History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 75

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

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BuriAndrews

Amy, S. Andrews

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE BERI ANDREWS, PENFIELD, LORAIN CO. O., 1879.

303

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

RELIGIOUS.

The earliest religious service of which any of the present residents of Penfield have recollection, was held in 1826.

Elisha Fields preached the first week of March in that year at David Merwin's house. After that, meet- ings were held every four weeks until fall, by the same preacher, and then the Rev. Harry O. Sheldon began his ministrations in the township, speaking to small assemblages at the old log school house. Rev. Mat- thew L. Starr was also an early preacher. He came from the east, and preached his first sermon in an un- tinished house, standing upon a workman's bench which had been left in the largest room of the rather small dwelling.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

The first church formed in Penfield was of the Presbyterian denomination. It was organized Janu- ary 14, 1829, by Revs. A. HI. Betts, Xenophon Betts, Joel Talcott and D. W. Lathrop. Following are the names of the original members: Lewis Penfield and wife, Peter Penfield and wife, Truman Penfield and wife, Amos Peufield and wife, Amzi L. Penfield and wife, Dr. James HIall and wife, and Anna Merwin, wife of David Merwin-thirteen in all.

The church had in 1878 forty-five members and a meeting house adequate to its needs. The pastor was the Rev. O. V. Rice and the officers the following : trustees, L. II. Penfield, Peter Dahlglish, Heman Starr; clerk, Robert MeConanghy; deacons, W. W. Penfield and Robert McConanghy; Sunday school superintendent, W. W. Penfield; assistant, L. H. Pentield.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first class of this church was organized in August, 1834, the Rev. A. Billings in charge. It. was composed of the following members: Wm. b. llayes, Aurilla L. Hayes, Mrs. Sarah Hayes, Esther Mary Hayes, Russell II. Starr, Henry G. Witbeck and Freelove Witheck. But two of the original members are still living-Mr. and Mrs. Wm. L. Hayes. The society at this date, December, 1878, numbers one hundred and sixteen members. The Rev. Thomas G. Roberts is pastor, and the officers of church and society are as follows: stewards, Levi Smith, A. B. Hayes, E. A. Starr (recording), S. Long, Wm. Knapp; class leaders, James Webber, Wm. Furze, Wm. P. Boice, Clapp Starr ; local preachers, P. C. Bunt, George Norton, Mathew L. Starr (superanuated); Sunday school superintendent, James Weber; trustees, Orrin Starr; Mathew L. Starr, Joseph Jones, George Norton, S. Barton, Wil- lard Hart, James Webber, Wm. L. Hayes. A church building was erected in 1842, half a mile east of the center, but the society moved to the center about 1855, and occupied the more commodious honse at present in use.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

In the year 1839 or 1840, the Baptist church was organized with twelve members, viz: Rev. Asa Straight and wife, Samuel Knapp and wife, Wm. Rogers and wife, Peter Bost and wife, Mrs. Elisha Sheldon, Mrs. Kellogg Latham, Mrs. Edward Hart, and the mother of Wm. Rogers. Mrs. Sheldon is the only one of the original members living. For some time this church had no regularly settled pastor, but was supplied with preaching by different ministers. Meetings were held in school houses and private dwellings for several years. In 1853 efforts were made to seenre funds for building, and in April of 1855 a house of worship was dedicated, Rev. E. Tib- bals being the pastor in charge. Previous to this time, however, the church had a settled minister- Elder George Edwards. The present pastor is the Rev. Michael Shank; deacons, Silas Rogers, Elisha Sheldon; trustees, Elisha Sheldon, W. B. Andrews, Shubael Knapp; clerk, W. B. Andrews; treasurer, Elisha Sheldon.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

An Episcopal church was organized in 1844, but did not remain long in existence. The following, from the record of the church, explains how it came into being:

"We whose names are hereunto affixed, deeply im- pressed with the importance of the christian religion, and earnestly wishing to promote its holy influence in the hearts and the lives of ourselves, our familiesand our neighbors, do hereby associate ourselves together. un- der the name, and style, and title of the parish of Christ. Church, in the township of Penfield, county of Lorain, and State of Ohio, and by so doing do adopt the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of Ohio, in communion with the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States of America.

To the above form the names of twenty subscribers, the number required, were affixed, and a meeting was held, in conformity to notice given, upon the 13th of August, 1844, at which time Rev. Messrs. Davis and Holden, being present, the church was organized and the following officers elected: senior warden, Daniel Andrews; junior warden, Beri Andrews; vestrymen, Lewis Jones, Bishop Richmond, William Andrews; clerk, William Andrews. The church never built a house of worship.

SCHOOLS.

Before the usual facilities for teaching were pro- vided, Clarissa Rising, of Huntington, taught a school in Calvin Spencer's private house, about a mile south of the center. This was the first school in the township, and was held in the summer of 1829. Among the pupils were Samuel and Jane Penfield, Horace Starr and Betsey Ann Starr, William Avery Penfield, and the Spencer children, Mary Merwin. Harriet Hoyt and David Hoyt. George R. Starr,

304

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

now of Elyria, taught the second school in the winter of 1829 and 1830, and Lucy Adams also taught after him. The first school house was erected a mile and a half east and abont three quarters of a mile north of the center. It was a frame structure covered with rough boards. Several log school houses were built. afterwards. The first select school was taught in 1854, by Eleazer Hale, an Oberlin student. At this writing the township has eight district schools.

CEMETERY.

The burial place is upon a plat of ground, half a mile cast of the center, a portion of which was do- nated by Gideon Penfield, in 1840. Additions have been made at various times, as has been made neces- sary by the increase of the population, and propor- tionable increase of mortality. There is a family burying ground upon the old Samuel Knapp farm, one of the carliest dedicated to those who have have passed over to the silent majority.

ROADS.

It is a noticable fact that, in the southern part of Lorain county, and in territory lying contiguous to it, the roads first laid ont have been those running from south to north. There is an explanation of this fact. We find that the settlers in this part of the country, and further south, had a desire lo perfect rontes of travel to the lake, for it was there that they naturally expected to find a market, in future years, for the corn and wheat they did not need for home consumption.

The first road through Penfield, was one of these roads, laid out as a line of travel, by which the inland farmers might take their produce to the larger towns near the lake shore, and to the harbors. It is known now as the River road, and was opened from Spencer and Homer, in Medina county, through Penfield, in the early days of the settlement. Much time was spent in its improvement. But little was done upon the Penfield and Wellington road for many years, the swamp in the latter township remaining a place to be dreaded at all times of the year, and nearly, if not quite, impassable during the wet seasons.

The north and south center road was laid out and planked in 1836, or the following year, and was known as one of the best roads in this part of the country, as long as it was kept in repair. The planks have been a thing of the past for many years.

POST OFFICE.

In the spring of 1820, a mail route was laid out from Medina to Norwalk, through Penfield center. The first mail was carried through in April, by a man named Laborie, who traveled on foot. The Penfields living a mile and half from the line, arranged to de- posit all of their mail matter in a hollow tree, at the river crossing, and lo have matter left there for them. This was the primitive post office of the township.

In April, 1821, Truman Penfield moved on to the line, and took charge of the mail. in an informat way, until 1825, when he was commissioned postmaster. He held the office for many years, and was not a defanlter. His successor was D. W. C. Dixon, and he was succeeded by Lyman Hayes. W. J. Krebs was commissioned as postmaster upon the 12th of December, 1818.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

The first saw mill in the township was built by Peter Penfield about 1828. Samuel Knapp built one about two years after; and Calvin Spencer and others at a still later date. Black walnut timber was so com- mon that it was used very largely for fence rails, and the Iumber was sold for only four dollars per thousand. In 1850, a saw mill was built and operated by R. Il. Penfield, Horace Penfield, Orrin Starr, Lyman Hayes and Almond Lindsley, for the purpose of furnishing lumber for the plank road leading north through LaGrange. This was burned in 1857, and subse- quently rebuilt. It is now owned by W. W. Penfield. There is also another saw mill, with a tlouring mill in conjunction, owned by S. Samson & Son. which was built in 1868, by A. C. Hitchcock. Both of these mills are located near the center, upon lot twelve, tract four.

CHEESE FACTORIES.

Hiram Witbeck and John McGraw started a cheese factory upon the center road, west of the center, in the spring of 1869, and took the milk of about three hundred cows. MeGraw soon sold out his interest to Witbeck, who contined to run the factory until 1877, when he sold to Mr. Crozier, of Wellington. Christy & Norton started a factory in 1869, in the south part of the township, conducted it for several years, and then transferred the property to Baldwin & Laundon, of Wellington. This firm also owns the factory started in 1870, east of the river, by a Mr. Benedict, of Litchfield. S. White started a small factory in 1825, which he still manages. There is another fac- tory upon the river, in the northeast part of the township, which was started in 1825, by R. Holcomb, and is now owned by George Rozier, of Wellington.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTIC'S.

The following are the statistics for 1877, showing the amount of the most important productions of the township; also the population in 1820, and the vote for President in 1876:

Wheat, 574 acres

9,760 bushels.

Potatoes, 36

3,255 =

Oats,

513

22,121

Orchards, 226

325

Corn,

807

31,785

Meadow, 1,925

2,358 tons.

Butter.

67,264 pounds.

Cheese ..

364,530

Maple Sugar,

6,220

Population in 1870.

749

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

Hayes

163 | Tilden. 39

RES. OF CLAPP R. STARR.

PHOTOS BY W

MRS ORRIN STARR

ORRIN-STARR

305

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

TRUMAN PENFIELD.

Prominently identified with the material progress and development of Penfield township, and among its most respectable citizens, was Truman Penfield. Removing to Penfield nearly sixty years ago, he was one of the pioneers of the township, and became one of its most substantial business men, as well as among its best practical farmers. He not only witnessed the transition of a sparsely settled region into a prosper- ons and flourishing locality, from an uncultivated wilderness to a highly fertile and productive agricul- tural township, but by his industry, energy and thrift, did much toward the consummation of these varions and beneficial improvements.

Truman Penfield was born at Fairfield, Connecti- ent, October 4, 1789, and died at Pentield, Ohio, April 20, 1868. He was the son of Lewis Penfield, who was born March 26, 1765. He married Adah Beardslee, Jannary 22, 1789. In 1802, they removed to Harpersfield, Delaware county, New York, where they became respectable citizens.

Truman Penfield was married to Ruth Ann Sco- ville, May 10, 1814. The fruits of this union were: Samuel S., born July 13, 1818, in Harpersfield, New York; married Permelia Dayton, September 23, 1839; resides in Penfield. Jane A., born August 27. 1823, in l'enfield, Ohio; was graduated from the Oberlin Collegiate Institute (ladies' course of 184%); in the following year, Angust 15, 1848, was married to Judge A. W. Hendry, of Sandusky, Ohio, where they have since resided.

Mrs. Ruth A. Penfield died December 5, 1824. For his second wife, Mr. Penfield married Maria Dayton, of Harpersfield, New York, in September, 1825. The children of this second marriage were: Maria, born August 22, 1828; married ITiram Smith, September 18, 1851; they reside at Flint, Michigan.

William Wirt Penfield was born June 29, 1831; and November 22d, 1854, was married to Martha, daughter of Jedediah Gaylord, of Penfield. Ile (William W.) has always lived upon the homestead farm at Penfield center, where he was born. In 1872, he removed the old farm house and built a new one, in modern style, an illustration of which, with portraits, adorns an- other page of our work. He is extensively engaged in raising improved breeds of cattle, with which the old farm is well stocked. In addition to his agricul- tnral pursuits, he is quite largely interested in the manufacture of lumber, he being the owner of a capa- cious and well furnished steam saw mill located at the center. Ile ocenpies a leading position in his town- ship, and in his life and character has admirably typified what well dirceted energy, perseverance and industry will accomplish.

Truman Penfield, third and last child of Truman and Maria (Dayton) Penfield, was born Angust 3, 1833; married Sarah, daughter of Levi Gaylord, March 20, 1857. Ile now occupies the position of general ticket and passenger agent for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, and resides at Han- nibal, Missouri. The character for personal integrity and high moral worth which the Penfield family have always maintained, is so well known to the residents of Lorain county that anything of a laudatory nature from us, in this respect, would be superfluous. The desire to improve the locality where he cast his lot nearly sixty years ago, was one of the strongly marked traits of Truman Penfield, His son has done much toward beantifying the homestead, and in adding many improvements, which his father would have done had he lived a few years longer. They have cer- tainly, between them, made Penfield center a delight- ful as well as a beautiful hamlet, which, in future years, shall remain a monument to their enterprise.

ELISHA SIIELDON.

Closely identified with affiairs tending to develop the general interests of the township of Pentield, and always endeavoring, by his life and character, to exer- cise a beneficial influence in the community of which for many years he has been a prominent member, Elisha Sheldon to-day deservedly enjoys a foremost position among the best citizens of that township.

Elisha Sheldon was born in the town of Kortright, Delaware county, New York, January 16, 1811. IIe continued to reside in Kortright until the death of his father, Jonathan Sheldon, which occurred in 1822, when he went to live with an unele in the adjoining town of Harpersfield, where he lived until he was twenty-two years of age. Ile was engaged as a team. ster for Croswell & Dickerman, tanners, of Gilboa, Schoharie county, New York, with whom he contin- ned almost one year. In the spring of 1834, he re- moved to Ohio and purchased one hundred and eighty- eight acres, located in the town of Penfield, Lorain county, upon which he worked, and also by the month, until the fall, when he returned to New York, and the following year married Sallie Peters, and returned to the new home in Ohio, May 3, 1835. He then put up a log cabin, in the midst of an almost unbroken wilderness, into which he moved before it had windows, and lived therein six months before it had a chimney. In the January following, he built that necessary appendage to a comfortable dwelling. his young wife helping to lay the brick. After the elapse of forty-five years, Mrs. Sheldon very appro- priately designates her experience in the brick-laying line, as " the spice of pioneer life." The first year of his settlement, Mr. Sheldon cleared off some six or eight acres and sowed it to wheat. Every year since has witnessed some improvement to his farm,

306

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

to which he added seventy acres, subsequent to his original purchase, upon which he still resides. He has deeded to each of his sons a good farm, thus giv- ing them an infinitely better and easier start in life than he ever had.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have had seven children, namely: Sarah E., now the wife of C. E. Starr, resides in l'enfield; Daniel P. lives at Wellington: Addison resides on a farm in Wellington township: William L. lives on a farm in Penfield: Charles HI. lives at home with his parents, owning a part of the homestead: James M. and John h. are dead, the former dying at the age of five years and five months, and the latter at the age of almost ten years.

In politics Mr. Sheldon is a republican. He has served his township as assessor and trustee several terms. lle and his excellent wife are both members of the Penfield Baptist church, of which Mrs. Shel- con is the only one of the constituent members now living. This worthy couple have pulled together forty-four years, and the prospects are for them to celebrate their golden wedding.

Mr. Sheldon is noted for his liberality in sustaining benevolent and charitable institutions, and for the generous aid he lends to worthy objects connected with religion and education. Hle is deservedly esteemed as an upright and honest citizen, a good neighbor, a kind husband and an affectionate father. lle has lived an industrious and busy life, and in the man- agement of his interests has been careful and econom- ical, so that he and his wife, who has largely assisted him in the accumulation of his property, can pass their declining years in comparative case and comfort. Having always been temperate and regular in his habits, he enjoys perfect good health, and bids fair to exceed by many years, the allotted span.

BERI ANDREWS

Prominently connected with the material interests of Penfield, and among its early and respected citizens was the subject of these lines. He was born in Meriden, Connecticut, February 5, 1806. He was the son of Marvel and Sallie (Bronson) Andrews, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, and among the worthy citizens of that State. At the age of twenty- three, Mr. Andrews married Eliza Hall, the union re- sulting in four children-two sons and two daugh- ters, namely: Bela, now married and settled in Henry county, linois; Hannah E., Sarah B. and William B., all living on the homestead farm. Mrs. Andrews died April 21, 1857. On the twenty-ninth of April, 1858, he married Amy, daughter of Jonathan Shel- don. She survives him.

In 1834 Mr. Andrews moved to Lorain county, Ohio, and settled on the farm where his widow now resides. The place then contained over three hundred

and fifty acres, of which two hundred acres remains in the family.

Mr. Andrews held several offices, notably those of township clerk and justice of the peace, in which he served with general satisfaction to the people, and with personal credit. He was an exemplary member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he was senior warden for many years. After an emi- nently useful life Mr. Andrews died October 9, 1868. Ile was a man who was greatly respected for his many excellent qualities. A good practical farmer, and an industrious and honest citizen, his death was felt as an irreparable loss in the community in which he had lived so long, and in which his worth was well known and so generally appreciated.

A portrait of himself and widow, together with a view of the old homestead, is inserted in this work, as a deserved testimonial of a meritorious life, and as a token of regard from her to whom his many virtues were as a household word, and to whom his death was a sad bereavement.

ORRIN STARR.

Among the representative pioneers of Penfield town- ship, who have materially assisted in the growth and progress of that town, none are more worthy a place in its history than Orrin Starr. Emigrating to this scc- tion of the country forty-five years ago, at a time when the territory now embraced within the limits of the township, contained but two frame dwellings, and when the number of families therein did not ex- reed a half score, he has contributed not a little to its present prosperity. Orrin Starr was born in Dela- ware county, New York, October 30, 1803. He is the son of Eleazar and Rebecca (Clapp) Starr, old settlers of that county. lle received what literary «lucation he ever obtained at the common schools of his native county. When seven years of age his father died, and the duty of helping to provide for his wid- owed mother devolved upon him, which duty he cheerfully preformed, assisted by his elder brothers. His early years were spent on the homestead farm. In 1834 he sold out his interest in the family estate and emigrated to Lorain county, Ohio, and settled on the farm now occupied by David Drake, and located abont one mile and a half northeast of Penfield con . ter where Mr. Starr now resides. On the 12th of September, 1825, he was married to Abigail, daughter of lleman and Lucinda Hickok, of Schoharie county, New York.

HIon. Heman Hickok was born in Watertown, Con- neetient, and removed in an early day to Jefferson. Schoharie county, New York, where he was exten- sively engaged in farming and milling. He was a publie benefactor, and for many years a justice of the peace of his town, a side judge, and also a member of the legislature of the State of New York. In 1823

PHOTOS BY W F SANTE

SOUTH VIEW OF FARM.

WILLINGTO

MRS. STREET GOODYEAR

STREET GOODYEAR.

RESIDENCE OF STREET GOODYEAR, PENFIELD, LORAIN CO., OHIO.

307

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Mr. Hickok and his wife removed to Ashtabula coun- ty, Ohio, where three of their sons, Ambrose, Heman C. and Hiram, had preceded them some years.

This worthy couple have now lived together har- moniously for fifty-three years, having celebrated their golden wedding three years ago, surrounded by many relatives and friends, They had eleven children, of whom six survive. The names of the children are as follows : Melinda, deceased ; Minerva and Maria, twins : the former lives in Penfield, the latter in Michigan; Elizabeth, died in Kansas, Alonzo B. died of disease contracted in the army, at Mount Vernon, Kentucky ; Hiram HI. resides in Nebraska, Emma L. deceased ; Edna, resides in Oberlin ; Clapp R., Marian A., deceased. Those living are all married and set- tled in life and are good and respectable citizens.

Mr. Starr is a republican in politics, and was for- merly an old line whig. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace in his township, but resigned after serving about a year. feeling as though his time was required in the management of his personal affairs. He has also been elected to other township offices. Mr. and Mrs. Starr are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the latter having joined it in the days of her youth. Mr. Starr now owns a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-seven and a half acres, lo- cated at the center, an illustration of the buildings of which, with portraits of himself and wife, appears on another page of this work.

Mr. and Mrs. Starr are not only among the pioneers of their town, but are also among its most respectable and influential citizens ; and no history of the town of Penfield would have been complete without a rep- resentation of themselves and their home. Their en- tire career has been characterized by an honest en- deavor to promote the best interests of their children, and to leave a record behind them worthy the emula- tion of those who follow. Industry, economy and a determination to succeed have been the prime factors of their life work, and the results have been alike flat- tering and well deserved.

STREET GOODYEAR AND FAMILY.

Eli Goodyear, father of Street, the subject of this sketch, married Sally Hitchcock, both residents of Hampden, Connecticut. They had five children, viz: Chester, Wooster, Ezra, Lucinda and Street.

Street Goodyear was born May 19, 1808, and unfor- tunately, during his youthful days, he had little opportunity of gaining even a good common school education; but being possessed of a quick and active brain, he, by observation, or rather by intuitive percep- tion, acquired good business qualifications, enabling him to make progress where others might have failed. At the age of eight years he was left without a pro- tector to shield him from the rough, thorny pathway of life; but by rare good sense, and pleasant mien, he

won his way step by step up the rugged hill of for- tune. He was married November 25, 1834, to Miss Susan A. Jones, of North Madison, Connecticut.

Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Lncy (Austin) Jones were residents of North Madison, Connecticut. They were parents of twelve children, viz: Sally M., Lewis, Austin, Lucy Ann, Nancy, Polly, Caroline, Joseph, Emeline, Henrietta, George and Susan A., all born in North Madison, Connecticut. All are now living excepting Polly and Lucy Ann.

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 75

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

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