USA > Ohio > Lake County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 8
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 8
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In 1840 the seven townships of Madison, Painesville, Mentor, Kirtland, Con- cord, Le Roy, and Perry were taken from Geauga, and, with Willoughby from Cuyahoga, erected into a county and called Lake.
The following abstract from the records will show who the first officers of the county were, and will furnish some other interesting information :
Extract from Common Pleas Record for Geauga County, Book " A."-" The State of Ohio, Geauga County, court of common pleas begun and holden at Neto Market, now Painesville, within and for the county of Geauga, on the first Tues- day in March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, and of the Independence of the United States the thirtieth, and of the State of Ohio the fourth. Present, Aaron Wheeler, John Walworth, and Jesse Phelps, Esquires, associate judges for said county (by lawful authority commissioned and sworn), holding said court.
" Be it remembered, that the court on the first day of the June term, 1806, appointed Edward Paine, Jr., clerk, pro tempore, who was duly sworn according to law. The court also appointed Robert B. Parkman, Esquire, prosecutor for said county, and Abraham Tappan, county surveyor."
First official act after organization was an action for debt,-Moses Warren vs. Joshua Hall, Jr., amount claimed $463. Judgment rendered ; costs $7.50.
The following were the first grand jurors : Abraham Tappan, foreman, Eleazer Heacock, Samuel Holmes, William W. Williams, Nathaniel Doan, John A. Har- per, Ebenezer Merry, Joseph Pepoon, Isaac Palmer, Joel Paine, Anson Sessions, Elijah Button, Elah. S. Clapp, and Joseph Clark, who, having been duly charged, retired. Causes assigned for trial at this term :
Names of Parties.
Attorneys.
Result.
Benjamin Nye J. S. Edwards.
vs.
Non-suit.
James A. Harper. R. B. Parkman.
Reuben Hyde
R. B. Parkman.
v8.
Continued.
Amos Spafford.
J. S. Edwards.
Talcott Flint vs.
J. S. Edwards. Judgment by default.
John Craw.
R. B. Parkman.
Costs, $11.21 5.
Elijah Mason
J. S. Edwards.
Judgment confirmed.
vs.
Wm. W. Williams.
R. B. Parkman.
Damages agreed upon, $228.66.
Benjamin Griffin v8.
Wm. McFarland.
Damages, $157.65.
On motion of R. B. Parkman, plaintiff's attorney, ordered that this cause come on for trial.
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LITH . BY L. H. EVENTS, FHILA PA.
LAKE COUNTY INFIRMARY.
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CEAUGA COUNTY INFIRMARY.
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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Whereupon, the following jurors being called, appeared and were duly empan- eled and sworn, to wit: James Lewis, Joseph Rider, Theodore Roys, George Russel, Jonathan Root, Ira Blanchard, Ezra Sprague, Benjamin Hopkins, John Paxton, Jarius J. Andrews, Henry G. Edwards, and Jonathan Hubbard. .
Witnesses for Plaintiff. Witness for Defendant. Benjamin Hartwell.
James Lewis, Ezra Gregory, James A. Harper, Elisha Graham.
The jury retired, and after consultation returned and gave verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of seventy (70) dollars. Judgment rendered accordingly with costs.
CONTRACT FOR BUILDING FIRST COURT-HOUSE.
" March, 1807 .- Contract entered into between the Comrs. of Geauga Co. and Abraham Skinner, whereby he agrees to ' build of logs, hewed on two sides, a house within the limits of the prison bounds (as established by the court of com. please), twelve by fourteen feet on the ground, with two good log or plank floors, and one window with iron grates ; with a good and sufficient chimney, and made in every other respect to the acceptance of the Comrs. and sheriff of said county. And said Skinner, on his part, doth agree to rent said house (when built) to the Comrs., or their successors in office, for a jail, and to keep the same in sufficient repair without expense to the county, so long as they shall wish to use it for a jail, for the sum of fifteen dollars a year.'"
In 1807 Ashtabula and Cuyahoga were carved from Geauga, the former organ- ized in 1811, and the latter in 1810. Geauga's limits became then what those of Geauga and Lake now are, except that up to 1840 Willoughby township belonged to Cuyahoga.
CIVIL ROSTER.
Governors .- The following citizens have been governors of the Commonwealth of Ohio: Samuel Huntington in 1808, and Seabury Ford in 1848.
Members of Congress .- Ohio, before its admission as a State, in 1802, was a part of the Northwestern Territory, and its representative in the Seventh Congress from 1801 to 1803 was Paul Fearing. He was born in May, 1762, and died in Ohio in 1822. Upon the State's admission into the Union, in 1802, its entire territory constituted one congressional district, and no change was made until 1813. During this time it was represented by Jeremiah Morrow in the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Congresses. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1770. Died in Ohio in 1852. After the expiration of his term of office as representative he became United States Senator. He was twice elected governor of the State in 1822 and 1824.
This district was represented in Congress from 1813 to 1814 by Reson Bell, and from 1814 to 1817 by David Clendening. From 1817 to 1819, Peter Hitchcock, of Geauga, was the delegate. (See biography.) He was one of the foremost men of his day. His name appears below as member of the House and Senate of Ohio. He was one of the supreme judges of the State for twenty-eight years,-part of the time chief-justice, and was one of the ablest and most useful judges the State ever had.
John Sloan represented the congressional district of which Geauga was a part in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses, or from 1819 to 1823. He was born at York, Pennsylvania, 1779, and died at Wooster, Ohio, in 1856. Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, from 1823 to 1838, represented the Geauga district in Con- gress. He was one of the ablest men in Congress at that time. He was born in Connecticut in 1783, and died in Washington, District of Columbia, 1863. Whittlesey was succeeded by the Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, in 1838, who served until 1859, and was succeeded by John Hutchins. Mr. Hutchins' term of office was from 1859 to 1863, when Hon. James A. Garfield, the present able represen- tative, was elected. Mr. Garfield has represented this district continuously since 1863. He is the acknowledged Republican leader in the House of Representatives. At the present time he is a resident of Mentor, Lake County.
Presiding Judges .- Prior to 1810, Calvin Pease and Turhand Kirtland were probably the presiding judges. In 1810 Benjamin Ruggles succeeded to the office; 1815, George Todd ; 1830, Reuben Wood; 1833, Matthew Burchard ; 1837, Van R. Humphrey ; 1844, Eben Newton ; 1847, B. F. Wade; 1851, Reu- ben Hitchcock ; 1854, Eli T. Wilder ; 1855, Horace Wilder ; 1861, N. L. Chaf- fee; 1871, M. C. Canfield. Mr. Canfield died while in office, and E. Lee was appointed to fill the vacancy until the first succeeding election, when D. W. Can- field was chosen to the office, and served until 1876, when L. S. Sherman, the present incumbent, was elected. By special statute H. B. Woodbury was elected at special election, spring of 1875, and in the succeeding fall was re-elected, to serve for a term of five years.
Associate Judges .- In 1809, Nehemiah King and Eleazer Hickox were the associates ; 1811, Aaron Wheeler and Eliphalet Austin ; 1813, V. Stone and
Arris Clapp. Among other associate judges there have been R. B. Parkman, Asa Cowles, Jno. Hubbard, Storm Rosa, A. Wright, Jno. P. Basley, Joseph W. Brackett, B. F. Avery, D. D. Aiken, Jno. P. Converse, and Lester Taylor.
State Senators .- Calvin Pease, 1806-7; David Abbott, 1808-11 ; Peter Hitchcock, 1812-15; Aaron Wheeler and Almon Ruggles, 1816-17; Aaron Wheeler and John Campbell, 1818; Almon Ruggles and John Campbell, 1819; Aaron Wheeler, 1820 ; Samuel W. Phelps, 1821-22; Samuel Wheeler, 1823- 28; Eliphalet Austin, 1829-30; Uri Seeley, 1831-32 ; Peter Hitchcock, Sr , 1833-34; Ralph Granger, 1835-36 ; Benj. F. Wade, 1837-38; Benjamin Bissell, 1839-40 ; Seabury Ford, 1841-42; William L. Perkins, 1843-46; Brewster Randall, 1847-50; Laban S. Sherman, 1852-54 ; Lester Taylor, 1856; Darius Cadwell, 1858; John F. Morse, 1860 ; Peter Hitchcock, 1862; William C. Howells, 1864; Abner Kellogg, 1866; J. B. Burrows, 1868; Decius S. Wade, 1870 ; John S. Casement, 1872; I. N. Hathaway, 1874; S. S. Burrows, 1876; W. P. Howland, 1878.
State Representatives .- John P. Bissell and James Kingsbury, 1806; John W. Seeley and James Montgomery, 1807; Nehemiah King, 1808; Amos Spaf- ford, 1809; Peter Hitchcock, 1810; Samuel Huntington, 1811; Samuel S. Baldwin, 1812; John H. Strong and William A. Harper, 1813; William A. Harper and Alfred Kelley, 1814-15; William Kerr and Alfred Kelley, 1816; Lewis Dille and Levi Gaylord, 1817; Lewis Dille and Ebenezer Merry, 1818; Alfred Kelley and Ebenezer Merry, 1819; John Hubbard, 1820-21 ; Samuel Wheeler, 1822; Eleazer Hickox, 1823; John Hubbard, 1824-26; Charles C. Paine, 1827; Samuel Butler and Charles C. Paine, 1828; V. Stone, 1829; Chester Treat and Isaac Gillett, 1830 ; Isaac Gillett, 1831; Lewis Dille and Lester Taylor, 1832; Lewis Dille, 1833; Lewis Dille and Lester Taylor, 1834 ; Seabury Ford, 1835; Seabury Ford and Timothy Beckwith, 1836; Seabury Ford and Thomas Richmond, 1837; Seabury Ford and Silas Axtell, 1838; Seabury Ford and John F. Morse, 1839; Seabury Ford, 1840 ; John P. Converse, 1841- 42; Alfred Phelps, 1843; Seabury Ford, 1844; Alfred Phelps, 1845; Anson Matthews, 1846-47; Isaac Lee and A. G. Riddle, 1848; John Hutchins and A. G. Riddle, 1849; M. C. Bradley and G. H. Kent, 1850; Samuel Durand, 1851-53; Lester Taylor, 1854-55; Lewis C. Todd, 1856; Peter Hitchcock, 1858-60; Benjamin B. Woodbury, 1862-65; Peter Hitchcock, 1866; Delos W. Canfield, 1868; Peter Hitchcock, 1870; Geo. H. Ford, 1872; Peter Hitch- cock, 1872-76. Mr. Hitchcock is the present representative.
Prosecuting Attorneys .- R. B. Parkman, 1806-17; Samuel Wheeler, 1817- 19; Alfred Phelps, 1819-28; S. Matthews, 1828-35; Reuben Hitchcock, 1835 -36; Wm. L. Perkins, 1836-37; R. Hitchcock, 1837-39; Wm. L. Perkins, 1839-40; O. P. Brown, 1840-41; A. G. Riddle, 1841-47; M. C. Canfield, 1847-50; A. H. Thrasher, 1850-54; M. C. Canfield, 1854-58; H. K. Smith, 1858-62; D. W. Canfield, 1862-66; T. N. Hathaway, 1866-70; O. S. Farr, 1870-72; L. H. Durfee, 1872-76 ; Jas. E. Stephenson, 1876-78; N. H. Bost- wick, 1878.
County Clerks .- Edward Paine, Jr., 1806-28; D. D. Aiken, 1828-42; Reu- ben St. John, 1842-46; 1846 until the adoption of the new State constitution in 1851, when A. H. Gotham was elected. In the following June he died, and H. K. Smith was appointed to fill vacancy, until next election, when William N. Keeney, the present incumbent, was elected in the fall of 1857.
Recorders .- James A. Harper, 1806-11 ; Edward Paine, Jr., 1811-35 ; Ralph Cowles, 1835-39; Wm. Kerr, 1839-41 ; 1841-44, first, Wm. Wilbur, who was succeeded by John Packard, Jr., in the fall of 1841; John French, 1844-56 ; L. C. Ludlow, 1856-63; C. H. Lamb, 1863-68; A. W. Young, 1868-75. Mr. Young died in November of 1875, and W. H. Young was appointed to fill vacancy, and was elected in 1876. The duties of the office have been discharged during Mr. Young's term of office by Mrs. H. A. Dimmick.
Treasurers .- Charles C. Paine, 1820-28; Sylvester N. Hoyt, 1828; Wil- liam Wilbur, 1834; S. N. Hoyt, 1837 ; Samuel Squans, 1840; A. P. Wilkins, Jr., 1842; J. O. Worrallo, 1849 ; Charles H. Foote, 1851; Warren Loomis, 1852; Job S. Wright, 1855; H. N. Spencer, 1858; O. R. Newcomb, 1862; C. C. Fields, 1865; Edward Patchen, 1867; Henry F. Marsh, 1869; F. C. Smith, 1871 ; S. E. Bodman, 1875, and is the present incumbent.
Probate Judges .- Alfred Phelps, 1852; he was succeeded by M. C. Canfield in 1858; he served until 1867, when the present incumbent resumed the control of the office,-H. K. Smith.
Auditors .- The first duplicate was destroyed on the burning of the court-house, July, 1868. The earliest volume saved bears date 1820, at which time Edward Paine, Jr., was auditor. He was succeeded in 1822 by Eleazar Paine, and he by Ralph Cowles, who was succeeded in 1835 by William Kerr, and he by Ralph Cowles in 1839; next was William K. Williston (1845); Marsh Smith (1851); C. C. Fields (1857); A. P. Tilden (1865) ; M. L. Maynard (1873); William Howard, 1877, who is the present incumbent.
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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.
Sheriff's .- Joel Paine, 1806; Abraham Tappan, 1810; Elisha Norton, 1812 ; Eli Bond, 1815; Hezekiah King, 1819; James R. Ford, 1824; William Kerr, 1828; J. A. Tracey, 1833; Abel Kimball, 1837; Erastus Spencer, 1841; Theodore W. Ensign, 1845; James Hathaway, 1849; Charles H. Foote, 1854; James M. Clapp, 1856; Elijah G. White, 1858; Bela N. Shaw, 1862; A. J. Walton, 1866; Samuel E. Clapp, 1868; Lester Moffet, 1872; Silo. P. Warriner, present incum- bent.
Commissioners .- 1807, Abraham Tappan; 1808, Doane, re-elected; 1809, Jedediah Beard; 1810, Joel Paine; 1811, John A. Harper; 1812, Norman Canfield ; 1813, Noah Paige; 1814, Jedediah Beard; 1815, Solomon Kings- bury ; 1816, John A. Harper; 1817, Jedediah Beard, Jesse Laddard, and Chris- topher Langdon ; 1824, Ralph Cowles, Charles Curtiss, and Robert Blair; 1825, Augustus Sessions; 1827, Isaac Moore ; 1828, Veni Stone; 1831, J. F. Morse; 1832, Colbert Huntington ; 1833, James Thompson ; 1835, Russell G. McCarty ; 1836, J. Hathaway ; 1838, Albion C. Gardner ; 1849, David Shep- herd ; 1851, David W. Mead, Jacob Thrasher ; 1852, Lester Perkins ; 1853, H. T. Johnston ; 1854, Spencer Dayton ; 1855, John A. Ford ; 1856, H. T. John- ston ; 1857, John V. Whitney ; 1858, Marsh Smith, Benjamin B. Woodbury ; 1859, J. W. Collins; 1860, Silas Gaylord, Jr. ; 1861, Lewis C. Reed ; 1862, J. W. Collins; 1863, John T. Field; 1864, Alanson Moffet ; 1865, J. W. Collins ; 1866, Benj. Bidlake ; 1867, Alanson Moffet; 1868, J. W. Collins; 1869, John V. Whitney ; 1870, Daniel Johnson; 1871, Horace J. Ford; 1872, Milan V. Scott; 1873, Daniel Johnson, Darius Walcott; 1874, Horace J. Ford ; 1875, Darius Wa cott ; 1876, Daniel Johnson ; 1877, Orrin M. Barnes.
Coroners .- 1807, Joseph Pepoon ; 1810, Elisha Norton ; 1812, Isaac Palmer ; 1810, Calvin Cole; 1820, Wm. Holbrook ; 1852, Horace W. Morse; 1854, Phi- lander Kyle ; 1855, Sidney Bostwick ; 1857, John S. Cleveland ; 1859-60, Benj. Bidlake ; 1862, A. E. Miller; 1864, Joseph G. Durfee ; 1865, Sam. Bodman ; 1866-72, Joseph G. Durfee; 1874-76, E. S. Chapel ; 1877, P. M. Cowles.
POOR FARM.
At a meeting of the board of commissioners of Geauga County, held at Char- don, in and for said county, on the 15th day of March, 1859, it was resolved by the board that they deem it expedient and for the benefit of the county to pur- chase a farm for the support of the poor of said county, and after examining sundry farms and proposals for sale of farms, have concluded to purchase the farm of Nathaniel Stone, in Chardon township, and have entered into contract with him for the same, at the price of twenty-four hundred dollars, and pay three hundred dollars in hand, nine hundred dollars the 1st of November next, and the balance in one year thereafter. Also, resolved, that it is necessary to build a house on said farm for the reception of the poor of said county.
At a meeting held the 5th day of April, 1839, it was resolved that David Eggleston have the contract for building the aforesaid house, he to be paid for same two hundred and thirty-three dollars in hand, and four hundred and sixty- five dollars on 1st of December next ; house to be completed on the 1st of January next.
Infirmary Directors .- 1849, Chester Treat; 1851, Ralza Spencer ; 1852, Abram Woodward; 1853, Seth W. Brewster; 1854, George Manley; 1855, Alonzo Richmond; 1856, Samuel C. Douglass ; 1857, George Manley ; 1858, Alonzo Richmond; 1859, Alex. McNish ; 1860, George Manly ; 1861, Arnold D. Hall ; 1862, Alex. McNish ; 1863, George Manley ; 1864, Abram Woodward ; 1865, Charles P. Bail ; 1866, George Manley ; 1868, R. E. Waters ; 1869, Chas. O. Dutton ; 1870, J. W. Nash ; 1871, Rufus E. Waters ; 1872, Lucius T. Wil- mot; 1873, Amandar Gates; 1874, Oscar C. Douglass ; 1875, Silas L. Beard ; 1876, Amandar Gates ; 1877, David C. Hollis, present incumbent.
The following is the contract for the purchase of the ground on which Chardon now stands :
" I, the subscriber, Simon Perkins, of Warren, in the county of Trumbull, and State of Ohio, attorney to Peter Chardon Brooks, of Boston, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby agree to sell to Samuel W. Phelps, Esq., director ap- pointed for the purpose by the court of common pleas of Geauga County, two hundred acres of land, to be located on and about the place selected by the com- missioners appointed to fix on a place for the permanent seat of justice for said Geauga County, and so that the place of trees marked by said commissioners shall be central in said tract, which is to be square, and to be sold at the price of two dollars per acre, payable one-half in one year and the other half in two years, with interest to be paid annually, and the deed to be executed to Samuel W. Phelps, as director, on receipt of the money or good security for it. In witness whereof, I have, for said Peter C. Brooks, hereunto set my hand, this 23d day of November, 1809. " SIMON PERKINS."
" I, the subscriber above named, do agree to buy the land described above, as above stated.
"SAMUEL W. PHELPS."
LAKE COUNTY
was formed on the 6th day of March, 1840, by act of legislature. The land portion was composed of eight townships, seven of which were taken from Geauga County, and one, Willoughby, from Cuyahoga county. As the eight townships did not embrace a sufficient extent of territory to meet the constitutional require- ments for a county, the deficiency was supplied by including the water of the lake as far north as the northern line of the Reserve, 41ยบ of north latitude, and extending east and west as far as the east and west limits of the land portion of the county. At the date of its formation it was proposed to give to it the name of Perry, in honor of the victory won by the hero of Lake Erie. Afterwards its name was made identical with that of the lake itself.
In 1840 the judiciary consisted of three associate judges and one president judge. At this time Zenas Blish, William C. Mathews, and D. R. Paige were the associate judges in Lake County.
The first public act after the formation of the county was the calling of a special court by these associate judges. This was held in Painesville. April 4, 1840. At that time there was no probate judge, and all matters were transacted by that officer that came before the court of common pleas. The first case that arose in this special term was concerning the admission to probate of the estate of Clark Anderson, deceased. After a short session this court adjourned, and the first regular term of the court of common pleas was held. This began on the 5th of the subsequent May. John W. Willey was the president judge. John W. Howden was appointed clerk pro tempore of the court, and Hon. William L. Perkins was qualified as prosecuting attorney. Luther P. Bates was sheriff, and the following gentlemen duly sworn as grand jurors: Joseph Cook, Homer Hig- ley, William Grahame, Daniel I. French, Elisha Patch, Harvey Woodworth, William Holbrook, Isaac Gillett, Thomas A. Tisdale, Horatio N. Sweet, Oliver Fowler, Martin Carroll, Moses S. Harvey, Amasa Cobb, and Theodore Grout.
MARRIAGE.
The first marriage solemnized within the limits of Lake County was between Dr. Waite W. Brewster and Miss Abbey T. Seeley, on the 19th day of April, 1840; the ceremony was performed by Rev. Carlos Smith, then pastor of the Presbyterian church in Painesville.
The first marriage license was issued on the 5th day of May, 1840, by John W. Howden, clerk of the court, to John Boyce and Polly Ann Borzee, who were afterwards married on the 7th day of May, by W. A. Cowdrey, justice of the peace of Kirtland.
Some time during the year 1840 the foundation was laid for a court-house in Painesville. The plans for this building were made by George Mygate, architect, afterwards of Milwaukee, Wis. The structure, although commenced soon after the organization of the county, was not completed until some time in the summer of 1852. The building was erected by Harvey Woodworth, who took it upon a contract so ruinously below that of any of the other bidders, as necessarily to involve him in a heavy loss in carrying out its provisions. This building has been enlarged, four new offices and a capacious fireproof vault constructed in which to store valuable county records, etc.
In the spring of 1858 the county jail was commenced, and completed some time during the following winter.
The county infirmary is situated about one and one-half miles east of the county-seat, upon the east side of Grand river, and just at the brow of the fine rolling uplands which commence at that point and extend for many miles back into the country. The first buildings were purchased some years since of Abra- ham Van Buskirk, and were added to from time to time. At last they became inadequate for the accommodation of the county, and in the fall of 1876 work was begun on the present elegant structure, and completed in the fall of 1877, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. Mr. S. C. Hickok, county commissioner at that time, was general superintendent of construction.
CHAPTER VIII.
MORMONISM, FUGITIVE SLAVE INCIDENTS, ETC.
QUICKLY succeeding the formation of the sect of Mormons took place their removal to Kirtland township, then a part of Geauga County. It was an event of no inconsiderable moment, and caused at the time no small commotion among the people of this locality. That a people with principles and practices so odious and revolting to every right-thinking person should undertake to establish them- selves permanently on Geauga soil, here to found, nourish, and enlarge their
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empire, was a matter of the most serious alarm. The result was that the citizens showed so relentless a hostility to the plans of the Mormons that their stay was of comparatively short duration. They came in 1831 and departed in 1836. They remained long enough, however, to build a large temple, at a cost of forty thousand dollars ; to open a bank, whose bills they never redeemed ; to establish a printing-office and issue a paper ; to open stores and farms; to be sued for debt and many other offenses; and to learn that among Geauga people and on Geauga soil their peculiar institution could not thrive. Mr. Eber Howe, who, in 1834, wrote a book entitled " Mormonism Unveiled," says,-
" In 1836 suits were instituted in our county court against several of the Mor- mon leaders for divers offenses against the laws of the State. One was for a violation of the statute against private banking, and a judgment was rendered for two thousand dollars; another against Sidney Rigdon for one thousand dollars, for solemnizing marriages without a license. Executions were issued, and their printing establishment and other fixings in Kirtland were levied upon by the sheriff. The night before the removal of the property it was all burned to the ground, and the prophet and many of his apostles fled to parts unknown. Fol- lowing this was a pretty general breaking up in that place. They soon after attempted to make a stand and build up a community near the western border of Missouri, ten miles east of where Kansas City now stands. To that place all the faithful were peremptorily commanded to flee with all possible haste. To obey this command large sacrifices were made by the people who had from time to time enlisted under the banner of the prophet."
This subject is treated of more fully in the Kirtland township history, and we therefore follow it no further here.
The following fugitive slave stories, taken from Mr. Howe's autobiography, will be of interest :
" In 1848 two slaves, a man by the name of Roberts and a woman he after- wards married, escaped from the mouth of the great Kanawha, by secreting them- selves on a boat that was passing up the Ohio river, and landed on the Ohio side, near Steubenville. From there they made their way, guided by the North star and traveling nights, secreting themselves in some lonely place through the day, till they arrived in the town of Randolph, fifty miles directly south of here, and on the south line of the Reserve. Here they found some friends, and concluded to stop and go to work, in order to replenish their means to enable them to pursue their flight to Canada. About two miles from the little village at the centre of the town they found a place where the friends thought they would be safe from pursuit. Not so, however, for in about two weeks two strangers made their ap- pearance in the village, making inquiries about the price of land and other mat- ters ; but the people in that neighborhood were on the alert, and watched every movement of the strangers. They soon entered their carriage and steered directly for the place where the slaves were at work. It was supposed that they had got direct information of the exact locality of the fugitives from a person who had recently left the place. A young man mounted a horse and rode along leisurely till he overtook them and opened a conversation. He then went ahead to give the alarm. The slaves were quickly secreted in an upper room, and the doors and windows well fastened. On arriving at the house where they expected to take possession of their lost property, the owner of the house politely met them at the gate and inquired from whence they came and where bound, but they as yet did not see fit to make their business or intention known. Very soon the people of the surrounding country commenced dropping in to take a view of the strangers, whom they already began to mistrust belonged to a class of bipeds called man- stealers. In the course of an hour there had assembled about one hundred of the farmers of the neighborhood, and the prospect began to look decidedly unfavor- able for a successful termination of their expedition. They concluded, finally, to make known their business, and begged permission to have an interview with the missing chattels, who were occasionally peering through the windows to catch a glimpse of their old masters.
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