History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 114

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

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The Independence post office was established on the east side of the river, at the house of Nathan P. Fletcher, who was the first postmaster. Until about thirty years ago, when it was permanently established at the village, the office was kept in different parts of the township at the residences of the postmasters. Those, after Mr. Fletcher, have been William H. Knapp, Nathaniel Stafford, John Needham, B. F. Sharp. J. K. Brainard, George Green and Calvin Hannum. The latter has been postmaster since 1865. The office is on the route from Cleveland to Copley. and has a tri-weekly mail. At the acid works a post otlice has lately been established by the name of

Willow. John L. Kingsbury is the postmaster, and the mail facilities are the same as at Independence.

Several gentlemen by the name of Day followed the practice of medicine in the township many years ago for a short period, but Dr. William B. Munson was the first to establish a permanent practice. Ile is yet a resident of the village, but has retired from active duty. The present practitioner is Dr. S. O. Morgan. Doctors Charles Hollis and E. M. Gleeson were phy- sicians in the township for short periods, but did not estabhsh themselves permanently in their profession.

Before 1830 a tavern was kept on the canal by a man named Kleckner, in a house built by Philemon Baldwin, and farther up the river was " Mother Par- ker's tavern," which enjoyed a wide reputation. About 1836, Peter P. Crumb opened a public house north of the center, which he kept many years. Sub- sequent landlords were - Hartmiller and George Sommers. The latter now occupies the place as a private residence, At the center a tavern wasopened in 1852 by Job Pratt, who was followed successively by Hollis, Gunn, Eaton, Alger, Probeck and Wolf, the latter being the present landlord.

1. L. and Edward M. Gleeson were among the first to engage in the mercantile business in the township, selling goods at the twelve-mile lock. Other persons in trade there were Merrill, Rutter, Oyler and Ben- der. Soon after the Crumb tavern was opened, Benjamin Wood sold goods at the stand now occupied by Joseph Urmetz, but Horace Ball opened the first regular store at the center. His successors at that stand have been J. K. Brainard, George Green, Jo- sephus Brown, Charles Green and Charles Memple, who is now in trade there.

Epaphro litus Wells had a store a few years oppo- site the tavern, and near by another store was opened by Jacob and Samuel Foltz and I. L. Gleeson. These parties were followed by Currier & Watkins, who had a shoe store. The stand is at present occupied by Calvin Hanmm. About eight years ago P. Kingsley opened another store, which is now kept by (. II. Bushnell.

The township has half a dozen shops in which the common mechanical trades are carried on,

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

The first schools in Independence were established east of the river. In 1830 there were four districts. In 1850 the condition of the schools was as follows:

District.

Youth of School Age.

Total Tax for Schools.

No. 1.

$37.50

66.23

" 3.

39.21

94 39

39.91

49.59

35.05

49.98

Fractional

2.63

48.84

16,52

611

$137.73

In 18;9 there were three hundred and seventy-three males and three hundred and twenty-three females of

30.50

465

INDEPENDENCE.

school age, of which number one hundred and seventy- six were between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years. . The tuition fund amounts to 83.242.25. Nearly all the districts have been provided with good school houses: the one at the center being two stories high. In this a school for th . more advanced pupils of the township has been maintained every winter since 1870. The board of education in 1829 was as follows: B. D. Schramm. of district No. 9, chairman; D. Gindlesperger, clerk: No. 1. Frank Gleeson; No. 2, A. J. Farrar; No. 3, J. Hathaway: No. 4. Frank Fosdick: No. 5. George Lambacher: No. 6. John Giles; No. 7, Harry Rose, and No. 8. II. Faubel.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

It is said that the first religious meeting in the township was held October 1, 1836, by the Rov. M :. Freeman, a Baptist from Cleveland. In February, 1837, a Baptist congregation was organized, which flourished a short time, but soon became extinct. About the same period a class of Methodists was formed which also failed to maintain its organization beyond a few years. Its meetings were held at the houses of those friendly to that denomination: but a common place of worship was soon after provided in a log school-house at the center in which the different ministers visiting the township preached.

The Congregationalists were the first to organize a church which had any permanency, and which is at present known as

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN INDEPENDENCE.

The organizers were the Revs. Israel Shailer and Chester Chapin, of the Missionary Association of Connecticut. On the 24th of June, 1831, they united in church fellowship William F. Bushnell and his wife Betsey; James and Mary Miller: Betsey Brew- ster; Jane and Elizabeth Bushnell-seven in all. William F. Bushnell was elected deacon, and James Miller, clerk.

The meetings were first held in the log school- house, at Miller's corners, and then in the town hall. On the 17th of October, 1854, a society to attend to the temporal affairs of the church was formed, which had as its first trustees, Wm. F. Bushnell, Joseph Cunningham and Benj. Wood; as treasurer, James Miller; as clerk. E. Wells. The society was dis- banded in October. 18:3. Under its direction, in 1855, the present meeting-house was built at the cen- ter. It is an attractive edifice of the excellent sand- stone found so plentifully in the township, and has a fine location on the west side of the public square. The cost was 82,594.79; the finances being managed by the pastor, the Rev. B. F. Sharp.

On the 5th of February, 1862, the church beeame Presbyterian in form, and has since continued in that faith. Calvin IIannum, Wm. F. Bushnell and Daniel W. Abbott were elected ruling ciders; and the former and J. G. Wing at present serve in that capacity.

The deacons are Joseph Miller and D. S. Green; the clerk of the sessions is Calvin Hannum.

The organizers of the church served two years as supplies. In 1845 the Rev. Mr. MeReynolds served the church. Some time before 1854 the Rev. B. F. Sharp came as a supply, and that year became pastor of the church, remaining until 1859. During his service the membership increased from seven to thirty- five. There has been no pastor since, but the pulpit has been supplied by Rov. Messrs. Morse, Van Vleck, Bushnell, Jenkins, Edwards, Chapin, Farwell, Cone, Pettinger, and the present Rev. Bowman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who preaches alter- nately here and in the Evangelical Church at this place.

The church has had an aggregate membership of one hundred and eighty-five, but at present bears the names of only thirty persons on its register. A flour- ishing Sunday school is maintained, of which J. G. Wing is the superintendent.

Mainly through the efforts of the Rev. T. G. Clew- ell a very neat brick church was erected at the cen- ter. sometime about 1860. for the use of the

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENCE,

and on the 7th of January, 1863, was duly organized the first board of trustees, composed of George W. Green, George Merkle, Francis Pillet, Henry Wentz and Mathew Bramley. Services have since been statedly held in the English and German languages by the Rev. Messrs. Clewell, Hahn, Humber, Breit, Bernhart, Mott, Duderer, Hasenpfing, Horn, Orwig, Seib, Hammer and other clergymen who came from Cleveland for the purpose. The membership at present is small in consequence of removals. The trustees are Messrs. Crane. Windlespeet, Sommers, Bramley and Newland. Jacob Schmidt is the super- intendent of a flourishing Sunday school.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. (UNALTERED AUGSBURG CONFESSION. )

A short time after 1850, a number of persons living in the northeastern part of the township, who at- tended the services of the Lutheran church in Cleve- land, took measures to establish a place of worship at home. Accordingly, on the 14th of October, 1854, a small frained meeting house was consecrated for this purpose, by pastor Schwan, of Cleveland. In this the services of the newly organized body were regularly held until July 6, 1879, when a very fine edifice, erected on the opposite side of the street, took its place. This house is thirty-eight by seventy-five feet, and has a tower and steeple one hundred feet high. The church has an exceedingly handsome appearance and cost about six thousand dollars. The present trustees are J. II. Dreman, C. F. Scherler and Fred. Ehlert. The church has fifty members who engage in business meetings, and numbers two hundred and twelve communicants. The elders are J. II. Tonsing, J. II. Meilaender and Fred. Borgeis.

466

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

The congregation has had the pastoral services of the following clergymen: From 1854 till 1859, Rev. John Strieter; 1859 till 1822, Rev. Ch. Sallman; and since December, 1811, Rev. Otto Kolbe. The first of these pastors also taught the parish school. but since 1871 Augustus Schefft has been employed as a teacher. The school is taught in the old meeting-house and is attended by ninety pupils who receive instruction in both the English and German languages. Religious teaching forms part of the daily course, and the school is maintained independent of any aid from the State or county.

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC. )

In 1852 a small but neat house of worship for Ro- man Catholics was erected northwest of the center of the township, which was used until the growing con- gregation demanded a more capacious house. An effort was made to provide one better adapted for its wants, and in 18to the present edifice was begun, but the work was slowly carried on. The building com- mittee was composed of George Gable, Joseph Urmetz, Peter Wild. Albert Dobler, Anthon Eckenfelt and Joseph Effinger. In December, 1813, a storm caused the walls of the unfinished building to fall: but the following year they were again raised and the build- ing began to be used in the summer of 1825. It was consecrated December 5, 1825, by the Right Reverend Father Gregory and Bishop Fitzgerald. The building committee at this time consisted of Charles Melling, Fred. Bockhold, Frank Jermann and Jeremiah Hayes. The church is thirty feet by seventy, is built of briek, and cost eight thousand dollars. The present lay trustees are Charles Mehling and Casper Funk. The society has a cemetery at the old stone chapel.

The church has about one hundred and seventy-five communicants who are under the spiritual tutelage of Father Fidelius, of the Franciscan Convent at Cleve- land. Among other clergymen who have served there have been Fathers Bierbanm, Zungbeel, Boden and Rainerions, nearly all coming from the convent. The church has had no resident priest. A school is main- tained which has been taught by John Jermann and Matilda Blessing.

CHAPTER LXXVII. MAYFIELD.

The First Settlers-Unexpected Visitors-Clearing Land The First Marriage- James Covert-Extraordinary Vigor - No Roads-Bears fond of Veal and Pork-A Lover of Cream Killed-Covert's Adven- ture with a Bear-Other Settlers-First Church-Cowardly Wolves -- Formation of Mayfield Township-First Officers-Notes from the Town Book-Slaughter of Sixty-three Rattlesnakes First Sawmill- First Gristmill-Halsey Gates-Outbreak of Mormonism-Long-stand- ing Debts Frederick Willson-Ezra Eddy-Jeniah Jones-Dr. Dille- New Hotels-Willson and MeDowell's Mills-Rapid Improvement-Dr Moon-Dr. Charles-First Church Edifice-Mayfield Academy-Plank Road-Post Offices-The Free Methodist Churches-Church of the United Brethren-Disciple Church-Principal Township Officers.

IN the year 1805 Abner Johnson, Samuel Johnson and David Smith came with their families from On-

tario county, New York, and made the first settlement in the present township of Mayfield, then known as survey-township number eight in range ten of the Western Reserve. They located themselves on the west side of Chagrin river, a little above the site of Willson's Mills, built their cabins, and began opera- tions.

In the spring of 1806 the members of the little settlement were agreeably surprised to sec three of their old neighbors in Ontario county, make their ap- pearanee, with packs on their backs, guns on their shoulders, and dogs by their sides. The oldest of these was Daniel S. Judd, a large, fleshy man, already sixty-five years of age, who had fought in the old French and Indian war forty-five years before, and also in the Revolution, and was likewise renowned as a mighty hunter. With him were his two sons, Free- man and Thomas Judd. The three had started for Portage county, where they designed settling, but having lost their way, they had accidentally come upon their old neighbors whom they had not seen during the previous year. They were so well pleased with the fine bottom-lands on the Chagrin river that they determined to look no farther, but immediately began a settlement on the west side, a little above where the Johnsons and Smith had located.

That summer all were busy chopping timber, burn- ing off land, planting a little corn between the logs, and performing numerous other duties incident to the beginning of a settlement. The next fall or winter the Judds went East, and obtained their fami- lies and personal property. They had returned but a short time when the first wedding was celebrated in the township-in the last part of 1806 or the first part of 180 ;- the parties being John Howton and Polly Judd, and the services being performed by Esquire Turner, of Chagrin.

In the spring of 1802 James Covert, the son-in-law of D. S. Judd, came into the township from Seneca county, New York, and located himself in the Chagrin valley, below the site of Willson's Mills, where he has ever since resided. He was already twenty-six years of age, and had a wife and child. As was the case with most of the new settlers his worldly wealth was very limited, consisting of three dollars in money, an axe and a dog, After putting up a shanty, he went on foot to Painesville, a city then consisting of three or four log cabins, and bought a peck of poor salt for a dollar, carrying it home on his back. With the re- maining two dollars he bought two pigs. He also purchased a two-year old heifer on credit from Judd, and thus he began life in Mayfield. He is certainly a remarkable example of what can be accomplished by sheer industry and attention to business, though in truth those qualities must needs be accompanied by extraordinary vital powers to accomplish such results as Mr. Covert has brought about.

When the writer visited him in the autumn of 1878, he was, although ninety-seven years old, in the full possession of all his mental powers and all his physi-

MAYFIELD.

cal senses except his hearing, and was at work attend- ing to his stock. Always a farmer, he has made himself the owner of over a thousand acres of land. besides large amounts of other property, has long been noted as the richest man in the township, and has in the meantime been the father of twenty-three children, twenty-two of whom he raised to be men and women. The writer has had a good deal of ex- perience among industrious and vigorous old pioneers, but Mr. Covert's is certainly the most remarkable ex- ample of them all.

Two of the families mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, those of Samuel Johnson and David Smith, had left the township before Mr. Covert came, and their place was taken by that of John Jackson.

The first birth in the township was that of a child born in the latter part of 1802. to John and Polly Ilowton, whose marriage has been mentioned above. For several years there were few newcomers except small strangers of this description. The scattered settlers kept busily at work, and soon made consider- alle clearings around their respective cabins. They were, however, very much isolated. There were no roads laid out in township eight, and for several years its inhabitants had to work their road tax on the lake shore road in the township of Chagrin, now Willough- by in Lake county.

Fortunately the county was healthy: there being very little even of fever and ague compared with what is customary in new countries, But there were many annoyances. When the cows had calves in the woods the bears would sometimes kill and eat them. They were equally destructive to the hogs, but Mr. Covert relates that when he was able to keep a large number of the latter animals they would join together, tight with the bears and drive them off. So impudent wore these ursine depredators that they would sometimes come up to the very doors of the settlers' cabins in search of food. One morning Mrs. Judd put her cream in the churn, ready for churning, set it out on a temporary porch and went about her work. On going out after awhile she found the churn upset and the cream all licked up. A number of bear's tracks around the place disclosed the cause of the robbery. When James Jackson, who was boarding at Judd's. came in at night and learned of the affair he determ- ined to watch for the marander. Accordingly, after dark, be placed a pail of sour milk on the porch and took his stand, rifle in hand, in the house opposite an open window that looked out on the " bait." After everything was quiet and when the watcher was be- ginning to get drowsy, he was suddenly aroused to intense wakefulness by hearing something lapping at the milk. Taking aim at the noise, for it was perfect- ly dark, he pulled the trigger. A light was brought and a big, fat, short-legged hear was found dead be- side the pail of milk, with a bullet lodged in his brain.

The wolves were still more obnoxious. After Mr. Covert had been there a few years, he bought two old sheep and two lambs in Chester, Geanga county, pay-

ing $2.50 per head for the four: brought them home and turned them into his field. The next morning he went out and found that the wolves had killed both the lambs and were then making their breakfast off from them. After that he yarded his sheep at. night and watched them a little by day, and soon succeeded in raising a fine flock.

Mr. Covert. notwithstanding his assiduity as a farmer, was also a good deal of a hunter, and so was James Jackson, above referred to. One day the two got in close pursuit of a large bear which Jackson had wounded. The animal in going down a bank stum- bled and fell into a hole, where he lay on his back with his feet sticking up. Covert erept down to re- connoitre, but got so near that the bear caught his foot in his mouth and bit through boot, foot and all. Hle hung on. too, and with his paws mutilated Co- vert's leg terribly. The latter got hold of a sapling and pulled both himself and his enemy ont of the hole, when the dogs attacked the bear. The latter then let go his hold and the hunters soon dispatched him. Mr. Covert was confined to the house for sey- eral weeks by his wounds.

Among the settlers who came several years after those already mentioned were P. K. Wilson, Benja- min Wilson. Luke Covert, Benjamin Carpenter and Solomon Moore. The early settlers were largely Methodists, and as soon as 1809 they formed a class of that denomination under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Davidson, who is said to have been an eloquent and successful preacher. For many years their meet- ings were held in private houses and in the woods, as there was not even a log school-house for them to as- semble in. The first death in the township was that of Daniel S. Judd, the veteran of two great wars, who died of apoplexy in 1810.

As has been said. the lack of roads was a great an- novance. Mr. Covert states that he has often taken a bushel of corn on his back and gone to Chagrin (now Willoughby ) to milt, attended on his return home by packs of howling wolves, not far away on either side. But these animals rarely attacked a man, even in the night. Ouce, however, Mr. Covert thought he stood a good chance of becoming wolf bait. He had been reaping for a man who lived ser- eral miles down the river, in the present township of Willoughby, and was returning home after dark. Two miles from home, as he was following a sled path, (carrying his shoes in his hand that he might the better feel the path with his naked feet in the Egyptian darkness), he was startled by an angry growl, and saw the fierce eyes of three or four wolves glaring at him, not more than six feet away. It was seldom that a wolf approached so near, and the young man thought his time had come. He felt in the darkness for a tree, which he might ascend, and in doing so got hold of a couple of sticks. These he threw with all his might at the heads of his enemies, who shrank back, howling. into the forest. Reas- sured by finding that they were as cowardly as the

118

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

rest of their species, he pursued his way, and reached home in safety, although accompanied nearly all the way, a short distance on one side, by his howling foes.

The war of 1812 stopped even what little progress there was before that time, and it was not until 1816 that a school-house was erected in the township. It was a log building, situated on the land formerly owned by Anthony Sherman. It was used for some years as school-house, church and town-ball. A few more settlers came after the war, among whom was Seth Mapes, who came in 1815 and remained until 1827, when he removed to Orange. In 1819 a new township was formed, by the name of Mayfield, the first town meeting being held on the 14th day of June, in that year. There were only twenty voters present, and of these thirteen were elected to fill the various offices.

The meeting organized by choosing Daniel S. Judd, Daniel Richardson and Adam Overoker as judges of election, and John Jackson as clerk. The following officers were elected: Trustees, Adam Overoker, Seth Mapes, Daniel Smith; clerk. John Jackson: overseers of the poor, James Covert, Philo Judd: fence viewers, John Gloge, Michael Overocker: con- stables, Ephraim Graves, Rufus Mapes; lister, Henry Francisco; appraiser, Calvin Mapes; treasurer, Ben- jamin Carpenter, Jr .; justice of the peace, Michael Overoker. The following is also a part of the town- ship record for that year, which was sent to the Ilis- torical Society some twenty years ago:

"Received of the township of Chagrin, Nov. 10th, three dollars and eighty-eight cents, being our proportion of the money in the treasury at the time of division. Amount of tax levied in ISIS, 836.00; amount paid by Mayfield. 6.80; remaining in the treasury of Chagrin at the time of division, 843.05: proportion belonging to Mayfield, 83.88. Paid by John Jackson, three dollars and eighty-eight cents to the trustees of Mayfield, money drawn from the treasury of Chagrin and expended between them and the township clerk as a compensation for their ser- vices during the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen."

The increase of population was still slow. though two or three new men came in every year. The bears and wolves slowly receded, but rattlesnakes in large numbers infested the land, especially among the rocks and hills. One of the most remarkable adven- tures with snakes, of which we have ever heard, was related to us by Dr. A. L. Dille, on the authority of Mr. Solomon Mapes, a reliable citizen, who, about 1825, killed sixty-three rattlesnakes, the denizens of a single hollow log. Having discovered what sort of inhabitants were within, he armed himself with a stout stick, gave the log a rousing rap, and then slew the rattlers one after the other as they glided out of the open end.

The first sawmill was built by Abner Johnson and Seth Mapes in 1824, a little north of Mayfield Center. The next year Mr. Johnson alone built the first grist- mill in the township on a branch of the Chagrin river, near the site of Willson's Mills.

In 1826 Mr. Halsey Gates came to the locality which has since borne his name (Gates' Mills), bring- ing with him the gearing of a sawmill and began the work of erecting one at that point. The next year the sawmill was completed, and the year follow- ing a gristmill was erected by Mr. Gates at the same place. Lyndon Jenks was another of the early set- tlers in the southeast part of the township.

Abont 1828 there was an extraordinary outbreak of Mormonism in this township. Mormon preachers, priests and prophets seem to have made this a special stamping-ground. Quite a number of the inhabi- tants were converted to that faith, and some of them appeared perfectly crazy in their enthusiasm. Sev- eral families were broken up by the fanatical Mor- monism of some of their members. Besides the resi- dent converts, a good many Mormons seem to have come in from the outside and "squatted " in the western and central parts of the township, which were as yet very thinly settled, so that there would sometimes be several families living on a single farm. After two or three years of excitement they all packed up and moved away, about 1831, to join some larger colony of their brethren.

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History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 114

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