History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 77

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 458

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EARLY EVENTS.

The first school-house iu Morgan was ereeted by Nathan and Asa Gillett, in the fall of 1801, who emigrated from Farmington, Connecticut, in this year, and settled on lots 67 and 77. This house, which was ereeted in November of this year, on the northeast eorner of lot 77, was a building eighteen feet square, built of round logs, being eight logs in height. The interstiees between the logs were filled with split timber, and over this a coating placed, formed of mud and clay. The roof was formed of long strips of elm bark, supported by poles that extended across the top, and the bark kept iu its place by heavier poles placed upon it. It was lighted by three apertures of about two feet square, to which were fixed rude sash, glazed with paper, oiled so as to admit the light. The floor consisted of ash or hiekory logs, hewn ou the upper side. It was warmed by means of a chimney made of sticks and mud, having a stone baek as high as the upper floor. In this rude structure lived the family of Nathan Gillett, eousisting of ten persous, for nearly three years. In the year 1804, MIr. Gillett erected a new log house on lot 67, and then this primitive dwelling served as the first school-house. Miss Diantha Wilcox being the first teacher in the summer of 1804, having from eight to twelve pupils. In the winter following Mr. Quintus F. Atkins was the teacher in this building, having from fifteen to twenty pupils.

Mr. Eli Porter, from Colebrook, Connecticut, eame to Austiuburg, in August, 1801, and in the sueeeeding fall attempted to effeet a settlement on lots Nos. 57

JAMES RALPH STONE

JAMES STONE.

NANCY M. STONE .

ABBIE A.STONE.

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JAMES STONE, MORGAN TP. ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

195

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

and 58, but his health failing him he abandoned the idea, and, being taken up the Grand river to the residence of Solomon Griswold, in Windsor, in the winter of this year expired at that plaec. J. B. Battell, from Torringford, Connecticut, began an improvement on lot No. 8, in the early part of 1802, and built his house some twenty-five rods from the west line of the lot. He afterwards purchased from D. M. Curtis lot No. 7, with its improvements; Mr. Curtis having labored thereon during the winter of 1801-2. Moses C. Wilcox, brother-in-law of Eli Porter, eame to the township early in the spring of 1802, and built himself a house on lot No. 58. His father, Hosea Wileox, arrived in June of the same year, but soon went back to Connecticut, in company with Nathan Gillett, for his family, and returned to Morgan on the 12th day of November. Edmund Strong found his way to Morgan early in 1802, and set himself industriously to work elearing off about four or five acres of ground on lot No. 48, which he sowed to wheat in the fall, and then returned to Connecticut for his family. Returning again to Morgan in March, 1803, he chose lots 139, 140, and 150, and began improving the same. In the summer of 1802, Captain John Wright, of Winsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut, having exchanged his little Councetieut farm for about eight hundred aeres of land, a part of the Torringford land company's purchase, in the Western Reserve, accompanied by his family, consisting of him- self and his wife, four sons, and one daughter, and furnished with a heavy wagon drawn by four oxen, having an extra horse to be used as occasion might require, and a eow to provide the party with milk, in those days a very necessary artiele of food, started for the Land of Promise, their objective point being Morgan town- ship, in New Connecticut, where the whole party arrived on the 8th day of July, being nearly two months in completing the journey. Mr. Wright selected lots Nos. 57 and 124, and began at once to improve the tract he had ehosen. He pre- pared and sowed to wheat five acres of ground, and by the middle of October had erected him a log house twenty by thirty feet, in which he now took up his residence.

Sebe Bronson arrived in August, 1802, and selceted lots 12 and 22. Quintus F. Atkins, from Barkhamstead, Connecticut, arrived in November, 1802, and took up lot No. 59. Roswell Stephens, from Austinburg, but formerly from Connecticut, purchased of T. R. Hawley a part of lot 123, and creeted a log house thereon early in the spring of 1803. Isaae II. Phelps, from Canaan, Connecticut, settled on lot 119, June 3, 1803, and on the fourth day of July, of the same year, James Stone, from the same place, chose lot 18, and began to improve it. Luman Beach, from Geneva, New York, formerly from Connecticut, arrived in 1804, and settled on lot No. 70. Among the arrivals of this year were those of Stephen Knowlton, Erastus Flowers, Jesse D. Hawley, and Joseph Bates.

The first birth was that of R. H. Stepliens, July 5, 1803. The first female child born was Joanna Stone, which occurred in March, 1804.

The first marriage was solemnized on the twenty-eighth day of September, 1803, between J. B. Battell and Lydia P. Gillett. At this early day those who were commissioned to perforin this duty were far from being numerous, and in this instance it became necessary to send to Warren, a distance of thirty miles, in order to obtain a justice of the peace for the occasion. Mr. George Phelps, the first settler in Windsor, was the officiating justiee who legally tied the knot. It is said that he was sueeessful in accomplishing the task, but when the eere- mony was over turned to the bride's father and said, "Sir, if there is any praying to be done you must do it yourself." Among other early matrimonial alliances may be mentioned that of Edmund Strong and Ann Gillett, December 8, 1803; that of Quintus F. Atkins and Sally Wright, February 21, 1804; and that of John Wright, Jr., and Saloma Gillett, June 12, 1804.

The first religious service of a public character in the township was held on the fourteenth day of November, 1802, at the residenee of Captain John Wright, Rev. Joseph Badger officiating. There were then about twenty-six souls in the new settlement, and nearly all were present at this serviee. Religious gatherings on the Sabbath-day were of regular occurrence thereafter.

John Wright and his son John, in 1803, purchased of Mr. Hawley the mill- site which he had eontraeted to improve; and on the twelfth and thirteenth days of October of this year, by the united help of all the settlers that could be gathered together from Harpersfield, Austinburg, and Morgan, succeeded in erecting the first saw-mill in the township. This property was afterwards pur- chased by Ambrose Humphrey, who built the first grist-mill propelled by water, in the year 1808.

The infant settlement eseaped the visitation of the enemy to human life, who sooner or later is eertain to make his presence felt wherever human souls are congregated, until the eighth day of January, 1806, when the little daughter of J. B. Battell died, and this first death was soon sueeeeded by the demise of Sylvester Wileox, who was aeeidentally killed by the fall of a tree on the fifteenth day of April following. His was the first death of a growu person in the

township. Reverend "Father Badger," as he was ealled, preached the sermon from the text, " Be still, and know that I am God."

The people of Morgan early recognized the importance of religious and eduea- tional training, and the Torringford land company showed its good will and liberality in this wise direction by setting apart lot No. 38 and donating it to the township for the use of schools ; lot 75 was given for a parsonage ; one-half of lot 76 to the first minister who should be established in the township; and five aeres from the northwest eorner of lot 88 for a public square, on which the settlers were directed to ereet a church and other publie buildings.

On the twelfth day of February, 1804, the inhabitants of Morgan collected together, headed by the Rev. Thomas Robbins, of Connecticut, for the purpose of elearing this traet and preparing it for the execution of those designs wlrich were in view in granting it to the township. Mr. Robbins began the goodly work himself by eutting the first tree. In 1805 a log building was ereeted, which was used during the week for a school-house, and on the Sabbath as a place for divine worship. The proprietors in this company deserve mueh praise for their liberality, evinced in these generous donations towards the infant colony in Morgan. The wisc and liberal policy which they adopted has borne much fruit, as may readily be seen in the enlightened, moral, and religious character of the people who to-day inhabit this township; in their enterprise ; in their pros- perity; in the rapid growth in population ; in the progress made in manufactur- ing and other industries; in the beautiful and prosperous village which is the eentre of the people's thrift and energy.

LINES OF TRAVEL.

Difficulty of transportation was a serious drawbaek in the early settlement of Morgan. The first road leading south from the lake was the one which the pioneers of the township traversed in pushing their way into the infant colony.

This road began at the mouth of Ashtabula creek and extended in a south- westwardly dircetion over the ridge until it reached the north line of Austinburg, at the eentre of this line, thence passing through the township southwardly. It deviated to the east so as to pass one mile to the east of the centre of Morgan, and passed out of Morgan at its southeast corner. The Torringford land company employed Mr. T. R. Hawley in 1801 to open that portion of this road that passes through this township, and on in a southeasterly direetion to Gustavus, in Trumbull county. This road became a thoroughfare of immigration, and often was in such a condition that four or five barrels of salt was a full load for a team of four sturdy oxen ; and nine or ten miles were a good day's journey. Previous to the year 1808, when a grist-mill was ereeted by Ambrose Humphrey, the people of Morgan were compelled to go to Austinburg for their grist, and before they raised enough potatoes, wheat, ete., to answer for their subsistenee, they had to transport these articles a distance of forty or fifty miles, and thus were compelled not only to pay an exorbitant price for these necessary articles of food, but, owing to the eoudition of the roads, obtained them at the expense of great personal hardship. Roads were subsequently laid out in the township as follows : Deeem- ber, 1814, from Morgan to Lenox, on petition of Jas. Walling and others. June, 1816, from the dwelling-house of Clement Tuttle, lot No. 6, through the centre of said township. June, 1817, from the centre road eastwardly to the centre road in Lenox. December, 1817, from A. Fenton's to Foot's mill; same date, from north side of Rock Creek to New Lyme road. March, 1818, from lot No. 8 to road leading from New Lyme to Rome. March, 1825, Morgan and Trum- bull road, beginning near the house of Roger Foot in Morgan, thenee westwardly to the State road leading from Harpersfield to Windsor. June, 1825, Chardon and Jefferson road from Grand river to the turnpike. December, 1828, from near Jesse D. Hawley's to intersect the Trumbull road near M. Beach's land.

The first frame house in the township was erected by Stephen Knowlton, in the year 1811, ou lot 68. The building still stands, and is now used for the storage of farm machinery. The first brick house was creeted in 1864, by O. W. Lee, on lot 8, in the northeast portion of the township.

The first settled physician in Morgan was Dr. Isaac Weed, who came to the township about 1817 or 1818, and settled on lot 67. He remained in the town- ship but a short time.

The first burying-ground in the township was located in the southwest corner of lot No. 48 and the northwest corner of lot No. 58.

The first cheese-factory in Morgan was built in 1866 or 1867, by Mr. B. C. Randall, on lot 113. This factory was operated only three or four years. In the spring of 1870 a cheese-factory was ereetcd and put into operation on lot 95, a short distance north of the village, by Harrington & Randall. During the years 1870 and 1871 about 240,000 pounds of cheese were manufactured annually at this factory. In the spring of 1872 the factory was sold to Martin Merrifield. Since then it has changed proprietors several times. In the spring of 1877 it was consolidated with Mr. Dean's butter-factory, in the south part of the village.

196

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

ORGANIZATION.

The township was organized in the year 1819. The old records of the town- ship were destroyed by fire in the year 1866, in consequence of which the names of the carly officers cannot be obtained.

The first justice of the peace elceted in Morgan township was Clement Tuttle. Since 1849 the following gentlemen have been elected to this office: Erastus Devan, 1849, 1852, and 1858; Hiram Wilcox. 1850; Ichabod Hurlburt and A. L. Sprague, 1853; E. A. Wright, 1855, 1858. and 1861,-resigned October 15, 1861, having been elected to the office of sheriff of the county ; Elias Ben- ham, 1861; J. J. Hoyt, 1861,-resigned September, 1862; E. E. Pinney, 1862 and 1865 ; J. A. Bates, 1864; J. J. Hoyt, 1865, 1868, 1871, 1874, and 1877; C. R. Meigs, 1868; E. A. Wright, 1870 and 1873; M. N. Gardner. 1876.

The following have served as township clerks: W. C. St. John, 1837 ; Alonzo Moses. 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1843; A. B. Watkins, 1842; Jesse Morgan, 1844; A. McCausland, 1846; N. G. Foot, 1847 and 1848; Erastus Devan, 1851; H. H. Moses, 1852; Geo. McClure, 1853; N. G. Foot, 1855; W. W. Nevison, 1856; Norman Thompson, 1857 and 1858; E. E. Pinney, 1859 to 1862 inclusive; J. B. Swan, 1863; Geo. W. Lawton, 1864, 1865, and 1866 ; V. D. Latimer, 1867 and 1868; E. A. Kellogg, 1869, 1870, and 1871; M. Brettell, 1872; H. J. Covell, 1873 till the present time.

Township Treasurers .- T. Hoyt, 1852 to '55, inclusive; Wm. J. Woodruff, 1856 to '62; A. C. Wilcox, 1863 to '66; Edward Bailey, 1867 to 72; A. B. Watkins, 1873 to '76; G. W. Woolsey, 1877.

Township Trustees .- In 1832, Roger Foot and Chester Loomis; 1835, Chester Loomis and Gurdon Bailey; 1836, Herman Watson and B. St. John Hoyt; 1844. A. Lawton, T. Hoyt, and Jas. Stone; 1854, Wm. C. St. John, Frank Bailey, and Anson Wilbur; 1857, Jas. Stone, Chas. Wilbur, and Jno. Shaf- fer; 1866. E. A. Wright, M. M. Root, and N. Thompson; 1867, E. A. Wright, M. M. Root, and J. N. Means; 1868, M. M. Root, W. E. Beardsley, and Jno. Shaffer ; 1869 and '70, W. E. Beardsley, Jno. Shaffer, and J. N. Means; 1871, Herman Covell, A. L. Rathbone, and Orson Doty ; 1872, H. Covell, A. L. Rath- bone, and J. H. Wheeler ; 1873, E. Kennah, J. H. Wheeler, and A. L. Rath- bone; 1874 and '75, E. Kennah, J. H. Wheeler, and Collins Latimer ; 1876, E. Kennah, J. H. Wheeler. and G. M. Hoyt; 1877, G. M. Hoyt, J. H. Wheeler, and C. Latimer.

ROCK CREEK VILLAGE.

The village, or, as it was originally ealled. " the town of Rock Creek," was incorporated as such in the spring of 1849. To N. L. Chaffee. at that time rep- resentative for the county in the Ohio State legislature, are the people of this village indebted for introducing and securing the passage of the act of incorpora- tion. The incorporation includes the whole of original lots Nos. 115, 116, 125, 126. and the south half of lots Nos. 105 and 106.

Roger Foot and family came to Morgan in 1814, with the intention to build a grist-mill. and purchased a mill-site on Rock creek, above where Ambrose Hum- phrey had already a saw-mill and grist-will, he having built the latter in 1808.

Mr. Foot offered to buy out Mr. Humphrey. which he reluctantly accepted. Foot then repaired both saw-mill and grist-mill, rendering them more efficient than before,-added another run of stone, and improved water-wheels, ete.

Settlers were coming in ycarly to this town and adjoining ones, making large demands for will work, especially for grinding. This mill had the grinding, not only for this town, but for Rome, New Lyme, and Lenox. Wheat bceame so plenty as to be unsaleable, which induced Mr. Foot and his son Roger to make an effort to make flour which would be saleable in a distant market. In order to effect this it was necessary to have a set of buhr-stones and a new bolting-cloth. In 1:24. Roger, Jr., journeyed to Buffalo and Rochester to purchase those items enumerated, but could find no stones to suit him,-was told he might select his blocks and have them put together under his superintendence, which he did. The will thus fitted up was capable of making a superior article of superfine flour, which. on being sent to New York. was surpassed by but one brand in market. It is said, also, that the first flour shipped to New York from this county was shipped from this mill. In this connection it is worthy of mention that, after the woods bordering on Rock creek became cleared, the water failed in the latter part of the summer, inducing Roger, Jr., to build a mill on Grand river espceially adapted to low water. It is now owned and occupied by John Schaffer, who has enlarged and rendered it a very excellent mill. Roger Foot and his son Roger were highly serviceable in this community, as are all pioneers, in a greater or less degree, in new settled neighborhoods.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

Probably no one branch of business has contributed so much towards making Rock Creek the thrifty and enterprising village it is as have her tanneries. The

first tanncry was ereeted as early as 1821, by Joseph Ferry, on the present site of Mr. Wilcox's tannery, in the west part of the corporation. This Mr. Ferry was proprietor of for about twelve years, when he sold to Mr. A. B. Sperry. Mr. Sperry conducted the business at this stand some fourteen or fifteen years, when he transferred the property to a Mr. Bidwell Strickland, who was proprietor for about five years, and sold to Robert Harper. Mr. Harper, after continuing as proprietor a few years, sold to the present owner, Mr. A. C. Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox, since becoming proprietor, has repaired and added to the original buildings and has successfully conducted a large business. The front part of the present build- ings is the same as first ereeted in 1821.

In 1830 or '31 a second tannery was erected; the same one managed at present by Tilden & Phillips, on Water street. This was built and put into operation by G. W. Quigley, who was proprietor for about eight years, when he sold to a Mr. Anson Wilbur. It afterwards changed hands several times, until it became the property of Frank Lewis, who did a large business for several years, and sold to Mr. Tilden.

Deacon Silas Covell and son, Herman Covell, in 1843, built a tannery a short distance east of Tilden's, and worked at the business for a few years, when they sold to Hitt & Co. This firm conducted the business for awhile and then leased to Randall & Cook, and while they were doing business the buildings were burned. This firm then erected new and larger buildings, and carried on a very extensive business until Mr. Randall's death.

In 1849 a fourth tannery was ereeted by J. F. Baldwin & Sons. This tannery was located outside of the incorporation, on lot 104, about a half-mile west of the village. This building was a commodious one, substantially made, and very eon- veniently arranged for the purposes for which it was intended, the tanning of sole-leather, which was carried on very extensively until about the year 1861 or 1862, when business was suspended and the building removed.

FACTORIES.

A carding and eloth-dressing factory was erected and put into operation, in the year 1831, by Roger and Lauren Foot. About 1850 the Farmers' company pur- chased the buildings, and added machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1863, Thomas Butcher became proprietor, and conducted a large business until the factory was burned, in 1868.

There are at present in the village two quite extensive carriage-manufactories, J. W. Stebbins being the proprietor of one and M. N. Gardner of the other. Mr. Stebbins has been a carriage-manufacturer a number of years, and has con- dueted a very large business. Mr. Gardner, though more recently established, kecps a number of men employed. and turns out annually about fifty carriages.

There are also in the village a planing- and matching-mill, a foundry and machine-shop, and a cheese-box factory.

THE MORGAN SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.

The Morgan Savings and Loan Association was organized in the fall of 1871, and commenced business about the 1st of November with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of two hundred and fifty dollars each. Frederick Harrington was chosen the first president, A. B. Watkins the first cashier, and J. M. Watkins assistant cashier. Mr. I. Champion succeeded Mr. Harrington as president in January, 1874, and in March following, W. W. Wat- kins succeeded his brother. J. M. Watkins, as assistant cashier. In the same year Mr. Champion, the president, died, and Mr. A. B. Watkins was elected president and W. W. Watkins cashier. In May, 1876, Mr. A. B. Watkins died, and Mr. E. M. Covell was chosen president, and still continues to hold the office, as docs Mr. W. W. Watkins that of cashier.

The brick building used by the bank (on Main street) was ereeted in 1872, and cost about three thousand dollars. The bank does a good business, and has paid until the last year a semi-annual dividend of four per cent. on its capital stock. and during the past year a semi-annual dividend of three per cent.

The board of directors for 1877 consists of E. M. Covell, Thomas Walkley, George Morey, E. G. Hurlburt, J. B. Graham, Giles Crosby, and V. D. Latimer.

CHURCHES.

The organization of the first church in Morgan was effected by the Presby- terians, in the year 1819, with a membership of about thirty. Previous to this date they had been connected with the church at Austinburg. The first church building in the township was erected by this society in the year 1829, on the southwest corner of lot 76, at the geographical centre of the township. This building was moved to its present location on High street, in the village, in the year 1845 or 1846. The first settled pastor was Rev. Randolph Stone. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Stafford ; the membership numbers about one hundred and twenty, and the valuation of church property, including parsonage, is five thousand dollars.

RES.OF E. O. MILLER, ROCK CREEK STATION.ASHTABULA.Co .. O.

RESIDENCE OF JNO. AND ELEANOR CHURCHILL, E. TRUMBULL, ASHTABULA Co., O.

DRUGS & MEDICINES

HARDWARE

N.THOMPSON

STORE

IV. D.IATIME

Wy & BOOTS

AND

SHOES

V. D. LATIMER, -- DEALER INE DRUGS. MEDICINES, HARDWARE, BUILDERS MATERIAL &5 MAIN ST, ROCK CREEK, ASHTABULA CO.,0.

N.THOMPSON,

+ .. OK DEALER IN KA- BOOTS AND SHOES, MAIN ST, ROCK CREEK, ASHTABULA CO.,O.

BUILT BY Y DLATIMER, 1875

197

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was organized in 1822, at the log cabin of William Latimer, Rev. Alfred Bronson preaching the first sermon. The first class consisted of William Latimer and wife, Hiram Latimer and wife, and Hugh Monteith and wife; William Latimer, leader. In 1843-44 this society erected their church building, corner of Main and High streets, in the village. The church was rebuilt in 1861, at an expense of eighteen hundred and fifty-one dollars. The present pastor is Rev. L. H. Baker; the membership, one hundred and ten; and the value of church property, four thousand dollars.

TIIE DISCIPLES' CHURCH

was organized in March, 1874, and has been in a prosperous condition until the present time. Their church building, a brick structure on Lawton street, was erected in the fall of 1874, at an expense of over five thousand dollars.

In March and April of this year, immediately after the organization of the church, there was conducted a series of protracted meetings, at the close of which accessions to the church were made, so that it then numbered one hundred mem- bers. The present membership is about one hundred and forty.

PUBLIC SCIIOOLS.

A graded-school system was organized in the village of Rock Creek, in the year 1871. The high-school building, a two-story brick structure, situated on Iligh street, was erected in 1869, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars.

The first principal was Professor G. E. Barber, who had charge of the school during the years 1871-72. The following are the names of the succeeding principals : C. W. Henry, 1872-73; H. A. Gladding, 1873-74; L. L. Hamlin, 1874-77 ; F. O. Reeve, present principal, 1877. During the past year there was an enrollment of two hundred and five students. The present board of directors consists of A. MeCausland, president ; M. N. Gardner, clerk ; II. J. Covell, treasurer ; D. C. Sperry, O. A. Dolph, and E. P. Noble.

SOCIETIES.

Rock Creek Lodge, No. 277, F. and A. M., was chartered October 22, 1856. The charter members were J. W. Adgate, E. Y. Crowell, HI. M. Root, David Bartram, Benjamin St. John, Oliver Hitt, E. A. Wright, E. A. Ensign, Theodore Ensign, Rev. A. D. Morton.

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History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 77

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Williams brothers Number of Pages: 458

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 458