History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 48

Author: Williams Brothers
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 443

USA > Ohio > Lake County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 48
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 48

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The history of Chardon would be incomplete without a reference to the agita- tion for the removal of the county-seat at different times. As is known, it was established with great care, by commissioners appointed by the legislature, while Chardon hill was a wild, and in strict accordance with statute law. The division of Geauga, by the erection of the newer counties about her, left it very long, compared with the width. Painesville was at one end and Burton near the other. The commissioners examined both. Justus Miner urged that the selection of either would lead to a dismemberment of the county by the other, and also urged the adoption of a geographical centre, which prevailed. A survey was made, and the elevated table land in the northeast corner of No. 9, range 8, selected. Es- tablished with such solemnity, it was peopled under the supposition and in the faith that it would remain the county-seat. The idea of vested rights in this case, however, is absurd in law, and would be mischievous in practice. The rule is the general public good, to which localities, individuals, and small communities must yield. What Miner predicted came to pass, though neither of the claim- ants was selected. Painesville was never satisfied. It made many and vigorous efforts to secure a change to that point. Failing, it finally, in 1839-40, secured the erection of Lake, which threw Chardon into a northwest corner of the residue

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of the old county. It was inevitable that the south part of the county thus formed should agitate for a new application of the old governing idea of a geo- graphical centre. On the destruction of the county buildings, the opportunity was presented; and, in addition to the destruction of their property, the Chardon people were threatened with a loss of what gave it its principal value, and the calamity which had seemingly ruined them brought the life-and-death struggle to save them from the greater loss of the county-seat. To them it seemed as if their rivals, instead of sympathizing with them, exulted in the destruction of their town, as it gave them a chance to bear off the long-coveted dominion of the county, and thus render their ruin remediless. Everybody deplored their loss, but when it is remembered that a large expense was to be borne by the people to restore the county buildings, few candid minds can be found that will not say that the people had the right to examine the whole subject anew, and say where they should be placed, and in the exercise of this right those who desired to place them elsewhere, for the bettering of the public convenience, and themselves inci- dentally, were not amenable to a charge of intentional injury to Chardon and its friends.

The struggle came. The men of Chardon leaped forward to the encounter. Whatever other considerations were involved, the sympathy of men was with them. The odds were thus with them, and, as sagacious men foresaw, the other- wise well-matched and as fairly-fought-as such struggles ever are-contest was decided in their favor. It was a great success for them, and modestly, generously, and magnanimously worn and enjoyed.

A county-town always becomes an object of jealousy on the part of outlying sections. Country distrust of town is supplemented by the always-prevailing im- pression that the county-seat men are in conspiracy to retain or secure the offices. The necessity which compels the men at the county-seat to lead in political move- ments exposes them to the charge of being " the court-house ring" or " clique." That there is sometimes ground for this is doubtless true.

ADDITIONAL FIRE ITEMS.

In 1850, Thomas Metcalf erected on North Hambden street a building twenty- four by eighty feet in size, and three stories high, and put in steam fixtures for the manufacture of turned work, lath, shingles, etc., investing three thousand dollars in the enterprise. This was operated by him until the year 1874, when Messrs. Hamblin & Warringer purchased the property and connected it with a general cooper-shop. Amount invested, four thousand dollars. It was burned March 6, 1876. Partially insured. Loss, two thousand dollars.

In the year 1873, Messrs. H. G. Skinner and Dr. O. Pomeroy erected an ex- tensive flouring-mill on the corner of Washington and Water streets, at a total cost of thirteen thousand dollars. It was fully equipped with improved ma- chinery and three run of stones, for both merchant and custom grinding. On June 17, 1876, the mill was destroyed by fire. Origin unknown. A portion of the insurance, amounting to six thousand seven hundred dollars, was paid. Other minor losses have occurred from fire, but we have not the details.

THE LITTLE MOUNTAIN.

This is a striking formation of sandstone in the northwest corner of Chardon, rising at the upper margin of a high plain stretching south from the lake, from which side it presents the appearance of an ocean-beaten cliff-as sometime it was of the great fresh-water inter-ocean of which it was an island-or the jutting cape of a promontory. On its northern side it is a cliffy structure, rising one hundred feet or more. On the top is a high table-land of considerable extent, irregularly shaped, half a mile across, with precipitous rocky margins three-fourths of the way around it. Much of this surface is covered with a beautiful pine forest, with oak and chestnut on the more southern portions. Its lowest elevation south- easterly is considerably above the surrounding country. This is a striking land- mark, especially from the lake, six miles north of it, and of which its northern margin commands a splendid outlook. The rocks present many caves and fissures, and numerous fine springs of ice-cold water make out from their base.

As may be supposed, this singular and striking formation early attracted at- tention. In 1834 or 1835 a Mr. Reynolds built the " Mountain House" near the north margin of the rocks, which was kept open as a resort from that day to this. Some years later, in 1854 or 1855, D. W. Stocking, of Chardon, purchased ground and built a fine house near the western margin, commanding the approaches from that point. He was a man of faith, hope, patience, and enterprise. He built cottages, and did much to attract the attention of pleasure- and rest-seekers to this delightful retreat. Finally, a company of wealthy Clevelanders bought and got into possession of the whole, and built numerous and tasteful cottages and fixtures over the attractive and available points, and converted it, in fact, to a remote suburb of that city, strictly for private purposes, and Stocking and his excellent lady returned and built a pleasant home in Chardon.

THE VILLAGE ACT OF INCORPORATION.

In accordance with an act passed by the general assembly of the State of Ohio, March 17, 1851, incorporating a certain tract of land in the township of Chardon as a village of the same name, an election was held, and the following persons elected : Alfred Phelps, mayor; C. H. Foote, recorder; O. P. Brown, Philo Pease, John French, Norman Parsons, and Horace Wilkins, trustees.

1852 .- Wm. King, mayor; C. H. Foote, recorder; L. A. Hamilton, A. Cook,

J. S. Wright, C. Knowles, and L. D. Pense, trustees ; C. Knowles, treasurer.

1853 .- A. H. Thrasher, mayor; E. V. Canfield, recorder; A. Knowles, J. S. Wright, A. Cook, C. Knowles, and L. D. Pease, trustees.

1854 .- N. Pomeroy, mayor; J. M. Comstock, recorder; C. Knowles, treasurer;

J. S. Wright, R. R. Bourne, A. L. Rogers, J. B. Mathews, trustees.

1855 .- Mayor and recorder re-elected; A. Cook, C. Knowles, L. Moffitt, and A. W. Young, trustees.

1856 .- D. E. Durfee, mayor; A. H. Gotham, recorder; A. Cook, C. Knowles,

J. M. Comstock, H. M. Mixer, and John H. Converse, trustees.

1857 .- C. Knowles, mayor; C. W. Munsell, recorder; A. Cook, J. H. Con- verse, D. W. Stocking, J. B. Bassett, and H. K. Smith, trustees.

1858 .- David Warner, mayor; B. W. Canfield, recorder; A. W. Young, T. L. Phipps, H. Gould, J. Murray (2d), and John Stohl, trustees.

1859 .- J. N. Hathaway, mayor; J. French, recorder ; H. Gould, J. Murray, C. C. Fields, J. F. Bruce, and C. L. Canfield, trustees.

1860 .- Mayor re-elected; H. K. Smith, recorder ; C. L. Canfield, L. E. Dur- fee, Wm. A. Keeney, T. H. Swany, and E. V. Canfield, trustees.

1861 .- W. N. Keeney, mayor; L. C. Ludlow, recorder ; C. L. Canfield, C. W. Munsell, E. V. Canfield, J. Murray, and H. N. Spencer, trustees.

1862 .- C. L. Canfield, mayor ; L. C. Ludlow, recorder ; R. P. Munsell, W. Witter, M. Stone, O. P. Newcomb, and J. F. Bruce, trustees.

1863 .- Mayor and recorder re-elected; W. Roberts, E. V. Canfield, C. W. Munsell, W. Witter, and M. L. Canfield, trustees.

1864 .- A. H. Thrasher, mayor; H. K. Smith, recorder; J. N. Hathaway, D. W. Canfield, A. Cook, D. D. Pease, and Thos. Metcalf, trustees.

1865 .- A. P. Tilden, Mayor; C. W. Munsell, recorder; Thos. Metcalf, D. C. Kellogg, A. McGowan, H. S. Wood, and J. Murray (2d), trustees.

1866 .- A. McGowan, mayor; C. H. Lamb, recorder ; J. Murray (2d), J. Nichols, A. Cook, H. S. Wood, and J. B. Mathews, trustees.

1867 .- S. W. Newel, mayor; T. C. Parsons, recorder; J. Nichols, S. Mc- Gonigal, C. L. Canfield, C. W. Munsell, and A. W. Young, trustees.

1868 .- E. V. Canfield, mayor; O. N. McGonigal, recorder; Nichols, McGon- igal, Munsell, H. G. Clark, and P. M. Combs, trustees.

1869 .- Mayor and recorder re-elected; M. C. Canfield, B. B. Woodbury, A. Kelley, W. T. Rexford, Jr., and T. C. Smith.

1870 .- Mayor and recorder re-elected; R. P. Munsell, M. C. Canfield, and T. Metcalf, council for one year; T. C. Smith, A. Richmond, and W. A. Keeny, council for two years.

1871 .- M. C. Canfield, treasurer; M. C. Canfield, George Manly, and A. Kelley, council for two years.

1872 .- D. W. Canfield, mayor for two years; N. H. Bostwick, recorder for two years; B. W. Canfield, treasurer for two years; I. N. Hathaway, E. R. Eg- gleston, and B. B. Woodbury, council for two years.

1873 .- O. R. Parks, A. W. Benton, and T. W. Porter, council. 1874 .- J. E. Stephenson, mayor ; H. Bisbee, recorder; G. Manly, Jno. Watts, and E. R. Eggleston, council; B. W. Canfield, treasurer. 1875 .- S. W. Brewster, A. D. Dowing, and Alonzo Richmond, council.

1876 .- O. S. Farr, mayor ; I. W. Canfield, recorder; B. W. Canfield, treas- urer; S. E. Bodman, C. L. Canfield, and A. Cook, council.

1877 .- B. B. Woodbury, A. Kelley, and Lester Moffett, council.

1878 .- O. S. Farr, mayor ; W. S. Metcalf, recorder; B. W. Canfield, treas- urer; S. E. Bodman, C. L. Canfield, and S. L. Griffith, council.

Samuel King, of Springfield, Massachusetts, came to Ohio in 1813, and with his family, consisting of three boys and one girl, located on the place now occu- pied by Delos Canfield. He built the first jail in Geauga County. It was con- structed of hewn timber. He died about 1820. The mother died in 1858.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

was organized March 21, 1877, under the State law, and is composed of sixty- five men. The present officers are B. B. Woodbury, chief engineer; Anson Kelley, assistant; B. W. Canfield, foreman; M. L. Wright, assistant; T. C. Smith, treasurer; and H. H. Beshu, secretary. A Rumsey & Co. hand- engine, a hook-and-ladder, and a hose-truck, with eight hundred feet of two-inch rubber hose, were purchased, at a total cost of $1350. The water-supply consists of six cisterns on the square, with a capacity of twelve hundred barrels, and an

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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

open reservoir in the centre, supplied by hydraulic rams. The engine-house is thirty by forty-two feet. It was erected in 1877, and is located on the east side of the public square, at a cost of $700. There are also six Babcock extin- guishers, which are very efficacious in an emergency.

POPULATION.

In 1850, 1621 ; 1860, 1539; 1870, 1772. Of the latter 132 were of foreign birth, and 3 colored.

The officers of the township for 1878 are L. D. Stancell, L. C. Cowles, and Alonzo Pease, trustees; P. M. Cowles, clerk ; B. W. Canfield, treasurer; E. Patchen, assessor; Lawrence Faulk, James Scott, and Aaron E. Scott, C. P. Bail, S. W. Newell, A. P. Tilden, justices of the peace, and sixteen supervisors.

STATISTICS FOR 1878.

Wheat

218 sores.

3,342 bushels.

Oats ..

624

20,740 =

Corn

438

13,739

Potatoes ...

116

11,590

Orchards ..

219

2,328

Meadow

1654

1,855 tons.

Butter ..

94,375 pounds.

Cheese.

116,000

Maple sugar.

17,325

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EDWARD PAINE,

a son of General Edward Paine, and, with his father, a pioneer of Painesville, was known through the long life of his father as Edward Paine, junior. He was a native of New England, and was born at one of the seats of the Paines, so many of whom with their descendants became settlers of the old county of Geauga, where they were for many years a powerful, almost a controlling element, the influence of which, though latent, still doubtless remains. Edward, Jr., was also known as Captain Paine.

He married Mary Phelps, daughter of Judge Seth Phelps, and thus in a way cemented the older alliance of the Paines and Phelpses. His daughter became the wife of a son of Governor Huntington. These unions indicate the social position of the Paines in the early history of northern Ohio. As is seen by the history of Chardon, he was one of the three real pioneers of that township, where he took up his residence in 1812, and where he continued to reside until his death.

He was then clerk of the county, which office he held until 1828. He was also auditor and recorder of the county, and the first postmaster of Chardon, which offices he filled for many years.

He was in early manhood when he went to Chardon, and though carrying with him the manners and polish of the older eastern school, he at once lent him- self with great energy to the demands of pioneer life, with which he was already familiar. He was one of the first on the Reserve, was at Cleveland in 1798, and became a resident of Painesville in 1802. In person of medium size, well made, lithe; of active habits, and capable of great endurance. He was adventu- rous, and having a relish for out-door exercise, he became an accomplished woods- man and a skillful hunter. In his hunting excursions he wore the Indian moc- casin. His mastery of the craft won for him the reputation of luck, and many anecdotes used to be told of his success in slaying bears, deer, and wolves. At the time of his settlement at Chardon the beaver-dam and meadow near the village were inhabited by its ingenious and interesting builders, and Captain Paine became a curious and friendly neighbor and student of their life, manners, and customs.

He was among the most energetic of the younger citizens during the darkness of the early days of the war of 1812, and went at once to the most exposed points at the front. His father was then general of brigade, and he was active in duty on his staff. Captain Paine was a man of great quickness and sparkle of mind. He received a good English education ; was a man of much general information, approachable, and mingled with all the leading men of his time. Though he held many of the minor offices he was unambitious of high place, nor did he seem ever to care to place his rather brilliant mind to any great use. He excelled as a conversationalist when the art existed as such, and was worthy of cultivation by men of parts. Mr. Paine was one of the happiest sayers of smart, sparkling things, in which he excelled most of the men of his time; was rather emulous of the reputation of being the producer of conversational pyro- technics. An ardent partisan, by his warmth of temperament he usually over- whelmed his opponent with squibs and crackers, or sent him skyward on a rocket, or confused and bewildered him with a profusion of fire-works.

In politics a Whig, and not over tolerant was he of any form of Democracy ; nor had he for Democrats much of that amiable weakness sometimes called charity. The persons of his political opponents usually came in for the sarcasm and contempt which others might have reserved for their political doctrines only.

So in religion. A confessed disbeliever in Divine revelation, the constitution of his mind made him an intolerant opponent of orthodoxy ; and his brother-in-law, E. F. Phelps, used to say of him that he was the most bigoted liberal he ever knew. Could he look upon Chardon now and see an orthodox church newly planted on his lawn, and his mansion-house turned to a parsonage, it might provoke a tempest of pyrotechnics.

These, however, were a small part of the real man. He was warm-hearted, true, noble, and generous, and such he proved himself through a long life. His bitterness was superficial, had no place in his nature. It was rather the con- versational habit of one who spoke in epigrams, and the seeming acerbity was but to add edge and point. I doubt whether he ever had a real enemy.

So abounding was his kindness, so open and broad his practical charity, so trans- parent his real nature, and so widely his true character appreciated, that Democrat and minister alike would approach him as a man, with the certainty that his utmost service would be freely rendered to the needy, the afflicted, or the sufferer by any form of misfortune. A practical Christian who questioned the authority of the law which was the rule of his life. His opportunities in the world were large, his talents much above the average, and of the character and quality which attract and win. One cannot but feel that while his life was just and charitable, his conduct regulated by strict truth, high honor, and the purest integrity, he might easily have labored in a field of much wider usefulness, and filled places where he could have more largely contributed to the general welfare. It was his misfortune to have early been the centre of an admiring circle of friends, instead of being launched upon the world in a way to have called into action his fine endowments and considerable acquirements in such a manner as to have developed the latent and more manly qualities of ambition, when he certainly would have gone to the lead of affairs in a great State, instead of being the witty sayer of smart things in a small country village.

Still, the life was useful, its early strength given to the planting of men in new situations, and it was for him to choose his career and mark the lines beyond which he would not go.

E. N. OSBORN

was born in Somerset, Vermont, October 8, 1823, and with his parents, Daniel and Maria Osborn, came to Ohio in the fall of 1829, settling in the township of Chardon, on the farm now owned and occupied by him. The country was but little improved at that time, and of those who had already planted themselves at the time of his arrival, but few are now living. Mr. Osborn's occupation is that of a farmer and cattle-dealer, and by dint of hard work, industrious and frugal habits, he has succeeded in acquiring a large property. He owns some six hun- dred acres of land, all of it under improvement. He was united in marriage, October 6, 1849, to Arodyne Day, who was born in Mantua, Portage county, Ohio, June 24, 1828. The result of this union was two children, Lester D., who was born September 22, 1850, and D. Edward, August 3, 1857. Mrs. Osborn died August 31, 1858, and March 24, 1859, he married Cyrena Bancroft, who was born August 25, 1829.

He united with the Baptist church of Chardon when about thirteen years of age, which relationship has continued without interruption since. Mr. Osborn has held various township offices, such as justice of the peace, assessor, or trustee, which he has filled acceptably.

THOMAS METCALF.

The subject of this sketch, who is the fifth of a family of twelve children of Thomas and Sybil (Chapin) Metcalf, was born in Enfield, Hartford county, Connecticut, January 10, 1798, and is therefore now in his eighty-first year. His education he received from the common schools of his native State. He came to Ohio and located in Chardon in 1817, arriving June 24. Six others accompanied him, none of whom are now living, viz., Samuel Smith and his wife Sybil (Mr. Metcalf's sister, the eldest of the family), their two children, Horton and Maria, Sidney Metcalf (another sister, then but thirteen years old), and one Benjamin Hibbard. His brother, Eben Metcalf, and family, located in Chardon at a much later date,-in the spring of 1851,-removing lastly from Attica, Seneca county, Ohio. On the journey to Ohio, which occupied six weeks,

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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

Thomas drove a yoke of oxen and lead-horse, then called a " spike-team," for his board. After his arrival in Chardon he worked for about a year and a half for his brother-in-law, Mr. Smith, subsequently known for many years as the land- lord of the popular old stone tavern in the village, who first located and opened a tavern in the north part of the town. He then took up one hundred acres of land at the centre of Chardon, now owned and occupied by Mr. Samuel Church- hill, where his parents afterwards settled, and where his father died, and now lies buried. He there erected a log shanty, and kept " bachelor's hall" for about a year. His parents followed him to Ohio in 1819. In 1824 he removed to the village, and built a house, the frame of which is standing, as part of the old homestead on North Hambden street, still occupied by himself and family. He also built an ashery on the same premises, and near the site afterwards occupied by the cooper-shop, burned in 1876. This ashery he operated for some twenty years. His father died March 17, 1828, aged sixty-two; his mother, March 6, 1859, at the great age of ninety years.

Mr. Metcalf was united in marriage on November 15, 1827, to Paulina, daugh- ter of Jedediah and Charlotte Beard, of Burton. The Beards, who were from Vermont, were among the earliest and most respected residents of that township. From this union the following children were born : Horace, born August 10, 1828, married Sarah J. Lanigan, of Cleveland. He was deputy United States marshal in 1874, and was shot near Springfield, Missouri, where he then resided, in attempting to arrest a criminal, and instantly killed. Armstrong, the next child, born December 12, 1830, murdered in Texas, April 21, 1861; Alfred B.,

born November 22, 1832, married, and resides in San Francisco, California ; Harriet, born October 12, 1834, died March 16, 1845; Lovira A., born Feb- ruary 3, 1837, married M. H. Collins, now resides in Jamestown, New York ; Henry H., born June 30, 1839, married Lida Ford, of South Bend, Indiana, resides at Council Bluffs, Iowa; George, born September 30, 1841, resides at Council Bluffs; Thomas, born June 23, 1844, married Eva, daughter of Hon. D. W. Canfield, of Chardon, resides at Council Bluffs; Ellen S., born May 14, 1846, married Everett B. Rush, of Chardon, her husband deceased; she resides at home; Frank, born March 28, 1848, married Nellie M. Henry, of Erie, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1878; resides in Bradford, Pennsylvania ; Sarah S., born August 13, 1850, resides at home. All the children exemplify the virtues of their parents. The Metcalf Brothers, wholesale dealers in hats and caps and ready made clothing, are prominent business men of Council Bluffs. The Met- calfs, wherever found, seem to have had a common origin, and to possess the same characteristics,-honesty, intelligence, frugality, and independence .* Thomas Metcalf, though an unambitious man, has held several responsible offices in his township, among them that of justice of the peace for three terms, and has also enjoyed the unlimited confidence of his fellow-citizens. In politics he was for- merly a Whig, and is now an earnest Republican. On the 21st of April, 1873, at the age of sixty-five, Mrs. Metcalf, the faithful partner of his joys and sorrows, and sharer of his labors for so many years, was stricken with paralysis, from which she has never recovered, though otherwise enjoying, with her husband, a good degree of health. Many blessings crown their long and useful lives.

REA

AUSTIN CANFIELD.

AUSTIN CANFIELD,

one of the old settlers and solid conservative citizens of Geauga, was born March 10, 1804, at Litchfield, Herkimer county, New York, and is still living in Char- don at the age of seventy-four years. His parents, Norman and Susannah Can- field, moved from New York State into Geauga County in 1812, first settling in Hambden, and soon after going to Chardon, where the father opened an inn, which stood upon the exact spot now occupied by the Chardon House. It was a double log house, and many of the old residents of the county and the country contig- uous remember the substantial hospitality, of which they received the benefit, under its roof. Austin Canfield assisted his father in the tavern and upon his farm, coming up to manhood's estate with no fear of hard work, and with a wholesome respect for the class of people who earned their living. When his father died, in 1821, the son moved on to the farm where he has resided until the present time, though the land long since was sold off in lots, and only the ground about the site of the old house left remaining. The regard in which Austin Canfield has been and is held by his townspeople is shown by the fact that for many years of his life he has been in occupancy of public positions of trust and honor. He was several times elected county assessor and also township assessor, and in the years of the great bank failures was appointed commissioner of insolvents, a place which he filled to the general satisfaction of the people with whom he dealt in his official capacity and to the public. He was captain of the old Light Infantry, a company said to have been the best in the Reserve and in the State. As early as 1833 he united with the Presbyterian church, of which de-

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History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 48

Author: Williams Brothers Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 443

Author: Williams Brothers
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 443