History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 85

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

USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 85

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).

1820. It is said that this event was made an occasion of rejoicing, a large number of ladies of the township honoring the event with their presence. This building, after doing duty many years as school-house, town hall, and a place for religious meetings, was removed and used as a curing-room for the first cheese-factory in the town ; it is now occupied as a dwelling by Cordean Sweet. The first school was taught in the summer of 1820, by Miss Emily Adams; the next winter Samuel S. Wade taught a term in this house. Of the forty scholars enrolled during this term there were 9 of the Marvin family, 7 Adamses, 6 Stricklands, 5 Hillyers, 4 Cadwells, and an equal number of Manleys, 3 Beldens, 2 Phillipses, and 1 Winegar.

In 1820, the three brothers Wade-Samuel S., Theodore, and Charles-came into the township; they were unmarried. James Wade, the father, and Benja- min F. Wade, now of national celebrity (for particulars see biographical sketch), from Springfield, Massachusetts, located on lots 38 and 48, in 1823. In 1821, Theodore Wade taught a three months' school in Madison, receiving for the same six barrels of whisky, and Charles, his brother, taught the same winter in Monroe, for which he received five barrels of the same beverage. We use this term from the fact that at that time no one supposed water was fit to drink unless mixed with something,-whisky being the currency of the country, of which every man must have a supply,-a drink on meeting being equivalent to the present hearty shake of the hand. It is related that a house of one.of the early settlers of Andover having been burned, the friends turned out to raise contributions. Deacon Na- thaniel Owens and a neighbor started for the southern settlements for that pur- pose ; and, to show how necessary was the " ardent" to the destitute settler, two barrels were placed in the wagon, one in which to put the pork and another for the fluid nourishment ; both barrels were filled, and the whisky was considered fully as important in the household as the pork.

ORGANIZATION.

In relation to the organization of the township of Andover, we find that the early records were destroyed by fire on May 3, 1823, but we are able to learn from other sources that organization was effected in 1819, and that Rufus Honghton was commissioned a justice of the peace November 17, 1820. Mr. Houghton was undoubtedly the first justice of the peace in the township. John Pickett, Jr., was the second justice of the peace, his commission bearing date June, 1821. On April 2, 1824, occurs the first record of an election, at which time John Pickett, Merrick Bates, and Lebbeus Marvin were elected trustees ; John Pickett, Jr., clerk ; Nathan C. Johnson and Daniel Marvin, overseers of the poor ; Seth Hillyer and John Fenn, fence-viewers; Horace Smith and Alba Coleman, appraisers ; Joseph Pickett, treasurer ; Charles W. Wade and Salmon Case, constables ; Epephras Lyman, Salmon Case, John Fenn, Nathaniel Owens, and Theodore L. Wade, supervisors. Epephras Lyman was commissioned a justice of the peace October 27, 1829. It will be noticed that in the early election returns of every township persons were chosen called overseers of the poor. There being at that time no county infirmary, each township cared for its own poor, the keeping of which was given to the lowest bidder, or the person who would take these poor unfortunates for the least compensation, and feed and clothe them. These officers attended to this matter, as also to the levying of the necessary poor-tax.

HOTELS.

The first hotel at the Centre was opened by Colonel Manley, in perhaps 1835. This house was located on West Main street. A portion of the original building is still standing, and occupied as a dwelling.

The present hotels are the Keen House, W. J. Keen, proprietor, a commodious frame building, located on the southwest corner of the public square and West Main street. The Morley House stands near the station. This house is owned by E. W. Morley, who opened the first clothing-house at this point.

CHURCHES.

The first church organization at the Centre was by the Congregationalists, in 1832. The present church edifice was erected in 1843. The Methodists have recently completed a neat, substantial church at the Centre, at a total cost for lot, building, and furniture of two thousand and seventy dollars. The Rev. J. R. Hoover is the present pastor. There is also a house at the Centre belonging to the Universalists, built iu about 1854.

The first cheese was manufactured in Andover township in 1809, by Mrs. Laura Steele, from the milk of one cow, and the first cheese-factory was estab- lished in 1850, by O. E. & P. F. Marvin. The location was some twenty-five rods west of the public square, on the south side of West Main street. This fac- tory was in operation some two years. The present factory began operations in 1873, with J. S. Morley owner. The annual amount made for the time Mr. Morley was proprietor averaged some ninety tons. He also made butter in con-

RES. OF C. H. FITTS, ANDOVER TP., ASHTABULA Co., 0.

WOOLEN MILLS OF C. H. FITTS, ANDOVER TP, ASHTABULA CO., O.

RES. OF AUSTIN HARMON, ANDOVER TP. ASHTABULA CO., OHIO

217

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

nection with the manufacture of cheese. In January, 1877, this factory was purchased by P. A. Tobias, under whose management it is at present conducted. Mr. Tobias has also another factory in the southeast corner of the township. The cheese-factory at West Andover was built in 1868, by George C. Dolph. The present proprietors are Olds & Fowler, who purchased the property in 1875. The "Wade farm creamery" was established about 1872, in the east part of Andover.

The first, and in fact the only, paper published in Andover was the Enterprise, an eight-column weekly, owned by J. S. Morley and edited by D. L. Calkins, the first number of which was issued in December, 1872. The paper was con- ducted under the management of Calkins until January, 1874, when Morley dis- posed of the press and fixtures, purchased a new and improved one, and con- tinued the publication under the firm-name of Morley & Coffin, the latter edit- ing the sheet. In January, 1875, Mr. Morley became sole manager. The last number of the Enterprise was issued in June, 1875, soon after which the press and stock were sold to parties at Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania.

The Agricultural society's annual fair, which has become one of the institutions of Andover, was established in 1858. The officers for 1877 are E. A. Fobes, president ; G. C. Campbell, vice-president; A. C. Laughlin, secretary ; J. S. Morley, treasurer; B. D. Morley, corresponding secretary; R. Gane, S. O. Stillman, F. H. Mason, R. D. Marvin, William Hopper, and C. F. Sunbury, directors.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

It was not until a recent date that a lodge of the " brethren of the mystic tie" was instituted in Andover, the first meeting under dispensation having been held on the evening of May 13, A.L. 5875. Regular communications were held thereafter on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month until November 9 of the same year, at which time the charter was received from the grand lodge, and Andover lodge, No. 506, was regularly instituted by A. W. Steele, Past Master of Golden Rule lodge, No. 331, Cherry Valley, and the following officers duly installed : J. C. Smith, W. M .; Newton Merrell, S. W. ; Jay J. Rice, J. W .; H. W. Hughes, Treas .; B. D. Morley, Sec .; W. J. Keen, S. D .; A. H. Pettit, J. D .; N. I. Swezey, Tyler. The charter members were J. C. Smith, Newton Merrell, Jay J. Rice, A. H. Pettit, A. H. Slater, A. N. Slater, C. H. Fitts, S. M. Selby, F. Patterson, S. C. Merrell, Jr., I. Clapp, M. S. Morse, F. S. Lyman, H. W. Hughes, B. D. Morley, D. Woodruff, and G. C. Gay. The total number of admissions is sixty, and the present membership is thirty-three. The material is closely inspected, and none worked except that which is perfect. Thus the craft are safely advancing in the path of fraternal brotherhood. The present officers are Newton Merrell, W. M .; C. E. Harmon, S. W .; W. Ben- jamin, J. W .; B. D. Morley, Treas. ; A. H. Pettit, Sec .; George Winchester, S. D .; Orrin M. Hall, J. D .; C. L. Wheeler, Tyler.

The present flouring-mill at Andover Centre was erected by its proprietor, L. R. Griffis, in 1875. It is a fine wooden building located on East Main street, on the line of the Franklin division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway, from which a span track is laid to the mill ; the two run of stone and necessary machinery are propelled by a thirty horse-power horizontal engine. Both merchant and custom grinding are done at this mill. The amount of sales from January 1, 1877, to October 1, 1877, aggregated the snug sum of fourteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars, or nearly twenty thousand dol- lars for the year ; the entire eost of the mill and grounds was nine thousand four hundred dollars. Mr. Griffis also deals in salt, lime, phosphate, bricks, tiles, etc.

The following is the exhibit of trade at Andover village :

Dry Goods, Groceries, Notions, etc .- J. MeCurdy & Co., average stock, ten thousand dollars ; yearly sales, twenty-five thousand dollars. Hughes & Son, aver- age stock, eight thousand dollars ; yearly sales, twenty thousand dollars.

Hardware, Sash-Doors, etc .- L. J. Merrell & Co., average stock, five thousand dollars ; yearly sales, fifteen thousand dollars This is the first store of the kind at the Centre.

Furniture .- C. Russell, average stock, fifteen hundred dollars ; sales, three thousand five hundred dollars.

Clothing and Furnishing Goods .- E. W. Morley, average stock, ten thousand dollars ; sales, twenty thousand dollars.

Drugs and Medicines .- In about 1867 the Birch Bros. opened a drug-store in the building now occupied as a dental office; continued in the business until 1870, when their stock was purchased by J. S. and B. Morley. Messrs. Morley Bros. kept at that time a general stock of dry goods, groceries, etc. In the spring of 1877 they closed out their stock, aside from drugs, and at present rep- resent that branch of trade. The post-office is kept in their store, J. S. Morley, postmaster, having been commissioned July 12, 1861.

The boot and shoe trade is represented by B. D. Morley, who has in connection a manufactory employing a number of workmen.

At West Andover the business is as follows : E. E. Ives, dry goods, etc. B. F. Palum, Jr., has a full stock of hard- and tin-ware, and runs a jobbing-shop in connection. Messrs. Gregory Bros. have a carriage-manufactory east of the town. J. L. Osborn, steam saw-mill. Myron Mason represents the furniture trade. There are also photograph-rooms, harness, blacksmith-shop, etc .; tlie business having drawn towards the Centre as that point increased in mercantile establishments.

The number of school-houses the present year is nine. Valuation of same and of grounds, six thousand dollars. Enumeration of scholars, three hundred and seven.

CROP STATISTICS, 1877.

Wheat

135 acres.

1,649 bushels.

Oats.

503

14,033

Corn

461

17,938

Potatoes

102

6,095

Orcharding.

2357

22,055

Meadow

2004

2,989 tons.

Butter

25.305 pounds.

Cheese

342,500

Maple-sugar.

11,275

Population in 1870 was 921.

The report of the secretary of state shows that the vote for President was as follows : R. B. Hayes, 241 ; S. J. Tilden, 42.

Celebrated Men .- B. F. Wade; Edward Wade, who represented the Cleveland district twelve years ; Nathaniel Owens, ex-member of legislature; Darius Cad- well, representative, senator, and at present judge (Cleveland) ; " Dist." Wade, state senator, now chief justice of Montana.

ANDOVER'S PATRIOTISM.

The journals of Monday, April 15, 1861, displayed conspicuously the procla- mation of President Lincoln calling on the States for seventy-five thousand men. The Sunday following a rumor reached Andover that Cincinnati was menaced by a body of insurgents. A meeting was held Sunday evening, and the town hall was filled to overflowing. Volunteers were called for, and an entire company of infantry was nearly raised. The company was filled in a few days,-was organ- ized at West Andover, and their services tendered to the government. But as the quota of the State had been previously filled, they were not received ; and the company was disbanded.

Early in August following, Edwin Chapman and B. F. Perry received authority to recruit a company for the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Chapman shortly afterwards received a commission as quartermaster, and was ordered to report for duty at St. Louis, Missouri. On the 26th of August the men enrolled assembled at West Andover, and organized Company C, of the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Edward Hayes was chosen eaptain, and B. F. Perry first lieutenant. The company proceeded to Camp Giddings, where Frank T. Stewart was chosen second lieutenant.

The muster for pay-rolls show that eighty-eight members of the company joined for duty at West Andover. But much the larger part of them came from other localities, and were not accredited to this town.

After careful consideration, aided by information obtained from O. B. Case, who has spent much time in the investigation, we believe the whole number of soldiers who were mustered into the service of the United States for the War of the Rebellion from this township to have been sixty-five, of whom nineteen died.

Of these heroic dead no public monument bears evidence. Will not the coming years permit a better record to be made in regard to perpetuating the memories of the sacred dead ?

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

AUSTIN HARMON.

This gentleman became a resident of the township of Andover in the year 1825, and has had his full share of pioneer hardships. He was born in Wheat- land, Genesee county, New York, on the 12th day of June, 1822, and is the third of a family of eight. His parents, Samuel and Clarissa Harmon, formerly from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, removed to Ohio, locating in Andover township, in the year 1825. The farm upon which they made settlement is now occupied by the subject of this sketch, the death of the elder Harmon occurring in the year 1834. Austin, with his brothers and sisters, were left to battle, un- aided, with the difficulties of life.

Gradually step by step has he acquired his ample competence. His has not been a remarkably eventful life. In his township he has held several offices, filling them in an acceptable manner. He was united in marriage on the 17th day

218

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

of December, 1848, to Hannah L. Stillman. Two children were born to them,- Sarah Adelaide, born June 9, 1850; and Lee Samuel, born April 10, 1857. This latter yet remains beneath the family roof. Ou the 8th day of November, 1873, occurred the death of Mrs. Harmon. The present wife of Mr. Harmon was Eliza J. Case, of Andover, to whom he was married September 8, 1875.

EDWARD HARMON.

Edward Harmon was the son of Samuel and Ruth Harmon, and was born in New Marlborough, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, December 21, 1815. He was the oldest child, and removed with his parents to Andover township, in this county, in the spring of 1825. His father died at the place of his first settle- ment, April 26, 1834, and Edward, being the eldest son, was called upon to as- sume the chief part of the responsibilities and duties that had hitherto devolved

upon his father. His education was obtained at the district school of his neigh- borhood, and was necessarily limited. When seventeen years of age he went to Wheatland, Genesce county, New York, at which place his father had resided a short time prior to his removal to Ohio, accomplishing the journey on foot. He spent the winter of 1822-23 at that place, and attended the winter's school.

August 15, 1823, he was united in marriage with Miss Evc Horder, who then resided in Andover, but who was born at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York. From this union were born two children,-the elder, Charles E. Harmon, born February 21, 1854; and William Henry, born August 23, 1855. The younger child lived but a short time. The surviving son was married to Lucinda Vickery, April 16, 1874, and he and his wife now reside on the farm where his father made for himself his first improvement. Edward Harmon was a man of great and untiring industry. By prudent management, assisted by exemplary habits, he amassed a fine property, the inheritance of his son, and lived a useful and honorable life. He died in Andover, July 19, 1872.

ROME TOWNSHIP.

THIS township was purchased of the Connecticut land company by Henry Champion, on the 10th day of September. 1798, he paying for the same at the rate of forty ceuts per acre. Elijah Crosby became agent for the sale of these lands, the last of which were sold as late as 1851. The township was, in the year 1805, surveyed by Timothy R. Hawley. This division was into lots one mile long cast aud west, by one-half mile in width, and numbering fifty.

SETTLEMENTS.

In 1805, Elijah Crosby, of East Haddam, Middlesex county, Connecticut, came to this part of New Connecticut, and made a selection of five hundred and fifty acres of land in lots 13 and 14, and caused two acres to be chopped on the northeast corner of lot 13. This journey was made on horseback, he being ac- companied by Dauiel Hall. The same year Abner Hall purchased land in lot 12, and erected on the southeast corner thereof the first log house in the township. In this he resided until the spring of 1807, when he sold a part of this land to J. D. Hall and departed the township. The next settler was Elijah Crosby, who, with his family and two young men named Hall, started for Ohio on June 18, 1806, and arrived at Rock creek on the 2d day of August following. Here the family remained until a log house was completed in the clearing above referred to, which was first occupied by the family the subsequent fall. Mr. Crosby's family at that time was as follows : Phebe, who married M. C. Wilcox (deceased) ; Lu- cinda, married John Crowell (deceased) ; Calvin, drowned in Grand river (this township), August, 1818; Lovina, married Daniel Hall (deceased) ; Elial, mar- ried Mary Way, resides at San Diego, California; Elijah (deceased) ; Joseph, lives in Wisconsin ; Levi, married Sarah Leonard, who died in 1846; present wife was M. C. Willey, and their place of residence is on the original location of the elder Crosby ( Dwight L., the present county treasurer, is the second son of Levi Crosby); Elijah, Jr., married Elizabeth Chester, resides on farm formerly occu- pied by Erastus Chester ; Anna (deceased) ; Henry C. (deceased) ; Larissa, mar- ried John McLaren, of San Diego, California, and resides there at present.

October 29, 1806, another pioneer party arrived in the township. They were also from East Haddam, Connecticut, and by name as follows: William Crowell, wife, and eight children, John Crowell and wife, David Walkley and wife, Jonathan Walkley, and Ephraim Sawyer. This party came by team the entire distance, their route being over the mountains to Pittsburgh, down the river to Beaver, and thence, via Warren, to Rome, passing their first night in this county in Orwell; aud it was ou this occasion that a vast number of wolves surrounded their camp and made the woods resound with their " hair-lifting melody." Ar- riving in Rome, they began their life in the wilderness in the house previously erected by Hall. Resided here until the succeeding March, when Mr. Crowell and family removed to the new house which had been constructed in the mean time, and which stood near the central portion of lot 13. William Crowell's chil- dren are William, Jr., Sybil, Jerusha, John, Ezekiel, Ruth, Susan, Emeline, and David. Johu Crowell, Sr., located on the south part of lot 13, building his cabin near where S. M. Scoville's house now stands. David aud Jonathan Walkley

began on lot 25. Joseph Hall began life on lot 12, and David, his brother, on lot 14, where their heirs still reside. The next settlers in the township were Syl- vester Rogers and Henry Browu, who arrived in the winter of 1809-10. Mr. Rogers erected his habitation on the northeast corner of lot 15. And here in after-years he conducted a hotel ; this was in the era of "staging," and from John Thompson, the veteran driver, we learu that there was " not such another tavern between the Ohio river and the lake." We do not find that Henry Brown, or " Uncle Henry," as he was familiarly called, ever fixed his residence on any par- ticular piece of ground, yet he was quite a celebrity in his way, having in his possession a gun of enormous length and wonderful destructive qualities.

From 1815 to 1828 we find the names of the following settlers : Asa and Lynds Tinker, lot 12; four brothers Linan; Edward C. Dodge, lot 48; Calvin Church, David Rood, Simon Maltbie, Richard Miller, Samuel Ackley, Samuel Crowde, lot 11 ; Henry Hungerford, lot 47; Sylvester Cone, lot 22; Erastus Chester, lot 24; Andrew Champion, lot 13; James Baldwin, lot 45; Hazard Morey, lot 18; Edmund Richmond and Stukely Stone; Azariah Smith, lot 26. Sereno Smith, a son of the above mentioned, was murdered on the morning of April 25, 1872, while at the barn, by John Housel, a hired man, who hid the body so effectually that several days were consumed in fruitless search. Housel was convicted of the crime and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION, WATER-COURSES, ETC.

From the " field book" used by Hawley on the occasion of the survey we extract the following : "The soil of this township is generally loam, of a clay color, mixed with gravel. The surface is mainly level, except along the streams of water," the two principal of which are Grand river and Rock creek. The former stream flows from the south through the township about one-half mile from the west line. It derives its name from the Indian Geaugah, which in that tongue signifies Grand. The course of Rock creek is through the east portion of the township, and its waters are discharged into Graud river in Morgan. Grand river was in early times a navigable stream, and crafts capable of carrying two tons and under plied its waters as far up as Windsor. The first log barn was erected by William Crowell in the year 1807, and was in size some twenty feet square. The same gentleman erected the first frame barn. This was in 1814, and the frame is still standing. In May, 1815, the first frame house was " raised." This building is still in existence. The joiner-work of this building was done by William Crowell, Jr., father of our popular county auditor.

The first school-house was of logs, and was erected by Elijah Crosby and Wil- liam Crowell in the fall of the year 1810, and as they each sent seven scholars, made out quite a respectable pioneer school in point of numbers, and no doubt equally so in mental endowments, if we may judge by the present representatives of these families at the county-seat. The first school taught in the township assembled in the log cabin of John Crowell in the summer of 1809. The teacher was Miss Lucinda Crosby, afterwards the wife of John Crowell. The first winter term of school was taught in the school-house above referred to in the winter

LEVI CROSBY.

MRS. LEVI CROSBY.

G.H. CROSBY.

MRS. G. H. CROSBY.

RES. OF L.AND G.H.CROSBY, ROME TP, ASHTABULA Co., 0.

219

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

following its erection. William Humphrey was the teacher. The term was of few months' duration, and the wages paid were ten dollars per month. The first frame school-house was built in the sunumuer of 1821. Its location was some eighty rods north of the residence of John Crowell. This was first occupied the subsequent winter by Wm. A. Otis. In this house were also held religious meet- ings. The township is now divided into five school districts, with school-houses and grounds valued at five thousand dollars. There are one hundred and seventy- tlirec scholars of requisite school age, and the total amount paid teachers for the ycar preceding September 1, 1877, was six hundred and thirty-eight dollars and eighty cents.

The first sermon delivered in Rome was in the ycar 1808, at the house of Elijah Crosby, by the Rev. Jonathan Leslie, of Geneva. The second services were by the Rev. Mr. Darrow, at the house of David Walkley. At this time it was arranged to hold regular religious services on the Sabbath, and we are informed they have been kept up until the present time. The first church organization was on the 20th day of May, 1819, of the order known as Presby- terian. The Rev. Giles H. Cowles was minister in charge. The following are the members of this class : Elijah and Phebe Crosby, John and Lucinda Crowell, Daniel and Lovina Hall, Levi Bayley, Elizabeth and Prudence Walkley. Levi Bayley was appointed moderator; Elijah Crosby and Levi Bayley, committee ; and John Crowell, elerk. Of church edifices, we find that the Baptist church at the centre was erected in 1835; the Presbyterian, which is located one-fourth of a mile north of the centre, built in 1836; and the Episcopal, situated about one mile north of the centre, built in 1837. The present building at the station, occupied by the Methodists, was removed to that point from the centre in 1877, and is the one first erected by the Baptists, as above stated. The pulpit of this church is supplied by the Rev. Robert Crane, of Green, Trumbull county. The pastor at the Presbyterian church is the Rev. Henry Farwell, who is the only resident minister in the township.

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.

History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 85

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