History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 94

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

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legislature during the winter of 1843-44. The first settler east of the old Salt road was Levi Smith, who emigrated from Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, with his wife and one child, in 1816, locating on section 13. Mr. Smith was a zealous Methodist, not only donating the land upon which the Methodist church is located, but also contributing liberally towards the erection of the build- ing. The original farm is now occupied by Newton Smith. The youngest son is E. J. Smith, at present township clerk, justice of the peace, and notary public.

OTHER EARLY EVENTS.

The old Salt road, of which mention is made in several township histories, was laid out in 1804, by - Bemis and David Niles. It began on the lake- shore, at the mouth of Conneaut creek, continuing south to the old County road, and on through the first range to Kinsman's mill. The course from Kinsman's store was northwardly along the ridge, passing the residence of Marvin Leonard, of Williamsfield. Its location was between the present State and Centre roads of the first range. At this time there was a settlement at Kelloggsville, and midway between this point and Kinsman (Richmond Centre) a temporary board cabin was erected, where men and teams might find shelter for the night. Salt was one of the pressing wants of the early settlers, and to obtain it was one of the prin- cipal motives for the construction of this road ; hence the name. Salt was manu- factured in Onondaga, New York, transported in vessels on Lake Ontario to Lewis- town, below the Falls of Niagara, from there it was carted to Buffalo, and thence in canoes and open boats to Conneaut. It reached the southern settlements by means of ox-teams, where its price was twenty dollars per barrel. The above is an extract from the " Historical Collections of the Mahoning Valley."

The first school-house was erccted in the spring of 1808, on the Ford farmu. The summer following Mrs. Babcock taught the first school in the township. At the time she had a child a few months old, which was, by the help of the " big boys," taken to school, and a sap-trough extemporized for a cradle. At this school the total attendance was some fifteen scholars.

In 1807 the Revs. Joseph Badger and Jonathan Leslie mnade a missionary tour through the first range, and the first seriuon delivered iu Williarusfield was at this time, by the Rev. Leslic, at the log house of Thomas Ford,-the congregation numbering some twelve souls all told. From this time religious services were held in the settlement at intervals until the organization of a church in 1816. This was a Presbyterian society, composed of members from both Williamsfield and Wayne, the church edifice being located in the latter township, about one-half mile from the east line, and on the east and west State road. The date when this church was constituted was February 21, 1816,-Revs. Giles H. Cowles and Jonathan Leslie being present. The first pastor was Ephraim T. Woodruff, who was installed August 19, 1819, and continued in that capacity until the year 1834. There has also been a Methodist church organization for many years, first holding services at the dwellings of the settlers, then in school-houses, and finally, in 1820, they erected a log meeting-house, near where Ticknor's house now stands. This was the first church erected in Williamsfield. The Methodist Episcopal church at the Centre was formed April 7, 1825, and consisted of seventeen members,- Thomas Carr and Joseph Davis circuit riders. The church edifice was erected in 1834, and the first sermon delivered therein was by Justice Woodworth. The preacher stood on a work-bench, while the congregation were seated on slab scats. The Congregational church at West Williamsfield was erected in 1848. The United Brethren have a church some one and a half miles south of the Centre, built iu 1875.

The first saw-mill was built in 1814, on lot No. 21, by Messrs. Swan & Her- rick. Its location was near the Stanhope residence. The present saw-mill, owned by Daniel M. Smith, stands on the site formerly occupied by the saw- and cloth- dressing will of Messrs. Smith & Leffingwell. The first steam saw-mill was built by Smith Bros. & Leffingwell in about 1850, on section 13. There are now three steam saw-mills in the township. The first wheat was doubtless sown by Samuel Tuttle, in 1807, and the first orchard was planted by the same gentleman, in 1808. Aaron Rice also planted an orchard about the same time.

The first store in the township was opened in 1822, by II. H. Vernon, at West Williamsfield. In 1848, A. B. Leonard established a store at the Centre. The present stores at this point are C. B. Leonard (successor to A. B. Leonard) and

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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

the Farmers' Union. The stores at West Williamsfield are kept by F. Chapman . and Ticknor & Son.

The first persons who contracted a marriage alliance in this township were Samnel Tuttle and Miss Lois Leonard ; this was in the year 1812. As there was at that time no person in Williamsfield who had authority to solemnize marriages, this loving couple went to Kinsman, and were there united by 'Squire Sutliff, the father of the present Judge Sutliff, of Warren, Trumbull county.

The first physician who located in the township was Anson Hotchkiss, in the year 1815. His residence was on the State road. It is said his professional ability was above the average. Dr. Ilotchkiss remained in the township until 1821. when he removed to Geneva, this county. The present physician is Mr. Tuckerman, West Williamsfield.

The first white male child born in the township was a son of Captain Charles Case and wife, in the early part of the year 1806, and the first female child was in October, same year, danghter of John L. and Emma Cook. This child after- wards became the wife of Samuel Dodge. The first hotel was located in West Williamsfield, and was first thrown open for the accommodation of the traveling publie in 1820, with J. W. Giddings as host. The second hotel was erected at this same point in 1830, by H. II. Vernon. The present hotel is kept by J. H. Kincaid, at West Williamsfield, and the one at the Centre by C. O. French.

The first death is supposed to have been that of a child of Anson Jones, in 1809, and the first adult to die was John Inman, in 1813. Ilis body was interred in the private burying-ground of the Inmans, which was situated on the bank of the Pymatuning creek, in Wayne. In the absence of a minister, the religious services were conducted by Deacon Ezra Leonard, Aaron Rice reading the scriuon, during which a bier was constructed of round poles by Marvin Leonard and the Hon. J. R. Giddings, the bearers afterwards carrying the body on this rude bier some three miles to the place of interment. The first cemetery in the township was located in 1815 ; this was the present one at West Williamsfield.

ORGANIZATION.

In 1811 the townships of Williamsfield, Andover, Cherry Valley, Wayne, Colebrook, and New Lyme were, by statute, transferred from Trumbull to Ashta- bula County, and organized under the name of Wayne township, and an election held for township officers at the house of Nathan Fobes. Nathaniel Coleman and Samuel Tuttle were elected justices of the peace at this time. Williamsfield was detached and organized as a separate township in 1826, and an election held for township officers on the 3d day of April of that year, the result of which is shown by the following extract from the township records : Samuel Tuttle, Levi Smith, and Charles Brooks were judges, and Henry H. Vernon and William Leffingwell clerks. The following officers were elected : Gilbert Palmer, Samuel Tuttle, and Samuel Morse, trustees ; Jonathan Tuttle, clerk; Charles Brooks, treasurer ; Levi Smith and Levi Leonard, overseers of the poor ; Reuben Phelps and William Jones, fence-viewers ; Aranda P. Giddings and William Leffingwell, constables ; and Ansel Morse, Bartlet Leonard, Valentine Tourgee, Ebenczer Woodworth, Jonathan Tuttle, and William North, supervisors of highways. The first justice of the peace was the before-named Jonathan Tuttle, who was elected in 1819. He was succeeded by Heman Ticknor. A second justice was ordered, probably in 1826, and Samuel Morse was the gentleman first elected. The present incumbents are H. W. Simonds and E. J. Smith.

POSTAL MATTERS.

The first post-office established in the township was at West Williamsfield, in 1812. Elias Morse was the first postmaster. MI. H. Ticknor is the present postmaster. The second post-office was located at Williamsfield Centre, in 1850, and A. B. Leonard was its first postmaster. C. B. Leonard is the present incum- bent, commissioned January 5, 1871. Upon the establishment of mail service on the Franklin division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway, which runs through the eastern portion of the township, another post-office was established at Simon Station; this was mainly through the efforts of William Giddings. The first and present postmaster is Henry W. Simonds, commissioned October 10, 1872. The first mails were carried from Warren (the first year on foot to Ashtabula, through the fourth range, returning to Warren via the first range, arriving at West Williamsfield on Friday of each week.

The first cheese-factory established was by George W. Fetterman, on lot No. 16, near the present residence of Jasper Fetterman. This was on the 15th of May, 1971. We are unable to obtain any statistics in connection with either this factory or the one established in 1873, by William MeMichacl, which was the sceond in the township. We learn, however, that both factories are doing a remunerative business.

The patriotism of the citizens of Williamsfield ranks fully equal with those of her sister townships. The following exhibit of the present condition shows

pretty conclusively that the hardships and privations of those uoble pioneers were not endured for naught :

STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat.

209 acres. 3,068 bushels.

Oats ....

649

14,635

Corn ...

569

41,761

Potatoes

102

6,396 =

Orcharding ..

286

38,839

Meadow

2500

3,100 tons.

Maple-sugar.

Buiter ...

Cheese ...

198,264

Number of school-houses, 7 ; valuation, $2600; amount paid teachers, $932; total number of youths, 269.

The report of the secretary of state for 1877 shows that the vote for Presi- dent was: Hayes, 178; Tilden, 74.

The population in 1870 was 892.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM GIDDINGS.

Elisha Giddings was born at Hartland, Connecticut, 1785, and was married to Philathella Fish, September 11, 1803, who was born at Townseud, Vermont. He married from Canandaigua, New York, in 1805, and settled in Green, Trumbull county, now Wayne, Ashtabula County. They had eleven children,-niue sons and two daughters.

William Giddings, who was the fourth son, was born in Wayne, January 11, 1810. In April, 1813, his parents gave him to Jonathan Tuttle, of Williams- field, his mother carrying him through the woods on horseback. Mr. Tuttle adopted him, and he lived with him until he was of age. His schooling con- sisted of about three months,-summer and winter,-until he was eight years old. After that time until of age it was limited to about two months each winter. With this meagre amount of schooling he obtained a fair education, and the notes relating to his life furnished the writer are in a good hand, although written when he was almost seventy.

When he arrived at his majority, his worldly wealth might be represented with 000. He resolved to earn a farm of one hundred acres, and then marry. He began work with this intention. His wages varied from thirty-three to fifty-six ceuts a day, yet when he was twenty-seven years old he had bought his hundred acres in Williamsfield, for which he paid seven hundred dollars.

September 25, 1838, he married Maria Webber, of Kinsman, and settled on his farm.

He and his wife have always been members of the Congregational church, and interested in Sunday-school matters. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Two sons are now living: F. R. Giddings, born February 5, 1840; married May 11, 1869, to Senna Banning, of Kinsman. They now live in Cleveland. W. Danvin Giddings, born June 29, 1850; is unmarried. He is employed in United States mail service, on the Lake Shore and Michigan South- ern railway.

Mr. William Giddings is the ouly Giddings in Williamsfield, where that family were once so numerous. He has always been au anti-slavery man and a straight out-and-out Republican, and in his younger days was almost always a member of the county conventions. He has not missed voting at a State election but once since 1831. In 1836 he was in Genesee county, New York, and voted for Harrison.

REV. ELIAS MORSE.

The birthplace of Rev. Elias Morse was Worthington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, April 6, 1776. He came to this Western Reserve on horseback, iu 1809, to select land for his future howe, in company with Ebenezer Webber.

He selected three hundred acres in section 21, where he lived until his death. The farm is now owned by his heirs. He was married to Miss Abiah Phelps, of Suffield, Hartford county, Connecticut, May 4, 1803, by Rev. Mr. Waldo. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, two of whom are now living,- B. F. Morse resides iu Kentucky, and Maria Louisa occupies the old homestead. He was the founder of Methodism in this part of the Reserve, being converted at a Methodist camp-meeting previous to his coming to Ohio. After he had made the selection of his land he said to his friend, " Let us thank God for all his mercies and blessings in protecting us through our long journey to this wilder- ness." He knelt down there in the forest and poured out his thoughts in prayer to the Almighty for his care over himself and friend. He earnestly prayed that

24,048 pounds.

49,110

PHOTO BY BLAKESLEE A MOORE.

PHOTO BY BLAKESLEE À MOONE

ASHTABULA.O

MRS WM GIDDINGS

WM GIDDINGS.

JOEL RICE.

REV. ELIAS MORSE.

MRS. ABIAH MORSE.

RES. OF WM. KIDDLE, WAYNE TP., ASHTABULA CO., OHIO.

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

he might be of some use in this new country, that he might do some good in the name of his Master. He formed a number of classes or chapels in the west part of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and one or two in Trumbull county, and one in Williamsfield. Those classes were formed before there was any eeclesiasti- cal body established belonging to the Methodists in this part of the county. As soon as he arrived here with his family in 1811, he commenced preaching in his

own or some neighbor's house or barn, as the ease might be. About this time a mail-route was established on the State road, and J. W. Brown was appointed postmaster, but resigned in a few months, and Elias Morse was appointed instead, his 'eoumission bearing date 1812, and served as postmaster about thirty years. He died December 26, 1856, aged eighty years. His wife dicd December 29, 1872, aged ninety-seven years.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

THIS township is designated as the eighth of the second range of the original Connecticut Western Reserve. Much of the following history of this township is extracted from an address delivered by the Hon. J. R. Giddings, at the semni- centennial anniversary of the settlement of the township, held on the 24th day of August, 1853. Mr. Giddings became a resident of the territory now ealled Wayne when but ten years of age,-this fact, with his retentive memory and very observing mind, eminently fitting him for the position of historian.

In the month of June, 1798, Titus Hayes, then a young man of unusual energy, left Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, with the intention of joining a company of surveyors to be employed on the Reserve in that season. He came by the way of Canandaigua, in the State of New York, with no other companion than a faithful dog; and with his gun, a loaf of bread, and some salt in his knapsack, he left Erie, Pennsylvania. At a place called Levingston, in Crawford county, he passed the last cabin, and, trusting to his pocket compass, he bore southwesterly, and entered the State of Ohio near the southeast corner of Rich- mond, passing through the territory now called Andover; he entered this town- ship near the northwest corner ; he swam the Pymatuning creek, near the corner of lot 28. His was the first visit of eivilized man to the interior of our town- ship. It was then an unbroken wilderness. The dark umbrage of the forest protected the virgin soil from the noontide rays. The cool waters flowed quietly along the beautiful rivulets. All was then quict, and nature reigned in all her pristine loveliness. Iu 1799 the township was surveyed into lots of a half-mile square, each containing one hundred and sixty aeres. In 1800, by decds of partition among the proprietors of the " Connecticut land company," the town- ship was conveyed to Oliver Phelps, Esq., of Canandaigua, one of the original members of the company.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

In the spring of 1803, Simon Fobes, Esq., of Somers, in the State of Connec- ticut, contracted with Oliver Phelps for fifteen hundred acres of land in township No. 8 in the second range. The traet embraced one entire tier of lots lying south of and adjoining the east and west eentre line. These lots were numbered from fifty up to, and including, sixty.

On the 21st of June of that year, Joshua Fobes and his wife, Dorothy, accom- panicd by Elias Fobes, a younger brother, of some nine or ten years of age, started from Connecticut with the intention of settling in this township. Their father attended them on their journey, with the intention of seeing them located in the wilderness to which they were emigrating. After one or two days' travel they were joined by David Fobes, a cousin, who shared with them the hardships and privations of that protracted journey. In forty-nine days they reached Gustavus, and for the time being found shelter in the cabin of Jesse Pelton, who had settled at the centre of the township. Soon after their arrival they proceeded to ascertain the situation of their lands. This donc, the father returned to Con- neeticut. Joshua Fobes and David commenced ehopping timber and preparing a cabin, but the exposure of the journey affected the health of Joshua so much that he could not remove ou to his lands until the 8th of October. The family which moved into the township of Wayne on that day consisted of Joshua Fobes, his wife Dorothy, David Fobes, and Elias Fobes. These four farmers were emphatically the " first settlers of Wayne."

The cabin in which they lived was ucar the southeast corner of lot 57. Herc they spent laborious days and lonely nights. Soon after they had settled in their new home, David Fobes left them and returned to Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Fobes, with the brother, Elias, spent the winter of 1803-4 with no civilized ueighbor within less than five miles from their dwelling. They were often visited

by Indians who lived in the township, and who occasionally supplied them with venison and bear's meat. They were usually friendly ; but it may not be out of place to say that on one occasion two of them visited the cabin of our pioneers, where they found Mrs. Fobes without company. They became boisterous in their demands for whisky, but she, understanding their habits, refused to furnish it. They drew their knives in a threatening manner; she had recourse to the weapon most used by her sex (the broomstick), and drove them from the cabin. Their neighbors were a few families in the township of Windsor, some fifteen miles westward, but there was no road by which they could be visited. On the north, their nearest neighbors were at Kingsville, sonic twenty miles distant, without a road, while on the east there were no settlers nearer than Meadville, Pennsylvania. They had no intercourse with white people except at the south. In Gustavus were two or three families, with, perhaps, as many in Kinsman and Vernon. These constituted their neighbors.

FIRST BIRTH IN THE TOWNSHIP.

On the 21st of April, 1804, Mrs. Fobes gave birth to a son. He was the first child born in the township, and was named Alvin.

In May, 1804, Simon Fobes, Jr., came into the township, and took up his res- idence with his brothers, returning to Connecticut in the autumn, and our pio- neer family were left to spend the second winter without other neighbors than those heretofore referred to. During the summer of 1804 a wagon-road was opened from their residence to Morgan. This road was occasionally traveled, and our pioneers were at times ealled on by the lonely traveler, who, in that day, was always delighted to find a cabin amid the dreary wilderness. Early the next season Simon Fobes, Jr., returned to Wayne. He eame in a wagon drawn by two horses, which enabled him to bring with him urany articles of clothing and other necessaries greatly needed by the family. With him came a cousin, Jabez Fobes, whose father had purchased land here, and the son came to rear a eabin for his father's family. During the winter of 1804-5, Titus Hayes and Elisha Gid- dings removed from Canandaigua, New York, with their families. They came on sleds drawn by oxen, reaching Hartford, in the county of Trumbull, in the montli of March. Here they remained during the season, engaged in raising provisions for the next season. On the 8th of October these gentlemen removed with their families to Wayne, and took up their residenee on lot 33. Mr. Fobes and family had resided in the township two years before the arrival of another family. Elisha Giddings settled on lot 34. In the autumn of 1805, George Wakeman, from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, purchased lot 85, and began improve- ments thereon. During the same period Joshua Giddings (father of the Hon. J. R. Giddings) purchased several lots of land in the township. Jabez Fobes erected a small cabin about this time on lot 88. Edward Inman, of Somers, Connecticut, purchased lands here in the same antumn. In the winter of 1803-6, Joshua Giddings, accompanied by his son, Anson P., came from Canandaigua, and com- meneed improvements near the centre, on lot 45, ereeting a eabin and planting a small field of corn. In the month of May, George Wakeman and family, his son- in-law, Henry Moses, and family, settled on lot 85. In the same month the family of Joshua Giddings (consisting of wife, son Joseph, and J. R., the youngest of the family) left Canandaigua, in charge of Nathaniel Coleman, at that time recently mar- ried, rcached Conneaut on the 16th day of June (the day of the total eclipse of the sun), coming down the old Salt road and across the Pymatuning into the town- ship, and to the cabin on lot 45. Mr. Coleman began improvements on lot 65, where he subsequently settled. About the 1st of July, Edward Inman and fam- ily, his son Edward, Jr., and family, settled on lot 86. Soon after this Nathan Fobes took up his residenee on lot 88. Soon after this Mr. Giddings inaugu-

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HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

rated public Sabbath worship. The first meeting was at his cabin on, probably, the second Sabbath in July. In the memoirs of the Rev. Joseph Badger we find that, on the 2d of November, 1806, he spoke at the house of Joshua Fobes ; and this sermou he calls the " first Sabbath preaching iu Wayne."

FIRST DEATH.

On the 8th day of January. 1808, Mrs. Thankful Fobes, grandmother of Joshua Fobes, died at his house. The place of burial was in what is now the cemetery, a little distance from the centre of the township. Mr. Hayes donating the land. There was no clergyman present, the solemn services being conducted by those present. Three days subsequently Simon Fobes, the husband of the before mentioned, was buried by her side in the forest grave-yard. During the year 1808 there was much suffering among the early settlers of Wayne, the wet season of the previous year preventing the raising of crops. Another misfortune befell the settlers,-most of the lands purchased in town were found to have been mortgaged by Oliver Phelps prior to their sale, and he dying about this time, in- solvent. the purchasers were left without a remedy. During this season Messrs. Fobes erected the first saw-mill in the township; this was on lot 55, the comple- tion of which marking an era in the settlement. The first school-house was erected near the centre of the township, in the autumn of 1809. It was a small log cabin, with windows of oiled paper. Keziah Jones taught the first school in the town- ship date not given). Miss Jones became afterwards the wife of Nathaniel Cole- man. Mr. Giddings states that he was a member of this school, and that in it he obtained the only common-school education acquired after he was ten years of age. The early settlers were subjected to many privations. Their dwellings were rude and inconvenient ; glass windows were not enjoyed ; the light was obtained usually from the chimney ; the door and window-places filled with oiled paper instead of glass. They had usually but one room, which served as kitchen, dining-room, parlor, and nursery. Their crockery was arranged on shelves in one corner of the house, and under these shelves their iron-ware and cooking-utensils were arranged. It was common in the early period of our settlement for gentlemen to appear at church on the Sabbath barefooted, in clean shirts, pants, and vests, without coats, which were not sometimes conveniently to be had. The ladies were generally in the habit of walking to church barefooted, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands until near the place of meeting, when they would stop and clothe their pedal extremities, and then walk into the sanctuary. In connection with the difficulties experienced in these early days in getting grain ground, it is stated that " most families were provided with ' samp mortars.'" These were formed by burning a cavity into the top of a stump, and then providing a large pestle six or eight fect in length, suspended over the stump by fastening the upper end to a spring-pole, the lower end being suited to the cavity in the stump below it. The corn being placed in the cavity of the stump, the pestle was brought down on it with such force as to break it in pieces, and a woman or child could pound suffi- cient for the family-a meal-in a short time. The pioneers met but seldom for social pleasures, but that circumstance added interest to their gatherings. The ladies did not call at four o'clock P.M .. as at this day. They left home in the morning. taking their children with them. and occupied the day in an efficient visit. retiring before the disappearance of daylight. The friendships of that day were strong and uninterrupted. There were uo feuds, no contentions, no strifes among them.

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History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 94

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