USA > Ohio > Lorain County > History of Lorain County, Ohio > Part 72
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ORIGINAL OWNERS.
In the original drawing of the Western Reserve, tract number nine, was drawn by Lemuel Storrs,
tract number ten by Nehemiah Hubbard and .Joshua Storrs, and tract number eleven by Henry Champion and Lemuel Storrs. When the land was put into the market, traet number eight (or that part of it lying in the present township limits) was the property of Abagail Deming, of Hartford, Connecticut. Philip L. Goss was her agent. Aristarchos Champion, of Rochester, New York, became the proprietor of tract number nine, and he conveyed it, in 1835, to Ezra S. Allen, of Brockport, New York. Cyrus Butler, of Norwalk, Huron county, became the agent of Hub- bard. Tract number eleven came into the possession of the heirs of Sylvester Mather, of New York, whose agent was John W. Allen, of Cleveland. The sur- plus lands on the west side of the township were owned by Heman Ely, of Elyria, and by Washington College of Hartford, Connecticut.
GAME.
Game of the smaller kinds was very abundant be- fore the hunters became too numerous. It cannot be positively stated that any old bears were killed in the township after the settlement was begum; but there is a vague tradition to the effect that Solomon Root and Joseph Ross once found two in a whitewood tree in the southwest part of the town, and killed then. Reuben Eddy discovered three cubs in a tree, and fastening his cap and coat upon the bark to keep them from coming down, he went after his gun and dog, and returning, killed two of them and took the third captive. Only one wolf was killed after the
* This history is written, largely, from information furnished by the kindness of Reuben Eddy, Esq.
37
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
settlement of the town. Wild hogs were frequently met with and killed by the hunters. Moses Pike and Leonard Clark were aroused one night by the ontery that their dog made, and knowing that some animal must be prowling about their cabin, they held a short. discussion, the object of which was to decide who should go out and make an investigation. Clark declined assuming the responsibility, and Pike, seiz- ing a heavy club, used as a fire poker, threw the door open and stepped out, fully expecting to see a bear. Hle found instead a couple of wild or shack hogs. Swinging his club with tremendous force, he struck one of them a blow which broke the savage brute's back, and then calling to Clark and informing him of the sneeess of the attack, he made an onslaught upon hog number two, but did not kill him. The tusks of the animal killed by the first well-directed blow, measured between three and four inches.
The wild hogs were but little valued for their flesh, and as a general thing the hunters killed them only for the reason that they were savage and dangerous pests. Deer, wild turkeys and raccoons were found in abundance, and made much more palatable food.
SETTLEMENT.
When the first settlement of Camden was made, the territory, at present included in its bounds. belonged to Henrietta and Brighton, the dividing line between those townships being what is now the east and west center road through Camden. As the township was not settled until several years later than those adjoining, the pioneers had no experience with the Indians. The red man had retreated before the vanguard of the great advancing hosts of civilization and left, but faint traces of his presence in the forest, which Leonard Clark invaded in 1829. Clark might be more properly termed a pioneer than a settler. Hle remained but two years and then passed on, in all probability, to some point farther west, where he may have remained a longer time. Ile built a small log cabin on lot twenty-five, tract eleven, and cleared off three or four acres in lot twenty-six. Clark brought. with him his family and his father-in-law, Moses Pike.
The second log cabin was built by one Johnson soon after Clark's arrival. Johnson had Ins family with him. Ile built his house upon the northern part of lot sixteen, made a small clearing upon lot fifteen, sowed it with timothy seed and then left the country.
John White was another settler who remained but a short time and left no record behind him. He moved on to lot fourteen, tract eleven, and chopped some timber in 1831.
llerod Pike, a son of Moses Pike, moved his family into a log cabin upon lot fifteen, traet eleven. in 1831. Moses Pike lived with his son after the departure of Leonard Clark, and the two, working together. chopped and cleared three or four acres which they sowed in wheat in the year 1832. Herod and his wife Eliza left soon after this, but the father
staid to harvest the wheat which he and his son had sown. When the erop had been secured in the sum- mer of 1833, he, too, took his departure, going to Henrietta, where he remained for several years. Ile returned, however, to Camden, and lived there to a good old age.
In March, 1833, William Scott and John Johnston, natives of Scotland, put up a log cabin on lot tive in tract eleven, and moved their families into it. They were the first families who came into Camden after the land was put into the market, and the first per- manent settlers in the township, all before them being "squatters."
The settlement increased rapidly during 1833, and the following year or two. Gideon Wangh and his wife Minerva came from Oswego county, New York, in the summer of 1833, and settled upon lot twenty- three, in tract eleven. Their family consisted of Gideon, Chapman, Alanson, and JJames II. The mother of this family died soon after coming into the country, and Gideon Waugh afterward married Mindwell Shepherd, by whom he had a daughter. (Mrs. M. W. French). Gideon Waugh removed to Wakeman in 1852, where he died in 1869.
Thomas Lee and his wife, Lucinda Wangh, of Os- wego county, New York, settled in 1833, upon lot twenty-four, tract eleven. Mrs. Lee walked all the way from Birmingham to Camden, and carried a small child in her arms. Thomas Lee was one of the most. indomitable spirits among the pioneers of Camden. ITe had much to contend with, but in spite of all ditlienlties, and beginning with nothing, achieved in- dependence and won respect from all. Soon after "oming into the country he lost the use of one of his hands by erysipelas, and was unable to perform any work with it for many years. He neverthless accom- plished more than some men who had the use of both hands. The first season he was in the country he sowed two acres of wheat upon the place where his wife at present resides. He died in 1877. The fam- ily consists of six children: Andrew, Norman, Mar- garet (Rose), in Camden, two in Wisconsin and one in Clarkstield.
Robert Donglass, also of Oswego county, New York, came in 1833, and settled upon lot three, in tract ten.
William Hawkins, of Auburn, Cayuga county. settled in 1833, on lot thirteen, tract ten, where he is still living with his wife, (Mary Abbott, of Henrietta) having reared a family of eight children.
IFiram Smith came in previous to 1833, and took land in lot seven, tract eleven.
Thomas Sigsworth, a native of England, was a prominent arrival in 1833. He came to Camden from Binghampton, New York, his wife, Mary, accompa- nying him. They had two sons; one of them, John, now living on the place taken up by his father, lot fourteen. tract eleven, and five daughters, all of whom are living.
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
B. Bayless came from the vicinity of Auburn, New York, during the same year, and took up land on lot six, traet ten, though he made his home - with Thomas Lee. Platt Squires, who was also a New Yorker, came about this time. The Gagers, of Bing- hampton, New York, came to Camden in the fall of 1833. Thomas Gager and wife, with Israel, settled upon lot twenty-six, tract eleven, and Aaron upon lot twenty-five. Edwin and Joseph came a year or so later. David Wells, of Connecticut, was another of the settlers of 1833, taking up land in lot seventeen, tract eleven. He was without family, remained but a short time, and is now a resident of Brownhelm.
Reuben Eddy, in the fall of 1833, bonght lot twenty, tract ten, and in February, 1834, moved on to it with his household, which then consisted of his father, John, his mother, Experience, and one sister. Reuben Eddy was born in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York, and reached his seventy-third year in 1828. Hle has been one of the most prominent and influential men of Camden, and has been honored by being called upon to fill offices of trust and honor. lle has served eighteen years as a justice of the peace. He was married in February, 1835, to Hannah Sigs- worth, who still lives with him. Their family con- sists of four children,-Charles, now in Michigan; John, a resident of Camden; Luther, in Michigan; and Annette, at home.
Obadiah Holcomb, and his wife Rachel, moved into Camden in 1834, from Henrietta, and settled on lot six. in tract ten, but left in about three years for a point near Columbus, Ohio. The family consisted of Montgomery, Almina, Orlanda and, Henrietta, who was named after the township in which she was born.
Truman Holcomb and Phebe, his wife, came in from Ilenrietta in 1835, and settled upon lot six, tract ten. Truman died in 1822, and his wife in 1875. They had seven children, Moses, Mehitable, (dead): Harriet, (Mrs. E. C. Williams, of Camden); Arvilla, (in Iowa); Ambrosia, (dead) ;- Ann Janette, (in Michigan); and William, (also in Michigan). Moses Holcomb is a resident of Camden, and has a family, which con- sists of his wife, Hannah Tennant, and four children; Olivia, (Mrs. D. R. Brown); Truman T., (in Iowa); Fred and George, at home. Elida and William are dead.
Ilow fast the settlement increased in size during 1834 may be inferred from a fact stated by W. W. Cook, who came into the township in June of that year, and attended thirty raisings, during the next six months. Mr. Cook and his wife, Maria Durfee, came from Binghampton, New York, and settled on lot twelve, in tract ten. Otis Bates came from Lewis county, New York, in the same year, and settled on lot two, in tract ten.
Harrison Hurd and wife, of Lewis county, New York, settled in 1834, on lot eleven, tract ten, and reared there a family of ten children, who have shown great musical ability. Judson and Frances (Mrs. Lee,) are now in Camden.
John F. Ilovey, a native of Vermont, settled upon lot twenty-one, tract ten, early in 1835. John Vos- burg and JJared Watkins, both of New York State, came during the same year.
It was in 1834 that Norman Breckenridge settled on lot twenty-six, traet ten. His descendants of the first generation are: Alonzo L., Norman, Daniel, Benjamin, Justin, Henry, Mary and Francis. George Arnold came during the year, and his brother James a little later. Both settled on lot twenty-seven, tract ten. E. Arnokl, of Saratoga county, New York, set- tled on lot nineteen about the time that James came.
During the same or the following year came the Whitneys. William W. and his family settled on lot fifteen, tract eleven; and in the following year, Cal- vin, a brother, settled near the line. Hiram, another brother, came in 1836, and located on lot twenty-six, tract ten. JJohn R., the father, and Catharine, came soon after; they were from Binghampton, Broome county, New York. William W.'s children, born be- fore he came to Camden, were: Catharine, Mary and William; afterwards Hannah, Jane, John F., Samuel II. and Rouben. Iliram's children were: Henry, ITiram and Hannibal. John R. married a second wife, by whom he had six children: Mary, Elisha, Warren, Warner, Lneretia and Frank. Calvin Whit- ney's children, by his wife Emma L. Morse, were: Will K., now in Camden; George, in Kansas; Charles, in Pittsfield; Caroline, Olive, Alice and Lizzie. John R., William W. and Hiram Whitney are dead.
Azel Washburn and his wife, Elizabeth N., came in January, 1835, and settled on lot twenty-nine, tract ten. They were formerly from Orange, New Hampshire, but had resided in Lake county, Ohio, three years. They had three sons: Azel D., George G. and Fred- erick S. ; and one daughter, Francis E. Only one of the family is now living. The oldest son, Azel D., died in Camden, February 10, 1842. Frances E. died in Montgomery, Alabama, May 31, 1852. The mother died in Waterloo, Iowa, March 9, 1859. Frederick S. fell mortally wounded in the assault on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, while leading his gallant Ninth lowa regiment in the charge, and died the day after he reached his home in Waterloo, Iowa, June 16, 1863. The father died at the home of his son George, in Elyria, December 30, 1867. George G., the only sur- vivor of the family, removed to Elyria in 1847, where, for twenty-nine years, he has been engaged as a jour- nalist; he is now editor and proprietor of the Elyria Republican.
Rufus Washburn bought lot thirty, tract ten, in 1834. but did not settle in Camden until 1841. He married Mrs. Mary Allen, who survives him and still resides at the old home on lot thirty. He was held . in high esteem by all who knew him, and died April 23, 1877.
John Farmer settled upon lot 22, tract ten, in 1834; he was from Binghampton, New York. Han- cock, another New Yorker, who originally settled in Henrietta, came in the same year, but remained only
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IHISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
a short time. John Cyrenius and wife, from near Oswego, New York, settled in 1834, upon lot nine- teen, in tract ten, but returned east two years after. Joseph and Benjamin Wilcox, brothers, from Penn- sylvania, sometime during this year, took up lots thirty-one and thirty-two, in tract ten.
Among the settlers who arrived in 1835 were Fran- cis Bates, of Lewis county, New York, who took np land in fot three, tract ten, and Johiel Bailey, who set- tled upon the same lot, but afterward took lot twenty- one. Neither of them is now living, and neither has any descendants in the town.
Daniel, a brother of Gideon Waugh, settled about 1835 upon lot fourteen, tract ten. He married Abi- gail Hovey, and some time afterward removed to Kansas. Another brother, Lansing, generally known as Elder Waugh, took up lot five, tract ten, at a later day, but afterward became a resident of Wakemar.
Solomon B. Clark came into the township in 1834, or the following year, and took lot twenty-five, in traet eleven. He was from near Binghampton, New York.
John D. Williams and his wife, Jane, from the vicinity of Cuynga Lake, New York, settled upon lots twenty-five and twenty-six. tract eleven, in 1836. Elisha C. now lives upon lot twenty-three, same tract. S. B. is in Kipton village. John W. and Wilson are also residents of the township. Mary Jane lives upon the old place. The only other living member of the family of brothers and sisters is Hleman. Albert R. died in 1878. Clarissa and Minerva are also dead.
Samnel Morgan, and Amy, his wife, came from Mon- roe county, New York, in 1840. The family consists of two sons and two daughters. D. S. is in Brock- port, engaged in the manufacture of mowers and reapers. David is a farmer in Camden and Sarah (Mrs. Hill) and Celestia, (Mrs. Hinman) are also living in the township. The family of David Morgan consists of Charles D., D. B., (m Michigan. ) Celes- tia, Celia (dead), Edna, Mary M., and Elmer Ells- worth. Mrs. Hill has two children, Emma and Nel- son Morgan, and Mrs. Hinman, a son, A. F.
Jacob Devener was quite an early settler, coming from Pennsylvania before 1840, and taking land in lot three, traet ten.
Tract number nine was not put into the market until 1835 when it was bought of Ceristarchus Champion by Philemon Allen, who deeded it to Ezra S. Allen, of Brockport, New York. After the land came into market, it was taken up by settlers quite fast. Some came from the cast, and others moved into the newly opened tract from the northern part of the township. Ezra S. Allen removed to Camden where he resided abont four years, and died in 1841. Hle willed this property to Hiram Allen, who settled upon what has since been known as the Taylor farm at the corners. HI. H. Crandall was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the township,-west side. He removed to Birmingham, but came back to his Camden home where he now lives, one of the in-
fluential residents of the town. Among the earliest settlers in the southern part of the township was Solomon Root and a man by the name of Heath. They occupied respectively lots thirty-four and thirty- five in tract nine. Mareus Bartlett took up lot thirty- nine: Francis Bennett bought out Root about 1840; Henry Bates took up lot nineteen: - Warner lot thirty-eight, and Seneca Andrews a part of lot thirty- nine, -all at an early day. Charles Kingsbury, of Brockport, New York, settled in 1840, east of the Taylor farm. Moses S. Tennant and wife, Jane Bill- ings, of Rochester, New York, came in 1847, and located upon lot seven in tract nine; a son, William, is now circuit judge in Saginaw county, Michigan. Allen R. Tennant and his wife, Nancy Cook, settled upon lot six in the year 1838. Selden Tennant, father of William and Allen came to Camden in 1845, bringing with him two children, David R. and Mar- garet. He took np considerable land, including lots nine and ten, where he lived. Ira Hill came in 1839. The Rev. John Cannan and his son by the same name came into Camden in 1846, the father purchasing a farm upon the east part of lot eight, tract eight. The elder Cannan preached in his own neighborhood for several years, and in the Free Will Baptist Churches of Henrietta and La Grange. He was a strong and original thinker, and a man of most con- scientions and practical piety. Of his son, Dr. John Cannan, mention is made in another portion of this chapter. He is still living upon the old place sur- rounded by his family. A sister, Isabella, is the wife of W. S. Gifford, of Camden. The southern portion of Camden is now nearly as well settled as the northern part. Its history not extending back to pioneer days, has few, if any, elements of interest.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
Daring the months of January and February, 1835, a petition was circulated among, and numerously signed by, the inhabitants of what was then the southern half of Henrietta and the northern half of Brighton, praying the county commissioners to set off a separate township. The petition was presented to the commissioners at their annual meeting in March, and its prayer granted, an order being issued for the completion of the organization, by the election of officers on the first Monday of April, in the same year.
Pursuant to this order, on the 6th of April, 1835, was held the tirst election ever had in Camden. The electors met at the school house, and prepared for the exercise of their right of suffrage by choosing as judges, Platt Squires, Solomon B. Clark and Robert Donglass; and as clerks, Israel D. Gager and John Cyrenius. Every person in the township limits entitled to a vote had a ballot in the box, except one who was detained at home. Following are the officers who were chosen: Trustees, Azel Washburn, Robert Douglass, Obed Holcomb; clerk, John Cyre- nins; treasurer, David Wells; overseers of the poor,
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
Thomas Lee and Joseph Wilcox; fence viewers, James Smith, Joseph Wilcox and Benjamin Wilcox; super- visors of highways, Gideon Waugh, James Smith and Reuben Eddy: constable, Thomas Lee. In October of the same year, D. Wangh was appointed township clerk, to fill the vacancy caused by John Cyrenius' departure from the township. Gideon Waugh was elected justice of the peace in .Inne, 1835, with but one dissenting vote.
When the township was carved out of Brighton and Henrietta, Gideon Waugh suggested to the county commissioners the name of Camden, and the name was accordingly bestowed.
The present township officers are as follows: Trus- tees, Wm. Prince, Charles Hardy, Matthew Tucker; clerk, John Eddy; treasurer, Alonzo L. Breckenridge; assessor, Henry Sheffield: justices of the peace, Joseph B. Flickinger and John Rose; constables, Charles Bayles and William Eastman.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first log cabin that was built was the handi- work of Leonard Clark, and was raised by him npon lot number twenty-tive in tract eleven, in the year 1829. The first framed dwelling was built in the year 1834 on lot number twelve in tract ten, by Roswell Babcock. It was not finished immediately, however. William Hawkins moved it to the adjoining lot, number thirteen, and completed it soon after. About the same time Edwin Gager put up a small, rough frame house on lot number twenty-six, tract eleven. A year or so later, Ezekiel Arnold built a frame house on lot number nineteen, tract ten, moved into it and lived there during the remainder of his life, dying in 1840. All three of these early erected dwellings have been destroyed. The first framed barns were built in 1836 by David Wells and Reuben Eddy. There / was only a few days difference in the date of the raisings. The first brick building was a store erected at Kipton in the year 1856, by 11. MeFarland. It is still used for the purpose originally intended.
The first suit ever tried before 'Squire Gideon Waugh, the earliest dispenser of justice in the town- ship, was the State of Ohio rs. James Smith for assault and battery, William W. White, complainant. The defendant was discharged. The first civil suit was Reuben Eddy os. Platt Squires for damages on contract for chopping and clearing land. Judgment was given for the plaintiff. These two snits are given by Mr. Eddy from memory.
The first white child born in the township was Betsey, daughter of Herod and Eliza Pike. She was born in July or August of the year 1832. The first male child was polite enough to keep out of the world until the first female child had come into the township. Minerva, wife of Gideon Wangh, became the mother of a bright boy babe on the 24th of Angust, 1833, and gave him the name of James H.
Moses Pike cut the first tree within the limits of the township for the purpose of improvement.
Four years after the first settlement of the town- ship, in 1833, ocenrred the first death among the pioneers; Minerva, wife of Gideon Waugh, died of consumption on the second day of October. The funeral was attended by the few persons then denizens of the almost unbroken wilderness. Elder Call con- ducted a simple service, and the mortal remains of the deceased were buried in lot number twenty-three, traet eleven, not far from the desolate cabin of the bereaved husband. After a burying ground had been laid out the body was removed to it.
The first couple joined together in the bonds of wedlock were Renben Eddy and Hannah Sigsworth. The marriage was celebrated February 12, 1835, James Durand, Esq., of Henrietta, officiating. Reu- ben Eddy was born in Rutland, Jefferson county, New York, and Hannah Sigsworth in Yorkshire, England. They are still living together, and both enjoy a degree of health that makes the prospect good of their attaining the tiltieth anniversary of the wed- ding.
The first tavern was a small log structure, located three-quarters of a mile west of the center. It was opened in the year 1845, by Levi Forbes, who is said to have been a very accommodating and obliging landlord; he was succeeded by James Weeks.
The first store in Camden was opened in the spring of 1841, in the woodhouse of Samnel Morgan. It was a branch of a store at Brownhelm, which was owned by the Glendale and Goodrich manufacturing company of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
This company, at that time, had in operation an extensive ashery, shipping large quantities of potash to the eastern market. They manufactured from seven to ten tons per week, and received from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and sixty dollars per ton. This ashery was under the supervision of a Mr. MeFall, and later by oue Hammond. The store was started for the purpose of exchanging goods for ashes, and was put in operation by Ezekiel Goodrich. of Brownhelin, with Obadiah Prentiss as storekeeper. Winslow Fay succeeded Prentiss in the fall of 1841. About four months after he had assumed charge of the business, the stock of goods was removed to better quarters, in a building erected expressly for the mercantile business, at a place called . Sam Town," about three-fourths of a mile west of Cam- den center. After an experience of one year, Mr. Fay was called to the Brownhelm store, Mr. G. D. Hinman succeeding him in Camden. Dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries and hardware comprised the stock. It cannot be definitely ascertained how long this store existed. The business carried on by this eastern firm was one of the most extensive at that day, in this part of the country. Wood was Inr- nished for the ashery at twenty-five to thirty-one cents per cord, cut and piled up, showing but a small remuneration for labor. There is nothing left of the ashery to mark the place, unless it be a huge pile of old ashes that still remain near the bank of the river.
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
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