History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 99

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

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HOW WATERED.

The principal streams of the township are Matherstown creek and Crooked ereck. The latter waters the northeastern part of the township, and the former, with its tributaries, the southeastern. Numerous living springs of clear, cool, water abound, giving the inhabitants of this township an advantage in this respeet rarely found in other localities of the county.

The celebrated sandstone quarry extends through this township from near the south line of Windsor northwardly into Trumbull. In width it averages about one-half mile within the limits of Hartsgrove, the soil of which is admirably adapted to the culture of small fruits,-as grapes, berries, eurrants, cte.

THE SURVEY.

About the year 1826 this township was surveyed into lots of one hundred aeres each by Timothy R. Hawley, Esq., assisted by his son, Dr. Almon Hawley, of Jefferson, under instructions from Judge I. Mills, agent for R. W. Hart. In the survey the lots were ruu one hundred rods north and south by one hundred and sixty cast and west, constituting sixteen ranges of ten lots each, commeneing at the northwest corner to uumber, and numbering from west to east.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The year 1822 is the year in which the first settlement began. George Alderman, a resident of Windsor township, came into Hartsgrove and settled on lot No. 148, whercon he erected his log cabin and began an improvement. In the following year his cousin, Frederick Alderman, came from the same place and settled upon the central part of the saque lot, George having located on the eastern part. These men were what are termed squatters, not owners of the lot whereon they cffected a settlement. They afterwards, however, pur-

chased it of Mr. Hart's agent. The next settler was Thomas Burbank, in 1828, who located himself and family in the George Alderman dwelling, the latter having returned to Windsor. Mr. Burbank's was the second conveyance of land by deed in the township, the first being a conveyance by Isaac Mills as agent for Richard W. Hart of twenty aeres of lot 149 to Destine Alford. This instrument bears date February 10, 1827. Mr. Alford had been a resident of Austinburg, and also of Saybrook, but originally came from Hartford county, Connecticut. His removal to Hartsgrove was effected in 1829. This same year the settlement was augmented by the arrival of three more families,-Shubel Adams, who set- tled on fractional lot 158; David Griffin, who settled on the south one-half of lot 147, and Carmi E. Hoskins. The next year witnessed the arrival of Cornelius Norris, Orson Grant, and Calvin Grover; the last named settled on the west part of lot 139. Mr. Grant located on lot 106, and Mr. Norris about one mile south of the centre of the township, and still lives on this purchase. From this time on the settlement rapidly increased. Elisha Grover, Jonathan Avery, Josiah . Avery, Solomon Smith, aud Lewis Hart came into the township in 1830, or there- abouts.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first school in the township was taught, in 1829, by Miss Parmelia Frazer, in one room of Mr. Shubel Adams' log dwelling, near the south line of the town- ship. This school consisted of seventeen scholars, a part of whom came from Windsor. The parents who sent their children to this school are as follows: Joseph Alderman, Jr., Shubel Adams, Sr., and Abner Shipman, of Windsor, and Shubel Adams, Jr., David Griffin, Frederick Alderman, and Thos. Burbank, of Hartsgrove.

The first school-house in the township was erected on the southeast part of lot 138 in 1830, and was known as the Slab school-house, because it was built of split logs. Its roof was made of boards, and it was the owner of a stone chimney. The first school in this building was taught by Miss Clarissa Norris, in the sum- mer of 1830. She is uow living in Northfield, Minnesota. Mr. Darius Smith, of Chautauqua county, New York, was the teacher the following winter. The num- ber of his scholars was nearly forty, Miss Norris having had an attendance of about twenty-five the previous summer.

The first birth of a white child in the township was a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman, about the year 1825. Shortly after this a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Alderman. The name of this child was Aurelia. Harry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, born in 1838, was the second male birth iu the township, and the first who lived to reach years of maturity.

The first marriage was that celebrated by and between Frederick Alderman and Ann Burgess. This occurred in the year 1828. The marriage coutraet was solemnized by Elijah Hill, a justice of the peace of Windsor township. The second marriage was that in which Orson Grant was groom and Miss Zeruah Hart was the bride. This occurrence took place at the. bride's father's, in the spring of 1831.

The first death was the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Alderman. The second was that of the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burbank, aged eight years, which occurred in January, 1829.

The first saw-mill was built in 1829, near the centre of lot 138, by Carmi E. Hoskins. Mr. Hoskins and his son Virgil, in 1841, erected the first grist-mill in the township, on the east part of the same lot. Mr. Orson Grant, about the year 1833 or 1834, erected two saw-mills on Matherstown crcek, south of the centre. He was an energetic, enterprising man, and made valuable improvements in the township. His was the first frame barn erected in Hartsgrove, and is still stand- ing in good condition. Now owned by the Gladding heirs.

The first frame house in the township was that ereeted by Mr. Johu White, in 1834, on lot 126.

The first settled physician was Dr. Hiram Morgan, who settled at the corners of lots Nos. 79, 80, 89, and 90, in the year 1844, where he has continued to reside and practice his profession to the present time.

The first store in Hartsgrove was opened in the year 1837, by General Charles Stearns. The goods were furnished by Judge Rawdon, of Windsor. The pres- ent stores are those of William H. Van Pelt and Rufus P. Daniels, both at the ceutre, and their stocks are of a general nature.

254

255

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

EARLY ROADS.

The first road in the township was the marked route made in the year 1800, from Esquire Gregory's, living on Grand river, in Harpersfield township, south- wardly through Trumbull and Hartsgrove to the dwelling of Judge Griswold, in Windsor.

The State road, known as the Fifth range State road, running from Unionville and Harpersfield, southwardly through that township, Trumbull, Hartsgrove, Windsor, and Mesopotamia, intersecting the Painesville and Warren State road, in Southington, Trumbull county, was laid out by act of legislature.

Early in the settlement of the township there were five east and west and five north and south roads laid out and established, the intervening distances being one mile. But three or four of the roads were opened for use the full length.

POSTAL MATTERS.

The first post-office was established in Hartsgrove in 1830. For twenty-six ycars previous to this time the United States mail had been carried through the township along what was known as the old pioncer mail-route. This route began at Warren, Trumbull county, and ran northwardly through Mesopotamia and Windsor, and diagonally through Hartsgrove to Austinburg, thenee westwardly through Harpersfield to Painesville, from thence to Euclid, and then southeast- wardly to Deerfield, at which point it connected with the Detroit mail-route, thence southeastwardly to Warren, the starting point. In 1830, Thomas Matte- son received a commission as postmaster at Hartsgrove, and opened the first mail- bag that was unlocked in the township. His office was in his log dwelling, on the east road, one-half mile from the east line of the township. Mr. Matteson kept the office "bout three years, when he was succeeded by Archibald Luding- ton, who retained it three years longer, and then surrendered it to A. Jarvis, who removed it to the centre of the township. The latter was succeeded by his brother, William ·Jarvis, in 1838. Colonel Jarvis continued to be postmaster until the year 1861. The present postmaster is William H. Van Pelt, and the mails are distributed from his store.

CHURCHES.

The first religious meeting of a public character in Hartsgrove is said to have been held at the log cabin of Calvin Grover, in the spring of 1830 ; Elder John Norris, of Windsor, being present and conducting the service.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CIIURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal church at southeast Hartsgrove was the first church society organized in the township. The organization took place at the split-log school-house, July 20, 1830. The members of the class formed at that time were Elisha Grover, his mother, Martha Grover, and his wife, Eliza Grover, Calvin Grover and wife, Lewis Hart and wife, and Jonathan Avery and wife. Elder Scott was the preacher in charge, and a Sabbath-school was formed at the same date. Service was held in the school-house. At present the membership is very small. The church is without a regular pastor, and meetings held but infrequently.

The Methodist Episcopal church at the centre of Hartsgrove effected an or- ganization in the year 1833, the Rev. John C. Ayres presiding. The member- ship at this time was ten. In 1844 they erected their present meeting-house, a building thirty-two by forty feet, afterwards enlarged so as to be thirty-two by fifty-three feet. The present minister is Rev. Mr. Stoney, and the church mem- bership is about sixty. The church property is valued at about twenty-five hundred dollars.

AN EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

with a membership of twelve persons, was organized in 1837, the Rev. John L. Bryan, of Windsor, officiating. The society for a time held meetings in the central school-house building, but after about fifteen or twenty years, owing to removals and other causes, services were discontinued.

THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

at southeast Hartsgrove was first organized by Rev. E. M. Dodge, about the year 1845. The membership at that time numbered about fifteen or sixteen. Meet- ings were held in the school-house until about the year 1860, when for two or three years meetings were not sustained. In 1863 a Rev. Mr. Thompson, assisted by Mr. A. C. Brush, held revival-meetings in connection with the society. Mr. Brush afterwards settled in Hartsgrove, and in the year 1869 was ordained a minister, reorganized the church, and became its pastor for about four years. Since this time there has been no regular service sustained.

THE DISCIPLE CHURCH

was organized in the year 1858, under the pastorate of the Rev. Calvin Smith. The series of meetings at this time were held in the ball-room of the hotel, and

there were, perhaps, fifteen who embraced the cause of Christ, and at the elose of the meetings united to form a church. They have now a membership of sixty, with a fine church edifice at the centre. Their pastor is the Rev. Joel James, a gentleman who has spent a life in the work of bringing souls to Christ. He is spoken of as being eminently qualified, and possessed of thic divine attributes which make a man a teacher and one of the fathers in Israel.

SOCIETIES.

Hartsgrove Lodge, No. 397, F. and A. M., was instituted, under a dispensation, January 17, 1867. A charter was granted October 16, 1867. The following are the names of the charter members : John J. Hoyt, E. G. Hurlburt, A. Watson, L. E. Young, B. H. Bostwick, M. W. Bailey, Erlend Morgan, F. W. Sargent, J. Perry Nye, E. J. Hunt, and D. E. Hurlburt. The first officers under charter were, E. G. Hurlburt, W. M .; M. W. Bailey, S. W .; D. E. Hurlburt, J. W .; A. Watson, Trcas .; R. Marsh, Sec .; J. P. Nye, S. D .; E. W. Hunt, J. D .; E. A. Grant, Tyler ; E. J. Hunt, Chap.

The lodge, in connection with the town, built the present building at the centre, the upper story of which is owned and used by the lodge and the first story as a town hall. The building is thirty-two by forty-two fect, and two stories high. It was erected in 1873. The lodge-rooms were dedicated January 23, 1874. Henry Talcott, of Jefferson, was the dedicating officer, and Hon. S. A. Northway, of the same place, delivered the address. The officers elected for 1878 are R. Marsh, W. M .; D. Fortney, S. W .; Erlend Morgan, J. W .; Henry Ayers, Treas. ; H. H. Grover, Sec. ; O. J. Martin, S. D .; George Gladding, J. D .; E. W. Hunt, Tyler. The present membership of the lodge is seventy-four.

Grove Grange, No. 1202, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in August, 1875, by Deputy Fuller, of Geneva. The charter members were as follows : E. G. White, N. S. Hubbard, S. S. Hubbard, S. B. McClure, E. H. Lee, E. J. Hunt, A. Rawson, R. Marslı, E. W. Hunt, H. Ayers, D. E. Hurlburt, F. R. Burt, H. F. Griswold, Merrit Holcomb, R. N. Danicls, and their wives, and Gilbert Grover, M. Alford, and Miss Luellen Grover. The first officers were E. G. White, Master; E. W. Hunt, Overseer ; H. F. Griswold, Lecturer ; S. B. McClure, Steward ; S. S. Hub- bard, Assistant Steward ; E. H. Lee, Trcas .; H. Ayers, Sec .; A. Rawson, G. K .; Mrs. E. G. White, Ceres; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Flora ; Mrs. S. S. Hubbard, Pomona ; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward. The officers for 1878 are N. S. Hubbard, Master ; Rodney Marsh, Overseer ; Mrs. Henry Ayers, Lecturer ; A. Rawdon, Steward; N. F. Rice, Assistant Steward ; M. S. Allyn, Treas .; Henry Griswold, Sec .; A. C. Hunt, G. K .; Mrs. N. S. Hubbard, Cercs; Mrs. A. Rawson, Flora ; Mrs. Ellen Callender, Pomona; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Lady Assistant Steward.

Lodge-meetings are held in the town hall ; the present membership is forty.

Hartsgrove Division, No. 154, Sons of Temperance, was instituted November 9, 1874, by A. M. Collins, State Deputy. The charter members were William Pruden, G. G. Grant, Benjamin Norris, Cornelius Norris, C. H. Johnston, E. G. Hurlburt, David Pruden, Nelson Griswold, P. A. Decker, Samuel Miner, P. L. Hunt, C. S. Marsh, C. E. Alderman, F. L. Hurlburt, Frank Bates, Martha Gris- wold, Carrie Hunt, Olive Pruden, Caroline Boslar, Louisa Marsh, Emma Miner, R. A. Johnston, Julia Hurlburt, Libbie Grant, Belle Burt, Florence Callender, Ellen Callender, Nettie Holcomb, Lizzie Cottam, and Ruth Norris.

Among the first officers were Samuel Miner, W. P .; F. L. Hurlburt, R. S .; E. Alderman, Treas .; Benjamin Norris, Chap .; G. G. Grant, Con .; and E. G. Hurlburt, Deputy G. W. P. The officers for 1878 are E. R. Hubbard, W. P .; Mrs. Julia Hurlburt, W. A .; E. F. Hubbard, R. S .; Miss Cora Grover, A. R. S .; C. S. Marsh, F. S .; E. C. Mathews, Treas .; D. P. Barr, Chap. ; P. L. Hunt, Con .; Miss Jennie Callender, Ass't Con .; Mrs. Mary Mathews, I. S .; F. L. Hurlburt, O. S .; L. W. Kile, P. W. P .; H. H. Grover, Deputy G. W. P.

The division holds its meetings in the town-hall room. The present member- ship numbers seventy-two.

ORGANIZATION.

The township of Hartsgrove was organized on the 5th day of April, 1830. The following were the first officers: John Thomas, township clerk; James B. Harper, Caleb Crooks, and Thomas Burbank, trustees ; Joseph Brooks and Calvin Grover, overseers of the poor ; Destine Alford and Warner Munn, fence-viewers ; and Stephen Matteson, constable. On the 10th of May following, an election for justice of the peace was held, resulting in the choice of Thomas Matteson. He was succeeded by Cornelius Norris, who, it is thought, is the only person now living who attended this election. The officers for 1877 are E. G. Norris, J. K. Potter, and N. Hubbard, trustees; Henry Ayers, elerk ; Henry McIntosh, treas- urer; Erlend Morgan, assessor ; F. L. Hurlburt and H. Marsh, constables; Er- lend Morgan and Rodney Marsh, justices of the peace; and eleven supervisors.

256

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

MANUFACTURES.

The carriage-manufactory located at the centre was established in the spring of 1876, by HI. H. Grover, who, by the way, was for a time one of the go-ahead business men of the township, having had at one time in successful operation a hotel, store, and this manufactory, which occupies the building formerly built by Charles Stearns for a cheese-factory. Mr. Grover carried on an extensive busi- ness until the fall of 1877, since which time the property has been occupied by Messrs. Fails & Hoffman.

In the year 1843, R. D. Norris established an extensive ashery, some one and one-fourth miles south of the centre of the township. This has been successfully operated until a short time since. He manufactured pot and pearl ashes, and usually operated a store in connection ; was the largest manufacturer of pearl. ashes in the Western Reserve.

The first cheese-factory in the township was built by Gencral Charles Stearns, in 1849 and 1550, at the centre, just north of the present site of Mr. Daniels' store. The factory commeneed business in the spring of 1850. The milk was manufactured into curd at the farm-houses of the patrons, and in this condition brought to the factory to be made into cheese. General Stearns carried on quite a large business for three years. and then sold the factory to the Higley brothers, who conducted the business only one or two seasons.

In the spring of 1873 two cheesc-factories were put into operation in the town- ship. Mr. N. S. Hubbard being the proprietor of one, located about two miles north of the centre, and Mead Brothers of the other, at the northeast corner of the township. About fifty thousand dollars worth of cheese is made annually at Mead's factory, and one hundred thousand dollars worth at the factory of Mr. Hubbard.

There is another factory located at southeast Hartsgrove, which commeneed business in the spring of 1874, Mr. Martin Merrifield being the first proprietor. In 1875, Mr. Merrifield sold out to Newell Lamb, the present proprietor. About fifty thousand dollars worth of cheese is manufactured annually at this factory.

In the fall of 1866, Mr. Alexander Watson erected a large steam planing- and saw-inill, about two miles north of the centre of Hartsgrove. Machinery for the manufacture of shingle- and cheese-boxes was also added, and quite an extensive business conducted until the building was destroyed by fire, on the morning of the 24th of July, 1877. There was no insurance on the mill, and the fire is thought to have been the work of an incendiary. Mr. Watson has since built a large steam saw-mill a short distance south of the centre.

Mr. E. W. Hunt is proprietor of quite an extensive steam shingle-mill, and spoke and axe-helve factory, located about one mile north of the centre. The present building, erected in 1876, is thirty by fifty feet, and two stories high. For several years previous to the building of this mill, Mr. Hunt conducted the business in a mill then located on the opposite side of the road.

STATISTICS FOR 1877.

Wheat

199 acres.

2,162 bushels.

Oats ...

548

16,392

Corn ...

345

11.954

Potatoes.

144

9,350

Orcharding.

20-

16,193

Meadow

1651

90S tons.

Butter ....

51,100

Cheese.

101,100

Number of sehool-houses, 9; valuation, $4500; amount paid teachers, 8878.70 ; number of scholars, 276.

Vote for President in 1876 : Hayes, 139 ; Tilden, 65. Population of township in 1870, 799.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

EDWARD GRIFFIN HURLBURT

was born March 12, 1824, and is the seventh child of Erastus Grant Hurlburt and Clarissa Goodwin Hurlburt, originally from Goshen, Litehfield county, Con- nectieut.

On the 13th day of May, 1842, Erastus G. Hutlburt and family arrived in the township of Hartsgrove, and located on parts of lots 96 and 106, which property is now owned by Nelson Griswold. Mr. Harlburt died September 4, 1845, and his wife December 13, 1856. The education of Edward G. Hurlburt was acquired principally in the common schools of his pative township, with two terms in the village academy.

Edward was eighteen years of age when he came to Chio with his father. At his father's death, three years later, he took charge of the estate, kept the family together, and made a satisfactory settlement. December 31, 1851, he was united in marriage to Jane E., daughter of John and Lydia Babcock, of Orwell, this county. Eight children have been born from this marriage, as follows: Frank Lincoln, December 17, 1832; Mary Luella, April 5, 1855 ; Martha Jane, January 31, 1857, died September 30, 1862; Clara M., September 2 1862; John Erastus, July 29, 1864; Edward G., Jr., August 19, 1867 (died June 5, 1868); Lucy Jane, September 29, 1868 (died September 6, 1869); Ward E., October 8, 1872. These children all reside in Hartsgrove except Mary, who married Mr. E. L. Lampson, a member of the legal profession in Jefferson, where they now reside. Mr. Hurlburt made his first purchase of land in Hartsgrove township Jannary 15, 1848, which consisted of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, in lots 67 and 77, and is still owned by him. He has made additional purchases from time to time, until at present his real estate aggregates one thousand and thirty acres of farming lands. The principal business of his life has been that of a farmer and stock-dealer.

He has been quite extensively engaged in the stock business for more than twenty years. As a sample of the magnitude of his stock-dealing, we will state that in the spring of 1865 he and a partner of his made sales of cattle and hogs, which they had fed in Iowa, the receipts of which were over twenty thousand dollars.

In the spring of 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business at Hartsgrove Centre. In the autumn following he formed a partnership with H. H. Grover, which was continued for two years, when Y. Hurlburt sold out his interest to his partner, Mr. Grover.

Mr. Hurlburt is a Methodist, of which church he became a member over thirty years ago. He is au active and efficient worker in the Sabbath-school, of which he has been superintendent over twenty years. He is a member of Hartsgrove lodge, No. 394, F. and A. M., and a Past Master of that body. Politically, Esquire Hurlburt is a Republicau, and has been ever since the organization of that party. He has held all of the offices of his township except that of township clerk. In the fall of 1871 he was elected county commissioner. Upon the expiration of his first term of office he was unanimously renominated, and of course re-elected. He has been an efficient and worthy officer, and has served his county well.

ERRATA.

Ox page 74, sixth line from top of second column, the word " log" should read " rude ;" in the next line, the word " their" should read " its."

On page 76, seventeenth line from bottom of second column, "bringing safety to Union" should read " bringing safety to the Union."

On page $0, second column, twenty-first line from top, the word " document" should read " declaration."

On page 84, seventh line from the beginning of the biography of Edward Wade, the " *" should be " +."

On page 85, seventh line of Rufus P. Ranney's biography, " Wade & Giddings" should read " Giddings & Wade."

On page 168, for " Benonia Andrews" read " Benoni Andrews."

Maple-sugar.

7,398 pounds.

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 9999 08614 624 6

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History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 99

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