History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 39

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 626

USA > Ohio > Lorain County > History of Lorain County, Ohio > Part 39

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The first orchard was set out by John Williams a short distance north of Copopo. J. Warner erected in the fall of 1812 the first cider-mill, near the block house. The first tavern was kept by Samuel Pardee, in 1812, in a log house on lot thirty-six. Rev. Mr. Ilyde, a Presbyterian, was the first resident mimster. The first blacksmith was Lemnel Hoadley, Sr. His shop was built in 1808, on lot forty-seven.

THE MILITIA,

In the year 1810, a company of militia, composed of men from the townships of Columbia, Ridgeville, Eaton, and also Middleburg in Cuyahoga county, was organized. The following are the names of the mem- bers:

Calvin Hoadley, Lemuel Hoadley, Jr., Elias Frost, Daniel Bronson. Bela Bronson, Jared Pritchard, Levi Bronson, Lathrop Seymour, Sam- nel Potter, Eli Hickox, Warren Fassett, Marcus Terrell, Asa Robertson, Joseph Burke, Marshall Culver, Zephaniah Potter, Eri Hickox, Clark Hoadley, Jared Hickox, Noah Warner, Roswell Scovil. Ebenezer Wilmot, Ira B. Morgan, Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Tillotson Terrell, Leverett Terrell, Wyllis Terrell, David Beebe, Loman Beebe, Lyman Root, Truman Walker, Amos Wilmot, Whittlesey Hill, Sylvester Morgan, Asa Morgan, Richard Vaughan, Ephraim Vanghan, Jonathan Vaughan, Ephraim Fowls, John Fowls, Abram Fowls, Benoni Adams, Samuel Hitchcock, Timothy Doan, Allen Burke, Silas Burke, Chauncey Warner, Horace Gunn, James Geer, Thomas Oshorn, Baird Pritchard, Samuel Pardee, David Bannell, David Eddy, Lyman Frost, Samnel Beebe, Sheldon Wooster, Jno. Hanley, Samuel Hickox, Adna Warner, Aaron Warner.

In the election of officers, Calvin Hoadley was cho- sen captain; Lemnel Hoadley, lieutenant; Lathrop Seymour, ensign; Elias Frost, first sergeant; Samuel Potter. second sergeant; Daniel Bronson, third ser- geant; Bela Bronson, fourth sergeant; Capt. Levi Bronson, first corporal: Capt. Samuel Hickox, second corporal; and Jared Pritchard, third corporal.

After the selection of these "old soldiers " as cor- porals, young Eli Hickox stepped up and said: "I'll be the fourth to carry the jug for the old men," and was thereupon elected fourth corporal. Joseph Burke was drummer; Marshall Culver and Zephaniah Potter. fifers.

Captain Hoadley's commission, a copy of which lies before us, bears date October 25. 1810, and is signed by Samuel Huntington, governor.

The intelligence of Hull's surrender produced a feeling of the gravest apprehension among the inhab- itants; and when, shortly afterward, the information was circulated that a large party of men, ragged and dirty, and some with blankets around them, and handkerchiefs on their heads, were seen landing at Huron, the wildest excitement prevailed. They were believed to be British and Indians overrunning the country, and the people of Columbia, and those of Ridgeville and Eaton also, sought safety in flight. Every wagon, cart and sled was loaded, and a general exodus made for Hudson-an older settled town, then under the protection of the forces of Gen. Wadsworth. who was stationed at "Old Portage." Men, women and children, cattle, sheep and hogs, marched along in promiscuous confusion.

Roswell Scovill, having no other means of convey- ance, tied a feather-bed on lo an unbroken pet colt, placed his wife and babe, then three weeks old. upon it, and thus took them in safety to Hudson, a distance of thirty miles. The first night, some of them en- camped on the ridge between Brunswick and Strongs- ville; some to the east of that ridge; while others took np their quarters in the old log house of Silas Burke. Uncle Oliver Ferrell could not be induced to enter the house, but preferred the exposure of a lodgment on the ground to the more dangerous one, as he believed, in the house. Sentinels were placed to ob- serve the approach of danger, and every preparation made to prevent surprise. That same night, however. Levi Bronson, who, to obtain more definite informa- tion in regard to the report, had gone to Cleveland, arrived with the cheering information that the party supposed to be British and Indians, were Hull's pa- roled prisoners, and the people thereupon returned to their homes.

On their flight, believing their homes would be pillaged and burned, they concealed many of their household goods in the woods, hiding them in hollow logs, in the thick brush, and in other places where they believed them safe from the supposed invaders. When they returned, many valued articles, which they supposed were effectually concealed, lay on the ground in plain sight, while others of but little worth or use were so securely hid that it was impossible again to find them.

After the return of the fugitives. Capt. Hoadley. to re-assure the people, called out the militia, and immediately afterward received orders from Gen. Wadsworth to proceed with his company to the defence of Cleveland. This the doughty captain peremptorily

155

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OIITO.

refused to do, and thus leave the people without protection in time of danger. He was therefore not court-martialed for disobedience of orders, but directed to establish " frontier military headquarters " in Co- lumbia, and the erection of

THE BLOCK HOUSE,

so long a historical landmark of this exciting period, was accordingly begun, under the direction of David Beebe, of Ridgeville. Its location was a short dis- tance south of Copopo, on the east side of the river. The building was some thirty-five feet square, two stories, the upper projecting over the lower story two feet on the sides, with a row of port-holes in each story. While in course of erection the militia occu- pied the house of Mrs. Azor Bronson near by. The fort was garrisoned for about three months. The com- pany was furnished, by the United States government, with new rifles, which were brought by Sylvester Morgan, and two others on horseback, from Cleve- land. About one-half of the company afterwards be- came substitutes for drafted men, and served under Gen. Harrison.

Until Perry's victory on Lake Erie, in September, 1813, the red coat and the scalping knife haunted the settlers in visions by day and in dreams by night; and a rumor, however improbable, would cause immediate flight to the fort.

In the spring of 1812, Benoni Adams, while in search of some cattle, spied Joseph Burke as he was getting over a brush fence some distance from him, and it occurred to Adams to have a little sport. Evi- dences of Indians in the immediate vicinity had recently been seen, and, when Adams gave a shout in imitation of the Indian's warwhoop, Burke darted off like a deer for his house. Adams, secing his fright, and fearing the consequences of his joke, called after him to stop, but that only frightened Burke the more. Arriving at his house, he apprised his family of their danger, and, with their youngest childl in his arms, Mrs. Burke following with the rest, set out for the fort, Burke yelling " Indians!" all the way. The alarm spread rapidly, and many ludicrous scenes were enacted.

Mrs. Azor Bronson, then a widow, lived a short distance from the fort, and the family of Noah War- ner lived with her. Mrs. Bronson, on hearing the alarm, collected together a few things, and, seizing an old musket that had neither lock nor stock, with which to defend herself, started for the fort; while Mrs. Warner took a kettle of beans from over the fire and followed, in her terror forgetting her babe in the cradle.

After the close of the war small bands of Indians oc- casionally returned to the Columbia hunting grounds. The last of them was a small party that encamped one winter on the bank of the river opposite the block house, in which, that same winter, Samnel Potter taught school. In the spring they went south, and only an occasional Indian was afterwards seen.

During the first years of the settlement there were seasons of great scarcity of food. Such a season oc- curred in 1809. Whole families lived for many weeks at a time without bread and other necessaries of life. This season the people were reduced to such extremi- ties that provisions had to be imported. James Geer and Seba Bronson, Jr., dug out a canoe and in it went down Rocky river, thence to Cleveland, where they engaged a man named Johnson, with his boat, to go with them to the river Raising, now Monroe, Mich., after provisions. A terrific storm overtook them and they came near being lost. Their progress was slow, the journey so prolonged, and the people re- duced to such a degree of want for food, that on the return of the party with provisions, a day of thanks- giving to Almighty God was observed.

The year 1811 was also a dismal one for the pioneers. A fever prevailed extensively, resulting in the death of nine members of the little community. Azor Bron- son was the first and Bela Bronson the next; soon after followed Mrs. Pardee, three children of Ashael Osborn, and three of John Williams. Whole families were sick at the same time, and there were not enough left in health to attend the sick. The dead were in- terred in cotlins made by Captain Hoadley, out of planed whitewood slabs, and blackened with a mix- ture of basswood charcoal and milk.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

At the time of its organization, this township was a part of Geauga county. At the election of officers, held at the house of Calvin Hoadley, Nathaniel Hoad- ley was called to the chair, and Bela Bronson appointed secretary. Township officers were chosen viva voce, as follows: Bela Bronson, elerk; Calvin Hoadley, John Williams and Jared Pritchard, trustees; Lathrop Sey- mour, constable. In May following, Nathaniel Doane was elected justice of the peace.

"All of Geanga county lying west of Columbia was annexed to that township for judicial and other pur- poses. The jurisdiction of that judicial functionary covered, in territorial extent, nearly an empire. The plaintiff in the first action brought before him, lived on Grand river, and the defendant on the Vermillion. It was the case of Skinner es. Hulburt. The plaintiff had judgment, which was paid, not in legal tender, but in labor."* The labor was performed by the defendant for Calvin Hoadley and Nathaniel Doane, which paid the judgment.

Mrs. Sally Brown, in honor of being the first while woman that settled in town, was accorded the privi- lege of naming it. She selected that of her native township, " Columbia." At the time of the organi- zation, there were twenty voters in the township, as follows: Lemuel Hoadley, Sr., Lemuel Hoadley, Jr., Calvin Hoadley, Jared Pritchard, Horace Gunn, Na- thaniel Doane, Timothy Doane, Job Doane, Lathrop Seymour, Isaac Frost, Elias Frost, Lyman Frost,

* Judge Boynton.

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

James Geer, JJohn Williams, Bela Bronson, Seba Bronson, Sr., Seba Bronson, Jr .. Daniel Bronson, James Strong and Walter Strong.

'The officers of the township, in 1828, were as fol- lows: B. B. Adams, clerk: R. J. Bastard, Jr., and (. E. Perkins, justice of the peace.

GRIST MILL.

The first manufacturing establishment ever built in the county was the rude log grist mill of Calvin Hoadley, built in the summer of 1809. Its location was on the east bank of Rocky river, on lot thirty- four. The captain built a dam across the creek on that lot, about where the present road intersects the , creek, and carried the water to his mill by a ditch some fifty rods in length. The mill-stones of this pioncer establishment were made out of a couple of " hard-heads," by Lemuel Hoadley. The mill was crowded with business, but it soon came to an inglo- rious end. The great drawback was its failure to run in dry weather, and the first freshet carried away the dam. The enterprise was abandoned. and a location was selected on the same river, on the north line of the township, on lot. twenty-one. Here he erected, in April. 1811, another log mill, and the same year a saw mill. These mills, in that early time, constituted a center of as much importance as a great city does to-day. " Hoadley's Mills " were known far and wide. In 1816, the log grist mill gave way to a frame. This old mill, built over sixty years ago. is still in opera- tion, and has undergone but little change. although the familiar, smiling face of the miller has long since disappeared.

For sixty years the mill has stood, For sixty years the dashing flood Has turned the wheel with roaring sound Through foaming waters, round and round.

Sixty years, and overhead The same broad roof of blue is spread: But in the meadows bright and green, The stranger's children now are seen.

SAW MILL.

A saw mill was built by Reuben Lewis in about the year ISIt, a half-mile south of the center. A man by the nameof Olmsted made the running gear and set it in operation. When the water was let on, the wheel turned the wrong way, and before the slight defeet could be remedied. a freshet washed a channel around the mill and swept it away.

There are at the present time one grist mill-the old mill of Capt. Hoadley-now owned by O. Van Hise. and two saw mills, those of 0. Van Ilise and Brown & Brother.

THE COLUMBIA CHEESE FACTORY.

the only one in the township, was built in t86 ;. It is located at the center, and is owned by W. B. Follanshee. The number of cows supplying the factory is about three hundred. Average daily consumption of milk during the season of 1818 was from six to seven thou- sand pounds, making twelve cheese per day. of forty pounds each, and seventy pounds of butter. B. B. Adams. of the center, is at present conducting the enterprise.

The only store in Columbia is that of R. J. Bas- tard & Son, who carry a general stock of merchandise. The post office is in their store-R. Bastard. P. M.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS FOR 1578.

What, 517 acres. 6,4ST bushels.

Dats. 853 .. 35,166

Corn. 1,014 36,095

Potatoes, 93 .

9,123

Orchards, 173 "

2,025

Meadow, 2081

.155 tons.

Butter

50,575 pounds.

Cheese.

. 185,100

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

Hayes. 174 | Tilden. 54

At the time of the Jackson campaign, there was but one Jackson man in the township, and he did not vote.

RANSOM BRONSON.

Mr. Bronson is a worthy descendant of an old and honored family. He was born in Waterbury, Conn., Sept. 11, 1805. He traces his lineage back to John Bronson, who emigrated from England to the United States in the year 1636. He settled in Hartford, Conn., but afterwards removed to Farmington, where he died in the year 1680.

His son Isaac was one of the earliest settlers in Waterbury, Conn., whence came the first settlers of the township of Columbia.

The successive descendants, in the line of aneestry, were as follows: John Bronson, Joseph Bronson, Seha Bronson, and Azor Bronson, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was one of a family of fourteen children, nearly all of whom emigrated to the West, as did also their parents.

He was one of the five trustees of the Waterbury Land Company, and was therefore one of the original owners of the soil of Columbia. He emigrated to the township with his family, consisting of his wife and four children, in the summer of 1811, ar- riving at the place of destination on the 4th day of July. He located on sub-lot 11, but before the con- pletion of his house he was stricken down by a malignant disease, which was so fatally prevalent in the infant settlement at that time.

The family was left at his death in peculiarly unfortunate circumstances. The mother had four young boys-the oldest only thirteen-to care for in the uncleared forest, with no available means to elear

the land of the debt resting against it, or even to put the uncompleted house in a condition for occupancy. She moved into a house belonging to Nathaniel Doane, which she occupied until her marriage to Reuben Lewis, some three years after the death of her first husband.

Instead of ameliorating her condition by this mar- riage, as she evidently expected to do, it was rendered infinitely worse by the unkindness of her husband, both to herself and children. After an unharmonious union of four years a separation ensued, Mr. Lewis removing from the township.

During this time the boys worked ont at whatever they could find to do, and thus supported themselves, and for a time were kept together with their mother.

Ransom, at the age of eleven, took up his abode, under contract, with Marshall Culver. One day he thoughtlessly cut down some of the trees in his em- ployer's growing sugar-bush. Culver was greatly offended, and refused to keep the boy longer. The lad regarded this as a great misfortune, but it really proved a blessing in disguise, for he was immediately after placed under the care of Samuel Hitchcock, to whose teaching and infinenee he attributes much of his subsequent success in life. He was trainedl by him in habits of industry and economy.

Dec. 4, 1833, Mr. Bronson was united in marriage to Mrs. S. H. Frink. His mother subsequently made her home with them, and died at their residence in Columbia, in the year 1851, aged seventy-seven.

Photo, by Lee, Elyria, O.

MRS. RANSOM BRONSON.

Mr. Bronson's ocenpation has been that of a farmer, and by good management, untiring industry, and fru- gał habits he has accumulated a fine property.

He has held various township offices, such as trus- tee, justice of the peace, etc. He was elected to the former office when twenty-two years of age. He was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but at the organization of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of West View, which was the result of a division of the former church on the question of slavery, became one of the charter members.

His first wife died in 1877, and Dec. 25 of the same year he married the widow of Aaron J. Cha- pin, with whom he is now living at West View, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio.

Mrs. Bronson is the daughter of Moses and Almira (Smith) Adams, who were born in Scholarie Co., N. Y., in the year 1805; the father, Ang. 7, and the mother, April 26.

About the year 1849, Mr. Adams removed with his family to Riceville, Pa., where he has continued to reside up to the present time.

They had a family of six children,-two boys and four girls. The oldest danghter died in Joliet, Ill., in 1878, and a son, John Q. A. M., died when young.

Mary L. (Mrs. Bronson) was born in Stockton,

Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Aug. 6, 1832. July 6, 1853, she was married to Aaron J. Chapin, of Riceville, Pa., and became the mother of four children, as follows : Ida E., born April 20, 1854 ; John Q. A. M., born July 6, 1856 ; Olive M., born Sept. 9, 1857 ; Elmer D., born April 15, 1861.

Ida married, in the year 1870, Lindsey Anderson, and is now residing at Harvard, Ill. The two sons, unmarried, also reside there. Olive died March 19, 1859.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapin first settled in Canada, where they remained about a year, thence removing to Iowa. After a residence there of three years they moved to Minnesota, and two years subsequently, back to their former home in Riceville, Pa.

Ile was a cabinet-maker, and was a skillful work- man. Mr. Chapin served four years in the war of the Rebellion, being a member of Company D, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He died in Canada, in the year 1871.

During her widowhood, Mrs. Bronson resided mostly at Titusville, Pa., but retained her home in Riceville. Though encountering many difficulties, by industry and frugality she maintained herself and children, whom she gave also a good education. She looks back to that period as one of great use- fulness.

JESSE EDDY was born in Washington Co., Pa., Dec. 15, 1814. He was the son of David and Elizabeth Eddy, and lived at the home of his parents until he became of age.

David Eddy came from Pennsylvania about 1806, and erected a log cabin for his father, Caleb Eddy, in Euclid township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. He spent a part of his time in Columbia township, Lorain Co., until his marriage with Elizabeth Sherdine, of Pennsylvania, March 4, 1814. The following year (1815) he brought his wife and settled in Columbia township, remaining there until his death, which occurred Oct. 21, 1853. His wife survived him about one year, she dying Oct. 6, 1854. They had four children, as follows, namely :

Jesse, born Dec. 15, 1814; married Caroline Chamber- lain, Jan. 30, 1837; had issue-Mary E., who married Cephas Myers ; Susan Josephine, who died in early child- hood ; Hattie E., who married James M. Mann ; both now reside in Rochester township.

Enos Eddy, born Dec. 1, 1816 ; married Cynthia Brad- ford ; died May 11, 1847.

Susannah Eddy, born March 24, 1820 ; married Myron Bradford ; died Ang. 21, 1851.

Eunice Eddy, born Feb. 22, 1822 ; married-1st, Hiram N. Bradford ; 2d, Samuel Huntley. Her children were Eddy, Sylva E., Viola S., Henry O., of whom Viola died Oct. 1, 1862; Sylva married Dr. M. H. Miller; and Henry married Miss Ella Storrow.

Caleb Eddy was born in the year 1754, in Morristown, Morris Co., N. J. He married a Miss Brown. Their children were Timothy, born March 4, 1781 ; David, born Feb. 1, 1783; Elizabeth, born Dec. 9, 1784, still living in New Jersey in her ninety-third year.

Caleb Eddy married for his second wife a Widow Jones, and had by her four sons and two daughters,-Esther, born Aug. 9, 1789; Caleb, Jr., born Sept. 25, 1791; Saralı, born Sept. 4, 1793; Phebe, born Dec. 12, 1797 ; Samuel, born Nov. 24. 1799, still living in Bristol township, Kenosha Co., Wis. ; Isabel, born Sept. 20, 1804.

About the year 1790. Caleb Eddy moved into Washington Co., Pa., where his last five children were born. Ile went from Pennsylvania to Euclid, Ohio, about the year 1807, and was among the pioneers of Cuyahoga County. He died there about the year 1819. His widow afterwards married a Mr. Blinn, and died at Euchid. Caleb Eddy followed his trade, that of a blacksmith, most of his life, giving little attention to farming.

Jesse Eddy, as before stated, remained at home until he was twenty-one. He was occupied as a farm laborer, rent- ing lands for a year or two after his marriage, when his father gave him twenty acres. He subsequently purchased ten acres more, making a total of thirty acres. These he exchanged for sixty acres of woodland, and on this he built a log cabin, and commenced life in real earnest by carving for himself a home.

He succeeded in clearing up and cultivating these sixty acres, upon which he lived until 1870, when he removed to Rochester township.

His wife died in the old home, Feb. 5. 1855. She never had a strong constitution, but was full of energy and am- bition. Her death was deeply mourned by her husband and friends.

Mr. Eddy has had various offices of trust bestowed upon him by his fellow-citizens. Ile was postmaster at Rochester Depot for four and a half years, and bears the reputation of having been its most efficient officer. During his term he registered nine hundred letters; the smallest amount having been fifty cents, the largest, seven thousand dol- lars, in bonds, which went to Fort Collins, Col. He has also hield other trusts, all of which he filled faithfully and well.

He became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the year 1843. and is still in communion with that de- nomination.

In polities he is a staunch Republican, having affiliated with that party in its organization, prior to which he was an old-line Whig.

CENTER CEMETERY

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH , RIDGEVILLE, LORAIN CO., O.

RIDGEVILLE .*

THIS TOWNSHIP, known as number six, in the six- teenth range, was drawn by Ephraim Root, of Hart- ford, Conn.

The surface rises from the north in successive ridges, parallel to the lake shore, the principal of which are Center ridge, Chestnut ridge and Butter- nut ridge. The soil is varied and fertile, producing abundantly whatever the hand of the husbandman entrusts to it. The township is one of the most highly improved in the county, presenting to one who rides through it an almost constant succession of cultivated fields and tasty homes. Along the ridges originally prevailed the chestunt, butternut, white- wood, white oak, beech and maple -- the chestnut being especially abundant. On the lower land, the elm, basswood, black ash and hickory were the leading varieties. The streams are few and unimportant, the principal being East ereek, Center creek and West creek, so called from their position in the township. The first two flow into Avon, where they unite and form French ereek, a tributary of Black river. West creek flows into the township of Elyria and is also an affluent of Black river.

There are two stone quarries in the northeastern part of the township, owned and worked by Lovel and Syd- ney L. Beebe. The stone underlies a considerable tract of land and is sandstone of the newer formation. Some of the finest building stone in the country are obtained at these quarries. It is finished up by the owners, at the present time, chiefly for monumental use. There is a similar quarry on the farm of Wyllis Terrell, though not extensively worked.

FIRST ARRIVALS.

In the fall of 1809, Oliver Terrell, Ichabod Terrell and David Beche, Sr., of Waterbury, Conn., exchanged their New England farms with Mr. Root for some- thing over one-fourth of the township. Having the privilege of selecting their land, they chose the north- east quarter, with some additional territory on Butter- nut ridge.

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 39

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 626

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 626