USA > Ohio > Lake County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 89
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio > Part 89
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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.
The first orchard was set out by Paul Clapp in 1811 on lot nine, consisting of about one hundred and ten trees of choice varieties. This orchard was removed in 1812 to Painesville.
Elah Clapp set out a similar orchard soon after, part of which is still in vigorous life.
The first frame house was built on lot nine, by Asa Gurrey, in 1811, and was located near the present home of E. Valentine, on the extreme south line of Le Roy.
The first mill was erected by Benjamin Bates, on lot thirty, in 1811. In 1816 he also erected a grist-mill on the same lot. The raising of this mill occurred on the Fourth of July, Mr. Bates and his neighbors celebrating the day in this manner.
The first blacksmith was Jabez Smith, whose shop was located on lot six, and was built in 1816.
The first store in Le Roy was opened by Messrs. Call & Winkley, in 1826. It was located on lot three. In 1827 John Towne built a store on lot twenty- nine. In 1828 Otis Warner commenced trade on lot four. All of the above business houses were comparatively short-lived, Painesville being so accessible no need is now felt for a mercantile establishment in Le Roy.
The first sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Fields, of Massachusetts, a Presbyterian missionary, at the house of Benjamin Bates, in 1811.
The first church organization in Le Roy was of the Baptist denomination, and was formed at the residence of Josiah Hungerford, on lot twenty-nine, in 1826, Rev. Mr. Lockwood, of Perry township, officiating. There were twelve persons who united to form a church society.
The Methodists have the honor of erecting the first church building, in 1845, on lot nine. Esquire Brakeman gave the land, and with others was instrumental in its erection. It cost about one thousand dollars. It is still used as a place of worship.
There are two thriving churches in Le Roy, both of the Methodist faith. One built in 1848, and worth about eight hundred dollars. This is the remodeled First church.
The other is situated in the northeast part of the township, and has a member- ship of forty-four. Its present value is about eight hundred and fifty dollars. The Sabbath-school, under the superintendence of Mrs. L. L. Kewish, has an attendance of fifty.
The Revs. Shaffer and Chalker are the present officiating ministers. It took all the available men in Perry, Concord, Painesville, Thompson, and Le Roy to raise the first frame barn, built by Benjamin Bates, on lot seven, in 1814. Its size was thirty by thirty-six feet.
The first school-house was erected in 1814, the township of Thompson uniting with the people of Le Roy for that purpose. Benjamin Bates, of Le Roy, and Joseph Bartlett, of Thompson, being instrumental in its erection. It was located on lot thirty-two, near the division line of the two townships, the children of both attending. The first school was taught in this building in 1814 by Lo- vinia Hulbert, from Massachusetts. The number of scholars in attendance was twenty. She received seventy-five cents a week and her board. Elijah Keneep taught the second year, receiving ten dollars a month. Roland Mosely, the third year (1816), at same wages. The people of Thompson then withdrew from the district, Le Roy continuing the use of the building for school purposes until 1820, when another was built on lot twenty-six. There, Roxena Woodward, of New Hampshire, taught the first school, with an attendance of thirteen, receiving sev- enty-five cents a week and board. There are now eight school-houses in Le Roy.
MANUFACTURES OF LE ROY.
O. Adams owns a steam saw-mill, situated on lot twenty-one. Wm. Wright owns a grist-mill, valued at four thousand dollars, which was erected in 1816 on lot thirty. There is also a saw-mill (water-power) on lot three, valued at fifteen hundred dollars, operated by O. & J. Warner. Carn & Arnold own one on lot thirty, valued at one thousand dollars. There is a cider-mill on lot sixty-four, built in 1845 by one Whipple.
There is a cheese-factory, owned by Stephen Nighman, which was established in 1874, on lot five, at a cost of one hundred dollars.
In 1835, Nathaniel Phelps erected a chair-factory on lot thirty-two, which was rebuilt in 1870, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, by J. Phelps. It employs four men, and turns out two thousand chairs per year. It is owned by Josiah Phelps.
The first post-office established in the township was about the year 1831, the route running from Painesville to Meadville, Pennsylvania. Luther Cole was commissioned postmaster. The mail was received at Le Roy once a week. The present post-office is located on lot seven, and is known as Hill House Post-Office, Henry Jepson being the present postmaster. Mail arrives from Painesville once a day.
The first road was built by the Connecticut Land Company, in 1798. This was the first road in the Western Reserve, and ran from the Pennsylvania line to Cleveland. It entered Le Roy at lot one, on the eastern line, and left the town- ship at lot thirteen. It was called the " Old Girdled road," for the reason that in cutting it out the party cut only the small trees and underbrush, girdling the large ones, and leaving them standing. At present there are three roads crossing the township east and west, and three north and south, with two short intermediate roads running north and south.
SOCIETIES.
The Sons of Temperance are in a prosperous condition, with weekly meetings at the centre, in the town hall. This organization is doing good service in the temperance cause.
Le Roy Grange, No. 821, of the Patrons of Husbandry, was organized April 5, 1874. The officers are E. W. Taylor, Master ; J. E. Wright, Overseer ; Miss M. D. Kewish, Lecturer; Miss E. W. Taylor, Steward; C. M. Tenney, Assist- ant Steward; Angus Cowles, Chaplain ; Ezra Bates, Treas. ; Miss Hattie Harri- son, Sec. ; Clinton Hills, gate-keeper.
There is an organization denominated the I. O. of H. G., a recent protection association, its object being the detection and punishment of crime. It is com- posed of the solid men of the township, and is a laudable and praiseworthy enterprise.
ORGANIZATION.
Le Roy township was organized in June, 1820, and an election of officers ordered to take place on the 8th of July following, at which election Hendrick Paine, Isaac Woodward, and Benjamin Bates presided as judges of election, Lu- ther M. Parsons and Oris Call acting as clerks. The following persons were elected to office : Hendrick E. Paine, Solomon D. Williams, Henry Brakeman, trustees; Oris Call, clerk ; Benjamin Bates, Luther M. Parsons, overseers of the poor; Isaac Woodward, Samuel Young, fence-viewers; Ansil Bates, lister; Oris Call, Ansil Bates, appraisers; Francis Baker, treasurer; Samuel Young, consta- ble; Benjamin Bates, Samuel Young, Joseph Marshall, supervisors of highways.
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HORSE BARN AND CARRIAGE HOUSE.
D.L. BAILEY.
MRS. MARIA BAILEY.
LITH. DY L.H. EVENTS, PHILA.
RESIDENCE or D. L. BAILEY, MADISON TP., LAKE CO., O.
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MADISON TOWNSHIP.
WHEN, in 1840, Lake County was formed there was a general enlargement of the territory comprised in several townships. Madison was enlarged by the addi- tion, from the next township south, of the " Gore;" thus Madison is nearly nine miles along its eastern line, and about eight on the west line, containing nearly fifty square miles. The surface of the township from the south ridge to the lake is level, with a gradual descent to the northward. The soil is generally sandy, and is highly productive. From the ridge south the surface is broken and in some portions hilly. Soil clay, loam, and gravel. The principal water-course is Grand river, which runs diagonally through the southern portion of the township, and affords good water-power. Cunningham creek rises in Harpersfield and this township, and flows into the lake at the point early known as Harper's landing, or Madison dock. Numerous smaller streams flow through the township, gener- ally rising from springs. In the number and condition of her schools, churches, and manufactures, Madison is not, we think, excelled by any of her sister town- ships in Lake County.
SETTLEMENT.
We are indebted to Mr. W. P. Spencer, of the Geneva Times, for much of the following of early settlers. The first settlement in the township was made in the year 1802, and was consummated by a brother of the pioneer settlers of Harpers- field, by name John A. Harper. He came with the family in 1798, and re- mained with them until 1802, in December of which year he was married. Re- moving to Madison, he began housekeeping upon one hundred acres of land he had purchased, it is thought, as early as 1800. This farm is now owned by Ste- phen Warner, and the log house erected and occupied by Harper stood a short distance west of Warner's present residence. Here, in November, 1803, their first child was born. This was the Hon. Rice Harper, now living at Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Harper sold this farm after a few years to Hon. A. Tappan, and, re- moving to the middle ridge, purchased a farm of James Thompson. This he soon sold to Mr. Bartram, and purchased the present Hulett farm. In 1815 he removed to Perry township, and remained there until his decease, October 30, 1841. His youngest son, A. J. Harper, Esq., lives in Harpersfield. The next settler was without doubt the James Thompson above referred to. The date of his set- tlement we are unable to give, and in fact can learn nothing of him after he sold his farm to Harper.
Ira Blanchard and Theodore Royce come next in order, and both settled west of Harper,-Blanchard on lands subsequently owned by Phineas Mixer, Sr., and erected the tavern afterwards owned by Mr. Mixer. He died in 1810.
Hon. Abraham Tappan, who occupied a prominent position in the settlement of the eastern portion of the " Reserve," first came to Ohio in company with Judge Walworth. He was engaged in the survey of the lands in the Western Reserve lying west of the Cuyahoga river. In about 1804 or 1805 he married Miss Elizabeth Harper, and for many years lived on the farm purchased, as men- tioned above, of John A. Harper. Mr. Tappan was among the first associate judges for Geauga County. He was postmaster at Unionville for a term of years. In 1852 he removed to Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois, and died there soon after.
Hon. Samuel Wheeler studied law, and after his admission to the bar located at Unionville, where he rose rapidly, and soon acquired a fine reputation. He was a member of the legislature of Ohio several terms. He died November 8, 1831.
Jairus T. Andrews located on the south ridge, west of Unionville, as early as 1805; he was a tailor, and doubtless found little use for his shears, bodkin, and yard-stick. Certain it is that he only remained here a short time, removing to Euclid township, now Cuyahoga county.
Phineas Mixer, Sr., of Norwich, Massachusetts, arrived in Madison on the 24th day of January, 1805, and made settlement on a tract of six hundred acres upon the lake shore, a little above Madison dock. Mr. Flowers now occupies that portion upon which Mr. Mixer erected his dwelling, and the fine farm sur- rounding it. Mr. Mixer had, prior to his removal to Ohio, arranged for the con- struction of a house upon his possessions. This was only partially completed on his arrival, and was entirely without a roof. It was terribly cold ; the snow lay deep upon the ground, and the situation was certainly a trying one; but he was not one to become discouraged at trifles. Temporary shelters were soon con-
structed, and, by the aid of the Harpersfield settlers, his cabin was soon completed. He remained on this property until the year 1811, when he removed to the south ridge, and took the log tavern above referred to. Mr. Mixer was somewhat advanced in life when he came to Ohio, and he died a few years after removing to Unionville. He was a man of sterling qualities, and active in promoting local improvements. His family, who came with him to Ohio, consisted of two sons and three daughters. Julius married Belinda Simmons. He died in 1864. He had six children, five of whom are now living,-two in Madison ; these are Adeline (Mrs. H. Witzman) and Miranda (Mrs. Arnold), who occupies the old homestead. Phineas, Jr., married Miss Dorcas Woodworth in 1821, and suc- ceeded to the homestead. The year following he built the house he still occupies. His life has been a useful one. He was for many years after the organization of the township constantly in office. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and it is said assisted in harvesting the first wheat grown in Madison township. The children are Albert K., lives in Unionville; Talcott, lives in Minneapolis, Min- nesota ; Emma (Mrs. W. C. Barnes,-their daughter Lida is now the wife of Mr. L. L. Pope, of the Chagrin Falls Paper Company) ; Phineas, Jr. (2d), Arkansas ; Anne E .; Arida; Abigail, of Marietta, Ohio; Aretas, drowned at Ashtabula in 1868; and Emily B., of West Winsted, Connecticut. The other children of Phineas Mixer, Sr., are Lois, married William Cady, deceased; Laura, married Nathan Whipple, resides in Madison; and Anna, married Jesse McDonald, deceased. John Wood came to Madison in 1806 or 1807, and located on the " fourth ridge," south of Asa Turney's. John Thomas now owns this farm, which was cleared up by Wood. He, however, removed at an early date to a wild farm south of Grand river, and died there. He had four children, one of whom, a son, was killed by a runaway team. Betsy married Samuel Potter, Jr., who was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Rebecca married Hiram Woodin, deceased ; and Louisa, who married Luther Town.
William Miller, from Coleraine, Massachusetts, arrived in Madison in February, 1807. He was accompanied by his son James. They selected one hundred acres of land on the south ridge, west of Madison village, now occupied by James Woodworth, who married James Miller's youngest daughter, Sevilla. The Millers erected, just west of the present residence of Woodworth, a log house of goodly proportions. Here the father and son lived the life of bachelors, kept tavern, and cleared the farm. James returned to Massachusetts early in the year 1809, and was married in July of the same year to Levina Holbrook, and, on the 14th of the following August, started for his Ohio home, accompanied by his wife, his mother, and two brothers,-Bolton and Ritchie,-and arrived in Madison after a journey of six weeks. Mrs. Miller, Sr., died in Madison. Wil- liam and his son Ritchie were members of Captain Montgomery's company (war of 1812), and the former died while in the service. Ritchie was killed a few years since by the cars, at Bedford, Ohio; Bolton settled in Bristol, Trumbull county, and died there. " Miller's Tavern" afterwards became quite famous by reason of a soldier accidentally shooting himself while at or near the house.
Asa S. Turney, with his family. horses, cattle, and worldly goods, arrived in Madison on December 30, 1809. The spring preceding, Mr. Turney's oldest son, Daniel, with Uriah and Levi Bartram, John Reed, and John French, all young men, came out on foot from Connecticut, and looked over the section where Mr. Turney finally settled. The glowing account of the beauties of the place deter- mined Mr. Turney to make it his future home. He left Redding, Connecticut, November 6, with a wagon drawn by a yoke of cattle and a span of horses. The journey was fraught with hardship; but by dint of perseverance the end was reached, and in fifty-three days they arrived at the Mecca of their pilgrimage. Mr. Turney purchased one hundred acres of land on the south ridge, being the same now occupied by his son, Elder A. S. Turney. The children of this couple are Daniel, David, George W., Asa S., Jr., Marvin, Eli A., Phebe C., and Char- lena, but three of whom are now living. We find the following names of settlers who came at about the date last given, but can learn nothing further of them : A. Hill, Captain Benjamin Montgomery, Roland Ellis, and Abraham Champion.
William Potter was a native of New London, Connecticut, born May 10, 1788. His life from twelve to twenty-one was principally passed as a sailor ; was thirteen months on a whaling-voyage off the coast of Patagonia. He emigrated to Mad- ison, May 8, 1809. The county was an almost unbroken forest. He spent three
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HISTORY OF GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, OHIO.
or four years with a brother Samuel, living south of Unionville. In 1813 he made a visit to Connecticut on foot, returuing in the same manner. In 1814 he purchased the farm upon which he passed his days. He revisited New London in 1821, and was married, February 20, 1823, to Miss Nancy Terrill, of Coving- ton, Genesee county, New York. His children were four in number; the eldest, William T., is a pastor of the Baptist church; the daughter married Mr. Blinn, of Geneva, Ashtabula county ; and the two younger sons reside on the old home- stead.
Lemuel Kimball and family, from Cheshire county, New Hampshire, arrived in Madison township, August 27, 1812, and stopped at Unionville, where he re- mained one year, then removed to Madison, and with his brother, General Abel Kimball, took up seven hundred acres of land. The present elegant residence of General Kimball stands upon a portion of this purchase. The family of Lemuel Kimball consisted of six children,-Mrs. Paige of Painesville, also Mrs. Dr. Rosa, of same place ; Addison resides in Madison. General Kimball occupies a prominent position in the township, and has been ever foremost in promoting its interests. While a member of the State legislature he, in March, 1848, by his own efforts, procured the charter by which we have to-day our Lake Shore rail- road. He had no petition, but worked the matter through by judicious " swap- ping" off. He was elected the first time in 1844.
Luman Wheeler, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, came to Madison in 1817, arriving on March 1 (he was a soldier of the war of 1812), and is still living in the township. Silas Newcomb, originally from Litchfield, Connecticut, removed to Ohio, from Greenwich, Massachusetts, and settled in Madison in August, 1817. He erected his log cabin on or near the site now occupied by the Congre- gational parsonage. He removed to Iowa, and died there in July, 1854.
Carlow Bailey came from Caledonia county, Vermont, and located near Union- ville, in December, 1819. He was a carpenter, and erected many of the houses in that village. His wife, whom he married December 5, 1816, was Apphia B., a sister of Dr. Emory. The children born prior to their coming to Ohio were Emory, who married Eliza Church, and lives in Toledo, Ohio, and Harlow (deceased). The children born in Ohio were Alanson, married Flavia Bond, re- sides in Buffalo; Harlow (deceased) ; Edison (deceased); Caroline, married John Blair, resides in Madison village, and with them her aged parents ; and Daniel, the youngest, who married Mary Donnelly, and lives at Buffalo. The male members of this family have been extensively engaged in ship-building in Madison, Toledo, and elsewhere. Mr. Blair removed to Madison village in 1863; he has ever been an energetic, stirring business man.
Chester Stocking was a native of Glastonbury, Connecticut. He married Clarrina Lee, November 3, 1811. Three children were born to them in Con- necticut,-Wells, W. H., and George. Removed to Madison in September, 1816, coming in a wagon drawn by one yoke of oxen with a horse ahead. He first settled on the middle ridge. There was no mill for grinding corn nearer than Ashtabula or Willoughby, and the stump-mill or mortar was often brought into requisition. Mr. Stocking was the first blacksmith in Madison township. Iron, in those days, was hauled by wagon from New York, and cost twenty-five cents per pound. In 1820, Mr. Stocking helped to cut out the road from Genung's furnace to Madison village. The land was so wet that it was necessary to build a causeway or " corduroy road" nearly the entire distance. Mr. Stocking died November 22, 1876, aged eighty-four years.
John Kellogg, who was born in Shelbourne, Franklin county, Massachusetts, December 10, 1800, came to Madison on foot, arriving there August 30, 1823, having traveled nearly one thousand miles in less than five months. He made purchase of an acre of land, and erected a blacksmith-shop thereon. This he sold, and purchased lands in the village. He was married to Miss Lydia O. Hitchcock on July 4, 1826. Mr. Kellogg has held many of the township offices, and was postmaster for a term of years. H. E. Kellogg, the druggist at Madison village, is a son of the above named.
Elisha Wood located in Madison in 1823, on the spot still occupied by his widow, who was Miss Polly Doty, and to whom he was married December, 1825. See biographical sketch accompanying portraits.
Deacon Curtis A. Tisdel, of Wilmington, Tolland county, Connecticut, was married in 1800 to Sarah Parker, and in 1812 exchanged his lands east with Gideon Granger, agent for unimproved lands in Ohio, and on September 30, 1812, he left his native town and, with a train of two yoke of oxen and three horses, with two covered wagons, in which were his aged parents, a brother, Silas, a wife, and one child, began the journey of nearly six hundred miles, which was to terminate in that far-away wilderness, " New Connecticut," or the Western Reserve. Arriving in New York State, they stopped for a time to visit friends, and arrived in Madison March 3, 1813. The children were Phebe A., who be- came the wife of Joseph Cady; Peres A., married Huldah Hill and lives in Illinois; Freeman, married Nancy Sinclair (deceased); Betsey, married John
Whitmore (deceased); Thomas A., married Maria Stowe (deceased) ; Mary A., married Don Wyman and lives in Perry; and Silas, the youngest child, who married Elizabeth Ely. This gentleman is at present recorder of Lake County, now serving his second term. Mr. Tisdel, Sr., was a farmer. He held many positions of trust in his township. He was deacon of the Baptist church for thirty years. He died November 20, 1838. Mrs. T. died March 20, 1868.
Mr. Robert Burns became a resident of Madison in about the year 1824. He was a native of Ireland, and was born March 15, 1786. His father, with his family, emigrated to this country when Robert was two years of age, and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. When eighteen years old, Robert went to Erie, and went aboard a vessel with Captain Dobbins, and subsequently found himself in Buffalo. He then started on foot through Canada for the west. He eventually found his way to St. Clair, Michigan, where, on the 1st day of January, 1807, he married Jane Wright. He afterwards purchased on the river Raisin, and subsequently removed to within six miles of Detroit. While there, a band of Indians, seventeen in number, entered his house and stole all of his provisions and clothing, even to a handkerchief from Mrs. Burns' neck. He was at one time a prisoner in the hands of the British, and after his release started for Ohio, in February, 1815. Arriving in Euclid, he remained there until April, and then went to Chagrin, and a few months afterward removed to Pennsylvania, and engaged in the milling and stilling business. He was unfortunate, and lost every- thing. In 1822 he removed to Harpersfield, Ashtabula county, and two years subsequently to Madison, as previously stated, and settled in tract three, on a farm now owned by Lee Norton. He is said to have been the first man employed by the Geauga Iron Company in the ore-fields. About two years after settlement he changed his location to the cross-road, from the middle to the north ridge, which road was then merely laid out, but not opened. He lived here until his death, November 27, 1864. His wife died December 2, 1867.
Colonel Luther Trumbull came from Groton, Tompkins county, New York, to Madison in 1827, and after purchasing of Kellogg & Stratton a site for a grist- mill, on south bank of Grand river, returned for his family, which he brought the following year. Immediately afterwards he erected the mill, and subsequently, in 1830 or 1831, built a woolen-factory here also. These mills, together with a saw-mill, which had been built previous to his settlement, were destroyed by fire in 1843, and two men burned to death. Colonel Trumbull was a large land- holder also, owning some four hundred acres. Of his family of six children three are now living, viz. : Aretas, in La Salle county, Illinois; Harriet, widow of John Gill, and Mrs. Homer Griswold, both of whom reside in Madison. The colonel died in August, 1840, and his widow in 1856 or 1857.
Jesse Ladd, originally from Connecticut, came from Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, to Madison on horseback, in 1812, and purchased of the Connecticut Land Company some six hundred acres of land on the south ridge. After making some preparation for settlement he returned for his family, consist- ing of a wife and five children, and his aged father, then eighty-two, who died two or three years subsequent to the arrival.
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