USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 123
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
The first death in the township was that of Isaac Emerson, a young man of seventeen, who died in the winter of 1823. He was buried on the Countryman place. The next deaths were those of William Steele and his child, who were buried near young Emerson's grave, on the banks of Big creek. When the ceme- tery on the Media road was laid out the remains of Isaac Emerson were transferred thither, but the graves of Steele and his child were undisturbed, and their bones still lie upon the bank of the creek, although the spot is entirely unmarked.
The first marriage ceremony was celebrated at the house of Joseph Small, when his daughter Lois was wedded to Ephraim Fowls, of Middleburg. An at- tendant upon the occasion states that the event, al- though a novel one in the township, was an exceed- ingly quiet one.
In March, 1827, the town was divided into road districts, the first being "two miles in width on the west side of the town and running a line through the town north and south parallel with the west line; the second running a north and south line through the town parallel with the east line; the third to in- clude the remainder of the town."
The road now known as the Brighton and Parma plank road was at an early day the Cleveland and Columbus turnpike, over which there was a vast amount of travel, and upon which, within the limits
499
PARM.A.
of Parma, there were four taverns. When William Henry Harrison was elected to the Presidency a band of his adherents in Cleveland mounted a canoe upon wheels, and escorted it over the turnpike to Co- lumbus, with much hilarious demonstration. When the procession reached the house of Asa Em- erson, in Parma, that worthy citizen, being an unflinching Democrat, was much disgusted with the Harrison display. Hle hastily hoisted one of his wife's red petticoats upon a broomstick, and marched defiantly alongside the big canoe, waving his flag and taunting the larrisonians until the latter were seriously angered, and he thought best to desist, lest they should resort to violence.
In April, 1827, one year after the township was organized, the treasurer reported that he had re- ceived in cash for road taxes in 1826 the sum of $16,84. and $11.38 in road certificates. The town- ship is believed to have been called Greenbrier before its organization on account of the abundance of that shrub in many places. York street was so named be- cause of the settlement along its line of a community from the State of New York.
As already stated, the township is a purely agri- cultural one. The only manufacturing enterprises of either early or late days were the following: William and Dudley Humphrey, who came to Parma from Connecticut in 1836, pursued for fifteen years, or until 1851, the manufacture of clock-cases, in which they set works procured from Connecticut. They then sold the clocks through the country, and dur- ing their residence in Parma they carried on quite an extensive business.
ORGANIZATION.
On the 7th of March, Greenbrier, which until then had been a portion of the civil township of Brooklyn. was formed into a separate township and given the name of Parma. The first township election was held on the first Monday in April, 1826, at the house of Samuel Freeman, on which occasion Asa Emerson, Jesse Nichols and David Adams were the judges of election; Peletiah Bliss and Oliver Emerson were the clerks. The officers chosen were Peletiah Bliss, town- ship clerk; Asa Emerson, Sammel T. Varney and David Adams, trustees; Benajah Fay and Jesse Nichols, overseers of the poor; John Hodgman and Benjamin Norton, fence-viewers: Peletiah Bliss, troas- urer: Asher Norton and Amos Hodginan, super- visors of highways; Peter Countryman, constable. 1 list of the persons who have served the township as trustees, clerks and treasurers, from organization to 1829, are given below.
1826. Trustees. Asa Emerson, Sam'IT. Varney, David Adams; clerk, Peletiah Bliss: treasurer, Peletiah Bliss.
1827. Trustees, Benajah Fay. Sam'l Freeman, Asher Norton; clerk, Lyndon Freeman; treasurer, David Adams.
1828. Trustees, Benajah Fay. Sam'l Freeman, Benjamin Norton ; clerk, David Adams; treasurer, Asa Fay.
18.9. Trustees, Asher Norton, David Adams, Oliver Emerson; clerk, Itumar Adams; treasurer, Jacob Country man.
1830. Trustees, Thos. Adams, Asa Emerson, Benjamin Norton; clerk, Oliver Emerson: treasurer, Jacob Countryman.
1831. Trustees, Sam'l Freeman, Asher Norton. Peter Countryman; clerk, Lyndon Freeman; treasurer, Benajah Fay.
1-32. Trustees, Asher Norton, Daniel Greene. Oliver Emerson; clerk, John S. Greene ; treasurer, Benajah Fay.
1833. Trustees, Benjamin Norton, John Wheeler, Oliver Emerson ; clerk, Reuben Emerson; treasurer, Benajah Fay.
1434. Trustees, Reuben Hurlburt, Dudley Roberts, Rufus Scovill; clerk, O. J. Tuttle; treasurer, Benajalı Fay.
1435 Trustees, Benjamin Norton, Reuben Hurlburt, B. Snow; clerk, Reuben Emerson; treasurer, Jos. W. Kilboru.
1836. Trustees, Barzilla Snow, Reuben Hurlburt, David Clark; clerk, Lyndon Freeman: treasurer, John A. Ackley.
1-37. Trustees, David Clark, Reuben Hurlburt, Jeremiah Toms; clerk, Reuben Emerson; treasurer, Lewis Reynokls.
198 Trustees, David Clark, Reuben Hurlburt, Alfred Cleveland; clerk, Henry K. Freeman; treasurer, Oliver Emerson.
1839. Trustees, Sam'l S. Ward, David Clark, Moses Fowls; clerk, Asa Emerson, Jr. ; treasurer, Oliver Emerson.
1840. Trustees, John J. Bigelow, ('has, Stroud, James Walling; clerk, F. F. Cogswell; treasurer, Reuben Hurlburt.
1841. Trustees, Reuben Hurlburt, I. J. Lockwood, Wm. Humphrey ; clerk, Jas. M. Brown; treasurer, David Clark.
1442. Trustees, Reuben IIurlburt, I. J. Lockwood; clerk, F. F. Cogs- well; treasurer, David Clark.
1443. Trustees, Reuben Hurlburt, Barzilla Snow, Lewis Roberts; clerk, Jas. M. Brown; treasurer, Stephen Potter.
1844. Trustees, Asher Norton Almanza Roberts, Moses Fowl; clerk, F. F. Cogswell; treasurer, John J. Bigelow.
1815. Trustees, Isaac Burnham, Almanza Roberts, Alfred Cleaveland: clerk. F. F. Cogswell; treasurer, Reuben Emerson.
1446. Trustees, Dudley S. Humphrey, Bela Norton Barzilla Snow: clerk, Jas. M. Cogswell; treasurer, Ollver Emerson.
1447. Trustees, Asher Norton, D. S. Humphrey, Moses Fowl: elerk, Jas. M. Cogswell; treasurer, Oliver Emerson,
1818. Trustees. Philip Henninger, Almanza Roberts, I. J. Lockwood; clerk, Jas. M. Cogswell; treasurer, Oliver Emerson.
1-49. Trustees. Moses Fowl, David Clark, Daniel Stephan; clerk, Jas. M. Cogswell; treasurer, Jas, M. Brown.
1450. Trustees, Jas. M. Cogswell, Almanza Roberts, Philip Heninger; clerk, Palmer Snow ; treasurer, David Clark.
1831. Trustees, Philip Heninger, Alfred Cleaveland; clerk, Palmer Snow: treasurer, Moses Fowl.
15.2. Trustees, Wm. C. Warner, G. Wangelin, Almanza Roberts; clerk, Palmer Snow ; treasurer, Moses Fowl.
1-53. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, Philip Heninger, Levi Bartholemew ; clerk, F. F. Cogswell: treasurer, Moses Fowl.
1454. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, Asher Norton, Cyrus Ingersoll; clerk F F. Cogswell; treasurer, Oliver Emerson.
1855. Trustees, Oliver Emerson, John Mead, Philip IIeninger; clerk, Palmer Snow; treasurer, J. W. Fay.
1836. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, Philip Heninger, Edward Eggleston ; clerk, Palmer Snow; treasurer, Jeremiah W. Fay.
1857. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, Philip Heninger, Edward Eggleston; clerk, Jas. M. Cogswell; treasurer, Mareus A, Brown.
1858, Trustees, Almanza Roberts, Edward Eggleston, Henry Kuntz; clerk, Jas. M. Cozswell; treasurer, Lewis Roberts.
1859. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, Henry Kuntz, Reuben Gates ; clerk, Asa Emerson; treasurer, John A. Ackley.
1460. Trustees, Oliver Emerson, Moses FowI, Philip Kline; clerk, Asa Emerson; treasurer, Cyrus Ingersoll.
1461. Trustees, Wm. Redrup Henry Kuntz, Jas. M. Brown; clerk, A. McArthur; treasurer, Jacob A. Stroud.
1862. Trustees, Marcus A. Brown, Chas. Umstaeter, E. M. Norton; clerk, Edward Eggleston: treasurer, Jacob A. Stroud.
1-63. Trustees, Thos. Davis, Lewis Schwab, Erhart Geiger; clerk, Edward Eggleston ; treasurer, Cyrus Ingersoll.
1864. Trustees, David Clark, Henry Kuntz, Erhart Geiger; clerk, Ed- ward Eggleston; treasurer, Moses Fowl.
1865. Trustees, Leonard Snow, Marcus A. Brown, Oliver Emerson: clerk. Edward Eggleston; treasurer, John A. Ackley.
1866. Trustees, Leander Snow, Chas. J. Pond, Jacob Wetzel; clerk, Jas. M. Cogswell; treasurer, Cyrus Ingersoll.
1865. Trustees, Henry Deutzer, Jas. M. Brown Jacob Hoffman; clerk Asa Emerson; treasurer, J. W. Fay.
1868. Trustees, Henry Deutzer, Leander Snow, Edward Brainard; clerk, Asa Emerson; treasurer, J. W. Fay.
1869. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, O. F. Nichols. Henry Deutzer ; clerk, Theo. M. Towl; treasurer, Lewis Clark.
1870. Trustees, Almanza Roberts, W. J. Marshal, II. Deutzer: clerk, Theo. M. Towl; treasurer, John Hobbs.
1871. Trustees, Leander Snow Almanza Roberts, Jacob Wetzel; clerk. R. N. Hodgman; treasurer, John Hobbs.
172. Trustees, J. J. Bigelow, H. Deutzer, J. Hobbs; clerk, T. M. Towl; treasurer, O. F. Nicholas.
1473. Trustees, John Hobbs, Wm. Rederup, Philip Unkrich : clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, O. F Nicholas.
500
THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
1874. Trustees, Henry Kuntz, Asa Emerson, Ralph James; clerk. S B. Ingersoll: treasurer, Chas, Stearns.
1875. Trustees, Jacob Wetzel, Wm. Redrup, Philip Unkrich; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, John Hobbs.
1876. Trustees, Christ. Tanber, Madison Robb, Conrad Foster: clerk S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, John Hobbs,
1877. Trustees, H. Deutzer, C. Tauber, A. MeArthur; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll; treasurer, John Hobbs.
1874, Trustees, Wm. Wagner. II. Krather, O. S. Emerson; clerk, S. B. Ingersoll: treasurer, Philip Kleiu.
1879. Trustees, Philip Unkrich, Chas. Forochner, O. S Emerson: clerk, S. B Ingersoll: treasurer, E. D. Cogswell.
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
The first sermon heard in Parma was delivered in 1823, at the house of Asa Emerson, by Rev. Henry Hudson, of Royalton, a Baptist minister. Mr. Ind- son was also a doctor, and having been called to at- tend at the birth of a daughter of Mr. Emerson, on a Saturday, he remained, and preached a sermon on the following day. A hasty notice was sent out, and the inhabitants gathered in full force at Mr. Emer- son's house, and were refreshed with a renewal of their earlier religious experiences. Mr. Hudson preached in Parma quite often after that, and, as the early settlers in that township were principally Bap- tists, he never lacked hearers. Besides Mr. Hudson, Rev. Mr. Jackson, of Wooster, also preached to the Baptists of Parma, and although thus it will be seen that the Baptists were the only ones who enjoyed carly religious worship in Parma, and yet, somewhat curiously, no church of that denomination was ever organized there.
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized about 1830, in the southeast corner of the township, with but a handful of members, among whom were David Pond, John Johnson, J. W. Kilburn, Alfred Cleveland and Moses Ware with their wives. David Pond was the first deacon, and Moses Ware the first elder. In 1839 there was a great revival when forty persons were added to the membership, which rose in that year to sixty. Among the early preachers were Elders Ran- dall and Walker, the latter of whom was the leading spirit in the revival just mentioned. The organiza- tion never owned a church-building, but used a school-house as a place of worship. Toward 1864, the membership grew small by degrees, and the church was dissolved in that year.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first Presbyterian Church of Parma was or- ganized as a Congregational Church November ", 1835, with fourteen members, as follows: Samuel. Sarah, Sarah B. and Celinda Freeman, James M. Cogswell, Beulah G. Adams, Catherine Ann Ferrell, Mary HI. Cogswell, Descom and Susan Chapin. Frederick and Harriet Cogswell, Catherine Ferrell and Arvin Kennedy. The first clerk was Frederick F. Cogswell, and the first eklers, Samnel Freeman, James M. Cogswell and Deseom Chapin. At the first niceting it was resolved " not to take for a member
any person who is a dealer in, or manufacturer, of ardent spirits."
On the 10th of January, 1836, the Lord's Supper was administered by Rev. B. B. Drake. The first minister was Rev. Benjamin Page, who agreed to give half his time for 8400 a year. After Mr. Page, the ministers were Revs. V. D. Taylor, Phineas Kingsley, C. B. Stevens, J. D. Jenkins, - Edwards and others. The membership in 1842 was thirty-seven and in 1844 it was forty. In August, 1879, it was thirty-six. The church, although Congregational was attached to the presbytery of Cleveland from the outset, and in April, 18:4, it changed entirely to the Presbyterian denomination.
Public worship was held in a township school-house until 1841, when the editice now used, was erected. The church has had no ordained minister for several ycars, being in 1879, supplied by Rev. Anson Smythe. The elders in that year were William J. Marshall, Jacob Bailey and William Cogswell.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH (REFORMED PROTESTANT).
This congregation (German) was organized in 1858, and in that year built a brick church which is still used. Previous to that date, beginning in 1853, Rev. Philip Stempel, of Brighton, had preached to the German Protestants of Parma occasionally, in school- houses.
At the building of the church, the trustees were Michael Hoag, Adam Hahn, George Bauer, and John lluber, the membership being then about twenty-tive. The membership in August, 1849, was forty-four. The pastor at that time was Rev. Mr. Kraus, and the trustees were George Bauer, William Keyser, Michael HIahn and Gottfried Klanzinger.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (GERMAN EVANGELICAL LU- THERAN. )
In 1867 a division took place in the congregation of the German Reformed Protestant church of Parma; a portion withdrawing and forming a separate church, of the Evangelical Lutheran denomination, and they built a house of worship in 1868. At that time the membership was thirty-five, but it has been declining latterly, and now numbers but twenty. The first trustees were Michael Meyer, John Koch, and Gott- leib Miller; the first minister was Rev. Mr. Fnehr. Rev. Paul Littke is the present minister. The trus- tees are John Koch, Michael Meyer, and Christian Koch. The deacons are Andrew Hoag, John Sharp and Deitrich Busch.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY (GERMAN CATHOLIC. )
Rev. Father Quigley commenced in 1872 to hold Catholic religious services at the house of Conrad Rohrbach in Parma, and at the close of that year the congregation included eleven families. In 1873 a church edifice was built upon a lot adjoining Mr. Rohrbach's residence, and there the Catholics of Par- ma have since worshiped. Conrad Rohrbach was the first trustee, and still serves as trustee, as does John
501
ROCKPORT.
Gehring. Following Father Quigley as priests, were Rev. Fathers O'Brien, Kuhbler, Zampiel and Fide- lius-the latter of whom is the present incumbent, and holds services once a fortnight. The average at- tendance numbers seventeen families.
SCHOOLS.
The first school taught in Greenbrier was conducted by Samuel Freeman, in his own house, during the winter of 1825. There Mr. Freeman taught his own children-of whom there were not a few-and those of such settlers as deemed book education one of the necessities of life. Parma's first school teacher was a well-educated man for those days, and he so trained his children that after him three of them, Sammuel, Jr., Lawrence and Lyndon also became school teachers.
The first school district in the township was set off in May, 1826. In this district was Benajah Fay, Sans- nel Freeman, Thomas Adams, John Hodgman, Amos Hodgman. Joseph Small, Peter Countryman, Asa Em- erson, Jesse Nichols and Peletiah Bliss,
The second school district was set off in December, 1826, in the northeast part of the township, At the same time the southeast corner of the township was made a portion of the fourth school district of Brecks- ville, and contained Benjamin and Asher Norton and Nelson Scovill. In 1829 Parma was divided into nine school districts, in which the number of school children, between the ages of six and sixteen, was three hundred and ninety. The amount appropriated for school purposes in that year was $2,000.
POST OFFICE.
Samuel Freeman was Parma's first postmaster; af- ter him the office was held successively by William Humphrey, Oliver Emerson and Harry Humphrey. Oliver Emerson was then appointed to a second term, and has been the incumbent ever since.
CHAPTER LXXXIII. ROCKPORT.
Boundaries and Surface-Detroit Street-Rocky River - Early Settle- ment John Harbertson- Philo Taylor-The First Road-Damel Miner -George Prake Dr. Turner A Sad Misfortune-Datus Kelley and Others-The Alger Settlement Rufus Wright Henry Clark and Others-Joseph Dean's Tannery Burning of Mills James Nicholson -Mars Wagar Eliel Farr-Price French-David Harrington-Jona- than Parshall First Death, Birth and Marriage-First Justice -- In- dians A Great Bear Hunt-An Early Temperance Pledge-Nineteen Voters to Eighteen Officers-First Bridge-A Slender Outfit Going to Michigan to Mill Granger City Joseph Larwill-Henry Canfield --- Township Organization-The First Voters-First Officers-List of Principal Officers Post Offices Rockport Methodist Church-The Baptist Church- First Congregational Church Free Will Baptist Church-Rocky River Mission-First New Jerusalem Church Detroit Street Methodist Church-St. Patrick's Church-German Evangelical Church -- German Methodist Church-Church of the Ascension-St. Mary's Church -Schools-Detroit Street Special District-The Rest of the Township Rockport Christian Temperance Union-The Temper- ance Sunday School-The Fruit Interest-Burial Places-Railways- Manufactures.
ROCKPORT, one of the northern townships of Cuy- ahoga county, is number seven in range fourteen, in
* The early expeditions through Rockport and the wreck of Brad- street's expedition in that township are narrated in the forepart of the general history of the county.
the survey of the Western Reserve, and lies upon the sonthern shore of Lake Erie. It contains twenty-one full sections of a mile square each, and four fractional sections, the size of which is reduced by the lake. The township is bounded on the north by Lake Erie; on the south by Middleburg township; on the east by Brooklyn, and on the west by Dover.
The surface of the country is level and the soil is generally productive, especially along the lake shore, where a rich fruit belt contributes largely to the wealth and prosperity of the township. South of that belt, fruit is also considerably cultivated but general farming is more largely followed, and with very profitable results. As a rule, the farmers are intelli- gent, thrifty and prosperous, their well cultivated and well appointed farms showing their success in life; while their handsome dwellings-which in very many cases might properly be called elegant-testify to the taste as well as the prosperity of the owners.
Detroit street, as the extension of that street into Rockport is commonly called, follows the lake shore from the township line to Rocky river, an avenue of more than ordinary pretensions, and is also a drive much frequented by the citizens of Cleveland. Bor- dering it on either side are numerous handsome and costly suburban residences, set in the midst of taste- fully kept grounds, and presenting on a summer day in connection with the smiling tields, the numerous patches of woodland and the broad expanse of the lake, a scene of beauty seldom surpassed.
Rocky river, a rugged but shallow stream, flows through Rockport from the southern line near the southwestern corner in an exceedingly crooked course to the lake, passing nearly the whole distance between high and abrupt embankments, which at the river's mouth are handsomely wooded, and present a very picturesque appearance, Here also, in summer, peo- ple from Cleveland daily resort in large numbers, to enjoy the beauties of nature and to rejoice in the invigorating breezes which are wafted landward over the billowy bosom of Lake Erie.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white person to settle in the township of Rockport (so goes an old record by Henry Alger, him- self a settler in Rockport in 1812) was John Harbert- son (or Harberson), an Irish refugee, who, with his family, located in the spring of 1809 upon the cast side of Rocky river near its mouth. In the same year, and about the same time, Wm. MeConley, who came over from Ireland with Harbertson, settled in Rockport upon a place now known as Van Scoter bottom. Neither Harbertson nor MeConley tarried long in their new homes, whence they removed about 1810; Harbertson going to Huron county, where he resided until his death.
In 1808, Philo Taylor, who had moved from New York to Cleveland in 1806, agreed with Harmon Can- field and Elisha Whittlesey, as agents and owners of land in what is now Rockport, to locate in that town-
502
THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
ship. On the 10th of April in that year he landed with his family from an open beat at the month of Rocky river. He selected a place on the east side of the river opposite the site of the Patchen House, put up a cabin and began a clearing. By 1809 he had effected material improvements there. At that time, Mr. Canfield, who had verbally agreed that Taylor should have the place, informed him that he would have to select some other spot, since it had been de- cided by the proprietors to lay out a town near the month of the river, and that the lot originally selected by Taylor would be wanted for that purpose. At this Mr. Taylor became exceedingly wroth. He sold his improvements to Daniel Miner, launched a curse against the mouth of Rocky river, and removed with his family to Dover.
U'ntil 1809 there was no highway between Cleve- land and the Huron river, that whole region being an almost unbroken wilderness. In that year the Jegis- lature made an appropriation for a public road be- tween these points, and selected Ebenezer Merry, Nathaniel Doan and Lorenz . Carter to superintend the work. This road crossed Rocky river near its mouth, and was the only one west of Cleveland until 1814 or 1815. Daniel Miner, who bought out Philo Taylor in 1809, came from Homer, New York, in that year and occupied Taylor's old improvements. In 1812 he began to build a mill upon what is still known as the "mill lot." Before it was completed Miner died, in February, 1813. Despite of Canfield's sangnine expectations, the Taylor lot was never em- ployed as a part of the proposed town which indeed never existed save on paper. Miner kept a tavern and a ferry there in 1811. He shortly afterward hought out Harbertson on the same side of the river, and kept tavern in his old house in 1812.
In 1809 the public highway, above referred to, being completed to Rocky river, one George Peake, a mu- latto, and his family were the first to pass over it in a wagon, by which they journeyed from Cleveland to Rocky river, locating on the place lately owned by John Barnum. Peake had been a soldier in the Brit- ish army, and was in General Wolf's command at the taking of Quebec. Locating in Maryland he had married a black woman reputed to have owned "a half bushel of dollars." Ile had settled with her in Pennsylvania, had raised a family of children, and when he moved to Rockport was accompanied by two grown sous-George and Joseph: two others-James and Henry-following soon after. The Peakes in- trodneed an improvement in the form of a hand grist- mill, which was exceedingly well liked by the few settlers, as grinding had previously been accom- plished by means of the " stump mortar and spring- pole pestle." George Peake died in September, 1827, at the great age of one hundred and five.
In 1811 Doctor John Turner, a brother-in-law of Daniel Miner, came from the State of New York and located on the farm afterwards owned by Governor Wood. Two years afterward, while the doctor and
his wife were away from home, their residence was burned to the ground and their two children were destroyed with it. After this calamity the family removed to Dover. While the Turners lived in Rock- port the newcomers were Jeremiah Van Scoter, John Pitts, Datus Kelley and Chester Dean' a brother-in- law of Kelley. Van Scoter located upon the place now known as Van Scoter's bottom, and after re- maining a year removed to Huron county. Mr. Kelley occupied the place now owned by George Merwin. In 1834, with his brother Tra, he bought the now famous Kelley Island.
On the 4th of June, 1812, Nathan Alger, with his wife and sons-Henry, Herman, Nathan, Jr., and Thaddeus P .- and his son-in-law, John Kidney, all from Litchfield county, Conn., settled upon sections twelve and thirteen, and founded what is to this day known as the Alger settlement. Two days later, Benjamin Robinson, afterwards son-in-law of Nathan Alger, came in from Vermont and took up a place in that settlement. Nathan Alger, Sr., died January 21, 1813, being the first white person who died in the township. Samuel Dean, with his sons Joseph and Aaron W., moved into the township in 1814. Sam- nel Dean died in 1840, aged 85; his son Chester died in 1855; Ilorace B. Alger and Dver Nichols came in during the fall of 1812.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.