History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 129

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

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 129

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).

The celebrated " Hinckley hunt" occurred in De- cember of this year, in which nearly all the men of Strongsville took part, but as there were also numer- ons participants from several other townships of Cuy- ahoga county, we have given a description of it in the general history.

The expenses of "running" the new township were very light, but the resources were still more meager. At the March meeting of the trustees in 1819, the expenditures for the past year footed up $16.50; the collections $8.30.

In the month just named occurred the first death in the colony, that of Stoughton Strong, at the age

of nineteen. The second was that of Polly, wife of Lyman Strong, who died on the 8th of May, 1819, at the age of twenty-one.

The newcomers of this year were Jonathan Pope and family, Ebenezer Wilkinson and family, Seth Bartlett and family, James Waite, Moses Fowle, David E. Hier, Luther, Samuel and Elijah Bosworth, Chester G. and Ezra Tuttle, Jr., John Colton and family, and Jeduthan Freeman and family.

During the summer a Methodist society was organ- ized at the house of Jonathan Pope, by Revs. Ira Eddy and Billings O. Plympton. The first traveling Methodist preachers were Revs. M. Goddard and Charles Waddell. The same season a log structure was erected at the center, designed to serve the triple purpose of town-house, school-house and meeting- honse. It was thus used for six years. In 1820 the first tavern was erected by J. S. Strong; a frame build- ing which is still used for that purpose at Strongsville Center. This was the first framed residence in the township.

Up to this time the people had generally got their grinding done at Vaughn's mill in Middleburg, or at lloadley's in Colombia. When these were dry the hungry citizens were compelled to travel as far as Tallmage, Chagrin river, or even Painesville, to procure the needed work. That enterprising pioneer, John S. Strong, now thought it time that his township should have a mill of its own. In the fall of 1820 he accordingly erected a gristmill on Rocky river, at the point now called Albion. E. Lyman was the mill- wright and A. J. Pope did the iron work. Thaddeus Lathrop (father of Mrs. Benjamin Tuttle) came from Middleburg and boarded the hands who worked on the mill, and was afterwards the first miller in the new structure. A sawmill was built about the same time as the gristmill.

During the season Timothy Clark brought on a stock of goods, small, but somewhat larger than those previously brought by J. S. Strong, E. Lyman and John Bosworth. All the three last named, and we believe Mr. Clark, sold their goods in their houses, as was the custom in early times almost everywhere. The other new arrivals for 1820 were Moses O. Ben- nett, Jesse Root, Benjamin Schofield, Cyrus Harlan and Nathan Britton and family.

Though the " llinekley hunt " had, to some extent, broken up one haunt of wild animals, they were still numerous throughout the woods. Venison was to be had for the shooting, while mutton was an almost impossible luxury, because the wolves were apt to get ahead of the butcher. Bears were by no means un- common, and occocasionally the unearthly scream of the panther was heard by the dwellers in the scattered cabins, causing every mother to look hastily around to see if all her children were safe from that fiercest of forest roamers.

It would seem, however, that the panther's yell could sometimes be imitated by less dangerous screamers. Mr. Abial Haynes relates how he and his

523

STRONGSVILLE.

father's family were startled one night by a dismal noise, which those who claimed to be experts declared to be the shriek of a panther. The next night the same sound was again heard not far from the cabin. Abial took his rifle and proceeded in the direction of the noise until he saw a pair of glaring eyes a short distance in front of him, about the right hight from the ground for a panther's head. Between these he aimed his rifle, tired, and the eyes dropped to the earth. Further examination the next morning dis- covered a big owl lying cold in death behind the log on which it had sat. It is possible that some other accounts, by belated travelers, of dismal shrieks and glaring eyes, would have had an equally harmless ending, if the supposel monster had been slain and examined.

The Indians frequently came during the first few years of settlement, and stopped a few weeks in tem- porary camps to hunt the game which abounded in the forest. Mr. Ilaines mentions the existence, at various times, ot a camp near Albion, another on " East Hill," and another larger one, which num- bered some fifty inmates, at Strongsville Center.

From one great pest of new countries the pioneers of Strongsville were comparatively free. There was much less sickness than is usnal during the period in which the wilderness is subjugated. There was a little ague along the banks of Rocky river, but the high, dry, rolling ground, of which the township is principally composed, was almost entirely free from this and other forms of sickness.

In 1821 or 22 J. S. Strong built a distillery near his mills, at what is now Albion. In the latter year occurred the death of Dr. B. B. Olds, the first phy- sician, who had meanwhile married a daughter of Mr. Strong. Rev. Luke Bower, the first resident minis- ter and school teacher, came this year, The same year Mr. Strong, having sold his property at Albion, proceeded to build another gristmill on Rocky river, nearly two miles cast of the center. There could hardly have been business enough for two gristmills in the thinly-settled township, but Mr. S. was of so enterprising a temperament that, as Mr. Haines says, " Ile couldn't keep still. He also built an ashery at the center, where he manufactured pot and pearl- ashes for many years.

In 1823 Ezra Tuttle, father of Benjamin Tuttle, now of Albion, came into the township: Benjamin, however, did not come till several years later. Eben- ezer Stone settled with his family a mile west of the center, one of the members being Marvin E. Stone, who is still living at Albion. Mr. Stone bought out Ebenezer Pomeroy, who had been there a year or two and was about the first settler west of the center. Curtis Stone also came about the same time; one of his sons being Walter F., since a judge of the su- preme court of Ohio.

Down to this time, as will have been observed, the settlement of the township had been quite rapid, and the proprietors thought they could safely raise the

price of the land from $3.00 to $5.00 per acre. But about the same period Congress perfected its system of surveys, and instead of selling land as before to wealthy men in large tracts, began offering it to every one in quarter-seetions at a dollar and a quarter an acre. Emigration to Strongsville quickly fell off be- fore this competition, and for several years was very light: the proprietors being at length compelled to reduce their prices to $2.00 per acre in order to sell their land. The number of residents qualified to vote for presidential electors must have been very small, for, according to the record, there were only twenty- four votes cast for those officers in 1824. Of these twenty-three were for Henry Clay and one for John Quincy Adams.

Food was now plentiful but grain was so low as hardly to pay for carrying it to market, Money was extremely scarce, and about the only means of obtain- ing it was by the sale of the " black salts" made by boiling down the ashes obtained in clearing the farms. Generally the " salts" were sold to be manufactured at Strong's ashery, but sometimes the farmers them- selves made them into pearlash. The Stones were about the only ones who made their salts into potash.

When made, the potash or pearlash had to be hauled to Cleveland. By this time the main road through the township, where the turnpike was after- wards made, had been ent out, but the others were mere paths through the woods, Even the main road was almost impassable through the low ground of Middleburg. When men went to Cleveland two gen- erally journeyed together so as to help each other through the bad places; each having two yoke of cat- tle, a sled or wagon, an axe, an angur, several days' provisions and a jug of whisky, as if he was starting on a campaign. Mr. M. E. Stone states that he has been four days making the fifteen miles to Cleveland and back. Two barrels of potash, holding from four to five hundred pounds cach, were considered a good load for two yoke of cattle. It brought at Cleveland from four to five dollars per hundred.

The first store in the township which occupied a separate building was established by Emory Strong about 1824. In 1825 the present framed town-house and school-house combined took the place of the old log building which had previously been used for that purpose.

Dr. Olds was succeeded within a year or two after his death by Dr. William Baldwin, who practiced at the center ten or twelve years. During this period the increase of population was moderate, there being eighty-nine householders in 1826.

There was plenty of friendliness among the pioneers, and newcomers were always cordially welcomed. When there was a log house to be raised nearly every man in the township would be on hand. After work- ing all day they would start off at night and travel two, three and four miles to their homes, lighted on their darksome paths by torches of hickory bark, which were found to be just the thing for holding

524

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

flame a long distance. Mr. Stone says a handful of hickory bark three feet long would last three miles.

When the people met in the school-house for "even- ing meeting," or spelling school, or singing-school, one might see a dozen or more long bunches of hick- ory bark, each neatly tied together, leaning against the wall. When the exercises were over, each pioneer gallant would light his rustic torch and set forth to escort his chosen fair one to her home, the flashing lights flinging fantastic shadows among the giant oaks and elms which shaded the forest pathways.

The wild beasts still roamed with great freedom close to the houses of the settlers, and numerons were the fatal shots fired at the deer, not only in their forest retreats but even in the edge of the clearings. Mr. M. E. Stone speaks of killing thirty or forty in a year. Other game afforded still more exeitement. Late in an afternoon in 1825, a she-bear and two cubs were seen crossing the road about half a mile south of the tavern at Strongsville Center. The news quickly spread from cabin to cabin, and in a brief time more than twenty men and boys were ont with rifles, shot- guns and occasionally an old revolutionary musket. hurrying along on the track of the devoted animals, while the woods rang with the voices more or less melodious of an equal number of dogs, of various breeds and sizes. The bears were moving at a leis- urely gait, and had only gone a short distance east from the road when the sounds of pursuit broke upon their cars. They hastened their movements, but the enbs were incapable of rapid traveling, and the old bear would not desert her young-and was herself given rather to waddling than to racing.

Just at dark they were overtaken abont a mile cast of the road. The oldl bear turned at bay and the dogs gave back from her savage teeth and Hereu- lean paws. But the foremost hunters speedily came up, leveled their guns, and in an instant the devoted mother lay stretched in death, Meanwhile one of the cubs had hurried away into the last darkening forest, and the other had elimed the most convenient tree. The former escaped from its enemies; the latter only postponed its fate. The hunters built a fire near the free, and stood guard by turns all night over- or rather under-the unfortunate cub. When daylight revealed his hiding-place among the branches he too was shot, and the citizens around had an opportunity of comparing the merits of old bear meat and young bear meat for several days afterwards,

By 1830, however, the deer and bear were becoming -parce. Some lingered for a few years longer, but by 1840 there was hardly one to be seen. If one ap- peared it was probably a strageler from the low grounds of Middleburg, where they stayed till a still later date. By 1830, the log houses of the first pio- neers had begun to be exchanged for frames, and in the course of the next decade the exchanges had gen- erally taken place, and the township had put on the general appearance of a civilized district.

By 1830 there was a small settlement at the lower

mill on Rocky river (since known as Albion), but there was yet no hotel or store there. Mr. M. E. Gallup, who came into town, a boy, in 1833, says that at that time Ebenezer Prindle was keeping tavern at Strongsville Center. Emory and Warner Strong were then selling goods on the corner and old Mr. Strong about the same time established a store in a new brick building.

Emigration was now brisk, and so was business of all kinds. These were the celebrated "flush times," when paper moner was issued in unlimited quantities, by irresponsible banks, and everybody appeared to expect to get rich in a few months. About 1834 Benjamin Northrop, commonly called Judge Nor- throp came from Albion, New York, located at the lower mill and built a carding machine and fulling mill there. The people around were anxious to have such an establishment in town and readily furnished supplies of timber and other material on credit; tak- ing their pay afterwards in eloth and work. The set- tlement there rapidly increased. Mr. Northrop was recognized as the principal man in it, and in honor of his former residence be named it Albion.

Two or three years later Judge Northrop built a woolen factory in connection with his carding works. Albion rapidly increased; several stores and other places of business were erected, and the new village went entirely ahead of its more staid competitor, Strongsville Center. Even the great financial crisis of 1832, which brought ruin upon a large majority of the business men of the United States, did not stop the growth of Albion. When they were short of money for small change the " borough, " for the place was incorporated under that title, issued serip, signed by Judge Northrop as mayor, which passed current in the immediate vicinity.

A Baptist church, which was at first also used as a school-house, was built at Albion as early as 1835. It was occupied with more or less regularity until 1871, when it was removed to Berea .*

An Episcopal church was also organized at Albion, and a church edifice erected in 1841. There was like- wise a Methodist church in a flourishing condition; of these three, the Methodist church alone remains.

In the forepart of 1843, probably in February, a fire occurred in Albion, which not only destroyed a large part of the village, but intlieted a blow on its prosperity from which it never recovered, There were then six stores, three or four blacksmith shops, several other shops and thirty or forty dwellings. These were mostly on the main road on the top of the hill, while the mills, the factory, the distillery, ete., were on the creek below. The fire began on the flat, and the wind drove it rapidly up the hill and along the street to the southward, destroying nearly

*Elder Freeman preached in it for three or four years before 1847, at wbich time it was moved and repaired. After 1847, the first preacher was Rev. Mr. Guernsey, and next the Rev. Mr. Dibble. Rev. Mr. Hubbard succeeded and preached until the beginning of the war. Elder Wood preached a year or so after Mr. Hubbard and since then there have only been occasional services.

525

STRONGSVILLE.

all the business part of the village, and rendering fourteen families homeless.

The deeline of the place dated from this time, but the fire was not immediately fatal. Some houses were rebuilt, and some places of business were re- established. The travel still continued brisk along the old turnpike, and this, of course, made business for the taverns and, to some extent, for the stores. Trask and Tuttle built a tannery in 1844, which did a good business for many years. Mr. II. B. Bradley says that when he came in 1849, Albion was still quite a prosperous place. Many four-horse and six-horse teams traveled the road, drawing big wagons with tires six inches wide, heavily loaded with farm pro- duce destined for Cleveland, or with articles from that place for use in the country. But when the rail- road was built through Middleburg in 1851, a large part of this travel left the turnpike, and the glory of Albion faded slowly but steadily away.

Meanwhile Strongsville Center continued on a more even tenor. Even while Albion was most prosperous. the voting-place for the township continued to be at the eenter, and after the decay of the former village, the center still continued to be the common gather- ing place for the farmers around, and the trading place for those who did not go outside of the town- ship for that purpose.

Judge Northrop sold the woolen factory at Albion in 1849, to Dr. St. Clair, and removed to Cleveland. Dr. St. Clair ran the factory several years, and sold it to Lester Miles, who made a gristmill of it, though he still kept up the carding works. The mill was burned in 1860. Mr. Miles rebuilt it, and operated it several years. He was succeeded by Milo Haynes who did a large business for a time: but business tinally dropped away, and now little remains save the frame to tell of the busy times of old.

When the war for the Union called the youth of our country to arms, Strongsville promptly responded to the ery, and her sons, through four years of con- fict with the foe, showed that they, too, could meet hardship and danger as readily as had their sires in the struggle to subdue the wilderness. Their names will be found with their respective regiments and batteries in the general history of the county.

During the war the old turnpike, which for thirty years had been one of the principal highways of this part of the country, was surrendered to the publie by its owners, and the gates were permanently removed.

Since the close of the war the career of Strongsville has been that of a quiet country township, where prosperous farmers, year after year, gather and mar- ket the produce of a fertile soil, and where healthful breezes invigorate the sturdy inhabitants, but where there is known but little of the exeitement which agi- tates the great centers of business.

Before passing to our sketehes of the existing churches, we will mention some of the prominent men, and members of the various professions, who in their youth were residents of Strongsville, and who have

" graduated," so to speak, from its borders. The names of resident representatives in the legislature, however, are given in the chapter of the general his- tory devoted to the higher officers of the county, while those of township officials succeed the sketches of the churches. The official and professional gen- tlemen formerly of Strongville, are. according to a published list, as follows:

Judges, Walter F. Stone, Benjamin Northrop, Perry Bosworth; physicians, Henry Parker, Jonathan Pope, C. E. Tupper, Albert Southworth, Calvin Pom- eroy, John F. Whitney and R. S. Hubbard. To these may be added the resident physicians. After Dr. Bald- win. before mentioned, or about the time he left, which was near 1830, eame Dr. Boswell Trask, who staid nearly twenty years, and died in the township. Dr. H. L. W. Leonard eame somewhat later, and sur- vived Trask. He died in Strongsville only a few years ago. The present physicians are Dr. Hudson, Dr. Berghoff, and Dr. McConnel. Ministers, Thomas W. Pope, David Warwick, George A. Stone, D. D., Wm. C. Rodgers, Stanley G. Pope, Calvin O. Freeman, Iliram Brooks, Cyrus Colton, Lyman Freeman, Fla- vel Brittan, Levi Sabin.

Lawyers, L. L. Bowen, Sidney Strong, George II. Foster, Henry E. Foster, Carlos M. Stone, Myron Sabin, Erastus F. Miles.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL (NOW PRESBYTERIAN) CHURCH OF STRONGSVILLE.

This church was organized at Strongsville Center on the 10th day of October, 1812, Reverend Messrs. William Hanford and Lether Humphrey being pres- ent. The first members were Seth Goodwin and De- borah, his wife; Ahijah Haynes and Jerusha, his wife: Guilford Whitney and Anna, his wife; Hollis Whit- ney and Barineey ITilliard. Guilford Whitney was the first deaeon, and Ahijah Haynes the second.

For two years the church was unable to employ a regular minister, or build a church edifice. Services, however, were held with great regularity at the houses of members, sermons being sometimes read by one of the congregation, while at other times traveling min- isters, with rude but fervid eloquence, held forth the promises of the gospel to the assembled listeners.

In 1819 the church, in connection with the town- ship, erected a log building at the center, which, as before stated, served as school-house, town house and church. Six years later a framed building was erected which was equally well employed for the three pur- poses mentioned. On the 12th of January, 1825, the Rev. Simon Woodruff was installed as the first settled minister of this church. He served until 1834: the church meanwhile steadily increasing with the growth of the township. In the last named year Mr. Wood- ruff was succeded by the Rev. D. C. Blood, who re- mained three years. The Rev. Myron Fraey was in- stalled in 1837.

At this period the church was in a very flourishing condition, and had over a hundred members. In

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

1842 what has been known as the Second Congrega- tional, or Free Congregational Church, separated from the first church, considerably redneing its member- -hip. In 1843 Rev. D. C. Blood was recalled, re- maining until 1850. He was succeeded by Rev. Timothy Williston, and he. in 1853, by Rev. Elias Thompson: though the latter was not formally in- stalled until 1854. Mr. Thompson was succeeded in 1860 by Rev. Charles S. Adams, who closed his ser- vices in 1861. Rev. Harvey Lyon preached for a short time after that, though not regularly installed. In July, 1862, Rev. Amzi B. Lyon began his ministerial services, which continued until 1864. The next year, 1865, Rev. A. W. Knowlton was called to the pastorate, which he occupied for twelve years, closing in 18;7. after the longest term served by any minister for this church. He was succeeded by Rev. James W. Tur- ner, the present incumbent.

In 18ft this church. retaining its ancient creed. (which is held in substance by both the Congrega- tionalists and Presbyterians), adopted the Presbyte- rian form of organization, and became a member of the Presbytery. It is still, however, more commonly called by its early name, the First Congregational Church of Strongsville. At the time the writer vis- ited the township the elders of the church were Abial Haynes, D. M. Strong and Lorenzo Strong: the trus- tees of the civil organization were Benoni Bartlett, William Heazlit, Porter Lyman and Merrick Strong.

THE FREE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church, frequently called the Second Congre- gational, was formed from the First Congregational in 1842: its organization being completed on the 16th day of July in that year, under the direction of Rev. James A. Thorne, a professor at Oberlin College. Services were held with varying regularity until 1852. During this time the pulpit was frequently supplied temporarily by professors or pupils of Oberlin; Rev. Uriah T. Chamberlain regularly in 1843 and '44, and the Rev. Mr. Moore for two or three years subse- ¿quently.

On the 28th of June in that year, Rev. Gideon Dana became the pastor. A marked improvement was soon manifested in the vitality of the church, and on the fith of August following, the corner stone of a new brick church edifice was laid at Strongsville Center. The work was pushed rapidly forward: the legal or- ganization of the society being completed meanwhile by recording the necessary papers in the office of the county recorder on the 19th of October in that year. On the 24th of January, 1853, the newly erected church was duly dedicated with appropriate cere- monies, but little more than five months having been occupied in its construction.

Mr. Dana's labors continued until October, 1855. In February, 1856, Rev. O. W. White succeeded to the vacant pastorate, which he occupied until the lat- ter part of 1862. On the first of January, 1863, Rev. William Bacon became the pastor; remaining until

1862. Ile was followed by Rev. Lucius Smith. This gentleman preached part of the time at Berea: oceu- pying the pulpits alternately until 1822. After the close of Mr. Bacon's services Messrs. Burr and Miller preached occasionally during the remainder of 1822 and the beginning of 1873. During the lafter year Rev. C. S. Cady was installed as pastor, continning in that relation until November, 1825. No regular minister was employed until January, 1822, when Rev. J. W. Turner was installed as pastor of this church, as well as of the First Congregational, or Presbyterian church. Mr. Turner has served both churches from that time till the present.

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.

History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 129

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