PIONEER HISTORY OP MEDINA COUNTY 1ST. B. NOETHKOP, MEDINA, OHIO: GEO. REDWAY, PRINTER. 1861. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by N. B. NORTHROP, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Ohio. ^^' PREFACE. History enriches the mind, gratifies a worthy desire to be informed on past events, enables us to avail ourselves of the experience of our predecessors, informs and regulates our judgment, and is profitable for reproof and correction. The earliest records of humanity are found in the Sacred Scripture, and for that reason have a strong claim on our diligent study. Next to inspired history, our own town, our own county, our own State, our own common country and the deeds of our fore-fathers who first settled and improved the land or country we call our own, should receive our notice. To Americans, a knowledge of American .history is essential. A second and third generation are now enjoying the fruits that resulted from toils and perils of their indus- trious and frugal ancestors, and what a contrast between circumstances and appearances tJien and now! The tangled forest is gone, the beasts of prey that prowled are gone, the war-whoop of the red man is hushed, the wigwams are wasted away by the rot of time, and the council-fires are long since extinguished, and in their stead we have fertile fields, smiling gardens, commodi- ous dwellings, well arranged school-houses, civilized communities, edifices erected and dedicated to the wor- ship of God. Time, culture and science have wrought a trr? reformation. 4 PREFACE. It is my design to give a comprehensive history of those who followed the devious Indian foot-path through the wilderness of this part of the Western Reserve and established themselves in what is now called Medina county, and in my narratives I must necessarily observd brevity. Many important incidents must remain untold because those who took part in them died before their deeds were recorded. All that I have compiled was gathered either from manuscripts or from the oral statements of those who saw or knew the facts. I put forth this small history under a firm belief that it is due to those who acted, that their doings should be registered, and it is also proper that each coming generation should read and know what was done by its ancestors. Take, read, and contrast the many privileges now enjoyed, compared with the many privations of the first settlers, and take encouragement to persevere. In all the toils of this protracted undertaking, the author has been animated by the hope of offering an acceptable and useful service to the present and future generations, by detailing the elements from which has grown the prosperity and present happy condition of a free people. N. B. NORTHROP. Mediba, Junb. 1861. WESTERN RESERVE. The Western Reserve, of which Medina county is a portion, is situated in the north-east quarter of the State, bounded north by Lake Erie, east by Pennsyl- vania, south by the parallel of the forty-first degree of north latitude, and west by the counties of Sandusky and Seneca. Its length east and west is 120 miles, by an average width of 50 miles from south to north, comprising an area of 3,800,000 acres. It is surveyed into townships of five miles square. A half million of acres was stricken off the west part, and donated by the State of Connecticut, to certain sufferers by fire, in the revolutionary war. The manner by which Connecticut became possessed of that portion of Ohio, called the Western Reserve, was the following : King Charles 2nd, of England, granted to the Colony of Connecticut in 1662 a charter right to all lands included within certain specific boun- daries. At that early period the geographical knowl- edge of Europeans concerning America was very lim- ited. Patents that had been granted often interfered with each other and caused confusion and disputes. The charter granted to Connecticut by King Charles embraced all lands contained between the 41st and 42nd parallels of north latitude, and from Providence plan- tations on the east, to the Pacific Ocean on the west, with the exception of the New York and Pennsylvania 6 WESTERN RESERVE. colonies. For some years after the United States became an independent nation the interfering claims occasioned much collision of sentiment between the Union and the State of Connecticut. The controversy was, after many years, compromised by the United States relinquishing all their claim, and guaranteeing to the State of Connecticut the exclusive right of soil in the 3,800,000 acres as before described. The United States, by the terms of the compromise, reserved to themselves the right of jurisdiction, and in due course of time they united the Western Reserve to the north-western territory, from which was created the State of Ohio. Trumbull County was formed in 1800 and comprised in its limits, at that date, the whole of the Western Reserve. At that early date there were very few openings made or settlements between Warren and Sandusky. Portage was formed from Trumbull in 1807, and for two years the seat of justice was appointed at the house of Renj. Tappan, who settled in Ravenna in 1799. Medina was formed from Portage in 1818. It may be a matter of interest to the reader to know the names of the first counties within what is now called the State of Ohio. The county of Washington was established in 1788, by Arthur St. Clair, then Gov- ernor of the territory, extending westward to the Scioto and northward to Lake Erie, embracing nearly one- half .the present area of the State. In 1790 Hamilton County was established, embracing that portion of the State between the two Miamis, and extending north to a line drawn east from the standing forks of the great Miami. The County of Wayne was established in 1796, including within its boundaries the north-western por- tion of Ohio, part of north-eastern Indiana and the whole of Michigan territory. In July, 1797 Adams WESTERN RESERVE. 7 County was established, comprehending a large tract of territory on each side of Scioto river, and extending north to the south line of the then Wayne County. Prior to 1798 the whole area now composing the State of Ohio was comprised within those four counties. Medina County was formed February 18th, 1812, from that part of the Reserve west of the 11th range, south of number 5, and east of the 20th range, and attached to Portage County, until organized. It was organized in April, 1818. The first settlers of the county were principally from Connecticut, though within the last twenty years there has been a large acces- sion of industrious Germans. The surface is rolling, with a larger portion of bottom than ridge land ; the soil is generally clay and gravel loam, and is better adapted to the growth of grass than grain. The principal pro- ducts are corn, oats, wheat, hay, butter and cheese. The first settlement made within the present limits of the. county, and prior to its organization, was at Harrisville, in February, 1811, by Joseph Harris and family, which was then composed of wife and one child. Shortly thereafter a second settlement was made in Liverpool township, by Justus Warner. The war of 1812 having been commenced, caused delay in making- settlements in other sections of the county, which continued for more than two years. After the close of the war in 1815, settlements became more numerous. The village now called Medina, was originally called Mecca, as can be seen on maps of an early date. In 1814, Mr. Zenas Hamilton made an opening with- in that portion of the county called Medina Township. The want of a market caused the price of produce to be very low. Wheat was sold in 1820 for 25 cents and less per bushel, and more than one person in the county 8 WESTERN RESERVE. can tell of offering ten bushels of wheat for one pound of tea. A man hauled with oxen a wagon load of husked corn ten miles, with which to buy three yards of satinet for pantalets. Often did men attend church with woolen pants patched with buckskin. Ox teams were the pleasure carriages of the early settlers. Five yards would make a full dress for a lady who resided in what is now Medina County, in 1814. The settlements in the county commenced in a man- ner that might seem peculiar. Instead of making openings on one side, or in some particular section of the county, and as they were strengthened by accession in numbers, they began their settlements wherever their individual interests led them. Many openings were made at the distance of many miles from each other. In consequence of the distance, journeys had frequently to be taken ten or fifteen miles for the sole purpose of getting some mechanical job done, which, though trifling in value, must be done in order to push forward business at home. In getting to and from mill, days were spent. For many years the nearest post- office was Cleveland, to which place a man would spend two days in going and returning, for sake of a single letter. Often have fathers left their families and started with ox team fifteen or twenty miles in quest of provi- sion. The necessary outfit would be axe, blanket and bell. With axe, he cut his road, with blanket or quilt he was protected against inclement seasons, and bells told where to find his oxen when let loose to graze du- ring the night. Where he tarried all night an unbroken wilderness was his inn, and the howling of wolves the nightly music to charm. At early dawn lie arose, listened for the sound of the bell, got his trusty oxen yoked, ate his meal in silence, but with gratitude, rolled up his scanty bed-covering and traveled forward. WESTERN RESERVE. 9 The young folks in an old settled country have a very faint knowledge of the daily hardships and priva- tions endured by first settlers. To have a view of Medina County and its inhabitants, and contrast then and now, the change would be truly great. It was not uncommon in pioneer times to find a young man, with no implement but axe, engaged, solitary and alone, felling the forest and making the first opening. A rude hut, hastily constructed, was his dwelling, a piece of pork, a loaf of corn bread and a few potatoes his dainty and daily food. A pronged stick was his fork, a split slab his table, and a few leaves and a quilt his bed. There he toiled, there he cooked, ate, and slept soundly, for many weeks without seeing or conversing with any human being. At night when the rushing winds ceased to make the forest vocal, the wolves were the only tribe that serenaded him with their wild music. After months of trial and privation, by the industry of the young man, the opening is made, the rude cabin erected, and thoughts of seeking and gaining a com- panion are entertained. The more comfortable homes of his nativity are revisited by him, his school-mate is thought .upon, the future prospects in the western wil- derness are portrayed, and in a few weeks the same young man who had lived alone becomes a husband, and in company with wife returns to his cabin. To entertain his better half (using his own language) the bed must be reconstructed, and additional furniture and table ware must be provided. With axe and saw he made a bedstead, on which was placed a tow tick, filled with fall grass. A large pocket knife did all the carving, two short blocks were the chairs, and a punch- eon, hewed by the axe was the table. In process of time there were strong evidences that a little calico would be needed. To procure it the 2 10 WESTERN RESERVE. young husband travelled nine miles, but got there too late. All the calico was sold, and the merchant had not cloth of any kind that would make a little frock. He returned weary and disappointed to his home, and sorrowfully told his wife of his disappointment. The good wife informed him that she could make a pretty decent frock out of a pair of his old tow trousers. In due time the little stranger came, and was furnished with the frock. Years came and went, the child be- came a man. The father and mother died, that son was heir, and in the course of 35 years from the first opening made by his father, he sold the farm for $1750, went to the west, where he now resides, surrounded with all that makes life agreeable. To one of our modern belles, such a life would be intolerable. Let not such contemn. Their grand-mother used the spinning-wheel for a piano, a splint broom, made by her husband, swept the puncheon floor, and the ox team hauled her and family to church. Such pioneers are worthy of grateful remembrance. Many now ride in carriages whose grand-father re- sided in cabins, the windows of which were constructed by cutting out a log, putting in slats perpendicularly and horizontally, and using paper greased with bear's oil or hog-lard instead of glass. Not a few of the early settlers ground their corn in a hand mill, or pounded it in a hommony block with the but end of an iron wedge. The finer part of the corn meal was used for bread, the coarser portion was used as hommony, which when boiled was considered by many delicious food. COUNTY STATISTICS, In 1818 the county of Medina was organized. At the organization there were nineteen townships, com- prising a larger area of land than at present — Norton, Copley, Bath, Richfield, Wadsworth, Granger, Hinck- ley, Guilford, Montville, Medina, Brunswick, Westfield, Liverpool, Harrisville, Grafton, Sullivan, Penfield and Huntington. In 1826 the lands listed and returned to the County Auditor for taxation were 411,904 acres ; valued at 939,382 dollars, being a fraction more than two dollars per acre. In 1827 the townships of Grafton, Penfield, Huntington and Sullivan were taken to form in part the county of Lorain. After the detachment of the foregoing townships the number of acres in the county was cut down to 295,043, and listed for taxation at 719,078 dollars, being nearly three dollars per acre. From the year last named to 1830 very little change in the taxation of real estate occurred. In 1830 the townships of Sharon, Lafayette and York were organ- ized, having been previously attached to contiguous townships. In 1831, '32 and '33 the townships that now compose the county were organized and recognized. Having given a hasty account of the original townships, I will now give in detail their valuations and taxes, and for the purpose of showing the progress and in- crease in value of each township, I will commence in 1826 and give an exhibit every five years : 12 COUNTY STATISTICS. No. 1. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 1826. Norton, - - Copley, - Bath, Richfield, Wadsworth, - Attached to Granger, (now Sharon,) Granger, - Hinckley, - Guilford, Montville, - Medina, - County Plat, Brunswick, -- Westfield, Attached to Westfield, (now Lafayette,] Attached to Medina, (now York,} Liverpool, - Harrisville, - Attached to Harrisville, (now Chatham) Attached to Grafton, (now Litchfield,) Grafton, - Attached to Sullivan, (now Homer.) Sullivan, - Attached to Tenfield, (now Spencer,) Penfield, - Making a total value of real i to be $1,006,453, and the taxes I Value of Lauds. Value of Tersonal Property Taxes. $50,136 $8,608 $597 06 40,419 2,820 410 96 36,415 2,376 368 57 53,798 10,008 606 15 42,350 6,360 462 74 43,965 544 422 84 40,299 2,752 408 99 40,527 752 392 05 38,179 2,340 384 74 37,392 992 379 05 34,779 7,076 413 30 2,623 25 92 34,215 4,920 371 79 29,608 3,400 313 58 33,852 321 60 29,936 295 62 37,232 2,520 377 65 35,785 5,864 395 66 28,464 270 41 26,885 255 41 39,952 2,544 365 52 30,888 293 43 35,154 1,300 346 45 30,029 296 54 29,433 1,240 302 80 md pers onal p roperty ?9,664 £ >7. COUNTY STATISTICS. 13 Next is presented an account of the valuation of real and personal property, and the taxes on the same, for the year 1830: No. 2. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 1830. Value of Lands. Value of Personal Property Taxes. Norton, - $47,449 $8,640 $603 36 Copley, 39,051 3,864 409 62 Bath, - 37,340 2,952 382 79 Richfield, - 54,068 8,040 620 36 Wads worth, - 44,280 11,568 554 68 Attached to Granger, 43,905 636 45 Granger, - 40,441 4,952 593 87 Hinckley, 40,456 2,23 2 405 55 Guilford, - 37,597 4,840 759 68 Montville, - 37,184 1,656 396 82 Medina, - 39,807 10,040 529 28 T3 runs wick, - 36,066 6,264 728 46 Westfield, 30,599 4,312 363 43 Attached to Westfield, 34,826 330 86 Attached to Medina, 29,936 314 33 Liverpool, - 37,687 4,168 397 93 Harrisville, - 35,165 5,040 435 92 Attached to Harrisville, 28,102 395 70 Attached to Medina. 26,855 308 95 In the foregoing table the townships of Granger, Guilford and Brunswick had wisely allowed a tax to build school-houses to be assessed, which makes their payments seem large when contrasted with the valua- tion of other townships. A tax for road purposes, also, had been put on duplicate and aids to increase the tax. 14 COUNTY STATISTICS. This table will present a different feature in valuation. Town Lots in Medina and Seville are being placed on duplicate. Town Lots and Buildings in Medina are valued at 20,829 dollars. Town Lots and Buildings in Seville are listed at 1,130 dollars. No other townships report any Town Lots. Merchants' Capital now becomes taxable and comprises a large item. The number of horses and cattle increases and swells the basis on which to levy. The price per acre of land is rising, and every item gives evidence of increasing wealth : No. 3. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 1835. Norton, - $58,173 $19,615 $595 23 Copley, - - - 58,810 11,924 671 91 Bath, - 57,122 9,424 722 74 Richfield, - 65,253 32,808 644 88' Wadsworth, ... 63,186 23,270 626 07 Sharon, - 53,807 6,640 559 26 Granger, - 50,979 9,976 685 51 Hinckley, - 57,166 7,642 488 60 Guilford, ... 55,007 14,950 477 41 Montville, - 52,868 6,718 498 77 Medina, - 67,760 28,408 736 54 Brunswick, - - 53,523 16,844 640 92 Westfield, - - - 47,919 13,154 431 77 Lafayette, - 45,328 1,696 362 77 York, - 42,410 2,816 332 52 Liverpool, ... 50,594 7,976 392 53 Harrisville, - - . 37,524 11,6 325 65 Chatham, - - - 43,243 1,384 525 69 Litchfield, - - I 37,870 2,415 282 21 In this table the townships of Spencer and Homer are listed and assessed with the townships named. Al- though those two townships are formed and have elected township officers, their organization was not consum- mated in time to nppcar separately for taxation in 1835. Value of Lauds and Houses Value of Personal Property Taxes. COUNTY STATISTICS. 15 Up to close of 1839 the townships of Norton, Cop- ley, Bath and Richfield composed a part of Medina county. Thereafter they became a part of Summit county, taking off the duplicate a valuation of $177,908 of real estate, $23,496 of personal property, and $2,016 13 of tax. From 1840 onward the valuation and taxes in each township comprising the county can be given without being in any way mixed with parts of other counties : NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 1840. Value of Lands and Value of Personal Taxes. Buildings Property Wads worth, - $66,322 $21,576 $1,002 63 Sharon, -.-'"- 55,530 13,964 880 18 Granger, - 52,504 11,154 1,106 03 Hinckley, 56,458 9,894 974 24 Guilford, - 58,324 18,562 941 51 Montville, 52,842 14,756 1,265 46 Medina, - 78,592 25,836 1,729 41 Brunswick, 55,268 13,076 1,045 16 Westfield, 45,356 7,120 766 11 Lafayette, 51,756 16,036 802 61 York, - 43,944 9,038 776 65 Liverpool, 52,882 10,264 1,008 78 Harrisville, - 41,006 18,896 757 13 Chatham, 44,320 5,322 1,321 34 Litchfield, - 38,966 6,752 608 22 Homer, 42,812 4,440 693 51 Spencer, - 43,545 5,051 690 29 In some of the townships there had been levied heavy taxes for road, township and school-house purposes, that may seem to the observer disproportionate when observing the valuation. COUNTY STATISTICS. In the following table there is a marked increase of personal estate placed on duplicate for taxation, and still the taxes increase : No. 5. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 1845. Value of Lands and Value of Personal Taxes. Buildings $62,309 Property $31,149 Wadsworth, $1,424 94 Sharon, - 58,112 19,163 -1,282 79 Granger, - 52,434 14,776 1,085 06 Hinckley, - 53,110 16,201 1,450 56 Guilford, - 60,719 32,215 1,402 54 Montville, 56,139 18,264 1,030 50 Medina, - 71,314 36,063 1,976 18 Brunswick, 54,721 19,563 1,312 53 Westfield, 47,621 26,152 1,076 19 Lafayette, 44,063 15,138 956 44 York, - 42,912 13,954 869 74 Liverpool, 50,735 18,402 1,101 20 Harrisville, - 46,331 29,528 1,159 39 Chatham, 42,335 11,487 873 79 Litchfield, - 40,570 11,940 753 14 Homer, - 33,710 11,140 673 45 Spencer, - 38,221 21,706 823 65 Another valuation of real estate being made, and many other articles of personal property being, by law, brought on duplicate, necessarily makes a much larger valuation. Although there are only the same number of acres of land it must be remembered that the price per acre is greater, and that the erection of comfort- able and necessary buildings has increased the value of the farms. COUNTY STATISTICS. IT Another valuation of real estate being made, and many other articles of personal property being, by jaw-, brought on duplicate, necessarily makes a much larger valuation. Although there are only the same number ofacr era of land it must be remembered that the price, per acre, is greater, and that the erection of comfort- able and necessary buildings has increased the value of the farms: No. 6. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 1850. Value of Lands and Value of Personal Taxes. Buildings Property "Wadsworth, - $'271,102 $77,226 $2,034 56 Sharon, - 244,582 43,250 1,728 64 Granger, - 172,4:'.0 48,090 1,498 14 Hinckley, 196,118 42,222 1,831 02 Guilford, - 240,684 63,652 1,991 53 Montville, 212,040 51,870 1,619 87 Medina, - 235,188 76.846 2,220 00 Brunswick, 191,172 00,472 1,787 63 Westfield, 195,104 37,514 1,296 36 Lafayette, 171,404 35,706 1,330 45 York, 174,200 33,060 1,344 74 Liverpool, 186,270 57,368 1,516 97 Harrisville, - 189,254 73,752 1,427 95 Chatham, 152,100 44,956 1,377 55 Litchfield, 159,638 35,550 1,081 00 Homer, - 127,340 24,208 947 64 Spencer, - 137,976 41,906 1,194 66 18 COUNTY STATISTICS. The following table presents a marked increase iii the valuation of real estate and double the value of personal property. Why the taxes should have more than doubled within five years may create suspicions in the minds of those who doubt much, yet it is easy to demonstrate that the increase of taxes originates in townships. Of the taxes reported in the following table $7,800 were ordered to be levied by township trustees for road purposes : No. 7. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, Value of Lands an(: Val ne of Personal Taxes. 1855. Building; Property Wads worth, - $480,544 p 139,008 $3,951 14 Sharon, - 407,940 119,432 3,455 79 Granger, - 325,400 75,474 2,755 27 Hinckley, 340,326 107,780 3,511 93 Guilford, - 427,348 195,574 4,398 16 Montville, 366,552 114,914 2,858 60 Medina, 422,192 246,398 5,317 90 Brunswick, 333,674 108,512 4,047 04 Westfield, 325,060 100,050 3,108 16 Lafayette, 336,738 90, 1 54 3291 73 York, 335,030 82,856 2,823 62 Liverpool, 372,118 144,424 3,622 72 Harrisville, - 185,7+6 154,048 3,400 90 Chatham, 269,672 87,884 2,637 95 Litchfield, -."'-" 251,584 67,928 2,773 98 Homer, - 244,674 84,490 2,466 10 Spencer, - 282,224 102,920 2,6G8 56 COUNTY STATISTICS. 19 This table gives the taxes of 1860, as made out and charged against the several townships : No. 8. NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, Value of Lands and Value of Personal Taxes. 1860. Buildings Property Wadsworth, $415,956 $153,404 $4,431 07 Sharon, 356,386 129,336 4,077 87 Granger, - 314,508 104,910 4,33'} 42 Hinckley, 357.092 100,828 4,084 19 Guilford, ... 405,738 203,952 5,485 29 Montville, 342,812 120,740 4,173 22 Medina, - 358,692 225,012 6,667 72 Brunswick, 321,452 98,350 3,934 74 Westtield, - - 341,976 99,184 3,511 24 Lafayette, 304,864 109,042 3,439 42 York, . . - 251,110 85,514 3,158 98 Liverpool, 343,190 109,690 3,904 5 8 Harrisville, 343,666 156,270 4,129 09 Chatham, 336,550 129,47C 4,439 49 Litchfield, 283,854 87,214 3,850 96 Homer, 287,700 ! 4,722 3,042 13 Spencer, - 326,754 115,766 3,950 13 20 COUNTY STATISTICS. The following table, compiled from the statistics of 1850, will give an imperfect estimate of the value of the county : Value of Lands, - - - - - - $4,732,650 " Farm Implements and Machinery, - ^'.0,575 •< Live Stock, -.._.. 762,758 " Wheat, 132,446 " Corn, 104,560 " Oats, -_.___ 41,216 " Wool, 91,980 " Potatoes. ---..- 10,644 11 Orchard Fruits, - 14,800 " Butter, - 61,880 " Cheese, 14,800 * ; Cloverseed, - 15.2G0 " Maple Sugar, ----- ' 23.866 " Home Manufactures, - : 6,699 Making- a total in 1850 of - 6,243.452 Since that date the increase in value has been 1,248,710 Making the value in 1860 to be - 7,492,262 Another item that adds to the yearly wealth is the actual value of churches. A list with the value of that kind of property is here appended : 6 Baptist Churches, valued at - $7,000 11 Congregational Churches, valued at - 12,000 1 Episcopal " " - - r 2,000 2 Lutheran " " - - - 800 18 Methodist « " 9,700 4 Presbyterian " «■-_.- 5,200 2 Roman Catholic " " 1,750 2 Universalist " «» 2,400 Total value of Church Property - - - 38,850 Adding the sources enumerated to the untold minor founts from which small but continued rills of wealth yearly issue, there is no hazard in stating that the wealth COUNTY STATISTICS. 21 of Medina county in 1860 amounts to ten millions. If the present generation will carefully reflect upon 'lie meagre sources of wealth enjoyed in 1818, and contrast them with the present, they must be convinced that industry and economy are the channels in which perma- nent wealth flows. SCHOOLS. It is interesting to notice the advances made in the cause of Education. Prior to 1836, but little aid ac- crued from legal enactments. For a period of 20 years the schools were in a great measure sustained by sub- scription, and the houses where the children congrega- ted rudely constructed. Now, every township is fur- nished with educational buildings that give evidence of the progress of Christian civilization. To show the contrast in this particular between 1818 and 1860, the following table is compiled: Value of School-Houses in 1818, (37 in number,) - $1,480 " " 1860, (114 in number,) - 34,200 Amount paid teachers in 1818, - - - 3,700 " ■« 1860, - 15,208 No. of youth attending school in 1818, - - 620 " " ' 1860, - - 4,782 In addition to the foregoing, there are now in suc- cessful progress at least eight High Schools or Acade- mies, which are doing a good work for the youth of the county. During the Autumn and Winter months, the duty of managing the common schools is entrusted to males — during Spring and Summer, to females. 22 COUNTY STATISTICS* INCREASE OF POPULATION, The correct number of inhabitants in each township in 1818 can only be learned from persons then residents, but it is presumed to be tolerably reliable. The pop- ulation, by townships, for 1860, is given as returned by the Deputy Marshal: TOWNSHIPS. Population, 1818. Population, 18(50. W adsworth, . •All 1,703 Lafayette, - - 91 1,327 Montville, - ... 87 951 Medina, - - . 163 968 Medina Vil age, - 118 1,220 Sharon, - - - 96 1,313 Brunswick, • - 167 1,267 Liverpool, - - 219 1,891 Hinckley, - - 118 1,227 Guilford, - _ 209 1 825 Westfield, - - 79 1,122 Harrisville, - 231 1,226 Chatham, _ _ 107 1,156 Spencer, - - 81 1,083 Horner, . , _ 72 993 Granger, - - 184 1,0^5 Litchfield, - 96 1,117 York, - - 124 ~^469~~ 1.070 Total, - ■ ■ ' _ 22,484 THE FIRST COUET. The following narrative is from the pen of Mr. James Moore, of Diamond Lake, Illinois, who was for many years, prior to his removal, a resident of Medina, and was one of the first Pioneers of the Township. January 14th, 1818, the county of Medina was set apart from Portage county and organized, and, as well as I can recollect, provision made for holding court the June following; a Barn, erected by Esq. Ferris, within the present limits of the corporation, was selected as the most suitable place, preparations were made, and the scales of Justice were raised, and the rights of the straw eating ox for a while were lost in the exaltation of his humble stall, where reason and justice were to meet. The Court consisted of George Todd, of Trum- bull County, as President, Messrs. Harris, of Harris- vilie, Brown, of Wadsworth, and Welton, of Richfield,. the associate part of the court. On the day appointed a full court assembled, and the citizens generally turned out to see the working of this intellectual mill. In these days men did their own logrolling; we had the genuine article then, and enough of it. The Sheriff had announced the court as open, and for litigants to draw near and they should be heard, but as there was nothing to be litigated the court adjourned till next day. The day wore away in friendly greetings and so- cial chat. The Exodus of the Eastern states was show- 24 THE FIRST COURT. eving in upon us, and the sound of the axe in all direc- tions gave evidence of the fact, and after a good supper at Esq. Ferris' the Pioneer unlocked his store of adven- ture, (to wit;) his deer or wolf hunt, success in treating the murrian death, as well as hair breadth escapes from falling trees, or an occasional sally from Guy Bough- ton, who assured the company that the last freshet in Black river had destroyed the nesting places of the Bank swallow and left the holes sticking out several feet. But time, that waits for no one, brought the hour of repose, when some twenty or thirty of us re- paired to the barn (Court House) and in military par- lance were resting upon our arms when Esq. Ferris with lights, decanters, and a reinforcement of several persons arrived, and, in the blandest manner possible, observed it was with extreme regret he could furnish no better lodging but, as it was, he had a great substitute for feathers, and invited all who were about to sleep by the Job to come forward and take a little comfort from the decanters. This advice was considered good, and in a short time the decanters were empty, and before the Esq. returned with replenished decanters conversation had taken a stride, listeners had become speakers, and, by the time the decanters had been filled the third time, some three or four persons had mounted the Judge's table, each a different subject and vociferating at the full strength of his lungs. Those on the floor, of more humble pretentions, were essaying extempore verse, with a full chorus of "One Bottle More," "One Bottle More." In this crisis Doct. B. B. Clark, was called in professionally, and at once decided that alarming symp- toms did show themselves, a mighty disease was in pro- gress, and, although local in its inception, would in the end prove highly contagious., as well as fatal, as seve- ral had already passed into a collapsed state of the dis- THE FIRST COURT. 25 ease. The Doctor recommended tonics in large doses, and with two persons at each arm; with one to steady the head several potions were given with great effect. Several of the patients became skeptical as to the new- tonian law of gravitation, for with them the barn (Court House,) rocked on its foundation; with others the lights mysteriously receded, and sounds fell on the auditory that no language can portray. In this distress, as a substitute for electricity, a dry cow-skin was procured, and several of the patients were elevated some three or four feet and suffered to descend by their own weight. This had a great effect and was considered at the time an improvement in the treatment of this disease. At breakfast the next morning several of the worst cases were convalescent, a great proof that the treatment was based on scientific research, and it was hoped the worst was over; but it was whispered at breakfast there had been a Riot last night, the peace and dignity of the Court and State had been outraged, and something must be done as a terror to evil doers ; but on further inqui- ry it was^ found that a portion of the Court had strong symptoms of the disease, and that a change of venue would be awarded the Riotors. You are aware that a house divided against itself cannot stand. So ended the first Court in the county of Medina. THE EAKLY SETTLEKS. Ye favored young people, no perils so rare, Can the writers of romance ever prepare, As those that imperil'd your parents so dear, Who came to these wilds when the woods were all here; Cast the lords of the forest down to the tomb, From hills where your gardens and orchards now bloom ; Built up the abodes where in peace you abide, And founded the temples 'neath which you reside. Privations and hardships, toils and temptations, Attended their steps and haunted their stations ; Their cattle ran wild in the forest away, For the wolves, for bears and for panthers a prey ; The wild cat and wolf, the panther and owl, Around their rude dwellings at midnight would howl ; And serpents most deadly while seeking the sun, Would creep out and sleep on their thresholds at noon. THE EARLY SETTLERS. 27 A few of the Fathers so nohle and brave, Are still lingering with us this side of the grave, And we to their deeds a just tribute would pay, E're they from our presence have all passed away; The signet of truth in their life is set well, Or we could not believe the stories they tell Kespecting the changes that around them appear, Wrought out from the forest that they once saw here : And we question if they can fully believe, The things that their senses so fully perceive. Let them look at highways now leading about, In contrast with the roads on which they came out, Winding out then in a single direction ; .Running round now to ev'ry mile section ; Guided then by spots on the trees blazed awide ; Guarded now by fences along either side. Then full of turns, roots and holes, everywhere : Now, straight, well bridged, cast up and graded with care; Now, the carriage with wheels glides smoothly away ; Then, 'twas lifting, tipping and plunging all day : Now, straight, smooth iron roads are much in employ ; Then, our mi'ry swamps were bridged with corduroy ; Then, ten miles a days was oft with hardship won ; Now, five hundred miles a day are easy run. 28 THE EARLY SETTLERS. Then, the household came West with oxen for team ; Now, horses of iron bring whole hamleis by steam : Then, letters were brought by codgers in their shoes ; Now, outspeeding light, the lightning brings us news; Then, rocky New England, the land of their birth Seemed lost in the distance far o'er the broad earth ; Now, a few hours ride brings her hills into view, And restores them to scenes their infancy knew. Then, scarce a dwelling by the wayside appeared ; Now, hamlet and cot on all sides are reared. Then, not a free school in the region was found ; Now, thousands of schools in the country abound : Then, not a church appeared in the forest forlorn ; Now, hundreds of temples our hill sides adorn : Then, not a trader life's comforts exchanged here ; Now, millions of treasures are changed every year. Then, the Early Settler was deemed half mad or wild, Now 'tis famous to be an early settler's child : Then, Emigrants in burlesque hung in Eastern halls ; Now portraits of our veteran settlers grace those walls ; Then they said, go and come again in rags forlorn ; Now they say, send us wheat and wool and fruit and corn; Then men went back and said this was a cursed state ; Now Heaven and Earth proclaim it both good and great; THE EARLY SETTLERS, 29 Now, Fathers, in view of these contrasts, can you Comprehend the change in this country so new? Are you the men that in young manhood came here This wilderness world of its wildness to clear? Does your reason retain your identity fast Amid all the changes through which you have past? Can your memory recall the work of each year, Since you came to this land a rough pioneer ? But who can describe all the hues of your care, As you struggle in want, almost in dispair, To shelter, feed and clothe your family charge, And shield them from evils that threaten at large : Who can describe the patient toils of the wife, The stitches and tables she's set in her life : The cares of the mother what pen can portray, Wearing, grinding her heart, by night and by day. The steps and strokes required the household to rear, Can only be told when books from Heaven appear. Husbands, love your wives, the Holy*Scripture saith : Look at your wife as she toils from breath to breath ; Once a day she's swept your house and made your bed; Three times a day food prepared and table spread : Three times a day dishes brought your meals to grace ; Three times a day dishes washed and put in place. 30 THE EARLY SETTLERS. Day after day to the milk and butter seen ; Week after week she's washed your floors and linen clean; Mop't the floors in spots, perhaps ten times as oft ; Spun and wove, may be, most of your raiments soft : Made and patched your shirts and pants, coat and vest : The sheets and quilts with which your couch is drest : Knit and darned your socks with stitch and step beside, Toiling breath by breath some comfort to provide. But now her step is feeble, and her head is white, And still your highest comfort is her delight : Two score years perhaps and ten she's been your wife, Your delight the greatest comfort of her life : More than eighteen thousand times she's made your bed, And fifty -four thousand times your table spread ; Sadly watched your couch in weary hours of pain, Gladly seen you rise to health and strength again. Now what poet can describe or ready writer tell, The hoping and fearing, seeing and hearing, Seeking and finding, loosing and binding, Wooing and wedding, quilting and bedding, Spinning and weaving, coming and leaving, Wearing and tearing, dividing and sharing, Patching and mending, calling and sending, The borrowing and lending. THE EARLY SETTLERS. 31 The staying and going, knitting and sewing, Washing and baking, sweating and shaking, Toasting and stewing, roasting and brewing, Toasting and smelling, buying and selling, Grinding and sifting, tugging and lifting, Skimming and churning, greasing and turning, Stirring and beating, cooling and eating, Setting and cleaning. The slashing and logging, ditching and bogging, Shifting and turning, piling and burning, Digging and hoeing, plowing and sowing, Threshing and reaping, carting and heaping, Stocking and seeding, mowing and feeding, Hewing and scoring, marking and boring, Loading and drawing, planing and sawing, The salving and swathing, nursing and bathing. The sobbing and sighing, laughing and crying, Hugging and squeezing, tewing and teasing, Telling and teaching, singing and preaching, The scolding and spanking, the praying and thanking, And many other things beyond my power to name, That with the founding of these loving households came; I ask you all ye living men, what pen can tell, The toils and cares that on these households fell. BRUNSWICK. BY EPHRAIM LINDLEY. In giving a detail of my pioneer life I may use words that may seem strange, perhaps offensive, to many of the present day. I was not raised in the lap of plenty nor educated in the school of refinement. I was born in Ira, Rutland county, Vermont, in 179G. In 1803 my father moved to Bristol, Hartford county, Connecticut, to take charge of the farm of his aged and infirm parents — a region of country once noted for clock-making and various other arts carried on by ma- chinery. While living at Bristol I commenced attending school, and to give some idea of my young thounghts on good manners, I will relate a school adventure. A boy called Charles Bartholomew, during the absence of the teacher from the schoolroom, thought proper to leave his seat and come and sit ^facing me in what I considered a very saucy manner. Feeling my dignity insulted by his continued gaze, and believing him to be a violator of good order and of the rules of the school, in the absence of the teacher, I laid down my book, walked up to Charles, gave him a severe slap on the side of the head and authoritatively ordered him to return to his seat and attend to his studies. Soon the teacher came in and seeing Charles crying inquired the cause. Being informed that that new scholar (meaning BRUNSWICK. 33 me,) had slapped him because he had neglected his studies, the teacher kindly addressed herself to me and informed me that it was contrary to the rules of her school for one scholar \p correct another, and I got clear of correction under the plea that I was new. Once I saw a great gnat biting a comrade in school, and feeling full of sport I raised my hand, aimed a blow at the gnat with the force that felled my schoolmate to the floor. Upon being interrogated why I struck the boy, my answer was, that I would not stand still and see such a contemptible little insect as a gnat sucking blood from a comrade without using means to kill it. My laconic answer shielded me, that time, from merited chastisement. After the decease of my grandfather and the appor- tionment of his estate among heirs, my father was per- suaded by my uncle, Eliada Lindley, to move to Ohio. On 4th July, 1811, we left. Bristol. We had an ox team headed by one horse. We toiled and traveled over rough roads, mud, and the many obstacles that had then to be encountered, until we .came to the Cataraugus Swamp, where we were compelled to hire an additional force of horses, and a man to drive. Though the dis- tance across that swamp was only four miles, yet we were a whole day getting over. After a toilsome jour- ney of two months we arrived at Hudson. Soon after our arrival in the then wilderness, intel- ligence of war greeted our ears often and sadly. After the surrender of Hull, many were forced to prepare for the tented field, who were very poorly supplied with the necessaries of life. The whole country was new — provisions were scarce and very high in price, and la- borers few. Danger and privation were dreaded and experienced. Salt, one of the real necessities, was high in price and very scarce. A neighbor had been at 5 34 BRUNSWICK. Liverpool and had got all the salt he contracted for 7 except one peck, which he said my father might have if he would send for it. The offer was considered a great accomodation, and my father selected me as the person who should go to Liverpool, a distance of 25 miles, for the peck of salt. I was then 16 years old. An empty sack was got, in which was stowed bread and wild meat, and on a cold blustering morniDg in the month of December, 1813, 1 left Hudson for Liverpool. There was a blazed road from Hudson to Richfield. From thence I had to go to the north line of the town- ship, and from thence find my way by blazed trees to Timothy Doan's, in Columbia. Between the house of widow Payne (Brecksville) and Mr. Doan's was an un- broken wilderness of 15 miles, excepting the blazed line made by surveyors. My first day's travel brought me to the cabin of Mrs.. Payne. On the second day I got to Liverpool Salt works, took possession of the peck of salt and learned that I could buy another peck which I willingly purchased. I shouldered my half bushel of salt on the afternoon of the second day, and with elastic step started, homeward bound. The second night I tarried at the house of Horace Gunn, who lived near Thos. Doan's. Liverpool salt dripped much, and my own exercise causing sweat, the two came in con- tact and kept me uncomfortable. The next morning after leaving Mr. Gunn's, I had to repass through the 15 miles of continued wilderness, with a short allowance of bread, laded with a half bushel of wet salt: The snow was about four inches in depth. After I had passed over about two miles of my lonely forest road I met a company of wolves, who seemed to be on the track I made when going to Liverpool. In passing along, I discovered that they followed, though at re- spectful distance. There were five in number, and BRUNSWICK. 35 their frequent stopping and pawing in. the snow caused me to conjecture that they meditated an attack. I fur- nished myself with a - stout club and felt determined to tree and fight if they should attack me. After follow- ing for a distance of five miles or more they left keeping company and I traveled on very well satisfied with their absence. I am of the opinion that the bitterings of the salt and my own sweat was what they scented and prompted them to follow me. I got home safely with what remained of my half bushel of salt after a full share of bitterings had eked out. This was my first important errand, and I can assure you that I then traveled that distance and carried the salt more willingly than a young man of 16 years will now carry a half bushel of potatoes from the grocery to his home.' EAELY SETTLERS. Solomon Harvey, James Stearn and Henry Parker were the first settlers in Brunswick in the months of October and November, 1815. Shortly after, Samuel Tillotson and family came in. The next was W. P. Stevens and family. On March 4, 1815, Solomon and Frederick Deniing with their families settled. During the summer of the same year, John Hulet, Seymour Chapin, John Stearn, Andrew Deming and Henry Bogue with their families came in. In 1817, Jacob Ward, Rhoda Stowe, Harvey Stebbins, John Freese, B. W. Freese, W. Root, Seth 'Blood, L.Thayer, P. Clark, Peter, John and A. Berdan and others came and settled in various parts of the township. In 1818, the noise of the axe could be heard during the hours of labor in various parts of the township, and the smoke rising 36 BRUNSWICK. from the hastily constructed cabins gave proof that settlements were rapidly increasing. The hum of in- dustry could be heard and seen as the wilderness grad- ually yielded. DEATHS OF EARLY SETTLERS. Of those who braved the toils and privations incident to a Pioneer life, and who aided each other in making the full sunshine upon the long bedimmed surface the following are deceased : George W. Baldwin and wife, C. Stearns " " Seymour Knox " " Darius Francis " " Peter Berdan " " Frederick Root " " Of those enumerated among the early marriages, the following, at the close of more than 40 years, are still husband and wife. To them it is a pleasure to see the changes that have taken place since they wedded : Abram Freese and wife, Ephraim Lindley" " James Stearns " " Daniel Stearns " " Harvey Stebbins " " Jacob Ward Isaac Ward " " Horace Root " " Wm. Root From these aged individuals the inquirers after the history of the first settlers can gather information that would be perused with interest fifty years hence. They BRUNSWICK. 37 are the living witnesses of occurrences worthy of record. DIED AT A GOOD OLD AGE. To give evidence that industry and daily toil tends not to cut short our days, I here give names and age of Pioneer Fathers and mothers. Those of the first settlers yet living can attest the truth of my remark when they read the names. John Ward, deceased at the age of 92 years, Elizabeth Ward " " 89 " John Stearns " " 92 " Lucy Stearns " " 76 " W.P.Stearns " " 87 " Lydia Stearns " " 69 " Persis Kingsbury " " 65 " . Samuel Tillotson " " 91 " Sarah Tillotson " " 77 " • Solomon Deming " " 85 " Roxanna Deming " " 66 " JohnHulet " " 86 " Ephraim Fletcher " " 74 " Jabez Kingsbury « " 80 " Daniel Bogue " " 72 ". Making an average age of 80 years to each one nam- ed. It is not probable that any fourteen descendants of those named will, when deceased, be able to have it noted that they had lived so long. The increase of idleness and the various and varied kind of dissipation adopted and practised must enfeeble and shorten life. Industry is a physician that produces health, creates wealth, secures comfort, dispels gloom and lengthens 38 . BRUNSWICK. life. Indole shorten life. life. Indolence brings want, discontent, and tends to BUSYING GROUND. Capt. John Stearns, who was the owner of about thirteen hundred acres of land, being advanced in years and wishing to provide for the future, generously do- nated two acres to be used as a Burying Ground for the township, and requested the citizens to meet and clear off a portion of the lot, that it might be used for that purpose when needed. The citizens generally sanctioned the proposition, and ■ soon was heard the sound of axe and falling of forest trees. -In a few days a portion was cleared, and now is the resting place of many, young and old, who once lived. In that lot the bodies of the first resident settlers were one after anoth- er deposited, and here and there can be read upon head- stones the names of many who once labored actively to tame the wilderness. For several years prior to the erection of Medina county, the establishment of roads was unsettled. Each settler undertook to make a road to suit his own con- venience, and not unfrequently he joined with his next neighbor, in opening a way that could be of mutual advantage. The making of bridges generally called together the whole force of the then sparse community, and many days would be wholly devoted to construct BRUNSWICK. 3d a bridge that would probably be carried away by a succeeding freshet. After the organization of the county, small appropriations were made for opening roads and making bridges. As cash was then scarce, a man would work at road-making from rising to setting sun for fifty cents and board himself. It was much easier to get timber necessary for a bridge to the allotted spot than to get. the logs placed. Ox teams were used in hauling, but rendered little aid in placing timbers. .Rocky River was the largest stream meandering through several of the newly settled townships, and the intercourse between small settle- ments forced the inhabitants, as a matter of convenience, to decide upon places and unitedly aid in building bridges for general accommodation. Many of the first settlers spent days at their own expense and did not consider it oppressive. It was no uncommon act to see all the men in a community congregated early, and without stockings or shoes, laboring all day in water fixing abutments and placing the long heavy stringers thereon. As puncheons were used for flooring in nearly every dwelling, they were considered equally good for bridging. No saw-mills were erected when settlements first commenced, therefore the necessity of using puncheon and clapboards. It is not hazardous to say that in 1815 and for five years thereafter, five men actually performed more labor on roads than twenty men did in 1860. Necessity forced them to be industrious and their future prospects urged them to labor. It was not unusual for the men, while engaged in putting up a bridge, to see their wives issuing from the wilderness from various directions, laded with cooked provisions intended for those employed in bridge-mak- ing. It was uot unusual for the mothers in the days of first settling to travel two or three miles laded with 40 BRUNSWICK. provisions for their husbands who would necessarily lose time if compelled to go to their dwellings for their dinners. The present generation would consider such an undertaking too wearisome and too hazardous. Few of the modern females would be willing to travel three or four miles to hunt the cows once -each day,' as was the practice among the families of early settlers. In my details of the first openings and settlements made in the township of Brunswick, I may wholly fail to please those who feed on refined literature. It has always been my fortune (some would say misfortune) to gain a competence by industry, and to be measurably deprived of spending much time in reading. I have enjoyed a full share of the toils of life without many of the luxuries. FIRST ELECTION. On 6th April, 1818, the first election was held and the following comprised all the legal voters then in the township, to wit: John Stearns, Solomon Deming, John Hulet, Harvey Stebbins, Jacob Ward, Thomas Stearns, Andrew Deming, Joel Curtis, Elijah Hull, Henry Bogue, Ephraim Lindley, James Stearns, George J. Baldwin, Solomon Harvey, Horace Root, Darius Fran- cis, Henry Parker, Daniel Stearns and John Hulet, Jr. Nineteen votes were polled that day, and it Was consid- ered a large election. John Hulet, John Stearns and Solomon Deming were elected trustees ; Darius Francis, Treasurer ; Henry Parker, Constable ; John Stearns and Jacob Ward, Justices of the Peace. BRUNSWICK. 41 Nearly all the parents who first settled in the town- ship had been members of some one of the christian churches in their native State, which they failed not to exhibit and practice in their wilderness cabins. Sec- tarian feelings were not cherished as now ; but when Sabbath came. Episcopalians. Congregationalists, Meth- odists and other denominations united and held religious meetings. At the first religious meetings, citizens from Liverpool and Brunswick united. When meeting was held at William Warner's cabin, Justus Warner, who was an Episcopalian, took the lead in meeting, and when in Brunswick the leader of religious exercises was of the Methodist or Congregational denomination. Generally the small family dwelling was filled with those who revered the sabbath and church duties. The ex- ercises commenced with singing, in which all took part, and were able to keep time and sing in unison without jthe aid of organ or other musical instrument.- After singing, prayer devout and fervent was offered, then a sermon was read, one or more exhorted, then closed by singing. Many of those who witnessed those religious exercises in the then wilderness cannot have forgotten the zeal, the good feelkig, the solemnity that was ap- parent. God smiled graciously on the first settlers and conferred upon them many and rich blessings while employed in rearing homes in the then wilderness. At the sabbath prayer-meetings there was a marked rever- ence and not a few can date back to those times and places their first and lasting religious impression. It was at one of those meetings the writer of this narra- tive felt convinced of his sins and resolved thereafter to seek', by intercession, the pardon of his sins and live a new life. With pleasure, thankfulness and gratitude he looks back to the time when God, by his Spirit, showed to him the beauty of the christian religion 6 42 BRUNSWICK. CAN A BUILDING BE RAISED WITHOUT WHISKEY ? In pioneer days it was a universal practice to furnish whiskey at house or barn raisings ; and though few drank to excess, yet at raisings, ministers, deacons and church-members would participate in drinking, and not ^infrequently one or more could be seen staggering and not fully able to set and keep their feet properly. Capt. John Stearns had got every thing in readiness and had fixed upon a day to raise his new barn, when it was discovered that no whiskey could be bought or even borrowed in the township, and more unfortunate still, that none could be had nearer than Talmadge. To go to that place and return would require two days. Mr. Stearns made known the matter to some of his neigh- bors who told him that under the present circumstances ' they thought perhaps the barn might be raised, though they could not fully approve of his course in not seeing about the whiskey sooner. On the day appointed, the- people assembled, went to work, raised the barn and from that circumstance made the wise discovery that a building could be safely and speedily built without the use of whiskey. FIRST SLEIGHING VISIT. The young folks in Brunswick desiring to form the acquaintance of those of their age in other townships, concluded to visit the family of Rufus Ferris, who then lived north from the present County seat. Each young man got his female partner, and rigging jumpers made of long poles that answered for runners and thills, we fastened on a few boards on which we sat and traveled. Our road was marked out by blazed trees. We started BRUNSWICK. 43 from what is now Brunswick center, and following the blazed trees we got to Weymouth safely ; from thence by some kind of marks we got to the Joseph Northrop farm where we crossed Rocky River and from there to the cabin of Rufus Ferris. We tarried there engaged in youthful sport until a late hour, and then started home by the same road we had got there. A whole night was spent in paying that visit. We then had no buffalo robes to protect us from the storm. A bed quilt was the traveling robe used in those days, and while thus clad, the young ladies of those days considered themselves fashionably protected against inclemency of the season. A log across our path was not considered an obstacle of great moment, neither did we consider it a great detriment if hats or bonnets were taken from our heads by hanging limbs. We considered the dis- tance from Brunswick by way of Weymouth, to the residence of Mr. Ferris but a short distance, and while there partaking of his hospitality we considered our- selves well accommodated if chairs could be furnished for one-half of our company. We went to pay a friendly visit, not to seek out matters about which to sneer thereafter. We were one portion of a wilderness fam- ily going in kindness to visit another. Our meetings in those times, were characterized by friendship and solicitude for each other's welfare and comfort. CHURCH OEGANIZATONS; Although no original records exist, there are living witnesses to testify that the Methodist Episcopal Church organized in April, 1817, and that Jacob Ward was instrumental in procuring the organization. The first members of that church were Jacob Ward, Rhoda 44 BRUNSWICK. Stowe, John and Lucy Stearns, John and Hannah Hulet, Samuel and Sarah Tillotson, Thomas and Phebe Stearns, Polly Harvey, Lydia Crittenden and Olivia Ashley. The last two named then resided in Grafton, the others resided in Brunswick. Of the first found- ers, of that church the following yet live : Jacoh Ward, Hannah Unlet and Mrs. Hurlbcrt (formerly Lydia Crittenden.) The Congregational Church was organized Febuary 19, 1819, by Reverends Simeon Woodruff and William Hanford. then acting missionaries. The names of those who united at the organization were Jabez and Persis Kingsbury, Andrew Deming, Fredrick Deming, Roxanua Deming, William P. and Lydia Stearns, Geo. J. and Nancy Baldwin, Lydia Woodbridge and Clarissa Stearns. Of the above not one is now living. It was the general practice for all to be seen at one church when there failed to be preachers, on the same day, for each denomination. Disputations on doctrin- al points were few and far between among the members of those churches. The gospel was preached and lis- tened to, with due attention. All were neighbors, friends and brethren. The Episcopal Methodist's erec- ted the first meeting-house, the Congregationalism the second. As the members of each denomination had often prayed together, and often listened to the same preacher; with the same christian feeling they mutu- ally aided each other in erecting church 'edifices. SCHOOL HOUSES. The first school house was erected on the west line of Brunswick in order to give accommodation to fami- lies in Liverpool township. Sarah Tillotson was the BRUNSWICK. 4S teacher, and her school in 1817 numbered 16 scholars. The second school house was built one-fourth of a mile west from the center, in the fall of 1817, and Col. John Freese was the teacher during the following winter. The third public building was built, by subscription, of hewed timber at (he center, and was used for school, religious and town purposes. Could the young stu- dents of this day he permitted to look back forty years and view the narrow paths that led to the school houses where their fathers and mothers congregated, the rude building in which they, when children assembled, the rough and uncomfortable seats, the puncheon floor and the dim lights afforded, he would certainly be led to ask himself who accomplished the great change between w,0tt£and fhni? No greater evidence of progress can be seen than to contrast "the present educational facili- ties with those that the first settlers possessed. What great, profitable and good changes may not t;ike place in the coming forty years if untiring perseverance be exercised, and our aim to elevate be observed? LOUNGERS. In pioneer days there were neither loungers nor lounging places. Every person, young or old had some profitable employment in which to engage. There were no groups of the idle or indolent to be seen stand- ing or sitting at corners or stores, taverns or groceries. For many years after the first settlers eame, in smokers of cigar or pipe were seldom seen. If the last ten years had been as profitably employed as were the first ten years from and after the first openings made by the original settlers, an improvement would have been 46 BRUNSWICK. made in morals, in physical power, in agriculture and in wealth. Degeneracy, in many things, has taken the place of refinement, and many, too many, are reared wholly untrained in any useful, necessary or profitable employment. To make a contrast I will, in old fash- ioned poetry, give you a description of a modern lounger : Our now-a-day loungers I'll describe, now I'm for it, And in doing the same I'll ask them no pay for it; If I charged them Dr., I should suffer a loss, For the scamps are too mean to pay what it costs. To tell you the truth, and just where you'll find them, Get on to their track and keep close behind them. Jim starts in the morning, says, to-day, I must work, But when he gets to the ''corners" he's seized with a jerk, Of the mind and the will to the tavern to go, (For he's too ill to work and he'll tell you so,) And turning the corner marches on to the door, Finds Tom, Dick and Harry, and of such a few more, Who are all of a stripe, and who all jerked together, With ailments alike for all seasons or weather. Now Tom says to Jim, You're the last one come in, It is your treat; come, bring in your gin : But Jim says to Tom, I am strapt of a dime, So you pay for it now, I will the next time. BRUNSWICK. 47 But Tom says to Jim, I'm as poor off as Dick, Who has been here before to-day and lives upon trick. But some how or other they all get a drink, Which make the eyes glimmer, you see by their wink. All say, Mr. Landlord* let us have a cigar, We see you have plenty of such things to spared Now keep a good lookout and you will discover There is a fire at one end, and drunk fools at the other; And to tell you the fact without any joke, Their mouths are the chimneys that draw off the smoke, And the longer they suck them, 'tis just as one s'poses, Their cigars shorten up till they heat their red noses. Having shortened their fuel to about an inch long, They then are prepared for a chat or a song, But before they commence they have an instinct, They can do nothing right without more to drink. From smoking they say they feel themselves thirsty, From drinking again they feel themselves lusty ; And having secured more of the good creature, Are now qualified to be each other's teacher ; And the feats of such loungers proves to us very clear Where rum takes the lead the men have no fear. Now each can tell over what feats he has done, How wealth has poured in — how poor he begun. In politics too they talk mighty brave, Say the nation without them its union can't save. 4* BRUNSWICK. They build mighty rail-roads, and ride the world ovGr, Get on at one end, and get oft' at the other, Can tell what they saw in Paris or London, And know all the streets in Moscow or Canton, They helpt lay the telegraph under the ocean, Turned the world upside down and set all in commotion, Esteeming themselves the best of men, Nothing great could be done without them. But when you look on them and see their ill features, You see only disgust wrapt up in such creatures, And to speak the fact, they're a mean breed of brothers, Born out of due time, almost without mothers, And wherever they go they hatch up a muss, And wherever they stay they're a curse. Their influence is evil on the young and the old, And the mischief they do can hardly be told, And to sum up the matter and give no abuse, Unless they reform they will generate nuisance. Xf you follow their track and keep close behind them, About as I have stated, I think you can find them. And now please to pardon the pioneer digression; For the good of our country I have given expression That those who come after, bad example may shun, And be saved from disgrace, or the ruin of rum. BRUNSWICK. 49 THE PAST. The few roads were then muddy, rough and crooked, Used seldom by teams, but frequently footed, Our swales and our swamps with cross-logs were laid, With chinking between covered with dirt by a spade. We wound up the hills by blazes on trees, As best we could and with the most ease. 'Twas sometimes with horses, but often with oxen, Our necessaries hauled, our carriages broken. And sometimes endangered by the swelling flood, Or the team and the axle would wallow in mud, And thus pressing team with toil all the day From five to ten miles advanced on our way. Our mail matters then were placed in a sack, And laid on a man to lug on his back. And to pick his way best you would think by his track, Went this way and that way, likea horse that did rack. Our four horse' teams, then, if they hauled a ton, Thro' the rough road and mud 'twas tlio't had well done. Then in a log stable, straw and provender before them, For feed and for rest their strength to restore them, Then for their drink used the cool running water, Or through ice cut a hole to dip in their snorter. Their harness was then made of leather to the tug, Which would glisten like oil made out of mud. Their bodies composed of bone, flesh, and skin, 7 50 BRUNSWICK. Fit subjects for swarms of flies their blood to drain. Our meadows were mown by scythe and rough snath, Our boys then spread grass with a fork or a staff. When our hay became dry, and some signs of a shower, Then boys, girls, and mothers raked by the hour. Our harvest then gathered with sickle in hand, One clip at a time till none was left to stand. And other things then worked after such a fashion, Toil hard, was the word, but don't get in a passion* THE PAST— THE PKESENT. And now, fellow mortals, by way of reflection, Let our minds run back to past recollection, When the wilderness flourished unbroken by man, When owls sang by night, and wild beasts freely ran, When the Eed man roamed o'er hill, vale and plain, With his weapon in hand, in quest of wild game; When the sound of the gospel had not reached his ear, When civilization was far in the rear, When the ox or the cow had not served their part, In giving man food or in drawing the cart. No genius to sweep off the wilderness waste, To form fruitful fields, or supply in its place The vine and the fruit tree, the flocks and the herds; No cities with presses to issue forth words, BRUNSWICK. 51 To spread forth the news and enlighten the minds, But the savage in darkness dwelt here in those times. Wise men from the East soon sought out the way To the Star of the West to carry their sway, In the arts and in science of civilized life, Expelling the darkness of wildness and strife. With much toil and hardship o'er a long, rough road They sought out their way#o make their abode, Where the wild beasts and savages together run wild, And the church bell and Sabbath never had smiled. Now in came the Gospel refulgent with light, To chase out the darkness and bring to their sight, The endearments resulting from civilization, And plant in the wild a God-fearing nation. Their God is their trust; as saints they adore him. The wilderness falls and the fields rise before them ; The promising harvests tossed by breezes do wave, All the wants are supplied that the appetite crave. Our flocks and our herds our hills they adorn, While our valleys still yield an abundance of corn. The schools, academies and colleges combined, Give proper instruction and expand the mind. Our churches are reared with spires pointing to heaven From which learned pastors pour fourth gospel leaven, Which raises dull minds from low grounds of sadness, To those fairer climes in the high plains of gladness, 62 BRUNSWICK. Where may we all anchor in that haven of rest, Prepared to meet God and dwell with the blest. THE PRESENT. Our roads are now graded, blazed trees have retired, Our forests have faded and our swamps have dried. We now pass in safety ove^ permanent bridges, And our valleys are passed by grading the ridges. Our teamsters now travel full three times the distance, With three times the load, with far less resistance. And now in our meadows we'll just take a peep, And see the man ride his scythe, perhaps half asleep. But look how the grass falls all perfectly spread, Ten acres each day he lays prostrate 'tis said, But once do look, there is no mistake, You see the man lazily riding his rake ; And yet, slowly riding, his hay comes together. All these we now do without lifting a feather. Another thing now-a-days, the fools it may tickle, For the lazy old scamp is now riding his sickle, And by the exertion of merely a motion, See grain cut and gathered and laid to his notion. Should inventions improve as we're inclined to be led We will soon use a machine to ride us to bed. But one thing's desired, yet almost without hope, That we have a machine to help us to get up. BRUNSWICK. BRUNSWICK STATISTICS, 1861. 53 PERSONAL PROPERTY. Number. Value. Horses, - - - - 50T $24,392 Cattle, " .*- 1.740 21,205 £heep, ------ 5,320 8,077 Hogs. ------ 485 1,850 Carriages, ------ 275 6,531 Appei'taining to Merchandise, - 1,800 Appertaining to Manufactories, -. . - 2,053 Moneys and Credits, - - - - 18,967 "Wheat, bushels, - 6,456 6,456 Corn, « 49,581 14,895 Putter, pounds, - 61,669 6,150 Cheese, ------- 54,420 3,800 Oats, Grass seeds, and Potatoes, 4,780 Products of Orchards and Gardens, - 3,270 Yearly value of township, - - - $124,226 CHATHAM. Although the county was organized in 1813, it is worthy of being observed that settlements did not com- mence in every township simultaneously. Mankind are not inclined to live remote from each other ; on the contrary, those who were born and reared in the same region, generally seek after and associate together. And in peopling a new country the timidity and the friendship of the female sex for near neighbors often induces families to settle near each other. Chatham township was organized Dec. 5, 1833. The first township officers were Nedabiah Cass, Joel Lyon, and Irani Packard, trustees. At the first election there were only eleven voters, to wit : Gay lord C. Warner, Joel Lyon, Nedabiah Cass, Moses Parsons, Barney Daniels, Amasa Packard, Ebenezar Shaw, Amos Utter, Iram Packard, Harvey Edwards and Thomas F. Pal- mer. Six of which in 1861, are yet residents in the township. The first election for Justice of the Peace was in May, 1835. Orin Shaw and Thomas F. Palmer were opposing candidates. Mr. Shaw had one vote majority. Moses Parsons and Thomas F. Palmer contested that election. A trial of strength of influence was had a second time, which being illegal was set aside. A new election was ordered. Orin Shaw and Amasa Packard Jr., were the opposing candidates, and Shaw was elected by a majority of two votes. Politics was not known in the strife ; other causes fired the friends of each to array themselves against each other. CHATHAM. 55 The first school was taught in a private dwelling in the fall of 1833 by Verta Richards, since deceased. The pupils at that school were Lydia, Chloe, Eliza and Joseph Palmer. Celia, Emeline Richards, Catharine, Polly and Cornelia Packard, Mary, Orin and Alfred Shaw and Catharine Frazell. VISITING PARTY. A party of what might be called at that time young folks, made the necessary arrangements to visit their acquaintances in Harris ville. The day came and all congregated, dressed in the then best style to go in company. Two choice pair'of oxen were j^ked, sleds were filled with clean straw, quilts were spread to pre- vent straw-beards from sticking to their choice calico or flannel dresses, and they started off at a good ox- trot on their visit. At that date it was considered a great convenience to have an ox team in which to travel, and no female considered her fashionable dignity insul- ted by riding in an ox sled or wagon. FTEST MARRIAGE. The first couple married were Henry K. Joline and Eleanor Parsons, in 1820, and thirteen years prior to the organization of the township. A messenger trav- eled through to Sullivan, a distance of fourteen miles without any horse, and piloted Esquire Close through the woods to Chatham to tie the marriage knot. When Esq. Close started for Sullivan, he came to the sage conclusion to go the trail to Harrisville and from there by another trail tojjhis home, rather than to venture fourteen miles travel through woods. 56 CHATHAM. The first child born was Samuel H. Parsons. Moses Parsons was the first settler, and made the first opening in the township in 1819, about one mile south of the center. He came from Massachusetts, died in Chatham in the month of October, 1843, aged 74 years. CHURCHES. The first Congregational Church was organized in April, 1834, under the Union Plan, and was attached to the Presbytery. The names of members at its organ- ization were Barney Daniels and wife, Ebenzer Shaw and wife, Joel Lyon and wife, Amasa Packard and wife, Gideon Gaftlner and wife, Irani Packard and wife, Orin Shaw and wife, George, Phillip, and Jacob and Sarah Packard, making 18 members. In 1843 a division or schism got root and eventually divided the church into two separate organizations, one part advocating the Presbyterian plan, the other sustaining the Oberlin plan. During the excitement two church edifices re- spectable in appearance and well finished, were built, two preachers were hired a part o*all the time. Ef- forts were used by each denomination to secure large attendance, a spirit of emulation rather than vital piety prevailed. The pockets of each were often depleted to pay the monetary matters. They continued thus struggling for fifteen years. In process of time the schisms were either healed or died out, and the two be- came united in 1858, and now compose a large and influential church. There is at the center a Methodist Episcopal Church respectable in numbers and in in- fluence. To show that liberality was practised among the first settlers, take the following instance. Henry K. Joline CHATHAM. 57 was, for many months, unable to labor, owing to pain- ful and severe sickness, and his situation became known to those residing in Harrisville township. Every night they furnished batchers until he was able to be carried to another place. They came with teams, took himself and family to Harrisville township and sup- ported him while there free of charge, and when he was supposed fully„ restored to health they brought himself and family to their own residence. Such was the feeling and such the noble principles of benevo- lence that existed among the first settlers, and thank God the same trial of character is still exhibited by them, though traveling down to life's sunset. CHATHAM STATISTICS. PERSONAL PROPERTY. Number. Value. Horses, - - - Cattle, 716 1,838 $23,335 20,015 Sheep, ------- Hogs>- Carriages and Wagons, - - - - Merchandise, - 6,150 767 85 10,292 2,372 2,865 3,500 Manufacturing, - Moneys and Credits, - - - - Wheat, bushels, - Corn, " 8,179 28,951 600 4-0,257 8,179 7,233 Butter, pounds, - Cheese, "__--_ Orchards and Garden Products, 71,610 26,175 7,160 1,575 12,650 Total of yearly value, - - - $150,033 If the wealth that yearly results from the crops of Oats, Grass-seeds, Potatoes, Hay, and other articles of trade and commerce, were added, it would not be ex- ceeding probability to place the annual products at $209,000. 8 58 CHATHAM. Chatham is an agricultural township. Of course the fund invested in merchandise is limited in amount. The farmers, residing within fifteen miles of rail-road stations, are accustomed to go there with their surplus produce. Although the township is comparatively young, since organization, there are evident traits of industry. Houses, barns and other buildings, intended for accom- modation and comfort, give evidence of taste and neat- ness not excelled by townships that have been longer settled. GUILFORD, The township of Guilford is called No. 1, in the 14th range of the Western Reserve, and was owned by four original purchasers. Roger Newbury, of Windham, Connecticut, owned the south-east quarter, Justin Eley, of Springfield, Masschusetts, owned the south-west quarter, Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, Connecticut,owned the north-east quarter ; and Elijah White, of Hudson, Connecticut, owned the north-west quarter. The first settlement in the township was made in the year 1817, by Henry Hosmer, Chester Hosmer, Mary T. Hosmer, Shubal Porter, Abigal Porter, Lyman Munson and Moses Noble, who came from Southwick and Westfield in Massachusetts. All are now living in, or uear tho same place where they severally settled, except Moses Noble, who died in 1831. In 1816 John Wilson and his brother David commenced chopping and making the first opening in the north-east quarter of the township. In the same year William Moore commenced making an opening in the north-west quar- ter about one mile east from Chippewa Creek and with- in the limits of the Jarm now occupied by Jesse Smith. John Wilson and David yet live on, and own the land where they first commenced. William Moore now re- sides in Westfield township and owns a farm there. In February, 1817, Henry and Chester Hosmer, Shubal Porter and Lyman Munson built a log house on the south bank of Hubbard Creek, and they with Mary T. Hosmer and Abigail Porter moved their house- hold goods into it, on the first day of March, 1817. 60 GUILFORD, That house was within four rods of the honse now known as Dowd's Hotel. In those days the now flour- ishing village of Seville was un-origina'ted. The In- dians at that time had a village there where they tar- ried when on hunting excursions, containing about ten wigwams. In that year, along the lowlands of Chip- pewa and Hubbard creeks, elk, deer, bears and wolves were numerous. The two streams were filled with excellent fish. In the same year William Hosmer left Southwick in Mas- sachusetts, and traveled alone, and after a tedious jour- ney of forty-nine days on foot came to the cabin' of his relatives in Guilford, and settled with them. During this year, 1818, the accession of inhabitants to this settlement was few. Philo French came a*hd settled near Wilsons. Timothy Phelps made an opening near Wm. Moore, and the family of William Wolcott settled in the township. This year the county of Medina was created. Prior to this year all of this county, part of Lorain and a small part of Ashland county belonged to Portage. A road was opened from the county seat, south through Montville and Guilford, in the direction of Wooster, and log bridges made oyer the two creeks, within the present corporate limits of Se- ville. A road was laid out on the east line of the township, north and south. The first couple married were David Wilson and Abigail Porter being two of the first settlers. The first child born was William Walcott in 1819 who died at the age of five years. In 1819 Jonas Stiles and William H. Bell became residents. Bell made his first opening east of the present residence of Moses Shaw. In this year James and John Crawford settled in the north-west quarter of the township, where now reside many of their de- scendants. During this year Henry Hosmer erected a GUILFORD. 61 hewed log house, two stories high, near where he now resides. In its day, and in that neighborhood it was considered a model edifice, and contrasted wonderfully with the wigwams of the Indians, or even the first cab- ins that had been built three years prior. Chester Hos- mer built a hewed log house into which he moved his father and himself. The same land is now owned by Eben Brigham. In that house Cyrus Chapman was married to Jerusha Hosraer. After marriage they set- tled in Harrisville township. Guilford township was organized this year with only voters sufficient to make the organization legal. Wm. H. Bell, Lyman Munson and John Wilson were the first Trustees, and Jonas Stiles, the first township clerk. The first ground plowed in the township was by Shubal Porter near the flower- ing mills, south of Seville. The first frame building was erected by Henry Hosmer, on the grounds now covered by " Dowd's Plotel." The first death in the township was a child of Lyman and Nancy Munson. On May 20, 1820 an election was held for a justice of the peace. Nine votes were polled and upon counting the ballots it was announced that John Crawford had one vote, Timothy Phelps had two votes and John Smith had six votes, and was declared elected. The following are the names of the voters at that election ; John Smith, W. H. Bel!, Timothy Phelps, Samuel Owen, John Crawford, William Wolcott, Jonas Stiles, Lyman Munson and John Wilson. In the same year, at the October election, thirteen votes were cast, which was the entire poll of the township. .During this year a State Road was laid out from Wooster to Cleveland, which was laid on the same ground with the same road that had been cut out the previous year. It was af- terwards known as and called the "Pike." The first store in Guilford was opened by Chauncy 62 GUILFORD. Barker. His stock was small and soon sold, when he left for Connecticut and there died. The first school-house erected in the township was west of the State Road and opposite Moses Shaw's present residence. It was built cabin fashion, a chim- ney of clay and sticks at one end, the roof of clapboards kept on by weigh poles, a puncheon floor, no loft, a rickety door made of clapboards swung an creaking wood hinges, two small windows with greased paper for panes instead of glass. Miss Adaline Dothee taught the first summer school and John Bell taught the win- ter school of 1821 and 1822. In this first Guilford Seminary, James A. Bell (thereafter State Representa- tive,) Josiah, William and James Crawford, Levi Nye, Jacob Bell, Amer aud Jacob Moore were students. In 1822 that school house was burned down, and in 1823 a second quite similar in model and convenience was erected on the ground where the store of Caughey, Le- land & Co., now stands. Intellectual light was poured out in that house by Emeline Forbs during the sum- mer, and by Nathaneal Bell during the winter. This year a death occurred that spread a gloom over those who then resided along Chippewa and Hubbard creeks. In the month of Novvember, Elijah Porter started from the residence of his son, Shubal Porter, to the County Seat on necessary business relative to a go to pension he was then receiving from the United States. He went on foot to Daniel Wilson's, where he borrow- ed a horse and started for Medina. Late at night the horse came home alone. Mr. Wilson and others soo-n were on their way, in the night, in the direction of Medina, searching for Mr. Porter. They found him about one and a half miles south of Medina setting at the root of a beach tree, so chilied that he could not speak. They attempted to carry him to the nearest GUILFORD. . 63 house, which was at Medina, but before they got him there he died. His remains are interred in a grave- yard west from David Wilson's residence, and it may be recorded that he was the first white man buried in Guilford township. In the same year a Militia Company was organized, and to accomplish that object the whole of Harrisville, Westfield and half of Guilford townships had t^be included in order that the necessary number of oincers and soldiers could be got. In 1824 the present burrying ground east of Seville was surveyed, and made by deed the property of the township for burial purposes. The first adult buried in that cemetery was Mrs. Harriet Wilson, wife of Rob- ert Wilson. The same year Mrs. Margaret Wilson, wife of John Wilson, died and was buried west of Da- vid Wilson's, being the second person interred in that burying ground. During this year a school house was built at Wilson's Corners, being the third school house built in the township. In 1825 a Mail Route was established between New Hampshire, in Huron county, and New Portage, in Portage county, and William Hosmer was the first ap- pointed Post Master at Guilford Post Office. Prior to the above date a Methodist society had been organized at Wilson's Corners, and David Wilson was the first class leader. Another Methodist society was, in 1826, started at the center of the townshib and Reuben Case was class leader. Circuit preachers came to those two places twice monthly and in course of a few years gathered together a number who are now ex- emplary christians of that denomination. This year (1826) a saw mill was erected and put in operation by Henry Hosmer and Nathaniel Bell. In 1827 the settlers became patriotic and determined 64 GUILFORD. to celebrate the 4th of July. An oration was deliver- ed by Puifus Freeman, and a dinner of roast pigs, tur- keys and chickens was prepared by David Clute. In 1817, Guilford had made many advances in im- provements and began to put forth united efforts to make' use of the many natural advantages they discov- ered. The opening of roads from settlement to settle- mejri converging at the Hosmer opening seemed to indicate that a town should be commenced, and in '28 Henry Hosmer, as proprietor, calling to his aid Nathan- iel Bell, then county surveyor, surveyed and plotted a town to which was given the name of Seville, At that period Guilford could boast of two regular mail routs, an excellent tavern kept by Dr. Eastman, a school house, store, blacksmith shop, saw mill and a large number of industrious and experienced farmers, busily employed in cutting off the wilderness and opening for cultivation, beautiful and fertile farms. Not one boas- ted of being rich, but every one, under the guidance of a beneficent Providence, could say, " I have a com- petence and something to bestow." NARRATIVE BY DAVID WILSON. Myself and brother John first visited what is now called Guilford township in 1815, in April, and went west to Harrisville township. After tarrying there a short time we returned to Trumbull county. In the following December we came a second time, made a more thorough exploration, and returned unsatisfied. In 1819 we returned, purchased the north-east part of the township from Simon Perkins, then at Warren, and commenced making an improvement. Our house was built of bass-wood logs, measured 6 by 10 feet, roofed GUILFORD. 65 with the same kind of timber and chinked with moss. We chopped about two acres around our cabin and felt truly happy when seeing the noon-day sun shining through the openings on our dwellings. We often hunted and killed many deer. The choice pieces were salted down in a trough that we had scooped out ; and after being in brine for some time were hung up and dried. Iutending to go home to Warren a short time, we had hunted, killed, drefsed and salted down a full trough of choice deer meat, intended for our use when we returned. In two months we came back, and upon examination found that the wild-cats had made open- ings into our house, carried off and devoured all of our salted deer meat. Nothing else was disturbed. Our j^eds were deer skins stretched between two poles, and the fat part of an arm was our pillow. Our table was one end of a broad puncheon, that was run through an opening between the logs of our mansion. Our food was bear-meet, venison, wild turkey, potatoes, wild honey and tea made of spice wood. We had to go five miles through thick wood to get our pone bread baked, and we have often carried a bushel of potatoes that distance and complained not of the weight. Snakes were very numerous, but we did not dread them. My brother and I came among a den of rattlesnakes once when out hunting, and in a very short time we killed eighty, and could, if inclined, have killed more. 9 • 66 GUILFORD. GUILFORD STATISTICS. PERSONAL PROPERTY. Horses, --.--',- Cattle, - . - Sheep, - Hogs, ... - Carriages and Wagons, Invested in Merchandising, Invested in Manufacturing, Moneys, Credits, Book Accounts, Batter, pounds, - Cheese., " - Wheat, bushels, ... Corn, " Total of yearly value, Number. 675 1,916 4,153 1,224 301 86,790 14,62 5 20,416 79,790 Value. $35,445 13,113 7,603 4,452 10,743 23,477 5,057 86,398 8,750 878 20,400 19,945 $241,261 If the value of oats, grass seeds, potatoes, wool and orchard products be computed and added to the above it will make the yearly value of the personal property and products of the township and village to exceed $315,000. In 1822, there were eighty-four cattle and ten horses listed by John Bell, valued at $1,072. To compare the list of property for taxation in 1819, with those of 1861, for the same purpose, shows an increase that few of former times ever expected to see or realize. The Wilsons, Hosmers and Porters can look back with pleasure upon the advances made since their first settlement in Guilford. 8EANGEE, ORGANIZATION. The township was organized in February, 1820. A military company was raised and organized in 1819. John Burt was elected Captain, John Burt, Lieutenant and N. A. Goodwin, Ensign. 'At this date there were forty families in the township, amounting to about two hundred and sixty persons. The first township elec- tion was held at the house of Seth Paul, on the first Monday in April, 1820. The first township trustees were N. A. Goodwin, S. Paul and Festus Ganyard. John Codding was the first township clerk, Burt^Cod- ding was the first justice of the peace. For some time the people were without an elected, constable. In Janu- ary. 1822, the trustees met and appointed Ira In graham constable. The first money paid into the township treasury was twenty-five cents, being a fine imposed for swearing. Of that money, one half was paid out for paper on which to record township proceedings ; the other half of the township fund was paid to William Paul for bringing the Laws and Journals from the county seat. The first couple married were Stephen Woodward and Abigail Hill. The Congregational Church was organized by Rev. W. Hanford and Caleb Pitkins in November 14, 1819, with the following church members : Elizar Hills, Ab- igail Hills, James Ganyard and Phebe Ganyard, Friend Ingrahani and Lydia Ingraham, John Turner and Dolly 68 ■ GRANGER. Turner, Lawrence Moore and Mary Moore, Wealthy Dyer, Charity and Hannah Turner — ten members. The first Methodist Episcopal Class was formed in the autumn of 1820, by Elder Nunn, with the follow- ing members : Bela Spencer and Lydia Spencer, Alex- ander Spencer, Deborah Goodwin, Samuel Griffin, James £rriflin, Jehial Porter and Hannah M'Cloud. The first Baptist Church was formed in 1826, with the following members, by Elder Henry Hudson: Jesse H. Smith, Samuel Crosby and wife, David Holmes, Allen Smith and Phebe Grover. From those small beginnings the same churches have now grown, and each exerts a salutary and christian influence among the present increasing inhabitants in Granger. Could a roll be called in each church above jiamed, how many of the first founders could answer personally? Head stones in grave yards can tell the resting place of many of them. The first Physician who settled in Granger was Dr. Bufus Pomroy, in the spring of 1829. The first cabin built in the township was put up by Ezekiel Mott, in the spring of 1816, on Lot 2, being the land now owned by George M. Codding. The first male born in the township was Hamilton Low, son of Hiram. The first female born was Deb- orah Goodwin. The two aforesaid first births were August 2, 1818. The first school in the township was kept by William Paul, on lot 42, in the winter of 1819 and 1820, and numbered seventeen scholars, among whom were John M. Ganyard, John M'Farlen and others. The first law suit was between Seymour W. Green and Anthony Low. Mr. Seymour's cow lost, from her neck, a bell. Some months thereafter, Mr. Low found GRANGER. * 00 a bell ; Seymour said it was bis, Low thought it very doubtful; suit was brought, parties appeared, statements without anger, were made. The justice awarded the bell to Seymour, and made him pay the costs, as he gained the suit. JAMES GANYARD. James (lanyard was born January 14, 1772, at Kil- lingsworth, and Phebe, his wi|^ was born at Saybrook, 1768. They left Connecticut, their native State, and came to Bristol, Ontario county, New York, in 1793. At that date the place where they settled was consid- ered the extreme border of civilization and was then called Phelps and Gorham's purchase. In the month of October, 1815, Mr. (lanyard, in company with Eleazer Hills, Anthony Low and Burt Codding, came to Ohio to view No. 3, Kange 13 of the Western Beserve and to purchase, if they were satisfied with location and price. After viewing land and ad- vantages, they returned and purchased of Gideon Gran- ger, who was the proprietor of three-fourths of the township, at four dollars per acre. They sold their : 'ins in Bristol to Mr. Granger in part payment, and for the balance yet due to him, gave mortgage upon their new purchase. That mortgage proved a serious hinderance to the settlers in Granger township for many years thereafter. After the agreement was made, and before the written contract was signed, Mr. Ganyard transferred his right of proprietorship to Mr. John Codding, reserving only to himself so much land as he had paid for. This is why his name never appeared on the written record of the company. Mr. Ganyard settled on lot 15, in Granger, in 1811, being the same ^0 GRANGER. farm on which his Hon J. N. Granyard resided in 1860. Mr. James Granyard died of dropsy, December 20, 184-1. Mrs. Phebe Ganyard died of inflammation of the brain, March 2, 1840. Their remains occupy graves in the burial ground on the same farm, one-half mile north- from Graiigerburg. A humble stone bearing their names is now the only memorial that remains to tell of two who were among the first settlers in Granger. ANTONY LOW. Anthony Low was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1760, and in due time of life claimed, by appren- ticeship, the appellation of carpenter and joiner. He went to Wyoming, when a young man, with the inten- tion of carrying on his trade, and while there formed an acquaintance with Mary Baldwin, to whom he was afterwards married. She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1772, and was when young, taken prisoner by the Indians. Though young, she witnessed many of the bloody scenes and murders perpetrated by the Indians who then roamed wild masters on either side of the Susquehannah river. Over her own head was bran- dished the bloody tomahawk of the reckless wild man. She witnessed the taking of infants from mothers by the heels, and their brains dashed out by being thrown against a log or tree, and their bodies left upon the ground to molder and rot. She has witnessed the wife forced to sit in mute silence while the scalp was being rudely cut from the head of the fond husband, and then witnessed the tomahawk buried in his head. She has, when a prisoner, witnessed the burning of the dwellings of the whites, and while the flame was curl- ing upward, heard the sad cries of the inmates whose GRANGER. 7] doom was then either to be burned, or to be slain by those who surrounded the burning dwellings. Mr. Baldwin, the lather of Mary, had eight sons — all of them large and strong men. Three were colonels and acted conspicuously during the Indian wars of those days. The house of Mr. Baldwin was set on fire twice by the Indians. A third effort was being made, when one of the sons discovered an Indian near the dwelling upon whom he sprang quickly and fearlessly and killed him by planting a hatchet in his forehead. Anthony Low died in November, 182-1 aged 58, and his wife, Mary Low, in August, 1838 aged GQ. They were buried on lot 2, in Granger. Jesse Perkins, a worthy young man, came into the township in 1818, was taken sick when living at the house of Mr. John Turner, then in Copley, where he died, April 8, 1819. His remains were brought to Granger and interred irP lot 5, and hi* was the first grave in the township. All of the foregoing are collected from a written manuscript that can be seen at the residence of Festus Ganyard, a son of Mr. James Ganyard, who has lived to a good old age and witnessed the great and profit- able changes that have taken place in Granger township since 1817. The following history and incidents are from the manuscripts of Mr. W.iogswell. He begins with the history of his ancestors dating back about two centuries. William Cogswell, the great-great-grandfather of the narrator, was born in Ipswich, England, sixty-two miles north-east from London. He was well educated in navigation, and became the owner of a vessel »in 1GGG, and taking in a company, sailed for America, landing 72 GRANGER. at Boston Harbor. While there he accompanied a por- tion of those he had brought over, in quest of a loca- tion, which when selected, was named Ipswich, after his native place and the name of his vessel. After making several voyages to and from England, he finally settled in Ipswich, America. Edward, his son, was born April 17, 1685, and died April 17, 1773. Samuel, son of Edward, was born March 1, 1710, and died April 11, 1775, William, son of Samuel, and father of the present William Cogswell, was born November 2, 1748, and died in Granger township, May 12, 1838. Although he was deprived of a regular education, he made mathematics his choice study, and by continued application in that branch, became famous as an alma- nac compiler in early life. When near life's close he gave directions as to his burial, requesting Jehial Por- ter to preach his funeral sermon from the text " Blessed are they that die in the Lord; 1 ' selected the hymn that he wished to be sung, and uttered the following words: " I am nearly eighty years old, was never at fifty cents' expense for a doctor bill, never lost, by sickness, a meal in sixty years, but lost a great many meals on account of having nothing to eat." My mother was a daughter of Lieutenant Gates, who served during the Revolutionary war. She was born in Canterbery, Connecticut, in 1772, and during life, passed through many trying scenes and privations. Among these scenes was the bloody massacre of Wyom- ing, of which she was one of the survivors. She there witnessed the savage spectacle of sacrificing prisoners at the stake. One poor fellow had his body and limbs filled with dry splinters, then fastened to a tree and burned to death. Another had a portion of his bowels, when cut out, fastened to a sapling and himself forced to walk around that sapling until all his bowels came GRANGER. 73 out, when lie fell dead. The old woman saw the Indian approaching, brandishing his bloody tomahawk, and she attempted to divert him from his bloody purpose by kindly offering him some bread and beef. The offer had the desired effect. The savage asked where her papooses (children) were ; she pointed to each one of them, and was ordered by the cruel savage to take them to a certain corner in the fort and sit down. She did so, and while there thanked God for her deliverance, and of those with her, and she devoutly prayed that God would be a protector to her and to the children. That prayer was heard and answered. She lived long and happily after witnessing that cruel massacre, and died in Bath, at the age of seventy-seven, and is there buried. Four of the survivors who witnessed the Wyom- ing massacre, after being long separated during life, are buried within four miles of each other in Bath and Granger. WILLIAM COGSWELL'S HISTORY. I was born February 20, 1794, at the Great Bend of the Susquehanna, N. Y. In 1797, my father, William, sold, and removed from New York to Alleghany coun- ty, Pennsylvania, near Redstone Old Fort. In 1801, he became the owner of two hundred acres of land in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, by virtue of a soldier's right. In April, 1802, he moved there. Provisions were then scarce and costly. Often he was forced to leave home and work for means to supply his family. Once, when leaving, my mother made the inquiry with anxiety what should she do if provisions were exhausted before his return ? I give his answer:" There is a half barrel of bran ; sift it and make bread of it. When 10 74 GRANGER. that is gone, go to the potatoe patch and dig out the old potatoes without disturbing the roots, boil them and use them with milk. When they are gone, follow the cows in the woods, see whaf herbs they eat, pick of the same, boil them and eat that with milk." Having gone forty miles, secured employment and got paid in corn, he joyfully returned with his hard earnings. A tree was cut down, a hole burned in the stump, a sprirg-pole erected, by means of which the corn was pounded and made ready for use, and in that way fed seven in the family. When ten years old, I was in the absence of my father, compelled to chop and prepare fuel. I had no shoes to wear in the winter season. To keep my feet from freezing I heated a board at the fire, carried out, stood on it when chopping. When it became cold I brought it in, heated it, and in that way made it answer for shoes and stockings. In progress of time, rights to land were often in dis- pute, and among the unlucky, it was discovered that my father had settled on the wrong piece. Though he had made an opening, erected his cabin and settled down, as he then supposed, for years, another Soldier's Bight lawfully claimed the land, and he was forced to give up possession. Becoming acquainted with Judge Oliver Phelps, then the owner of Granger township, my father visited that township in 1807 and found it wholly unsettled. Be- ing pleased with appearances of soil, timber and its other natural advantages, he made a selection of three hundred and seventy acres, now comprised in the three lots owned by Isaac Low, C. 11. Spencer and Job Green. He went from Granger to Warren, Trumbull county, and contracted with Calvin Austin, agent of Phelps, for the land, and paid the sum required. Some GRANGER. 75 time thereafter Phelps became insolvent, his title to lands seized by creditors and sold. My father having purchased on contract, was forced to loose what he had paid, and was again prevented from being a land holder. He resided in Beaver county until 1815, when he re- moved to Columbiana county, Ohio. In 1818 he again came to Granger, bought by article the lot now owned by Job Green, and settled thereon, and for six years struggled through the many hardships incident to first settlers. About the time his article expired he found himself unable to make payment, owing to want of price for produce. He sold his claim to his sons Wil- liam, Samuel and Nathaniel, who continued to reside there and make improvements. In 1824 I became, by purchase, sole owner, concluded to select another local- ity, sold my right to land in Granger township and moved into Bath township, Summit county, where I now (1861) reside. I must now make a break in my history, otherwise the pioneer community will cast me out of the syna- gogue. In 1810, in company with my uncle Gibson Gates and Hezekiah Burdick (two of the first settlers in Bath) I left the home of my father, traveled by way of Vannatt's Ford on the Mahoning river to the house of Gates in Bath. I remained there until August of that year, when, in company with Gates and John Man- ning, I started for Granger township. Our road (old settlers called it course) was through Richfield by way of L. May (now widow Biglow's land,) thence west- wardly to Panther Cave in Hinckley. We visited that cave in search of game, but saw no panthers. From thence we traveled to where an Indian gallows was standing in the big bend of the Rocky River. In 1806, a squaw had been hung there, charged with witchcraft. The squaw had said that there would be darkness on 7« GRANGER.. the face of tlie earth in June, which the ignorant In- dians decided to be undoubted proof of witchery. She was hung in May, and on the 13th of June, 1806, there was an eclipse of the sun. After viewing the gallows, we traveled on southerly, and at night encamped under a ledge of rocks near where Isaac Low now resides, about thirty rods from the last named place. I at that time, carved the initials of my name on a beach tree which can be seen to this day. After feasting on wild turkey, for breakfast, we pursued our course and came on to the " Smith Road," about where the Squaw Tav- ern now stands. This was my first visit into and through Granger. It was then truly a wilderness ; the marks of the pioneers were few. When my remember- ance brings to mental view those times and contrast the changes, I am astonished, and must say that greater improvements are now seen than the most sagacious then anticipated. In January, 1813, the War Department found it necessary to build three small gun boats to be used in annoying the larger vessels of the enemy. It was soon discovered by Captain Perry that small vessels, being more easily and rapidly managed, could do effective service in close contest. The contract for building the boats was awarded to Brimel Robins, of Alleghany Co., Pennsylvania, who selected Cl Old Portage," on the Cuyahoga River, as the place where to build them. The timber and lumber were furnished by Captains Rice and Stowe and sawed in the mill of Francis and Zcnas Kelsey, at " old. Cuyahoga village." Stewart Gaylord superintended the then boat yard. In June the three gun boats were launched, and dubbed with the names of " Tripp, Tigress and Portage." I was employed with others, to float them down to the Lake, f ith instructions that when we got to the '»Pinery,"wo GRANGER. If should furnish each boat with mast and spars. While floating downward toward our destination a tree was descried that had fallen into the stream and must, unless removed, stop the boats. Being then young and full of life, I attacked the log with axe, and when nearly ready to float, I lost my balance, falling in- to water about fifteen leetin depth. After sounding, I made vigorous efforts and came to surface with axe in hand, and swam to the shore. I name this occurrence, not as a feat, but to say how very difficult it is to rise to the surface or to swim when one^^ab of the body is heavier, than the other. At the Pinery we were detained several days in pro- curing the necessary rigging for the boats. At that place I killed a porcupine, which was looked upon as an animal of great curiosity by our small crew. When we got to Cleveland the gun-boats were^examined by many .and the general opinion was that they were the kind needed. When at Cleveland I became very pat- riotic and wished to enlist under Captain Perry, but decided to go home first, and after making proper arrangements, to return and become a soldier. My mother, having tested in part the scenes and priva- tions of the Revolutionary war, seemed opposed to my enlisting, and by rehearsals of incidents which she had witnessed, dampened my ardor, and I finally conrented to remain a private, and not brave the storms of Lake Erie in a small gun boat. In the summer of 1814, I was employed by Messrs. Warner and Coit to make salt at the Liverpool salt springs, where I continued until the following Decem- ber. I not only labored at making salt, but was com- pelled to keep watch against the Indians who at that time roamed much and often in Columbia and Liverpool neighborhoods and kept the few white inhabitants in 78 GRANGER. fear. Tho price of a bushel of Liverpool salt was $5. When winter fairly set in, I started for Granger in company with Dan Mallet, intending to make hunting our main business for some weeks. For some time we killed many small game. After some days we found a long-legged bear in an alder swamp. When he discov- ered us he commenced a retreat. As he passed near me I fired, but without effect. The two dogs next attacked him, which he siezed, and commenced hugging and biting them. I reloaded and fired a second time, the ball disabling his we-leg, when he immediately let go of the dogs and commenced biting his maimed limb. After venting his spleen upon the maimed limb, in de- spite of dogs, he came toward me in a very menacing manner. I retreated rapidly, but reloaded as I ran, and when fully prepared wheeled about and fired. The ball took lodgment in the mad bruins jaw, causing it to hang downward. At this juncture, Mallett came up to the chase from the opposite side of the swamp, and taking deliberate aim lodged a ball in the brain of the bear and ended the contest and the race. The next day we procured an old horse, on which we carried to Liverpool the game we had shot during our hunting excursion. In those days an axe and rifle constituted my chattel property, and it then seemed to me that I had all that was necessary. After staying at Liverpool some time to complete a chopping contract, I again started for the residence of my uncle Gates, near the Cuyahoga. At this early date there were no iot lines in Brunswick or Hinckley; therefore I traveled a course by guess. I had got into the N. W. part of Bath when night came on. Wearied and hungry I halted, struck up a fire, peeled some bark with which to make a bed, arranged it in hunter's style and drawing my slouch hat over my face, fell into a GRANGER. 79 pleasant sleep, and remained unmolested until morning. When I awoke in the morning I found my bark cover- let beautifully adorned with a covering of snow about three inches in depth. I arose early, and left my bed for the accommodation of any who might need it. I had designed to reach the cabin of Mr. E. Hale, when I left Liverpool ; still I was not there. On my way, in the morning, to Mr. Hale's, I killed two deer. Upon arriving at Mr. Hale's, I informed her that I stood in much need of dinner, supper, breakfast and dinner, having eaten nothing since 1 left Liverpool. Mrs Hale informed mo that she had some hominy that she would warm lor me. I told her to set it on the table and I would warm it by eating. She did so, and 1 fared sumptuously and thankfully on cold hominy. In trav- eling .from the cabin of Elijah to Jonathan Hale's, I killed a noble buck, which I sold to Jonathan for two dollars. After remaining a short time, I again com- menced rambling from place to place in quest of work or game. In 1815, I had an interview with a bear, that to this day causes me to shudder when I think of the hazard- ous adventure. I. Sippy, D. Willey, Wm. Ben and myself were felling a tree for coons, when the barking of our three dogs, at a distance, admonished us that they had found game. When we came to the dogs, we discovered that they were in close combat with a bear, in the hollow of a large tree that was fallen. I crawled in the length of my body,- caught the hind legs of two dogs and succeeded in dragging them out. I then crawled in a second time, got hold of the leg of the remaining dog and by hard pulling succeeded in res- cuing him from the tight hug of the bear. The dog died soon after being brought out. Soon thereafter the enraged bear showed his head at the opening, when 80 GRANGER. a blow from an axe, given by Sippy, nearly severed the snout from the head. The bear drew back, but in a very few minutes, again poked out his mutilated head for which Sippy had been anxiously watching. A sec- ond stroke burried the axe in the head of bruin, who ceased to draw back. We drew him out and estimated his weight, when dressed, at four hundred pounds. That encounter often makes me think of Putman and the wolf. During this hunting excursion we killed twenty-nine raccoons, one woolly nig and the before mentioned bruin. In 1816, in company with Sippy, I roamed over portions of Granger, Bath and Hinckley, in order to get up a supply of honey, hops and cranberries on" which to trade. During our wanderings from place to place, we often shot wild game and occasionally a bear. In the fall of the year, the bears were accustomed to visit wild groves where acorns or chestnuts grew, and very often a bullet from the well aimed rifle of the hunter caused bruin to fall from an oak or chestnut tree, on which he had perched himself to feed upon his favorite food. In 1818, I became a permanent citizen of Granger, after having often roamed alone, and sometimes in company with others, over the territory now comprised in the townships of Liverpool, Brunswick, Medina, Granger, Hinckley, Bath and Copley, in quest of mime or in search of trade or employment. My brother-in- law, Sippy and myself, purchased by article the land where 0. B. Spencer now lives, on which we paid one hundred and sixty dollars. That summer we cleared and planted six acres of corn and a large patch with potatoes. In the fall of that year, I visited the home of my father, and after a short stay he and family GRANGER. 81 removed with me to Granger. My father, Sippy and myself cut the first opened road from Cuyahoga to Granger, at our own expense ; and while thus employed we camped out many nights, and our only vegetable food was potatoes roasted and eaten with the meat of wild game that we occasionally shot. I have assisted at the raisings of the first cabins in Richfield, Bath, Copley, Sharon, Granger, Hinckley, Brunswick and Liverpool townships. I have often walked eight or ten miles in company with others, to assist in raising a house or barn, and when done considered it no hardship to walk home in the evening, and not unfrequently after night, lighted by burning torches of hickory bark. To ride through the woods in 1818, was no easy or pleas- ant task. When Sippy and myself articled for the land refer- red to, we were to have one hundred and forty acres at five dollars per acre. At the close of four years we had what was then considered tolerably good cabins put up, had cleared about forty acres, and were begin- ning to have some of nature's wildness tamed, when our article run out, and we were unable to pay as stip- ulated. Wheat was then twenty-five cents per bushel and other kinds of trade equally low. Trade was then, like the man who had a dog which he sold for one dollar, and gave the same for two pups, at fifty 'cents each. Stringency in money forced us to give up our right to the land. We lost all we paid, all our labor and improvements and had to start out anew, in search of homes that we wished to be permanent. I will narrate one more incident, and in so doing, I have no wish to seem egotistical, nor yet possessed of more than ordinary courage. Having lost some of our cattle, Sippy and myself concluded to make search for them. While rambling 22 GRANGER. in the woods, the bark of the old dog gave notice that he had found some kind of game. When we came to the spot we descried an animal perched high in a tree, that looked to be of the panther tribe. We had no guns with us, and to dislodge the animal, we must have recource to a different mode of warfare. Upon a nearer approach, we discovered our supposed panther to be a wild cat of no common size. I proposod to climb the tree, and shake the animal off; but was re- minded by Sippy that "pussey's" claws were not easily displaced by violent limb shaking. Determined to make battle, I cut a club of proper heft, and ascended the tree. When within ten feet of the limb on which pussy squatted, I stopped to take a look at the critter. The green glaring eyes made me feel uncomfortable, but my position indicated that I should be courageous. With left hand, I took firm hold of a limb, with my right hand I wielded the bludgeon. As I stood watch- ing, pussy made, first, a few quick shakes of the short tail, and instantly bounded down towards my face. Instantly I parried off its descent with the club, and sent the animal rapidly to the ground. The dog was on hand, and made jaw-love to " pussy." A hard fight of scratching and biting ensued, which was terminated by Sippy giving pussy a blow (lucky or unluck-y) that terminated that critter's existence. I frankly acknowl- edge that the menacing of that cat made me feel rather unpleasant when on the tree, and I consider the risk of killing it more hazardous than when in a hallow tree, trying to extricate my dogs from the hug of the bear. On July 8, 1820, the sparsely settled citizens of Granger had met, by invitation, to raise a barn on the farm now occupied by David Sheldon. Lyman Isbcl was there aiding. A log forty feet long was in prog- GRANGER. 83 ress of being pushed on to the building. By want of necessary care, one end of the log got from the pikes used in pushing, causing the other end to be displaced and the log rolled from the building upon the body of Mr. Isbell, killing him instantly. The body was placed on a bled and hauled to his home. Late in the evening I was requested to go to the residence of Br. Henry Hudson, in the north cast part of Bath and get him to preach the funeral sermon, at the house of Mr. Isbell the following day at 11 A. M. I started on foot and got to the house of Mr. Hale, (where the preacher boarded,) after dark, but found no preacher* Mr. Kale informed me that he was (as he supposed) at Cuyahoga Falls. I went there, and was informed that he had gone to Fish Creek to preach that evening. To Fish Creek I traveled, where I found him at three o'clock hi the morning. We then pre- pared to return to Granger byway of Cuyahoga Falls, and reached the house of the deceased in time to meet the appointment. I name the sudden death of Mr. Isbell because he was a worthy man, and I give a statement of the jour- ney after a preacher, to apprise young men of the present day that a trip of thirty miles, on foot in the night, and through (he woods was undertaken and ac- complished with less complaint, in 1820, than a young man will now make after walking, in the day time, live miles. Bear Hunt. — During the early settlement there was a she bear, who annoyed the settlers by frequently carrying off (without leave,) hogs, calves and other domestic animals. She was often threatened, and as often pursued. In the winter of 1822, I was hunting in the north-west part of Granger, when I came on her 84 GRANGER. trail, which was known to all hunters, by the unusual length of the strides. She was escorted by two cubs. I called on Sippy and told him of my discovery and proposed that we should go in search, and if possible, bring the lady to terms. The next morning we were early on the trail, intending if possible, to rid the neighborhood of the " old pest." We followed the trail all day through Hinckley, and toward evening, dis- covered dead bees on the snow; We soon found the tree, which we chopped down and found more than one hundred pounds of beautiful honey. We scooped out a trough with the axe and filled it with choice honey-comb; and night coming on we encamped there, faring sumptuously on bread, (which we carried with us) and honey. Next morning we breakfasted early on honey and bread, and pursued the trail. After pursuing the zigzag tracks for some miles, we came to a large basswood, in which was the bear and her two cubs. . Marks about the tree seemed to say that it had been tenanted by the old depredator for years. We concluded we had the " old gal " in close quarters, and commenced by sturdy blows to fell the tree. The tree fell slowly, being impeded by limbs of other trees, of which occurence the bear took advantage and made a leap from the tree before it struck the ground. We supposed the u old sinner " would, at least, tarry till the tree fell, but she was off at bear speed. I fired, but the ball took no effect. Sippy sooji dispatched the two cubs with his axe. The next day, with horses and sled we hauled home cubs and honey. Same Old Bear. — In October, 1623, 1 was hunting in the north part of Granger, and I had killed two turkeys and a deer ; and after traveling about a mile from where I had hung them up, I came across the GRANGER. 85 identical thieving, old " she bear." She seemed as though she knew me, but did not tarry long. I raised my gun and fired ; the ball lodged in her hip. As I pursued, I reloaded and fired a second time, and broke a fore leg. When the leg was broke the bear stopped, sat up and bit the maimed limb, and then was off at full speed. I started in pursuit, from where John Truman now lives, through the south-west part of Hinckley, then into Brunswick, then across Plumb Creek, then down the creek, then east into Hinckley, and lastly into an alder swamp near where Earl Sals- bury now lives. She secreted in the mud and water of that swamp, keeping her head up. I went within proper distance, fired, and killed her, and thus terminated her swinish propensities. The chase of that bear, was about the sweatiest, longest and hardest race I ever ran. The death of that " old huzzy " gained to me the plaudits of many whose, sheep, hogs and calves had been taken and devoured by that same thievish bear. Contract for Land. — In 1824, my father finding himself unable to pay for his farm, according to the stipulations of his article, proposed that I should go to Mr. Seymour's, who lived in Canandaigua, N. Y., and get the same land articled to myself and brothers. I consented traveled to Cleveland, from thence, by schooner to Buffalo, and thence to Canandaigua. Mr. Seymoor heard my statement and consented to release the State's claim upon the two lots which Aaron Spen- cer had bought, provided Spencer would buy the lot on which my father was settled and then article it to me and my brothers, which was afterwards done. I have now given a few of the incidents of my Pio- neer life ; and when I look back where I was, what I have encountered and endured, I seem astonished to Be GRANGER. think that I yet live. An over-ruling Providence watched over and graciously guided. And "in 18G1, I look upon and roam over hills and valleys, once vocal with the yell of the red man, and the many wild sounds of the beasts of the forest. I have lived to pee a wil- derness blossoming and budding. I have lived to see a younger generation happily enjoying the rich boons resulting from their fathers' toil, and in my years of decline I not only wish them present comfort and hap- piness, but a full share of all that kind Providence may in future bestow. GRANGER STATISTICS. PERSONAL PROPERTY, Horses, - Tattle, Mules, Sheep, Hogs. Carriages and Wagons. Merchandise, Manufacturing, Moneys, Credits, Butter, pounds, Cheese, " Wheat, bushels, Corn. " Number. value. 470 $24,776 1,D03 19,518 2 80 8,141 14,586 429 1,451 175 5,G70 3,300 1.400 40,580 7,757 7.757 27,905 6,991 54,G25 5,402 17. -2 on 1.032 Tot;il of venrtv value. .575 To these may be added the yearly value accruing i'roin Oats. Grass-seeds, Potatoes, Fruits of Orchards and Gardens, _______.. 21,750 Total estimate, $154,325 If the products made and sold by families, eggs, rags, and all other articles of trade or commerce were strictly counted, the yearly personal value of the town- ship would exceed $175,000. Industry produced it — economy saved it. HARRISVILLE. The following narrative of the first settlements ma le in the township of Harrisville was compiled by Dr. E. H. Sibley, who had made it a point of interest and duty to call personally on Joseph Harris and other old pioneers and learn from them the perils and priva- tions consequent upon first settlements. Though col- lected and compiled in November, 1858, it may be truly styled pioneer history. Some of the actors then named are since deceased. INCIDENTS Relating to the Early History and Settlement of Harrisville town- ship, Medina county, in the State of Ohio, being No. 1 in the 19th Range of Toivnships of the Western Reserve. In 1807 the Connecticut Company made a division of their lands west of the Cuyahoga River Township. Number One in the Sixteenth Range (Harrisville,) was drawn by sixteen corporates, viz : Nehemiah Gay lord, John and Jabes Gillett, Sol. Rockwell and brothers, Hczekiah Huntington, William Battell, Russel Burr, Job Curtis' heirs, Thomas Huntington, Royal Tylec, Wright and SutlifF, Joseph Haines, Martin Kellogg, Burr and Loomis, Joseph Battell, and Eliphalet Austin, known by the name of the Torringford Company — to- gether with two. thousand acres in township numbe: One, the Fifteenth Range, to compensate for the swamp land in Harrisville township. In 1810, the township 88 H ARRIS VILLE. was surveyed into lots of one hundred acres each, and a road was, during the year, established by the Compa- ny of Portage county, through the number One, from the Franklinton road in Norton, west through the center to the east line of Huron county. The Legislature also, during this year, established a State road from Mans- field to Cleveland, through the township, and appro- priated eight hundred dollars toward opening the same. It was during this year that the Torringford Company made a subdivision of their land in Harris- ville, and made Joseph Harris their agent to effect sales. The price was established at two dollars per acre, Mr. Harris having the privilege of selecting two hundred acres as a pioneer settlement location, to be deducted from his undivided portion. It was in this year, viz: In 1810, that Mr. Harris made his selection and built his house. On February 14, 1811, Mr. Harris moved his family into Harrisville, consisting of himself, wife and one child then about two years old, together with James S. Redfield, then a lad about eleven years old. Their nearest neighbors were at Wooster, seventeen miles south on the Killbuck river. The location se- lected by Mr. Harris, had been the favorite hunting grounds of the Wyandot and Ottawa Indians, and many of their wigwams were standing near the spot he selected for the site of his present residence — and in a good state of preservation. While once making excavations for his cellar, many of the bones of their ancestors were found. Still, although the social rela- tions that subsisted at this time between Mr. Harris and these denizens of the forest, were of the most friendly and reciprocal character, yet true to their national characteristics they preferred retirement from the prox- imity of the pale faces, abandoning their lodges, and IIARRISVILLE. 89 building new ones from two to six miles distant. In June of this year, Mr. George Burr and his wife in company with Russell Burr, came out from Litchfield county, Connecticut, and settled on the lot adjoining Mr. Harris, and in the following September, the Messrs. Calvin and Lyman Corbin, from the city of Boston, Massachusetts, purchased and settled on the farm now owned by George Burr. No important event occurred in the settlement from this on until aboufc the first day of July, 1812, when a messenger arrived from Ran- dolph, in Portage county, bringing a newspaper containing the declaration of war, also a letter warning the settlers of their danger, as it was not then known in whose interest the Indians would enlist, and urgently soliciting them to return to tho older settlements, A consultation was held in the evening, which resulted in the conclusion that under existing circumstances it would be safer to repair to the settlements .until some- thing more decisive could be learned in relation to our affairs on the then extreme, north-western frontier. Accordingly the next morning Mr. Harris, Russell and George Burr, with the Corbins, loaded their most valuable furniture and household goods on wagons, and with seven yoke of oxen, started for Randolph, George Burr's wife having gone there some weeks previous. Almost at the outset, unfortunately one of the wagons was overturned, throwing Mrs. Harris and the child from the wagon — but quite undaunted, al- though badly bruised, she insisted on going forward, and that the journey might be expedited she was mounted with her child on the only horse in the settle- ment, and accompanied by her husband on foot reached their friends in Randolph the next morning, having been obliged to lie out over night in the woods, on account of having lost the trail when within a mile or 12 90 II ARRIS VILLE. two of the settlement. The settlers in leaving 'their homes, of necessity had to abandon their crops, and as the prosperity of the settlement depended on their being secured, Mr. Harris, on the following Monday morning mounted his horse, shouldered his trusty rifle and accompanied only by hip, faithful dog, wended his solitary way back to Harrisville. As he approached the settlement, he discovered that some persons had been in the vicinity during his absence. On examin- ing the track, he discovered that some had been made with shoes and some with moccasins. Dismounting his horse and muffling the bell (an appendage by the way which all the early settlers were in the habit of attaching to their "Equine" domestics,) he silently and cautiously proceeded to examine the Indian trait leading from Sandusky to the Tuscarawas, and no ap- pearances of Indians having passed along it, he soon came to the conclusion that some white person must have been in the vicinity during his absence. On entering his cabin, appearances indicated that a number of persons had passed a night there, having used some of his iron ware for the purpose of cooking. It was afterwards ascertained that the Commissioners who were appointed by the legislature to establish a road from Mansfield to Cleveland, passed a night at Mr. Harris's house cooking their supper and breakfast there. Mr. Harris finding that his wheat was not yet fit for harvesting, set about hoeing out his corn and potatoes. After having been here about ten days, Russell Burr and Elisha Sears came out and harvested the crops belonging to the Burrs, which occupied about five days, and then returned to Randolph. Mr. Harris^ remained about five weeks, his dog being his sole companion during the whole time, except the five days that Burr and Sears were with him ; his only bed HARRIS VILLE. 91 being an old wagon board, each end of which was so supported that it had a sort of spring motion, which Mr. Harris says he is quite certain had as sure an in- fluence to induce quiet repose to him at that time, as would one of " Howe's improved Eliptics" to the most elite and fastidious of modern dandies. On the return of Mr. Harris to Portage county, he first learned of the surrender, by Hull, of Detroit, to the British, and at a call from General Wadsworth the militia on the Reserve turned out en mass, and Harris with Burr and others were out in the campaign some three weeks, in and about the vicinity of Cleveland. About this time the Corbins sold out, and Russell Burr returned to Connecticut, leaving only Harris and Geo. Burr with their families, of all that remained of the infant settlement. Arrangements being made for re- turning to Harrisville, they left Randolph about the first of October, 1812,. and again arrived at their homes in the wilderness in safety, finding everything quiet and unmolested. Being almost entirely isolated from the busy world around them, and away from post roads and post offices, they could of course know little or nothing of what was transpiring outside of the settle- ment, and necessarily lived in that uneasy state of un- certainty, which to be fully realized must be experienced . Yet nothing occurred to disturb their quiet until some- time in the latter part of November, when in the early part of the evening was heard what was supposed to be the shrill whoop of an Indian easily discerned to be in an easterly direction, and supposed to be about a half mile distant. Mr. Burr, whose house was the nearest the point from which the whoop seemed to come, hastily siezed his rifle, and taking hisavife and child instantly started for the Harris' giving Harris' old horse, which was quietly feeding in the woods ; a 9 a H ARRIS VILLE. sufficient fright^ to send him on a keen run towards Harris' house, rattling his bell as though Old Nick himself was at his heels, thoroughly rousing the Har- rises together with the old dog, who barking and bouncing through an old slashing, met Mr. Burr and added to his excitement by not appearing in his own colors, having been transformed into a snowy whiteness by some flour Mr. Harris had been shaking from his meal bags in order to fill them with grain, to be taken the next day to Middlebury. In the mean time Harris had not been a disinterested spectator. At almost the same instant the whoop was heard, and be- fore its echoes had died' away in the distance, he had seized his gun examined its condition, extinguished the light in his cabin, and saHying out in the dark proceed- ed at once up the trail in the direction of the Burrs, whom he soon met, when all returned to Harris' house, where the women remained while the men posted themselves at the corners of the house, to await fur- ther developments. In the mean time the whooping had ceased and everything remained quiet and still as though the angel of death had really reigned over the scene. Presently footsteps were heard in the distance ;. they approach nearer ; the little band are all eyes and ears, expecting every moment to see spring out of the dark forest the still darker foe. Soon the dreaded apparition of some one in human form was dimly seen through the darkness, approaching the house, and when it was in hailing distance, Harris drew up his rifle and hailed. The response was, "Why, God bless you, don't you know Billy Thornington !" while all admitted that a better denouement could hardly have been given to the everlt. On the first day of January, 1812, the deep snow of that year commenced and fell to the depth of eighteen HARRISVILLE. 93 inches. Severe cold weather set in and continued without loss of snow, until the 27th of February. • On the night of the 6th of that month, a man arrived at the house of Mr. Harris and informed him that Mr. Henry Chittenden, in charge of five teams loaded with forty barrels of flour, being forwarded by Norton and Adams," contractors at Middlebury, to General Perkins' camp, on the Huron River, were detained by the deep snow, in the wilderness in the neighborhood of the Chippewa, and were entirely destitute of forage and provisions, having been five days out from Middlebury, and urgently soliciting Mr. Harris to proceed at onco to the camp and relieve them. Food for the men was immediately provided by the ready and willing hands of Mrs. Harris. Then saddling his horses and taking on a bag of corn for the teams, with the food so kindly provided for the men, Mr. Harris, accompanied by the messenger, started about midnight for the camp, where they arrived at about four o'clock in the morning. The reader can better imagine than pen can describe their reception at the camp. Suffice it to say, the courtly rules laid down by Lord Chesterfield wjere ut- terly discarded, while gratitude and thankfulness were heartily manifested in a manner more compatible to pioneer life. They were now only thirty-two miles from Middlebury, and had yet to travel forty-five miles through an unbroken wilderness, to reach the camp of the American army on the Huron river, with over-loaded and under-fed teams. Their only reliance seemed to center on Mr. Harris, his being the only settlement on the. route. Mr. Hrrris, therefore, fur- nishing provisions for the men and forage for the teams, and lessening their loads by taking a portion with his own, started the next day for the camp at Huro'n, which they reached at the end of eight days, having 94 HARRISVILLE. camped out eleven nights in going and returning. Mr. Harris made the return trip in four days. The teams from Middlebury and Cuyahoga Falls continued the transportation of stores to Perkins' camp until about the 20th of February, making their trip much more expeditiously after a road had been cut through and a path well beaten. The time of the drafting militia at Huron having expired about the first of March, those from the counties of Wayne and Knox, together with other south-eastern counties, were obliged to pass through the settlement at Harrisville, in returning to their homes. Mr. Harris often entertained companies of from ten to twenty at' a time, and furnished them the best his scanty board afforded. About the first of April, 1813, Jesse and Theophilus Cross came from Randolph to Harrisville to make inquiries, and search for their father, who, with his son Samuel, left Randolph sometime in the preceding De- cember, with two loads of oats, drawn by six yoke of oxen, to dispose of them to the Pennsylvania volun- teers. They learned at Canton that their father had disposed of his oats on condition that he would deliver them at Mansfield ; and as he did not return, his friends at Randolph supposed he had gone on with the troops to Fort Meigs. Subsequently learning he had not gone in that direction, they on inquiry found out by Mr. Crawford, the landlord at Wooster, that they had staid with him over night on the 31st of December, and on New Year's morning started for Harrisville with seventeen head of cattle, which he purpoped to feed during the winter on the corn he had purchased of the Corbins. On the next morning after the arrival of the Crosses, they, in companywith Mr. Harris and Geo. Burr, pro- ceeded to search for the missing man — having strong HARRISVILLE. 95 suspicions that they must have been in the neighbor- hood, from the fact that sometime during the month of the preceding January, some three or four head of stray cattle had come into the settlement. While prosecuting the search, and coming to the little Kill- buck near the present site of James H. Moore's factory, they found where two yoke of cattle had been chained to saplins. At one place was found a yoke and chain, at the other the chain only ; the cattle having proba- bly managed to free themselves. Continuing the search in a south-easterly direction, to the vicinity of where Levi Chapman now lives, they found one yoke of oxen dead in the yoke. Appearances indicated that one of the oxen must have survived his mate sometime, having evidently drawn him about by the yoke a great distance. Here were also found the dead bodies of five or six head of cattle. At a little further beyond this point, appearances indicated that some one had evi- dently attempted to kindle a fire, small dry sticks having been collected for that purpose. Here was also found an overcoat, recognized aa belonging to the unfortunate Cross, with fragments of other clothing, also a skull bone. The remains were brought into the settlement and buried. The supposition in relation to this sad calamity, was, that coming up from Wooster through the wilderness, he got benighted in the neigh- borhood of the Little Killbuck ; that he there chained up a part of his cattle and undertook to come into the settlement, but being unacquainted with the location", and a severe snow storm prevailing at the time, he lost his way, and perished from cold and exposure, together with his son, and were mangled and devoured by beasts of prey. In February, 1814, Russell and Justus Burr removed with their families, from Litchfield county, Connect- 9G HARRISVILLE. icut, and located themselves in the* immediate vicinity of Mv. Harris ; and in the month of March, James S. Rcdfield returned to Harrisville, being then about four- teen years of age, making his home in the family of Mr. Harris. In April, 1814, Timothy Munson, from Vermont, and Loammi Holcomb, from the State of New. York, with their families,. settled in the west part of the towoship on the Black River. The township now began to receive a considerable number of per- manent settlers. Among those who arrived in 1815, were Timothy Burr, Alvia Loomis, Collins Young, and Job Davis, with their families; and in 1816, Carolus Tuttle, Isaac Catlin, Nathan Marsh, Elisha Bishop, Perez and Nathaniel Rogers, and James Rogers, who drove the first loaded team over the site of Medina County seat, and whose wife was the first white woman that saw the site that was located for the old Court House. During this year also, Charles Lewis, David Birge, Josiah Perkins, and William Welch, moved their, families into the settlement. In 1817, Noah Kellogg, Jason Spencer, Noah Holcomb, Thomas Rus- sell, Isaac Rogers, Orange Stodart, Daniel Delvin, Henry K. Joslihe, Cyrus and Arvis Chapman, Jona- than Fitts, David Rogers, Cyrus Curtis, Geo. Hanna, and Doctor Wm. Barns, who built the first mill in the township, combining in himself the three professions of miller, doctor and preacher. The township was organized in 1817, being composed of the territory now included in the townships of Harrisville, West- field, Lafayette, Chatham, Spencer, Huntington, Ro- chester, Troy, Sullivan and Homer. Isaac Catlin was elected the first Justice of the Peace ; 'Carolus Tuttle, the first Constable ; Timothy Burr, the first Township Clerk, and Joseph Harris, Loammi Holcomb, and Isaac Catlin the first Trustees. IJARMSVILLE, 97 Jn the spring of 1817, a small log school house was erected on the farm of Timothy Burr, near the center of the township, and a school was taught during the summer by Miss Diadema Churchill, which was prob- ably the first school taught in Medina county, and the gem of our present elevated and flourishing Common Schools. Miss Churchill was soon after united in mar- riage with Mr. David Birge, being the mother of four children by this marriage. Mr. Birge died in 1825. Subsequently Mrs. Birge married a Mr. Gardon Hil- liard, of Wadsworth and moved to Canada. The first church was established on the 3d and 4th of October, 1817, by the Congregationalists. on the old union plan, in accordance with which plan it soon united with the Presbytery. It was formed by the aid of the Reverend Messrs. Luther Humphrey, of Burton, Geauga county, and Amasa Locmiis, a missionary sent out by the home missionary society of Connecticut. The organization took place in the little log school house already men- tioned, and consisted of twelve members, viz. Isaac Catlin, removed to Michigan and died in 1856. Eunice Catlin, died in Harrisville in 1834. Loammi Holeomb, died in Harrisville in 1834. Hannah Holeomb, still lives united with the Baptist Church by letter. Nathan Hall, first Deacon, removed to Michigan, now living. Pemilri Hall, removed to Michigan, now living. George Burr, now a deacon, still living in Harrisville, Mehetable Burr, died in Harrisville in 1843. Kussel Burr, died in Harrisville in 1834. Carolus Tuttle, still living in Harrisville. Cyrus Curtis, removed to Pennsylvania, and died. The first settled minister in the township was r the Reverend Mr. Breck. a Presbyterian clergyman. Other 13 9* HARRISVILLE. ministers of the Baptist, Methodist. Episcopalian and Universalist orders often held meetings in the town- ship, as early as 1810. In 1818, Somer Griffin, with his wife, six sons and one daughter, moved into the township, also Reuben Chapman with his sons Levi, Perrine and Leonard, Captain Ed. Harris and family, David Sausman, Mordica Tracy, Stephen Harrington, with his sons Reuben, Benjamine and Weava Harring- ton. The first death in the township occurred in the person of a child of George Burr in 1817. Doctor Barnes preached the funeral sermon, being the first funeral service performed in the township. The first adult that died in the township was Hulda the wife of Stephen Harrington. She died in 1818. The first birth in the township was a daughter to George and Mehetable Burr, in the spring of 1815. The first male born in the township was Alpha, son of Justus Burr, now of Illinois. The first wedding in the township was celebrated in November 1816. The parties to it was Levi Holcomb and Laura Marsh. There being no clergyman or Jus- tice of the Peace in the township to solemnize the marriage contract, Mr. James Rogers, who still lives in the township distinguished now as then for his dis-. interested philanthropy in matters of that kind gen- erously volunteered his services to procure the so much needed official dignitary. Setting out on foot, like Japhet in search of his father, he bent his course towards Wadsworth. Arriving there he made appli- cation to Esq. Warner, who readily assented to come out the next day and legalize the ceremony. It being near sundown Mr. Rogers, at the request of Mr. War- ner, consented to tarry over night and accompany him to Harrisville the next day. But alas ! how precarious are all human calculations, for during the night Esq. HARKISVILLE. 99 Warner was taken so severely ill, that it was quite impossible for him to fulfil his engagement. Here was a dilemma. The wedding was set for that very night, and no one yet seeured to perform the ceremony: But Mr. Rogers, whose perseverance was only equalled by his philanthropy, true to his purpose as the needle to the pole, pushed on to Esq. Van Heinani in Norton township. The Esquire, who as»it would seem, must have been a lineal descendant of Nimrod, was out on a deer hunt, and did not return until night, when he very ungallantly informed Mr. Rogers that he was not at his service. This to most men would have been a settler. Not so to Rogers, these reverses and backsets only stimulated his zeal the more, for on learning that there was a Justice of the Peace in Coventry, he im- mediately proceeded thither, secured the services of an Esquire Heathman, and arrived at Harrisville the next day after the wedding — should have been. — However the affair was closed up that evening, and the parties are now living in Michigan. This is supposed to have been the first wedding in the county. The first frame building in the township was a thirty by forty foot barn, erected by Russel Burr, in 1816, and soon after, in the same year, L. Holcomb built another in the west part of the township. James S. Redfield brought into.the township, in 1820, the first stock of dry goods and groceries. In 1826, Redfield and Chapman sold goods in company. In 1828, a store was opened by Barker and Siza, and in 1830, another by Archibald Miles and Charles R. Deming. Since that time, J. Higbee and the Ains- worths have been the principal merchants at the center of the town. In settling a wilderness county, even those who have not experienced its trial? and privations can easily per- 100 HARRISVILLE. oeive that the life of a pioneer caiiiiot be one of entire idleness and inactivity. Roads have to be opened, farms cleared up, buildings erected ; all this requires energy and perseverance. So it was in Harrisville. Roads had to be opened leading to Medina, Wooster, North, to Elyria, East to Middlebury. Some were done by legislative appropriations, and some by volun- tary donations. Tire road leading to Medina was a state road, for the opening of which the Legislature made an appropriation. James S. Redfield, in the spring of 1816, took the job of chopping out the road from the center of the town to the south west corner of Medina, and for making fifty-seven rods of bridges and causeways, and finished it about the first of Sep- tember. Mr. Redfield says that the first loaded teams that passed over the road were those of Josiah Perkins and Titus Stanly, then moving into Harrisville. The early settlers experienced much trouble in pro- tecting their hogs and sheep from the ravages of bears and wolves, which infested the woods in great numbers, and many are the anecdotes related in relation to their encounters with them. James S. Redfield caught, in a period of a very few years, one hundred and twenty- two wolves, on which he received a bounty of dol- lars each. Wolves, as Davy Crocket would say, are naturally a .sneaking cowardly varmint, seldom attack- ing persons unless compelled by hunger. Mr. Redfield relates that having caught one in a steel trap by the end of the toe, and fearing that in its struggles it would get its foot out of the trap, he pounced upon it, put the foot of the wolf into the trap and carried it into the settlement. This wolf it would seem, was almost as passive as was old Put's, when he applied the torch to its nose, for it offered no resistance, nor manifested any vieiou-nes? except growling and snarl- HARRISVILLE. 101 ing whenever Kedfield set him down and attempted to make him walk, which lied field says he very soon made him shut up by cuffing his ears. Judge Harris relates that being in company with Loammi Holcomb, about Christ-mas, in 1817 or '18, and in the vicinity of Camp- bell's Creek, in the township of Westfield, he there counted twenty-seven wolves in one drove. In 1818, a grand wolf hunt was projected by the townships of Westfield, Lafayette, Chatham, Spencer, Homer, Mont- ville, Guilford and Harrisville, for the purpose of de- stroying and driving out those troublesome beasts, but as it is reported that no wolves were captured, the inference of the writer is that the benefit that accrued if any, must have been in the driving out process. However there is no doubt but that while no wolves were caught, many deers were, which with the excite- ment attending festivities of that character fully, reimbursed the hunters for the fatigues of the day. Many of the early settlers are still living in Harrisville, among whom may be mentioned Judge Harris, George Burr, James S. Redfield, Timothy Burr, Albert Harris, who was a small child some two years of age, when his father settled in the township, also, Carolus Tuttle, James Rogers, Lomer Griffin, Levi Seva, Perrin and Leonard Chapman, Ebenezer Munson, Willis and Ralz- mund Griffin. One notable fact of all others, and one which I am led to think has not a parallel in the his- tory of many townships, is tha,t of the four persons which constituted the first family in the township, all at the end of nearly half a century are now living in the township. They are Joseph Harris and wife, Al- bert Harris and James Redfield. 102 BAIttftSmLE. HARRISVILLE STATISTICS. PERSONAL PROPERTY. Horses, - Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, Carriages and Wagons, Merchandise, Moneys, Credits, Butter, pounds, - - Cheese, " Wheat, bushels, Corn, " Total of yearly value, 545 1 660 4,895 1,003 176 59,710 12,117 16,980 69,472 Value. $26,800 16,632 8,712 2,926 2,789 4,600 27,480 5,970 780 16,980 17,380 $131,049 Making the average yearly yield to be $131,049 as listed and returned by the assessor in 1816. If to the above be added the value that yearly results from clover and grass-seeds, oats, potatoes, garden and orchard products, the yearly amount of all would be about $175,500. If the amount originated from the operation of mills, tannery, foundry, and other industrial establishments could be added to the above, the yearly amount would be largely increased. HINCKLEY. From the following narratives it appears that prior to 1818, very little was known of the township but what had been noticed and told by hunters, who when traveling had paid more attention to game, than to land, timber or natural advantages. To those in search of level unbroken surface it did not seem very inviting. The many rugged jutting hills between which deep ravines intervene ; and the long, high and narrow ridges of land made by the sud- den circuitous windings of the Rocky River, from north to south, and then from south north-westerly, are calculated to give the hasty explorer unfavorable impressions. But after industry and perseverance came and sheared off the forest, and permitted the sun to shine upon the earth's surface, it was discovered that the fertility of the soil was not inferior to that of lands south and west, and that the many springs of pure water that gushed from the hill sides at all seasons in the year gave strong proof of its being a healthy township. Not a few, who preferred health to a level surface, made choice of the township of Hinckley as their res- idence, and the homes of their families for which they toiled. Since the first organization up to the present time (18G1) the advances m.ide in cultivation of soil, planting orchards, erecting residences and encouraging industrial establishments will make it compare favor- ably with other townships of the same age in the county. 104 HINCKLEY The following narratives, compiled by Doctor O. Wilcox, Mr. Cogswell and Riley the Rover, comprise many historical facts worthy of being read and pre- served by the descendants of the first pioneers. NARRATIVE BY 0. WILCOX. In the distribution of the lards of the Western Reserve, among the original land speculators who bought it of the State of Connecticut, the township of Hinckley fell to the lot of Judge Samuel Hinckley, of Northampton, Massachusetts. When or where he was born, T do not know, but he was educated for a lawyer and as I understand began life rather poor. He amassed considerable property and died about twenty years ago, in Northampton, esteemed and re- spected by his neighbors for his many virtues. He had a strong penchant for trading in lands and it almost seems that Heaven would be no Heaven to him unless he could trade in land there, as is illustrated by the following anecdote which is related of him. Governor Strong, of Massachusetts, was a brother- in-law of Hinckley, and also owner of lands on the Reserve. One day they were discussing the propriety of putting their lands into market. Strong thought it best, as the saving in taxes and interest would more than equal the rise in value. Hinckley dissented. *• Why," said he "the time will come when those lands will sell for ten dollars per acre." "Yes," replied Strong, " but before that time comes, you and I will be in Heaven." "Ah! that's the Devil of it," said the .Tndj-e. HINCKLEY, 105 The Judge was owner of several townships and parts of townships besides Hinckley, and as this was a rough, broken township, he seemed to think less of it than he did of his others, consequently he had them surveyed and brought into market first. Hence all the adjoining townships were partially settled before Hinckley. The wild animals, disturbed by the cYash of falling trees, the barking of dogs, the loud shouts of merry children (the children were noisy in -those days,) and the crack of the settler's rifle, fled from the noise and confusion to the silent shades and deep recesses of Hinckley, where they were comparatively safe from disturbance. Of course Hinckley abounded in wild game and this led to the getting up of a grand hunt. The great Hinckley hunt was the first incident in its history worth relating and as this has been so often and ably described by others ; I will not write it, but leave the description to Cogswell and Riley the Rover, who are more conversant with its incidents than I am. The hunt took place in 1818. The next year the township was surveyed by Abraham Freeze, Esq., of Brunswick, for the Judge." He made one hundred lots of it, each containing one hundred and sixty acres. Lot No. One was in the north-west corner of the township, the next lot east was No. Two, and so on back and forth to the south-west corner of the township which was lot One Hundred. On lot Sixty-nine, Freeze found a squatter named Walton, who was the first set- tler in the township, and the only one at the time of its survey in 1819. Where Walton came from or where he moved to I never could learn. He was* an indus- trious man and had made considerable improvement on what is considered the best lot in the township. Freeze paid Walton for his improvements and bought the lot of Hinckley, and afterwards sold it, about 1835, to 14 10G HINCKLEY. Nathan Wilson, who on his death left it to his daugh- ter Julia, who is now its owner. The same or next year, Frederick Deming, of Bruns- wick, bought lot Fifty-two and a part of lot Forty-nine and built in the south-east corner of lot Forty-nine. Here he lived almost alone for a few years. A Mr. Stillman "bought the remainder of lot Forty-nine, and built nearly opposite Deming's, where Joseph Gouch now lives. A Mr. Beaumont, who was an acquaintance or relative of Stillman's, came with him and bought on lot Thirteen, where N. L. Usher now lives, and made some improvements. Stillman soon died — what year I cannot ascertain. Deming selected a knoll a little west of his residence for his burial. Here the Bidge bury- ing ground is now located. The death of Stillman so discouraged his family that they moved back to the State of New York, whence they came, accompanied by Beaumont. Settlers gradually came in, among whom were Dorman Buck, Jared Thayer, J. Fisk, I. Loonrfe, A. Freeze, Ingersol Porter, D. M. Conant, Chester Conant, Easton, Piper, Stow and others ; so that they thought it best to have the township organ- ized and named. The first frame barn put up in town was for A. Freeze; it was a large barn thirty-five by forty-five feet on the ground, and for all the work, which was done by con-' tract Freeze paid only seventy-five dollars ! At present prices of labor it would cost nearly double. At the raising of this barn, which was in the spring or early summer of 1824, and which required the help of all the able-bodied men in the township, as well as many from Bich field, the question of organizing and naming the township was discussed. Freeze stated to the people that Judge Hinckley had. promised him that if the citizens would name it Hinckley in his honor he HINCKLEY. 10 7 would deed them a lot of one hundred and sixty acres for school purposes, or any use they choose to put it to. They therefore voted to name it Hinckley. The next year when the Judge made his annual visit to collect his dues, Freeze reminded him of his promise. The Judge hemmed and hawed, said he had been very unfortunate the past year, had met with heavy losses, had had much sickness in his family, and really did not feel able to make so large a gift; but he would donate two and one-half acres at the center for a public square, and two burying grounds, each containing one and one- fourth acres, which was the best he could do: these he accordingly deeded to the township. The first town- ship election was held at the log school house built on A. Freeze's land, the site of the present school house in District No. One, September 25, 1825. Thomas N. Easton, Jared Thayer and D. M. Conant acted as Judges of e'ection and Eeuben Inverse-! and A. Freeze, Clerks. They elected Jared Thayer Clerk ; It. Ingersol, T. N. Easton and Josiah Piper, Trustees ; Joab Loomis and Samuel Porter, Overseers of Poor ; Curtis Bullard and Richard Swift Fence Viewers; D. M. Cenantand Jonathan Fisk. Listers and Appraisers of property; Fred. Doming, Treasurer ; Thomas Stow and P. Bab- cock, Con' tables ; John C Lane, Chester Conant, Abra - ham Freeze, David Babcock, Supervisors. Of all the above named officers, Easton, Piper, Swift and Babcock only live in Hinckley now. Stow and Porter died in Hinckley. The rest moved away and have died or are living elsewhere. Curtis Bullard was the first Justice of the Peace elected, and the first couple he married, and the first couple married in the township ; were a Mr. Carr and Miss Harriet Wallace. Wallace livrd on the farm now owned by Andrew M'Creery. Among the guests pres- 108 H IN CM LEV. ent were Mr. Piper and wife; Billiard and wife, IL Bangs, E. Bangs, and others, and they had a right jolly time. Among other amusing performances they sang " Scotland is burning, run boys run, Scotland is burn- ing, fire, fire, fire, Pour on water, pour on water," &c. They were excellent singers and carried all the patte to perfection. The time and occasion and spirit in which it was sung rendered it ludicrous and laughable in the extreme. Carr stayed with his wife but three or four days and then left her for parts unknown. The first child born in Hinckley was a daughter to Mrs. F. Deming. I can't ascertain whether that child is living now or not, but the impression of the neigh- bors is that she died when young, in Hinckley. The first school taught was in the log school house already mentioned, by Miss Julia Curtis, of Rich field. The house was built by Freeze and neighbors in 1824. To her went the young of the neighborhood, but of all that went and all that sent to that school ,uot one now lives in Hinckley. Miss Curtis married Erastu* Oviatt, of Richfield. After Oviatt's death, she niarrisd Dr. Hiram Wheeler. The Congregational Church was organized in Hinck- ley, May 5, 1828, with the following members : James Porter and Mary his wife; Cornelius Northrop and Mary his wife ; John Jones and Myra his wife ; Mrs. B. Thayer, wife of Jacob Thayer ; Mrs. Temperance Easton, wife of Thomas Easton ; Harriet Carr, wife of John Carr ; Curtis Bullard, and Sarah his wife ; Zil- pah Loomis, wife of Jacob Loomis ; Mary Fisk, wife of Jonathan Fisk ; Thomas W. Easton and Samantha Loomis. Rev. Simeon Woodruff and Israel Shaler con- ducted the exercises at the organization. The first frame dwelling erected in town was by F. HltfCRLE*. 109 Deniing. It was burned down a few years ago, while owned by widow Sawyer. The next erected was by A. Freeze, which is still standing-. The dwellings of the first settlers were universally built of logs. Though < not as commodious as the present dwellings, the dwel- lers therein enjoyed as much true happiness. This all the old settlers will testify to, and that they were healthier, the bills of mortality will show. Hinckley was as populous in 1840, as now. The following bill of mortality carefully kept by Deacons Waite and Close, will show the number of deaths since 1840. This may be relied on as nearly, if not quite correct. There died in 1840, 9; 1841/6; 1842, 7; 1843,11; 1844, 12; 1845, 15 ; 1846, 17 ; 1847, 16 ; 1848, 22 : 1849, 13, 1850, 10 ; 1851, 10 ; 1852, 15 ; 1853, 11 ; 1854', 31 ; 1855, 11, 1856, 13 ; 1857, 11 ; 1858, 13 ; 1859^, 9 ; 1S60, 16 ; 1861 to August 18, 12. The oldest person who died was Mrs. Damon, mother of the late Caleb Damon. She died at the advanced age of one hundred and three years. The next oldest was Mr. Brown, father of Mrs. Salmon King; his age was eighty-nine years. Of the deaths, some were accidental and violent. T. N. Ferris was killed by the fall of a tree ; Richard Swift, Jr., was killed by the accidental discharge of a rifle in his own hands ; J. B. Dake was killed by the kick of a horse ; Caleb Damon was shot by A. Shear, while hunting turkeys-,, Damon had se- creted himself behind a log, and was imitating the call of a turkey. This called up Shear, who was hunting, and who saw Damon's head move just above the log. Mistaking it for the turkey, Shear took aim, and on going to find the turkey he found his friend and neigh- bor in the agonies of death. S. P. Woodruff was killed by lightning, and some children have been so badly burned as to cause their death : so that Hinckley on 110 HINCKLEY. (he whole may be called a healt|iy township. Tlic deaths scarcely averaging one per cent. If time per- mitted I might record some anecdotes, hunting stories and i'un. but the above must suffice. The history of Hinckley does not abound with stirring incidents of Meld and flood. Such as occurred to my mind I have hastily written as above. I believe them to be gener- ally correct. If I have made mistakes it is through misinformation and treacherous memory. After a lapse of thirty or forty years it is very difficult to get at the exact truth of things. I have enquired of more than a dozen who were present at the great hunt as to the day of the month it took place on, and but one pre- tended to know. He said it occurred on the 24th of December, for die recollects the next day was Christ- mas. Should a, second edition be called for I may perhaps enlarge and improve — till then this must suffice. THE GREAT HINCKLEY HUNT— BY MR. COGSWELL. Game being numerous in this section, in 1818: especially bears and wolves, which were a great annoy- ance to the settlers, a big hunt was resolved on, and appointed to come off on the 24th of December, by a proclamation to the following towns: Cleveland and Newhurg, who were to form on the north line of Hinckley ; Brecksville and Richfield, on the east line ; Bath and Granger on the south line ; and Medina and Brunswick on the west line, and thus complete the square. It was the intention to sweep the whole town- ship of Hinckley, and orders were given to be on the ground about sunrise. Uncle Gates and myself started from his residence, on the Cuyahoga river, the day HINCKLEY. Ill previous to the hunt, with the intention of taking a little look for game through the woods as we went, and in order to be on the.gnfbilnd the next morning. When we were near the north line-of Bath we separated with the understanding that we would meet at another cer- tain point. I had not gone far. when I "discovered where a coon had come off of a large oak tree, and had turned hack and went up the tree again. I knew if there was an Indian there he would contrive some wa} T to get the game without the trouble of cutting the tree. I looked about to see how this could be accomplished. There was a large limb on the oak, about sixty feet from the ground, and not far from the tree was a small hickory, which if fell would lodge on the limb. I chopped the hickory, it lodged, and made as I suppos- ed, a safe bridge by which I could reach Mr. coon. But I was mistaken, for when within ten or twelve feet of the limb, I discovered that there was a very little of the top of the hickory that was above the limb, and that it was sliding down further every move that I made. This was a perilous situation indeed, and I saw that something decisive must be' done. I first thought of retreating, but I soon found that this would be as bad as proceeding, as every move I made brought the hickory further off the limb. I therefore resolved to reach the tree if possible, and with several desperate grabs, I did so. I now thought I would make things safe, and I took the few remaining twigs that still sus- tained the hickory and withed them around the limb of the oak. I soon discovered the retreat of my coon, and chopping in I pulled him out and threw him down to my dog. I descended safely, and by the time T had reached the ground my uncle Gates came up. I showed him what I had done, and he declared that he would not have undertaken it. for all the land on the Tuva- 112 HINCKLEY. hoga river, from Old Portage to Cleveland. T did not undertake it for the value of the coon, but because I thought I would not be outdone by the Indians. We stayed over night at Mr. Rial Bray's, near the cast line of Hinckley. The next morning we were on the line by sunrise. We waited some time before they were all to their places, and then the word " all ready" was passed from mouth to mouth. The word was forty seconds going round the twenty miles, the first tele- graph known. Then came the sound of the horns, which was the signal for a start. The managers had made a circle, half a mile in diameter, in the center of the town by blazing trees, and when we came to that circle we were ordered to halt. It soon became evi- dent the ring was too large as the game had a good chance to secrete themselves. The managers now came to me and said they wished I would select some good man, and go into the ring and shoot some of the large game, which would drive the rest toward the outside. I selected my uncle Gates, and we proceeded toward the center. I soon came in contact with plenty of wolves and bears, and had shot several when I saw near the center a monstrous bear, I think the largest I ever saw of that species. I wounded him twice so that he dropped each time, when he retreated toward the south line, and I followed in close pursuit. About this time the south line advanced about forty rods, which brought them within a short distance of myself and the bear. My dog seeing me after the bear broke away from the young man who had him in charge, and came running to my assistance, and met the bear just as he was crossing a little creek on the ice. I ran up to the bank, within twenty-five or thirty feet of the bear, and stood several feet above him. About this time the men in the south line commenced shooting at HINCKLEY. 113 the bear, apparently regardless of me or my dog. There were probably one hundred guns fired within a very short space of time, and the bullets sounded to me very much like a hail storm. As soon as the old fellow got his head still enough so that I dare shoot, I laid him out. While they were firing so many guns, a great many persons hallooed to me to come out or I would be shot, but as it happened neither myself nor dog were hurt, and even the. bear was not hit by their random shots, for when he was dressed there were but three ball holes found in his hide, .and those I made. I now returned to the center alone, as my uncle Gates had got frightened out,and finished the bears and wolves, then commenced on the deer. I killed twenty-five or thirty so fast that I did not pretend to keep count. I stood 'by one tree and killed eight as fast as I could load and shoot. The last animal that I killed was a wounded wolf that had secreted herself in the top of a fallen tree. We were then ordered to go down where the big bear was, discharge our guns, and stack them, and proceed to draw in the game. It was found, when the men were all together, that there were four hundred and fifty-four, and it was estimated that there were about five hundred on the lines in the morning. The amount of game killed was, about three hundred deer, twenty-one bears, and seventeen wolves, that were killed in the ring, and it was estimated that about one hun- dred deer werej killed while marching to the center. The night was spent merrily in singing songs, roasting meat, &c. In the morning we tried to hit on some plan to organize, and divide the game, but it seemed impossible to get any plan to work. About this time Major Henry Coyt came from Liverpool, and I went and asked him to assist us in bringing about an organ- ization, lie did so and succeeded in eettins: a com- 15 114- HINCKLEY. mittee appointed, consisting of himself, Cap.t. John Bigelow, of Richfield, and myself. We proceeded to divide the men into four divisions, as follows : first divisien, Cleveland, Royalton and Newburg; second di- vision, Brecksville and Richfield ; third division, Bath and Granger ; fourth division, Medina, Brunswick and Liverpool ; and then we divided the game as well as we could in proportion. This was probably the greatest hunt that ever has been, or ever will be in the United States ; and strange to say, but one accident happened. Captain Lothrop Seymour received a buck shot in his shoulder and one in his leg. I frequently heard bul- lets whistle near me, and saw one bush cut off by a ball not more than a rod from me. Many of the pro- ceedings through the night, I have not written in detail, as it will probably be graphically given by Riley the Rover, and perhaps some others. THE HINCKLEY HUNT— BY RILEY ROVER. I was in the town of Hinckley A week or two ago, And heard some good old settlers tell The tale I write below. 4! The scene that in this tale appears, You will please remember, Lies in the past full two score years From coming next December, HINCKLEY. in all tbc towns that lay around, Many settlers had crept in, And broke the forest with the sound That settlements begin. They were a set of stalwarth men And had their past-times bold; Wild beasts were in the forest then, As in the plains of old. The township was a favorite haunt For game of every kind, Where hunters weekly took a jaunt. Their quiet lairs to find. As taught to shun the settlers door, Beasts from his cabfn fled This town became yet more and more The haunt to which they fled. At length a message went around, To test thersettlers sent, To see how many could be found, To join a royal hunt. We'll form, said they, a line of men, Around the town at morn, And march straight to the center then, With whistle, shout and horn. 115 116 HINCKLEY. The proposition pleased them well, And all agreed to go. Who had a gun, a voice to yell, Or konkle shell to blow. They blazed a line around the center. Made plain to every eye, To show where only beasts might enter, And not a man pass by. • The day was set, the dawn drew near, To game — the dawn of doom, From every side tre men appear, In mists of morning gloom. From left to right they sound the horn, Till all their place have found, And on the breath of echoing morn, The notes go quickly round. Then every man his skill employs, Some frightful sound to try; But none must light the firy steam, Nor let a bullet fly. Until the signal at the center, Shall bid the circle round, Upon the work of death to enter, ,And slay the 1 easts then found, HINCKLEY. I L T In droves of scores, the panting deer Sweeping the circle round, Before the hunters shot appear, A mark at every bound. It is a wild and thrilling sight, To see the baffled herd's affright, To see the eye-balls of the deer, Out-straining from his head appear : To hear old bruin's sullen growl ; To hark the wolfs despairing howl; To sec the hunter in. his place, Snatch up his rifle to his face, The flash and dust and fire let fl}', With rattling echo's quick reply; To see game stricken in their bound, Fall noisless, lifeless to the ground ; Or if they 'scape, as many did, To see-how quickly they were hid. Without a pause to bid adieu, As from the carnage scenes they flew. Now thrilling scenes and sights arc seen. Upon new work men enter, And all more jovial than before. Drag game into the center. 118 HINCKLEY. But day turns on its dusky side. • As they their work have done, They wait till morning to divide The booty they have won. Foreseeing this, they gather first. From off the gory field, The wolves they've slain whose hairy sealps A county booty yield. All these they give to a trusty man, Who with a horse and sled. To buy a giant whiskey can, Off through the forest sped. In time, the man was on the ground. With all his team could pull, Joyfully the jovial fellows found, He'd brought a barrel full. They set the barrel on one end. And knocked the other in, They used for tapster to attend, A ladle made of tin. Then, whiskey made by honest men, Was drank by men upright, And none would deem it hurtful then To drink on such a night. HINCKLEY. 119 Then every man drunk what he chose, And all were men of spunk. But not a fighting wrangle rose. And not a man got drunk. They kindled fires o'er all the ground, And made the forest light, The joke, the jest, the song went round, Through all that jovial night. They skinned a bear and dressed him whole, But little did they eat, More fond of fun and flow of soul, Than of the greasy meat. The bear was fat as fat could be, Wrap't round him like a place, T would charm an Esquimaux to see His robe of dripping grease. One hunter with an oily chunk, Soon chanced to grease another, Who quick resolved with pleasant spunk To turn and grease his brother. Quickly others joined the fun, Saying that oil was good for hair, Oil on the heads of all must run, And none his brother spare. 120 HIWKLKY. It was a night of great anointing. Anight of wondrous things. Night of instinct appointing, " Great jubilee of kings. Old bruin's fat was used for oil, And whiskey used for wine, Triumphant mid their slaughtered Bpoil, They made their faces shine. Most of that noble jovial band, Have past from earth away, Yet still some scattered o'er the land. Are living to this day. I have myself a hunter been, And aided by my hounds, More than one hundred wolves have slain. On western hunting grounds. • •• And I have been a Pioneer, From my young manhood's birth, . With owls and wolves all howling near, While sleeping on the earth. Still I am not a settler old, Nor yet Old Settler's boy, I am a rover wild and bold, And roving's my employ. HINCKLEY 121 [f to the foregoing amount was added the sum that yearly accrues from the production of clover-seed, grass-seed^ oats, potatoes, orchards and gardens, the products might safely be set down at one hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars. Let those who resided in the township in 1819, when there were listed for taxation nine horses and fifty-two cattle, contrast then and now and they must acknowl- edge that the advances have been onward. HINCKLEY STATISTICS. "PERSONAL property. Horses, - Cattle,' Sheep, Hogs, Carriages and Wagon?, Watches, Pianos, -•""■'" Merchandise, Moneys, Credits, Butter, pounds, Cheese, u Wheat, bushels, Corn, ". "Total of "vearly value, Number. Value. 498 $20,075 1,735 22,107 0,394 9,479 338 1,252 173 5,830 41 480 6 230 3,725 28,902 73,250 7,325 38,950 2,337 4,072 4,072 19,145 4,780 $117,326 16 HOMER. Many of the incidents narrated relative to the first settlements in Harrisville, embrace a portion of terri- tory and some of the characters that are now in Homer township. For many years prior to township organi- zations the interests of the two were partially indentified. The first opening within the present limits of the township, was made by Mr. Parks, who is still a resi- dent. In 1831, the whole township was unsettled, with only here and there a few rude structures that had been erected by the migrating hunters for a temporary occupancy. The original papers relative to the first township organization are lost, and the early history is given by a few old settlers from recollection. The first child born in the township was Harriet Parks. The first school was kept by Mr. James Parks, numbering fourteen scholars, very few of whom are now residents of the township. It was not then con- sidered too far to send children of ten years old, two miles, by a circuitous path, to the school, without shoes, and not unfrequently without bonnets. The first township Trustees were Messrs. Tanner, Park and Wing. Asa Beard was the first Justice of the Peace. The first marriage was Charles Atkins to Elizabeth Campbell. The first acre of wheat reared and harvested within the township was cut by Mr. HOMER. 12:: Duncan Williams, who is now the owner of large farm within the township. The settlements were rapid and the openings and improvements now seen, give evidence of untiring industry ; and should the same perseverance be exercised for the next twenty years. Homer town- ship will vie with any of the older settled townships, in agricultural products. There is also a marked advance seen in the erection of dwellings and other buildings, in the planting and cultivation of orchards and ornamental shrubbery, and in the selection of live stock. Not unfrequentl'y the cattle from Homer, ex- hibited at our Fair, have taken tlje premium. In future time the commercial advantages that the agriculturtsts of Homer will realize, must consequently add to their wealth. Proximity to railroad conveyances south and west, afford encouragement to the farmers of Homer and Spencer townships, that their surplus trade can readily and speedily be freighted to market when- ever the price will justify. The soil, the locality, and the industrial habits of those who ow T n the land in the township, indicate that before many years Homer town- ship will compare, in proportion to age, with any other portion of Medina county in agriculture. Many of the farmers are of German descent, and are of that class who strive to make their fields a little more productive, by manuring the ground they culti- vate. The soil is well adapted to the growth of wheat, corn and grass ; and the rapid increase of cattle, hogs and slice}), give evidence that the owners of the lands know what kind of stock is best calculated to enrich the owners. When the township was first organized there were only nineteen voters. When the lister traveled over the township to get a list of the personal property for taxation he returned seven horses and forty-two cattle. 121 Ifo.MP.H. Let the present owners of lands, now in the townshp, read the following statistical table, returned by the assessor in 1861, and compare it with the above return and learn the commendable advances they have made. It is due to the citizens of Homer to say that there are fewer mortgages upon the real estate in that town- ship that upon many of the older settled townships in the county. HOMElt STATISTIC; TK It SO N AL PBOPK11T V. Number. Value. Horses, ._._-- 529 $27,787 Cattle, - - 1,460 13,513 Sheep. ------- 2,685 4,155 Hogs, ------ 1,049 2,390 Carriages and Wagons, - 185 5,247 Merchandise. - 1,330 Moneys and Credits* - 25,174 Putter, pounds. - 58,760 L 5.8 70 F2,450 Cheese, " - - 36,960 Wheat, bushels, - 18,447 13,400 Corn, " _____ 02,251 15,560 Yearly product as listed in 108 1, $116,788 If to the foregoing be added from the cultivation of clover value that results grass seeds, oats, the and potatoes, orchards and gardens, they would yearly amount to $35,000 — making the yearly value of the products of the township to be about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. LIVERPOOL. NARRATIVE BY MOSES DEMMING At the age of seventy, being the third time a widower, I sit down lonesome arid disconsolate to write a short history of my life. When I take a retrospective view of the many dangers that have beset my path, I am constrained to exclaim — Lord! how often hast thou been my Protector and guide ! ! I was born in Southbury,{New Hampshire county, Connecticut. December 4, 1777. My father's name was John. He was born in East Hampton, New York, in 1727. of .Scotch descent. My mother's maiden name was Anna Knowles. They were the owners of one acre of land, and as mall dwelling where they raised and sup- ported a family of four sons and five daughters. My father was in the French war, and during the Revolu- tionary war, was frequently called out on alarms. "When Banbury was destroyed by fire, he was present under command of a Militia Captain, whose courage was not of that kind that gained him renown as an officer, being more inclined to protect himself behind a wall, than to show himself in open fight. My father enlisted when over forty years old, being fired with that true patriotism that spurred on the men in those days to fight for family and for home. Mother was feeble, but not disheartened. She toiled daily to gain a scanty subsistence for her large family. Father sent money frequently, to aid in procuring fam- ily necessaries. Rut the depreciated currency then paid I *JG LIVERPOOL out to soldiers (continental paper) was of little value. and it often happened that the month's pay would hardly purchase provision sufficient for one week. I have heard my mother say that once she offered the whole wages that lather had received for one month for a loaf of bread, and could not get it. I can remember when turnips were our bread and meat, and if a thin slice of bread was obtained, it was considered a luxury. It was not unusual to go to bed supperless. At the close of the war we were greeted with the return of our father from ' whose lips I have often heard details of the many and severe privations endur- ed during the Revolutionary struggle. Father sold his pay that he received as a soldier, for two shillings and sixpence on the pound, and got in silver sixty dol- lars. This was considered a large sum of money in our family- Both my parents died in the year 1809, aged eighty-two and seventy-seven years. At the age of fifteen, I had been bound out to learn the Black- smith trade. At the age of twenty-one I went to Waterbury. While at work there I became acquainted and captivated with Ruth Warner. There was some- thing so pleasing in her manners and conversation that t could never forget her. After leaving that place I roamed from place to place, seeing new objects, and seeking new sources of wealth or comfort, and again returned home, not five dollars better off than when I left. It is true that while traveling I had sometimes a little good luck, again much ill luck. Sometimes enjoying pleasant seasons, then again it seemed as though the very elements opposed my progress. Deep snow, high waters, severe colds and mud were encoun- tered by me in many rambles, and caused me to exert my ingenuity and physical power to advance. I now came to the couclusion that if I ever intended to pros- LIVERPOOL. 127 per, I musi cease rambling and settle down. 1 accord- ingly commenced my trade, ased economy, arid in due course of time could say that I was out of debt, and had some cash on hand. Thinking seriously that a stationary life and a suitable companion would add to my comfort 1 visited Ruth Warner, proposed, and was married to her June 1, 1802. ] became the owner of twenty acres, which I improved and by diligence and the very prudent economy of my wife, we gained a good share of the necessaries of life. By industry we added twenty acres more to our original purchase. After some time I concluded to sell and seek land else- where. I found a live Yankee who offered to purchase and pay in wooden clocks. At first I declined to trade, having never seen the inner workings of a wooden time piece. In order to make myself acquainted with clockology. as manufactured under the wooden creed, I assumed the responsibility of taking my own apart, and examining its mysteries. I spent the main portion of the day in unfixing and rcfixing it. and then con- cluded that I was prepared, after serving an apprentice- ship to myself, to repair wooden clocks. Believing myself now an adept in the way of fixing clocks, I bought twelve clocks for one hundred and twenty dollars, and started out as a clock pedler. I remained abroad about six weeks and returned with cattle valued at one hundred and eighty dollars, having made about sixty dollars clear. Shortly thereafter, I sold my 40 acres of stony, hilly, poor land for one hundred and two dollars, and agreed to give possession in one year thereafter, and started into Onondagua on a peddling excursion. I had, while traveling, contracted for and owned a small farm and dwelling on the east bank of Scanecttles Lake, about four miles from its outlet. Our now home was delight- 128 LTVKRVOOTi. ful and our neighbors tru^ kin«l and religious. To stock my new farm, T. sold clocks for cattle, geese or any kind of trade that people would barter for wooden tfme-pveces. About this time my brother Davis and others had become deeply engaged in the making and selling Miner's Wheel- heads. As I had been successful in bartering clocks, T entered into the wheel-head trade and did a good business for some time. In course of time the wheel-head trade declined and eventually was placed in the same catalogue with wooden nutmegs. About this time a religious revival commenced in our new neighborhood, and, thank God, myself and wife became converts. From then I date a new and happy era in my life. For many years prior I had been an open and bold infidel ; looking upon professors as hypocrites and the Bible as falacious. From that pe- riod of my life, up to the present, I must say that the Bible has been my life chart, and the company of Christian people my delight, and after having lived on earth four score years T wish to bear testimony that in the religion of Christ there is a solace, a comfort that the world knows not. In the winter of 1810, Father Warner and Mr. Warden visited Ohio to look at Town- ship No. 4, in -llange 15, of the Connecticut Western Reserve, then in Portage county, (now Liverpool, in Medina Co.) Mr. Warner had corresponded with Mr. Coit, the proprietor, and learned the price per acre. In 1811, Mr. Warner, accompanied by Alpheus War- ner and wife, and three young men as passengers, star- ted for Liverpool. As they came by my residence, and had tarried with me, I was easily persuaded to accom- pany them. Father Warner and myself were supplied with clocks, which we sold or traded as we travelled. We arrived at Columbia on the last day of February, 1811. When at Cleveland, on our way to Columbia, LIVERPOOL. 129 Mr. Huntington urged me to buy a lot in that town for $60, and pay part in a clock, and the balance in any kind of trade we then had with us. The lot offered to me contained one acre and a fourth, and is the same lot on which the Court House now stands. Cleveland was then reported to be sickly, and the scrub oaks seemed to indicate that the ground was too poor to raise white beans ; so we could not make a trade. I traveled many miles over what is now called Columbia, Liverpool and Brunswick, exploring and deciding upon the most available portion to purchase and prepare to locate ; and, after due deliberation, made choice of the farm on which I now (1860) reside. I contracted with a young man to make an opening and prepare a field to plant in corn the coming spring ; and on 15th March started for home. Nothing of import happened on my way. When I got home I made preparations to move, selling off all that I could not take with me conven- iently. I owned eleven head of young cattle that I determined to take with me if possible. Late in April we filled our wagon with such articles as we supposed essential, topping off our load with a quantity of wheel heads, and, hitching on a team of oxen and one horse, set out on our tedious journey. The driving of the cattle through woods and across streams, caused us trouble and toil. We progressed at the average speed of sixteen miles per day. Our wheel heads aided in paying our expenses at places where we tarried over night. From Cleveland to Columbia, a distance of twelve miles, there were no inhabitants, and in many places the roads were heavy. We traveled hard from early dawn to late eve in making that distance. The roads were very deep, and our chances to avoid deep mud, few and far between, unless we had cut an entire- ly new road. Prior to our arrival, there had been 1.7 130 LIVERPOOL. heavy rains, waters were high, and fordings rather dangerous. In attempting to cross a creek, the round poles composing the bridge were floating in an eddy over the two long stringers. I urged the cattle forward, and when they stepped on the poles they gave way and let the cattle into the water between ihe stringers. I stood on a stringer with a stout pole, pushed the head of each one of the cattle under the stringer and forced it through into the current, and by this means, after many punches with the pole and much grappling of horns, I got all my cattle over. We left our wagon, took a few of the necessary articles, traveled up the stream to where we found it more shallow, and after much toil and circuitous travel, we arrived at Liver- pool on the 18th day of May, having traveled twenty days On the 1st day of June Sally Warner was born, and it may with certainty be recorded that she was the first child born in Liverpool township. On 28th February, 1812, Father Warner came with his family and settled in Liverpool township. Our neighborhood was now composed of four families, and it seamed as though company was plenty. We were all friendly and all willing to aid each other. At this time I had in my employ a young fellow whom I had hired to aid in clearing land, and other services. His dispo- sition was any oiher than kind. One day he seemed droopish, and I thought proper to inquire what was the uiatter. He showed me his hands and arms, when I made the discovery that he was literally splotched with itch, and his clothes were densely peopled with lice. To have him about my house in that condition would not answer, and I therefore set my wits to work to cure the disease and exterminate the vermin. Wife and self had some fears lest the red men might molest LIVERPOOL. 131 us, but when we found the itch and lice likely to be inmates of our cabin, we took courage, made battle by scrubbing and washing with ashes, sand and soap, any amount of hot water and bark ooze, and finally routed the enemies, who never returned to make a second at- tack. Our kindness to the fellow did not secure his friendship. Often, when driving the oxen, if he could find a hornet's nest or a swarm of yellow-jackets, it was his delight to drive the cattle among them and then witness the pain and misery he caused to be inflicted on the dumb animals. I sent him adrift; he get on board an armed ship, where he was guilty of mutiny, and was hung at Boston. My wife who had been a sharer in the toils and in- cidents consequent to a life in the West, had declined gradually in hea'th for some years. I had painfully watched the advances of disease, and although I used every prudent means to ward off the fatal shaft, I could not withstand the purpose of an over-ruling Providence, She died on the 26th July. 1812. Father Warnor and myself selected the grave yard where we interred her. She was the first white person buried in Liverpool Township. Prior to her death, I had been busily em- ployed in getting out timber for a barn, which was raised after her death, and was the first fame barn put up in the Township, and was the only frame barn between Cleveland and the River Raisin. On the 4th June, 1812, war was declared, but our want of information by means of newspapers, preven- ted us, at first, from being much excited. We dreaded the Indians, but still supposed that those then at the head of our brave men would be able to protect us from danger. We had heard that Hull was doing good service and we reposed confidence in his valor. After the death of my wife T had hired Louisa Bron?on t 132 LIVERPOOL. take charge of my house and to cook. One night when sleeping soundly Tre were all aroused by the rap of father Warner at the door, holding the unexpected news that Detroit had surrendered, and that the British were landing at Huron ; that the people at Columbia were packing up to leave, and wislrng us to be at T. Doan's next morn by sunrise, to go with them to Hud- ion. Miss Bronson commenced getting early breakfast. I commenced putting the hay rack on the wagon and fixing light puncheons as a bottom, (we had no boards) iind by the time breakfast was ready we were ready to load the wagon. Then thinking our return uncertain, I turned all of my cattle into the oat-field and let my hogs roam where they pleased. We selected and loaded such household goods as we thought we should need. I had a traveling trunk in which I had kept all my valuable papers. I placed that trunk in the center of the floor so that I might not forget it when loading, but strange to tell such was our haste and confusion that we forgot that trunk and started, leaving it in the same spot where I had placed it. We traveled with one pair of oxen and a pair of young steers. In get- ting to Mr. Doan's, such was our hurry and confusion that we would travel through oat-fields or any other inclosure to shorten distance or avoid bad roads, and leave all fences down-. By the time all had congregated at Mr. Doan's the number was considerable, including young and old. We started on our retreat excursion in contused or- der, and our progress did not exceed two miles each hour. Mrs. Scofield, one of our company, had an infant only three days old. In order that she might get along as comfortably as possible, her husband fas- tened a bed on a colt, got her comfortably seated on it, and he, leading the colt, kept up with the caravan. At LIVERPOOL. L33 night wc placed no sentinels around our camp, for the reason that we had but one gun for all and only two loads of ammunition. About one o'clock at night Levi Bronson, returning from Cleveland, came across our camp and gave us the intelligence that it was pris- oners that landed at Huron, not the British, and that we were in no imminent danger. This intelligence caused us to hold a council, and after various sugges- tions we came to the conclusion to return to Columbia and build a block house. The next day we returned and put in execution our resolve. The block house was planned and erected, and Capt. Headley became the commander. One-half of the men were detained on duty while the other half were allowed to attend to their home duties. I made a practice of going to Liverpool every morning, when not detained on duty, and returning to Columbia in the evening. I drove my cows to Columbia, but fattened my hogs at Liver- pool. They thrived well, though only Jed once daily. All the women and children remained at Columbia for some time. Finding fear of the enemy subsiding, I came to the conclusion to stay and sleep in my cabin, with my dog as my only companion. In a few months I contracted with Mr. Morgan, to whom I rented my farm for four years, and being still a widower, and having no children to provide for, I concluded to seek some more settled and easy life. I went to Euclid and engaged to teach school. While there I came to the conclusion that I would cease to be a widower if I could find a woman upon whom I could bestow my affections. I became acquainted with Miss Clarissa Cranny, of Euclid, and we became husband and wife on 11th March, 1813. We returned to my farm the following April, bought back the lease I had made with Mr. Morgan, and re-commenced house-keeping. At the i.ii - LrVEIU'OOi.. expiration of fifteen mouths we hud a daughter born. For several days my wife was sick, but not thought dan- gerously so. But while hope seemed brightest, the night of sorrow was near. My second wife died and left to my care and keeping a helpless infant only a lew days old. Her grave was the second in Liverpool Township, Mr. H. H. Coit had come and commenced digging for salt, and "was a boarder at my house when my wife died. My child was a groat concern to me. and having tried several places where I had every evidence that she would be well cared for, I thought I would cease fret- ting, but when alone or when in company. I still felt as though I should make my home the abode of my child. I therefore came to the conclusion to seek a third wife. I had hoard much of the character of Jerusha Russell, who was the teacher of a school at Newburg. She was a native of Windsor, in Connecti- cut, and had an unblemished reputation. I sought an interview and was successful. We were married on the 24th November, 1814. A third time I commenced adding to my improvements, and in all my efforts to gain necessary comforts, I was constantly aided by my wife. To me she was a faithful companion, and to my ^hild she w-ts a kind and exemplary step-mother. About this period in my western peregrinations and settlement, disease attacked my cattle, horses and hogs, which continued for two years. I lost within that pe- riod, seventy Cattle, ten horses and all my hogs. The disease was supposed to originate from some poisonous weed or roots that decayed and settled in the marshy ponds of stagnant water that then were numerous a ! ong the river valley. In the year 1816, the township of Liverpool was organized, with the following boundaries: Containing LIVERPOOL. 135 all the territory west of the Twelfth Range, to the tire lands, and all south of township No. Five, to the south line of No. One, being the south line of the Reserve, and being then a part of Portage county. H. H. Coit and myself were the two first Justices of the Peace, from which I derived no profit but much trouble. The territory over which we exercised judicial control was extensive, though as yet sparsely settled. When litigants came to me for law, I generally got the cases decided by a compromise, and closed judicial proceed- ings by feeding the disputants from a portion of my limited means, and sending them home friendly to each other. I will here narrate the manner in which cases were decided when we did not wish our official duties to prevent us from attending to the more necessary duties of providing necessaries for ourselves. I had started early and traveled four miles to ask three men to come and help me roll some logs. When we got to my cabin I found a man waiting, whose face showed that he had been fully engaged in a fight. He* said that he had come six miles to see me and learn what the law was as to Assault and Batterry, as he had been pretty well battered. The Bible was on a board which I wished him to take down, and read the law for himself. He took the book (I had no statute in the cabin at that time) and after turning over many pages, (I soon dis- covered that he coul4 not read) he asked me on what page he could find the law of Battery. I told him I did not recollect the page, but I could give him the words of the law as recorded in that book. He said the law was what he wished to know, so that he might have some idea what sum he could recover from the man who had whipped him. I told him the words of the law in that book were; " He that smiteth thee on 136 LIVERPOOL. the one cheek, turn to him the other also." He looked at me, then at the book, took his hat and as he left said, that law was too devilish poor to do him any good. I wish to close this hastily compiled narrative with a few personal remarks. My life has been one of change ; I have tested privations ; I have experienced afflictions ; I have toiled hard ; yet when I think of the privations, the afflictions and hardships that others endured, I must frankly say, that a kind Providence has, in my old days, blessed me with competence, and surrounded me with many friends. My prayer is, that those who follow after me may reap, from my exertions in former years, a full competence of the good things of life, and when they die, may they have the well grounded hope of a glorious immortality ! MBS. WARNER'S NARRATIVE— CHEESE MAKING. Mrs. Warner, wife of William, had been reared in the school of industry, and when first settling in her wilderness cabin she plainly discovered that invention was as necessary as labor, in order that some things might be done. She thought her table poorly suppied if cheese was wanting. Knowing that 1 er husband was daily employed, and had not time to attend to all that must be done, she undertook to make a cheese- press. She rolled a short log to the corner of t^e cabin and fixed it firmly on one end, next she took a puncheon and placed one end in the opening between the logs and soon made the discovery that a few stones placed on the other end would create leverage. She used the LIVERPOOL. l:t: rlan of an old seive for a cheese-rim, into which she put the curd, surrounded by a cloth, placed that on the top of the upright log, placed the puncheon properly, put on stones at the extreme end, and soon had the satisfaction of knowing that cheese could be pressed and made. That rudely constructed press was used by her for many years, and she has the satisfaction of tell- ing that from then to the present time (i860) she has never been without cheese, and that always made by herself. To Mrs. Warner the privations incident to an early settlement did not seem insurmountable ; and if any one will call now and see her, they will find her em- ployed in making, planning, arranging and providing articles that are calculated to make any one comfort- able. Things neccessary, useful and comfortable are such as she delights to have on hand. When we came to Liverpool on 20th September, 1815, we began clearing off and erecting a hastily con- structed cabin within a few rods of our present resi- dence. During the day-time there were some rays of hope that prompted us to toil, but when the gloom of night surrounded our little cabin we often thought of the State from which we started, and the many kind friends from whom we seemed to be wholly separated. After getting our cabin erected and completed so as to shelter us from rain and storm, there were many necessaries yet unprovided. For many months we were without a table. I had learned that a common white wood table was for sale in Columbia, and I was determined to purchase it if within my means. Having brought my wheel and reel with me, I was willing to ply them for the purpose of aiding in the purchase of needed household materials. I got flax of Mr. Justus Warner and spun, with mv own hands, twenty runs of 18 138 LIVERPOOL. linen yarn, with winch I purchased the table. We had beds and bedding, but no bedsteads. Mr. Warner shaved walnut rails, nailed them together- and made two bed- steads. When they were set in the two corners of our cabin and the beds made thereon we seemed quite com- fortable, and things seemed to look neatly. The large chest in which we had packed and hauled our beds and fine clothing was placed on end in a corner and served us as a cupboard for two years. We had no coffee in our house for the first eight years. I had brought a pound of tea with mo which lasted us over fourteen months. A rude grist mill had been constructed at Columbia where we got our scanty quantities of wheat ground. Once we failed to get our wheat ground, and were forced to find bread from some other source. I sifted the bran very carefully, of our former grists, (it was in the summer season and we did not then use bran,) from which 1 got flour that made us bread for several days. In the summer season 1 cooked, washed and ironed clothes out of doors without then thinking that the rays of the sun would tan my face and hands. Shoes I wore when visiting or going to church during warm weather, but when at home doing work about my bouse I could do very well without them. When leaving New Haven county, Connecticut, I had packed up a small bundle of apple-seeds, and after we had about ten acres cleared I went out, in the sea- son for planting tree seeds, and planted the seeds I had brought. The orchard now seen is the growth of those seeds. 1 name this to show what great accommodations in the future result from small means. Our grand- children now eat the fruit that resulted from the care and labor of their grandmother forty-five years since. Mr. Warner concluded to build a barn and cover it with shingles. We had a fattened hog in the pen, which LlVEiU'OUL. 139 he killed and hauled on a drug to Columbia and sold the pork, getting one hundred pounds of nails for three hundred pounds of pork, and felt satisfied with the trade. It took him a whole day to get to and from Columbia, because of the obstacles in the road. For the first set of tea-ware we bought in Ohio, I paid $5, which is still in the house, and at the present time would cost about $1 00. I have in my keeping a leg- horn bonnet purchased fifty years since, that is worthy of examination by the ladies of modern times. The bonnet was once very fashionable, and for texture and shape was a model. I have also a wedding dress that forty-five years since was in fashion. I also have a tea-pot, sugar-bowl and stock glass that were in use more than one hundred years since. The modern belle when viewing such articles will learn what was com- mendable and attractive in the gala days of their grand- mothers. In my early days I was a trained pupil in the school of industry, and taught that labor was com- mendable. Keeping that motto in mind I made it my duty to engage in employments that would be suitable and profitable. I now have counted my three score and ten years, yet in order to feel comfortable and to make life pass pleasantly. I work every day, not for gain, but for comfort. I still spin and make our wool into flannel, and wculd think it wrong to hire spinning while I can do it and be benefitted. I look upon labor as commendable, and while I shall continue to have health let me have useful employment. The first sermon preached in Liverpool Township was at our cabin, by Rev. Simeon Woodrough. Al- though our house was small it contained the congrega- tion comfortably. Mr. Warner spent a whole day walking and informing the neighbors that there would be preaching. At the first prayer meeting, the follow- 110 U YIUM'OOL fing was the order of exercises : Justus Warner read 'prayers from the Episcopal prayer book. Col. H. Coit [read a sermon. David Hudson made some remarks ind John Bigelow gave the concluding prayer. Epis- lopalians, Methodists, Congregationalists and Baptists ill worshipped together at that first prayer meeting, and iach one seemed ready to exclaim, " How good and pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity." •Uould the same kind feeling influence now that then was manifest, contention, strife and jealousy would not jule to the extent it now does. It seemed to me that ivery petition offered on that day met the hearty amen of every person present. In harvest seasons I have often assisted in gathering and securing our scanty crops. The cultivation in the garden was, for many years, left wholly on my care. Could the present generation see the wild state of gar- den and fields that once existed, they would be surprised. Stumps in gardens were many and not far between. In the fields logs and log-heaps were numerous. At night visits from the wild animals of the forest were frequent. Snakes were numerous and often came near, and even into our cabins. Our cattle often strayed into the wilderness, and caused much trouble to find them. My race is very nearly terminated. I have lived to see the township densely inhabited, to see churches erected, to see roads permantly established, to see good school houses erected, to see farms improved, to see the wilderness disappear, and to see and know that most of the grand-children now living enjoy a competence that resulted from the toil and privations endured by their grand-fathers, and I, in my old days, wish them continual blessings. U YKKIMHH,. HI HAKDSCKABBLE— BY JMBS. it. HINCKUEY. Our duty is to follow our little band, as well as we are able, through early troubles, in a new settlement- Therefore we go back a half-century, to the State of Old Connecticut, in the town of Waterbury, at the house of Justus Warner, where we cooked the last Christmas supper, ere the departure of Justus and others for New Connecticut, as Ohio was by them termed. There the goose was dissected, the puddings done justice by, and after the Good-Byes, were passed as freely as the cake and cider which preceeded them, then came the packing and confusion incident to such occasions. Justus, with his son Alpheus, and Minerva, his young bride, equipped with two two- horse teams, with fifty long corded, wooden, Waterbury cloeks ; two young men named Ely L. Seeley and David Scoville, took leave of their homes and friends with throbbing hearts and tearful faces. To give our modern belles a minute description of the lonely young wife on her weary pilgrimage, would in all probability, disturb too much their nervous sys- tem ; therefore we pass on, only noting one night's lodging, for example. We drew up at a small log tavern, (says our narrator) which was already full ; but we brought in our own beds and distributed them about the floor, and ourselves into them to the best ad- vantage. Justus being the oldest, was entitled to the first chance in bed, and the courtesy generally accorded to women, gave her the next, or second place, and the husband was the rightful and lawful owner of a place beside his wife. The rest were bestowed promiscuous- ly. And as the wood fire cast her fitful light athwart the wall, that young wife (after drawing up her feet, to keep them out of the ashes) " sought to lose in sleep 142 U'\i;n]'(>OL awhile her useless tenors,'' and succeeded too; but ere long-, a large sow with her family, forced open the door, and sought a place of rest also. In the act of rooting her bed, the sleepers were awakened. She be- ing a large black animal, they supposed a bear was in their midst. So the cry of " a bear! a bear !" was sent up, and amid the uproar of the disturbed Irishmen, who came pouring down the ladder, and tlie hunting in vain for the gun, there was more diversion than sleep. But morning came at last, and our party jogged on, changing wagons for sleighs, as the weather changed. Moses Demming had joined our party in York State, as he had married Ruth, the daughter of Justus, and was willing to try his fortune in the wilderness. An Irishman named Clark, was taken as a passenger, and thus, after fifty- two weary days' journey, we drove the cattle and hogs out of a miserable hut in Columbia, and pronounced ourselves the inhabitants thereof, un- til we could erect cabins of our own in Salt Spring- Town, (for she did not yet claim the infamous cognomen of Hardscrabble.) The work of progression commenced on the place which we younger generations know as the Wetherbeck place. There a small spot was cleared, just large enongh for our rude hut to stand upon, and when one-half of the roof was on, and as much of the floor wns laid, we moved in. And then we fully real- ized "that poverty is truly the mother of invention." We had rived out long shingles to cover our house, and they proved a great advantage to us in the form- ation of tables, book-cupboards, bed-steads, lounges, &c. Perhaps it would be idle to tell our fastidious ones, that our bed-stead had but one leg, and our table was made without castors, and the book-cupboard for the novels and stories of our friend Scoville, was a hol- low log with shingle shelves. For chairs we used the LIVERPOOL. M- boxes 'n which we had brought our clocks. Our implements for work, consisted of our axes and hoes we had brought with us, and a shovel belonging to Mr. Demining. There was an adz, too, which Minerva often used to good purpose on her rough floor. So now our lady is fairly provided with her dower, with nature's wilds for her garden, the feathered tribes for her songsters, Indians, squaws and pappooses for her neighbors, let us imagine her doing the work for six per- sons, while we look after the male occupants of our man- sion. Land was to be cleared; salt to be made ; so in good earnest they went to work. Justus, with his teams, brought kettles from Canton, placed them on poles, and from the puddles of salt water manufactured salt. Wood was plenty, so it did not cost him much to keep his kettles hot, nor the housewife as many words as it does us of the present day to cook her fare. Our three young men, Seeley, Scoville and Clark, have begun chopping ; and Alpheus, like the man we read of, had a wife, and could not work. But Mr. Demming had gone back to fetch Ruth to be company for Minerva, the lone woman of the wilderness ; so I suppose she sang, or might have sung — "Hope, thou bird of the golden wing, Thou art ever hovering o'er us ; Thou dost many a song of rapture sing, Telling of joys betore us." But at last she came, and in less than one month there was another visitant in the rude log cabin. A '* wee thing" came, and the mother's heart was stirred, and the fountains of affection awoke. Sally Urania the baby was christened, and she was the first child born in Medina county, and her children's children sat upon their great, great grandfather's knee, and formed the fifth generation. Our family now consisted of nine per- SOM. 14-1 LIVERPOOL. The work of cultivation still wont on. Minerva, with a case-knife made trenches and planted apple- seeds which her children of the fourth generation now in 1860 frequently eat of. Our garden spot was cleared and planted with all the various kinds of seeds which we had brought with us, sixty different kinds in all. Six acres was cleared and planted with corn. Justus passed most of the summer in trying to turn Rocky River in her course, but all to no purpose, for what with fever and ague, and very little calculation, he brought nothing to pass. Fall saw him on his journey back to old Connecticut after his family. Seeley, Scq- ville and Clark left also. Moses Demming had begun keeping house by himself, Oliver Ten ill was hired by Alpheus to do a job of chopping, and at Christmas there was to be something done in the then wilderness, to hand down to posterity. So every man then in town, which was Oliver, Seeley, John Jacobs and Al- pheus, all chopped at once on a large oak tree near where Hubbard's house now stands, and every woman, which was Ruth and Minerva, looked on to see it fall. The first cut made one hundred and sixty rails. The weather was so warm that baby needed a parasol over it to keep the sun off, and so cold in Connecticut that the illumination was given up — so said the letters of Aaron and Minerva. Then came supper, and the wild turkey was roasted, the wild jokes were cracked, and the wild laughter rang out through the wild forest, and every man, woman and child sat around the shingle table of our hostess. So much for Christmas. Think not, dear reader, that starvation 'stared us in the face. No, no, the wild bees afforded sweets for our table, the seeds we had brought and planned had provided pumpkins for pies, the marshes yielded cran- berries for our desert, our