History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 61

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

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In 1838, Edward Durand, Esq., erected the house on the hill, in which Harvey Page now resides. The upper part was fitted up for an audience room for the use of the church. It was completed in August of that year, and the Huron Association held their an- mual session with the church in its new place of

worship on the 29th and 30th of that month. An act of incorporation, on petition of the church, was granted by the legislature of the State, February 28, 1842, under the name of the "First Regular Baptist Church and Society of Henrietta." Chauncey Rem- ington, Philemon Shepard, Daniel Axtell, Moses Fuller and Simeon D. Powers were constituted trus- tees by said act. In 1850, the church edifice on the hill was erected and dedicated to the worship of God on the 18th of November of that year, the Rev. Mr. Berton, of Elyria, officiating on the occasion, assisted by the pastor, Elder Fuller. Elder Julius Beeman of Lagrange, L. Wilder of Berlin, Erie county, and G. W. Allen of Amherst were present and took part in the exercises. The house cost about one thousand six hundred. The present pastor is Rev. Malcom Wood. William A. Thomas is clerk. Present mem- bership, fifty. The salary of the pastor is five hundred and sixteen dollars. A Sabbath school was organized on the first Sabbath in July, 1832, of about thirty scholars; Philemon Shepard was appointed superin- tendent. The first teachers were Philemon Shepard, Dennis Powers, Patience Shepard, Venera Shepard and Jane Ellis. There are now eighty-three scholars enrolled, with an average attendance of fifty; William A. Thomas, superintendent.

THE UNION CHURCHI.

Sometime prior to 1852 a Methodist Episcopal class and a Free Will Baptist society were formed. The constituent members of the Baptist society were the following: Jesse Cook and wife, George Conover, Mrs. Austin and James If. Rosa and wife. We are not informed as to the original members of the Methodist Episcopal class. They held their meetings in the school house in the former school district num- ber three. In the above year they combined in the erection of a church building. The organization was effected under the name of the " Free Church Asso- ciation," and immediate steps taken to erect a honse of worship. Article four of the constitution specifies that the house is to be free to all denominations of Christians, and to all public speakers who have in view moral, religions or political reform, or the advocacy of any benevolent enterprise. A house was accordingly built on lot six, tract twelve, costing about eight hundred dollars, and was dedicated by Elder Whipple of Oberlin. The Methodists afterward withdrew and formed a class in Kipton, but wore subsequently divided into two sections by the slavery agitation, and the more radical wing in regard to the question returned to worship with the Baptists as formerly.

The church has now a membership of thirty-two. J. B. Cook is clerk, Jesse Cook is deacon, and E. G. Wightman, officiating deacon. Rev. G. II. Damon of Medina, and Rev. Hushour of Pittsfield, preach every alternate Sabbath. The church has accom- plished much good. It has a flourishing Sabbath school of some sixty scholars, of which Charles Buckley is the superintendent.

244

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

UNITED BRETHREN.

"There were originally three classes of this denomi- nation-one at the center, one on the first road east of the center, and another on the second road cast of the center, called the " Windfall" class. The class at the center was formed in 1855, by Rev. Alva Pres- cott, an itinerant revivalist preacher, engaged in the organization of classes of this denomination. The other classes were formed a short time previously. They united in their meetings, which were held in an old log school house on the road next cast of the center. Rev. Mr. Prescott was their first minister. He remained a year and a half with them. The center and middle classes subsequently united at the center, and erected a house of worship, which is still used by them. It was erected in 186-t, and dedicated by Bishop Glossbener. The present membership is fourteen or fifteen. It had, in more prosperous days, a membership of forty. Robert White is the leader of this class, and Charles MeGreedy, steward. After the union of the two classes at the center, the " Windfall" class hell their services in private houses in the immediate vicinity, until the erection of a school house, when they occupied that. Marsena Peabody is the present leader, and Thomas Johnson, steward. Rev .. Peter Ish, of Oberlin, preaches for both classes.

THE GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH

was organized in the year 1868, with twenty-five or thirty members, by the Rev. George Berg. Meetings were held in the school house in district number one, until the erection, in 1875, of the present neat and commodious house on the State road. It cost some twenty seven hundred dollars, including the furni- ture, and was dedicated by Rev. Paoles, of Berea. The church is in a flourishing condition, having some fifty members, and has also a prosperous Sabbath school, of which Henry Haneisen is superintendent. Rev. Adam Weber, of Vermillion, preaches once every Sabbath.

THE GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

situated in the western part of the township, a mile south of Birmingham, was organized in 18;2, and a building erected, costing eight hundred and fifty dol- lars. The first preacher of this church was Rev. Kuhler, of Vermillion. Rev. Mr. Brown is the present pastor. The original membership was some twelve in number, and is now twenty. The church has a prosperous Sabbath school, Adam Almroth being the superintendent.

ROADS.

The first road in Henrietta was the old State road, now usually called the telegraph road, which runs a diagonal course through the three northern tiers of lots, passing through lot eighty-eight on the east line, and lot ninety-seven on the west. It was origin-

ally half a mile south of its present location. There are now two other east and west roads in the town- ship, and five running north and south, besides the county line road; all of which extend through the town except the second one east of the county line, known as " log lane;" presumably so named from the number of logs scattered along the street by the squatters who made their locations there. This road is not opened north of the telegraph road.

PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES.

SAW MILLs .- As previously stated, the first saw mill was built by Moses Fuller, on Chance creek. Abner Hancock also had a mill on this creek, and Roswell Allen one at an earlier date in the south part of the town, on the east branch of the Vermillion. There are now two mills of this kind in the township, that of D. S. Davis at the hill, and the Currier mill at the center. The Davis mill was built by Durand in about the year 1847. It was destroyed by fire in 1850, and rebuilt since then-machinery for the man- nfacture of shingles, a blacksmith shop and a wagon shop have been added. The Currier mill was built originally by one Onsterhout. It was burned down after the Currier brothers came into possession, and by them rebuilt.

THE MAPLE GROVE CHEESE FACTORY -- Lees and McDowell, proprietors-was by them established in the spring of 1870. It is in a flourishing condition, many improvements having been added during the past year. There is also a cheese factory in the southwest part of the town.

One of the most flourishing enterprises ever carried on in the township, was the ashery of Edward Du- rand, and although long since dead, deserves mention. It was established as early as 1835, and perhaps at an earlier date. It was originally located just west of the saw mill. Mr. Durand made potash only, but he subsequently removed to the opposite side of the street, and engaged in the manufacture of that article. James Lees, who was formerly in Durand's employ, bought the factory in 1853 or 1854, and carried on the business more extensively than ever before, mak- ing saleratns in addition to pearlash. He continued in the business until 1872, when, becoming unprotit- able, it was discontinued. A large pile of ashes now marks the location of this early industry. There were at one time also, in the northwest part of the town- ship, near the first settlement, the asheries of Abner Hancock and James Hosford.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Wheat. 803 acres

12,624 bushels.

Oats,

600

22,127 ..

Corn,

860

30,942

Potatoes, 47

2,542

Orchards, 398

10,80G

Meadow, 1,985

2,151 tons.

Butter

28,675 pounds.

Cheese.

229,520

Maple Sugar.

3,525

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

Ilayes

151 | Tilden. 66

DAVID BENNETT.

JANE BENNETT.

RESIDENCE OF THE HEIRS OF DAVID BENNETT, CARLISLE TP, LORAIN CO., OHIO

CARLISLE.

THIS TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by Elyria, on the south by LaGrange, on the cast by Eaton, and on the west by Russia. It has but two streams of water, and these are the east and west branches of the Black river, the former of which flows from the southeast across the township; the other from the southwest, and both cross the north line of the township near the northeast corner, forming a junc- tion at Elyria.

The surface of the township is generally level: the soil is largely clay, and for the most part well adapted to agriculture, the bottom lands being extremely fertile. The township is described and known on the records as number five in the seventeenth range, and was drawn by Joseph Perkins, John Richmond, Tracy, Hoyt, William Eldridge, John MeClennan, Daniel Tilden and Jabez Adams-(Island number six, then Cunningham's, now Kelly's, consisting of two thousand seven hundred and forty-seven acres, was annexed to number five for the purpose of equalization. )

NAME.

Before the township was organized, the western portion had acquired the name Murrayville from settlers of that name in that locality. This was not satisfactory to the residents of the eastern portion, Phinchas Johnson wishing to name it Berlin after his native town in Connecticut. Unable to agree on either name, a compromise was effected by calling it Carlisle.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settler of Carlisle township was John Bacon, of Windham county, Vermont, who made the journey from that point with a team of horses and wagon, arriving in Ridgeville in the month of October, 1815. Hle remained there until the carly months of 1816, when he came to Carlisle and made a permanent settlement on what is now known as Murray Ridge. He brought with him from the cast a few necessary household goods, and his family consisting of a wife and the following children: Clarissa, Hiram and Susan. The first and last are deceased. Hiram married Louisa Halford and yet resides on the old homestead, hale and hearty, though at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. John Bacon died in 1864; his wife in 1857.

A few months after Mr. Bacon made a commence- ment, a brother-in-law, Abel Farr, came on from Vermont and located on the north line and near the center east and west. His family that came with

him was a wife and four children. Others who were married remained in Vermont; two came on after- wards and settled near the father. None of them now live in the township, and the only descendants are the widow and children of a son, Lowell, who was one of the children who came with the family.

There was no further settlement made in the town- ship until the spring of 1819, when Samuel Brooks and family arrived in Carlisle. They were of sturdy Connecticut stock, and made the journey to Ohio by the substantial method of that day, i. e., with an ox team and a stout wagon. In these later years of harnessed lightning and rapid transit the idea of traveling six hundred miles with an ox team seems prosy enough; yet this slow method had its advan- tages. There were no collisions nor trains trying to " pass each other on the same track." The date of the arrival of Mr. Brooks in Carlisle was April, 1819. Ilis log house was constructed near the eastern town- ship line, and was the first in that part of the township. Samuel Brooks was born February 27, 1286, and died in Elyria, December 20, 1874; his wife, who was Sophia (Johnson) Brooks, was born June 22, 1791. The children who accompanied the parents to Ohio were: Lydia K., who died August 10, 1851; Henry J., who resides in Cleveland; Julia L. (Bishop) who resides at Cuyahoga Falls, and Ira K., who died September 22, 1869.

On November 5, 1819, Hezekiah Brooks, and fam- ily, consisting of his wife and three children: Martin L. (now Dr. Brooks, of Cleveland); Ann H., after- wards missionary to Jamaica, who died in Memphis, Mississippi; and Hannah M. (Vincent), now living in Elyria, James Brooks, (father of Samnel and Ileze- kiah,) his wife and two sons, Calvin and Heman, to- gether with Phinchas Johnson and family, came to Carlisle, and with Elisha Brooks and Riley Smith and wife,-who arrived two weeks earlier,-took up their abode with Samuel Brooks, making a total of thirty persons in the little log house. However, other dwellings were soon constructed, and ere long, quite a settlement had sprung up in the wilderness. This locality is now designated as La Porte. There was, at one period, a flourishing little hamlet here, with numerons manufacturers and minor industries; but of late years, the town has lost its former presitge.

The rest of Mr. Brooks' children are, Samuel C., of Cleveland; Stephen S., of California; Edward W., of Red Wing, Minnesota; Sophia, now Mrs. Dr. Briggs, of Elyria, (to whom our gratitude is due for assistance in the preparation of this history, as well

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246

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

as for favors shown us in onr labors at the court house): Emeline L., now Mrs. Foote of Tabor, Iowa; Mary L., who died young; and William M., who is now president of Tabor college, lowa.

The children of Hezekiah and Hannah Brooks, nol before given, are, James, a physician, residing in New York; Hezekiah, Jr., of California; Sophronia (Hall). of Oberlin: George, who is the only descendant resid- ing in the township of Carlisle; Harriet, of Newburgh, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; Emily (West), living in Wellington, this county: and Ellen (Ruggles), who resides at Newburgh, Ohio.

The children of Phinchas Johnson, a gentleman well and favorably known, in the earlier years of the settlement of Lorain county, are, Sophia, wife of Samuel Brooks; Hannah, wife of Hezekiah Brooks: Cornelia, wife of D. Griswold, now living in Wash- ington Territory; Samuel C., who died before the family came to Ohio; Julia, who married Edmund West (deceased): Irene, who was twice married, and is now deceased; William II., who married Alma Otis (deceased); Lneretia, who died at the age of nineteen years; Phienhas M., who married Orra Ann Collins (deceased): Delia M., who married HI. N. Gates, and lives in Cleveland; and Isaac M., the youngest, who married Cornelia Musscy. She died, and he married Mary Hale, his present wife. He resides at Oakland, California. This gentleman is the father of the present deputy county treasurer.

The Brooks' and Johnsons' were of Puritan ances- try, and in the journey to Ohio, which was of nearly seven weeks' duration, they religiously observed the Sabbath day, by encamping promptly cach Saturday night, and not resuming the journey until Monday morning.

William Webster, in his "reminiscences, " published in the Elyria Republican, April 2, 1826, says that "Asahel Kelsey came from Connecticut at the same time," referring to the Brooks' and Johnsons', "and settled on the south side of the east branch of the Biack river.

Philo Murray and his family, a wife and tive chil- dren, from Connecticut, made settlement in the township in #820 or 21. His location was in the western part of the township, on the ridge bearing his name. As none of the family are now residents of Carlisle we are unable to obtain further data con- cerning theu.

Salmon Sutliff, of Erie county, New York, came to Lorain county in August, 1820. lle made a tem- porary location in Avon township, coming to Carlisle the following January. The journey from the east was made with a horse team, and three cows and a few sheep were driven along. The family consisted of a wife and four boys: Silas B., William I]. Il., Asa G., (who afterward became the pioneer settler in Waseca county, Minnesota) and Oliver HI. P. Another child, a girl, Lovisa, was born and died previous to emigrating to Ohio. Two months after they reached Avon a son was born, Charles B. The place of their

location was on one hundred acres of land in section ten, now occupied by S. M. Mason. Upon this farm they remained until 1831, and during this interval the following children were born: Ralph O., Incetta, Warren C., Lueinda, and Jesse S. In May, 1831, Mr. Sutlitf removed to section one, locating on the farm now owned by the son, Oliver Il. P., where the father and mother remained until their deccase. The former died in November, 1857; the latter May 18, 1870. Of this large family of children ten are now living, seven of them in Ohio. Warren C., (to whom we are indebted for the data of this sketeh) married Jane A. Bennett, and resides on three hundred acres of land in section twelve, Carlisle township.

Chauncey Prindle, of Waterbury, Connecticut, was the first settler at the center of Carlisle township. In the spring of 1823 he came through with his family, a wife and two children. IIc came overland with a team of horses. Mr. Prindle stopped at Capt. James Brooks' until he could ent a road to his farm, on section number thirteen, distant one and one-fourth miles, and erect a log cabin thereon. He then moved into the woods and began in earnest to make a farm. The children above mentioned were Maria, who mar- ried Aaron Bacon, and resides in Oberlin, and Henry II., who married Christiana E. Spafford, and resides on the oll homestead. One child was born to Chann- eey Prindle and wife, subsequent to their removal to Ohio. This was Mary J., who became the wife of 1 C. Slaughter, and is now deceased. Chauncey Prindle died in May, 1822. Mrs. Prindle died on the 23d day of the previous September.

Obed Gibbs, also from Waterbury, Connecticut, settled in Carlisle in 1822, on the farm now occupied by his son Ransom. With him came his wife and two children. Ransom, the eldest child, had a wife and one daughter, Jane, who eventually married George Boughton, and removed after a few years, to Ne- braska, where she died. Sally the second child of Obed Gibbs married Merrett Clark. They did not remain long in the wilderness, ere they became home- sick, when they returned to their native New England. Obed Gibbs died in Carlisle in 1840, and his wife a few years later. The children of Ransom Gibbs, born subsequent to his removal to Ohio, were: llar- riet, who married Alson Wooster, and resides in Elyria; Lewis, who married Martha Jackson, and lives in Nebraska City; and David, who married Jane Slaugh- ter, and ocenpies the old homestead.

We find the name of Akin Sexton among the early settlers on Murray ridge, but are unable to learn any thing further of him.

Daniel Bennett, from Londonderry. Windham county, Vermont, came to Ohio in 1827, and pur- chased one hundred and twelve acres of land in sec- tion twelve, Carlisle township (now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. W. S. Sntliff) .. Mr. Bennett then returned east, and, the following spring, came to per- manently settle on his farm. His family consisted of a wife and nicce. In May, 1828, they arrived in

TOWN RESIDENCE, ELYRIA

RESIDENCE OF LORENZO CLARK, CARLISLE TP., LORAIN CO., O.

24%

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Carlisle. For a short time they lived in a small log house standing near where is now the Hart Cheese Factory. There was at this time but one family in this vicinity, that of Lewis Shumway, who had a wife and two children. He was from the east, but only remained a year or two, going still farther west. Mr. Bennett erected, on section twelve, the first frame house in this part of the township. Here he lived, reared a family of six children, brought the land to a profitable state of cultivation, and died July 16, 1863. His first wife died Angust 10, 1829, and February 6, 1830, he married Jane Galpin, of Elyria, who survives her husband and lives on the old homestead. From this marriage the following children were born: Polly, who died at the age of fifteen years; Jane, who mar- ried Warren C. Sutliff and occupies the old farm; Emerett, who married Curtis Webster and lives in Elyria; Celestia, who died in infancy; Melvin R. and Cassimar D., who live with their mother. Daniel Bennett was a justice of the peace for many years, and a very worthy citizen.

William Webster, of West Hartford, Connecticut, married Abigail Johnson, of Berlin, same State, Jan- nary 4, 1800, and removed to Onondaga county, New York, in 1818, and to Carlisle in 1828; arriving there on May 15th of that year, he settled and cleared up the farm one mile north of Laporte, now owned by William Brush. In 1832, Mr. Webster removed to the southeast corner of the township, where he died October 27, 1844. Mrs. Webster died August 16, 1862. The children were as follows: Harriet, who married Joseph Weston; Amanda, who married Cal- vin Brooks; William, Jr., who married Catharine Phillips (a daughter of this couple is now the wife of Dr. Kelsey, of Elyria); Abigail, who married Levi Lee; Bethuel, who married Roxa Andrews; Louisa, who married Abram V. D. Bergh; Nancy, who mar- ried Harris R. Shelden; and Henry, who married Sarah Johnson.

The first settlers in this corner of the township were John B. Andrus, Paul Taylor, John Randall, Thomas Girard, Cornelius V. D. Bergh, Elias Morgan, Williani Cook, James V. Baker, Enoch Forbinder, Stephen Winchell, and a family named Shepard. Of these, but two are now residents of the township, Stephen Winchell and William Webster, Jr.

Joseph Patterson moved into Carlisle from Berk- shire county, New York, in 1834, locating on section six. His family were a wife and nine children. Of these but two now live in Carlisle: Hiram, at present the superintendent of the County Infirmary, and William, who married in the east and came to Carlisle in the spring of 1837, locating on section eighteen. This he eleared. He was elected sheriff of Lorain county by the free soil party. While occupying the position he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty-four aeres, on which he now resides, in section fourteen.

Daniel Tenney and family settled in Carlisle (at Laporte) in the fall of t835, and remained there until

his death, February t, 1845. His wife was Miss Sylvia Kent, of Dorset, Vermont. Mr. Tenney was a native of Temple, New Hampshire. Mrs. Tenney is living with a daughter at Thayer, Kansas. The children of this couple are Benjamin, Jewett, Emily, George, Myron and Ellen who are dead, and Horace, Henry W., Maria E., Electa and Daniel K., now living, the greater part of them at least, in Kansas,

B. F. Marlett, the " Village Blacksmith," came from Steuben county, New York, fo Carlisle in 1844. He was then 17 years of age. Two years later he began his present vocation. He was for three years a soldier in Company K, Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1849 he married Cecelia Breckenridge, of Grafton township, this county.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth in the township was that of a son to William and Clarissa Bacon Saxton, which event oc- enrred immediately after a settlement was made on Murray Ridge. The child was named James, eventu- ally married a Miss Flint, and removed to Iowa where he died. The pioneer birth in the eastern part of the township was that of Samuel C. to Samuel and Sophia Brooks. Cleveland is now the home of this, at that carly date, important addition to the colony.

The first marriage was that of Miss Cornelia, daughter of Phinehas Johnson, to Mr. Dudley Gris- wold. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride's father by Sherman Minott, Esq., of Elyria township. This happened in the fall of 1820. The conple now reside in Washington Territory.

In the cemetery at Laporte we find a small sand- stone slab erected to the memory of Lucretia M., daughter of Phinehas and Hannah Johnson, who died August 23. 1823; aged eighteen years. This is presumably the first death of a white person in the township.

In the western portion of Carlisle, lands were donated for the cemetery in section two by Philo Murray, and the first interment therein was the body of Emeline, daughter of J. D. Murray, who died . December 27, 1825.

The first post-office in the township, was established in about the year 1825. Phinehas Johnson was duly commissioned post-master, and the mails were received and distributed from his residonce. M. V. B. Pitkin is the present post-master at this point. Another office was established a few years later, in the western portion of the township, at Murray's Mills. This office was named " Murrayville." Charles Drakely was commissioned first post-master, or at least he was among the first. This office was afterwards removed to the dwelling of Ransom Gibbs, who was appointed post-master, and remained as such until the office was diseontinned, in the spring of 1853.

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 61

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

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