History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 54

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

USA > Ohio > Lake County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 54
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 54

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occasions, in the absence of clergymen. In 1812 he set up the first framed barn erected in Hambden, which is now a part of a barn owned by Mr. Calhoun. Stephen Bond and Andrew Cooly were farmers, and held offices in the militia. Alexander Brown, John Brown, and Robert Canning were emigrants from Ire- land, and settled on lot 17. Something more could be said of them, of course.

Abednego Davis came from Maryland, which furnished less emigrants to the Reserve than Ireland, scarce as Irishmen were. Chester Elliott, a farmer, was also a carpenter and surveyor ; surveyed Thompson, and put up the first framed house, his own dwelling, in 1811. It stood on lot 24, known as the Ladd place. Eli Bond and Peter Quiggle are spoken of only as single men,-a reprehensible state, which they doubtless departed from at the first opening. Of the thirty-six adult people of Hambden in 1808, but one survives,-Mrs. Sally Bond, of Cleveland, a sister of Noah Pomeroy, Esq.

At this time bears, wolves, elk, deer, otters, rattlesnakes, and other animals filled the woods in undiminished numbers, furnishing incidents of hunting and other adventure, with which pioneer life is replete. About this time paths or trails were opened from the Hambden settlements to Windsor, Thompson, and Le Roy. Older trails existed through the woods to the early settlements of Bur- ton. Men felt the glow of neighborhood ten or fifteen miles, while the dwellers in cabins within less distance were quite of kin.

In 1809 two or three children were born, one died, and one adventurous couple, the first, were married. The first mention of these interesting incidents of human life; names are not given me. This year was also signalized by the first school, taught by Miss Anna Pomeroy, in the south part, in a house stand- ing on land owned by D. C. Gridly, at a spring some forty rods west of the State road. Of the favored of this seat of learning, Austin Canfield, of Chardon, and Noah Pomeroy, Claridon, are known to be survivors.

The spring of 1810 found Moses Parsons, Chandler and Anson Pease, from Enfield, Connecticut, in the township as residents. The former on lot 26, the two latter on 21. In 1811, Daniel Booth and Deacon Benjamin King, with their families, made important additions to the young community. Both settled on lots 6 and 11. King built his cabin near the spring, on Hiram Gardner's farm. His son, Hosea, settled at the centre, built a tavern and other buildings, which were destroyed by fire a few years ago, while owned by Samuel Hathaway.

In the summer of 1810 a curious labor organization was set on foot by the men of the Hambden woods, called " The Bondstown Logging Society," with a constitu- tion and by-laws. It was to continue four years, during which each member was to aid all the others in doing all their logging. Each member might with his own or hired hands chop as much as he was able. When ready, the logs were to be piled, fit for burning, by the whole force, assembled at a "bee." The code was curiously contrived to secure prompt attendance and efficient action. Its numer- ous fines and penalties were assessed, and payable in the currency of that day,- whisky, which, in that age of "truck and dicker," a holder could always turn. Mr. Maynard gives a graphic sketch of its organization and career. It ended with the first year. The constitution needed amending. The by-laws and mem- bers were sometimes in a fluid state, and, like other better-known institutions, it was found to work oppressively on the poor, as all things do.

The summer of 1810 was further marked by an encampment of Indians in the south part, probably a band of Omic's Massasaugas, who were found in the south part of Ashtabula county at an earlier day, and who sided with the British in the ensuing war. They contributed meat to the settlers, and their women were useful and expert basket-makers, which found ready sale.

1811 brought Isaac Pease and Freegrace Hancock from Connecticut to Hamb- den, where they bought farms. Pease also bought the Higby mills, which he rebuilt, and supplemented with a whisky-distillery, which his son, Merrick, ran many years. Later, James Hathaway was interested in this property, and when the water began to fail he put up a rude mill, propelled by a pair of bulls, called the Bull mill. The regular price for the orthodox proof of those days was twenty-five cents per gallon. A bushel of corn would generally exchange for a gallon. In the autumn of 1811, Nathaniel and Isaiah King came into the town from New York, and settled on the centre road, leading to Chardon. This year also saw two weddings in Hambden,-that of Anson Pease and Anna Pomeroy, and Peter Quiggle and Margaret Brown. The first grown man who died in Hambden is said to be Alexander Brown, who died of a fit in this same year.

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* From a sketch furnished by L. G. Maynard, Esq.

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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

1812 was the dark year of all the West, by reason of the declaration of war against Great Britain, and necessarily retarded the settlement of the Western Re- serve. Hambden received but three families during the war. They were those of Edward Kibbe, Levi Hale, and Moses Parsons, all from Connecticut, farmers, and located, Kibbe on lot 21, and Hale on 18.

From 1808 till 1819 the able-bodied men within military age resorted to Painesville for service as militia. The company was commanded by Captain Andrew Cooly, of Hambden. In the fall of 1811 a new company was organized, composed of the men of Hambden, Chardon, Claridon, Thompson, and Le Roy. On the fall of Hull and Detroit, in August, 1812, this company, under Captain Norman Canfield, was called under arms, marched to Cleveland, and performed a campaign of nine days; days of darkness and dismay to the women and children at the cabins in the woods. Hambden had twelve in this contingent, viz., Ser- geants Chester Elliott and Merrick Pease, and privates Chandler Pease, Anson Pease, Joseph Bond, Stephen Bond, Ichabod Pomeroy, Jr., Jesse Hale, Hosea King, John Quiggle, Nathaniel King, and Isaiah King. Of this band none were slain, none straggled. Later one-half of the company was called for. When un- der arms came welcome word that they were not wanted, and they joyfully broke ranks for the arms of wives and children. Hambden furnished three heroes for that old-time war, John Elliott, Jr., of Captain Parker's company, Anson Pease, and Nathaniel King. The two last were drafted; Pease served three months and furnished a substitute. The others were finally invalided before their terms expired.

During Perry's old sea-fight the guns were distinctly heard, as is said, all along the settlements in the woods, particularly in Hambden, though many days inter- vened before the result was known there. The year 1815 brought peace, if not prosperity, to all the western borders, and our Hambden woods saw its trees felled and new cabins arising in its still wide forests. Jonathan Allen, Nathaniel H. Parks, Luther and Jacob Pease, and Hezekiah Stocking, all from Connecticut, found homes in its borders at the close of the war.

The Peases were all blacksmiths, and set up the first blacksmith-shop in the township. What a benefaction this must have been, and what a variety of im- plements must have fallen under the hammer of these smiths! Previous to this the nearest shop was at Painesville. The fall of the same year saw the arrival of Philip Quiggle and John Fox, who purchased farms. Quiggle was from Brook- field, Trumbull county, and Fox from New York. 1816 brought David, Robert, and James Brown, Samuel Pratt, Daniel McCoy, and Obed Hale, who became inhabitants. This was a year of scarcity and much suffering. Provisions were packed from Poland, sixty miles away.

Joel S. Bartholomew came in December of this year from Connecticut, brought with him a stock of goods, built a store, and thus became the first trader. His store was in the south part, where he carried on business until his death, in 1818. 1817 brought an accession of eight families to the township. The so-called heads were John Bartholomew, Abraham and Joel Damon, Artemus and Park Swift, Lyman Converse, Joseph and Richard Barker, Chester Kentfield, and William Hunter. This year a citizen of Hambden, James Brown, was elected a justice of the peace. Jonathan Maynard and Hosea Damon also moved into the town- ship this year. Up to 1818 the new settlements had been unusually healthy. This was marked with sickness, sore distress, deaths, and mourning. Up to this year two men, two women, and three or four children were the whole mor- tality of Hambden. Between March and July of 1818, Oliver Ladd, Augustus and Joel Bartholomew, Mrs. Allen, and several children died and were buried, while a great many more were very sick.

And here this all too meagre chronicle of Hambden closes. Space will only permit a hasty grouping and gleaning of some further matters of her history. She had incidents with bears and wolves. The latter once drove pious Deacon Ichabod Pomeroy into the top of a plum-tree, and held him there all night, solaced by prayer, thanksgiving, and the sonorous blasts of a conch, vigorously blown by Mrs. Quiggle, two miles away. And there was Aunt Peggy King, riding through the forest in her buxom days of young matronhood, when she was smitten with the woolly charms of a little roly-poly bear. In a moment of weakness she alit, picked it up, pressed the soft thing to her cheek, when, with a crash and a growl, came the raging mother. A minute later the young woman found herself dashing through woods on her horse, which she bestrode man and sensible fashion.

CHURCHES AND MINISTERS.

The minister who preached the first sermon in Hambden was a Presbyterian, the Rev. Mr. Robbins, from Connecticut, in 1804. Rev. Joseph Badger, that faith- ful missionary, preached occasionally in 1805, and afterwards. Others came in later, followed by Rev. N. B. Darrow, who formed a Presbyterian church in 1809, composed of five members,-Deacon Ichabod and Mrs. Pomeroy, Joseph and Mrs. Bond, and Rebecca Elliott. This was the first organized church in Hamb-

den. It had no additions till 1821. Meantime, two were dismissed to other churches. It depended mainly for ministration upon visiting clergymen from other places, among whom were Rev. Mr. Field, from Massachusetts, Rev. Mr. Humphrey, of Burton.

Rev. Mr. Hanks, a Baptist clergyman, was the first minister whose regular services were secured for one-half of the time, alternating between Hambden and Chardon in 1818.

As stated, Deacon Pomeroy held the first public worship in Hambden.

Rev. Mr. Ruark was the first Methodist who bore testimony in the town. It is said he preached to three men, six women, and four children.

In 1818 Hambden was included in the Methodist circuit, and visited by Messrs. Green and Collins. It is remembered that the latter, on request, preached a sermon on Samson's fox-raid against the Philistines, in which he told the Hambdeners that " the devil's prospects for catching souls in Hambden were brighter than Samson's for capturing foxes in Israel." These prospects led to a discontinuance of the labors of the Methodists in that vineyard for the time.

In 1822, Augustus Sisson settled in the township, and soon after a small Meth- odist society was organized, composed of Mr. Sisson and wife, Charity Stebbins, and John P. Bosley. From this modest beginning sprang the present Methodist church of Hambden.

They built their church edifice in 1847, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, and expended the further sum of three thousand dollars on it in 1866. The Congregationalists built theirs in 1853, at about the same cost. The Disciples, with the aid of liberal outsiders, erected a neat edifice, at a cost of less than one thousand dollars, in 1845. After a joint occupancy of a few years it was sold, and transferred to the uses of a school-house.

The Congregational church now numbers sixty-two. They have been minis- tered to by Revs. Luther Humphrey, Dexter Witter, Nathan Cobb, John W. Bucher, H. W. Osborn, P. A. Beam, Jason Olds, Eliph. Austin, Warren Swift, Stewart T. Coe, E. C. Bridge, L. V. Blakeslee, William Potter, C. E. Page, and A. D. Barbour.

The Methodist Episcopal church has a present membership of seventy-five; has been supplied by circuit preachers under the system of that organization.

SCHOOLS.

As stated, Anna Pomeroy taught the first school in 1809, and also in 1813. She was followed by Sally Pomeroy the next year. In 1811, Olive Booth kept a school in her father's house, opposite the Baileys. Dorothea Booth also taught the same year. In 1814, Thalia Beard, of Burton, kept the school, and in 1815, Mrs. Hezekiah Stocking taught a school near the centre. These were all summer schools. In the winter of 1817, Elijah P. Allen taught a man's school in the township, as did Daniel McCoy at the centre. Of the urchins favored by this resort of scholars was the chronicler of Hambden. Some forty, from four to twenty, received their daily mental pabulum at his hands, which were as familiar with the " birch" as with " Daboll" and the " American Preceptor." Some twenty-five are said to survive that slaughter of the innocents.

THE FIRST DEATH.

On full investigation it is ascertained that Mrs. Betsey Cooly was the first per- son who died in Hambden. Her death occurred in 1806. She left a young child, which was placed in the family of an uncle for rearing. Of this child it is stated that it crept out at the door of the uncle's house one day, was grabbed up in the mouth of a voracious sow, and borne off, doubtless to be devoured. A man saw the seizure, gave instant pursuit, and rescued the child, whose after- fortune should have been given.

Eleven Revolutionary soldiers have lived and died in Hambden, whose names must here find record : Reuben Stocking, Isaac Cheeseman, Abraham Damon, Ichabod Pomeroy, Jno. Elliott, Peter Quiggle, Isaac Pease, Samuel M. Starr, Nathaniel Hicok, Daniel Morgan, and Squire Davenport.

It is also said that there have died in the town some twenty-five men who served in the war of 1812, and twenty-one who were Union soldiers in the war of the Rebellion.

Four persons have committed suicide in Hambden : George W. Dexter, from loss of property and reputation by intemperance; Alvin Taylor, caused by intem- perance; Mrs. Abigail Barnard, through jealousy of her husband; and Mrs. Radcliff, cause unknown.

ORGANIZATION.

At their meeting of March, 1811, the county commissioners made an order erecting the township of Hambden, of all the territory south of Grand river to the south line of Hambden, and from the east line of the county to the west line of Hambden. This gave it the present name, with a slice of the present township of Concord, the whole of Le Roy, the south part of Madison, and the whole of

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LITH, BY L. H. EVERTS, PHILADELPHIA

RESIDENCE OF EDWIN BETTS. NAMBDEN TĘ GEAUGA CO., 0.

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COL. ERASTUS SPENCER.

MRS. ERASTUS SPENCER.

RESIDENCE OF COL. ERASTUS SPENCER. CLARIDON T., GEAUGA ÇO.O.

UITH. RY L.H. EVENTS, PHILADELPHIA.

RESIDENCE OF PHILO PEASE , HAMBOEN TE GEAUGA CO, O.

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139

HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.

Thompson and Montville. The resident electors were to hold their first town- ship election at the house formerly occupied by Andrew Cowey. Of that election I have seen no return, and have obtained no information. By order of the January meeting, 1812, the township of Chardon was annexed to Hambden. The first election of which I have an account was by the voters of the present townships of Hambden, Montville, and Le Roy; and took place in 1817, when they had a township organization, and held their election on the first Monday of the April of that year. The place of this interesting event is not given. Nathaniel H. Parks was elected clerk ; Hosea King, Jonathan Allen, and Chandler Pease, trustees; Ichabod Pomeroy and John Quiggle, overseers of the poor; Nathaniel King and John Elliott, fence-viewers; Daniel Booth, lister and appraiser, and Levi Hale, appraiser ; Jesse Hale, treasurer, and David McCoy, constables; Mer- rick Pease, surveyor of lumber. Also two or three supervisors of highways were elected for Hambden, and one each for the other townships.

The first State election was held October 14, 1817. The poll-book shows thirty-two votes, at the second thirty, and at the third twenty-eight. But one of the voters of these elections, Almon Booth, now of Chardon, survives.

The following persons have held the office of justice of the peace in Hamb- den, in the order here given : Norman Canfield, elected in 1812; Hosea King, James Brown, Warham Parsons, Augustus Sisson, Jumes Hathaway, Zelotus Sisson, Austin Carver, Lewis G. Maynard, Ralza H. Thayer, Samuel Hathaway, John T. Field, Daniel Warner, Jr., Wm. H. Lacy, Oscar P. Quiggle, and Addi- son Stockham. The two last are the present incumbents. The present township oficers are J. W. Carver, clerk ; Charles E. Stafford, Charles Fenton, and B. W. Shattuck, trustees; O. P. Quiggle, treasurer ; J. W. Brewer, assessor; W. R. Maltbie and Abner Colby, constables, with seventeen supervisors of roads.

PHYSICIANS.

It shows well for Hambden that it owned no doctor until 1830. The first resident M.D. of that favored region was Dr. L. A. Hamilton, where he re- mained a year or two, when he removed to Chardon, continuing to practice in Hambden. He was one of the most eminent practitioners of his day and school, and belongs more particularly to Chardon. He was followed by Dr. S. M. Johnson, who remained eight or ten years,-a man of skill and high character. He was succeeded by Drs. Chapman, Reed, Scribner, McAlpin, Tanner, and Mrs. Tanner. Dr. West is the present resident physician.

MERCHANTS.

As will be remembered, Joel S. Bartholomew was the first merchant, who died in 1818. He was succeeded by his father, who, after a year or two, abandoned the business. No other undertook trade in Hambden till 1850, when Jonathan Warner, of New York, brought on a heavy stock of goods, and erected a store on the east side of the public square. He did a successful business for many years. An alleged heavy robbery of his clerk in New York so impaired his means that he abandoned the business. At various times since he has been succeeded by Brown & Robinson, Daniel Warner, Samuel Hathaway, and J. T. Field. O. P. Quiggle at present carries on business at the centre.

MANUFACTURING.

As may be remembered, Hambden is without water-power, and little has been done under this head. As stated, in 1811 the Peases set up a still of a capacity to run fifteen bushels of rye and corn per day. As the old-time course of farming was to follow the first wheat crop with rye, produced at small expense, corn also became an abundant product; and that still flourished for twenty years, with usual results. The next machinery was a saw-mill, built by John Allen, on a small branch of the Cuyahoga, on lot No. 6. This was subsequently owned by Augustus Sisson. In the failure of water, incident to clearing up the forests, this went to decay. Shubal Manly erected a saw-mill on Bates creek, in the northeast part of the township. In 1816, N. H. Parks set up a small carding- machine in connection with Allen's mill, which was a benefaction to that region. In 1835 or 1836. Hosea King & Sons built a steam saw-mill on the State road, a little north of the centre, which soon after went into the hands of Daniel Hager, who added a flouring-mill and carding-machine, which were of great value to all that region. Some time after, James Hathaway became part owner, and he added a still. The property was burned in 1841. Skinner & Adams subsequently started a portable steam saw-mill, which went to Chardon, and was followed by another, still running.

The cheese-factory was built by James Langston, in 1862, and received the milk of one hundred cows the first season. The present proprietor, S. E. Carter, purchased the property in 1874. He manufactures cheese and butter. The present season (1878) the factory receives the milk of two hundred and fifty cows, produces seventy-five pounds of butter and five hundred pounds of cheese

per day. The capital invested does not exceed three thousand dollars. Since Mr. Carter's ownership J. J. Tute has superintended the work.

AGRICULTURE.

As is scen, the population of the township was always largely agricultural, and pursued the early course common to the region, too well known and generally now deplored to require description. In time dairying became a leading interest. For the last three or four years the more intelligent farmers have directed their attention to the qualities of their soils, and wheat and oats are now largely pro- duced. The current year (1878) has seen a product of from fifty to seventy per cent. of these crops in excess of any former production.

Hambden has an enlightened and well-conducted farmers' club, whose discus- sions evince much intelligence and challenge attention.

POST-OFFICES.

The first was established in 1822, and Augustus Sisson was the first postmaster, where the office was kept many years and then removed to the centre. J. B. Griste was the first postmaster at the new office. He was followed by George Hale, Thomas Brown, Samuel Hathaway, James McBride, John B. Griste, Royal Dow, J. T. Field, and Oscar P. Quiggle, the present incumbent.

SOCIETIES.

I find no mention of the order of Masons or Odd Fellows in Hambden. The Grange was organized in 1876, with a membership of forty-four, L. K. Lacy, master, Edwin Betts, overseer, and Charles Martindale, secretary. A fine hall twenty-six by forty feet, two stories, was erected in 1877 at a cost of $1000. There is a present membership of fifty-two.

Sons of Temperance Division, No. 168, was organized in 1875 by A. M. Collins, with a membership of fifty-five. It is now in a healthy working condi- tion, with one hundred and forty-five names on its roll. Such success has attended its labors that two-thirds of the present inhabitants of Hambden have signed the pledge. Its present officers are J. Haldeman, W. P .; Mrs. J. Haldeman, W. A. ; I. C. Wemple, R. S .; Mrs. I. C. Wemple, A. R. S .; Frank Worthington, F. S .; Edwin Betts, Treasurer ; Rev. W. Potter, Chaplain.

POPULATION.

In 1850, 919, of which 7 were colored; in 1860, 902; 1870, 968, 1 colored. Hambden has gained instead of falling off,-the single instance in the county.

STATISTICS FOR 1878.

Wheat

210 acres.

3,509 bushels.

Oats ..

559

16,373

Corn ...

281

13,830

Potatoes.

136

12,257

Orchards

266

2,796

Meadow ...

1523

1,816 tons.

Butter ..

37,887 pounds.

Maple-sugar ..

19,035

Votes for President in 1876, Hayes, 174; Tilden, 29.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

MERRICK AND PHILO PEASE.

Merrick Pease went to Hambden township from Enfield, Connecticut, in 1810. He put up a saw- and grist-mill in the south part of the township,* and soon after, grain being plentiful, and there being no outlet for it in the east, he put up a whisky-still. Between the years 1824 and 1827, or 1828, in company with David T. Bruce, he carried on quite a trade with Green Bay (then Fort Howard, a government post). In 1828 he moved his family to the farm that is now occupied by his son, Philo Pease, and in August of the same year he died.

Philo Pease was born in the southern part of Hambden township, September 18, 1814. At the death of his father he was apprenticed to learn the tanning and curing trade with Samuel Squire, Sr. At the age of twenty-one he was taken into partnership with Mr. Squire for a few years, after which he purchased Mr. Squire's interest. On July 7, 1836, he married Lucy Adams. Of this marriage the following children were born : August 12, 1837, the oldest daughter, Amanda ; July 28, 1840, Benj. F. ; August 7, 1847, Henry P .; Angeline was born February 10, 1850 ; George W., January 12, 1853; and Merrick, the youngest son, Sep- tember 20, 1863. In 1852, Mr. Pease bought up the old Pease farm, and estab- lished his family there. Where his house now stands the first cabin erected in the township once stood, built by Dr. Bond, in 1801. Mrs. Pease was the daughter of Captain Upham, formerly of Massachusetts, an early settler of Newbury. Mr .. Pease is widely known and much esteemed.

* The mills were setually in the township of Claridon. See Claridon.

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MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP.

MIDDLEFIELD, for many years known as Batavia, was one of the first settled townships of the county. It is known as number seven of the sixth range of townships on the map of the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is on the eastern line of the county, with Huntsburg on the north, Burton on the west, and Park- man south of it. Like all the surrounding territory, its surface is what is called rolling, in some parts hilly, as in the southwest. Like the adjoining country, it was covered with the heavy primitive forests of beech, maple, oak, elm, ash, basswood, chestnut, and hickory. In soil it varies little from the prevailing type of clayey loam, save that portion north of the east branch of the Cuyahoga, which is more sandy. The Cuyahoga crosses the northwest angle of the town- ship, as does its eastern branch, having its rise in Huntsburg, north of it. The only other considerable stream is known as Swine creek. Many who have seen this water-course are inclined to give it the more vulgar name.

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History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio, Part 54

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

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