History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 88

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

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ard ; T. A. Thatcher, Assistant Steward ; William Ashley, Chaplain ; H. B. Wood- ruff, Treas .; J. O. Holman, Sec. ; J. Forrest, Gate-Keeper ; Mrs. Jane Ray, Ceres; Mrs. B. J. Ashley, Pomona ; Mrs. McNutt, Flora ; Mrs. Woodruff, Assistant Steward. Annual meetings, second and fourth Thursdays of each month.

There are now residing in the township three ladies of notable longevity. viz. : Mrs. Lydia Bell, who was ninety-nine years of age in April, 1878; Mrs. Lydia Rogers, probably ninety-three, though there seems some difference of opinion as to her exact age ; and Mrs. Rebecca Chapin, aged ninety-two ; another, aged ninety (Mrs. Charlotte Williams), has recently removed to Kansas. The population of Lenox in 1870 was seven hundred and fifty-two, and from the records of Auditor Crowell we learn that in 1876 there were :

Wheat

180 acres.

1.473 bushels.

Oats.

711

18,326

Corn

452

14,780

Potatoes

6,166

Orcharding

198

16,737

Meadow (hay)

1864

2,540 tons.

Cultivated land.

3,606 acres.

Pasturage land

6,263

Woodland

2,646

Butter ..

35,595 pounds.

Cheese

332,765

Maple-sugar.

11,836

There were eight school-houses in the township, valued at forty-six hundred dollars, with a total enumeration of two hundred and twenty-eight scholars.

With a few incidents we close the history of Lenox. The first is related of the freaks of a horse and his master, in which the noble animal showed an unheard- of penchant for getting up in the world. The affair occurred in the barn of E. N. House, Esq. The horse was young, skittish, and otherwise vicious, and in the progress of a " business interview" between him and his keeper unaccountable demonstrations occurred which produced a misunderstanding between the parties, followed by a rather boisterous struggle of the belligerents. This was suddenly concluded by the escape of the beast up a steep flight of stairs. Once in the hay-loft, the " trouble began." The floor giving way precipitated his head and shoulders earthward, from which critical position he was rescued by the aid of several men, though perhaps not a " wiser or better" horse, yet it must be ad- mitted of more experience. Another story, and one which will please the " juve- niles" better because there is a " bear" in it, runs as follows: Justice Markham, then resident in Lenox (afterwards removing to Saybrook), was in the woods one day with a gun of somewhat doubtful character, so far as its destructive proper- ties were concerned. Fnding a bear, he attempted to discharge his gun; but whether it were with it as with the celebrated pistol of the immortal Hudibras,-

" Pallas came in shape of rust,

And 'twixt the spring and hammer thrust Her Gorgan shield,"-

or that the fire genii, slumbering peacefully in the gun-flint, could not be roused sufficiently to give out the igniting spark, is not known, but certain it is young Justice laid aside his gun, hung his hat thereon, procured the most primitive of weapons, a club, and " made at" Bruin with commendable alacrity. Whether the bear was unable, or fearless, and not caring to outrun his adversary, tradition does inform us. Bruin did, however, sustain for a length of time quite an able run- ning fight, but inan conquered,-the bear was slain. Ere this was effected the contest had been so long kept up and the route traveled so devious that it was with much difficulty, and then not until after some days devoted to the search, that he found his hat and gun. At the residence of Dr. Asque we were shown a relic of the by-gone in the shape of a gun, the extreme length of which is seven feet seven inches, the barrel alone being six feet one inch. This lengthy piece of ordnance was brought from Maryland by Lisle Asque, and was used by him in the hunting excursions of the period in which he flourished. It is related of him that he has killed with this gun forty-seven wild turkeys at thir- teen shots, killing at one shot nine, and at another six. Many other "incidents" are related, but do not possess sufficient merit to be given a place in this history.

As a just tribute to the patriotism of the citizens of Lenox, we beg leave to say that we think no township in the county of equal population furnished more soldiers during the " Great Rebellion" than did little Lenox, not only on the first but subsequent calls for troops. The number who weut were ninety on the sev- eral calls for volunteers, twenty-two of whom never returned, and several came home to die or maimed and broken in health and constitution. For their etfi- ciency, bravery, and general good conduct while in service, we think they rank second to none upon the Western Reserve. We wish to say in closing that we were greatly aided in our labors of collecting the early items of history of Lenox by the manuscripts prepared by Josiah Atkins in 1847, which we were permitted access to through the kindness of Mrs. J. M. Ray. Our acknowledgments are also due M. S. Jewett, Esq., S. H. Cook, and others for material aid in our labors.

225

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JOSIAH ATKINS.

Josiah Atkins, Jr., a well-known citizen of Ashtabula County for more than sixty years, was born in Woleott, New Haven county, Conuecticut, October 16, 1789. He was a younger brother of Hon. Quintus F. Atkins, and came to Ohio when quite a young man.

For several years previous to 1821 he was a confidential clerk in the mercantile house of Austin & Hawley, in Austinburg, one of the most important business houses in northern Ohio. Iu 1821 he was a clerk and a deputy in the county auditor's office in Jeffersou, and a year or two later surveyed the lands in north- westeru Ohio, grauted by congress to the State, for the purpose of building a road from the west line of the Connecticut Reserve to Perrysburg, through what was known as the " Maumee Swamp."

Afterwards he pursued the occupation of surveyor and builder, varied oeca-

sionally by services as storekeeper and accountant. He also held the office of county surveyor for several years. At a later period, ill health and infirmities intervening, he gave up surveying, and for a few years served as justice of the peace and postmaster iu Leuox.

In 1847, assisted by Colonel Erastus N. House, he wrote, for the county his- torical society, an interesting history of the pioneer settlement of Lenox, which, with many other valuable documents of like kind, is supposed to have been destroyed by the subsequent burning of the court-house, in which they were deposited.

He was a diligent student and ardent lover of sound literature, as well as au industrious workingmau, aud in the course of his long life had accumulated a large and valuable library, which he gave, by will, to Tabor college, Iowa.

He was widely known and justly esteemed as a mau of striet integrity, great intelligence, and pure morals.

He died March 12, 1871, at Oberlin, Ohio, in the cighty-second year of his age. He had never married.

NEW LYME TOWNSHIP.

THIS township, which is No. 9 of the third range, was originally called Lebanon. On the 17th day of May, in the year 1799, it was deeded by the Connecticut land company to Elisha Traey, and on June 1, same year, Josiah Barber pur- chased an undivided interest in the township. During the years 1801 aud 1803, Barber sold to S. Gilbert, E. Traey, and Joseph Pepoon all his interest excepting one thousand acres, which were deeded, on the 15th day of May, 1813, to Joel Owen, originally of Nelson township, Tolland county, Connecticut. This land was located as follows : two hundred aeres in the west part of lot No. 1, and eight hundred in lots Nos. 25 and 26. Mr. Owen received an article for this land in the summer of 1803, and in the fall of same year began the journey to his far western home. This was undertaken with a wagon drawn by oxen. Owing to the inelemency of the season, bad roads, etc., he left his family, which at that time consisted of a wife and two children, at Amsterdam, New York, and came on to his possessions in this township. During the winter he ereetcd thereon the first house in New Lyme. This was a small log structure, with the " regulatiou puncheon floor" and rived shingle roof. Having completed his dwelling he re- turned in the spring for his family, aud soon after embarked for his new home. His route was up the Mohawk river and along Lake Ontario to Buffalo, in an open boat, and from that point to Ashtabula, thence through Austinburg and Morgan to their cabin, at which point they arrived on the 13th day of August, 1804, over nine months from the time of their " breaking camp" in Connecticut. At this time the nearest white settlers were seveu miles away, and here, solitary and alone, except as occasional parties of Indians eneamped near them for the purpose of hunting, this family resided for nearly seven years. Of the children of Mr. Owen we learn there were six, three of whom settled, after marriage, in the adjoining township of Colebrook, one in Gustavus, Trumbull county, and another in Saybrook, then ealled Wrightsburg. The names of these children were Sophia, who married Reuben Roberts; Zarina, who married John Seoville; Anna, who married Jedediah Groves; Sallie, who married Gilbert Cole ; Electa, who married Daniel Collings ; and Polly, who married Jonathan Webb. None of the family are at present residents of New Lyme. In January, 1811, Mr. Owen ceased to be " monarch of all he surveyed," from the fact that at this time the following persons removed from Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, and located near him : Samuel G. and Daniel Peck, Joshua Strickland, Vinton B. Way, and John and Salmon Gee. These parties built a log cabin and cleared off a piece of ground in what was then known as the " pigeon-roost," and from it some six hundred bushels of corn (in the ear) were harvested. In July of the same year, Dan Huntley, Joseph Miller, Peter Chapman, and Perry G. Beekwith, with their families, arrived in the township. The children of Joseph Miller, who settled on lot No. 2, were Angeline, born in Connecticut ; deceased. The next, Dan, married Lydia Johnson ; was ordained a elergyman of the Baptist connection, October 15, 1836 ; died in Minnesota, April, 1874. Louisa, third child, married Heman Johnson ; deceased. Temperance, married Nelson Hyde ; resides in New Lyme. Eliza, died young. Joseph, Jr., married Mary St. John ; lives on south

part of old farm. Marcenus V., married Beulah Brown; lives on lot No. 8. Griswold and Phobe both died single. The children of Perry G. Beckwith are Delinda, married John Gee; deceased. Elijah, married Sarah Partridge; now residing in Jefferson with his son, George W., who, with A. R., are connected with the mercantile interests at that point. Esther, deceased. Perry G., deceased. Alvin, married Peggy Little ; resides near the old homestead. Joanna, deceased. Edward M., deceased. Ezra M., married. Phillips, resides in Colebrook. Adelia, deceased ; and Samuel R., married Mary Allison ; resides in Kinsman, Trumbull county. Of the families of Huntley and Chapman we have no data.

The following August, Samuel and Daniel Peck and Viuton B. Way returned to Connecticut after their families. Returning, they, in company with Eusebius Dodge, Zopher Gee, Charles Knowles, and Sanford Miner, arrived in New Lyme on the 20th day of the subsequent September. This company, numbering some ninety persons all told, performed this journey of over six hundred miles in wagons drawn by horses and oxen. Many mishaps are related of this journey and its privations and sufferings. Sufficient is it for us to know, however, that forty-three days from the time of their leaving their New England home they arrived at the cabin of Samuel G. Peek. The children of Samuel Peek are Wil- liam D., married Zipperal Miner, now resides in Fairfield, Iowa; Josiah J., deceased ; Susannah, deceased; Betsey, married Eli Andrews, resides in Bloom- ingdale, Michigau ; Lorica, deceased ; Elijah, married Parney Hubbard, still liv- ing iu New Lyme; Samuel G., married Nancy E. Canfield, lives iu Rome, this county ; Silas, married Angelina Gee, lives in this towuship; Zipperah and Mary Ann, deceased. D. Peck's children were Edward C., deceased; Ansel, left New Lyme in 1818, supposed to have died west; Polly, married Elias Brockway, now living in Michigan ; Lyman, married Laura Brown, residing on lands purchased by his father. The children of Joshua Strickland are Stephen, Marcus L., and Eliza. The children of Eusebius Dodge were John, deccased ; Jeremiah, war- ried Harriet Jackson, still living on the original homestead; Naney, married Lemuel Lee, their only child is the present Judge Lee, of Ashtabula,-Mrs. Lee resides on the old place with her brother; Patty, deceased ; Eusebius was a Bap- tist clergyman, deceased ; Henry, deecased ; Maria, deceased ; Joanna, married Dr. Jared Fuller,-Sylvester Tracy, only son of this couple, is now cashier of the Second National bank of Jefferson. The foregoing children were born in Lyme, Connecticut. Two children were born here,-Edward C. and Matthew, who both died young. The children of Vinton B. Way are as follows: Abby, deceased ; Darien, married Catharine Foreman, resides iu Colebrook ; Caroliue, still resides on the old hoiucstead ; Phebe, married Elisha B. Clark, lives in Rome, this county ; John C., married Caroline C. Edwards, resides in this towuship; E. S., married Aun Norton, resides on the old farm ; Sarah, deceased ; Mary, deceased ; Erastus and Esther, also deceased.

The surface of the township of New Lywie is of a rolling nature, averaging with the adjoining townships iu productiveness. The streams of water are the Lebanon creek, which rises in the southeast part of the township and flows westerly,

226

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

eniptying into Rock ercek, in Rome. Whetstone creek has its rise in a small swamp situated on the east line of the township. near the centre, flows nearly due west, and diseharges its waters into Roek creek, a little north of the Centre road.

The first school was taught in the winter of 1812-13. by John Gee. The building occupied for school purposes on this occasion was a small log affair, and was probably located on the land of Perry G. Beckwith. Sr. There were some eighteen pupils in attendance, and comprised all the youth within the township. The first select school was taught by Albert Hall, at the Baptist church, in the year 1850. The first marriage in the township of New Lyme occurred in the vear 1812. Miss Susan, daughter of Samuel G. Peek, and Calvin Knowlton, of Morgan. were the participants in this no doubt highly interesting event. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, then resident in Austinburg. The first male ehild born in this town- ship was a son to Joseph and Elizabeth Miller, December 14, 1811. This child was named Daniel. and is the same of whom mention is made in connection with the Miller family. The first child who saw the light in a frame dwelling was Mareena Miller ; this was in 1822. The first frame house erected in the town- ship was in 1820, Dan Huntley owner. The first adult death was that of an old lady named Bailey. This occurred in the year 1818. Where buried, or who had charge of the funeral obsequies, we are unable to learn. The first physician was Jared Fuller, who arrived in New Lyme in the year 1829. Dr. Fuller was originally from Windham (now Seotland ). Connecticut. He located on lot No. 1. and continued to practice his profession successfully until 1870, when he re- moved to Jefferson. Dr. Porter Kee, who was a partner of Dr. Fuller's for some years. built the Water Cure establishment in this township. The present medical staff of New Lyme is composed of Dr. A. Rathbone, who is spoken of as being fully up to the standard in professional attainments ; has a fine practice.

ROADS.

" Blazed" routes were established to Wayne, Lenox, Morgan, and Rome as early as 1811, but the first road of which mention is made in the county records was in June, 1913; this was " from the Strong place in Rome, and running southerly through New Lyme; thence southerly and easterly until it interseets the road at Nathan Fobes', in Wayne." The same date another road was authorized " from the south line of No. 10, third range (Lenox), running south until it intersects the new road laid in Lebanon ( New Lyme ), and north in a direetion with said line until it intersects the road running to Jefferson." June, 1816. A road " from Eusebius Dodge, and running in au easterly direction until it interseets the road leading from Rome to Wayne, at Levi Bailey's." Same date. From, at, or near Joseph Miller's, and running eastwardly by the houses of Martin and Seldin Huntley. until it intersects the highway leading from Rome to Wayne. Deeem- ber, 1817. From near the house of Levi Bailey, and running southeasterly to in- terseet the road running northerly from Titus Hayes', in No. 8, second range Wayne). March, 1819. From Eusebius Dodge's, running westerly to Edward C. Dodge, in Rome. March, 1820. From eentre of south line to old road leading to Morgan. June, 1820. From northeast eoruer of Josiah Peck's land to Wind- sor road.

The first sermou delivered in the township was at the house of Zopher Gee, by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, of Austinburg, in the fall of 1812, to an audience of. perhaps, twenty.

The Free-Will Baptist church was organized November 12, 1826, by Elder Samuel Wires, with nine members, whose names are as follows: Benj. Reeve, Elias Broekway, Elijah Brown, Rumsey Reeve, Daniel Bogue, Joshua Striekland, Lovina Waters, Martha Reeve, and Sarepta Brown. Joshua Strickland was the first elerk and Benjamin Reeve deacon. Following are the names of such of the pastors as we could procure : Revs. Wires, Cheeney, Dodge, Rolland, Perry, Craft, D. H. Miller, Dunn, Riee, Straight, Crandall, Page, and - Drake, who is the present incumbent. Their church at Dodgeville was ereeted in the year 1846. The elose-communion Baptists erected a church in 1832. Rev. Joshua Woodworth (ordained at Jefferson, 1811) was for years pastor of this church ; was sueeeeded by Silas Barnes, Sidney Carter, and - St. John.

THE FIRST SAW-MILL

was erected by Joseph Miller in 1814. Its location was on Whetstone creek, north of Brownsville. The uext mill was built by Zopher Gee and Samuel G. Peck in 1820, and stood on Lebanon creek, near the present residenee of Zopher Gee. Oliver Brown, in 1843, built a mill at Brownsville, on Lebanon ereek. This was run by water until 1850, when steam-power was substituted. This and the steam-mill just north of the centre comprise the sum total of the New Lyme mills.

ORGANIZATION.

This township was organized under the name of Lebanon on the first Monday of April, 1813, and continued under that name until 1825, when it was, by spe-

cial act of the legislature, changed to New Lyme. Upon its organization the fol- lowing persons were elected: Daniel Huntley, Samuel G. Peck, and Perry G. Beck with, trustees ; Joseph Miller, elerk ; Joel Owen, treasurer ; and Edward C. Peek, constable. Eusebius Dodge was, on the 2d day of August, 1813, commis- sioned a justice of the peace for this township. He was succeeded by Joseph Mil- ler. and was recommissioned July 19, 1816. His successor was Lemucl Lee, who served in that capacity for a number of years. The present justices of the peaee are Calvin Dodge and M. A. Eaton. Mr. Lee was one term to the legislature, and Judge William S. Deming two terms. The first postmaster was undoubtedly Lemuel Lee, and the mail matter was received and distributed at his house, which stood just north of Dr. Fuller's. The date upon which this office was ereated we are unable to obtain, though a mail-route was established in 1826, running fromu Warren through this town to Jefferson, and it was probably soon after that this office was established. Samuel Lee was his successor. This office is uow kept at the store of Perry G. Hyde, who is postmaster. A second office is located on lot No. 8. M. V. Miller, postmaster, was commissioned October 25, 1873. The first hotel was opened in about the year 1831 by Elijah Brown. This building is now occupied by Byron Brown for a dwelling. The present hotel is owned by L. S. Potter. Its location is next door south of Hyde's store, and was first thrown open as a house of entertainment on May 17, 1876. The first store was opened in the year 1830 by Richard Hayes and Benjamin Carpeuter, of Hartford, Trumbull county, though Jeremiah Dodge sold some goods on commission prior to this date. The store of Messrs. Hayes & Carpenter was located at Dodgeville. Feb- ruary, 1834, this store was sold to J. Dodge and Samuel Plumb. Nelson Hyde and Albert Latimer subsequently became partners. In the spring of 1834 a mereantile establishment began business at Brownsville, under the firm-name of Oakley, Deming & Co. They continued under this name for two years, when William S. Deming became sole owner. The business continued for many years as Deming & St. John, William S. & John Deming, and Dening & Gee. New Lyme has at present five mercantile establishments : Hiram Dodge and M. L. Strickland at Dodgeville, P. G. Hyde and M. H. Wilson at Brownsville, and Nelson Hyde has a small stock of goods at his house, on the turnpike. The first cheese-factory in New Lyme was built by Albert Latimer and Jonathan Bishop in 1865 and 1866. This was the " Alderney." Mr. Zopher Gee has been manager the most of the time. The first year the milk of about three hundred eows was manufactured. Now the number is about six hundred. The Lebanon Valley cheese-factory is owned by Messrs. Dodge & Brown, and does an extensive business, manufacturing in 1876 the milk of eleven hundred eows.

At Brownsville there is a very fine lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars. Their charter bears date April 15, 1868, with the following members: F. J. Reeve, H. A. Reeve, S. Reeve, J. S. Peck, Antoinette Peek, F. P. Brown, J. H. Patchin, A. E. Peck, C. H. Coon, D. S. Chapel, and Mary Chapel. Membership, forty.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

Symbol Lodge. No. 452, whose charter bears date October 19, A.L. 5871, own a fine wooden building at Dodgeville, the lower story of which is oeeupied by the store of M. L. Strickland. The charter members of this lodge are Alexander McCausland, Sylvester T. Fuller, George E. Gee, H. L Dodge, D. C. Wood- worth, Benjamin Reeve, M. H. Wilson, J. C. Perry, J. A. Hoskins, F. E. and A. C. Crosby, O. R. Potter, A. W. Remiek, A. G. Rathbone, R. L. Foreman, and Byron Bovee. Present officers are E. S. Gee, W. M .; M. D. Rogers, S. W .; A. W. Remiek, J. W .; E. N. Jayne, Sec .; H. L. Dodge, Treas .; George E. Gee, S. D. ; George Parker, J. D .; and M. L. Strickland, Tyler. The present membership is sixty, and steadily increasing. Stated communications, second and fourth Mondays.

New Lyme has in training a brass-band of no mean ability.

In manufacturing. there is the carriage-manufactory of Messrs. Richmond, Dodge & Co., and Elisha Peckwith, the harness-shop of M. H. Wilson, blaek- smith- and shoe-shops, marble-works, etc.

In relation to the industries of this township, the assessor's returns show that more than one hundred thousand pounds of cheese are manufactured here than in any other township in Ashtabula County. Below find crop statisties, ete. :

Wheat.

150 acres.

1,252 bushels.

Oats

55 44 28,090

Corn

455

25,704

Potatoes

170

2,165

Orcharding

172

14,840

Meadow

1967

2,034 tons.

Maple-sugar

9,845 pounds.

Butter,

26,790

Cheese.

480,731

There are 6 school-houses, valued at 83300; amount paid teachers, $661.85 ; * with a total number of seholars of 209.

Population, 708.

Vote for President in 1876 was: R. B. Hayes, 144; S. J. Tilden, 59.

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.

THIS township, which is deseribed on the records of the county as No. 10 in the first range of the Connectieut Western Reserve, was originally owned as follows: the two tiers of lots aeross the north part of the township, being one-fourth of the entire township, were deeded to John Kinsman. Justus and Horace Stocking owned another considerable traet joining on the south the Kinsman land. Samuel Woodruff's land, comprising one thousand aeres, eame next, while the remainder of the land now embraced within the limits of this township were owned by the Atwater heirs.

SOIL, WATER-COURSES, ETC.

The soil of this township is generally that of a elay-loam, and rather above the average in produetiveness, though some portions are too swampy as yet to be available as farming land. The surface is rolling, especially along the water- courses, which consist of the two principal branches of the Ashtabula ereek. The first of which, and this is properly the head of Ashtabula ereek, rises on lot No. 44, and, flowing a north westerly course, enters Pierpont near the south- west eorner ; the other stream heads on lot No. 21, and the direction is the same as the former stream, erossing into Pierpont about one mile from the east line.

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History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 88

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