negro boy with his thumb upon the end of his nose, his hand spread out, and a scroll from his mouth bearing the legendary words, " You can't come it." This friendly challenge brought other townships into competition, and the rude banner passed as a prize, from one to another. as it was captured by a larger number of four or six-horse (none other counted) sleighs than had been turned out by the predecessor, until it finally became the prize of Richfield Township. To such an extent had the affair gone that it now became a county matter, and Cuyahoga and Medina Counties entered the contest. A day was set—March 14, 1856—when they (one or the other) would wrest the prize from Summit. The day came, and with it a large.course of people to witness the friendly battle. As Richfield held the prize, it was decreed that the meeting should take place in this township, and the particular township turning out the largest number of sleighs on the great trial day should receive the flag, and in turn present it to its respective county. When all had assembled, the marshals proceeded to count the sleighs from each county, when they were found to be as follows : Medina County, 140 Cuyahoga County, 151 : and Summit County 171—a total number of 462 four and six-horse sleighs in one grand and friendly rivalry for rude banner that cost originally just—six cents. The procession was formed, and passed on to Akron with the most perfect order an( decorum. Upon arrival. the flag was presented( to Hudson Township, as having the largest number of teams, by James W. Weld, of Rich field, and received on behalf of Hudson by Dr C. R. Pierce, who presented it. in accordance with a prearrangement. to the County of Summit. It was variously estimated by eyewitnesses that not less than five or ten thousand persons witnessed this grand sleigh-ride. Many of the sleighs were handsomely decorated with evergreens and profusely ornamented with flags. All passed off in the utmost harmony. and not an accident of any kind occurred during the day. Akron received the banner with great dignity, which was to be preserved among the valuable relics of the county until some rival should come with a larger number of teams than she had turned out on this occasion. The glory of being the possessor of the prize was short-lived. On the following Tuesday, Medina County came over with 185 four and six-horse sleighs. being tourteen more than Summit County had turned out. The banner was turned over to her and carried to Medina, where it was deposited among the archives of the county, to be kept until captured by some other rival. It still remains the prize of Medina County. And thus ended the most remarkable sleigh-ride on record.

For a period of nearly twenty years. Richfield was the central point for the union fair of this and adjoining townships. The institution is now abandoned. and the agricultural. horticultural and mechanical interests of the township are more or less represented in the county fair at Akron.

A lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was instituted in Richfield September 5, A. L. 5823. known as Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 69. The charter members were Isaac Welton, Isaac M. Morgan. Abraham Freese, John Smith. Adoniram Swift, Jonathan Sheldon, Salmon Oviatt. David Green, David Jones and others. The first Master of the lodge was Isaac Welton, who

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held the office until November, 1826, when Solomon Curtis was elected Master, and served as such until 1828. The lodge held its meetings at the house of Orson M. Oviatt from 1823 to the close of the year 1828, when they removed to the house of Ebenezer Palmer. Willis Welton was elected Master in 1828, and served as such until 1832, at which time the lodge disbanded. In October, 1855, it was reorganized as Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 266, in Richfield, with the following charter members : Hiram Bronson, L. F. Ward, James W. Ward, Elihu Parmelee, Joshua Finch, Ebenezer Palmer. John Churchill. Sr., Thomas E. Ellsworth and Oliver Hart. The first Master was Hiram Bronson. The lodge room is located over the furniture store of Thomas E. Ells-worth, in West Richfield.

The township of Richfield early took an active and prominent part in the war of the rebellion. When the news came that the rebels had fired on Fort Sumter, the excitement was intense, and in a few days the men, old and young, were drilling. The first company that grew out of the excitement was composed of all classes of citizens, and was commanded y Norris Humphrey as Captain, and Martin Bigelow. First Lieutenant. The company were usually known as the "String Beans." We met every Saturday afternoon for drill, and, though no one knew very well what was required in the way of military tactics, we made up for all deficiencies by the ardor with which we went to work. This organization finally died a natural death, and from its remains were formed the Richfield Grays, A. N. Goldwood, Captain ; R. C. Ellsworth, First Lieutenant ; C. W. Wood. Second Lieutenant. The members of this company were of the very best material (all young men), and was one of the most thoroughly drilled and efficient volunteer military companies ever in Summit County, nearly all of the members of which sooner or later drifted into the army. Our township furnished 137 soldiers for the Union army in the great war of the rebellion. There are at the present forty soldiers living in Richfield. Of this number, twenty-five are of the original 137 ; the balance are those that have come into the township since the war.

About the 1st of October, 1862, the first and only draft of men occurred. Of Richfield men, thirty were taken. none of whom went into thearmy at that time, but all furnished substitutes. We lost in the war twenty-seven soldiers. Of this number five were killed ; the rest died of disease contracted while in the South. Six of our soldier friends carry honorable scars, received from our misguided brethren in the late unpleasantness. Thirteen remember the genial hospitalities extended to them by the Southern Brigadiers in the pleasant picnic grounds of Libby, Andersonville, Salisbury and other pleasant resorts of comfort, happiness and plenty, which were so freely extended to them by their rebel friends. The larger part of our old comrades have emigrated to the Western States, where they are now engaged in the different pursuits of life.

Another of Richfield's claims to notoriety is contained in the fact that the now famous Old John Brown" was once a resident within its borders. If he was not an " Ohio man " originally, he was certainly a citizen of Ohio for a time. For a few years—how many is not remembered now—between 1840 and 1850, he lived in Richfield Township. Says a correspondent writing from Richfield : " A man though somewhat visionary and unfortuate in business affairs, yet honest, firm and unyielding in his convictions of right, he challenged the admiration of the world in his devotion to human liberty and freedom."

To Dr. T. E. Ellsworth are we indebted for a record of mortality for a portion of the time in our past history. From 1839 to 1880. a period of 41 years, there were 860 deaths: the greatest number in one year was 31, the least being in 1838, which was 4. In 1822, 17 children died who were under seven years of age. The population of our town the last 50 years has been from 1,000 to 1,300, being in 1870, 1,019, and in 1880. 1,253 ; it is thought that in 1840 it was about 1,300. There have been 9 residents of our town who were pensioned for services rendered in the war of 1812, of whom Stephen Welton is the only survivor.

Many of our Western Reserve townships have been, in the way of holding reunions from from year to year, for the purpose of getting together present and past residents, renewing old memories, etc., but Richfield was behind in this respect till August 11, 1880. On that day, such a gathering was witnessed in a grove owned by Mr. John Kirby, as was never held here before. It is safe to say that at some time

616 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

during the day, every man, woman and child in town, able to be around, visited the grounds. The neighboring towns all sent huge delegations, and many old residents were here from hundreds of miles away. Gov. Axtell, President of the Reunion Association delivered a fine address of welcome, after which he read the following " greeting," written by Dr. A. E. Ewing, who was not able to be present, and was therefore compelled to perform his part by proxy. The greeting is as follows :

"Back to the mother that bore you ; back to the land of your birth;

From field, from workshop and office, back from the ends of the earth;

Back to the haunts of your childhood we welcome you every one ;

Yet not as the patriarch hoary welcomed his prodigal son.

“We hail you with unalloyed pleasure, untinged by sorrow and tears;

But the patriarch's joys were darkened at thought of the wasted years;

At thought of the wasted treasure the profligate youth had strown

Among the wanton and vicious, while traveling that broadway down.

" We greet you with song and with laughter, from hearts all aglow with delight;

But sigh as we must for the missing, who've perished and gone from our sight;

May we meet them again in the future, when life and its turmoils are o'er;

Or is their abode so distant that their presence will glad us no more ?

"Let us trust that they still are near us and join in our joys today;

That none of us here are more blissful than those who have fallen by the way;

And hope, when our time comes to travel the shadowy road they have trod,

We may meet in a grander reunion by the bright-shining rivers of God."

After this, speeches were called for and responses came from S. R. Oviatt, Sheriff Lane, of Akron, Andrew Hale, of Bath, the first white child born west of the Cuyahoga River ; George Howlet, of Cleveland, and F. Wilcox—sons of , Richfield. Then followed Gen. Voris, of Akron, Rev. M. McKinstry and the Hon. M. C. Hills, of Medina, Dr. Pixley, of Peninsula, and possibly others not now remembered. The music, both vocal and instrumental, was highly appreciated, and the dinner, which was abundant in quantity and superb in quality, was enjoyed by the many thousands in attendance. Toward the close of the afternoon, a vote was taken, and without a dissenting voice, all agreed to meet on the same grounds one year from date.

The second man who settled in the township, as already stated, was Henry Mallet. He located in the southeast part. on land owned afterward by Richard Sweet. Mallet had two brothers, John and Daniel, who, as well as himself. were in favor of hard currency. They accordingly erected a mint on a point of land ever since known as " the money shop," just over the line in Northampton. where they mannfactured the hard" currency to order. This drew to the settlement a set of individuals that did not add to its respectability, and the inhabitants. therefore, destroyed the shop with fire. Notwithstanding the destruction of his mint. Mallet continued to tinker with the currency until he was finally "taken into the employ of the State," and died in Columbus.

In 1820, the people, being without a stated preacher, met in town council to elect a person " to lead in meeting " (presumably a sermon reader). The candidates were Bradford Sturtevant and Elijah Ellsworth. On a full canvass, Ellsworth was declared duly elected to hold his office during good behavior." As he was somewhat addicted to swearing, he agreed to abandon the practice so long as he held the office. He fulfilled his engagement, and more than answered the expectations of his friends. In fact, he did his work so well that he was afterward elected the first " train-band captain '' in town, and finally rose to the post of Colonel. He lived in town till quite an old man, and then moved to the south part of Bath. where he died about twenty years ago.