History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 67

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

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In about 1860 quite an oil excitement existed in Grafton, and perhaps a dozen wells were sunk with more or less success. The greater portion of them, however, yielded no oil. The present revival of the oil interest in Grafton began in July, 1875, when oil was struck on the Card farm at a depth of sixty feet, by Mr. Charles Rupert. This well produced at the start sixty barrels per day, and continued to furnish oil in paying quantities for some two years, when it ceased entirely. This well caused a great excitement, parties congregating in Grafton from the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and in fact all parts of the country. Land went up to alnost fabulous prices and the owners of real estate went wild over the prospect. During the succeeding six months large quantities of land were leased, and as many as fifty wells put down. Of these only about one-third found oil at all, and but a small proportion of these in paying quan- tities. In March, 1876, J. C. Blood (whose courtesies we wish to acknowledge) arrived on the scene. ITe was from the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and imme- diately began operations. On August 15th following he found, in his fourth trial, the greatest producing well then on the territory. This was on the Shafer farm. At a distance of one hundred and sixty-two feet from the surface he struck the oil prodneing sand and began pumping. Although he found noth- ing but salt water, and by the way, oil is never found here except when mixed with salt water, yet his former experience kept his courage from waning, and at the end of three weeks' incessant pumping, his efforts were crowned with success. The well began to pump one hundred and thirty barrels of nearly pure oil per day. This well now yields seven barrels per day, and is the second best in the township. The October subsequent Mr. Blood sunk another well on the same farm that yielded by the same process ninety barrels per day. This now produces four.

The total number of wells sunk on this territory is three hundred and fifty. Of these, about one in four find oil, but only about one in seven in paying quantities. There are no flowing wells. Owing to the absence of carbon, the oil produced

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OIIIO.

here cannot be refined for burning purposes; but it is one of the best mineral lubricating oils yet discovered. The following table shows the condition of this important interest in Grafton:

PROPRIETORS.

No. WELLS.

FIRST PRODUC- TION.

PRESENT

PRODUC-

TION.

J. C. Blood ..

465

Rice Wells ...

Youngs Wells.

Galpin & Highland.

Belden Lubricating Oil Co ..

Davis Sous ..

Bingham.

Black & Shafer

-2

Adams.

Card Co

John Strickland

McIntire

Geo. Shafer.

Frank Neff

Total.

732

These are scattered over an area two and one-half miles east and west by one mile north and south, though there is, doubtless, a great extent of sur- rounding territory yet undeveloped; in fact, from general observation in the eastern part of Ohio, it is evident that this is the outerop of a petroleum rock extending entirely through the State.

The surface is a general level, with a blue clay soil. At a distance of from two to fifteen feet below the surface is found a soap stone stratum, varying in thickness from forty feet at the west end of the territory, to one hundred and sixty at its eastern boundary, the dip being towards the southeast. In- mediately below this is found the oil-producing sand, varying from two to one hundred and sixty feet in thickness. This is broken and lying in deposits, at some points breaking off nearly perpendicular, but uniform at the top, excepting the dip, the slope being from the bottom. The oil is found in paying quanti- ties only in the deep sand-none in less than forty feet. . This sand is variable-crystals, flint and sand- stone grit. The oil is usually found in the former and latter. Below the sand is a white substance, known as " putty " or fire-clay, of from one to ten feet in thickness; below this is a red clay from tive to tifty feet thick, and below that the slate. It is not known whether there is another stratum of oil-produc- ing sand still below this or not, although a well has been drilled three hundred feet without finding it.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Wheat.

549 acres

10,402 bushels.

Dats,

696

25,020 ..

Corn,

766

27,605 ..

Potatoes. 38

3,771

Orchards, 175

1,398

Meadow, 2,274

2,377 tons.

Butter

29,300 pounds.

Cheese.

140.40 ) ..

Maple Sugar.

1,557

Population in 1570 960

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

Hayes.

171 | Tilden. 115

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MRS. HARRIET NESBETT,

daughter of Major Wm. Ingersoll, was born in Lee, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in the year 1807. HIer father removed to Grafton, in this county, in 1816, bringing his family with him. Harriet, the

Harriet Ingersoll hisbelt

youngest of eleven children, was but nine years of age, and was the first nnmarried female who became a resident of that township. Of the trials and strug- gles of the pioneer settlers in the wilderness, a graphic description is given in the carly recollections of the settlement of Grafton, written by Mrs. Nesbett. At the age of seventeen she returned to Massachusetts, and, for a year and a half, enjoyed advantages denied to pioneer children of that early date. She returned to her home in Ohio, and, in 1826, was married to Daniel Nesbett, of Grafton. In 1829, they removed to Elyria, and settled on a farm on the ridge road, near the eastern line of the township. Toil and privations were expected of pioneer wives, while their husbands labored to cultivate their forest farms. After remaining upon this farm some more than twenty years, a pleasant home was purchased in the village, where Mrs. Nesbett still resides. She has been the mother of seven children-one son and six daughters. The son died in infancy, and a daughter at two years of age: another daughter, "Libbie, " at the age of twenty-six. Libbie was a gentle and sweet spirited girl, and died greatly lamented by her sur- viving relatives and friends, who cherish her memory. Four daughters are living, and all are married. The oldest is the wife of D. L. Harkness, and resides at Berlin, Wisconsin: the next oldest is wife of Jerome Manville, a successful druggist in Elyria; a third

Smith

Banuister

Bronson & Doertler.

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OIIIO.

danghter is the wife of H. S. Howe, and resides in Mankato, Minnesota; the remaining daughter is the wife of A. D. Foote, residing in Chicago. All the daughters are well settled in life. Mr. Nesbett died about the year 1864, at the age of sixty-six.

In 1830 Mrs. Nesbett, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Elyria, when their place of wor- ship was the "oll yettow school house." One only who was at that time a member of that branch of the church, is living in Elyria at this date. During all these years she has been a faithful and active member. constant in attendance upon its work and ordinances. She possesses considerable ability as a writer. The history of the first settlement of Grafton, published in this volume, is from her pen. In 1826 she wrote a series of articles, which were published in the Elyria Republican, descriptive of pioneer life in Grafton and other townships, which attracted general attention. She has ever been among the foremost in carrying on works of benevolence and charity, in the church and community. Among the regrets of her life time are the disadvantages arising from lack of early privi- leges at school. But aside from this great privilege, and a busy active lite, she found time for reading and the cultivation of her literary taste. She has been a faithful wife, a good mother, and has ever enjoyed the respect of the community. She is in the enjoyment of excellent health. her bodily and mentat powers continuing in full vigor, and bids fair to enjoy life to a ripe old age.

GRINDALL RAWSON.

This gentleman was born in Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 20, 1793. In 1816, he visited Grafton town- ship. Lorain county, Ohio, selected a parcel of land, and then returned to Massachusetts, where he re- mained long enough to complete the necessary pre- parations for a permanent settlement on his new purchase, upon which he located in 1817, and con- tinned to reside there until his death, in 1876. (aged eighty-three years), a period of nearly sixty years. One year after his settlement in Grafton, he married Mariah, daughter of David Ashley, which marriage was blessed with eight children, -five sons and three daughters,-of whom six are living. The above was the first marriage ceremony performed in Grafton township. lle held several offices in the township government, which he filled satisfactorily. Mrs. Rawson survived her husband almost two years, she dying January 9, 1878. She was born September 2. 1796, and was consequently eighty-two years of age at the time of her death. They were an excellent and worthy couple, and were so esteemed by all to whom they were known, or with whom they came in social or business communion.

HENRY B. RAWSON,

son of Grindall Rawson, was born upon the home stead farm, where he still resides, in 1825. For fifty-

four years he has lived in the same place, and is among the carlest and most influential citizens of his township. His farm consists of three hundred and six acres, is well improved, and has upon it substan- tial and comfortable buildings. On the 6th of Octo- ber, 1847, he married Cynthia A., daughter of Joseph and Dollie Phelps, and they had six children born to them,-four sons and two daughters, -namely, Ab- bott P., Frank B., George G., Kate C., Burt HI., and Dollie M. Rawson.

The Rawson family have been, and continue to be, noted for their industrions habits, and honesty of life. As among the pioneers, so are they among the most prominent citizens of the township in every respect.

ALLEN W. NICHOLS

was the son of Nathaniel Nichols who was born in Rodman, New York, May 7, 1806. He married, September 16, 1827, Dorens, danghter of Benjamin Bailey, of Leicester, New York. She was born March 29. 1804, at Elmira, New York, and died at La Grange, Ohio, February 19, 1864. They had tive children, namely: Allen Woolsey, born in York, July 3. 1828: Martha Emma, born JJuly 2, 1831: Mary Ann, born in Dayton. December 27, 1834; Rolla Alonzo, born in Nunda, New York, June 2, 1838; Ellen Dor- cas, born at Nunda, New York, September 25, 1843.

AAllen W. Nichols was raised by an uncle and aunt, Allison and Esther Nichols, bachelor brother and maiden sister of his father. When the grandfather of 1. W. Nichols became infirm from old age and im- paired health, he offered to his brother and sister above named, a deed of the farm provided they would come and live with him and his wife, and pay off whatever of indebtedness there was on the place. This they agreed to do, and fulfilled the duty faith- fully and well, and also assisted any of the other brothers and sisters if they, or any of them, needed a helping hand. By the time Nathaniel went to house- keeping, they had moved into a frame honse, so he commeneed in the log one in which Allen W. was born. llis unele and aunt became so much attached to him, that when his parents got ready to move away, they did not wish to let him accompany them, so that he remained with his nnele and aunt henceforth. except at intervals, when he would pay brief visits to his father and mother. When he was thirteen years of age, his grandparents had both died, so his uncle and aunt concluded to sell out the old homestead in York. Livingston county, New York, and move to Grafton, Ohio, where their brothers and sisters had previously settled. So they sold out and purchased the farm where Allen W. now resides. thirty-four years ago. They redeemed it from a wild uneulti- vated spot, and made of it a fertile and highly pro- ductive farm. They were both members of the Methodist Church in their younger days, but as they grew older, they preferred the retirement and sanctity

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

of the home circle and society to public worship. They were very temperate in their habits, and gener- ous and benevolent to an. Of Allison Nichols it can be truly said he was a christian in the broadest sense of that term, an honest man, and a good neighbor and citizen. When he sold out his farm east, he gave his brothers and sisters an amount equal to what their father had paid on the place prior to his deeding it to him. He died May 8, 1873; his faithful and loving sister had preceded him to the. grave a short time, she having departed this life in the faith and fear of God, December 14, 1872 They both sleep the sleep of the righteous, and their works do follow them.

During Allen W.'s minority his unele used to allow him to raise stoek and sell it, from the proceeds of which he saved enough to purchase forty acres of land. His uncle deeded him the home farm just before he died. Allen W. Nichols married Mrs. Elizabeth Durkee, daughter of John Gamble, a pioneer settler of Eaton township, Lorain county, Ohio, on the twenty-second of February, 1870. His unele and aunt evinced a desire that he should remain single, and he did so up to within about two years of their death. They were well pleased with his choice of a wife, and never felt as though any of their rights were usurped by her; and learned to love her and en- joy her presence.

The grandfather of Atlen W. Nichols was a revolu- tionary hero, and was also in the war of 1812. His unele was also in the war of t812, and an only brother of Allen's, Rolla Alonzo Nichols, was in the war of the rebellion, and died in the regular service about two years since. The Nichols family have always been conspicuous for sturdy honesty and independence. Those of the present are worthy representatives of a wor. hy race. (See Illustrations and Portraits.)

DR. C. B. KNOWLTON

Was born in Charlestown township, Portage county, Ohio, September 19th, 1822. He remained with his father on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he removed to Windham, in his native county, and attended the academy of that place, going through a regular academic course of studies. In the spring of 1842 he commenced reading medicine with George Conant, M. D., subsequently prosecuting his medical studies with Professor John C. Delamater, of Cleve- land, in whose office he remained as a student until the spring of 1845, when he was regularly graduated and received his diploma. He soon thereafter moved to Grafton, Lorain county, and entered upon the practice of medicine, which he followed until the winter of 1851 and 1852. During the latter year he turned his attention to the study of dentistry under Dr. Kellogg, of Cleveland, with whom he remained almost one year. Hle then returned to Grafton, where he continued to reside until the spring of 1860, at which time he removed to Elyria, and en- gaged in the active practice of dentistry, in which he continued until 1825. He then disposed of his den- tal practice to Dr. White, and moved to Oberlin, where he practiced until September, 1878, at which time he returned to Grafton, where he oversees the business of his farm, and also practices his profession.

Dr. Knowlton married Caroline C., daughter of William and Mary Kinney, who were among the early settlers of Grafton. They have one son, William E. Knowlton, who resides at home with his parents.

In politics Dr. Knowlton is a republican, having acted with that party many years. He is generally considered a first-class professional man, an honest man, and a good citizen.

Stephen H. Brown

MARGARET R. BROWN.

STEPHEN H. BROWN.

Stephen H. Brown, son of Stephen aud Ruth M. Brown, was born May 4, 1803, in that portion of Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., now called Bloomfield. His father was born at Windsor, in the same county, in the year 1777, and was the son of Stephen Brown, who came from England early in the seventeenth century. Stephen Brown married Ruth M., daughter of Benjamin Loomis, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Old Windsor. He had a family of ten children, namely,- Benjamin, George, William, John, Joel, Adin, James, Ruth M., Rhoda, and Julia Ann. The grandfather of Stephen H. Brown had also ten children : James, Bradley, Stephen, Jesse, Oliver, Eunice, Patty, Sally, Malinda, and Rebecca.

The fruits of the union of Stephen and Ruth M. Brown were three children,-one son and two daughters : Stephen H., born May 4, 1803 ; Ruth Eliza, born in 1805 ; Martha E., born in 1807. The mother died in 1811, and the father married again, to Alma Kelsey, who died three or four years after her marriage, leaving no issue. Mr. Brown married again, to Lydia Bronson, by whom he had two children : Stephen II., who lived at home and worked in his father's shop, blacksmithing, until he was twenty-one years old. Ile then removed to Washington, Litchfield Co., Conu., and worked the first year in the marble quarries of Allen, Batterson & Wheaten. In the winter he re- sumed his trade again, and followed it for three or four years, during which time he married Lucy Reynolds, Nov. 17, 1828, and had by her three children, all boys, namely,- Edwin A., born Jan. 8, 1830, died Aug. 5, 1845 ; Albert R., born Feb. 12, 1832; Charles L., born June 8, 1834, died Ang. 25, 1845. In 1831 he moved to Norwalk, Conn., remaining there and at other places until 1842, when he started for Ohio. Two years prior to this, he lost his wife, who died Sept. 13, 1840. She was buried in the old " Jemima Burying-Ground," so called from an eccentric old lady who used to preach in that part of the country.

May 13, 1841, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary B. Shepard, widow of Levi Shepard, and daughter of Oliver and Alice Chapin, of Chicopee, Mass. By this union were born two children : George B., born July 28, 1843, and Ilelen J., born Feb. 19, 1850.

In 1841 he came to Ohio, and purchased the Wells farm, in Grafton township. He returned to Connecticut, and shipped his goods by water to Cleveland, and thence in wagons. He resided upon the farm until 1875. His second wife died March 1, 1864. He was married to Mar- garet R. Rowell, widow of Benjamin Rowell, November 16 of the same year; she survives. They live in comfortable circumstances. Mr. Brown has three children living, one by his first wife and two by his second wife. Albert R. married Clorinda Rickard, of La Grange. George B. married, first, Sarah A. Ingersoll, of Grafton ; second, Jennie Bevier, of Plymouth. Mr. Brown is a Republican in poli- tics, having been a Jackson Democrat up to the war of the Rebellion. Ile is an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MARGARET R. BROWN was born June 6, 1812, and was a daughter of John and Eleanor Woodworth, of Stillwell, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Her grandfather emigrated from England, and was an early settler of Saratoga County. The children born to John and Eleanor Woodworth were as follows : Patrick, Allen, Sally Ann, Ephraim, Rens- selaer, Margaret R., Martin, and Isaac; of these, three survive. John Woodworth was born in 1767, and died in 1818. Margaret was married to Benjamin Rowell, of Vermont, Sept. 5, 1831. She had four children,-two sons and two daughters: Sarah A., born Feb. 11, 1833; mar- ried Sły Odell, of Washington Co., N. Y .; now lives in Minnesota. Alfred J., born Dec. 24, 1835; married Abbie Merrell, and resides at Cohoes, N. Y. Margaret Ann, boru Sept. 5, 1839; married Henry Wilkin, of Grafton. Charles E. B., born March 12, 1843 ; married Sybil Smith, and resides in Minnesota, same county as Sarah A.

Iler husband died Aug. 10, 1862. Ile was engaged in farming and lumbering ; in the latter, quite extensively. He came to Ohio in 1848. Ile was a worthy man, and a good, honest citizen.

Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Grafton ; was formerly a Presbyterian, but joined the Methodists at the same time her husband did, in 1848.

AVON.

AvON, or fownship number seven, in range sixteen, is located in the northeast corner of Lorain county, and . is bounded as follows: on the north by Lake Erie; on the south by the township of Ridgeville; on the cast by Dover township, in Cuyahoga county, and on the west by Sheffield township.

The surface is generally level. Passing through the township from east to west and bearing south ward, is what seems to be a continuation of the ridge so prominently marked in the eastern counties of the State, and generally believed to have been, at some remote period, the shore of Lake Erie. The soil from the ridge to the Lake is varied; first sand, then a marshy strip extending entirely across the township, and north of that elay and sand. South of the ridge for a short distance the soil is sandy, and from this to the southern boundary line of the township clay largely predominates.

Avon is an agricultural township, thongh dairying finds some encouragement, and on the extreme shore of the Lake grape growing is proseented to quite an extent.

There is but one stream of water in the township of sufficient importance to deserve mention. This is known as French creek. It flows from the southeast corner of the township in a general northwesterly eonrse, crossing the west township line on section four. This stream was of almost incalculable service to the early settlers, and was of respectable size; but since the forest has disappeared along its banks, the waters have subsided until now it is a diminutive affair in- deed, except during the fall and spring months.

ORIGINAL PROPRIETOR .*

" Pierpont Edwards became proprietor at the draft in 1807, of town number seven, range seventeen (Avon) together with Bass Island number one, com- prising one thousand three hundred and twenty-two aeres: Bass Island number two, of seven hundred acres, and Island number five, thirty-two acres, in Lake Erie, west of north of Sandusky, annexed to the town, for the purpose of equalization.

" Previous to 1818 the inhabitants called the town Xeuma, notwithstanding it was a part of Dover. On organization the township was christened Troy, and continued to be thus known, to the great inconven- ience of the inhabitants, until December, 1824, when, upon the petition of forty citizens, the name was changed to Avon by the Commissioners of Lorain County."

SETTLEMENT.

Early in the history of the Western Resevre, a road was established from Cleveland westward along the shore of the lake. Over this the mail was trans- ported as early as 1807. (See history of Columbia.) Through the township of Avon this road passes very near the bank of the lake, and here, where is now a snecession of tasty cottages and beautiful villas, Noah Davis, in the year 1812, made a settlement, the tirst. in the township. He erected the first log house, but where it was located, or who composed his family, we have been unable to ascertain, as he only remained a short time, removing from the township in less than one year. Two years pass before another attempt at a settlement is made, this time by men of great cour- age and a fixed determination to make themselves per- manent homes in the wilde: ness. llow well they have succeeded, the finely kept farms, with their substantial residences, skirting the line of the settle- ment (the ridge road) bear ample evidence.

In the summer of 1814, Wilber Cahoon and family; Nicholas Young and son William; Lewis Austin and family; Ephraim Keyes and family, and two brothers, Spink and Renben Cooper, with their wives, took their departure from Montgomery county, New York, for Ohio,-the objective point being township num- ber seven, in the sixteenth range. The cavalcade consisted of five horses, four yoke of oxen and five cows. Arriving at Ashtabula, Keyes and the brothers Cooper decided to remain there for a time. The other three families came on, and early in the fall reached the end of the ridge road, at Barney Hall's, in Dover township, Cuyahoga county. Here the families remained until a road had been cut along the summit of the ridge to section eleven, in which the greater portion of the lands selected by Mr. Cahoon were situated. Soon a log house was constructed on this section, the first built by a permanent settler, and into this the family of Mr. Cahoon soon removed. This stood on the site of the present homestead resi- dence, which was built in the year 1826, and was the first frame house built in the township of Avon.

Mrs. Cahoon was formerly Mis: Priscilla Sweet, of Rhode Island. The children were, Susan, who mar- ried Harley Mason, and now lives in Erie county, this State: Jessie S., who married Marcus Moore. (deceased): Wilber, who married Theresa Moore, (died in California); Ora B., who married Jane T. Jameson. IIe now resides on a portion of the old homestead, in section eleven, and to him we wish to

* Boynton.

(271)

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

acknowledge our obligations for valuable aid in col- lecting data for the history of Avon. His family mimbers seven, all living. Orra, the next child, married Henry Titus, (deceased); Huldah died in 1826: Melissa M. married John C. Steele, (deceased): and Leonard, who married Mary Titus, and lives in Elyria.

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 67

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

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