USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 126
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The only village is Royalton Center, which is a small place, but is very picturesquely located. Agri- cultural and dairy products are the support of the people, and they furnish a good subsistence. Excel- lent building stone is found in at least two quarries, but the lack of railway facilities limits the stone mar- ket to a cirenit near home.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white settlement upon the territory of Royalton was made in 1811 by a Mr. Clark, who, after making a clearing, brought his family in and located upon section twenty-five, in the southeastern corner of the township, on a tract now occupied by II. A. C'arter. a son of Clark's widow by her marriage to Lewis Carter. Clark must have died within a few years after making a settlement. for in 1816 Carter married the widow and took up his residence on the Clark place. Lorenzo-a son born of this latter union-was the first white male child born in the township.
On the 2d of June, 1816, Robert Engle with his family and his father-in-law, John Shepard, arrived from the State of New York and settled upon section fourteen, about a half mile south of the center. This was the first settlement after Clark's, whose family remained for five years the only white occupants of the township. Mr. Engle's father-in-law, Mr. John Shepard, had served in his youth as an attendant on a French officer at the time of the Braddock campaign and was present at the memorable defeat of that gen- eral. lle claimed to be eighty-seven years old when he moved to Royalton with Robert Engle, at whose house he died in 1842. The inseription upon his tombstone fixes his age at one hundred and eighteen years, nine months and eighteen days. Robert Engle, who was famous as a hunter and trapper, died in Roy-
alton. One of his daughters married Simeon Enos, who lives upon the old place.
Thomas and Henry Francis, brothers, settled in 1816 on adjoining farms a half mile north of the cen- ter. The Francis brothers lived in Royalton useful and honored men and died on the farms where they had first settled. Rhoda Francis, born in 1816, was the first white child to see the light of day in Royal- ton.
In December, 1816, John Coates (popularly known in Royalton as Unele Jacky Coates), settled with his family upon section twenty-one, where he built at first a house of round logs, which he replaced a year or so afterward with a double log house. The latter was put up by Boaz Granzer, who took his pay in land. Mr. Coates, who came from Geneseo, New York, owned about thirty-five hundred aeres of land in Royalton, which is yet known as the Coates' tract, and which he sold out as settlers required.
The house built by Granger for Coates was the first one in the township supplied with a cellar, and was regarded as an eminently aristocratic mansion. Mr. Coates' son, John, came out with his father, and in the following spring another son, Charles, also came with his family. Catharine (daughter of John Coates, Jr .. ) was the second female child born in Royalton, where she still lives as Catharine Teachout.
In 1812, Jonathan Bunker, from the State of New York, located upon section eleven, where he had re- ceived a tract of one hundred and fifty aeres from Gideon Granger in exchange for one of fifty aeres near Palmyra, New York, his former home.
Mr. Bunker belonged to a historical family which gave its name to the celebrated Bunker Hill. Two of his uneles had also participated in the battle fought on Breed's Ilill. to which the former name has been given, where one was killed and the other wounded.
Ephraim Moody, a neighbor in New York, aecon- panied Bunker to the West. The journey was made in a sleigh drawn by a pair of horses, of which each owned one. Moody stopped short of Royalton, leav- ing Bunker to go on alone. The latter reached his newly acquired property in the morning, and by night he had put up a shanty. During the following eight months he labored there alone, clearing and cultivat- ing his land, and when at the end of that time his family came out, they found a comfortable log house and erops well advanced.
Mr. Bunker, during his solitary experience, used to be frequently troubled by wild beasts, and more than once his shanty, which was always open, re- ceived maranding visits from bears. He was, how- ever, a fearless man, and far from being frightened away by the bears and wolves; be hnuted and trapped them with great success. He was an expert ropemaker, and for some time, during his early days in Royalton, supplied Cleveland with about all the white rope used there. For its manufacture he used flax raised upon his farm, and also hemp purchased from Mr. Wed- dell, of Cleveland. Mr. Bunker also had a nursery
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ROYALTON.
of four hundred apple trees, from which many of the present orchards of Royalton were supplied. He had a family of nine children, and died in 1844, aged eighty-two.
Channeey A. Stewart settled in the antumin of 1816 upon section four, the place being now owned by his son, T. II. Stewart, Mr. Stewart was a famous hunter and trapper, and one may still hear many stories of his adventurous exploits in search of bears and other large game. John Ferris settled in the township in Deeem er, 1816, and about the same time Solomon and Elias Keys, both from the State of New York. became members of the new commu- nity.
Boaz Granger, of whom mention has already been made, came out in 1812. He was a neighbor of Jonathan Bunker in New York, and when he came to Royalton, boarded awhile at the house of the latter. As before stated, he purchased land of John Coates on section eleven, and in part payment built him a house and barn, the latter structure being the first framed building erected in Royalton.
In the summer of 1812 Samuel Stewart settled upon the State road on seetion fifteen, where his son. lohn B. Stewart, now lives. The latter. now aged eighty-eight, has always been one of the most promi- nent men in the township, and in his old age, looks with satisfaction upon the record of a busy and honorable life. He was a land surveyor in his younger days, and for many years was the agent of Gideon Granger for his Royalton land. He was the tirst clerk of Royalton, was chosen a justice of the peace, with Lewis Carter, in August, 1819, and long served the township in various public capacities. Mr. Stewart is the only one now living of those who voted at the first township election, in ISIs.
In the winter of 1812 and spring of 1818, the settlement was very decidedly increased by the arrival of Eliphalet Towsley. David Sprague, Francis How, Abial Cushman, - Warren, Parley Austin, John Smith, Israel Sawyer, David Hier, - - Claflin, - llayes, Knight Sprague and Benjamin Boyer. Towsley settled in the southwest, where his son James had a short time before made a clearing. James re- turned to New York after his father came, and attended school a year. He then came back to Roy- alton and settled near the center, but subsequently removed to Brooklyn, where he died in Ist9. Eliph- alet Towsley resided in Royalton until his death.
David and Kmght Spragne, brothers, were from Royalton, Vermont. Knight Sprague was blind, having, it is said, lost his sight while working as a blacksmith in the east. Ile was, however, a remark- ably energetic man, and was thought by his neigh- bors to be able to discern the situation of objects almost as well as many who were blessed with perfect eyes. Ile built the first town-hall owned by Royal- ton, took an active part in all affairs of the time, and died on the place on which he first settled. An carly township record sets forth the fact that Mr.
Sprague was chosen fence-viewer in 1821, but how the blind man managed to "view " the fences the record fails to state. David Sprague settled upon section five, whenee he afterwards removed to Middle- burg. where he died.
John Smith was also from Vermont, and located on section seven. He was killed in 1823 by the fall of a tree. John Hier and his brother David located near the Strongsville line. The former died in Hinckley and the latter upon his farm at Bennett's Corners.
In 1818 the newcomers inelnded Henry Hudson, a doctor, farmer and Baptist preacher, James Baird. Asa and Samuel Norton, Kersina and John Watkins, Smith Ingersolls and O. C. Gordon. Mr. Baird, who was one of Jonathan Bunker's neighbors in New York, married the oldest daughter of the latter and located on section eleven. adjoining Bunker's place. He afterward moved a mile farther south, and abont 1821 went to Lorain county.
Settlements began to be made at the center about 1821. in which year Royal Tyler opened a store in a ten by twelve log-house. He afterward removed to Brooklyn, and was succeeded in the store by his brother Benjamin, who also practiced the healing art. He now resides in Brooklyn.
William and James Towsley were early settlers at the center. as was also a Mr. Bostwick. Kersina and John Watkins located near the center, but the former soon died, and the latter then moved out of the township. Asa Norton bought land of John Coates on section twelve, and paid for it by daily labor. The only time he could devote to his own farm was the nights and the Sundays, and these he never failed to use to the utmost extent possible.
Samuel Norton who was a teamster at times between Cleveland and Medina, settled upon section eleven. Both Nortons resided in Royalton until they died. Smith Ingalls lived on a farm adjoining David Spragne's, and there died after a well spent and active life. He was the first postmaster in Royalton, and frequently served in township offices.
" York " street was laid out about 1828, when one Briggs and William Ferris built there, followed a year or two afterward by William Gibson, John Mar- eellus, Page Claflin, John Tompkins, James Bunker and George Abrams, Samuel Gibson built a steam sawmill in the west, and not long afterward William Thomas and James Goss built another one in that vieinity, the presence of a belt of fine timber making the timber business quite profitable. Harvey Edgar- ton built a steam sawmill in the south-east, about 1830, at which time that part of the township first began to receive settlers to any extent. The earliest residents there were Sardis and Harvey Edgarton, Barton Brown, Mr. Akins, John Edgarton, Lewis Miller, Otis Billings and others. Abner S. Beales settled in 1821 near the Center, next to Robert Engle. He lived there four years, and in 1825 removed to Parma.
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THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
The first marriage in Royalton was that of Asa Nor- ton to Lovey Bunker. The ceremony, which was per- formed by " Squire " J. B. Stewart, was the maiden effort in that line of the newly-chosen justice.
Going to mill in the pioneer days was a disagreea- ble necessity, for there were none nearer than Vaughn's log gristmill, where Berea now stands, and the way to it was through a dense wilderness. Free- man Bunker, now a resident of Royalton, related how, when a boy, he used occasionally to set out for Vaughn's mill with three bushels of corn across his horse's back. By a peculiar arrangement, the like of which we have never observed before in the history of pioneer milling, Vaughn always went himself, or sent somebody, half way to meet such persons as had noti- fied him that they would have a grist for his mill. Young Bunker used to send the requisite notice be- forehand, and then, after struggling through the ( woods and underbrush to the place where he expected to meet Vaughn, would call out loudly, when the worthy miller would usually appear and take the grist away with him. Sometimes, however, owing to the vague character of the road, the lad or the miller failed to find the appointed spot, when the former would be compelled to roam around the woods a long time before finding the other end of this singular transportation line.
Mr. Bunker relates that he was frequently followed by wolves during his trips to the mill and elsewhere, and that troops of them were common spectacles; but the craven creatures never made serious onslanghts save upon such small game as happened to be exposed to their attacks. Bear hunts, organized upon an ex- tensive plan, occasionally called nearly all the resi- dents of the township into service, but excursions after deer, turkeys, etc., were too common to attract any attention.
It is said that there was not a single framed dwell- ing house in Royalton, until 1822, when Jonathan Bunker erected one. The first Fourth of July cele- bration was held in 1821, and was attended by the usual jollification customary on such events at that day. Francis How is said by some to have kept at the eenter the first tavern opened in Royalton, but this opinion is disputed by others, who claim that the first Boniface was Charles Coates, who kept on the State road, on the site of Asper's hotel, north of the center.
ORGANIZATION.
Previous to 1818 Royalton was a part of the civil township of Brecksville, but on the 27th day of Octo- ber, 1818, the county commissioners ordered that " township number five, in range thirteen, be set off into a separate township with the name of Royalton." It is said that Knight Sprague, the blind man before mentioned, was anxious to name the township in honor of his own native town of Royalton, in Ver- mont; and it is further said that he paid a gallon of
whisky for the privilege, but to whom does not ap- pear. Doubtless it was distributed at a meeting of the " sovereigns " assembled to determine on a name.
The first township election was held at the house of Robert Engle, November 9, 1818, at which time the following officers were chosen: John B. Stewart, clerk; David Sprague, Francis How and Elias Keys, trustees; Benjamin Boyer, fence-viewer; Francis How and Elias Keys, appraisers of property; Robert En- gle and Elias Keys, supervisors of highways; Abial Cushman, constable; Chauncey A. Stewart, treas- nrer; Robert Engle and David Sprague were the judges of the elcetion, and Chauncey A. Stewart was the chairman. The first election for justices of the peace was held in 1819, when John B. Stewart and Sam'l Norton were chosen. The election was set aside, however, on the ground of illegality, and at a new election John B. Stewart and Lewis Carter were duly elected justices. Their commissions were dated August 10, 1819. We give herewith a list of the names of the persons who have served as trustees, clerks and treasurers of Royalton from its organiza- tion to 1819.
PRINCIPAL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
1818. Trustees, David Sprague, Francis How, Elias Keys; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, C. A. Stewart.
1819. Trustees, Lewis Carter, David Sprague, Jonathan Bunker; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, C. A. Stewart.
1820. Trustees, Israel Sawyer, Isaac Isham, Sam'l Norton, Jr .: clerk, J. R. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin.
1821. Trustees, Eliphalet Towsley, Israel Sawyer, James Bird; clerk, J. B Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin. 1822. Trustees, Jonathan Bunker, John Ferris, John Smith; clerk,
J. B. Stewart; treasurer. Parley Austin.
1×23. Trustees, Parley Austin, Francis How, Elias Keys: clerk, J. B. Stewart: treasurer. Parley Austin.
1×24. Trustees, Sam'l Norton, Ezra Leonard, C. A. Stewart; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin 1825. Trustees, Boaz Granger, Ezra Leonard, Smith Ingalls; clerk,
J. B. Stewart; treasurer, Parley Austin.
1826. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, Ezra Leonard, Jolm Ferris; clerk, J. B. Stewart : treasurer, P. Austin. 1827. Trustees, Wm. Teachout, Jas. Towsley, John Watkins; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, John Watkins. 1824. Trustees, Jas. Towsley, Smith Ingalls, James W. Will: clerk, John B. Stewart; treasurer, Thos. Francis,
1829. Trustees, Wm. Teachout, Edward Scofield, Smith Ingalls; clerk, John Coates 3rd; treasurer, Thomas Francis.
1-30 and 1831. Trustees, Edward Scofield, W. D. Eastman, R. K. Towsley ; clerk, J. B. Stewart: treasurer, Thos. Francis.
1832. Trustees. C. Brunson, Wm. Teachout, Zara Sarles; clerk, J. B. Stewart; treasurer, John B. Davis.
1×33. Trustees, Francis Ilow, John Coates, Jr., Isaac Isham, Jr .; clerk, James Towsley : treasurer, John B. Davis.
1834. Trustees, John Coates, Jr., Ebenezer Bostwick, John B. Stew- art; clerk, Jas. Towsley; treasurer, John B. Davis.
1835. Trustees, O. C. Gordon, Harvey Edgarton, Eliphalet Towsley; clerk, James Towsley ; treasurer, Francis How.
1836 and 1837. Trustees, O. C. Gordon, Harvey Edgarton, J. B. Stew- art; clerk, Jas. Towsley ; treasurer, John B. Davis.
1838. Trustees, J. B. Stewart. O. C. Gordon, William Teachout; clerk, Jas. Towsley ; treasurer, John B. Davis.
1839. Trustees, J. B. Stewart, Robert Wilkinson,[Wm. Teachout ; clerk, Jas. Towsley : treasurer, O. C. Gordon.
1840. Trustees, Wm. Teachout, J. B. Stewart, Smith Ingalls; clerk. Eliphalet Towsley : treasurer, O. ('. Gordon.
1841. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, John Coats, Francis Bark ; clerk, Eliph- alet Towsley ; treasurer, O. C. Gordon.
1842. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, Edwin Wilcox, Wm. Ferris; clerk, Eliph- alet Towsley ; treasurer, O. C. Gordon.
1843. Trustees, Edwin Wilcox, Zara Sarles, Wm. Ferris; clerk, Eliph- alet Towsley; treasurer, H. M. Munson.
1844. Trustees, Zara Sarles. Daniel A. Minor, Wm. Towsley; clerk, James Towsley ; treasurer, Lewis How.
1845. Trustees, Parley Austin, Rowley Leonard, Joseph Teachout; clerk, James Towsley; treasurer, Edwin Wilcox.
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ROYALTON.
1846. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, Win D. Eastnido, Win. Teachout : clerk, Charles Teachout : treasurer. Lewis How.
1447. Trustees, Win. D. Eastman, Wm. Ferris, Asa Varney: clerk, A. Teachont: treasurer, L. How.
145. Trustees, Smith Ingalls, James Towsley, S. M. Wilcox: clerk. Joseph Smith: treasurer, Lewis How.
1-49. Trustees, James Towsley, Zara Sarles, Edwin Wilcox: clerk, Joseph Smith: treasurer, Lewis How.
1×50. Trustees. Robert Wilkinson, Rufus D. Gibson, Thomas Bark : clerk, Joseph Smith; treasurer, Lewis How.
11. Trustees. Robert Wilkinson, Francis P Howe, O. H. Graves: clerk. Joseph Smith: treasurer. Lewis How.
1-2. Trustees, Henry Aiken, Norman A. Graves, Thomas Meacher; clerk. Joseph Smith: treasurer, Lewis How.
1853. Trustees. Robert Wilkinson. Thos. B. Coats, Wm. Ferris: clerk' James Towsley, treasurer. Arenzo Sarles.
154 Trustees, Robert Wilkinson, Henry Akin, T. B. Coates: clerk. Wm. Hodkinson: treasurer. Lewis How.
15. Trusters, Henry Akin, T. B. Coates, J Marcellus; clerk, Thomas Coates; treasurer, Wm. Sarles.
1856. Trustees, D. A. Miner, Sardis Edgarton, Wm. Ferris; clerk, Jas. Towsley : treasurer. Martin & Billings.
2 15. Trustees, Dan'l Miner, Sardis Edgarton, Robert Wilkinson ; clerk, Joesph South: treasurer, Martin S. Billings.
1-> Trustees, ardis Edgarton, Jolin Marcellus, James Ferris : clerk, Joseph Smith: treasurer, ames Towsley.
1859. Trustees, James Ferris, Sardis Edgarton, S. H. Stewart; clerk, Joseph Smith : treasurer, James Towsley.
1-2. Trustees, Charles Bangs, Edwin Wilcox, James Ferris; clerk, Joseph Smith, treasurer, James Towsley.
1wil. Trustees, John Tompkins, W. W. Stockman. Zara Sarles: clerk, Jus. Smith: treasurer. James Towsley
1862. Trustees, Jolin Tompkins, W W. Stockman, Zara Sarles; clerk, Jos. Smith: treasurer. O. C. Gordon
1843. Trustees, B. S. Tyler, John Tompkins, Ransom Walling: clerk, Jos. South: treasurer, O C Gordon.
1861 Trustees, B. S. Tyler, Stillman Tupper, Geo. Johnson; clerk, Jos Smith; treasurer, O. C. Gordon.
1865. Trustees, Chas. Bangs, Chas, Robinson, O. H. Claflin: clerk, Geo, S. Morrell; treasurer, L. S Sarles.
Isit. Trustees, Chas. Bangs, Chas, Robinson, O. II. Claflin; clerk,
J. M. Wilcox ; tre: surer, L. S. Sarles.
1967. Trustees, Orville Bangs, John Tompkins, Win. Ferris; clerk, M. G Billings, treasurer, L. S. Sarles. 1868. Trustees, John Tompkins, Thos. Bolton, Wm. Spencer; clerk, Faraum Gibbs: treasurer. L. S. Sarles.
19 and 1470. Trustees. T. S. Bolton, Simon Wilkinson, Hainlin Mil- ler: clerk. Farnum Gibbs: treasurer, L. S. Sarles.
1471. Trustees, Geo Matthews, G. II. Stewart, O. Taylor; clerk, Far- num Gibbs, treasurer, L. S. Sarles.
142. Trustees Geo. Matthews, G. H. Stewart, Oliver Taylor: clerk> A. K. Akin; treasurer, L. S. Sarles.
13. Trustees, George Matthews, G. H. Stewart, Wm. Tompkins: clerk, A. E. Akin : treasurer, L. S. Sarles.
1-74. Trustees, Geo. Matthews, Wm. Tompkins, Freeman Norten; clerk, Joseph Smith: treasurer, L. S. Sarles,
1825. Trustees, Oliver Taylor, Geo, Matthews, Freeman Norton ; clerk, Joseph Smith ; treasurer, L. S. Sarles.
1876. Trustees, Oliver Taylor, Geo, Matthews, Freeman Norton : clerk, A. E. Akin: trensurer, L. S. Sarles.
1877 and 1478. Trustees, Geo Matthews, Freeman Norton, Sardis Ed- garton, Jr .: clerk. JJoseph Smith, treasurer, Oliver Taylor.
1879. Trustees, Sardis Edgarton, Geo, Matthews, Joseph Turney: clerk, Joseph Smith: treasurer, Oliver Taylor.
POST OFFICE.
Down to 1825 the people of Royalton had to go to Cleveland for their mail, except that some of them bargained with J. W. Weld to bring their letters and papers to them for a small compensation-fifty cents weekly from each person thus served. In 1825 Smith Ingalls was appointed postmaster, but as he resided in the western part of the township. he deputized S. K. Greenleaf, living near the center, to transact the business. Since Mr. Ingalls' time the Royalton post- masters have been William Towsley, Tristram Ran- dall, Lorenzo Hopkins, W. W. Stockman, Charles W. Foster, S. W. Chandler, Lewis Granger, Joseph W. Smith, Charles Bangs, M. S. Billings. Byron Babcock
and Thomas Coates: the last named being the pres- ent incumbent.
ROYALTON CENTER.
Royalton Center. the only village in the township, occupies a pleasant and healthful elevation whence the eye has a very fine view of the surrounding coun- try. The village contains the town hall, three stores, three churches, an Odd Fellows' lodge. and a hand- some cemetery. A majority of the residents of the township do their trading at this point, and it is there- fore the seat of considerable business, while it is also made attractive by the presence of many elegant rural homes.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHI.
Rev. Henry Hudson, an early settler in Royalton, who was a doctor as well as a minister, was among the early preachers to the Baptists of Royalton. Prior to 18;8, the members of that denomination used to assemble frequently for prayer and other public de- votional exercises. In that year the First Baptist Church was organized. The first members were the following: Henry Hudson, Priscilla Hudson. James Teachont, William Dyke, Elizabeth Dyke, William, Lydia and John Teachout, Relief Austin, Merrick Rockwell and Clarissa Teachont. The first deacon was William Dyke.
The stone church at the center was the first one built, and was erected in 1850, services, previons to that time, having been held in school-houses and the town-house. Thomas Rederup. Francis Norton and John Edgarton were the building committee which superintended its erection. The church had a men- bership of forty-five.
Mr. Hudson was the pastor until his death, and served for a period of about twenty-five years-his annual salary rarely exceeding fifty dollars. There was a division in the church in 1838; and later, dur- ing Rev. Mr. Conley's time, a second one, but the organization is now prosperous, and contains sixty members. The pastor is Rev. S. S. Watkins.
FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
The early records of this church have been lost, and the date of its organization is fixed, therefore, by conjecture at about 1836.
Worship was tirst held at the Center, but in 1843 the location was changed to Coates' Corners. *
Public services were held there in a school-house until 1850, when, after a protracted discussion which had lasted several years, the present church-edifice was erected.
On the 1st of August, 1879, the church member- ship was thirty-eight. The pastor was Rev. J. II. Baldwin: the trustees were George Kendall and Fran-
* An entry upon the records under date of February 18, 1813, sets forth "that the brethren in Royalton met in monthly meeting, had a good time hut under some trials; recelved three members, J. Bunker. M. Varny and S. Horton, and moved the church down to Coates' Cor- ners."
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THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
cis Miner, and the deacons, George Kendall and Francis Bark.
THE DISCIPLE CHURCH.
In the year 1828 Ezra Leonard invited Mr. Hayden, a Disciple preacher, to visit Royalton and hold relig- ions services for the few of that faith who then re- sided there. Mr. Hayden responded promptly, and preached his first sermon in the house of John B. Stewart. Soon afterward Edward Scofield, formerly of the Baptist Church, moved into town, and with Mr. Hayden preached occasionally to the Disciples. Mr. Hayden preached in Mr. John Ferris' barn in June, 1829, and on that occasion baptized a number of converts.
In the autumn of 1829 a church organization was effected. The elders then chosen were Jewett M. Frost, John B. Stewart, Adin Dyke and William Buek. The deacons were Almon Eastman and Henry Bangs. The original membership of thirty has stead- ily increased until there are now one hundred and eight names on the roll. The elders in 1829 are Charles Johnson, Abel Bennet. William S. Greene and John B. Stewart, and the deacons are Clark Gibbs and Justin Bark. William Moody, of Lafay- ette, preaches to the congregation onee a fortnight. The society owns a handsome church editice at the center, and is in the enjoyment of decided prosperity.
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