History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716

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Joseph Cahoon built upon Cahoon's creek the first grist-mill west of the Cuyahoga river, the frame being raised September 10, 1813,* the day of Perry's vie-

tory. Joseph and his son, Joel B., quarried two mill- stones in the creek at North Dover, and these stones are now preserved on Mr. Cahoon's place as relies of the olden time. They also erected a saw-mill near by, and likewise a distillery, where they made peach brandy-Mr. Cahoon engaging to some extent in peach culture.

In 1814 Joel was sent by his father to Brownhelm for a man to assist in the distillery, and before he set ont on his return he pulled a small locust plant for a riding whip. When he reached home he planted it upon his father's place, and now the riding whip, grown to a handsome tree of massive proportions, shades the lawn in front of the Cahoon homestead, a graceful reminder of the historie past.

In 1818 Joseph Cahoon built the house now occu- pied by his son Joel B., and there he died in 1829, at the age of seventy-tive.

On the evening of the day on which Joseph Ca- hoon and his family entered Dover (October 10, 1810), Asahel Porter and his family, together with Leverett Johnson (his nephew), then in his seventeenth year, came into the same township. Leverett Johnson had been living with the family in Connecticut, whence they came to Dover. Mr. Porter, with the assist- ance of George Peake, of Rockport, put up a log house upon lot ninety-four, now occupied by Charles Hassler. The spot upon which the house stood was long ago washed into the lake. Of the two children who came with Mr. Porter, one, Mrs. Catharine Foot, still resides in Dover, aged seventy-three. Mrs. Porter was drowned in Rocky river in 1814, and not long after that event Mr. Porter removed to Rock- port, after renting his Dover farm to Silas and Elisha Taylor. Before that, however, he kept a store on the lake shore, in Dover, and was postmaster there in 1815. The book in which he kept his store accounts is now in the possession of L. II. Johnson, Esq., of Dover.

Almost immediately after his arrival in Dover, Leverett Johnson, although scarcely more than a boy, began alone to clear land on lot fifty-eight, continuing to live, however, with Mr. Porter. Two years later young Johnson located upon lot thirteen, where his son. L. H. Johnson, now resides. Usually he spent his Sundays at Mr. Porter's, but during the week lived alone in the wilderness. During the first sea- son his house consisted of a bark roof set against an old log. He was the only settler in that section, and no doubt found life somewhat lonesome; but he worked sturdily away, and, although Indians and wild beasts were plentiful, he suffered no molestation. The Indians were friendly, and sometimes assisted him in his farm labors; the wild beasts he scared away at night by keeping up a fire. Young Johnson mar- ried Abigail Cahoon in 1814, and conducted his bride to a new log-house, which he had that year erected upon his farm.

Mr. Johnson was early a prominent member of the settlement, and during his life was frequently called

* There seems to have been a good deal of building and raising on the lake shore that day. One lot of men were finishing the court-house at Cleveland; another was raising a barn in Enelid; Mr. Cahoon and his friends were raising a grist-mill in Dover, and there were perhaps other instances, of which we have not heard.

437

DOVER.

to fill positions of considerable importance. He was justice of the peace from 1827 to 1833, and served five terms in the State legislature. After a useful life of unwonted activity, he died upon the old home- stead in 1856, in his sixty-second year.

Philo Taylor, an early settler in Rockport, located on the lake shore in Dover, in 1811, and there built the first sawmill in the township. He also opened the first tavern in Dover, but remained in the town- ship only a few years. Dr. John Turner, also a Rock- port settler, moved thence to Dover in 1813, locating on the place now occupied by C. 6. Reed. He was the first physician in the township, and had a pecul- iar theory about consumption. He contended that if the patient would exercise daily by swinging a flat- iron in each hand, a cure would be effected. His wife, being consumptive, tried the remedy, but died in spite of it. Dr. Turner afterwards moved to Carlisle, Ohio, and thence to Wisconsin, where he died.

Joseph Stocking came out from Ashfield, Massachu- setts, with his uncle, Jonathan Smith, in 18Ht, and purchased land from the latter, in Dover. lle re- turned to Massachusetts for his family, but postponed their removal on account of the war of 1812. In 1815, however, he migrated to Dover with his wife and five children, accompanied by Nehemiah Porter, John Smith, Axa Blood, Wells Porter, Jesse Lilly and Ryal Holden-all being related to him by blood or marriage. Hle migrated to Dover, and located upon the place now occupied by his son Joseph. There he lived until his death in 1876, at the age of ninety-five years and three months.

Jesse Lilly settled first upon the North Ridge, but moved subsequently to the southern part of the town- ship. Jolin Smith located on lot fifty-five, and Ryal Holden abont a mile and a half west of the present village of Dover Center. Soon after his arrival, Asa Blood built a log tavern at the place where he after- wards erected the brick hotel now kept by Philip Phillips. In 1825, when Blood was postmaster, one Woolverton drove a mail stage between Cleveland and Elyria, and delivered the mail at Dover Center three times a week.

Nehemiah Porter, with his wife and two children, and Wells Porter, a bachelor, located on lot forty-tive. After residing with Nehemiah two years, Wells made a settlement upon lot fifteen. In 1816 Ebenezer Porter also came to Dover. Nehemiah and Ebenezer resided in that township until they died: Wells moved to Cleveland, and ended his days there. Jede- diah Crocker moved in June, IStI, from Lee, Mass- achusetts, with his wife and seven children, to Euclid, Ohio, whence Noah, his son, went to Dover, where the elder owned land. Noah, with his wife and three children, settled upon a portion of his father's land, and besides giving it some of his attention, used to go occasionally to Elyria to work in a furnace. Ile resided in Dover until his death; his children all re- moved farther west. In 1816 Jedediah Crocker left

Euclid, and with his family settled in Dover, upon the place cleared by his son Noah. The old gentle- man had purchased considerable land in Dover from Hubbard & Stowe in Connecticut, but after his ar- rival in the West sold all of it except two lots, at 81.25 per acre-just what it had cost him. At the time of his settlement his nearest neighbors were Barnabas Hall. Thomas Foot. Sylvanus Phinney, Bernard Case, Jesse Lilly, Jonathan Smith, and Henry and Jasher Taylor.

Moses IIall, of Lee, Massachusetts, bought twenty- one hundred acres of land in Dover in 1810, and in the same year removed with his twelve children to Ashtabula, Ohio. Of the Dover tract, he gave to each of his seven sons one hundred acres, and to each of his five daughters fifty acres. Two of his sons Barnabas and James, and one of his daughters, with her husband, Nathan Bassett, settled in Dover in 1811. Barnabas Hall located on lot sixty-two, now occupied by his son Charles, and remained there till his death. James settled upon lot fifty-one, but in 18?t returned to Ashtabula, where he has since re- sided, having in July, 1829, reached his eighty- eighth year. Nathan Bassett occupied lot eighty-two. lle had a turning-lathe, and manufactured chairs, and was also known far and near as a great hunter and manager of bees. lle was killed by lightning while at work in his barn in 1842. Nancy, another daughter of Moses Hall, married David Ingersoll, and in 1820 they settled in Dover upon lot thirty- seven. They had seven children, but survived them all; he dying in January, 1829, aged eighty-three, and she in April of the same year. aged eighty. Charles, a son of Moses Hall, settled in Dover in 1821. npon lot forty-eight. lle died in April, 1828. His surviving sons in Dover are Reuben and Z. S. Hall.

In 1812 Jesse Atwell, with his wife and five chil- dren. came from Stenben county, New York, and on the 4th of July landed at Cleveland. From there they pushed on to Dover, traveling so slowly that they were a day and a half in going to Rocky river. and seeing but one framed house on the way. Mr. Atwell had bought lot sixty-eight of Moses Ilall, but at the end of five years he bought lot seventy-nine from llubbard & Stowe for four dollars and twenty cents an aere. There he resided until his death in 1825, aged eighty-nine.

Amos Sperry came west from Oneida county. New York, in 1815, and purchased lot sixty of Lyman Root, an early settler upon it, who then moved to Ridgeville. Mr. Sperry opened a blacksmith shop and a tavern on his place as soon as 1818, although he put np no tavern-sign until 1824. That sign was recently in the possession of the Sperry family. Mr. Sperry kept tavern there only a few years, but fol- lowed farming upon his place until his death in 1848, at the ripe age of eighty-seven. His son, Amos Ran- som Sperry, who had preceded him into Dover a year, resided upon the homestead until he died. Junia Sperry, of Dover Center, is the only direct descend-

438

TIIE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

ant of Amos Sperry now living. In 1818 Amos R. Sperry married the widow of Junia Beach, one of Elyria's early settlers. She survived her last hus- band many years, dying in Rockport in 1827, aged one hundred years.

Among other early settlers in Dover were Jason Bradley, John Wolf, Jethro Butler, Aaron Aldrich, Lyman Root, Eber Loomis and Joseph Root.

Sylvanus Smith was the first settler at the place now known as Dover Center, and built a house upon the site of the store now there. Asa Blood, who kept the first tavern at the center, married a sister of Sylvanus Smith, and two other sisters of Smith married Ansel Rice and Asher Cooley, both Dover pioneers. Mr. Smith was a wide-awake, stir- ring citizen. a strong advocate of the temperance cause, and the buikler of several houses at the center.

In 1826 Joseph Porter, of Ashfield, Massachusetts, migrated to Dover with four children-Jemima, John, Leonard and Rebecca, going by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleveland, and the rest of the way by stage. Mr. Porter located on lot four- teen, where he died in 1844, at the age of eighty-four. James Case, with a family of nine children, moved in 1816 from Ashfield, Massachusetts, to Dover, and lo- cated on the North Ridge, west of Cahoon's creek. where he soon after put up a sawmill. Ile died in less than two years, leaving his eldest son, Bernard, to care for the family. He moved about 1826 to New York. Another son, Osborn Case, is now a resident of Rockport, whitber he went in 1832. James Case had served as a privateer in the war of 1126, and dur- ing his residence in Dover had followed the pursuits of a cooper, a miller, and a farmer. Sumner Adams accompanied Case from Massachusetts to Dover. where he engaged in business as a blacksmith, re- turning, however, to New England at the expiration of four years.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

The first white child born in the township was Angelina, daughter of Asahel Porter. The date of her birth was April 1, 1812. It is claimed that Vesta, daughter of Nathan Bassett, was the first born, but the best available evidence shows the date of her birth to have been June 14, 1812. The first male child born in Dover was Franklin, son of Joseph Cahoon. The first marriage in the township was that of Lev- erett Johnson and Abigail, daughter of Joseph Ca- hoon, John S. Reed, of Black River, -the first jus- tice of the peace chosen in Dover,-performed the marriage service in Cahoon's log house. The second couple married were Jethro Butler and Betsey Smith. On the 1st day of April, 1814, Asahel Porter's wife and infant child. Noah Crocker, and George, son of Jonathan Smith, made a journey to Cleveland in an open boat. Upon their return, being overtaken by a storm, they sought to put in at the month of Rocky river, when the boat was capsized and Mrs. Porter, her babe, and George Smith were drowned, Crocker

alone escaping. The daughter of Daniel Page-who settled at an early date on lot ninety-seven and put up the first framed house in Dover-while tempora- rily sojourning in an adjoining township, was carried away by Indians, from whom, however, after a brief captivity, she was recaptured by United States sol- diers.

ORGANIZATION.

The surveyed township now constituting Dover (No. seven in range tifteen) was, at the time of its earliest settlement, owned by Nehemiah Hubbard and Josiah Stowe. to whom it had fallen on the division of the Western Reserve among the joint proprietors, as narra- ted in the general history. The civil township of Do- ver was formed November 4, 1811, and embraced a large traet, extending nearly twenty-five miles along the lake shore as appears by the following extraets from the records: November 4, 1811, it was by the county commissioners ordered " that the following townships be and are hereby incorporated into a separate town- ship by the name of Dover, viz: Townships No. seven in fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth ranges and all that part of No. seven which lies east of the Black river in the eighteenth range, and to be in effect on the next annual meeting." * * March 6, 1812,

it was further ordered "that all that traet of land lying west of the town of Dover and west of township No. six in range sixteen, and cast of the cast line of the Fire-lands, so called, and north of township five in ranges seventeen, eighteen and nineteen, be and is hereby annexed to said township of Dover."

The first township election was held April 6, 1812, at the house of Philo Taylor, at which eighteen votes were cast by the following electors: Philo Taylor, George Kelso, John Jordan, John Brittle, Noah Da- vis. Andrew Kelso, Timothy Wallace, David Smith, Joseph Cahoon, Joseph Quigley, Ralph Lyon, Joseph Root, Jonathan Seeley, Moses Eldred, Azariah Beebe, Lyman Root, Asahel Porter and Daniel Perry. Some of these lived as far west as Black river, and some lost all identity with Dover, on account of its con- traction to its present limits.

The officers chosen at that election were Asahel Porter, township clerk: Daniel Perry, Joseph Quigley and Asahel Porter, trustees; Asahel Porter, Joseph Cahoon and Azariah Beebe, overseers of the poor; Andrew Kelso and Moses Eldred, fence viewers; Jonathan Seeley, lister and appraiser; Noah Davis, Ralph Lyon, Moses Eldred, Sylvanus Fleming, Daniel Brittle and Lyman Root, supervisors of high ways; Philo Taylor, treasurer: Jonathan Seeley and Philo Taylor, constables. On the 16th of May, 1812, John S. Reed was chosen justice of the peace. At the second election, which was for State officers, only ten votes were cast. In 1819 but thirty-two votes were cast at the township election. The names of the per- sons who have served the township as trustees, clerks and treasurers from 1812 to 1879, are given in the following list:

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DOVER.

Jo14 Trustees, Daniel Perry, Joseph Quigley. sauel Porter; clerk. Asahel Porter; treasurer. Phdo Taylor.

1813. Trustees, Nathan Bassett, Noah Crocker, Daniel Perry; clerk, Asahel Porter: treasurer, Philo Taylor.

1414. Trustees. Daniel Perry, Jonathan Taylor, John Turner; clerk, Asahel Porter: treasurer, Philo Taylor.

1813. Trustees, Amos R. Sperry, Daniel Perry, Nathan Bassett : clerk. John Turner: treasurer, Leverett Johnson.

1416. Trustees, Wilbur Cahoon, Nathan Bassett, Datus Kelley ; clerk. Noah Crocker; treasurer, Leverett Johnson.

1817. Trustees. Nathan Bassett. Joseph Stocking, Asa Blood; clerk, Noah Crocker; treasurer, Leverett Johnson.

1818 Trustees, Henry Taylor. Leverett Johnson Samuel Crocker: clerk. Noah Crocker; treasurer, Thomas Foot.

1819. Trustees, John Smith, Samuel Crocker, Amos Cahoon: clerk, Thomas Foot: treasurer, Samuel Crocker.

182). Trustees, Leverett Johnson, Amos Cahoon, Thomas Foor; clerk, Samuel Crocker: treasurer, Jedediah Crocker

1421. Trustees, Nathan Bassett, Amos R. Sperry, Leverett Johnson: clerk, John F. Smith: treasurer. Amos R Sperry.

1×22. Trustees, Amos R. Sperry, Noah Crocker, Amos Cahoon; clerk, John F. Smith: treasurer, Henry Taylor.

1×223. Trustres, Noah Crocker Amos C'ahoon. David Ingersoll; clerk, Asa Blood: treasurer, Henry Taylor.

1221. Trustees, Nathan Bassett David Ingersoll, Thomas Foot; clerk. Asa Blood: treasurer, Henry Taylor.

1$25. Trustees. Nathan Bassett, Joseph Stocking. Asher M. Coe. "lerk, Wells Porter; treasurer. Noah Crocker.

1420. Trustres. Joseph Stocking, Th mas Foot; clerk. Wells Porter. treasurer, Noah Crocker

1-27. Trustees, Leverett Johnson, Nathan Bassett, John Smith: clerk, Wells Porter: treasurer. Joseph Stocking.

182% Trustees, Leverett Johnson, John Smith. Thos. Foot: clerk, Wills Porter: treasurer. Joseph Stocking.

1×20. Trustees, Thos. Fo st. Joseph Stocking, Leverett Johnson: clerk, Wells Porter: treasurer, Hiram Smith.

1.30. Trustees, Nathan Bassett Asa Blood, Amos R Sperry, clerk. Wells Porter: treasurer, Hiram Smith.

1831. Trustees, A. M. Coe, Asa Blood, Thos, Foot, clerk, Jason Brad ley ; treasurer, Hiram Smith.

1832. Trustees, Amos Cahoon, Nathan Bassett, A M Cor; clerk, El Clemens: treasurer, Ihram Sinth

1-33. Trustees, Amos Cahoon, Rial Holden, Asa Blood, clerk, Eh ('Irmens; treasurer, Asher Cooley.

1131. Trustees, Amos Cahoon, Chas. Hall, Leverett Johnson. clerk, Eli Clemens: treasurer, Asher Cooley.

1835. Trustees, Amos Cahoon, Leverett Johnson, Amos R Sperry. clerk, Eli Clemens: treasurer, Asher Cooley.

1436 and 1-37 Trustees, Amos Cahoon, Leverett Johnson, Thomas Foot; clerk, Eli Clemens: treasurer, Asher Couley.

1434. Trustees, A. R. Sperry, Nathan Bassett, Austin Lilly : clerk, Eh Clemens; treasurer, Asher Cooley

1839. Trustees, Leverett Johnson, Nathan Bassett, Austin Lilly : clerk Eli Clemens; treasurer, Asher Cooley

1810. Trustees, Leverett Johnson, Arza Dickinson, Aaron Aldrich; clerk, Eli Clemens; treasurer, I. G. Porter.

1811. Trustees, Leverett Johnson, Thomas Foot, Charle , Hall: clerk Eli ('lemens: treasurer, I. G. Porter.

1812. Trustees, Amos Cahoon, A. S. Farr, A. R. Sperry ; clerk, E. T Smith: treasurer, Marius Moore.

1843. Trustees, A. S. Farr. Anstin Lilly, A. M. Coe: clerk, E T. Smith. treasurer, Marius Moore.

1844 Trustees Joseph Brown, Leverett Johnson, Benjamin Road clerk, E. T. Sinith : treasurer, L G. Porter.

181. Trustees, A S Farr, Aaron Aldrich Benj. Reed ; clerk, W. Por ter: treasurer, L. G Porter

1846. Trustees, Aaron Aldrich, Leverett Johnson, Marius Moore, clerk, W. Porter; treasurer, L. G. Porter.

ING. Trustees, Leverett Johnson, Arza Dickinson, Thomas H. Hall; clerk, Wells Porter; treasurer, L. G. Porter.

IN48. Trustees, Arza Dickinson, C'has, II. Hall. Alfred Willard; clerk, Wells Porter; treasurer, L. G. Porter

1449. Trustees, A. M. Coe, Win. Saddler, N. Cohurn : clerk, J. M. Brad jey; treasurer, Edwin Coe

1850. Trustees, A. M. Coe, S. U. Towner, Henry Winsor: clerk, El Clemens; treasurer, D. W Porter.

1851. Trustees. S. U. Towner, Henry Winsor, N. H. Austin : clerk, El Clemens: treasurer. Marius Moore.

1852 and 1853. Trustees, Marius Moore, C. H. Tobey, Chas. H. Hall: clerk, L. H. Johnson; treasurer, Edwin Farr.

1834. Trustees, Marius Moore, C. II. Tobey, Chas. H. Hall; clerk, L H. Johnson: treasurer, Lester Simons.

1×55. Trustees, Chas. H. Hall, D). W. Porter, R G. MeCarty ; clerk, .1. A. Lilly ; treasurer, -

1856. Trustees, C. E. Barnum, R. H. Knight, Edwin Farr: clerk, Eli Clemens; treasurer, Jonathan Spencer.

1631 Trustees, R. H Knight, N. H. Austin, G. W Laughlin: clerk, Eli Cleinens: treasurer, J. Spencer.

1458, Trustees, A. S. Farr, Josiah Hurst. Reuben Hall; clerk, Eli Clemens: treasurer, J. Spencer.

1×59. Trustees, Josiah Hurst, Dennis Dow, Clark Smith: clerk, John Wilson.

1×60. Trustees, Dennis Dow, S. L. Beebe, A. P. Johnson; clerk, John Wilson.

18/1. Trustees, Josiah Hurst, Reuben Hall, A. P. Johnson: clerk, John Wilson.

1402. Trustees, Jonathan Spencer, Adolphus Gridley, Dennis Dow: clerk, Eli Clemens.

1463. Trustees, A J. Coe, Jonathan Spencer, Edwin Farr; clerk, Thos. Foote.

1N14. Trustees, Dennis Dow, Junia Sperry, H W. Aldrich: clerk, A. A. Lilly.

1945. Trustees, Dennis Dow, Thos. Foot, A. P. Jolinson: clerk, 1 A. Lilly.

1456. Trustees, H D. Lanphair, S. W Simons, E. F. Walker; clerk, E Meriam.

18Gt. Trustees, L. H. Johnson, J. Rose, E. S. Lewis: clerk, A. S.

Porter.

1468. Trustees, J. Rose, A. S. Ward, S. W. Simons; clerk. A. S.

Porter.

1469. Trustees, J. Rose, A \ Lilly, A. S. Ward; clerk, A. S. Porter.

1-70 Trustees, A A Lilly, A. P. Smith, H. P. Johnson; clerk, .A. S Porter.

1871. Trustees, R. Hall, G. Renblin, N. G. Porter: clerk, C. Pease.

1874. Trustees, A. G. Porter, Leon Coe, J. N. Hurst; clerk, C. Pease.

1573. Trusters, L. H. JJohnson, Leon Coe. A. J. Coe: clerk, C. Pease.

1874. Trustees, A. J. Coe, Perry Powell, J. N. Hurst: clerk, H B.

Smith. 1875 Perry Powell. S W Simons, J. N. Hurst: clerk. I. B. Smith.

1876. Trustees, S. W. Simons, A. J. Coe, Renben Hall: clerk, John Wilson

Trustees, S. W. Simons, L. MI Coe, Henry Wischmeyer; clerk, John Wilson.

1578 Trustees, Jas. L. Hadd, S. W. Simons, H Wischmeyer; clerk, Jas. Pease; treasurer, Calvin Pease.

1829. Trustees, A. J. Coe, David Sites, Benj. Chappel: clerk, Herbert Lilly : treasurer. Calvin Pease.

VILLAGES.

Although possessing no incorporated village, Dover has within its limits two hamlets-Dover Center and North Dover -- of which the former is the larger and more thriving. The town hall is located there-a tine two-story brick structure, built in 1843-and it also has a graded school, a Masonie and Odd Fellows' lodge, a large steam gristmill, a store, several shops, a church and a good number of handsome residences.

North Dover, a mile north of the Center, is near a German settlement and has a German church, an ex- cellent German school, a township school, a store and perhaps a dozen dwellings.

POST OFFICES.

Dover's first postmaster was Asahel Porter, who kept a store and post office on the lake shore near the Avon line in 1815. Reuben Osborn was his successor, I and afterwards Eli Clemens received the office. He removed it to North Dover, where it now is. Calvin Phinney was the next incumbent, and after him Daniel Brown, the present postmaster.

The first postmaster at Dover Center was Asa Blood, who kept the tavern at that place. Marius Moore, who succeeded Blood as the landlord, was also the next postmaster, and for many years the post- office was located in the tavern. The present incum- bent is Hon. J. M. Cooley. A. M. Coe, a settler in 1823, was appointed postmaster at Coe Ridge, in the southern part of Dover, in 1843, and remained so until 1864. The office was removed into Olmstead in

440

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

1864, but in 1866 it was brought back to Dover, when Mr. Coe was reappointed, continuing in the office until his death in 1867. In 1874 a change to Ohn- stead was again made. and there the office still re- mains.

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF DOVER.

This religions organization is the outgrowth of a Congregational Church organized in Lee, Massachu- setts, June 5, 1811, with eight members, as follows: Jedediah Crocker and Sarah, his wife, Lydia, wife of Moses Hall, Katy, wife of Abijah Crosby, Jonathan and Aber Smith and their wives. Of these eight, Jedediah and Sarah Crocker and the two Smith fam- ilies removed shortly afterwards to Dover, and on their arrival continned the Lee church organization, changing, however, the name to the Congregational Church of Dover.

The little band having at first no minister, used to meet every Sabbath to worship with prayer and song. Alvin Coe, a missionary to the Indians, coming that way. preached to them three months, after which they reverted to their former simple service. The church increased slowly, and in 1822 a log meeting-house was built near where the present church edifice stands. Some years afterward the meeting-house was destroyed by fire, and the services were held in Joseph Stock- ing's barn and in the town-house, until the completion of the church building now in use.

About 1840 the church was divided on the slavery question, and until 1842 one congregation worshiped in the church building and the other in the town house. In that year the two bodies were reunited and reorganized as the Second Congregational church of Dover, with fifty-one members, and the following trustees: John Porter, Leverett Johnson, David In- gersoll. The first deacons of the reorganized church were Alfred Millard, Jonathan Oakes, Selden Osborn, Josiah Hurst. Since 1842 about two hundred and seventy-five persons have been received into the church.

Among the early preachers, Rev. John MeCrea was the most prominent. lle preached in 1826 and after- ward, and was very highly esteemed. The pastor in charge at present is Rev. Henry Walker. The pres- ent trustees are L. G. Porter. George Whitsey and John Rose.

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History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716