USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 64
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In 1840, Mr. J. A. Ellis started a machine-shop at Conneaut Centre, and about two years later added a foundry, where he has continued the business till the present time.
CHEESE-FACTORIES.
The first cheese-factory built in the township was that at Amboy. This was built in 1869-70 by a stock company. The building is in size thirty-two by seventy feet, and three stories high, and cost, with the necessary equipments and utensils, four thousand dollars.
The first officers were J. D. Ransom, president ; P. C. Ryan, secretary ; Lyman Luee, S. Hazeltine, and J. D. Rausom, directors. The factory eommeneed opera- tions in the spring of 1870. N. P. Tillotson was operator for three seasons, T. Buffington two, aud L. Luee two. There has been an average annual manu- facture of abont one hundred thousand pounds of cheese until the past three seasons, when both butter and cheese have been made. Alonzo Green owns the controlling interest at present.
In the spring of 1870, at the same time the Amboy factory eommeueed opera- tions, Weldon & Brown started a factory in the old tavern building at East Conneaut. A snecessful business was done at this place until the elose of 1874, since which time there have been changes in proprietors and little business done.
In the spring of 1872, N. B. Payne & Son built and put into operation a cheese-factory on their dairy farm, two miles southeast of Conneaut village. In
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
the spring of 1874 they increased the capacity of the factory by erecting an additional building and putting in new utensils aud machinery. The milk of from three to four hundred cows is received at this factory. affording an average annual manufacture of about one hundred thousand pounds of cheese. A factory was built at South Ridge, in the spring of 1875, by Hayward & Sanford, who have since continued the cheese manufacturing business at that place with fair results.
CONNEAUT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in the winter of 1853-54. The first officers were elected at a meeting held at the town-house, January 6, 1854, and were as follows : President. P. W. Grant ; Secretary, D. C. Allen; Treasurer, S. R. Bradley ; Vice- Presidents (oue for each school district in the township ). Beujamin Harper, H. Kilburn. Isaac Skinner, J. G. Whitney. Henry Grant. Simon Brown, Benjamin Cushing. Horace Baldwin. Henry Putney. G. V. Eastman. Thomas Gibson, Lewis Thurbur, Edward Brooks, A. Bagley; Executive Committee. President, P. W. Grant ; Secretary. D. C. Allen ; A. Bagley, Isaac Skinner. and H. Kilburn.
The first annual fair was held September 21. 1854, on grounds leased of Amos Thompson. at Conneaut Centre. These grounds were a part of twenty-one acres subsequently purchased by the society, and improved and used as a fair-ground until the spring of 1875, when the society sold the same to D. Cummins for 82600. and disbanded.
Twenty-one annual fairs were held by this society. the last occurring in the fall of 1574. when the total receipts amounted to 8847.89. Receipts from sale of tickets. 8746. The receipts for 1873 were 8756.21, and for 1872, 8965.04. The presidents 'of the society have been as follows: P. W. Grant, 1854-55; Johu H. Kilburn, 1856 : Isaac Skiuner. 1858-59; Stephen Daniels. 1860-63-66 ; Barzilla Viets, 1864; Thomas Gibson, 1865; O. L. Huston, 1867-69 ; Henry Putney, 1870-72; E. Hewett, 1873-74. The officers in 1874 were E. Hewett, president ; J. S. Brown, secretary ; A. Scott, vice-president ; S. Hayward, treas- urer. Executive officers. J. Hicks. O. L. Huston, P. C. Ferguson, P. M. Dar- ling. S. Hazeltine. B. G. Viets, D. C. Allen, H. Grant, S. Wilder, A. C. Dibble, E. A. Stoue, and S. Greeu.
CONNEAUT HARBOR.
The mouth of Conneaut creek, where it discharges its waters into Lake Erie, forms the best natural harbor on this shore of the lake between Cleveland and Erie. From the date of the arrival of the surveying party this harbor has been made usc of, much to the advantage of the settlers of this township, and has added much importance to its history. The surveyors erected their store-houses at this point, and the early settlers who arrived in Conneaut first took up their abode here. No railroads had been thought of at this time, and lake navigation was of much importance, to the early settlers especially, in many respects. Graiu grown in this vicinity, and for many miles south into the country, was shipped from this Joint, as well as much whisky distilled from grain at the numerous distilleries then in operation all over this section of the county. The products of the forests also added much to the shipping interests, as lumber, staves. oars, and handles were manufactured and shipped from this harbor in very large quantities. The first brick residence erected in the township-the Ford House, for many years used as a tavern, and still standing-was at this place. For a number of years previous to the building of the Lake Shore railway, more shipping business was done at Conneaut Harbor than at any point between Cleveland and Erie. Six or seven large warehouses werc in use. A large fleet of vessels sailed between this point and Buffalo. Steamboats made regular stops. Supplies for points as far south as Youngstown were shipped to this place. At the time the railroad was built it had the effect of taking much of the business from the harbor and dividing it up at different points along the road. An effort was made ouce or twice by the citizens of Conneaut to secure a railroad from the harbor, leading south into the coal, iron, and oil regions of Pennsylvania; but, from want of sufficient energy and capital, the effort proved unsuccessful. Ashtabula has since secured what Conneaut failed to do in this respect. and now has a busy and important port on the lakes, while Conneaut Harbor, naturally a better point, at present preseuts a deserted and almost lifeless appearance.
VESSELS BUILT IN CONNEAUT.
Quite a large number of vessels have been built in this township for lake navi- gation and some for the ocean trade. The first vessel built in Conneaut was the "Salem Packet." She was built by Elias Keyes and Captain Samuel Ward, about the year 1513, on the creek, just above the present iron bridge, and was floated down the creek in a time of high water. She carried two spars, and had a capacity of about 27 tons. Captain Samuel Ward was her first master. Following this were the "Farmer," built by Christopher Ford, at Conneaut Harbor, Charley Brown, captain ; wrecked on Long Point, October 20, 1827, afterwards rebuilt
in Cleveland, and sailed on the lakes until forty-three years old. The " Indepen- dence," a schooner of about 30 tons, built by James Tubbs, on the lake shore, about a mile west of the harbor. The sloop " Humming-Bird," built in 1830 by John Brooks, who was subsequently drowued off Sandusky while sailing her. The " Conneaut Packet," built by Gilmon Appleby and A. B. Tubbs. The sloop " Dart," built in Kingsville, and trucked to Conneaut to be launched and fitted out. The "Oregon." built at Harmon's Landing by James Brooks and John V. Singer. The "Commercial," built at Harmon's Landing by Reed & Lyon and others, about the year 1833-34, O. Salisbury, captain. The " Reindeer," built about the same time by John V. Singer and others. The " North America" was the first steamer built in Conneaut. She had a capacity of 300 tons, and was built about the year 1834 by a stock company, the shares being one hundred dollars each. Her first captain was Gilmon Appleby. The steamer " Wisconsin, " capacity 400 tons, was built about the year 1836 at Harper's. now Wood's, Landing. She was built by a stock company, and was towed to Buffalo to be fitted out. The " Con- stitution." built by Captain Gilmon Appleby and others, was a still larger steamer, having a capacity of about 450 tons. Following these again were the schooner '. Troy," 130 tons, built at the harbor by Captain Harrison Howard about the year 1840. The " J. B. Skinner." 100 tons, built at the harbor, in 1841-42, by Marshall Capron and H. C. Walker, and first commanded by Captain Marshall Capron. The " Henry M. Kinney," 110 tons. built at the same time by Robert Lyon and Henry M. Kinney, and first commanded by Captain Harrison Howard. The " J. W. Brown," 200 tons, built by Captaiu Harrison Howard and J. W. Brown, of Toledo; "The Belle," 200 tons, built by the same parties ; the brig '. Lucy Walbridge," 300 tons, built at the harbor, about the year 1844, by Charles Hall, George B. Walbridge, and O. Salisbury, and commanded by Cap- tain O. Salisbury ; the brig " Lucy A. Blossom." 330 tons, built at the harbor, in 1845 or 1846, by Chas. Hall and Geo. B. Walbridge; the " Banner," built at the harbor about the year 1847, by Zaphna Lake and Benjamin Carpenter, at this time the largest sail vessel on the lakes, having a capacity of 500 tons, commanded by Captain Marshall Capron ; the schooner ". Dan Marble," 150 tons, built by John Tyler and Zaphna Lake ; the ' Traveler" and the " Telegraph," 300 tons each, built at the harbor by C'has. Hall. G. W. Walbridge, and John H. Kilburn, and commanded by John Martin and P. Snow; the "Grayhound," 400 tons, built at the harbor by a Buffalo company ; the " Stambaugh," 250 tons, built and commanded by Augustus Waird ; the scow " Sea-Bird." 300 tons. built at Harmon's Landing by Hiram Judson aud P. B. Doty ; the scow " Fairy Queen," built by Isaac Van Gorder and Daniel Gilbert ; the " Nightingale." built by Captain Howard. A vessel of 450 tous capacity. for the ocean trade, was built at the harbor in 1862 to 1863 by Wesley Lent for Tupper & Streiver, of Buffalo. The bark "Ogarita," capacity about 800 tons, was built at the harbor by O. Bugby, of Buffalo, and commanded by Captain Andrew Lent; the " Indianola," 400 tons, built and commanded by Captain George De Wolf for E. A. Keyes ; the scow> " Thomas Swain" and " Loren Gould." built by James A. Childs & Brother ; the " L. May Guthrie," built by Judd & Childs. Besides these are a number of vessels built by Captain Marshall Capron, who has been more prowi- nently connected with this branch of industry than any other citizen of Conneaut. His vessels are as follows : the scow " Times," capacity 60 tons, built at Har- mon's Landing in 1859 and 1860; the bark " Monitor," 500 tons, built at the same place in 1861 to 1862; the schooner "Ann Maria," 450 tons, built at Demick's Landing in 1863 to 1864; the bark " Valentine," 300 tons; the bark ".T. B. Ricc." 300 tons, built at Demick's Landing in 1865; the scow " J. G. Palmer," 60 tons; the schooner " Conneaut," 260 tons; and the schooner " M. Capron," 250 tons.
AMBOY.
Amboy is a small village in the west part of the township, where are located two stores, a hotel, two churches, school-house, post-office, cheese factory, flouring- mill. cabinet-shop, blacksmith-shop, shoe-shop, and numerous cigar-manufactories. There is also a platform-station on the Lake Shore railroad, where stops are made by two passenger trains per day each way.
The Methodist Episcopal church at this place was organized in the year 1823, by Rev. Jesse Viets. The church building was commenced in the year 1839, but not finished for a number of years afterwards. The land was donated by Barnes Hubbard and Silas Wilder. The first trustees were William Perrin, Jesse Viets, Bliss Ransom, Samnel Blakeslee, Charles Brown, R. S. Viets, and Raswell Viets. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Victs. The present pastor is Rev. W. J. Wilson, and the church membership numbers one hundred.
The school building erected in the summer of 1877 is probably the best com- mon-school building in the county. It is thirty-two by fifty feet, one story, and thirteen feet between joists, and cost twelve hundred dollars.
MRS . THOMAS GIBSON
THOMAS GIBSON
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS GIBSON, CONNEAUT TP., ASHTABULA CO., OHIO.
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
SOUTH RIDGE.
South Ridge is another small village, situated in the south part of the town- ship. There is at this plaec a store, post-office, hotel, church, school-house, cheese-factory, flouring-mill, and blacksmith-shop.
The Free-Will Baptist church located here was organized December 30, 1826, by Rev. Samuel Wise. The meeting for organization was held at the house of Appollus Thompson. Their meetings were held in union with other denomina- tions until the year 1837, when the church edifice was erected, at a cost of two thousand dollars. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. Samuel Wire, Abrawu Shearer, D. M. L. Rollin, Stephen Bathrick, F. W. Straight, Rufus Clark, M. R. Kenney, William M. Yates, T. P. Moulton, R. E. Anderson, A. F. Bryant, F. B. Herrick, J. R. Spencer, and L. C. Chase. The longest pastorate was that of Rev. Rufus Clark, who served thirteen years. The church is at present without a reg- ular pastor. At one time the membership reached one hundred and fifty, but at present it numbers but forty-four.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND ITS OFFICERS.
Conneaut township was organized in the spring of 1804. It was the first or- ganized township in the county, and bore the name of Salem until the winter of 1832-33, when it was changed to Conneaut, which name had previously been given to the creek and to the post-office.
The territory originally embraced, in addition to the present limits of the town- ship, a tract two miles wide off of the north part of the present township of Monroe. This was taken off of Conneaut and given to Monroe at the time of the organization of that township in the year 1818.
The first township-mecting was held at the house of Nathan King, and the fol- lowing officers elected: James Montgomery, clerk ; James Harper, Nathan King, and William Ferguson, trustees ; Hananiah Brooks and Joseph Tubbs, poor-mas- ters ; David Niles, John King, and Jaunes Montgomery, supervisors of highways ; Seth Harrington and James Ferguson, fence-viewers; Levi Montgomery, consta- ble ; James Harper, town treasurer.
Since the first year the following-named citizens have served as officers:
Trustees .- 1805, James Harper, Elisha King, Daniel Sawtelle; 1806, James Montgomery, William Ferguson, Gideon Leet; 1807, James Harper, David Niles, William Perrin ; 1808, Josiah Brown, John Montgomery, David Niles; 1809, William Ferguson, James Harper, Nathan King; 1810, Nathan King, James Harper, Daniel Sawtelle ; 1811, James Harper, David Niles, Zadoc Thompson ; 1812, Nehemiah King, Daniel Sawtelle, Joseph Tubbs; 1813, David Niles, Sr., Seth Thompson, Joseph Tubbs; 1814, David Niles, Seth Thompson, Josiah Browu; 1815, Dioeletian Wright, Joab Green, Amos Kellogg; 1816, Eli San- ford, James Harper, Josiah Brown, Jr .; 1817, Jacob Williams, Henry Smith, Jonathan Gilbert ; 1818, Lemuch Jones, Horace Dean, Eli Sanford; 1819, Elias Clark, Josiah Brown, Jr., Daniel Sawtelle; 1820, Joshua Z. Cozzens, Peck Clark, Edward Fifield; 1821, samue; 1822, Edward Fifield, Joshua Z. Cozzens, Lemuel Jones ; 1823, Josiah Brown, Jr., Seth Thompson, Nathaniel B. Harmon; 1824, Aaron Wright, Henry Smith, Daniel Baldwin; 1825, James Harper, Henry Smith, Israel A. Robinson ; 1826, James Harper, John Beau, Nathaniel Brooks; 1827, Nathaniel B. Harmon, Nathaniel Brooks, John Bean; 1828, David Steel, Nathaniel Brooks, John Brooks ; 1829, Appollus Thompson, Samuel Kennedy, William Harper; 1830, William Harper, William F. Clark, Appollus Thompson ; 1831, William Harper, Chester Sanford, Theophilus Sanboru; 1832, William Harper, Theophilus Sanboru, Henry Smith ; 1833, Henry Smith, Asa Jacobs, William Harper; 1834, William Brooks, Moses Smith, Jonathan Gilbert ; 1835, Chester Sanford, Appollus Thompson, William Harper; 1836, same; 1837, Chester Sanford, Elisha Farnham, Jonathan Gilbert ; 1838, William Harper, Ches- ter Sanford, Elisha Farnham ; 1839, William Harper, Appollus Thompson, P. W. Grant; 1840, John Reid, Chester Sanford, Thomas Gibson ; 1841, Thomas Gib- son, H. G. Walker, Samuel Blakeslee; 1842, Thomas Gibson, Samuel Blakeslee, Clement Gilbert ; 1843, Reuben Sanborn, Clement Gilbert, William G. Sawtelle; 1844, William Harper, W. G. Sawtelle, William Brooks; 1845, Thomas Gibson, John Reid, Chester Sanford; 1846, Elisha Farnham, Hiram Wood, Erastus Hu- lett ; 1847, Otho Laughlin, Hiram Wood, Ira White; 1848, Erastus Hulett, Al- fred Buss, Nelson Burington ; 1849, same ; 1850, Clement Gilbert, Thomas Gib- son, David Phillips ; 1851, Alfred Buss, Nelson Burington, G. V. Eastman ; 1852, Nelson Burington, John Judd, William Harper ; 1853, Nelson Burington, John Judd, Thomas Gibson ; 1854, Nelson Burington, Thomas Gibson, Benjamin Har- per ; 1855, Henry Putney, Erastus Hulett, Harvey Hubbard ; 1856, Henry Put- ney, O. L. Huston, John H. Kilburn; 1857, Henry Putney, O. L. Huston, Charles Benton ; 1858, Heury Putney, O. L. Huston, William Harper; 1859, G. V. East- man, O. L. Huston, William Harper ; 1860, same; 1861, O. L. Huston, G. V. Eastman, Benjamin Harper ; 1862, G. V. Eastman, Benjamin Harper, A. C. Dib- ble; 1863, Benjamin Harper, A. C. Dibble, N. B. Payne; 1864, A. C. Dibble,
N. B. Payne, Henry Grant; 1865, same; 1866, A. C. Dibble, Silas Green, N. B. Payne; 1867, J. D. Ransom, G. V. Eastman, N. B. Payne ; 1868 to 1878 inclusive, J. D. Ransom, O. L. Huston, and Hugh Laughlin.
Township Clerks .- 1805, James Montgomery; 1806, Thomas Hambleton ; 1807, John Reynolds; 1808-10, Nehemiah King; 1811-13, J. D. Jackson ; 1814, John Rudd; 1816-17, Lemuel Jones; 1818, David Niles, Jr .; 1819-20, Henry Keyes; 1821-23, John Bean; 1824-25, Chaneey Fifield; 1826, Wm. G. Sawtelle; 1827, F. H. Carter, appointed; 1828, Wni. G. Sawtelle ; 1829, Zaphna Lake; 1830-33, Wm. Brooks; 1834, Benj. F. Fifield ; 1835-36, Josiah Brown, Jr .; 1837, Loren Gould; 1838 to '43 inclusive, S. W. Grant ; 1844, George Morton ; 1845, Stephen R. Bradley ; 1846, Samuel P. Fenton ; 1847, George Morton ; 1848-49, Niles Osborn ; 1850, S. R. Bradley; 1851, Milo Osborn ; 1852-54, J. Q. Farmer ; 1855, Thomas Graham; 1856, E. Hunting- ton ; 1857-59, Loren Gould ; 1860, Charles Hunt ; 1861 to '70 inclusive, Loren Gould; 1871, E. A. Higgins; 1872 to the present time, Loren Gould.
Township Treasurers .- 1805, James Harper; 1806, Walter Fobes; 1807, Zachariah Olinstead; 1808 to '13 inclusive, Elisha King; 1814, Joab Green ; 1815, Daniel Coffin ; 1816, Jonathan Gilbert; 1817, Edward Fifield; 1818. James Harper ; 1819, Eli Sanford ; 1820, Eliazer Peck ; 1821 to '28 inclusive, Dr. John Venen; 1829, Cada Simons ; 1830 to '39 inclusive, Dr. John Venen ; 1840, Asa Jacobs ; 1841, Oliver Barr ; 1842 to '50, Thomas Swain ; 1851, David Steele, Jr .; 1852, Wm. G. Sawtelle; 1853-54, A. C. Keyes ; 1855, Gilbert Webster ; 1856-59 inclusive, T. B. Riee; 1860, J. H. Kilburn ; 1861-65, T. B. Rice ; 1866-69, C. Gansevoort; 1870, E. A. Keyes; 1871 to '77 inclusive, D. P. Venen ; 1878, B. E. Thayer.
Listers .- 1808, James Montgomery; 1809, John Montgomery; 1810-11, Nehemiah King; 1812-13, Zadoc Thompson ; 1814, Joab Green ; 1815, Lemuel Jones; 1816, John Brooks; 1817-18, Daniel Sawtelle; 1819, Joshua Z. Coz- zens ; 1820, David Niles, Jr .; 1822, Lemuel Joues ; 1824, John Brooks; 1825, Samuel Blakeslee; 1826, Lemuel Joncs.
Assessors .- 1841, Daniel Hatch ; 1842-43, John H. Robinson; 1844, Ira White ; 1845, Martin H. Collins; 1846-48, N. B. Harmon ; 1849, J. H. Kil- burn ; 1850-53, Danicl Hatch ; 1854, Hariuon Kilburn; 1855-56, Calvin Crane; 1857, Andrew Bagley ; 1858-59, Geo. S. Cleveland; 1860, Calvin Crane; 1861, Z. L. Wood; 1862, Elizur F. Grant ; 1863-65, G. V. Eastman ; 1866-67, Calvin Crane; 1868, Henry H. Hunt ; 1869, Samuel Hazeltine; 1870 to '76 inclusive, A. C. Dibble; 1877-78, Edwin Hieks.
Justices of the Peace .- It has been impossible for us to obtain a complete list of the justices of Conneaut, but among the number have been the follow- ing: Nathan King, commissioned in 1806 ; Josiah Brown, 1810 ; James Mout- gomery, 1811; Nehemiah King, 1811, '14; Zadoc Thompson, 1813; Aaron Wright, 1814; Amos Kellogg, 1816; John Beau, 1817, '20, '23; Eli Sanford, 1818 ; Elias Keyes, 1820 ; Joel Jones, 1821 ; Lemuel Jones, 1823, '26 ; Peleg Bowen, 1823; Lewis Thayer, 1823; Alexander R. Chase, 1824; Israel A. Robinson, 1828; Asa Jacobs, 1830, '33; George Morton, 1831, '42; Stephen P. Taylor, 1832; Wm. G. Sawtelle, 1835; S. F. Taylor, 1836, '39; Joseph Wilson, 1837 ; G. V. Eastman, 1838; Moses Smith, 1839; Elisha Farnham, 1839, '42, '45, '48, '51 ; Brewster Randall, 1840 ; Hiram Wood, 1842, '45, '48, '51; Horaee Wilder, 1845; Samuel P. Fenton, 1845, '48, '57, '60; Benj. Car- penter, 1850; John H. Kilburn, 1850; Zaphua Lake, 1851, '54; J. Q. Farmer, 1852; Thomas Graham, 1854; A. C. Dibble, 1854, '57, '61, '64, '67, '70, '73, '76; Hiram Judson, 1854; Wm. B. Chapman, 1855 ; Eber Sanford, 1857, '60, '63; Otis Burgess, 1857, '71; Heury G. Thurber, 1861, '64, '67, '70; C. R. Goddard, 1863; T. J. Carlin, 1863; B. B. Smith, 1870, '76; Austin Jennings, 1869, '72, '75, '78; S. B. Atwood, 1871; D. G. Waite, 1873; L. I. Baldwin, 1876.
STATISTICS FOR 1877.
Wheat.
578 acres. 7,043 bushels.
Oats ...
891
44 26,742
Corn ..
846
54,356
Potatoes
331
19,860
Orcharding
358
= 26,450 44
Meadow
2327 3,390 tons.
Maple-sugar.
20,831 pounds.
Butter.
61,465
Cheese.
105,070
Number of school-houses, 12; valuatiou, $9000; amount paid teachers, $1450.25 ; number of schools, 492.
Vote for President in 1876, Hayes, 571 ; Tilden, 170.
Population in 1870 of township and village, 3010.
CONNEAUT VILLAGE.
The act of incorporation bears date in the year 1834, but at what time the first survey was made cannot be ascertained, for the reason that the village records
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
have been lost or destroyed. This fact produces a great deal of embarrassment in our efforts to obtain reliable data in regard to the early history of the village.
The first mayor of Conneaut was Dr. Samuel L. Fenton, who was elected in the spring of 1834. There was a survey made in the year 1837, Mr. Wm. W. Wallace being the surveyor. The territory at that time included in the village limits extended as far north as to the lake, and was bounded on the south and east by Conneaut creek, and on the west by a line running along the centre of the road that now passes between the farms of E. F. Grant and Frank Blood, then called the Centre road, and extending northwardly to the lake and southwardly to the creek. The present farms of Mr. Olmstead, on the Ridge road, and of Mr. E. F. Grant, on the lake-shore, were at that time within the village limits.
About the year 1842 the limits were defined anew, so as to include just the territory which the village now embraces. The creek forms the east and south boundaries of the village. Ou the north it extends as far as to Fifteenth street inclusive, and on the west as far as to the centre of Chestnut strect. On the southwest is an irregular tract, lying to the west of Chestnut street. and between State street and the creek, embracing about twenty-five acres, which is also a part of the village plat.
Conneaut is a handsome town, beautifully located on the creek that bears its name. which flows along the south and east sides of the village, the ground rising abruptly from the stream, and then gradually sloping to the east and north, form- ing as pleasant a site for a town as can well be found. There is an air of comfort pervading the residence portion of the village, and of thrift pervading the busi- ness portion. Situated in one of the choicest agricultural parts of the county, it does a large and growing mercantile business, many of its business houses out- ranking in the amount of annual business done by similar houses in other and larger towns in this portion of the State. It is justly noted for its elegant church edifices, and its new town-hall is superior to any similar building in this section of Ohio. The people, as a class, are noted for their intelligence and morality, and it would be difficult to find a lovelier or more inviting place in which to make a permanent residence.
Its present population is in the neighborhood of thirteen hundred. We give below some of the prominent features of this delightful village.
EARLY EVENTS.
The first tavern or the town site was a log building situated on the corner of Main street and Harbor street extension, where Mr. N. B. Rogers' block now stands. A Mr. Dunn was the first proprietor.
The first frame tavern was the old Conneaut House, located just east of the site of the Keves brick store. It was built about the year 1814, but not completed until 1824. A Mr. Pierpont and his father-in-law, Mr. Davenport, were the first proprietors
The first school-house in the village was built near the present site of Mr. Wood's hardware store, corner Main and Washington streets.
The first burial-place was located on ground now occupied by the Monroe and Union brick blocks, and ground just north of the same, between Main and State streets.
The first village physician was Dr. John Venen, who settled here in 1815. He was a very successful practitioner. and practiced his profession in Conneaut for nearly sixty years, dying March 20, 1875, at the ripe old age of ninety-two. Dr. G. Fifield was another early physician, and spent his life in Conneaut in the practice of his profession.
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