USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 91
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The first board of officers was composed of Jason Waters, A. Bingham, and C. A. B. Pratt ; Rufus Baruard, treasurer ; and Jacob Tuckerman, secretary. The first principal was Jacob Tuckerman, in 1851; succeeding principals, Messrs. Buck, Jas. M. Johnson, Pinney, H. U. Johnson, and Mr. King, the present prin- cipal. The school gained for itself an excellent reputation, and has received a large support. The most prosperous period of its history was during the first few years of Professor H. U. Johnson's management. From 1865 to 1870 there was an average attendance of about one hundred and fifty. The township contains eight good district school-houses.
SOCIETIES.
Orwell Agricultural Society was organized May 31, 1858. We copy from the society's books the following minutes of the first meeting held : " By previous notice given, the citizens of Orwell assembled at the town-house on the evening of May 17, 1858, for the purpose of organizing a township agricultural society. Amander Bingham, Esq., was called to the chair and R. E. Stone appointed sec- retary, and after addresses by numerous persous present a motion was made that the chair appoint a committee of five to prepare a constitution for an agricultural society. The chairman appointed Ansel Russell, Thos. Day, Lewis Waters, John Holliday, and C. A. B. Pratt a committee to report a constitution at the next meeting. Meeting adjourned to meet again on Monday evening, May 31, 1858. "R. E. STONE, Secretary."
At the organization of the society, May 31, 1858, the following officers were chosen : Colonel Geo. A. Howard, president ; Lewis Waters, Rufus Barnard, Amander Bingham, L. A. Pratt, Anson Russell, N. A. Barnes, and C. A. B. Pratt, vice-presidents ; Colonel G. A. Howard, Wm. M. Eames, Lewis Waters, Anson Russell, and C. A. B. Pratt, executive committee; Dr. Wm. M. Eames, secretary ; C. A. B. Pratt, treasurer.
On the 7th of August following the society leased of Amos Morgan eight acres of land, in the east part of section 13, to be used as fair grounds, the same being a portion of the society's present grounds. The first fair was held the same fall. A fair has been held each succeeding fall with profitable results. The society at present has a lease of twenty acres of grounds, inclosed by a good fence, a good half-mile track, and buildings and improvements worth one thousand dollars. At the twentieth annual fair, held this year (1877), there were nine hundred and twenty-eight entries made, and the receipts were nine hundred and twenty-six dollars and sixty-five ccuts.
The present officers are : President, S. C. Wilson, Windsor township; Vice- President, F. R. Smith, Windsor township; Secretary, H. J. Stone, Orwell town- ship; Treasurer, A. H. Rowley, Orwell township. C. R. Stone, M. Lintern, N. A. Barnes, C. P. Carpenter, Lewis Waters, Wm. Barnard, Windsor, D. S. Chapel, New Lyme, and Alfred Barber, Bloomfield, executive committee.
Orwell Lodge, No. 477, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 27, 1871, by Wm. H. Beebe, Special Deputy. The following are the names of the charter mem- bers : H. U. Johnson, A. G. Hutchinson, L. P. Jordan, Emerson Paine, Alvin Lamb, Orin Parker, R. E. Stone, J. Runciman, Sr., James Kingdom, E. Crippen, J. H. Dungan, Chas. Bassett, and Amander Bingham. The first officers were H. U. Johnson, N. G .; A. G. Hutchinson, V. G .; L. P. Jordan, R. S .; Emer- son Paine, P. S .; A. Lamb, Trcas .; and O. Parker, R. E. Stone, and J. Run- ciman, Sr., Trustees. In the fall of 1871 the lodge, in connection with the town, built their preseut building, the upper story of which is owned and occupied by the lodge as their rooms. The first story is owned by the town, and used as a town hall. The building is situated just south of the corner occupied by Mr. Graham's store; is in size thirty by sixty feet, with twenty-two feet posts, and cost three thousand dollars. The lodge-rooms were dedicated January 1, 1872. The lodge now numbers eighty members, has its rooms well furnished, and is in a flourishing condition.
The present officers are Thos. Rex, N. G. ; John Runciman, Jr., V. G .; Will A. Johnson, R. S .; L. P. Jordan, P. S .; Dr. H. M. Fitts, Treas .; E. Reeves, R. E. Stone, and S. C. Lewis, Trustees.
233
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
Laurel Lodge, No. 220, I. O. G. T., was instituted August 1, 1867, with the following charter members : E. A. Goddard, F. D. Case, A. D. Brown, J. T. Gill- more, Ivory Basset, A. H. Fenton, E. H. Parker, C. W. Fenton, A. Lamb, J. S. Lamb, Z. C. Bigelow, N. Lamb, H. U. Johnson, G. S. Chandler, P. D. Howard, P. M. Babcock, S. Fillmore, Miss Amanda Dungan, Miss Jennie Bigelow, Miss Libbie Bower, Miss Juliette Goddard, Miss Sarah Morse, Miss Fannie M. Newell, Miss Celia Morgan, Olive E. Barnes, and Mary E. Haines.
The first officers were Septa Fillmore, W. C. T .; Mary E. Haines, W. V. T .; A. D. Brown, W. Chap .; F. D. Case, W. R. S .; Sarah E. Morse, W. A. S .; E. A. Goddard, W. F. S .; G. S. Chandler, W. Treas .; Z. C. Bigelow, W. M .; Juliette Goddard, W. D. M .; Fannie M. Newell, W. I. G .; F. E. Paine, W. O. G. ; Jennie H. Bigelow, W. R. H. S .; and Amanda Dungan, W. L. H. S. The lodge has been in existence now over ten years, and has bought and paid for its rooms and furniture. During this tique there has been a total membership of one hundred and forty. The present officers are Miss Mary Runciman, W. C. T .; Miss Anna Gillmore, W. V. T .; C. R. Stone, W. Chap .; Miss Bell Gillmore, W. R. S .; Miss Maria Way, W. A. S .; Bert Paine, W. F. S .; P. M. Babcock, W. Treas .; George Basset, W. M .; Mrs. L. C. Paine, W. D. M .; Miss Jen- nie Gillmore, W. I. G .; Mary Paine, W. O. G .; Mrs. Dr. Phelps, W. R. H. S .; Miss Abbie Northway, W. L. H. S .; Solon Babcock, P. W. C. T .; and Dwight Northway, Lodge Deputy. Present membership, thirty.
EARLY ROADS.
The first traveled highway through Orwell was the road from Austinburg south through the forests of Rome and Orwell, leading to the county-seat of Trumbull county. In the winter of 1818 and 1819 an act passed the legislature of the State of Ohio for the establishment of a turnpike-road through the fourth range of townships leading from Ashtabula to Warren. This turnpike was com- pleted through this township in 1819, passing the centre of the township one- half mile to the east. In 1812 there was a road laid out from the centre of Windsor through the centres of Orwell, Colebrook, Wayne, and Williamsfield, to the Pennsylvania line, but it was not used much until the establishment along this route in 1831 of the Cleveland and Pennsylvania State road. Previous to the opening of this road there was no point at which Grand river could be crossed, except on the line of the devious old pioneer route leading from Judge Gris- wold's dwelling in Windsor to that of Judge Hayes in Wayne. When it became known to the settlers of Windsor and Orwell that the State would establish a road leading through the centres of the southern tiers of townships, they resolved to put the road through the Grand river bottoms on each side of the stream in a passable condition. They agreed to celebrate the 4th day of July, 1830, by as- seinbling in force on that day and beginning the proposed work. On the morning of that day, therefore, over three hundred men, residents of Orwell and Windsor, and some from neighboring townships, were on the ground with carts, ox-sleds, mud-boats, with all the teams that could be mustered, the men cquipped with axes, hoes, shovels, handspikes, and mattocks. The men were divided into com- panics, placed under the command of a captain, and the work began. The ladies had come also, and while the men pushed forward the work they spread a table and prepared a bountiful repast. All worked like the heroes they were, and when night came the embankment that stood before them as the result of their toil was a thing of keen delight to every heart.
The first checse-factory in Orwell was built by a stock company early in the spring of 1870, in section 9, about a mile north of the centre. The factory com- menced operations about the 1st of April the same spring. The first board of officers was Geo. Northway, president; Dan Northway, Robert Sellers, and James Bogue, directors ; C. A. B. Pratt, secretary and treasurer.
The factory, since June, 1874, has been owned and operated by J. G. King- dom. During the present season (1877) he has manufactured at this factory one hundred tons of cheese. The milk of about seven hundred cows is utilized.
The village of Orwell is located about a half-mile west of the centre of the township. It is an enterprising burg of about four or five hundred inhabitants, and contains two general merchandise stores, three drug- and grocery-stores, one boot- and shoe-store, one clothing-store, one merchant-tailoring store, two flour- and feed-stores, one hardware-store, three millinery-stores, one furniture-store, one job- printing office, two hotels, one carriage-manufactory, one spoke and handle fac-
tory, one planing-mill and cheese-box factory, one harness-shop, one meat-market, two blacksmith-shops, two physicians, one dentist, one jeweler, two churches, and one academy already mentioned.
INDIAN JIM-WHAT BECAME OF HIM?
There were but two families of Indians in Orwell at the time the white settlers arrived. One of these consisted of old Captain Phillips, his squaw, and two sons, called Captains Henry and John. Phillips' camp was on Rock creek, in the northern part of the township. He was an inoffensive Indian, and very in- dustrious in making maple-sugar, which article he would exchange with his white neighbors for flour, potatoes, etc. Of a far different character was the other In- dian " family," for, although he was the only member of his household, he insisted that he should be considered a " whole family," and thus called himself. He was a ferocious, blood-thirsty fellow and led a vagabond life; fond of nothing else save to hunt and to imbibe freely of " fire-water." He was a Canada Indian, and went by the name of " Indian Jim." Old Captain Phillips was accustomed to say of him, " Look out Jim; Jim bad, berry bad Indian; Jim British. Too much whisky. Fight, scalp, kill; bad, berry bad Indian. Look out Jim." This " berry bad Jim" had his place of encampment in the southeastern part of the township.
In December, 1821, Sylvester Hill, a resident of Painesville, and a hunter of some note, followed the tracks of three bears for three days, until he discovered them treed in the top of a large, hollow whitewood tree, not very far from the vicinity of Indian Jim's place of rendezvous. It scems that the Indian had also found the bears, and their place of lodgment being on his hunting-grounds he claimed the animals as his property. Hill observed the prints in the snow near the bear-tree of Jim's moccasins, and, anxious to secure the booty, he hastencd to the cabin of Mr. Babcock, and procuring the assistance of John and David Babcock, and Daniel Rood, returned. The tree was felled, two of the bears killed and carried away. The Indian, upon finding his bear-tree cut down and his bears gone, became furiously enraged. He knew Hill's track, and following him to the settlement charged him with stealing his bears, and demanded restitution. Hill declined to satisfy him, and the Indian left, threatening vengeance. It soon be- came known that the Indian was on the lookout for Hill, with the full purpose of taking his life. The latter returned to Painesville to avoid the threatened danger, where he remained a few wecks; but his love for hunting became para- mount to his fear of the Indian, and he returned to the forests of Orwell, hoping that Jim's ire had by this time abated. But such was not the case. Learning that Hill had returned, he again sought opportunity to kill him. On the morn- ing of the 1st of January, 1822, the savage, learning that Hill and a compan- ion, John Babcock, had gone that day to hunt in the woods of Colebrook, started in pursuit, and coming to the house of Joel Blakeslee, with flashing eyes and hor- rid threats inquired for Hill. Mr. Blakeslce could give him no information. He left the house, pronouncing Hill's name with fearful imprecations, and, after care- fully examining the ground about the house for evidence of his enemy's tracks, started for the forest in a northeasterly direction with his rifle, tomahawk, and long knife, brandishing the air as he went forward. This was the last that was ever seen of Indian Jim. He went into that forest, but never came out of it. Along towards night, Hill and Babcock emerged from the woods, and, arriving at Blakcslec's residence, were asked if they had seen anything of Indian Jim. Of course they had not scen him, and were profoundly ignorant of his whereabouts. It is said that John Babcock was the best marksman in the township of Orwell.
STATISTICS OF 1877.
Number of school-houses in the township, 9; their valuation, $4000; amount paid to teachers, $983.75 ; number of scholars enrolled, 290.
Wheat
170 acres.
1,738 bushels.
Oats
633
22,126
Corn.
421
16,402
Potatoes.
81
7,015
44
Orcharding.
146
15,375
Meadow
1976
2,315 tons.
Maple-sugar.
4,915 pounds.
Butter ..
40,075
Cheese.
243,740
Population in 1870, 936.
Votes cast for President in 1876: Hayes, 170 ; Tilden, 82.
PIERPONT TOWNSHIP.
THIS township, which is known as township number eleven of the first range, derived its name from Pierpont Edwards, who, upon the division of the lands among the members of the Connecticut land company, in 1798, drew this township as his share of the lands now comprised within the limits of Ashtabula County.
SURFACE AND SOIL.
East from the centre road the surface of the lands is rolling, while the remain- der is of a flat nature. The entire township is, however, well adapted to agricul- tural pursuits, with a soil principally of the nature known as a gravelly loam.
STREAMS.
These are the Ashtabula creek and its tributaries, the former flowing in almost a direct north and south course, passing through the western portion of the town- ship. The smaller stream rises in the township of Richmond, enters Pierpont at the southeast corner, and, flowing in a northwest course, passes into Monroe township, some two miles from the southwest corner. There are numerous other smaller streams, but they are unimportant.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
In the year 1793 a young Vermonter, named Edward Spear, began settlement on lot No. 18 (on what was afterwards known as the " Beaver Meadows"), about two miles from the head of the east branch of Ashtabula creek, before spoken of. He crected this year the first log house in Pierpont township (this building, we learn, was burned by the Indians subsequent to his removal), and the next year (1799) raised the first crop of corn grown in the township. This was planted on the " Beaver Dam" and the surrounding meadows. Spear lived in this cabin until perhaps 1801, when he took his departure. He was, however, during the early part of his sojourn in Pierpont, married, and a child was born to them. This was the first white birth in the township. The date, sex, or sub- sequent history of this young pioneer we wot not of. In the fall of the year 1808 the first permanent settlers arrived in the township. These were Wareham Grant. Martin Vosburg, Harvey Rockwell, and Ewins Wright. Messrs. Grant and Vosburg erected their cabins about one mile north of the centre and near together. Rockwell built his cabin on lot No. 21, cleared a small piece of ground, sowed it to wheat. and in November, 1800, returned to Connecticut for his family. The cabin of Ewins Wright was erected near the centre of lot No. 17. In November, 1811, Benjamin Matthews arrived from Washington, Massachusetts, and located temporarily near the cabin of Martin Vosburg; remained until the December following, when he moved into a cabin which he had in the mean time constructed. In the summer of the year 1811 Amos Huntly arrived, selected his land. and made a beginning on lot No. 42. In the fall returned to Massa- chusetts for his family, with whom he arrived the next season. The next settlers were Asa Benjamin, Joseph Dewey, and Samuel Brown. During the summer of 1811 a number of gentlemen came on from Massachusetts, selected their land, and the following year (1812), with their families, occupied these lands, and began business in earnest. Among these settlers we find the names of Aaron H. Holmes. Asa Leonard, Shiron Turner and Jepthah Turner, Amos Remington, Abijah Whitton, Archibald Gould, Ezra Cole, Ezekiel Brayman, William Read, Eli Prince, Edson Beals, Asahel Cleveland, Reuben Benjamin, Zebina Rawson, and there were possibly others whose names are forgotten.
FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.
This was built the summer of 1813 or 1814, and stood a few rods east of the old burying-ground. on lot No. 16. It was of logs, with stick chimney, puncheon floor, oiled-paper windows, and the other pioncer appurtenances. The first term taught therein was the summer the building was erected, by Lucy, the youngest danghter of Amos Huntley. The subsequent winter William Read, Jr., taught a term in the same building. The vencrable Lampson Wright gives the follow- ing as the outfit of the average school-boy of that early date : "New Testament, Webster's Spelling-Book and American Preceptor, a few sheets of foolscap-paper, somne ink made from soft maple-bark and copperas, and a basket of johnny-cakc and meat for dinner."
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
was that of the Methodists, in about the year 1810. The members of this class lived in this and Richmond township and the adjoining settlement in Pennsyl- vania. On the 8th day of November, 1823, the Presbyterian society was or- ganized in this township, by the Revs. Drs. Cowles and Woodruff. Among the first members we find the following names : Amos Huntley and wife, Benjamin Matthews and wife, James Huntley and wife, Esther Leonard, etc. The first church edifice erected in the township was in about the year 1840. This was a union church, members of all denominations uniting in defraying the expense of its structure. This is the building now owned by the board of education of the township, and is occupied by the Pierpont academy. It is located on the original site. The present churches are located at the centre. A Baptist class was formed September 12, 1830. Elder John Cheeny officiated at its formation. The fol- lowing is a list of all the names of this class we are able to procure : Eli Prince, William Hardy, Lorena Perkins, and Reuben Benjamin. The Congregational church edifice is also located at the centre, and completes the list. Neither of these churches has at present a settled pastor, their pulpits being supplied by clergymen from other sections.
SAW-MILLS.
The first of these was erected by Martin Vosburgh, in about 1817, about one mile north of the centre, on the east branch of Ashtabula creek. It is related that at the " raising" of this will a man named Pollock, from Chenango, Penn- sylvania, fell from the plate, some twenty feet, to the rocks below ; he, however, sustained but little injury, and, after having been regularly bled by Dr. Vosburgh, returned home the next day. The present saw-mill is located at the centre. Is propelled by steam, and is owned by William Davison ; he also prepares blanks for handles, and has just received an order from New York for several hundred of those short, heavy handspikes used on shipboard in turning the capstan.
The first grist-mill was erected in 1817, by Ewins Wright, and stood near the centre of lot No. 17. This was a building about twenty-four feet square ; was made of round logs, and the water conveyed into the old-fashioned tub-wheel through wooden troughs. There is at present a steam-flouring establishment at the centre, under the management of Messrs. Paden & Schwartz. There are of other manufactories a planing-mill and cheese-box manufactory, by Watson Brothers ; a steam shingle-factory, by E. Davis ; and quite an extensive steam- tanning establishment, owned by Thomas Cain.
THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
established in the township was in about the year 1825. Archibald Gould was the first postmaster, and the mails were distributed from his house, which stood on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of Andrew Lester. The present post- master is E. O. Harrington. The office is located at his store at the centre. The mails were first carried on foot, the route extending from Jefferson to Mead- ville, Pennsylvania ; afterwards on horseback, and now on wheels.
The only hotel which has ever been in Pierpont is the one at the centre. This was built in 1837, by Messrs. Benjamin & Joseph Williams. This is owned at present by Dr. L. E. Brayman.
ROAD RECORD.
The first record we find of a road having been officially authorized bears date June, 1816, and extended from " Pierpont to Ferguson's bridge, in Monroe." December, 1818, " From the southeast corner of the lot No. 31 to Pennsylvania line." December, 1823, " From the north line of lot No. 11 in the first range, between the first and second tier of lots; thence southerly on the line of said tier of lots until it comes near the north line of No. 10; thence southerly to township line, where the north and south line begins between lots Nos. 2 aud 3, in township No. 10; thence southerly through said township to the east, north, and south road in Andover." June, 1828, " From the southeast corner of lot No. 80 in township No. 10, in the first range, and running west on the north line of the south line of lots in said township to the first range turnpike road in said town- ship."
The first marriage solemnized within the limits of the township of Pierpont
234
MRS. ALVIN SCHRAMLING.
ALVIN SCHRAMLING.
RES. OF ALVIN SCHRAMLING, PIERPONT TP., ASHTABULA CO.,0.
:
235
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
was undoubtedly that of Marvin Cook to Clarissa Read, by Zebina Rawson, Esq. This occurred at the residence of the bride's father, in about 1820.
The first birth, aside from the Spear child before mentioned, was Martha Rockwell, in the year 1811. She eventually married Byron Harcourt, and is long since deceased.
The first death was that of Polly, the wife of Jesse Turner, at a very early day. She was interred in the woods, in what is now the cemetery, on lot No. 16.
The first physician was Jacob Vosburgh, who was one of the pioneer settlers. Was quite skillful, and, of course, a valuable member of the community. He removed, after a term of years, to Erie, Pennsylvania, and died there. The present representative of the medical profession in Pierpont is L. E. Brayman, M.D., who is spoken of as a gentleman of culture, and well versed in the success- ful compounding of the thousand and one nauseous drugs which are required to keep dame Nature in the right track.
ORGANIZATION.
On June 18, 1818, the territory now embraced within the townships of Pier- pont and Richmond was detached from Denmark township-which comprised four townships when organized-and erected a separate township, to be known by the name of Pierpont, and an election ordered, to take place on the succeeding 4th day of July, at the house of Amos Huntley. The record in the office of the township clerk reads as follows, viz. : " At a town-meeting held in the town- ship of Pierpont on July 5, 1818, Asahel Cleveland and Reuben Benjamin were chosen judges and Martin Vosburgh clerk of said election. Officers elected : Reuben Benjamin, Sihon Turner, and Harvey Rockwell, trustees; Martin Vos- burgh, clerk and treasurer; William Read and Ewins Wright, overseers of the poor; Orange Huntley, lister ; and William Read, Jr., appraiser ; Benjamin Mat- thews and Jesse Turner, fence-viewers ; James Huntley, constable; and Martin Vosburgh, Asa Benjamin, and Harvey Rockwell, supervisors of highways. The first justice of the peace was Zebina Rawson, who was elected October 30, 1818. Sihon Turner succeeded him in 1820. The present officers are F. H. Follett, D. L. Huntley, and Eli Adams, trustees ; E. O. Harrington, clerk ; L. C. Winship, treasurer ; Allen C. Kinnie, assessor; Barton Germond and Milton B. Hoskins, constables. The present justices of the peace are D. L. Huntley and Charles E. Morrison.
STATE ELECTION.
The first State election was held October 10, 1818, at which time the follow- ing persons each received nine votes : George Worthington, governor ; Peter Hitchcock, member of congress; Levi Gaylord, assembly ; James Montgomery and James Harper, county commissioners ; and Rufus Houghton, coroner.
THE PIONEER STORE
was that of Messrs. Payne & Trimmer, who opened in the year 1837. The building occupied by these gentlemen stood on the site now occupied by the drug- store of Dr. Brayman. The following shows the business of Pierpont in the spring of 1878 :
Dry Goods and Groceries .- Messrs. Smith & Hoskins and T. S. Winship.
Groceries .- P. W. Rogers and HI. A. Leonard.
Tinware .- E. O. Harrington.
Drugs and Medicines .- Dr. L. E. Brayman.
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