History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 100

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 100

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ural finish, was erected through the efforts of the leading members of the church, and regu- larly appointed meetings commenced, Joseph Rittenhouse and Samuel Garver officiating as ministers. The people of the faith, who are scattered about in the neighboring townships of Chatham, Harrisville, Westfield and Sulli- van, come here to worship. Aside from the striking simplicity of their church services, these people, in their daily walks of life aud every-day habits, abstain as much as possible from interference with worldly affairs. They are exceedingly plain in their dress, and esehew the pleasures of the world.

Equal in general interest to political affairs of a civil corporation is the origin, rise and development of the system of education ; and, here in Homer, schools commenced as they did in the other pioneer settlements in this great land of the West. In many instances, the place of teaching the young minds was the rude log eabin of a settler, and some kind- hearted soul, father or mother or grown-up daughter, volunteered their services to instruct the young. Then a small log hut, with logs for seats, no light except through the open door and an aperture in the wall. Such an one was the first in Homer Township of which we have any knowledge. It was built in 1833, and stood on the site of the present neat, well lighted and ventilated schoolhouse, about two and one-half miles southeast of the center of Homer .* James Park, a son of Squire John Park, the pioneer of the Township, a young man then about twenty-three years of age, was the first tutor. He dealt out instruction in the rudimentary branches of learning at this schoolhouse for a number of years, and acquit- ted himself in a very creditable manner. His wages, which had been at first only 75 cents per week and board, had been increased to $12 per month in the second year of his teaching. A few years after the establishment of this

* What is now known as the Duncan Williams Schoolhouse.

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schoolhouse, another was built in the Vander- hoof District, one and one-half miles north. Miss Lucretia Youngs was the first teacher in this district. In 1837, a schoolhouse, after the primitive pattern of pioneer schoolhouses, and identical in its make-up to its two predeces- sors, was erected at the center of the township. William Potts, here as the first, assumed the functions of a pedagogue. In the course of two or three years, several more schoolhouses were erected in the township ; one in the north- west corner, and one in the German settlement, in the northeast. The first subdivision of school districts was made in 1837, and a town- ship Board of School Directors was created. There were then five school districts. In 1842, a redivision was made, and the number of dis- tricts was increased by two, making seven, the present number of districts in the township. When young James Park, in the spring of 1833, first assumed the functions as public instructor in the colony, there were just four-

teen scholars. Only ninc responded with their presence on the opening day of school. Very much in accordance with the ill-constructed architectural make-up of the little school cabin was the daily routine of teaching and the text- books used from which to draw the rivulet of learning. At the first enumeration of the school children between the ages of six and twenty in Homer Township, made in 1833, there were found 14. Two years later, there were 27. In 1840, the number of children of the proper school age was 229 ; ten years later, it reached 479. Since that date, the number has retrograded with the general population of the township to 210. To-day, there are seven schoolhouses in the township, supplied with all the advantages of a modern, well-regulated schoolhouse; neat and cleanly within, attract- ive in their outward appearances ; healthful places, where the young children congregate, and a proper stimulus is given to their young minds.

CHAPTER XXV.

LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP-PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION-CHIPPEWA LAKE-DRAINAGE AND IMPROVE- MENT-MILLING INTERESTS-GROWTH OF VILLAGES-EDUCATION AND RELIGION.

A1 MONG the foreigners who came from Europe to the assistance of the British Colonies in America during the Revolution, was a young man whose name and fame, like those of Washington, will be green forever in the memory of the people of the United States. This young nobleman was the Marquis de La Fayette. He saw the wrong done the Ameri- can Colonies, and, with soul burning with indignation, he resolved to risk his life and fortune in assisting them to attain their inde- pendence. After a bloody eight years' war, he saw the British hosts retire, and, full of joy at the success of the colonies against

such fearful odds, he returned to the land of his birth, to pass the remainder of his days. After the lapse of many years, he resolved to visit the country which, like a star, was rising in beauty in the West, and whose freedom he had struggled to secure. With grateful hearts, the nation turned out to do him honor, and gave him an ovation accorded but few men in the history of the world. He has long since passed away; but his memory grows brighter with each succeeding decade; and the mention of his name, like the glad notes of the spring bird returning from the genial sky of Southern climes, will meet a wel-

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HISTORY OF MEDINA . COUNTY.

coming sentiment in every American heart as long as the nation lives. Cities, villages, counties and towns are named in his honor, and are ever-living monuments to his memory. Thus it was, that, when the township was organized, the County Commissioners, at the suggestion of the settlers then residing within its limits, bestowed upon it the name of La Fayette.

The township is five miles square, and the soil, for agricultural purposes, is second to that of no other portion of the county. Year after year, the same kind of grain can be raised upon the same piece of land, without any appreciable decrease in quality or quantity. The soil in the vicinity of the lake is largely alluvial, having been washed in by frequent rains through a long period of years. Extending north from the lake is a broad valley, that rises gradually in height until it reaches the northern limits of the township, where it ter- minates in a succession of hills that character- ize the height of land which separates the Ohio River and Lake Erie Valleys. The northern tier of lots is almost wholly drained by branches of Rocky River, while the remainder of the township, except a portion of the western side, slopes toward Chippewa Lake. The valley above the lake was once an almost impenetrable swamp, which, before the advent of the pioneers, was the resort of large num- ber of Indian trappers and hunters. After the township had become quite well populated, it was soon evident that the swamp, before many years, would be drained and reclaimed by the agriculturist; but no decisive action was taken until some twelve years ago, when the drainage of the broad valley became a county matter. The County Commissioners took control of the movement, and each man living in the valley was assessed in money and labor in proportion to the amount of land he owned that would be benefited by the drain-

age. Some living far up the valley, whose farms were well drained before the movement came into effect, were assessed at what they considered extortionate rates. Additional drainage would afford them no benefit, and many looked upon their assessments as out- rageous, and no little grumbling was incited by the action of the Commissioners. The theory of the latter was that, inasmuch as all the land-hills and vales-lying within the valley, would be drained by prospective arti- ficial trenches, each man should contribute something toward the expense of extensive drainage. One large ditch, four or five feet deep and about twenty feet wide, was to be dug north from the lake through the center of the valley, for a distance of over two miles. Many lateral ditches were to be excavated from the sides of the main one, and each man was given a section to dig, according to his assessment. A large trench was also to be made south of the lake, in order to lower the waters of the lake, and thus reclaim a portion of its bottom. Accordingly, about twelve years ago, largely through the tireless efforts of William R. Goodin, all being in readiness, under the man- agement of a county agent, the citizens were called out and the work began. The ditch and its branches were completed in due time, and the system of drainage is the most exten- sive and complete in the county: About $15,- 000 in money and labor were expended, and already the wisdom of the movement is ap- parent, as the large body of land reclaimed has increased over 100 per cent in value, thus increasing the value of the taxable property in the county several thousand dollars. About two-thirds of the lake lie within the township limits. The bottom and banks are muddy, and, in times of high winds, the water becomes turbid over the entire lake. The approaches are gradual, and the water bordering the shore is shallow. A dense growth of sedges, bul-

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rushes, and other semi-aquatic plants, covers the margin and extends out some distance into the water. Several varieties of fishes are found in the lake, among which are black bass, pike, perch, bull-heads and suckers. At certain sea- sons of the year, seiners come and carry away large quantities of nice fish. Notwithstand- ing the natural inconveniences and obstruc- tions which surround the lake, inasmuch as it is the only body of water of any consequence in the county, it is a great resort for skating, picnic and pleasure parties of all kinds. The lake varies in depth from a few feet to sixty feet, and is thus able to float vessels of the largest size. In comparatively late years, pleasure grounds have been fitted up on its banks, appropriate buildings have been erected, and sail and steam vessels of various sizes have been launched upon its waters. One steam vessel, capable of carrying over a hun- dred persons, "plowed " the lake for a number of years, but was finally disabled and removed. During the summer months, sail and row boats may be seen cleaving its waters, but, when wind storms appear, these vessels are safer moored at the shore. Boats are kept in readiness, by several parties, to rent to pleas- ure-seekers. In the winter months, when the ice is good, skating parties come to the lake, and often hundreds may be seen sweeping across the frozen fluid like the wind, endeav- oring to outdo each other in swiftness and skill. The lake has been the scene of several tragedies. In 1857, a party of young men hired a boat and rowed out on the lake to bathe. While sporting in the water, one of their number, who had dived, was suddenly missed. Search was immediately instituted, and, although assistance was obtained from the shore, the body of the young man, whose name was Henry Streeter, was not recovered until about 1 o'clock that night. The body was finally found in eight feet of water, and at

a considerable distance from the spot where it went down. In 1843, a young man named Thomas Kennedy, while bathing in the lake, became entangled in the weeds near the shore while under the water, and was drowned. Strange to say, these are the only accidents that have occurred. From the number who frequent the lake and venture upon it, an unusu- ally small percentage have met with accident. Chippewa Lake received its name from a tribe of Indians that once lived upon its banks. In early years beaver and otter were found, but these shy animals have long since disap- peared. Mink and muskrat are the only ani- mals caught at the lake whose fur is worth preserving. Large quantities of ice are taken from the lake during the winter season, and stored in neighboring ice-houses, to be devoted to the use of pleasure-seekers during the summer and for transportation, by rail, to distant points. It is stated by old settlers that the lake is not as deep by twenty feet as it was sixty years ago. Two or more causes have contributed to decrease the depth: The deposition of soil in the lake by the streams that feed it, and the greater depth of the arti- ficial outlet. Should the shallowness now being produced continue at its present rate of increase, the lapse of a century will perma- nently injure this sheet of water. It is thought, however, that, from the fact that the inlets and outlets are firmly established, possi- bly beyond any material alteration, the depth of the lake will remain as it now is for a long and indefinite length of time. This little body of water has an unwritten history that will remain shrouded in the obscurity of the distant past. Over its wave, the light canoe of the Indian hunter swept along, and in its murky water the panting deer plunged to escape the sharp fangs of the wolf or bear. Wild birds circling to the earth from the silent depths of the air, sought its cool waters.

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Who will venture to say that the Mound Builders have not utilized the lake and its sur- roundings for their mysterious purposes? These are questions that can be answered only by the past-the past which remains as silent as the tomb of man.

The first settlers, so far as any knowl- edge can be obtained, traditional or other- wise, were roving hunters, who squatted temporarily for the purpose of trapping and hunting in the vicinity of the lake. Traditions are in circulation that, imme- diately after the war of 1812, rude bark shanties could be seen on both the eastern and the western side of the lake. These shanties are said to have been covered, inside and out, with the furs of the mink, beaver and otter, and it is stated that the homely features of a tall backwoodswoman could be seen at one of them. Who these hunters were, and when they squatted in the township, are mat- ters wholly within the province of conjecture. When they left the neighborhood of the lake, is unknown. Their presence there, however, soon after 1815, is well authenticat- ed by those early settlers in other townships, who saw them. As soon as the war closed, and all apprehension of danger from savages had passed away, hundreds of resolute men who had been reared in the wilderness, where fierce wild animals were every-day sights, pushed out into the trackless wild-wood to make a living by the arts of hunting and trap- ping. Undismayed by the numerous dangers that hemmed them in, they kept on in advance of the border settlements, and the presence of half a dozen neighbors within twice as many miles, was a decisive signal to push farther into the depths of the forests. It thus occurred that, some time prior to 1820, what rov- ing hunters there were living in La Fayette, left the township. From 1818 to 1832, the territory composing La Fayette, was attached

to Westfield. So far as known, no permanent settler located in the township until after 1820. The precise date cannot now be ascer- tained, and neither is the name of the first settler known. It is likely that William Bis- sett was the first permanent settler in the township. He erected a double log cabin on the farm now owned by L. D. Finney, as early as 1825, and for many years, kept a sort of public house. The roving hunters, living in the township and the unsettled forest west, often came to his cabin for accommodations. Westfield Township had been settled many years previously, and the settlers there in go- ing to Medina, were compelled to go directly north, and pass the cabin of Bissett to escape the bottomless bogs in the lake valley. This circumstance early led to the location of a somewhat circular road through the township, being the same as the present Medina and Westfield road. It is stated, that, for several years after 1825, Bissett's cabin was the only dwelling on the road, in La Fayette, between Westfield and Medina. At that time the township was frequented by wandering herds of deer, and numerous wolves, bears, and other fierce animals. The settlers from Har- risville came to the lake to hunt and fish, and many a hard fight was had in its vicinity with the larger animals, which hunters were slow and cautious to attack. It is related that Amos Hubbard, an early settler, often told on himself the following story : He had been to Medina, and had started for home so late in the afternoon that he was overtaken by intense darkness before he had gone three miles. To add to the solemnity of the scene and the ap- prehensions of fear in the breast of Mr. Hub- bard, a heavy wind began to sweep through the dark forest, and the deep notes of distant thunder heralded an approaching storm. For a week or two previously, several panthers had been seen prowling around the pig-sty of Mr.

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Bissett, watching for an opportunity to carry off one of the animals. As morning ap- proached, they retired to the swamps, where they remained concealed till night again ap- peared, when they once more began their noc- turnal journey to Mr. Bissett's pig-sty. These stories also added to the fears of Mr. Hubbard. He traveled on as fast as he could through the dark woods, and, having reached a spot about a mile northeast of Bissett's cabin, he suddenly heard a strange noise near him. He paused, and could distinctly hear some heavy animal walking slowly on the leaves but a few rods to his right. Filled with direful mis- givings, Mr. Hubbard hastily sought a tree of convenient size, which he hastily ascended and ensconced himself in the thick foliage, wait- ing anxiously for the pending danger to man- ifest itself. The strange sounds were fre- quently repeated during the night, and occa- sionally came quite close to the foot of the tree; but the darkness was so intense that not an object could be seen. Mr. Hubbard re- mained in the tree, shaking and chattering with cold, until the gray light of approach- ing day had sufficiently advanced to reveal to the astonished eyes of the crestfallen man, a yoke of oxen that had strayed away from Mr. Bissett, and had wandered and fed around the tree wherein the frightened traveler had taken refuge. The strange noise had been caused by the oxen as they cropped the leaves, twigs, and scanty herbage growing in the woods. It is stated that Mr. Hubbard did not relate the occurrences of that eventful night until the lapse of time had greatly de- tracted from the merits of the joke. Within the next five years after the erection of Mr. Bissett's cabin, there came into the township the following settlers, most of whom located on farms near that of Mr. Bissett : Vivalda Wood, Ephraim Harris, Henry C. Ransom, Henry F. Hall, Ezekiel Slater, Anson Bella-

my, Chancey Foote, Isaiah Allen and Shad- rach Doane, Abraham Brooks, Edward Starr, Alexander Barrett, Elijah Hubbard, Milo Loomis, Jeremiah Doty, Matthew Leffingwell and a few others. Prior to 1835, there came in large accessions to the settlers already there, among whom were the following, several of whom, no doubt, came as late as 1840 : James Martin, William Walters, Garrett Spitzer, Jonathan Palmer, John Lee, Roswell Will- iams, Nicholas Spitzer, Daniel Merritt, Thomas Cass, Andrew McDonald, Andrew McCabe, William and John Carlton, Mr. Foster, John Bibbins, Gilbert Thom, William F. Moore, John Maythan, Hiram Wright, Mr. Northrup, Henry Chapin, Earl Moulton, Will- iam Bleekman, Olney Allen, Jesse Harring- ton, Child Childs, Ephraim Rood, Ephraim Coy, James Rise, Mr. Hawkins, Silas Gates, John and Joseph Robb, Alva Averill, A. G. Wightman, John Day, Russell Alger, Salmon Richards, Phineas Needham, John Mead, Daniel and Leonard Field, William Peck, Azariah Eastman, Simpson Simmonds, William Averill, Nathan Wightman, Mr. Chase, E. Dealing, J. Watring, L. M. Pierce, and several others, whose names cannot now be ascertained. In 1840, the township was quite thickly populated. The farms were small, and the rude log cabins were on almost every section. Industries began to arise, frame buildings to go up, and, erelong, what was but a few years before a tangled wilderness became suitable for the habitations of the cultured and refined. Wild animals disap- peared, except occasional stragglers that found their way into the township. Wolves re- mained longer than the others, and during the early settlement were a continual nui- sance to those who desired to keep sheep. Sometimes they became so bold from hunger, as to approach quite close to the cabins, where they would howl dismally until morning. One

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

day three small boys-William Doane, Solon Harris and W. E. Moulton-were sent through the woods to the cabin of a neighbor about two miles west, to get a quantity of butter. While they were returning, they suddenly heard several wolves howl behind them, and, glancing back, saw three or four of the fierce creatures coming on the run directly down the path toward them. W. E. Moulton was so young that he was unaware of the danger he was in, and, seeing the wolves coming swiftly toward him, wanted to wait and see the yelping animals that were following him; but his companions, who were older, realizing to some extent the danger, hurried him to- ward home at the top of his speed. The wolves howled at every jump as they ran, and soon, from all parts of the forest, for a mile or more, an answering chorus was begun. While the boys were running along the rough path at their best pace, a deer suddenly leaped to its feet within a few rods of them, and bounded off through the forest. A pack of the wolves took its trail and followed it, with what success is unknown. The boys, now thor- oughly aroused, were soon at Mr. Moulton's clearing, and the wolves, fearing to continue the pursuit farther, withdrew, but they con- tinued to howl, probably with disappointment, for half an hour after the boys were safe in Mr. Moulton's cabin. Had the boys not reached the clearing as they did, they would undoubt- edly have furnished a repast for the ravenous wolves. This event transpired about 1835, and shows the condition of the township at that time, relative to the presence of wild an- imals. The wolves became so great a nui- sance that it was finally resolved to insti- tute a circular hunt to rid that portion of the county of the pests. Accordingly, on a given day, a large number of men surrounded the township of Chatham, and began to march toward a common center; but, from some cause

unknown, the line became broken, and all the animals except a few foxes escaped. So great became the raid against the wolves, however, that in a few years they had disappeared from the township.

The territory comprising the township was owned, in 1830, by Apollos and T. B. Cook, Lucy Day, S. and T. Fowler, Elijah Hub- bard, Lemuel Moffatt, Samuel Moffatt's heirs and William N. Sill. The Fowlers owned the greater part of Tract 2. Sill's and Hub- bard's possessions lay in Tract 1, and the others were mostly confined to Tract 3. An abstract of the title to any lot of land in the township reveals the name of one of the above persons as the early owners. The township was probably first surveyed in 1818, though subsequent to that time, and prior to 1832, it was listed and taxed as belonging to West- field, to which it was attached. As was be- fore stated, the township was regularly organ- ized and named in 1832, with the election of the following officers; Abraham Brooks, Jus- tice of the Peace; Ephraim Harris, Clerk; Vivalda Wood, Treasurer and Supervisor; Alex- ander Barrett, Anson Bellamy and Vivalda Wood, Trustees. The office duties were so light that Mr. Wood was honored with three distinct offices, and the Justice was required to do duty as a Constable. The names of voters at the first election were as follows: William Bissett, David Ransom, Ezekiel Slater, Anson Bellamy, Henry F. Hall, Henry C. Ransom, Vivalda Wood, Alexander Barrett, Ephraim Harris and Edward Starr. This is the list taken from the poll-book, but it does not comprise one-half the settlers then resid- ing in the township. It is likely that, from the fact that the offices afforded but little pay and were considered more of a nuisance than other- wise, but few of the settlers were office-seekers. What a change the lapse of half a century has wrought in this respect in the minds of the

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citizens! Now the appetite foroffice is rarely appeased, and the man who shuns official position is a rara avis among the children of men.

Soon after 1830, several saw-mills were erected in La Fayette. It is likely that Will- iam Bissett erected the first not later than 1835. The mill was located on the farm now owned by L. D. Phinney, and was a small frame structure, with an up-and-down saw. A dam was built across the creek, which served to bank up sufficient water to enable the saw to run some five or six months of the year. In times of drought, it remained idle from lack of water. At the expiration of ten or twelve years, a sudden flood swept away the dam, and the mill was allowed to stop. A few years after the erection of the Bissett Mill, Jacob Miller and Jacob Hill erected another, a short distance above, on the same creek. It was also a framed mill, and was run in the usual manner by water-power. The dam was largely built of mud, and, in times of freshets, was a source of infinite trouble to the owner, who was compelled to watch and work night and day to prevent its being washed away. The mill was located at a bend of the stream, where advantage was taken of natural milling facilities. The mill-pond was large, and the pressure of water upon the small dam, in times of floods, was enormous, and was, undoubtedly, the cause, in times of high water, which, at least, contributed to the frequent breakage of the dam. The mill did good work for some twelve or fifteen years, when it was abandoned and the saw removed. Joseph Watring, a sawyer of long experience, erected a saw-mill about 1844, on the same creek, above the mills of Bissett and Miller. In early years, the stream, though small, fur- nished excellent water-power for mills, as its narrow channel and descent afforded abun- dant opportunity to build dams of great

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 100

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014