History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 86

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

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would prevent escape, but not hold the animal so fast he could not drag it after him. If caught by the leg and held immovable the wolf would escape by gnaw- ing off the leg. The other way he could barely crawl, leaving a broad trail behind him made by himself, trap and clog, to some thicket where he could be easily found. Wolf scalps, black salts, for pearls were the only products the settlers had to sell, these afforded their only means for getting money to pay their taxes, which was about the only use they had for money.

CLOTHING AND FOOD.

They made their own cloth from yarn spun from wool raised from their own sheep, or tlax raised themselves and dressed by themselves; carded and spun by the women. They wore hats home made from braided straw, or caps from the skins of animals, with a well preserved suit, brought from New Eng- laud, for Sundays. The rock maple afforded an abun- dant supply of sap, which in March was gathered and boiled into sugar sufficient for the wants of a year. For the first few years their wants, outside of home productions, were few indeed. The forest supplied them with the choicest venison for substantial meat, while for delicacies, they had wild turkey, duck and pheasant. The woods furnished grazing for cattle, and though the butter and milk had a flavor of gar- lic from the leeks with which the woods abounded, upon which the cows fed, yet they learned to make That "do with an onion." For early vegetables the streams afforded water cresses, the marshes, cowslips fer greens. Fox grapes, wild gooseberries, and wild plums were abundant. The cureulio was unknown. Ilogs faltened upon hickory nuts, beech nuts and acorns, without cost or trouble to the owner, and of all the domestic animals thrived the best.

Large numbers of cattle were annually lost from murrain, taking often the settler's only cow or team, and he without the means of replacing the loss. Such misfortunes were common to every neighborhood and were at that time a real calamity, the extent of which can not now be apprehended. This disease gradually disappeared as the country became older, and is now nearly or quile extmel.

TRAVEL AND ITS DANGERS.

The new roads for the larger portion of the year were almost impassable; nearly all travel was with ox-teams hauling loads, and on horseback for journey- ing.

The streams were not bridged, and crossing was dangerous in high water, even after bridges were con- structed; for the overflow of the flats obscured the track, and washed it away. The crossing of Black river, on the northern boundary of the township, was particularly hazardous in high water, and numerous anecdotes are fold of accidents and hairbreadth eseapes here. Here President Fairchild came near losing his life by flood. Here Russell B. Webster, in mid- winter, saved his, by the vigorous exereise of the

RESIDENCE OF HOMER MASON, WELLINGTON TP., LORAIN CO., 0.

351

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OIIIO.

great strength with which nature had endowed him, and that remarkable fortitude and self command through which his presence of mind never forsook him. Under the floating iee, and on the ice, unable to swim, he succeeded in drawing himself out of the jaws of death into the branches of a tree, there to remain, chilled to the bone, until help came. He saved himself, but lost his team.

Ague and bilious fever were the prevailing diseases. before which many a hardy pioneer succumbed, and moss-grown tombstones mark their early graves, cut off in the prime of their manhood in their stern bat- tle with nature's forces.

DEATH ROLL.

The first death occurred on August 21, 1824. Jo- siah B. Munloy, at the early age of thirty-two, died of disease ineident to the new country. It was a great shock to the infant settlement, and a grevious loss to the community, and irreparable to his family, consisting of a wife and three children.

Charles W. Sweet died next, August 23, 1826, at the age of thirty-two years.

Miss Caroline Wilcox married Dr. Hiram Hamlin, and lived at Wellington most of her life. She died December 4, 1861, at the age of sixty-two years.

Ephraim A. Wilcox, after filling various responsi- ble township positions, died Angust 28. 1835, aged forty-four years. His widow survived him ten years. One marble slab marks their resting place, on which are incribed their names and date of death, and these words, " The first family of Wellington settlement. Erected by early settlers of Wellington."

John Howk lived until December 24, 1869. He lied aged seventy-eight years. On the headstone to his grave is inscribed, " Here lies an honest man," and in his caso it was no unmeaning compliment, but a deserved tribute to worth.

John S. Reed, one of the earliest merchants, died in June, 1855, at the age of forty-two years. He was drowned while bathing in Black river, and his loss was a grevions one to Wellington. He was active in all matters of public interest, and a friend to progress. Ilis carly taking off, his untimely fate, his prom- inence, all conspired to make the event one of especial significance in the history of Wellington.

Colonel Francis Herrick lived until 1855. He died at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Though one of the original proprietors of the town, he did not re- move here until several years after the arrival of the first comers.

Loring Wadsworth died in 1871, seventy-two years of age. His father, Benjamin Wadsworth, died De- cember 30, 1844, aged seventy years; Amos Adams, June 19, 1836; Josiah Bradley, September 1, 1869; David Webster, October 14, 1864; Alanson Howk, April 9, 1850.

Lawton Wadsworth, who erected the first hotel,- the American house,-as early as 1833, died February 21, 1867.

ORGANIZATION, NAME, ETC.

The township was organized in the year 1821. The records of the first years are lost. They were kept upon slips of paper at first, and when a record bock was opened in 1824, the transcribing was neg- lected. The first township officers were John Howk, Josiah Bradley and Austin Kingsbury, trustees; Ephraim Wilcox, justice of the peace, and Amos Adams, township clerk.

In selecting a name for the township, the honor of naming it was put up and struck off to the high- est bidder. The bid being an offer to chop out roadway, the highest offer to chop, linear measure- ment, to win. Charles Sweet bid eighty rods, and the naming of the township was accorded to him. Ile named it Charlemont, which was not acceptable to the rest. They offered to do Sweet's job for him, he surrendering his right to name. He con- sented, and Wellington was the name agreed upon, to the satisfaction of all concerned, some favoring that name through admiration of the Iron Duke, others through a desire to honor their compatriot, William T. Welling, one of the first five who came, so that all were gratified.

The first election of which any record is preserved was a special election held July 5, 1824, for electing a justice of the peace. The record certifies that the result was a tie between E. Wilcox and R. B. Webster. It seems a second balloting was had, which resulted in ten votes for Wilcox. seven for Web- ster, and two scattering. This election was declared irregular, another was called and resulted in the election of Mr. Wilcox. At the annual State elec- tion, on the 12th of October. A. D. 1824, Benjamin Wadsworth, JJudson Wadsworth and James Wilson acted as judges of election, and D. Z. Johns and E. A. Wilcox clerks. There were but ten votes cast at this election. A copy of the poll list shows that there were ten electors, as follows: Loring Wadsworth, Whitman De Wolf, James Wilson, Frederick Hamlin, .Indson Wadsworth, E. A. Wilcox, D. J. Johns, Benj. Wadsworth, Silas Boly and Amos Adams. Allen Trimble had ten votes for governor and Alfred Kelly ten voles for representative in congress. As these were the candidates of the federal party, it is inferred that these electors were all federalists. The demo- crats did not vote; they perhaps forgot the day, for it was before the times when electors were kept from the polls by bulldozing. The next election of which a record is kept in the township records, was held October 14, 1828, and Allen Trimble, ont of the whole number of votes cast, which were thirty, had thirty votes. Again Wellington patriots all voted one way. But at the presidential election, on the 31st of October of that year, there were forty-five votes cast, of which the federal candidates for elect- ors had thirty-eight votes and the democratie clectors had seven votes.

In 1829, there were twenty-one householders in the school district, number one, the center district. In

3.52

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

district number two, the western district, there were eleven householdlers. These two districts embraced the entire township.

At the October election, 1830, there were thirty- six votes cast, of which Duncan MeAArthur had thirty- tive votes for governor, and Robert Lucas had one vote. At an election for justice of the peace, in 1833, there were fifty-five votes cast. At the October elec- tion, in 1836, the total number of votes polled was one hundred and thirty, of which Eli Baldwin had sixty-nine, and Joseph Vance sixty-one for governor. Joseph Vance was the whig candidate. At the presi- dential election that year, there were one hundred and sixty-three votes polled, of which number the whig electors received eighty-seven votes, and the democratie seventy-seven, making one more than the whole number of votes cast. At the election, in 1834, Eber W. Hubbard, democrat, and Daniel T. Baldwin, whig, had each sixty-seven votes for repre- sentative in the State legislature. At the State elec- tion, in 1838, Joseph Vance, whig, had seventy-four votes, and Wilson Shannon, democrat, had seventy- three. At the State election, in 1840, the total vote was one hundred and fifty-six. of which Thomas Cor- win, whig candidate, had ninety-five. and Wilson Shannon, democratic, fifty-nine votes for governor, Sherlock J. Andrews, whig candidate for representa- tive in congress, bad ninety-six votes, the highest. number east for any candidate at that election. At the presidential election of that year, the Harrison electors received eighty-nine votes, the Van Buren dertors sixty-five votes, and the electoral ticket for James G. Birney. the candidate of the anti-slavery party, called the liberty party, for president, received three votes.

WELLINGTON VILLAGE.

On the 14th of March. A. D., 1836, the legislature chartered the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Rail Road Company, but the charter became dormant by now user, and an act of revival was passed in 1845. March 12. After this, active steps were taken to push the enterprise. Several rontes were contemplated by the company, among which was one via Elyria and west of Wellington; one via Ashland and east of Wellington, through Pentield; another through Wel- lington, touching no large towns, en route to Colum- bus, even leaving Delaware to the west about two miles. The struggle to secure the location was spirited. There is bnt little doubt that Elyria was a dangerous competitor to Wellington. had she seen fit to exert herself. The latter place did her best. Dr. D. Z. Johns, in its behalf. was instant in season and out of season. He was untiring in exertions to arouse the energies of the town. He called meetings, he gave time and money, he secured the right of way by donation wherever possible. He gave valuable lands himself, and all the people who had means sub- scribed liberally to the stock of the company. They succeeded in securing the location through the center

of the township, within twenty rods of the stone that marks the center. The credit of this achievement belongs to Dr. JJohns more than to any other. It was the turning point to the fortunes of the place. The road on either side would have blasted all village prospects, and where the village now is would have been four farms and nothing more. As soon as the location was secured and the line of the road estab- lished, the company began the work of construction and pushed it most vigorously. One of the deepest tills on the road is in Wellington, at the crossing of Charlemont creek, and was quite an obstacle that had to be overcome, in securing the location of the line. Clouds of workmen, in the summer of 1849, with shovel and pick entered the township, and the work of grading went forward with vigor. From the hour of location the growth of the village has been most healthful: not rapid, but steadily increasing from year to year.

Two disastrous fires, as regarded at the time, have visited the place -- one on the 13th of September. 1858, which consumed the entire business portion of the town on the west side of Main street, burning tive stores and much of their contents. The other tire occurred on the Ist of May, 1865, and burned the store of Foot & Van Deusen, on the corner of Main and Liberty streets, with adjoining buildings.

The corporate limits embrace about one thousand two hundred acres of land, being original lots numbers twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-seven and twenty- right. The organization of the village as a munici- pality was effected August 6, 1855. The first corporate election was held the 30 of December, 1855. John M. Swift was chosen Mayor. The following is a list of the ineumbents of that office from that date to 18:9, inclusive, to wit:

E. S. Tripp, term of office, from April, 1856, to April, 1858.

F. M. Hamlin,

1859

1860

Loring Wadsworth, "

1860

1861.

Henry Phelps,

1861

1862

F. M Hamlin.

4 4

1862

1865.

E. S. Tripp.

1865

1867.

J. H. Dickson,

1867

1868

G. W. Burle,

1868

1869

A. H. Palmer,

1869

1870.

J. B. Lang,

1870

1872.

N. Inckins,

.. 1872. to Sept , 1823.

J. W. Houghton, from Sept., 1872, to April, 1874

A W. Palmer,

from April, 1874

1876.

A. W. Palmer, 4

1876

18.8.

A. W. Palmer was re-elected in 1878.

The population of the village at the census of 1860, was one thousand and twenty-nine; in 1870, it was one thousand two hundred and eighty-one; in the rensns of 1850, covering both township and village. the population was one thousand five hundred and tifty-six; in 1860, it was one thousand seven hundred and twenty; in 1820, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one. The village, in 1839, estimated by the vote, two thousand two hundred: the township and village, three thousand.

The business of the place is mainly commercial- large quantities of merchandise are annually retailed. At the time of the incorporation of the village, the

HON. JOSEPH H. DICKSON.

llon. Joseph 11. Dickson, one of Wellington's prominent and honored citizens, located there in December, 1855.

His attention was directed early in life to the possibilities embraced within the scope of high legal attain- ments, and entering accordingly upon a course of study, he found that his earnestly directed and energetic ambi- tion urged him rapidly forward upon his chosen path, and graduating event- ually with conspicuous honors, he was, in August, 1852, admitted to the bar.

Photo. by W. F. Saw tell, Wellington, O.

Directly upon his settlement in Wel- lington he began to win popular rec- ognition, and to make his influenee felt in a more than ordinary measure.

He was chosen to represent Lorain County in the Fifty-eighth and Fifty- ninth General Assemblies of the State of Ohio, whereby he was enabled to contribute something toward the legal recognition of the equality of all men before the law by voting for the adop- tion of the joint resolution ratifying, on the part of Ohio, the adoption of the fifteenth amendment to the con- stitution of the United States.

RESIDENCE OF J. H. DICKSON, WELLINGTON. OHIO .

353

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

principal merchants were C. S. Foote and I. S. Van Deusen, under the firm name of Foote & Van Densen; J. HI. Wooley and D. Reamer, under the firm name Wooley & Reamer; William Runnells, W. F. Herrick and S. F. Wolcott, under the firm name of Herrick & Wolcott.

There were several manufacturing establishments, among which were the following: Mills of the Wel- lington Manufacturing Company; carriage factory of E. S. Tripp: Bennett, Kirk & Co., wood work and agricultural implements; cabinet work and furniture store of A. G. Couch.

In 1852, a newspaper was established here, under the management of George Brewster, elsewhere in this work referred to; afterward it was discontinued, and in 1866, the Wellington Enterprise was estab- lished.

THE DAIRY INTEREST.

Soon after the completion of the Cleveland and Columbus railroad the business of buying and ship- ping cheese at Wellington was opened by R. A. Horr, then residing in Huntington. Mr. Horr built up a large order trade. Others soon went into the busi- ness. which rapidly grew. The first cheese ware house or shipping house was opened by B. G. Car- penter. Others were speedily established until, in 1828, there was a number of different houses and firms engaged in the business of manufacturing, buy- ing and selling cheese and butter. Among the prin- cipal ones in that year were Messrs. Horr, Warner & Co., Baldwin, Laundon & Co .; George W. Crosier & Co .; Palmer & Lewis. The first-named firm that year sent Mr. Horr to Europe, where he formed busi- ness arrangements whereby this firm have since been making large shipments of butter and cheese to Liv- erpool and Glasgow. The amount of cheese shipped from Wellington in 1878 was six million four hundred and sixty-five thousand six hundred and seventy-four pounds: butter, one million one thousand six hun- dred and sixty-one pounds.

The total valuation of these products for that year at a fair average estimate was not less than eight hundred thousand dollars.

The first cheese factory, erected in Lorain county, was built by C. W. Horr, of the present firm of Horr, Warner & Co., in 1866. It was located in a fine dairy seetion in Huntington township, and from the start proved a successful undertaking. In the year 1878, from that beginning there were over forty cheese and butter factories owned by Wellington dealers, the pro- duets of which were all delivered at Wellington for market. This interest has built up a large business in the manufacture and sale of dairy implements and utensils. The dealers in cows in February, March and April do an extensive business in buying and selling to supply the demand for dairy purposes. The number of men in and around Wellington, en- gaged in this business directly or indirectly, is num- bered by thousands, so that at this day there is scarcely a town in the non-dairy sections of the

United States, where Wellington cheese is not found. The industry shows no signs of decline as yet, but the promise of enlarged demand and increase in the pro- duct is good.

BANKING.

On the twenty-fourth day of June, A. D. 1864, the charter for a national bank to be called The National Bank of Wellington was issued. It was organized with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Hon. S. S. Warner was chosen its first president, and R. A. Horr, Esq., its first cashier, which positions they have continned to fill from that time to this. On the twenty-ninth of November, A. D. 1871, the capital stock was increased to one hundred thousand dollars.

The second year of its existence the safe of the bank was burglarized and robbed of sixty thousand dollars in government bonds and currency. A large reward was offered for the apprehension of the robbers. The police of the cities, stimulated by the reward offered, became vigilant; finally trace was found, so that one of the robbers was caught in New York, one in Charleston, Sonth Carolina, whither an agent of the bank followed and apprehended him, armed with a requisition from the Governor of Ohio upon the Governor of South Carolina, which was the first made, and recognized after the close of the war upon that State. Nearly forty thousand dollars of the stolen bonds were recovered.

The first board of directors were S. S. Warner, R. A. Horr, B. G. Carpenter, Samuel K. Laundon, F. M. Ilamlin, of Wellington, T. W. Lanndon and R. G. Horr, of Elyria.

LIFE INSURANCE.

In 18:4 there was organized a life insurance associa- tion on the co-operative plan. The charter members were S. S. Warner, W. R. Wean, R. A. Horr, A. K. Hand, J. H. Hood, Alfred Elwell, A. Y. Waters, W. W. Boynton, J. H. Dickson. The growth of the as- sociation has been rapid, and at the close of the cor- porate year, A. D. 1819, there were five thousand members thereof. It had paid about sixty thousand dollars to the families and heirs of deceased members. Hon. S. S. Warner was chosen the first president of the association, and W. R. Wean, secretary, which positions they still fill. The association has agencies in almost or quite every county in the northern part of the State extending south to the central. It con- fines its operations to the State of Ohio entirely, and mainly the northern part.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

The order of F. and A. Masons established a lodge September 27, 1844, called Wellington Lodge No. 127. The first master was Jabez L. Wadsworth; Daniel Tillottson, the first secretary. A Masonic Chapter was subsequently organized. O. Herrick was the first high priest. The lodge now numbers eighty members; the chapter forty-five. W. S. Ste-

354

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

phenson is now master of the lodge, and J. H. Bowl- by, the secretary. High priest of the chapter. Oscar llerrick.

The order of Odd Fellows organized a lodge known as Lorain Lodge No. 281. May 25, 1855. The first. noble grand was R. I. Holcomb. The present. officers are Ransom Peabody, N. G. ; Henry Wood, V. ( .; C. N. Christy, secretary: Levi Bowman, treas- urer.

SCHOOLS.

In 1849, Gideon Adams erected a building for school purposes. It was designed for an academical school. The school was opened that year by Miss Mary Ann Adams, an accomplished instructor, who had been for a number of years at the head of the female department of Oberlin College. Under the management and charge of Miss Adams, the school prospered and acquired a liberal patronage, and was highly serviceable to those desiring an academical course of instruction. Under other management this school was continued a number of years after the incorporation of the village, after which the schools were organized on the graded plan of the Ohio union school system. Much effort was put forth to concen- trate all interests in the public schools.

The present school buildings cast of Main street, were erected in 1867 and '68. at a cost of thirty thou- sand dollars.

W. S. Eversole was the first superintendent, and, under his advice, a most complete course of study was prescribed, the different grades established, and the schools well started.

In September, 1870, W. R. Wean became super- intendent, under whose efficient management and thorough instruction the schools have acquired a just celebrity.

The marked progress of the Wellington schools, under Mr. Wean's administration, has afforded a practical illustration of the benefits of the graded system, that has greatly endeared it to the people. They have become the pride of every patron, and have been the source of inspiration to many young men and women who to-day are manfully fighting life's battles. The healthy ambition infused into the minds of the students is evinced by the number of the graduates of the Wellington high school, who are found in the higher universities of learning through- out the country.

The growth of the village is quite fairly illustrated by the growth of the schools. The superintendent's report for each successive year, from the year ending June 30, 1871, showing the whole number of pupils enrolled, is as follows:

1871, whole number enrolled 372

.. 373 1873,

402

1874, .. 112

1875,

121

1826,

1221

.. 173

183

CHURCHES.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WELLINGTON.

On the 20th day of April, A. D. 1824, the Rev. Lot B. Sullivan and Rov. Alfred Betts, being commis- sioned by presbytery, organized a church, which they styled the church of Wellington. The names of the members were Joseph Kingsbury and wife, Martha Kingsbury; Amos Adams and wife, Huldah Adams; David Webster and Harmon Kingsbury, from Otis, Massachusetts: Nancy Hamlin, Sarah Wilcox and Sarah Battle, from Tyringham, Massachusetts; and Lydia Sullivan, from Lyme, Ohio. Letters of dis- missal and recommendation were granted to Mrs. Sullivan December 20, to Joseph Hunnon and Mar- tha Kingsbury June 13, 1825, leaving the church composed of seven members-two men and five women. In October, 1825, there was an accession of four members, one of whom, Mrs. Orpha Webster, still survives-April 1, 1849. The first place of meeting was a log school house at the center, where the brick block on the northeast corner now stands. In Anne, 1826, Austin Kingsbury and Milton Adams joined, the latter of whom, through all the changes and vicissitudes of fifty-four years, has continued his church membership, and at this date is still a con- sistent member thereof. In 1827 the accessions were six by letter; in 1828, six; in 1829, five, in 1830, thir- teen, of whom Deacon John L. Case still continues; in 1831, forty-two, mostly by profession of faith; in 1832, eight, among whom were Russell B. Webster; in 1833, four; in 1834, twenty-four. In the first ten years there were one hundred and twenty-four mem- bers added to the rolls. On the 29th of November, A. D. 1828, Rev. Joel Talcott was settled as pastor over the church. He was the first settled minister, and remained as such until September 4, 1832. It. was during his ministry that the above exhibit. of growth mainly occurred. During the nine years of his pastorate there were one hundred and fifty-two aecessions to the church; in which connection it should be borne in mind that the number of inhabit- ants in the township was but small from whom to reeruit its ranks. On the 5th of October. 1838, the church and society extended a call to Rev. H. W. Fairfield to become its pastor, the pulpit having been filled, during the interval since Mr. Talcott resigned, by temporary supplies from Oberlin, mainly by Pro- lessor Henry Cowles. On the 1st of April, 1839, Mr. Fairfield requested the church to release him from his engagement, which was not acceded to, but Mr. Fairfield's name, as minister, does not appear but a few times thereafter. In 1841. Horace A. Taylor, of nnenviable subsequent notoriety, preached, residing in Oberlin, and on the 8th of December, A. D. 1841. the church voted to settle him as its minister by a light vote of thirteen to one, but in those days only men voted in church and society meetings. They, the same year, voted to raise four hundred bushels of wheat for the support of the gospel; whether to be

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 86

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

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