History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 41

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

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made of "jointed " eorn, milk and stewed pumpkin, were some of the dishes composing the meal. Until the erection of the Cahoon mill, in the spring of 1813, it was often difficult for the settlers to get their grind- ing done. They sometimes carried their grain to the mill at Chagrin Falls, forty miles distant, and, at others, depended on the " mortar and pestle."

The clothing of the early settlers was as simple as their food. For a number of years after settlement, every farmer whose land was suitable for the growth of flax, cultivated more or less of the product, from which most of the clothing for summer wear was made. In the winter the men occasionally wore whole suits of buckskin. and their pantaloons were fre- quently of that material. It was far more durable than agreeable. The pants would often be wet to the knees, and, when dried in the evening before the blazing tire, something of a struggle would be required for the wearer, on going to rest, to bring about a separation; and the experience of getting into them of a morning, with the thermometer, perhaps, down to zero, ean be better imagined than described.

While their condition was one of poverty, it was softened by the fact that none were exempt from it. They all shared the same lot, endured the same hard- ships, subsisted on the same food, and were arrayed in the same rude garments, and there was, therefore, no occasion for envy or uneasiness on the part of any one.

There were many things, however, that tended to discouragement. The cattle died in large num- bers of murrain-a disease from which they were not wholly exempt for many years. Wolves attacked and killed the sheep, and considerable expense was incurred in building enclosures to protect them from the carnivorous designs of those annoying animals. Not only were the sheep unsafe from them, but they would frequently kill calves and young cattle. Joel Terrell, one night, thus lost two young cattle only a short distance from his house.

In the prosecution of the work of clearing, the larger trees were generally girdled, and, when dead, would frequently in a dry time take fire from burning logheaps, when an arduous struggle would be required for the settlers to save their homes. A fire, origi- nating in this manner, destroyed, in the summer of 1815, the log house of the elder Beebe, with all its contents except a single bed.

In August, 1812, Ilull surrendered Detroit, and a ew days after, a report reached Ridgeville that a party of British and Indians were seen landing at Huron. This information created the greatest ex- eitement among the inhabitants, and preparations for flight were immediately commenced. Household goods were scoreted in brush heaps, stowed away in hollow logs, and even buried in the earth, while a few blankets and other camp equipage were packed on horses, or in wagons, a general hegira was made for Columbia. There were about ten famlies living in Ridgeville at this time. David Beebe, Sr., David

NANCY HUMPHR

MARK HUMPHRY

-TENANT HOU

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Beebe, Jr., Joel Terrell, Wyllis Terrell, and Loman Beebe, and their families, with a wagon and two yoke of cattle journeyed along the ridge road, until they reached the old mud road leading to Columbia. Ichabod Terrell and his family, with a cart and a yoke of oxen, took the old Indian trail to Columbia. In preparing for the journey, Mr. Terrell discovered that one of his oxen was suffering intensely from the bite of a rattlesnake, his swollen tongue hanging out of his mouth, and the family traveled only a mile and a half the first day. They camped in the woods the first night, and the next day, the disabled ox having partially recovered, they arrived in Columbia. The Beebe party, after many mishaps, reached Hoadley's Mills, on the north line of the township of Columbia, and spent the night in a deserted log cabin. The Columbia settlement was found to be nearly aban- doned. The next day, word reached them that the party. supposed to be Hull's victors, were the paroled prisoners, and the refugees returned to their homes, all surviving their terrible fright. From this time until Perry's vietory, the settlers lived in almost eon- stant fear of Indian massacre.

All the men in Ridgeville, who were subject to military duty, were stationed at the block house, in Columbia, and thus the women and children were left to the protection of a few old men. Thus things con- tinned until September. 1813. On the tenth day of that month, the roar of cannon was plainly heard in Ridgeville, booming, at first, so slowly that, it is said, Mrs. David Beebe distinctly counted sixty guns when the firing became a confused sound. The inhabitants knew that a battle on the lake was in progress, and that on its result, depended the safety of their homes. and perhaps their lives, and hence their minds were intensely agitated. Soon the joyful news arrived that Perry had won a glorious victory, and further fears were dispelled.

The following are the names of those from Ridge- ville who were on duty at the block house, viz: Wyllis Terrett. David Beebe, Jr., Loman C. Beebe, Samuel Beebe, Leverett Terrell, Oliver Terrell, Philander Terrell, Tillotson Terrell, Noah Terrell, John W. Hill, and Sheldon Wooster.

A few additions were made to the settlement during the war. Stephen Cables came into the township in 1812, and settled on lot thirty-three. Three years afterward, he removed to Amherst, where he tived the remainder of his life.

John Reading arrived in the same year. He located on the farm on which Bradford Race now lives. He married a daughter of John Barnum.

Asahel Morgan settled on center ridge, lot sixteen, in September, 1813. He came into the country with- out his family in the fall of 1810, driving one of the teams of the party that came at that time-as far as the eighteen mile woods, in New York. He soon after returned to Connecticut for his family, but was dissuaded from moving at that time by the prospect of war. Mr. Morgan died in 1837, on his original

location. His wife died in 1832. They had seven children, as follows: Asa, Ira B., Sylvester, Martin, Minerva, Eli L. and Maria. The first three emigrated to Ohio a few years before the remainder of the family, and were among the first settlers in Eaton township. The rest of the children, except Maria, who died early, married and settled in Ridgeville. Eli is the only surviving member of the family; he lived in Ridge- ville until 1862. He now lives in Carlisle, and is seventy-four years of age.

Martin Shellhouse and family, and his oldest son Martin and his family, came into the township in 1813, and located on conter ridge. The old gentle- man was in very feeble health at the time of arrival, and died a week afterward. The wife of Martin Jr. also died shortly after settlement. The rest of the two families, except two daughters who intermarried with the Sextons, removed to Florence, Erie county.

Amos and Samuel Cahoon settled in 1813.

Moses Eldred came into the township in December, 1813. He was a native of Massachusetts, whence he removed to Dover, Cuyahoga county, in March, 1811. llis location in Ridgeville was on center ridge, lot forty-six. At the time of his settlement there was not a house west of him nearer than Florence, Erie county. He lived in Ridgeville until 1836, and then again took up his residence in Cuyahoga county, in Bedford, and later in Carlisle, where he died in June, 1857. Mrs. Eldred diel in 1832. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living. Clark, Noah and Melissa (Mrs. Wm. O. Cahoon) live in Elyria township, and Francis in Ridgeville. Aaron lives in Medina county, Ohio, and Jarvis in Michigan.

Mr. Eldred served in the war of 1812, and was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians on the penin- sula. near Sandusky, in September, 1812. Joshua R. Giddings, then a young man, sixteen or seventeen years of age, was in the same engagement, and carried Mr. E. from the field of battle. He was the first postmaster in Ridgeville, and at a subsequent period was associate judge for Lorain county.

Asahel and Sylvester Powers settled on Stony ridge in 1814 or 1815, and Jonah Hanchett and John Gould about the same time.

Calvin Smith and Zenas Barnum came into the township in 1815. The latter bought out Stephen Cables. His father, John Barnum, arrived the next year.

Channeey and James Emmons were the first settlers on Butternut ridge, in this township, settling in 1814. In 1818, Joseph Cole planted himself between them. Buel Peck. N. Il. Hinkley, N. Case, Philo Murray. E. Rice, Peter Cole, Miles Tyler, and a family of the name of Chanter, came about the same time.

Borden Beebe, originally from Connectieut, removed from Canandaigua to Ridgeville in 1813, and located on Center ridge, lot twenty-eight. A few years sub- sequent, he moved to Chestnut ridge, and bought the farm previously owned by his son-in-law. Truman Walker, and spent the remainder of his life there,

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Aaron Sexton, father of the Sextons previously mentioned, with his wife and three sons, arrived in 1816, and took up his abode on the lot on which James and George were then residing, they erecting a house for him. His son William afterward married and settled in Carlisle, and Platt in Huron county. The other son, Eastus, was a cripple and never mar- ried. The father died in 1822 or 1828, and his wife many years after, in the ninety-fourth year of her age.

Truman Walker was the first settler on Chestnut ridge. He located in the year 1813 or 1814. John Shaffer was an early settler in this part of the town. Harris Emmons and Seth R. Alcott located further west on the same road, in 1818.

John Kibby settled here on lot fifteen, in the summer of 1821. He and his wife are living, and on their original location. A little romance is asso- ciated with their marriage, which oceurred on their journey from Connecticut. Having suddenly deter- mined to emigrate with Origen Adams and family to the "far west," a compliance with the law, re- quiring the publication from the pulpit of the mar- miage bans for three successive Sundays preceding the marriage, was impossible. But as soon as the party got out of their native county, a justice of the peace was sought, to whom the young man stated his case, accompanied by a request to nnite him to his traveling companion, "if he could do so in view of the law." The magistrate expressed his contempt for the law, tied the nuptial knot, and the young people resumed the journey as man and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Kibby are now aged respectively eighty and seventy- eight. Mr. Kibby has been blind for the last four years. Adams located in the western part of the town on Center ridge. Some twenty years afterward, he removed to Wisconsin, where he subsequently died. A son, Elmer, lives in Elyria: and a daughter, Mrs. Jeremiah Van Wormer, in Ridgeville.

Ebenezer Porter settled on Sugar ridge in 1822, and died here in 1867, at the advanced age of ninety-two. Two of the children live in the county, viz: Mrs. Cyrus L. Sexton in Ridgeville, and Mrs. Williams in Avon. The family was from Massachusetts, as was also that of Richard Van Wormer and his father, Jeremiah, who located on the same road in 1823.

Thomas Phelps arrived in 1822, locating on lot twenty-eight, where Borden Beebe previously lived. Hle eventually removed to the township of Sullivan and subsequently died there.

Isaac S. Terrell and a family by the name of Me- Neal settled on Butternut ridge in 1822.

Chester Beebe, son of David Beebe, Sr., with his family, consisting of his wife and two sons, joined the settlement in October, 1818. He settled on the northeast corner lot of the township, known as the " windfall" lot, erecting his house on the location now oceupied by his son, Sidney L. Beebe. He raised a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. The sons, Laurel, Lovel,

Sidney L., are residents of the town. Mr. Beebe's death occurred October 22, 1862; and that of his wife in May, 1868.

William Blain and his family moved into town in the same year. They were from New Jersey. Mr. Blain made his location on Butternut ridge. He cleared up the farm now occupied by the widow of his son, Riehard, and lived on it until his death in 1849. Mrs. Blain died in 1861. They had a family of seven children, two of whom, Mrs. Lydia Abbey and Isaae Biain reside in the township.

James Blakesley and his family, consisting of his wife and five children, moved into town in February, 1820. They were originally from Waterbury, but came from Trumbull county to Ridgeville. Mr. Blakesley located on Butternut ridge, on lot fourteen, and lived there until his death in 1858, aged eighty- two. ITis wife died in 1840. Chauncey Blakesley is the only member of the family now living in the town. A daughter, Eliza, marmed Elijah Rigby, in Trumbull county. He came to Ridgeville with his family in 1819, settling on lot fourteen. He subse- quently went to Illinois, where his wife died. He now lives in Wisconsin.

Joseph Humphrey and family, consisting of wife and four children, came to Ridgeville from Conneeti- cut. in 1822. Hle settled at the Center, on the loca- tion of the brick hotel, which he built in 1830. Ilis lavern bore the name of " Farmer's Inn." His death oceurred in 1853 or 1854. His widow died many years after, aged eighty-six. Three children are now living, and in Ridgeville, viz : Mrs. Ichabod Terrell, Mrs. Harry Terrell and Mark Humphrey. le --- Mark-continued the hotel for a number of years after his father's death.

E. Byington settled in 1822 or 1823. Oliver Lewis moved into town in 1829. Otis Briggs in 1830, settling on the farm on which he now resides, aged eighty-one.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first couple married in the township was Jethro Butler, of Dover, to Clarissa Beebe, daughter of Borden Beebe. They were married in the winter of 1813, by JJoel Terrell, justice of the peace. The first child born in Ridgeville of civilized parents, was Harriet Terrell, daughter of Noah and Esther Ter- rell. This event occurred in the spring of 1811, and, very appropriately, in the first house built in the township. Wyllis Terrell, in writing of this event in the Elyria Constitution, says :

"During the winter frequent rains and heavy snow-fall filled the swamps and low places with water, and at the opening of Spring, to make the matter still worse, there came an unusually heavy rain, and Center creek swelled to the size of a river. David Beebe becoming alarmned at the situation, started up the creek to look after his daughter and family, and found her and her babe, three weeks old, in bed, and the water four inches deep on the floor, and a little fire in a kettle near the bed. lle moved the family to his home on the ridge, and thus the cabin was deserted after being the home of the first settlers for eleven months."

Miss Terrell married Paul Taylor, and subsequently removed to Illinois. The second child born in the

MARIA HINCKLEY.

N. H. HINCKLEY

PHOTOS BY J. C. POTTER, ELYRIA, 0

RESIDENCE OF E. W. HINCKLEY, RIDGEVILLE, TP, LORAIN CO. O

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IHISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

township was Naney Beebe, daughter of David and Belinda Beebe. She was born April 18th, 1812. She beeame the wife of Mark Humphrey, now living in Ridgeville. The first male child born in the town was Owen A. Cable, son of Stephen Cable. He was born in 1813. The first death was that of Martin Shell- house, an old gentleman who was brought from Ver- mont to Ridgeville on a bed. He died Nov. 27, 1813, one week after his arrival in the township. The sec- ond death was that of Lydia Terrell, daughter of Noah Terrell. She died in August, 1814, before complet- ing the first term of school taught in the town. The first place selected for the burial of the dead, was on the farm of Asahel Morgan, on lot sixteen. Only a few interments were made there, however, the loca- tion being abandoned a few years after, and a site selceted at the center of town, the ground for which was given by JJoel Terrell. The change of location was the cause of much displeasure to Mr. Morgan, who is credited with the remark, when it was decided upon, that he would never be buried in the Terrell burying ground as long as he lived and had his senses. John Barnum, who died in 1819, was the first person buried in this cemetery. Most of the bodies in the okl graveyard were removed to the new. That of Lydia Terrell, however, was never disturbed, and the precise spot in which it rests is not now known. The first frame erection in the township was the barn of Amos Cahoon, built in 1813. The old struc- ture was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1878. The tirst frame house was the tavern of Wyllis Ter- rell, Sr., built in 1822. The first blacksmith was Zenas Barnum. His first shop was located at the center of town, and consisted simply of a few forked stakes and poles, with a roof of shakes. Afterwards he had a better structure in the west part of town. The first doctor that practiced in the town was Zephaniah Potter, of Columbia. The earliest settled physician was Dr. John Butler. The first wolf killed in the township was shot by Garry Root, in 1812, then a lad of fourteen years. This was quite an event, as the cunning animal was rarely bagged by the most experienced hunter. The

FIRST CHEESE

made in the township, and, very probably, the first in Lorain county, was made by Mrs. Belinda Beebe, in 1813. She pressed it with a fence rail, one end of which was stuck in between the logs of their cabin, while, on the other end, was hung a basket filled with stones. The basket consisted simply of a bark hoop peeled from the body of a tree. A forked stick con- stituted the cheese ladder. Thus is necessity fertile in expedients.

FIRST LAW SUIT.

The first law suit was between Loman C. Beebe, plaintiff, and Joseph Cahoon, defendant. It was held at the house of David Beebe, June 17, 1813, and be- fore Asahel Osborn, a justice of the peace of Colum-

bia. It was an action for damages, the plaintiff claiming unfaithfulness, wasteage and poor work, on the part of defendant in the grinding of a quantity of wheat for plaintiff, in May of the above year. The decision of the court, rendered June 18, 1813, was in the following words:

"It appears, from evidence before this court, that, from twenty-eight bushels of wheat, which said plaintiff carried to said defendant's mill, said defendant made one hundred and eleven pounds' weight less flour, and that not so good as Capt. Calvin Hoadley generally makes out of similar wheat. From a mature consideration of the evidence and cir- cumstances, it is the opinion of this court that the said plaintiff, Loman C. Beebe, is entitled to receive of the said defendant, Joseph Cahoon, the sum of six dollars damage, and five dollars and seventy-seven cents costs of suit, for which judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff against defendant by this court."

The first legal process issued by a magistrate of Ridgeville after its organization, was a writ of attach- ment, taken out by Loman C. Beebe, against Simeon Tylor. It was dated August 2, 1813, and signed by Joel Terrell, justice of the peace. This was served on Tylor by John Reading, constable.

RELIGIOUS MATTERS.

In emigrating to the new country, the pioneers of Ridgeville did not leave behind them the New Eng- land habits in which they had been trained. 1 religious service was held the first Sunday after the arrival of David Beebe and his associates. Joel Terrell conducted the exercises, which consisted of the reading of a portion of scripture, a prayer, and the singing of a psalm, or two, to which David Beebe " pitched " the tunes. Very few of the earliest set- tlers were members of the church, and a church organization was not formed until twelve years after settlement; but during all this time, Sabbath services were regularly kept up. For this, much credit is due Joel Terrell, who was by profession a Baptist. He did more to establish religious worship, and to regu- larly maintain it, in the absence of a minister and a church organization, than any one else. He usually conducted the meetings, which were at first held at the dwellings of the inhabitants, and subsequently at the school house at the Center. The

FIRST CHURCHI

was formed December 20, 1822, Rev. Alfred H. Betts. of Brownhelm, and Rev. Lot R. Sullivan officiating in its organization. The people, on the occasion, assembled at the school house, but it was found to be too small to accommodate the large number that came together, and the congregation repaired to the barn of Joseph Humphrey, on the opposite side of the road, where a sermon, appropriate to the occasion, was delivered by Dr. Betts. The organization was called " The First Presbyterian Church of Ridgeville," and was composed of six members, as follows: Chester Beebe, and Marcia Beebe, his wife, Hezekiah Case, Samuel Eldred, Seth R. Alcott, and Lucinda Cahoon. Mr. Alcott was appointed church clerk.

The next Sabbath after the organization, the fol- lowing persons, who had necessarily been absent on

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

that occasion, presented letters for admission, and, on examination, were received into the church, viz: Mrs. Hezekiah Case, Marens Case, Laura Case his wife. and Ora Case. The church never had a settled pastor, but depended upon neigboring towns for the ministry of the Word. Meetings were held in the school house, at the center of town, and in the school house at the west part of town, until the erection of a house of worship in -

The church was never very prosperous. It strug- gled along, under adverse circumstances, for many years. but gradually lost ground, until it practi- cally ceased toexist. Such was the condition of things when, in February, 1841, D. C. White, a lay member of a church in New Jersey, came into the place, and began to preach the gospel. " Under his labors," (we (note from the church records), " the church seemed somewhat resuscitated, and agreed to renounce its creed, or articles of faith and covenant, and take the simple word of God. as recorded in the Bible, for their only rule of faith and practice. They also agreed to have a communion season, and that they would covenant together anew; and although some cases of discipline existed, the past should be forgot- ten, and each member should receive his brother, and for the future walk in love, one with another."

On the fourth of July, of this year, Mr. White was invited, by a unanimous vote, to become the pastor of the church. Hle accepted, and, on the third of the following September, he was ordained and installed by a committee of the " Lorain County Association." the sermon, on the occasion, being delivered by Rev. Chas. G. Finney, of Oberlin. The church embraced, at this time. a membership of fifty-five. Oliver II. Lewis was church clerk, succeeding Ebenezer Porter who was appointed to the office January 31, 1825.

June 27, 1873, work was commenced in the erec- tion of the fine brick church edifice. now occupying the former location of the old church, which was removed to the opposite side of the street, and now stands a few rods west of the residence of Albert Terrell, and is unused. The new church was not completed until January, 1826. The first service in it was held on Christmas immediately preceding. It was dedicated January 12, 1826, Rev. Dr. Wolcott preaching the dedicatory sermon.

According to the figures of Mr. Bradford Race. who was treasurer of the building committee, pre- sented on that occasion, the cost of the church was ten thousand, two hundred and forty-four dollars and fourteen cents. The church had previously been named, at a meeting called for the purpose, the First Congregational Church of Ridgeville. The number of members now (JJannary, 1879.) belonging to the church, is forty-seven. Chas. Herrick is clerk, and Henry D. Rogers, T. T. Winkles, Le Roy Race, Edward Ames, deacons. There is no settled pastor at present, but preaching is had once every Sabbath, by ministers from Oberlin. Job Lickorish is superin-

tendent of the Sabbath school, which contains about one hundred and fifty scholars.

THE METHODISTS.

A Metho list Episcopal class was formed on But- ternnt ridge in 1825, by Rev. Harry O. Sheldon, one of the earliest circuit preachers in this region. There were seven members composing the organization, namely : Wilson Blain and wife, Elijah Rigby and wife, and Harris Emmons, wife and daughter. Wil- son Blain was the first leader of the class. John Kibby and wife joined the class the following year. The meetings were first held in the log house of Mr. Blain, and later in the fra ne school house then stand- ing on the site of the present brick school house at the cross roads. The circuit preacher officiated once in two weeks. According to a class-book in the pos- session of Mrs. Richard Blain, the class contained in 1843, forty-three members. Rev. Adam Poe was the presiding elder of the district. John Tibbals was the pastor in charge, and Richard Blain class-leader. The membership now numbers twenty-eight. Rev. N. J. Close, of Avon, is the pastor of the church. James Nye is the class-leader. Ile is also the super. intendent of the Sabbath school. The church build- ing was erected in 1850.

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 41

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

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