HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 475 County, and in Ohio, own their own clothes, and own their own limbs. This home in the wilderness, over which Ruhamah DeWolf Pelton presided, became a mecca to which travelers and missionaries came. One iron kettle served for boiling, baking and frying, and in this home were the first religious meetings of the township held. Here was the first birth and the first death. "Out of the pieces split from a chestnut log a rude coffin was made to bury" Ruhamah's baby. This pioneer had nine children, five of them girls. She was fond of reading, and in this primitive home, with all its privations and cares, she grew mentally and morally, and lived to be nearly ninety years old. The name of Pelton has been connected with Gustavus, Hartford, Vernon and that vicinity since 1800. In 1803 Elias Pelton, another son of Josiah, with his wife, settled in Gustavus on a tract north of the center. Josiah Pelton and the mother came with him. The former had planned that each of his sons should have a farm of one hundred acres. Apparently the daughters must manage some other way. Zilpha married Eliphaz Perkins, and this was the first marriage in the township. They waited for nearly a year for a minister to marry them. Barbara, a granddaughter of Josiah, and a daughter of Elias, was the first white girl to be born, who lived, in the township. Her brother, Storrs, was the first white boy. In 1804 fifty people came to Gustavus. Prominent among these was Obediah Gildersleeve. He obtained permission from the court to drop the last part of his name, and the family has since been known as "Gilder." Mr. Gildersleeve settled about one-half mile east of the center. He had eight children when he arrived, and one was born afterwards. He died in 1805, when he was fifty, and he was among the first to be buried in the graveyard north of the center. His wife lived to be seventy years old, and throughout her whole life had great love for children. Several generations have been proud to claim her as their Sunday school teacher. Like most of the strong women of her time, she was an ardent abolitionist and drove wagonloads of slaves to the lakes, where they made their escape. She had a great sorrow in the death of her daughter, Chloe, who, while riding came upon the quicksand near the bank of the Pymatuning, which had undermined the crust, and was precipitated into the river. The horse, and a cousin who was riding with her, escaped, but Chloe was drowned. Phoebe Gilder was 476 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY one of the most intellectual of this large family. She studied at school and at home, reading everything she could lay her hands upon. She seemed to see, as she grew older, the disabilities which the law placed on women, and writes : "A Mrs. Ballard had the misfortune to marry a man of small intellect, who finally became idiotic. She procured, by an attorney, the right of government over a minor, and then she bought and sold and moved at her own will. She lived to be over eighty years old." Mrs. Gilder herself lived well up into the nineties. Calvin Cone and family came to Gustavus with the Gildersleeve party. He was from Hartland, and after living in Gustavus a few years moved to Hartford. He was the first justice of the peace in Gustavus, probably 1808, and was a state senator from Trumbull County in 1806. Mrs. Cone is commended by local historians for the work she did in the wilderness home when her husband was in the legislature. Mr. Cone realized that a blacksmith was a necessity for a new country, and he induced Jehiel Meacham, of Hartland, Connecticut, to come to Trumbull County to follow his trade. offering him fifty acres of land if he would settle in Gustavus. This was quite an inducement, so he started in 1805, with his family stowed away in sleds drawn by oxen. When they reached Canandaigua his wife, in getting into the sled, fell and injured herself. The rest of the party came on, but Mr. Meacham remained with his wife, who shortly died, and was buried there. He then took his little girl in his arms, put his boy behind him on his horse, and this sorrowful little family reached Mr. Cone's home in the early spring, when the wood flowers were just beginning to bloom and when the woods were full of the early wild birds. This little girl, Pattie, later became Mrs. Ebenezer St. John, and another daughter Lydia, Mrs. Benjamin Allen, of Kinsman. Sally Cone, a daughter of these early settlers, married Wayne Bidwell, in 1815. In 1832 he died leaving four children. She managed the farm and reared the family. In 1816, William Roberts, and his wife Margaret, came to Gustavus from Canton, Connecticut. He was a tanner and a shoemaker, also was a natural musician and taught music in several places in Trumbull County. Music was his pleasure, and he neglected his trade to his financial embarrassment. When he died he had little property to leave, and, through no mismanagement on his widow's part, it was wasted, and when HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 477 she was old "there was no room for her at any fireside." However, Sophia, her daughter-in-law, who had more cares than the other children, gave her a home in her family, where she was comfortably cared for the rest of her life. Mrs. Phoebe Barnes Bridgeman in "Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve," says : "Thurzah Andrews Roberts was a small, round-faced woman, as full of energy as a grain of pepper. To her the four cardinal virtues were industry, neatness, promptness, and economy. When her husband was beset with some hurrying customer for a pair of new shoes, she would thrust her snowy cap inside the door, and in tones like those of a fife major would say, 'Now, William, don't promise those shoes until you know you can have them done.' She criticized everybody and everything, and whether favorably or adversely, with equal heartiness and good-will." Riverius Bidwell was a well educated man of Connecticut. He married Unicia Hotchkiss in 1810, and in 1812 moved to Gustavus. She made the trip rather comfortably, since her rocking chair was put into a large wagon. Mr. Bidwell was eccentric, but earnest. At one time lie was collector of taxes and he walked at a brisk gait, barefoot, from house to house, collecting, and when lie was through walked to Columbus to settle with the state treasurer. He was postmaster at Gustavus, :hut being gone so much of the time, his wife really did the business. In 1834 he removed to Kinsman, where he always took an active interest. His father, Riverius Sr., married Phoebe Roberts and emigrated to Gustavus about 1813, bringing the most of his family with him. His daughter, Marietta, a sister of Riverius Jr., married Buell Barnes and settled on the home farm in East Gustavus. She was very musical, and could sing sweetly all her days. She was an ardent Abolitionist and assumed part of his home duties while he was in the legislature, being glad to be able to help him indirectly to repeal the infamous black laws. One of the well remembered families of Gustavus was the Waters, Abner and Lucy. They came from Landisfield. She was a very devout woman and her brother-in-law, Joshua R. Giddings, said, "It is an inspiration to talk with sister Lucy." She died rather early in life and in 1829 her husband married again. Their wedding was the first one in the township at which wine or whiskey was not served. Jesse Lindsay was another of Gustavus' citizens who came 478 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY from Granby, Connecticut. When he married Jerusha Rice they settled in Gustavus. She was one of the most industrious women that Gustavus ever had. She and a friend, Mrs. Streator, often spun half the night after having done their other work and put their children to bed. She was a very well informed woman and knew as much about politics as most of the men of the neighborhood. A Gustavus man, in speaking of her intelligence and information, said she "was, I think, as capable of voting as men." Asa Case and his wife, Dosa Case and his wife, came to Gustavus in the autumn of 1812, from Canton, Connecticut. Hepzibah and Thurzah, the wives, walked many days, each carrying a baby in the arms. They settled near the home of Joseph Hart, in the midst of an unbroken forest, filled with all sorts of game, and both men and women applied themselves diligently to the work of making home out of the forest. Dosa had the first peach orchard in that region. One of the men who achieved unpleasant notoriety in Gustavus was Ira W. Gardner, who murdered his step-daughter because she refused to yield to his lustful passion. He stabbed her with a butcher knife, hitting her heart. He was the only man hanged in Trumbull County, and Gustavus people still speak of him with the utmost contempt. Another man known throughout the United States at the time was John Brown Jr. He married Weltha Hotchkiss, of Gustavus. Later he moved to Vernon, went to Kansas, and finally died at Put-in-Bay. When his father went to Harper's Ferry, the son was suspected of being in conspiracy with him and the authorities sought to arrest him. When the United States marshal reached Jefferson, Brown's friends told him that at least a thousand men would resist his arrest, as he was in no way guilty, whereupon the marshal withdrew. Few people know that Elisha Gray, the inventor, lived for some time in Trumbull County. He was exceedingly poor, and one year he asked Mr. David Gilbert, the father of Judge D. R. Gilbert, to allow him to live in a little house, one story, fifteen by twenty, which stood on Mr. Gilbert's place. This was not plastered, but Mr. Gray put boards on the inside, and papered it so that it looked comfortable. However, it was exceedingly cold. One springtime, tiring of his poverty, Gray rented a sugar camp in the vicinity and urged Mr. Gilbert to allow his second son, D. R., then a lad about eighteen, to assist HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 479 him in the sugar camp. The arrangement was made and Gray and young Gilbert went to work, and work they did, for the camp was not well equipped. They were several miles from home and they would boil as late as they possibly could and often had not time to go home at night. Being particularly tired one night young Gilbert suggested that they crawl into the schoolhouse which was not far away and sleep on the floor. This they did. A few nights later, instead of going to the schoolhouse they crawled onto the hay in a near-by barn. In the night they awakened, each shaking with a chill. When they were sufficiently aroused they found that a snow storm had come up, that the roof was so full of holes they were covered with snow. They therefore decided to walk home. Taking their lantern they started cross lots. They soon entered a piece of woods. Here young Gilbert had played, here he had hunted for squirrels and birds and he knew every bit of it. Someone had had a fire in the woods that day and there was a little of it left, not enough for warmth but so it could be seen. They started to cross the woods near this fire and in half an hour they found themselves back at the fire, although they had supposed themselves to be going straight ahead. This happened two or three times. Finally young Gilbert suggested putting out the lantern which they were carrying, thinking possibly the first of the morning light might soon be there. They walked this way to the edge of the woods where they found the camp, and then got their bearing. Although they did not reach home until three o'clock in the morning, they went to work as usual. They "sugared off" and had enough cakes to fill the bottom of a wagon. With great joy they started home with their load. Before they were half way there a rain came up, and hurry as they might, the melted sugar was running from the wagon. Apparently Mr. Gray was more successful with electrical appliances than with farming. All the while he was wintering in this cabin he was working on inventions, and sometimes as he boiled sap he would sit and dream in front of the fire to the consternation of young Gilbert, who had to constantly watch lest the fire go out or the sugar burn. A churn which at this time he patented proved unsuccessful. When he was working on the telephone his wife really became alarmed about him. He was then in Oberlin. Days and weeks at times he sat upstairs like a man in a dream. She thought he was losing his 480 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY mind. One day he came running down stairs calling "Eureka," Delia, Eureka." His early friends who knew him well believed he invented the telephone which now bears Bell's name. Gray cared nothing for fame, but did care for the invention itself. It will be remembered that a lawsuit was begun by Gray against Bell for the infringement of patents, and that it never came to trial. Although Gray was very poor before that, afterwards he had much money, and before lie was through this amounted to a million dollars. It was supposed that he allowed Bell to have the name for a certain sum of money or interest in the business. The first physician to settle in this township was Naphtali Streator, who came early in 1800. Dr. Allen, of Kinsman, had a large practice in Gustavus. Dr. Isaac Barclay later practiced in Gustavus. He had a reputation among members of his own profession throughout Trumbull County. He was one of seventeen children, the youngest of twelve brothers. Gustavus was early attached to Greene in its organization, but in 1821 became a distinct township. The first trustees were Ithemur Pelton, Asa Case and Rufus Beman; Joseph Hart was the treasurer; Thaddeus Selby, township clerk. In 1808 Sally Wakeman taught the first school in a new log barn northeast of the center. Patrons paid the tuition, and her salary was seventy-five cents a week. The first schoolhouse was built in 1813, on Riverius Bid-well's place. Esther Bidwell, although she had but just arrived in the district, was the teacher. Clothing and food were very scarce and sometimes the children had no head covering, but tied up their ears with a pocket handkerchief, and often had no food except meat, beside grain which was boiled. There were times when they did not have this, but lived on boiled beech leaves. Lucy Case was one of the early teachers, and she, like Esther Bidwell, was greatly beloved. In 1841 money was contributed for the erection of an academy at Gustavus. Rev. Benjamin Fenn, Buell Barnes, and others, started this project. Stock was sold for ten dollars a share. Buell Barnes was then a member of the legislature, and he secured the incorporation of the company, and in 1843-4 the building was erected and work begun in it in the fall. Franklin B. Howe was the principal. In 1881 a boarding hall HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 481 costing $2,300 was built. The academy building was later bought by the township and became the public high school. Gustavus was the first township in Trumbull County to adopt the modern system of centralized schools. Previous to centralization there were seven school districts, one joint subdistrict, and a township high school located at the center. During the '90s the high school building, which had been the academy building, was condemned by the state inspector of public buildings. The school board sent a committee to the partially centralized schools of Kingsville township, Ashtabula county, to investigate its centralized rural schools. This committee reported favorably, and the question of centralization was submitted to the voters of Gustavus. The first vote resulted in a tie the second in a majority of 17. Some of the districts at first proposed to remain out; but all finally came in, and $3,000 was voted for a new building. The old district schoolhouses were sold for $25 to $125 each. Unfortunate management caused a higher tax rate than the citizens had expected under the new system, and those opposed to the plan had the strongest kind of basis for their arguments—the pocket-book. But opposition in Gustavus has ceased, and there is no serious thought of return to the old system. With this as a model, adjoining townships, profiting by the pioneer experience of Gustavus, have adopted the central school system. As stated elsewhere preaching was had at the house of Jesse Pelton. Among the early preachers were the Revs. Badger, Robbins, Osgood. In 1809 Rev. Henry Cowles, a Congregationalist from Austinburg, preached at the house of Josiah Pelton, who is supposed to have paid him for his work. In 1825 Rev. Joseph Badger and Ephraim T. Woodruff held services and nearly thirty people were organized into a Congregational church. v This was done in the usual way, that is on the plan of union. In 1825 it was voted that the presbytery take the management of the church, Rufus Beman became clerk and deacon, while he, together with Asa Case and Abner Waters, constituted a standing committee. Rev. Joseph Badger became the pastor and served ten years. He resigned on account of infirmities of age and Rev. Benjamin Fenn succeeded him. In 1844 Rev. E. B. Chamberlain; after that some of the pastors have been Allen, Cone, Spellman, Chamberlain, Dye. Mr. Dye served in 1866 and the question of slavery, Vol. I-31 482 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY which troubled so many of the early churches, crept into this, and the Congregationalists withdrew, forming a separate church. The Presbyterians reduced in numbers, were after a time forced to abandon their services. They had erected a church at the center, but it is not now in use. It is to be regretted that so few records of the early Methodists of Trumbull County have been preserved. Almost nothing is to be had in regard to this denomination in Gustavus. A class was formed there about 1809, but missionaries and circuit riders rarely came into that township, the people attending the church in Kinsman. Just when the first log meeting-house north of the center was erected is not known no list of Methodist ministers is kept. At one time a factory building was remodeled and used for a church. The quarterly conference records begin with August 29, 1835. Ira P. Elder was the presiding elder, Steven Hubbard was the preacher, and the assistant was E. J. L. Baker. The circuit at that time consisted of Gustavus Center, Boons, Kinsman, Morse, Bates, Johnston Center, Mecca, Greene, West Mecca. Alfred Mowry had the contract in 1856 for erecting the present meeting-house. It cost $2,160. The building committee consisted of S. P. Robbins, Franklin Holcomb, Draper Reeder, Harvey Moore, and David Kinleyside. The church membership was then seventy, with one on probation. In 1908 the church was remodeled. The present membership is one hundred and two. The question of a parsonage for this church was brought up at quarterly meeting by Brother Winans in 1838, it was again considered in 1842. In 1844 a committee was appointed to estimate the cost of such a building. In 1846 two hundred and fifty dollars was subscribed, and a building committee appointed. About 1857 this building was completed. Five years ago it was re-roofed and a stable erected. In 1838 there were only two Sabbath schools on this circuit. In November, 1845, there were "four Sabbath schools all of which were closed for the winter." In these four schools there were 521 volumes of books. In 1855 we read that the schools were closed for the winter. As late as 1861 we find that the scholars could get to the schools in the winter time, and since then they have not been closed. Ralph G. Staley is the present pastor. HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 483 Michael Scott gave the land for the new Congregational church, and in the deed was a clause providing that when it was no longer used for church purposes it was to revert to him or his heirs. About fifteen years ago it was torn down. CHAPTER XXXIX.—HARTFORD. BURGHILL, BROCKWAY'S HILL, DUTCH RIDGE.- THE BRAINARD AND BUSHNELL FAMILIES.-ARRIVAL OF ELAM JONES.-FIRST EVENTS.-TEACHERS OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS.-CHURCH COMMUNION IN A GROVE.- FANNY DANA GAGE.- ORANGEVILLE. Township 5, range 1, named for Hartford, Connecticut, has a rather interesting history. In the north part of the township is a rise of ground fifty feet high with a number of springs near its base. Here four of the early families settled. Mr. Bushnell, who lived in the lower part of the township, used to call this settlement "the burg" and later it became Burghill. The portion of Orangville which is in Trumbull County, is in the northeast part of this township. A rise in the ground in the southern part of the township is known as "Brockway's Hill," while in the southeast portion the Germans early settled, and the term "Dutch Ridge" was applied to this district. Hartford was settled very early, Ashael Brainard, Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, all of Hartford, Connecticut, coming to the township in 1799. The first named was unmarried, and he stayed through the winter in the cabin which they built. In the fall they had sowed some wheat. The other two returned with their families in the spring, so that the first settlement might be said to be that of either 1799 or 1800. Edward Brockway is the best remembered of these three men because of his large family connection. He married four times, had children by each wife, and as two of his wives were widows with children, his combined family numbered twenty-five. If he had been alive today "Teddy, the Lion Hunter," might have brought him some African keepsake. Of course, it is no consequence that four women gave up their lives in the rearing and caring for this numerous progeny. Eight of Edward Brockway's children were girls, and five of them married into the Jones family. A granddaughter of Lorinda - 484 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 485 Brockway, Rebecca Jones, remained a spinster and was for many years a successful milliner, having a large number of patrons. Brainard spent the winter in clearing land and preparing for the coming of the two families. One night two Indian visitors after having partaken rather freely of whiskey became quarrelsome on their way home, and one killed the other near the farm which was so long the home of Dwight Chapman and his family. In after years some students exhumed the remains and his skeleton was a long time in Dr. Wilcox's office at Burg-hill. When Mr. and Mrs. William Bushnell, whose descendants have been numerous in Hartford, reached that township, they slept under a covering made by partly chopping a tree, and leaning the fallen part against the stump. A hard rain came on and they had to remain there most of the time for nine days. This family was a happy one, but when fever raged ten members of it died, one being Mrs. Bushnell. Mrs. Sarah P. Bushnell, who edited the chapter on Hartford in the "Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve," tells of the inn which was opened by David Lane, and was the second hotel in that place, Aaron Brockway having kept the first. "Year it was the old military parade ground where Colonel Richard Hayes assembled his soldiers in 1812, and near the road in front of the house the same old spring is seen. The old Pennsylvania covered wagons, loaded with freight from Philadelphia to supply the needs of the new country, made this a place of rest. * * * * * It is said at one time Mrs. Lane had been baking a large quantity of pies and cakes for a special occasion, in the old brick oven outside. After taking them out she placed them in a shed back of the log house to cool, and proceeded with her work. On going to put them away it was found that a band of sneaking Indians had appropriated them to their private use." Bathsheba Burr, a relative of Aaron Burr, was born in 1755 and lived one hundred years. Her native state was Connecticut. She married Joseph Foot and moved to New York state. He went to the war of 1776 and left her almost destitute. At one time she left her children in the house alone, threw a sack of corn on her back and walked twenty miles to mill. Her husband died during the war, and a nearby neighbor gave her a piece of meat and a pan of meal for temporary subsistence. 486 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY She had four children. She bound out the oldest "and with the three remaining started on foot, carrying one, leading one, while one trudged by her side." She begged as she went, "and like Naomi of old, returned to her home and her kindred in Connecticut." One would think that so terrible an experience as this would have made future joys impossible. But we next find her married to Isaac Fowler and going to Vienna in 1799, and later she became the third wife of Captain Thomas Thompson. If the pioneers were short on provisions and comforts they seem to have had plenty of husbands and wives. Captain Thompson's daughter, Abigail, was for many years deputy-postmaster. Mary Bushnell, the daughter of General Alexander Bushnell and the wife of Simon Estabrook of Warren, lived at the beginning of the excitement occasioned by the underground railway. At one time a person convicted of helping many of these darkies to Canada could be punished by imprisonment and a fine of not less than $500. For this reason many a colored man has been guided to safety by women of northeastern Ohio. Mary Bushnell at one time drove alone through the dark woods, conducting some colored men till she reached the house of Levi Sutliff in Vernon, which was the nearest station to her father's house. Here the first Mrs. Levi Sutliff, Mary Plumb, joined her and they drove with their passengers at a goodly speed, reaching Andover, Ashtabula county, before daylight, where the men were again taken under cover, kept during the day and reached Canada safely. Sarah Bushnell tells how Phoebe Bushnell Borden rode to Mercer, Pennsylvania, and back, having her purchases hung on the horn of her saddle and a set of dishes in her lap. Mrs. Borden was the last of the adult pioneers. Titus Hayes and his wife Deborah Beckwith came to Hartford in 1804 with their son, Col. Richard Hayes. Titus Hayes spent the winter under Washington at Valley Forge. Richard Hayes was colonel in the Ohio militia and was in the war of 1812. Edward Hayes, the grandson of Titus, was a colonel in the war of the rebellion. One of the strong characters of Hartford was Elam Jones and his wife Sarah Hyde. They kept the first tavern at the center of the township. He brought the first books for the library which long existed in the township and lie was the librarian. Mrs. Jones was born in 1776 and lived ninety-five HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 487 years. Mrs. Bushnell says that Mrs. Jones arrived with her husband and her baby on the 4th of July, 1805. "When they reached the center of the township all the men of the town were celebrating Independence day by clearing off the forest trees from the green upon which the schoolhouse soon appeared, followed in 1819 by the church which now (1896) stands. This church is said to have been the first church building with a steeple in Trumbull County." Women as well as men helped to build this Congregational ehurch. Mrs. Jones did her part by furnishing dinners for the carpenters and finishers, and her daughters, Harriet Jones, afterwards Mrs. Parker, and Electa Jones, afterwards Mrs. Bushnell, carried the dinners in their hands a half a mile so that the men might not lose any time by coming for it. The brother of these enterprising girls was Hon. Lucien C. Jones, who for many years was one of the leading attorneys at the Trumbull County bar, residing in later life in Warren, and his children, Harriet and George, reside in Warren now. Most of the townships in Trumbull County were fortunate in having German settlers. Those in the southern tiers had the most. Mr. and Mrs. John Kepner were the first Germans of Hartford. No matter where we have found these settlers, what their condition was, we always find flowers. Mrs. Kepner brought tulips, lilies, roses and herbs, and some of these lilies a few years since were thrifty bulbs, sending up beautiful white flowers. "Her beautiful hemstitched linens, high feather beds and sanded floors were the admiration of her neighbors." The first justice of the peace, Titus Brockway, was also the first postmaster. The first dwelling house at the center was built by Seth Thompson Sr., in 1810. It was of course of logs and it stood north of "the green." The first apple tree was on the farm of Titus Brockway. The war of 1812 added largely to the inhabitants of the town of Hartford, as it did to most of the northeastern townships. The first white child born in the township was Harriet Merry (1801). A flag used for the celebration of the Fourth of July in 1824 was made at her house, she having married Theron Plumb. Her sons were Hon. Samuel Plumb, of Oberlin, Ohio, and Hon. Ralph Plumb, a leading citizen of Streator, Illinois. 488 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY The first bride was Jerusha Bushnell, who married Linus Hayes, and she the first adult to die. The first person to be buried in the cemetery at the center was Lucy, the daughter of Asa and Lucy Andrews. The first physician in Hartford was Dr. Daniel Upson. After a time he moved to Worthington, Franklin county, Ohio, and later to Talmadge, where he died in 1863. He was the father of Judge William Upson of Akron, and his grandson Henry is one of the leading physicians of Cleveland. The first school which the children of Hartford attended was one at Burghill, taught by Miss Bartholomew ; scholars from Vernon and Hartford both attended here. In 1805 a frame building was erected on the "green." It was one of the first frame buildings in the town. It was moved around from one position to another and served as church and town hall as well as schoolhouse. The first woman teacher in this schoolhouse was Amanda Finney. Wells Andrews taught in the winter. One of the largest early schools had one hundred and six scholars, and Theodore Trade was the teacher. He not only taught this day school, but taught writing and spelling in the evening, and for this day and night service he received $17 a month. The first schoolhouse in the "mill" district was erected about 1808, and General Charles Woodruff was the teacher. The second schoolhouse was near the mill-dam and Miss Lavinia Flower was the teacher, and that winter Thomas Bushnell Jr. had charge. This schoolhouse was of logs, as was the one in the east district. The east school was taught by Electa Jones. We quote the following from Williams history: "The first school on the ridge was taught by Miss Pluma Moore. The first schoolhouse in the west district stood on the Bates farm about one-half mile north of Bates Corners." Among the teachers of Hartford was Marshall Woodford. He was at one time the principal of the schools in Warren, and when he stopped teaching and began practicing his profession, law, he was elected member of the Warren school board, and did most excellent service in that capacity. He was also one of the founders of the Warren Library, and his sudden and unexpected death was a shock to all his acquaintances. A schoolhouse built in 1827 at Burghill and one the next year at the center were used by Hartford pupils for nearly HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 489 a quarter of a century, when they were removed to make room for new ones. In the early '80s there were nine district schools in the township. At present their common schools are centralized, and William R. Lingo is superintendent. The first school of the higher grade was taught by John Crowell in 1824 at the house of Thomas Thompson. Sixteen years later Miss Caroline Billings had a school for young ladies, which was so thorough and efficient as to be still remembered. The general assembly passed an act incorporating the Hartford high school in 1849, and the fall of that year John Lynch began teaching. He was a very efficient instructor. In 1871 the school was held in the old church which had been abandoned. It was repaired at the cost of $2000. Edwin Bennett was among the trustees, and the school was named Hartford Academic Institute. This school was maintained by tuition and private contribution. Rev. Joseph Badger, who organized most of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches in Trumbull County, was the first preacher to hold service in Hartford. In 1800 people from Hartford and Vernon attended his meetings and three men, Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and Charles Merry, probably their wives also, were present from Hartford. Although there was some agitation about the formation of a church society, it was not until 1803 that Edward Brockway and his wife, Sarah Bates, Timothy Crosby, Titus Brockway, Plumb Sutliff, Sarah Palmer, and Sarah Smith decided to become members. The church was organized on the plan of union. Their first communion was held in a grove because so many people were present that no building would accommodate them. Forty communicants were present. Rev. Mr. Tait, of Mercer, preached the sermon. Captain Thomas Thompson must have been a public-spirited citizen, since, as we have seen, the first high school was held in his house and in 1804 a four-days' meeting of the Congregationalists was held in his barn. Wells Andrews, the teacher of 1805 above referred to, was one of these first communicants, and afterwards became pastor of the church. So far as we know this was the first church organized on the union plan in the present Trumbull County. It was called "The Church of Christ in Hartford, Vernon and Kinsman." The meetings were held in the different townships, and 490 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY as there was no settled place of worship, neither were there any settled pastors. In 1819 a church was erected. Rev. Harvey Coe became the pastor in 1814. Like the Rev. Mr. Badger he is mentioned in several places in this history. For nine years Mr. Coe preached in the three towns. The first deacons of the Hartford branch were Titus Brockway and Daniel Bushnell. Two years after the erection of the church, that is 1821, there were 210 members. In September, 1823, forty-three persons, among them many of the best known citizens of the township, decided to form a church of their own. Rev. Harvey Coe was at this organization and later resigned his pastorate. He was succeeded by the Rev. Wells Andrews, who was so connected with this church through family ties, through early days spent in the township, that be was very valuable in the church life. The church prospered for a number of years. In 1840, forty-two persons withdrew to form a Presbyterian church. Rev. George Young was the minister and the first meeting was held at the center in the brick schoolhouse. Subsequent meetings were held in Alva Hart's store, and a church erected in 1846. Hon. Seth Hayes gave a larger part of the money for the building of this church, and his wife, Sarah, presented the bell. In 1852 the church re-united with the original church. In the meantime Philo Borden and his son Russell gave land on which a parsonage was built in 1843. John Keep was one of the early pastors and Theodore J. Keep was also a pastor. Rev. B. Fenn, one of the noted early Presbyterian divines, was also a pastor. The first Methodist church to be organized on the Western Reserve was at Vernon. The year was 1801. The history of this is given in detail in the history of Vernon township. The people of Vernon and Hartford were so closely connected, and the place of meeting in Vernon was so near Hartford, that it was moved into the latter townsHip. Readers interested in this church may read about it in Vernon. About 1820 occasional meetings were held in the schoolhouse at Brockway Mills. Regular preaching was not had until 1822, when the circuit riders appeared quite regularly. Later a class was formed and meetings were held regularly, but the time had to be set to suit the riders. In 1850 a regular minister was given the church, and seven years later a building was constructed. Miss Sarah Fowler, daughter of Abner Fowler, was one of the largest subscribers to, and most de- HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 491 voted member of, this church. In the '80s Miss Cynthia Burnett, who later married and moved to Florida, was the superintendent of the Sunday school. The Disciple church was organized during the excitement of the early Campbellites. The men who did the preaching and the organizing of the other churches in Trumbull County, visited Hartford. The labors of Hayden and Marcus Bosworth brought forth fruit. Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott both preached here. The organization had twenty-two members ; George W. Bushnell was the overseer, and Elihu Bates, leader. For twenty years this church held its meetings in the schoolhouse on West street where it was organized, but in 1853 it moved to the center. The oldest cemetery in Hartford is at the center. The land was given by Titus Brockway in 1805. Here are buried many of the pioneers of whom we have just read : Asahel Brainard, Edward Brockway, etc. The west burying ground was given to the township by Elihu Bates, and Mrs. Samuel Bates, who died in 1837, was the first buried there. The burying ground at Burghill is the best preserved and the most used now. Eliza Hayes' body was the first interred here. The ground was given by the Hayes family and a goodly share of this family sleep there. There was no burying place at Orangeville until 1841, when land for that purpose was donated by Augustus Reid. The first interment was Ann Catherine Root. The author has tried to mention in each of the townships persons who have achieved national reputation. Hartford's best known citizen was Fanny Dana Gage, who wrote under the pen-name of "Aunt Fanny" and who was one of the leaders in the Woman Suffrage cause. She was a fine talker, and wielded a forceful pen. There are preserved in this county addresses which she made to Congress, and letters which she wrote to prominent senators and legislators. When the century has rolled around, and the question of woman's advancement has been studied, it will be found that Mrs. Gage played a part in the solution of that question greater than any of her townsmen could imagine, and greater than her co-temporaries realized. Orangeville, situated in the township of Hartford, spreads out into Pennsylvania. The state line is one of its main streets. It was organized in 1868. Nelson Hyde was its first mayor. As soon as it was organized, a schoolhouse was built 492 -HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY and its schools have always been excellent. The land on which it stands was part of the land owned originally by Brockway and Merry. The first settler was a German named Jacob Loutzenhiser. He early built a mill which he sold in 1802. We have read in other parts of this history how the early pioneers of venturous spirit and commercial inclination loaded flat-boats and went down the rivers, Mahoning, Beaver, Ohio, and Mississippi, to New Orleans. Such a boat made such a journey from Orangeville in 1821. The first merchant of Orangeville was Moses Beach. The first postmaster was Rensselaer Root. The first mail route was between Warren, Ohio, and Franklin, Pennsylvania. Letters were delivered weekly. The population was so scattered that in the beginning two or three townships united in the formation of churches. This was true of the Baptist church of Orangeville. In 1816. through the influence of Jonathan Sheldon, a Baptist church of Fowler, Hartford and Vernon was organized. As Mr. Sheldon lived at Fowler, the meetings were more often held there, although Hartford had its share. The first meetings of this association, like those of others, were held in schoolhouses and private dwellings, sometimes barns. Sidney Ridgon, of Virginia, who figured in the early Baptist and Christian churches. lived at Hartford for some months and preached for these early Baptists. The interest which the Baptists in many townships took in the Christian faith, was taken in Hartford, and so many believed in the new teaching that the old church was greatly crippled. Finally in 1835 it was re-organized at Orangeville. It was then Baptist. Rev. John Winters, of whom we read in the Warren Baptist church, preached in Orangeville in 1843 and added many members. The church still exists. The Orangeville Methodist church was organized in 1837. The congregation soon built a small meeting house and in 1872 erected a new church. The United Brethren church, which was originally organized in Pennsylvania, moved to Orangeville in 1872. The residents of Orangeville contributed liberally to the support of this church upon the condition that when it was not being used by the association for its church meetings, it could be opened to other denominations and for public entertainments as well. CHAPTER XL.—HOWLAND. JOHN HARTE ADGAT E.-DANIEL HAN K .-A NOTED HOTEL.- SEELEY FAMILY.-BARBER KIN G.-RATLIFFS.-REEVES FAMILY.-THE HEATON STOVE.-E WALT .- KEN NEDY.-SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.- HOWLAND FLAG-STONE.- CHURCHES. Range 3, number 4, was called Howland from Joseph Howland, he having paid $24,000 for the township. He was a cultured gentleman whose ancestors came over in the Mayflower. His wife, Lydia, was a connection of the Huntington family. The first settler in this township was John Hart Adgate, who came here in 1799. He had purchased 1,600 acres of land, built his cabin, and started his home. He had a goodly family of children, and an Indian, Benoni Ockrum, lived with him. His descendants up to the present time have lived within a few miles of the old home, and they have married into some of the most respectable families of the county. Their connection now numbers hundreds. Those bearing the name of Adgate who are in business in Warren are John and his son Frank, florists. Another family widely known was that of Hank. Daniel Hank and his wife, Mary Masterson, came from Washington county, Pennsylvania in 1804. They drove the first covered carriage in the township. The youngest child, Richard, was brought on horseback. The father died in 1821, leaving a debt upon his farm, and a large family. Mary Hank then accomplished a remarkable thing. She reared her own children, and five orphans besides, educating and clothing them all, while in addition she paid off the debt on the farm. Richard Hank, and his wife, Harriet, for many years kept a hotel at Howland Springs. Here people repaired to rest and - 493 - 494 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY drink the iron water, and here were held balls and parties and picnics. Mr. and Mrs. Hank were most genial to guests. Everybody who had once been in their home respected them. Mrs. Hank was a famous cook, her fried chicken, waffles, cream potatoes, and fried apples, are still remembered by the people who ate them. General Garfield often visited this hostlery, and under the trees near the old bowling alley, he and the politicians of Trumbull County talked by the hour over the stirring events of the early days of the war. Here his wife and their little daughter, commonly called "Trot," after Dickens' "Betsey Trotwood," spent many summer days. "Trot" received this name because the General and Mrs. Garfield expected and wanted her to be born a boy. However, she did not live many years, and lies buried in the cemetery in Hiram. The sons which came to the General afterwards have all been a credit to him, and yet, to the mother, Molly, the youngest child, has been the great comfort of her later years. Mary Hank lived to be eighty-one years old, and her son Richard and his wife both lived to great age. Probably no two people ever spent more happy days together than they. In their latter lives they lived in Hiram, and, being devoted to the Disciple church, had a great deal of comfort from their religion. The Seely family, Dr. John W. and Sylvanus, were Howland people, and most of their lives were spent in that township. Sylvanus finally moved to town, and with his children, George and Jane Seeley Van Gorder (the mother of Mrs. John Kinsman), lived at one time in the house now standing on South Park avenue, just south of the fire department. Barber King, a native of Connecticut, was an iron worker. The story is told of his romance with a lady of the aristocracy who, against her parents' wishes, married him, and came to live in this new country. It is family tradition that he was one of the Connecticut Land Company surveyors of the second summer. He chose land in Canfield, and there brought his wife. After a residence of two years they moved to Girard, and later bought of General Perkins a hundred acres of land in Howland, and moved into the house he built in 1806. It happened this day was the one on which occurred a total eclipse of the sun. At the time of the massacre of Wyoming, referred to several times heretofore, Barber King was captured by the HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 495 Indians and held six months. He was sixty-nine when he died, and his wife lived nearly twenty years longer. His son William married Mary B. Kennedy, a daughter of Samuel Kennedy, and he operated the home farm. His grandson, James Franklin, commonly known as Frank, was one of the most successful farmers Howland has ever produced. He married Cornelia J. Andrews, a daughter of Samuel Andrews, and she was in every way a helpmeet to him. The spring water which was at Howland Springs ran through their farm, and they had a picturesque spring house in which their milk was kept and their butter was churned. Mrs. King was one of the most successful butter-makers of Trumbull County. Upon the death of her husband, ten or fifteen years ago, she moved into town, resided with her father, Samuel Andrews, and later she and her sister built a comfortable home on Harmon street, where she resided until her death two years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin King had two children, Kate, who married a Mr. Edwards, descendant of Jonathan Edwards of Massachusetts, and lives in Troy, Ohio; Elmer, the son, lives on the home place, making the fourth King of the fourth generation occupying this farm. The latter is now county commissioner. Another family identified with the history of Howland was that of the Ratliffs. They emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1811. John married Elizabeth Wilson, of Irish extraction. He was township clerk in 1821, and served eighteen years. He was justice of the peace six years. He was associate justice with Edward Spear, the father of Judge William T. Spear, and Asa Haines, the grandfather of Judge D. R. Hilbert. Hon. Benjamin F. Wade was the presiding judge. Mr. Ratliff was a devoted member of the Christian church from 1844 to 1870, being an overseer. At one time he was also a trustee. His daughter married Josiah Soule and his granddaughter, Mrs. Howard Weir, now lives in Warren. Gen. R. W. Ratliff was a son. Mrs. William H. Beebe, the granddaughter of John Reeves Sr., thus writes in the "Memorial to Pioneer Women" in regard to her family: "Sarah Quinby, daughter of Samuel and Achsa Park Quinby, came to Howland in 1803, riding her Narragansett mare across the country from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where her home had been since her marriage with John Reeves in 1799. Their first child, Arthur Tappan, 496 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY bore a distinguished name. The cabin upon the present Reeves place had been put up the previous year on the two hundred and fifty acres of land, but one acre of which was cleared of the virgin forest. The linen chest was fitted with wooden legs for a table, and the furniture consisted of loom, wheels, reels and a dresser to contain pewter plates. With these all in place in one room, Mrs. Reeves was well supplied. The next spring two orchards of small trees were set, yet standing, one on the present Kinsman place and the other opposite the location of the cabin where on March 10, 1804, the first white child was born in Howland, and named Samuel Quinby, and rocked in a sugar trough. Apprenticed to learn carding and spinning his active brain carried him to New York City, where in April, 1845, lie died, leaving a daughter Eugenia. In 1806 the birth of Abner Reeves was the occasion for buying a cradle, in payment of which a ten-hundred-thread linen shirt was made, the flax grown, spun, woven and the shirt made by Mrs. Reeves. Spring work prevented delivery of the desired article. So she insisted upon her husband carrying the baby while she managed to convey the cradle home on horseback, a distance of sixteen miles through the four-mile swamp and along a bridle path. There was no wagon road at that time. The cradle yet rocks the babies in the family. 'Tis made of polished walnut, dove-tailed together, four feet long and fitted with a top. Mrs. Reeves was married when she was fifteen, had twelve children and lived to be ninety-four years old. Many of her children lived to old age and her home was the home of her son John. Most of her children and grandchildren became successful and useful citizens." Her husband was in the war of 1812. He left in such a hurry that she had to haul in the oats. She hid her copper kettle under a stack, "buried her spoons and waited two days in hourly expectation of being murdered by the Indians." John Reeves Jr. married Harriet Mason, whose brothers Henry and Hiram and sister Mrs. Josiah Robbins were among the most substantial citizens of Niles. Mr. Reeves was identified with the history of Trumbull County in the '40s, '50s and '60s, holding the office of treasurer, and he died on his seventy-ninth birthday. He is buried in the cemetery across from the HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 497 old Reeves home, where his parents and some of his children lie. Mrs. Reeves was a woman of education, refinement and with a lovable nature. Only two children of this large family survive, Ella, Mrs. William Beebe, who probably knows more about the history and the personnel of Trumbull County than any other person, and the youngest child, John, above referred to. Sarah, the third child, who married James R. Lamb, and died a year or so ago, was one of the loveliest characters of the Reeves and Mason families: Her mother called her the "peacemaker." She was ever ready to do her duty in the home of her childhood, of her sisters or in her own. She was a mother to her niece, Mary, and withal had such excellent business judgment as to make a business success of her life. The grandfather, John Reeves Sr., is referred to in the history of the Baptist church in Warren, as is his daughter, Nancy. The grandson John now lives on the homestead farm, and he has a son, John, who at this writing is a member of the senior class of the high school. She has great-grandchildren living in Warren and Cleveland. James Heaton, who with his brother Daniel manufactured the first iron west of the Alleghenies, chose Howland for his home because the residents of that township were cultured and companionable. He lived on the Youngstown road near Mosquito creek, and planned to make a commercial center at that spot. Later he went to the mouth of Mosquito creek in Niles, and his history, with that of his family, will be found in the Niles chapter. He early began to manufacture, from bits of iron, stoves and like articles. The log schoolhouse in Howland, unlike most of the other schoolhouses of that time, had a stove of the kind which was known throughout this district as "the Maria Heaton stove." In 1804 the father and mother of Sarah Reeves, Samuel and Ascha Park Quinby, bought the farm now owned by Frederick Kinsman's sons. The children in this family were all grown and with them came Mrs. Quinby-Quick, the mother of Ephraim and Samuel Quinby and Mrs. Reeves. She lived but two years and spent her time between her two sons. Samuel Quinby was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his wife enjoyed a pension for his services. He died in 1840, and had a military funeral. The troops who were going to celebrate Perry's victory assisted in the services. The Ewalt family was another one identified with the early history of Howland. In 1803 John Ewalt rode a fine English Vol. I-32 498 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY mare from New Jersey to Warren, exchanging it for one hundred and sixty acres of land near the edge of Warren. Mrs. Ewalt came a year later. They stayed in the family of John Reeves until their house was finished. The Ewalt family were always interested in the cultivation of crops and were among the few to grow sweet potatoes. Zachariah Tannehill Ewalt lived at Howland Corners for many years. He was well up in the eighties when he died, and he and his wife occupied a substantial place in the community. Mr. Ewalt remembered historical events. No citizen was better known than he. He was an ardent Republican and of social nature. He served as treasurer of the county for some time. His wife died a few years before he did, and their place, which was the center of hospitality, has just been sold. He had four children, the oldest John, a minister; Zachariah, who married a Greenwood Olivia, Mrs. E. H. Peck, and Florence, Mrs. Reid of Chicago. Jacob Ewalt lived in the northwest portion of Howland, and like the rest of his family was old when he died. His two children, Grace Love and Jacob Ewalt, now reside in Warren, and he has great-grandchildren. His granddaughter, Olive Love, married Glenn Webster. Harris Ewalt, who lived on the. home farm, married Margaret True. He had a number of children, but only Henry Clay, of Pittsburg, and Charles, of Howland, now survive. Charles lives on the home farm, his wife being Ida Hoyt, of the Warren Hoyt family. David Ewalt was a half-brother of John. He married Azuba Dally in 1816. She was a daughter of Isaac Dally and Effie Lane Daily, who were among the first settlers in Trumbull County and who are referred to in other parts of this history. The land which David bought is now occupied by three of his grandchildren, Helen, Winifred and George. They were the children of Isaac and Lorinda Ewalt. The oldest of Isaac's children, Harry, is a resident of Vienna, having married Lucy Baldwin. The Kennedy family lived in that part of Howland known as "Over the Creek." Samuel Kennedy and his wife came to Howland in 1814. They had ten grown children, and the youngest one was born in August after their arrival. Mr. Kennedy died three years afterwards and the mother brought up this whole brood. She suffered all kinds of privations. Her HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 499 cattle were sick and strayed away, rattlesnakes were thick, but nevertheless she was optimistic, taught her children the shorter catechism, asked the blessing upon their daily food and lived to see all her children settled within a few miles around her. They married into the families of Kings, Battles, Scott, Caster-line and Iddings. George Hunter and his wife, Mary Thayer, the former from Worcester, Massachusetts,_ and the latter from Poland, lived their married life in Howland. They had a goodly family of children, most of whom are living. George P. was a lawyer of Warren, dying a few years ago. LaFayette still practices here ; his wife was Mattie Sigler. Cleopatra married Mr. Troxel and now resides in West Warren; Mary married Henry Christy, of Brookfield, Warren, and they now live in Cleveland; Alice is Mrs. Murray, whose husband was for a long time connected with the Erie Railroad. Howland was organized as a separate township in 1812. The first schoolhouse was built on the 4th of July, 1804. It was built of logs and the desks were made of boards laid on pins stuck in the floor. One of the early log schoolhouses was in the northwest section of the township, and another in the King neighborhood. Ruth Alford was one of the early teachers, and John Ewalt about 1812 taught in the northwest district, while Montgomery Anderson taught in the King district. The school districts were at first small, but after a while were made larger, and better buildings were erected. Most of the pupils in Howland now attend the Warren schools. The first marriage was in 1803, Jack Legg and Conny Ward. The first frame barn was erected in 1822 by Barber King and the second in 1826 by John Ratliff. The first store was kept by John Collins at the Corners. Mr. Cadwalader had the first grist mill in the neighborhood of the present Cadwalader Gulch, and Sam Kennedy the first sawmill. One of the largest farms in Howland belongs to the H. B. Perkins estate. Here for many years Austin Andrews lived. He later moved to Youngstown, where he became a successful business man, associated more or less with his cousin, Chancey. He had several sons, among whom Upson became a leading citizen of Cleveland. He married Harriet Warmington and died recently. It was on the Perkins farm that Hon. Thomas Webb