USA > Ohio > Summit County > Akron > Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc. > Part 100
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145
809
GREEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE.
John W. Steese (killed in battle), William F. Spidel, Ezra Spidel, Ira Spidel, Isaas Shutt, David H. Shutt, Elias Shutt, Daniel G. Slutt, Charles C. Smith (killed in battle), Hiram B. Smith (died in service), Joseph D. B. Siess, Joseph Simon, Elias Shriver, Balser Shriver, Henry Shriver, Daniel Stamm, Franklin G. Stipe, Aaron Swartz, George Switzer, Urias F. Sefner, Edmund Shriver (drafted), Simon S. Staver, Joel Staver, Christian Schaffer (died in service), Jacob Sickmer, Elijah Shriver, William Smith, John Sayler, . Andrew Tousley, Joseph C. Tousley, Albert M. Tousley, Joel T. Tousley, Jacob Tritehart, Peter Tritt, Samuel Winkleman, Henry L. Winkleman, John Winkleman, Franklin Winkleman, Isaac Weaver (killed in battle), William Weaver (killed in battle), Jacob Weaver, Reuben C. Wagoner, Elias Wise, Aaron Welty, Jacob White, Hiram J. Weckerley, Allen Whetstone, Adam Weston, Cephas Witwer, Peter Witwer, Henry Wagoner, Jefferson Yerrick (died in service), Alfred Yerrick, Andrew Yerrick, Hiram Yerrick, Lewis Yerrick.
COUNTY, STATE AND NATION .- Though not, perhaps, numer- ically so prominent in public affairs as some of her sister town- ships, Green is able to present a highly honorable record in that regard.
COUNTY RECORDER .- Alexander Johnston, Esq., one of Green's most successful and substantial farmers, was elected as Summit county's first recorder, in April, 1840, and re-elected in October of the same year; for three years and seven months rendering his constituents signal service, in organizing the real estate records of the new county, and in properly adjusting them with those of the several counties out of which Summit had been formed.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE .- So well pleased were the people of the county with Mr. Johnston's work as recorder, that, in October, 1846, they elected him, by a handsome majority, to a seat in the House of Representative, at Columbus, the county's interests being faithfully cared for during the session, 1846-7. Mr. Johnston, now (November, 1891), 84 years of age, in the possession of all his physical and mental faculties, still lives on his fine farm, in the southeastern portion of the township. [See portrait and biography on page 101.]
COUNTY SHERIFF .- Jacob Chisnell, a resident of Green town- ship, was elected to the important office of sheriff, in October, 1860, taking possession of the office on the first Monday of January, 1861. In accordance with the custom, and for faithful service during his first term, Mr. Chisnell was re-elected for two years, in October, 1862, his four years, while perhaps rendered more onerous thereby, being probably somewhat less remunerative, by reason of the war which continued through the entire two terms of his incum- bency.
COUNTY AUDITOR .- George W. Crouse, though born in staid old Tallmadge, rejoices in being known as a son of Green, going thither, with his parents, while yet almost in his infancy. Having, by remarkable industry and perseverance, fitted himself therefor, in 1855 he became an assistant to both the auditor and treasurer, his work being so well performed, that, in October, 1858, at the age of 25 years, he was elected county auditor, for two years, and in 1860, re-elected for the second term.
810
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
COUNTY TREASURER .- Some two weeks before the expiration of his term, as auditor, a vacancy occurring in the office of treas- urer, the county commissioners-Messrs. David E. Hill, of Middle- bury, George Buell, of Akron, and Nelson Upson, of Twinsburg- unanimously appointed Mr. Crouse to the vacancy, which he filled with his usual fidelity for the seven remaining months of the term.
STATE SENATOR .- Though by this time pretty well grounded as a resident of the city of Akron, Green was still further honored by the selection of Mr. George W. Crouse, in 1885, to represent the 24th and 26th districts combined, composed of Summit, Portage, Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula counties, in the State senate, which he most acceptably did until "called up higher," by the voice of the people of the 20th congressional district of Ohio, composed of Wayne, Medina, Summit and part of Cuyahoga counties, as its
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, from March 4th, 1887, to March 4th, 1889, the duties of which position he performed with the same unswerving ability and integrity that have ever marked both his- business and official life, declining a renomination for a second term. [See portrait and biography on page 152.]
COUNTY COMMISSIONER .- Washington G. Johnston was elected county commissioner in November, 1890, making in all respects a first-class officer.
PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS (1891) .- Trustees, John F. Wise, Henry Brumbaugh, Jonathan L. Grable; clerk, Isaac B. Rohrer; treasurer, William Krumroy; justices of the peace, Clinton C. Fos- ter, Sylvester S. Kepler; postmasters, Inland, Sheridan G. Berger; Summit, William Dreese; Myersville, Norman B. Bidleman; Comet, Freeman Daily.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
JIUDSON THE PIONEER TOWNSHIP OF SUMMIT COUNTY-LONG AND PERILOUS JOURNEY-"HIOME AT LAST," JUNE, 1779-EARLY PRIVATIONS-FIRST PUB- LIC THANKSGIVING-PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION, JULY 4, 1800-VITAL STA- TISTICS-WONDERFUL LONGEVITY OF EARLY SETTLERS-ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP-INDIAN AND WILD BEAST EXPERIENCES-RELIGION, CHURCHES, ETC .- EDUCATIONAL MATTERS-WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE, ITS RISE, PROGRESS AND DECLINE-HUDSON'S PAST AND PRESENT BUSINESS STATUS -MILITARY OPERATIONS-SPLENDID CIVIL RECORD-CRIMINAL MATTERS- THE MALONEY-STEPLETON HOMICIDE-EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE --- PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER-TRIAL, LIFE SENTENCE, PARDON, SUBSEQUENT LIFE, ETC .- HUDSON'S PUBLIC SPIRIT, RAILROAD ENTERPRISE, ETC.
HUDSON'S ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.
IN the original survey of the Western Reserve, by the Connecti- cut Land Company, what is now called Hudson, was designated as Township 4, Range 10, and is so known on the county records and tax duplicates at the present time. In the distribution of the lands by draft, as elsewhere explained, this township fell to David Hudson, Birdsey Norton, Nathaniel Norton, Stephen Baldwin, Benjamin Oviatt and Theodore Parmelee. The township contained 16,000 acres, the purchase price of which was 52 cents per acre (a total of $8,320.00); but owing to the report of the surveyors that a large portion of the township was swamp, 10,000 additional acres, . in the "equalizing" townships of Norton and Chester, was thrown in, making the actual cost of the whole 26,000 acres, just 32 cents per acre.
FIRST VISIT TO TOWNSHIP .- This purchase, perfected in 1798, was first visited by Mr. Hudson, in 1799. Accompanied by his eleven-year-old son, Ira, and (as hired help) Jesse Lindley, William McKinley, and Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Lacey, and their two chil- dren), the party started from Goshen, Litchfield county, Connecti- cut, April 23, 1799, Mr. Lacey acting as caterer and teamster, and Mrs. L. as cook. At Albany Mr. Hudson hired Joseph Darrow, at $10 per month, to assist him in making his surveys; at Fort Schuyler, Jonah Meacham, and at Onondaga, Richard Blin were taken on, the party reaching Bloomfield, Ontario county, N. Y., the home of Mr. Nathaniel Norton, on the 5th day of May.
Here they were detained eleven days preparing for their long and perilous journey. Here, also, Mr. Hudson fell in with Mr. Benjamin Tappan, the proprietor of Ravenna, afterwards for many years, known as Judge Tappan, and a United States Senator from Ohio, from 1839 to 1845. - Mr. Tappan bought one yoke of oxen, and Mr. Hudson two yoke, and two cows, which were placed in charge of Mr. Hudson's man, Meacham, and two of Mr. Tappan's men, who drove them safely through, on the Indian trail to Buffalo, and thence along the lake shore to about the present site of Painesville, thence southerly, on the marked township lines, to their respective destinations.
812
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
Mr. Hudson, on reaching Geandiquot (pronounced "Gondigut") Bay, on Lake Ontario, found the boat which had been provided for the conveyance of himself and party westward, unfit for use, and engaged passage for himself and Darrow in one of Mr. Tap- pan's boats; also arranging with Mr. Elias Harmon, who was, with his wife, en route for Mantua, for the passage of Blin and McKin- ley; a part of his stores being divided between the two boats; the balance, together with his son, Ira, being left with Mr. and Mrs. Lacey, to work their way through the wilderness by land.
D EACON DAVID HUDSON,-born in Bradford, Connecticut, Feb- ruary 17, 1761, and Anna Norton, born in Goshen, Connecticut, October 29, 1761, were married at Goshen, Decem- ber 22, 1783, and moved to Ohio, set- tling in Hudson, in the Spring of 1800. They were the parents of nine chil- dren-Samuel, born April 4, 1785, died in Hudson, January 13, 1846 ; Ira, born September 19, 1788, died in Ravenna, September 20, 1817; William Norton, born November 8, 1789, died in Meigs ยท county, July 28, 1863, from a gunshot wound received during the raid of the rebel John Morgan through Ohio; Milo Lee, born October 15, 1791, died in Chester, November 4, 1838 ; Daniel Norton, born February 27, 1794, died in Goshen, August 25, 1796 ; Timothy, born May 20, 1796, died in Ligonier, Indiana, October 29, 1871; Abigail Laura, born June 30, 1798 (afterwards Mrs. Birdsey Oviatt), died in Hud- son, April 24, 1860; Anner Mary (Mrs. Harvey Baldwin), born October 28, 1800, still living; David Hudson, Jr., born September 7, 1805, died in Ches- ter, May 14, 1836. The mother of these children, Mrs. Anna Norton Hudson, dying August 31, 1816, Deacon Hud- son was again married, June 1, 1817, to Miss Mary Robinson, of Colebrook, Connecticut, Mr. Hudson dying. March 17, 1836, at the age of 75 years and one month, the second Mrs. Hud- son dying October 4, 1857. Deacon
DEACON DAVID HUDSON.
Hudson, as one of the original pro- prietors of Hudson township, and as the first actual settler in what is now Summit county, was not only an ex- tensive farmer, but largely interested in many of the earlier mercantile and manufacturing enterprises of his township and village, and especially active in the promotion of its relig- ious and educational interests, as hereinafter more fully set forth.
A PERILOUS JOURNEY .- The "fleet" started from Geandiquot Bay, May 16, but, from stress of weather, did not reach Niagara until the 22nd, and here they found the river full of floating ice. Getting, with very great labor, their boats and goods around and above the Falls, the little company pluckily persevered, against the rapid current and floating ice, reaching Buffalo Creek May 26, where they found an ice-gorge, at the mouth of the Niagara, according to Mr. Hudson's diary, "at least twelve feet high." That night, however, the gorge broke, leaving Lake Erie clear of ice, but with such a heavy swell and head winds, as to prevent further advance until the 29th. It was then noticed that the wind was less strong at night than during the day, and it was determined to travel by night, alternately rowing, poling and towing, as circum- stances seemed to require. To this night work Mr. Lindley
1
4
REFORMING A SHIRKER-PERILS OF THE DEEP.
813
objected, as he had hired out to work in the day time only. With- out serious demur Mr. Hudson allowed him to have his own way; the others doing the work while he slept at his ease. While oppo- site Cattaragus Swamp, Mr. Hudson, one morning, provided Lindley with an ax and set him to work felling trees and chopping them up into cord wood, while the rest of the men were sleeping. . After a few hours' labor in that line, Lindley, seeing the point of the joke, succumbed, and apologized to Mr. Hudson for the course he had taken, and promised thenceforth to do his share of the night work, if he would excuse him from cutting and piling cord wood hun- dreds of miles from any settlement.
TEMPEST-TOSSED ON A LEE SHORE .- The party finally reached the mouth of Conneaut river, June 5, after leaving which, on the afternoon of that day, the wind, suddenly shifting to the north, blew with such violence as to drive them on shore, the boat in which were Mr. Hudson and Mr. Darrow, being filled with water, wetting all their provisions and other goods, and that on which were Blin and Mckinley, having a hole stove in her bottom, through which a portion of Mr. Hudson's potatoes were lost in the surging waters of the lake. Lying by 24 hours, for repairs and drying their goods, the journey was resumed with favorable winds and fair sailing (blankets being used for sails), the party reaching Grand river (off the present city of Painesville), June 7th. This being the debarkation point for Mr. Harmon, he sold his dilapi- dated boat to Mr. Hudson for $1.00, with which, and Mr. Tappan's boat, the party safely reached the mouth of the Cuyahoga; Mr. Tappan's boat on the 9th and the other on the 10th of June. After almost infinite fatigue and trouble in ascending the tortuous Cuyahoga, the waters of which were at the time extremely low, the party reached the mouth of the Brandywine, in the present township of Northfield, June 17, 1779 (just one day less than a month after leaving Geandiquot Bay, a remarkably quick passage, indeed, under the circumstances), Mr. Hudson's boat having been plundered one night while the men were asleep, of quite a quantity of flour, pork, whisky, etc., supposed to have been done by a rene- gade Sandusky Indian and a white outlaw, who were known to be prowling about the neighborhood.
AT LENGTH AT HOME .- After searching six days, Mr. Hudson found the western line of his township, when he and Mr. Tappan and their men set about cutting a road for the purpose of getting their goods to their respective localities, which they found very difficult on account of the hills and gullies in Northfield and Bos- ton and the swamp in the west part of Hudson. But finally suc- ceeding in getting a portion of his goods to the place selected, Mr. Hudson commenced his settlement by the erection of a rude bark shelter, near the southwest corner of his township, on the northeast corner of what is now known as lot eleven. Fortunately the men sent overland with the cattle, arrived the day after the " fleet" anchored at Brandywine. Rude sleds were constructed, by the use of which, drawn by the three yoke of oxen, which had, with immense labor, but good management, been brought safely through the wilderness, the goods of both Mr. Hudson and Mr. Tappan were speedily transported to their respective localities.
RUNNING SHORT OF PROVISIONS .- In consequence of the loss of a portion of their supplies, as stated, and the non-appearance of
.
814
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
Lacey and his wife, with the supplies that had been intrusted to them, Mr. Hudson became apprehensive that his little colony would soon begin to suffer for food while pursuing their labors in clearing a patch of land for a crop of wheat, and in surveying his township into lots. It afterwards transpired that Lacey, with a number of recruits furnished by Mr. Nathaniel Norton, and certain supplies forwarded by Captain Eliphalet Austin (proprietor of Austintown, Ashtabula county), had fitted up the boat deemed unfit for use by Mr. Hudson, and had leisurely followed the origi- nal party, with about the same varied experiences and misad- ventures, arriving at their destination on the 19th of July; Mr. Hudson (also feeling very anxious about his boy)having gone down the lake in search of them, meeting them at the mouth of Cattara- gus Creek.
Thus, by the purchase of a small field of corn and potatoes from Mr. Lorenzo Carter, of Vermont, who had, a year or two before, squatted upon the present site of the city of Cleveland; borrowing a small quantity of pork from a previous settler in a neighboring town, and temporarily appropriating a couple of barrels of Captain Austin's flour, the colony, with such accessions of game as they had time and opportunity to secure, managed to keep the wolf, hunger, at a respectful distance, though several of the party were assailed with the various forms of disease incident to change of climate, exposure, etc.
The first rude shelter (of bark) was soon superseded by a sub- stantial log shanty, 16x18 feet, which, affording better protection to the men, soon produced improved health among them and the surveying, clearing, seeding, etc., rapidly proceeded; the sur- vey, platting, etc., being completed on the 11th day of October; a small clearing having also been made a short distance north of the capacious public square, which had been laid out by Mr. Hudson on what is now known as township lot 56, on the east side of Main street, where Mr. Hudson the next year erected a two-room log house for his own use, a few years later building for himself, on lot 55, upon the opposite side of the street, the commodious frame house still standing there, and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Harvey Baldwin, as elsewhere alluded to.
MR. HUDSON RETURNS TO CONNECTICUT .- Having placed his people in as comfortable condition as circumstances would admit of, and instructing them as to the work to be done in his absence, Mr. Hudson, on the 12th day of October, accompanied by his young son, Ira, Meacham and Darrow, in the frail craft purchased from Mr. Harmon, started on his return to Connecticut for his family, and such recruits for his new settlement, as he might be able to secure, after infinite toil, and inany very narrow escapes, reach- ing Bloomfield in safety, about the middle of November. Leaving his little son with Nathaniel Norton, Mr. Hudson immediately pushed on to Goshen, on foot, arriving there November 19, the total expenses of his homeward journey, besides the supplies carried along, being only $9.75; an example of pluck and economy that but few "pioneers" in any modern enterprise, would be able, or willing, to undertake to emulate.
In raising recruits for his settlement, Mr. Hudson seems to have been exceptionally successful, and singularly fortunate. Offering a bounty of 40 acres to the first recruit, the first party to
.
81
FIRST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
step forward and claim the prize was Miss Ruth Gaylord-denom- inated by a contemporaneous writer as "an ancient maiden" -- who afterwards gave the land thus secured, to her niece, a daughter of another of the new recruits, Elijah Noble.
The other recruits were: Heman Oviatt (grandfather of Edward Oviatt, Esq.,) Joel Gaylord, Dr. Moses Thompson, Allen Gaylord, Samuel Bishop and his four sons-David, Luman, Reuben and Joseph-Stephen Perkins, Joseph and George Darrow, and three Vermonters named Stafford, Williams and Derrick, which with Mr. and Mrs. Hudson and their six children-Samuel, Wil- liam N., Milo D., Ira, Timothy and Abigail L .- Mrs. Samuel Bishop, Mrs. Elijah Noble, Miss Ruth Gaylord, Miss Ruth Bishop, and the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Noble, made twenty-eight souls in all.
AGAIN WESTWARD BOUND .- Some time in January, 1800, Mr. Hudson and his family, and certain of his own hired men, started in sleighs for Bloomfield, to make preparations for the journey westward in the early Spring. In addition to his own boat, which he caused to be thoroughly repaired, Mr. Hudson procured four other boats, which he loaded with grains and other supplies, including glass for the cabins built the previous Fall, and those contemplated, garden and fruit seeds, tools, etc., the entire outlay amounting to about $2,000. The other members of the party, hav- ing meantime reached Broomfield, and supplied themselves with three boats for the transportation of themselves and their effects, the entire party started, on the 29th day of April, 1800, and on the 30th, to quote from Mr. Hudson's diary, they "cheerfully launched out upon the great deep of Lake Ontario."
We cannot follow them in all their journeyings, but after many vicissitudes, similar to those encountered on the former trip, the mouth of the Brandywine was reached on the 28th day of May, one day sooner than on the former passage, all, after a few days' delay, being safely transferred to the new settlement, where addi- tional cabins, on chosen locations, were speedily erected for their accommodation. Before leaving Bloomfield, Mr. Hudson bought a horse, a bull, fourteen cows and some hogs, which, with a yoke of oxen bought by Samuel Bishop, had been placed in charge of Elijah Noble and Luman, David and Joseph G. Bishop, to be driven through the wilderness, which, starting a little in advance of the " fleet," arrived safely at the settlement about the same time.
THANKSGIVING, PUBLIC WORSHIP, ETC .- After all the members of the colony were together, Mr. Hudson led his people in a public service of thanksgiving and praise to almighty God, who had brought them through "perils, seen and unseen," safely to their destination, and also took immediate measures to resume public worship on the Sabbath, which had been suspended during his absence, but which has since been continuously observed to the present time. The new. settlers speedily and pluckily began the subjugation of the forest, and by indefatigable industry, in the clearing, seeding and cultivation of their lands, with the aid of such game as the woods afforded, soon became self-supporting, with an ever-cheerful welcome to the new-comer, or the stranger sojourning in their midst.
INDEPENDENCE DAY .- Though far removed from the bloody scenes of the Revolution, the native patriotism of the colonists had in no sense become dormant, and on the Fourth of July, 1800,
816
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.'
the 24th anniversary of the National Independence, was, for the first time, duly celebrated on the "public green," consisting of about ten acres of land near the geographical center, which had been wisely dedicated to the public use by the liberal-minded pro- prietors of the township. The exercises consisted of an "anvil" national salute; martial and vocal music; the reading of the Declaration of Independence; an oration (by Mr. Hudson); regular and volunteer toasts, and patriotic responses, and a sumptuous dinner of wild turkey, venison, etc., the table being formed of poles laid across crotched stakes, and covered with layers of elm bark; forty-three persons, young and old-residents and invited guests- participating; and the writer ventures the assertion that the day has never since been celebrated with a greater degree of patriotic " vim," in Hudson, or on the liberty-loving Western Reserve.
EARLY BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, ETC .- October 28, 1800, there was a native accession to the population of the township, in the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson-named Anner Mary-who, on arriving at woman's estate, was on the 6th day of October, 1817, married to the late Harvey Baldwin, with whom she happily lived almost on the same spot where she was born, for more than half a century (Mr. Baldwin dying June 12, 1880, aged 81 years, 8 months and 22 days), and where she still (Novem -.- ber 1, 1891) survives, in full possession of all her faculties, in the 92nd year of her age. Mrs. Baldwin was born in Trum- bull county, married in Portage county and now lives in Sum- mit county, but has always, with one brief exception, resided upon the same farm where she was born, a paradox readily explained by the fact that Trumbull county, when organized, in 1800, embraced the entire Western Reserve, Portage county, organ- ized in 1807, being carved out of Trumbull, and Summit county, in turn, organized in 1840, taking two tiers of townships, including Hudson, fron Portage county.
Early in 1801, Governor St. Clair appointed Mr. Hudson jus- tice of the peace, the first marriage in the township, that of George Darrow to Olive Gaylord, being performed by him October 17, 1801. It is related that on account of the 'Squire's inexperience in that line, the affair was to have been strictly private, but that through a hint dropped by his wife to a neighbor, when the 'Squire, by a round-about way, got to the home of the bride's parents, he found the little cabin filled with uninvited, but friendly and welcome guests; Stephen Parker and Ruth Bishop, being married by the same functionary, November 5th, of the same year. The first death in the settlement, was that of Ira Noble, an eight-year-old son of Elijah Noble, who died of membranous croup, in August, 1800.
WONDERFUL LONGEVITY .- In the Spring of 1801, a number of. accessions were made to the colony, mostly from Goshen, Ct., and Bloomfield, N. Y., the names of whom cannot now all be accurately ascertained, though, in 1856, Rev. Caleb Pitkin published a list of the adult pioneers immigrating into the township from 1800 to 1813 inclusive, as follows: David and Mrs. Hudson, Samuel and Mrs. Bishop, David Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. Luman Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. Gad Hollenbeck, Joseph Darrow, Mr. and Mrs. George Darrow, Allen Gaylord, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Gaylord, Captain and Mrs. Heman Oviatt, Deacon and Mrs. Stephen Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.