USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 90
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The first adult death was that of Leonard Blackmar, on April 22, 1819. His death was occasioned by injuries received some two months previous, while en- gaged in eapturing, alone, a full-grown elk. The funeral obsequies were per- formed by Bazetta Spencer, at the house of the deceased, and the body was interred near by. The first cemetery established in the township was in 1836 ; this was on lot No. 49.
The first hotel in the township was opened at East Trumbull, in 1839. The building is now occupied by O. C. Parker as a dwelling and grocery. A. T. Cod- ding was the landlord. No hotel is kept at this point at present. The first and only hotel at the centre was built by Scott Jenks, in 1858. This was managed by different parties until the carly part of 1874, when it was purchased by E. P.
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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
Saunders, who still "takes in" thic weary traveler, and " docs for him" in a manner which makes him feel at peace with all the world.
MILLS.
The pioneer saw-mill of this township was erected in 1828, by M. W. Beach. This was located on the southeast part of the township, on Trumbull creek (lot No. 12). Auother saw-mill was built at Footville, in 1842, by Messrs. Grant & Foot. In 1833, Asa Wait and Nathaniel Clark erected (also on Trumbull creek) the first grist-mill. This was, in 1841, purchased by Nathaniel Brown and John, his son, who is now the sole owner of this property. A saw-mill was erected south of the centre by Daniel Dodge, in 1837. In about 1840 a grist-mill was put iu operation by the same individual. The stones formerly used in this mill are now doing duty, a little farther down the stream, in the flouring-mill of Syl- vester Curtis.
CHEESE-FACTORIES.
Of these quite modern institutions we find that the first was established in the spring of 1861. This was conducted on the co-operative plan, with the following stockholders : Frank Cook, James Massingham, M. Proctor, A. Sinclair, G. W. Rich, A. H. Dodge, Steve J. Massingham, and H. G. Rich. The average num- ber of cows contributing is three hundred aud fifty. In the spring of 1870 an- other factory was opened at East Trumbull. This was burned in August, 1876. The preseut factory at this point began operations in the spring of 1877, A. H. Brainard. manager. At Footville, Hiram Spafford erected a factory building in 1871. This has been operated by William Raymond and others.
SOCIETIES.
Eagle Grange, No. 148, was organized October 8, 1873, U. D. They have never received a charter. The members for organization were L. G. Nye and wife, Daniel Webb and wife, A. M. Proctor and wife, R. F. Cook and wife, Wm. E. Bradley and wife, H. A. Warren and wife, MI. Loomis and wife, H. Spafford and wife, A. H. Dodge and wife, B. F. Gee and wife, H. P. Dodge and wife, A. E. Graham and wife, Frank Cook and wife, Mrs. Alice Stevens, A. Scott, S. C. Powers, and John Quail. First officers, A. H. Dodge, M .; L. G. Nye. O. ; John Quail, L .; B. F. Gee, S .; R. F. Cook, Ass't S .; H. Spafford, G .; W. E. Brad- ley, Chap .; D. Webb, Treas .; and A. E. Graham, Sec. Present membership, about sixty. Meetings, secoud and fourth Tuesdays. Present officers, A. E. Gra- ham, Mrs. M. Wolcott, O .; H. Spafford, L .; H. O. Thompson, S .; R. P. Wolcott, Ass't S .; W. E. Bradley, Chap .; A. H. Dodge, Treas. ; and H. H. Townsley, Sec. There has been a lodge of I. O. G. T. at the centre, but it is not now in operation. There was also a post of the Grand Army at Footville, which has long since been abandoned.
ORGANIZATION.
The record of the commissioners of Ashtabula County shows, under date of March 7, 1825, that, " on the representation of Isaac H. Phelps and others, it was ordered that all that part of the township of Harpersfield in the fifth range, between the north line of the township at Windsor and the south line of num- ber eleven in said range, be erected into a new township by the name of Trum- bull, and that the first meeting to elect township officers shall be holden on the first Monday of April next, at the house of Isaac H. Phelps." Pursuant to which the electors ( there were ten of them) met at the house of Daniel Wood- ruff, on the 4th day of April, 1825, organized by the appointment of Benjamin Moore, Obadiah Brown, and Ezra Griffin, judges, and Isaac H. Phelps and Ezra Gregory, clerks, of said electiou, and proceeded to elect the following township officers : Ezra Griffin, James Brown, and Ezra Gregory, trustecs ; Isaac H. Phelps, towuship clerk ; Ezra Griffin, treasurer; O. Brown and Daniel Woodruff, over- seers of the poor; D. Woodruff and O. Brown, fence-viewers; Ezra Gregory, lister and appraiser; and Benjamin Moore, lister. On the arrival of the first Monday of April, 1826, there was a sufficient number of voters in the township to legalize an election, and Daniel Burgess was appointed trustee and township clerk, Isaac H. Phelps treasurer, and Jehoiakim Burgct constable. July 30, 1828, Isaac H. Phelps was elected first justice of the peace for Trumbull town- ship. The succession in this office is as follows: Nathaniel Brown, Asa Wait, Josiah Gregory, Ebenezer Andrews, Daniel Dodge, Nathaniel Brown, William Nelson, O. H. Price, Daniel Webb, A. J. S. Barnes, H. C. Holt, N. D. Kellogg, Daniel Webb, and Marian Brown aud H. C. Holt, who are the present incum- beuts. The officers for 1877 are R. E. Clough, R. P. Wolcott, and John Brown, trustees; I. S. Lewis, clerk; J. M. Fairbanks, treasurer; E. C. Livingston, assessor ; H. H. Townsley and H. H. Kellogg, constables. There are at present sixteen supervisors of roads and highways in the township.
STATISTICS FOR 1877.
Wheat.
279 acres. 1,906 bushels.
Oats ..
731
22,014 .4
Corn .....
491
17,615
Potatoes
20-
12,387
Orcharding
260
16,035
Meadow.
2113
=
2,358 tons.
Maple-sugar.
8,530 pounds.
Butter.
49,475
Cheese ..
182,500
Number of school-houses in township, 8; valuation, $4000; number of scholars, 324; amount paid teachers, $1204.50.
Population in 1870, 1084.
Vote for President in 1876 : R. B. Hayes, 209 ; S. J. Tilden, 46.
Trumbull claims to be the " banner" of Ashtabula County during the war, sending more men and raising more money to aid the cause of the Union than any other township in the county of equal population and financial ability. This item is given us by Hiram Spafford, of the committee.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN BROWN.
The subject of the present sketch, a fine portrait of whom appears in connec- tion with a view of his pleasant home-surroundings, in another portion of this volume, was born in Bethany, Genesee county, New York, on the 30th day of June, in the year 1815, and is the eldest child of Nathaniel and Lorana Keith Brown, who removed from the above place to Ohio, and located in Trumbull township, to which point they arrived on May 24, 1828. The place of their settlement was near the site now occupied by the residence of A. R. Eastman, at East Trumbull. They resided in this little hamlet until their decease.
The education of Mr. Brown was obtained at the district school, the greater part of it prior to his removal to Ohio. Arriving in the wilderness, of course the first work was to subdue the giant forest-trecs then covering the lands comprising his father's purchase. Steadily this vocation was pursued until the attaining of his majority, when he made his first purchase of real estate. This consisted of thirty acres, and is now owned by Ira Slater. In December, 1841, Mr. Brown pur- chased. in company with his father, the grist-mill at East Trumbull originally built by Messrs. Clark and Wait, paying therefor four thousand dollars. This mill was conducted under different managements until 1865, when Mr. Brown became the sole owner, and still continues as such. He has, however, thoroughly refitted the mill until now it does excellent work and commands a good custom. Of the military record of Mr. Brown we find that he entered the United States service in the fall of 1861, as a private, Company K, Sixth Ohio Volunteer Cav- alry ; went into rendezvous at Warren, Trumbull county; was elected lieutenant of his company, but deeming Mr. Freer as justly entitled to the position, declined in his favor, and was appointed sergeant; went to the front; was engaged in numerous fights and skirmishes while in the Army of the Potomac ; September 8, 1864, was discharged. Returned to Trumbull, and purchased the mill as above stated. He was united in marriage, on the 30th day of January, 1837, to Polly A., daughter of Henry and Lovina Cogswell, of Trumbull township. From this marriage were born the following children, viz .: Ellen, born April 5, 1840; married Sam Evans; lives in Michigan. Dann, born July 30, 1841 ; killed in action, at Enon Church, May 28, 1864. Henry, the next child, was born Decem- ber 3, 1843; married Carrie Herrendine. Wallace, born August 19, 1846 ; married Effie Hackett. George, born March 16, 1849 (died in infancy). Jane, born in 1852; married Clayton McArthur. Olive, born April 12, 1855 ; died in 1863. George, born February 5, 1857; and Frank, the last, born October 25, 1861. These children remain in their native township except as above stated. The mother of these children died on September 11, 1864, and on August 3, 1867, Mr. Browu married his present wife, who was Miss Olive Brainard, of Trumbull. The first township office to which he was elected was that of constable, when he was of age ; served five years. Has been trustee of the township for a term of years. He early became a Christian, and joined the Free-Will Baptist church. On the organization of the Disciple church at East Trumbull he became a member of it, and has been foremost in promoting its interests. He took the " lion's share" in the erection of the church edifice. He is a Republican.
JOHN CHURCHILL
was born in Boonville, Oneida county, New York, on the 14th day of August, in the year 1814, and is the second in a family of ten, the children of Carolus and Polly Churchill, of the above point, but who removed to Ohio and located
231
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
in Hartsgrove township in 1833. The place of their settlement is now owned by E. G. Hurlburt, Esq. In the year 1842 they removed to Illinois, and re- mained there until their decease. The education of the gentleman under con- sideration, a view of whose residence appears in this volume, was obtained at the common schools, and, it is unnecessary to state, was far below the average of the present district school education. The first real estate he became possessed of was in 1851. This was the eighty-three acres now owned in part by R. Stenard. His life-work since then has been that of a farmer. The fifty-four acres he now occupies in lots 31 and 32 were purchased in 1856, and are equal in productive-
ness with those adjoining them. Mr. Churchill was, on September 20, 1840, united in marriage to Eleanor H., daughter of David and Elizabeth Bartram, then of Trumbull towuship, but who was born in Madison, Lake county. The father died September 2, 1875, and the mother December 31, 1854. This couple were of the pioneers of Trumbull township. From this marriage were born two chil- dren : Adline, born April 8, 1844, married Henry Kellogg, and died July 18, 1866; and Warren, who was a private in Company C, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was in sixteen battles, and died of disease contracted in the service, on the 3d day of October, 1865. Politically, Mr. Churchill is a sterling Democrat.
ORWELL TOWNSHIP.
THIS township is number 8 of the fourth range, and in the original distribu- tion of the Western Reserve lands among the members of the Connecticut land company, September 5, 1798, became the property of Jabez and Ashael Adams, Moses Cleaveland, Joseph Williams, William W. Williams, and Joseph Howland. It was the first draft that was made in the drawing of the land company. It re- quired, by virtue of an arrangement agreed upon by the members of this com- pany (the reader is referred to the chapter in the general history on the Connec- ticut land company for an explanation of the process of partition), $12,903.23 to entitle a shareholder to one full, equalized township of land. If there were shareholders whose investments were insufficient to entitle each one to draw a full township, they could unite in such a manner as to make their united investments equal the amount required. In this instance this was the case. Jabez and Ashael Adams contributed towards making up the $12,903.23, $1630; Moscs Cleveland, $4852.08 ; Joseph Williams, $3693.54; William W. Williams, 8959 ; Joseph Howland, $1768.61. Each of these proprietors, therefore, became the owner of such undivided part of the entire township as his amount of money contributed bore to the whole amount. The Adamses, having contributed a little more than one-eighth of the whole amount, were owners of a little more than one- eightlı of the entire lands of the township. This township was considered an in- ferior one in quality, and an addition of seven thousand and forty-three acres of other lands was made to it in order to make it equal to an average township.
These original proprietors did not long retain their possession, which fell to them by lot, and Daniel L. Coit and Christopher Leffingwell became the grantees thereof. If the original owners placed too low an estimate on its value, their suc- cessors evidently did not make this mistake. The lands were held at five dollars an acre, a figure much in advance of prices at which lands equally good in neigh- boring townships could be purchased, the result being to retard the settlement of the township some eighteen years beyond the time when the adjoining township of Windsor was opened for settlement. Leffingwell caused the township to be sur- veyed into lots each of one mile square, and gave it the benefit of his name, and up to the time of its organization-in 1826-it was known as and called Leffing- well. Despite the advantage which one would suppose this beneficent act of Mr. Leffingwell would have secured for it, it was many years after the survey before immigrants could be induced to take up their abode in it. What was known as a woods road, leading through the forest from Austinburg through Rome and Or- well, had been opened nearly twenty years before the time of settlement in Orwell, and hence a stream of emigration had passed through the township for many years prior to the coming of permanent settlers. During a number of years Leffing- well was attached to Rome for purposes of organization, many years elapsing after the arrival of the first settler before there was a sufficient number to enable the pioneers to effect a township organization. This, however, was accomplished on the 4th day of July, 1826, by the employment of means whose legality was of a questionable kind. In order to effect organization the law required an enrollment of ten electors. There were but eight residents entitled to a vote in the township. These old settlers were fertile in resources in times of emergency, and in this case an expedient was at hand. Two men, most likely residents of Windsor, were at work on a bridge that was then in process of construction across Grand river, and these were pressed into service, and thus the requisite quorum was obtained and the organization legally effected.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first white settler in Orwell was A. R. Paine, who emigrated from Still- water, Saratoga county, New York, in October, 1815, and, after visiting other
portions of the Reserve, finally settled in this township on the 1st day of April, 1817. He had purchased of D. L. Coit, through Coit's agent at Warren, a tract of land in the southwestern part of the township,-lot 4, section 19. Here he erected his log cabin, which was considered rather a superior dwelling-house for those days, as it could boast of a floor made of sawed boards, while most other houses of that day had to content themselves with split-puncheon floors. It was ' a building sixteen by twenty-four feet on the ground, with cobble-gables and a roof of long split-shingles, and must have been quite a respectable building for those times. Mr. Paine is also entitled to the distinction of building the first barn in the township. This was a log barn, sixteen by twenty feet. To Mrs. Paine be- longs the honor of giving birth to the first white child of the township,-a daugh- ter, born on the 6th of February, 1820, called Lucinda,-and Gates Chandler, son of Solomon Chandler, was the first male child born in the township, being born on the 6th day of January, 1824. Both the Chandlers are now residents of Plainfield, California.
At the time Mr. Paine settled in Orwell his nearest neighbor lived in Bloom- field, three miles distant, and north of him to the nearest log cabin it was six miles. Mr. Paine had laid in a goodly stock of provisions during a temporary stay at Painesville, paying for flour fifteen dollars per barrel, pork twenty-five cents per pound, potatocs one dollar per bushel, and tobacco one dollar per pound. The father and two brothers of Mrs. Paine resided with Mr. Paine during the first winter.
Solomon Chandler, having purchased the north half of section No. 24, began an improvement in 1818, erecting a log cabin, in which he resided for some time alone. It is related of him that he did eredit to the order of bachelors by his neatness, and knew how to be hospitable to those who were his guests. In 1819, when he built a good, substantial barn for those days, for the purpose of storing his grain, assistance was rendered him from the settlement in Bloomfield. A dozen men, perhaps, came from the neighborhood. The day not being long enough to finish the work in hand, the party had to remain with their bachelor friend over- night. At supper-time all were hungry, as men would naturally be who had labored hard and continuously all day. Mr. Chandler brought out his little spider, of sufficient capacity only to furnish one meal for one man, and began to do the best that could be done under the circumstances. He prepared supper for one man, and while that one was enjoying his repast prepared another one's supper. By the time he had satisfied them all, and got a chance to attend to the demands of his own appetite, the night was pretty far spent, and " mine host" was not only a good deal hungry, but very weary also.
The next settlers in Orwell were William Waters, of Chenango county, New York, and Eli Andrews, from Hartford township, Trumbull county, Ohio, who came into the township in the spring of 1818. They purchased land in the northeastern portion of the township, but remained only three or four years, Watters removing to Rome. We have next to record the entrance into the town- ship of Mr. Benjamin Babcock and family, who came from Chautauqua county, New York, in the fall of 1818, but were originally from Massachusetts. Mr. Babcock purchased and settled in section 2, in the northern part of Orwell, the place now owned by Alvin Lamb. He had a goodly number of boys, all smart, industrious young fellows, who knew well how to handle an axe, or handspike, or a rifle. John Babcock was said to be a remarkably active and athletic young man, with the laudable ambition to excel every one else, whether in work or in the sports that were the practice of those days. He got the start of all others in one very praiseworthy undertaking. He led to the matrimonial altar the first bride of the township,-a Miss Lydia Charlotte Wolcott. The ceremony was
58
232
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
performed at the house of her father ; Lemuel Lee, justice of the peace, father of Hon. E. Lcc, being the officiating officer.
In the month of February, 1820, Alanson Spaulding and wife augmented the population of Orwell by their arrival. Mr. Spaulding purchased a part of section 8, and crecting a log cabin in the midst of the wilderness, opened it as a house of public resort, and much was spoken in praise of the comforts and attention which travelers received at this first tavern in Orwell. Mr. Spaulding became a leading spirit among the Orwell pioncers, becoming the first justice of the peace and first postmaster. He also erected a block-house. Not content with this, he became the builder and owner of the first brick huilding in the township, situated in lot 3, section 8, which was also used as a tavern, and is now the residence of C. A. B. Pratt.
Danicl R. Wolcott, from Bristol, Hartford county, Connecticut, having be- come owner of four hundred and seventy-six and one-half acres of section 13, com- prising a large share of the present town-site of the village of Orwell, settled upon liis purchase in April, 1822. During the summer of this year he built the first frame house in the township, located near the present site of Mr. Graham's storc. This MIr. Wolcott opened as a tavern-stand, and was well patronized. Being of strictly temperate principles, he refused to sell intoxicating drinks. He subsequently sold his tavern to Stephen Jordan, and removed to a log house which he had built about a mile farther east, effecting at this place a good im- provement, cultivating a fine orchard. This was the first improvement between Orwell and Wayne centres.
The year 1832 marked the arrival in the township of Ezra Pratt, who removed to this western wilderness from Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, and purchased the farm and tavern-stand of Mr. Spaulding, whom he succeeded as postmaster. Mr. Pratt was an active and industrious man. He opened the first store in Orwell in 1832, immediately after his arrival, in the block building erected by Mr. Spaulding, which had been removed to the opposite side of the road. Mr. Pratt also made rapid improvements upon his farm, and soon wrought a pleasing change in the appearance of his homestead. He continued to dis- charge the duties of postmaster for about six years, when he was succceded by Colonel George A. Howard, who had during the season of 1837 built and opeued the first store kept at Orwell Centre. Colonel Howard held the office of post- master until September 4, 1847. He was a good business man, and prominently connected with the interests of the township.
Henry L. Rice, Christopher Loveland, John Weed, Solomon Hunter, Thomas Stone, and John Bronson opened up settlements in the southeastern part of the township in the year 1834.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
At the organization of the township iu 1826, Lyman Richards was elected clerk, and Joseph Chandler, Alanson Spaulding, and Solomon Chandler trustees.
The present officers are Thos. MI. Covert, clerk ; Edward Crook, Edwin Reeves, and A. L. Parker, trustees; A. H. Rowley, treasurer ; W. H. Henderson and Solomon Bingham, constables; Pomeroy Carter, assessor; Edwin Goddard and J. B. Phillips, justices of the peace.
CHURCHES.
The first sermon was preached in 1820, by the Rev. Giles H. Cowles, at the log cabin of Alauson Spaulding. The organization of the Methodist Episcopal church was effected at the residence of Benj. Babcock, November 27, 1822, with a membership of twelve persons. The Methodists hegan the crection of a good, substantial church building in section 12, a short distance south of the village, in 1845, but did not finish it until the summer of 1850. Revs. Taylor and Craw- ford, circuit preachers, were the first, and Rev. G. G. Watters is the present minister. The present membership is one hundred and fifteen, and the church property, including parsonage, is valued at four thousand five hundred dollars.
Rev. Giles H. Cowles organized the Presbyterians into a church on the 20th day of November, 1831. The membership was composed of residents of both Orwell and Colebrook, but a separation was soon effected, and the Orwell mem- bership formed themselves into a church organization of their own, which was incorporated as such in the year 1837. In the spring of 1841 they erected a church edifice on lot 1 of section 12, in the northern part of the village, the cost of which was about one thousand dollars. Their present minister is Rev. H. D. King, their membership about seventy, and their church property is valued at five thousand dollars.
August 28, 1832, the Baptists of the township, consisting of seven persons, organized themselves into a society, and effected a church organization October 10, 1837, with a membership of ten persons, and their first minister was Elder Benjamin St. John. In 1849 the church numbered nineteen members. It sus- tained itself but a few years from that time.
In 1843 a Wesleyan Methodist church was organized with a membership of a dozen persons, their first preacher being a Rev. Mr. Langdon. This church organization was sustained but a few years.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house built in Orwell was a log one, erected in the spring of 1822, in section 13, just north of the centre, opposite the present site of Stone's hotel. The first teacher was Miss Lydia C. Walcott, and the scholars numbered twelve.
The citizens of Orwell evinced a strong interest in the establishment of educa- tional facilities for the youth in their vicinity. Orwell academy was built in 1851, and is located in section 13, in the northeastern part of the village. It is a building thirty-two by sixty feet, and two stories high.
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