History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 70

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 70

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John Pardee was born in Norfolk February 20, 1796. Married Euniee Chamberlain ; came from Marcellus, N. Y., to Wadsworth, in 1824; was in mercantile business upward of thirty years, under the firms of A. & J. Pardee, A., J. & E. Pardee, J. Pardee, and Pardee & Loomis ; he was a very capable business man ; held the office of Justice of the Peace and Postmaster for a long time. In 1859, he removed to Par- deeville, Wis., where he spent the remainder of his life ; Mrs. Pardee died about 1868 ; he died June 24, 1873.

Ebenezer Pardee was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., August 8, 1802. Married Almira Brace ; he began business in Cleveland about 1825; was in mercantile business in Canton, and in banking in Wooster; came to Wadsworth in 1834, and went into business with his brothers ; he afterward owued and lived upon a large farm east of Western Star, now owned by Dr. Hill ; removed to Rochester, Penn., where Mrs. Pardee died, when he returned to Wadsworth, and died September 5, 1865.

Augustus Pardee was born in Skaneateles, August, 1804. Married Susan Newcomb; set up business as a saddler ; came to Wadsworth in 1832, and carried on the same business about thirty years.

Dr. George K. Pardee was born September 23, 1806. But few men accomplished more in a short life than he. He was a man of mark in the county ; studied medicine in his native town (Skaneateles, N. Y.) with Dr. Evelyn Porter; was admitted to practice as physician at the early age of twenty years; came to Wadsworth in 1826, where his professional life

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was speut; his wife was Susan Thomas, who still survives him ; he left no children ; died October 3, 1849.

Aaron Pardee was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., October 8, 1808 ; came with his brother John in 1825 ; married Eveline Eyles, who died Sep- tember 13, 1873.

Children of Allen Pardee-William N., born July 30, 1812 ; was a lawyer, and held the office of Clerk of Medina County ; married Livonia E. Clark ; second wife, Caroline Par- dee ; died in Michigan. Eugene was born Oe- tober 5, 1814 ; attorney at law ; married Eleanor Taylor ; resided iu Wooster thirty-five years, in professional business. Lauraette was born March 11, 1817 ; married Rev. J. H. Jones. Ann S. was born February 24, 1818 ; married Homer King ; resides in Wadsworth. Norman C. was born May 9, 1830 ; lives in Wadsworth. Mary E. was born April 13, 1832 ; married Rev. J. F. Rowe ; resides in Akron.

Children of John Pardee-Caroline, born 1816; married William N. Pardee ; died in Michigan, 1847. John S., born 1818; married Emeline Benedict; was several years a mer- chant in Milwaukee, Wis .; loeated a village in Wisconsin called Pardeeville ; was appointed United States Consul at San Juan, Nicaragua, and died there September, 1854. Emily, born February 22, 1825 ; married Asahel Hanehet. Minerva, born February, 1825 ; married Joseph Utley. Charles, born September 29, 1829 ; Vir- ginia married Yates Ashley ; Jane married G. W. Vilas.

Children of Ebenezer Pardee-Harriet E., born in Wadsworth, July 23, 1834 ; married E. G. Loomis. Richard H., born in Wadsworth, January 13, 1836 ; married Nellie Ketchum ; resides at Waterloo, Iowa. Catharine, boru in Wadsworth, May 13, 1839; married Dr. John Hill, of Western Star. Mary E., boru at Woos- ter, February 16, 1841 ; married Lueian Moses, of Skaneateles, N. Y. James K., born at Woos- ter February 26, 1845 ; married Maria Lukins ;

lives in Montana. Joseph W., born at Woos- ter May 12, 1845 ; died in California. Ephraim Q., born April 2, 1847 ; married Jeunie Hall ; lives in Detroit. Elizabeth J., boru January 4, 1849 ; married James H. Reed, Marion Ohio.

Children of Aaron Pardee-William E., born June 6, 1829 ; married Helen S. Dickey ; was an attorney, residing in Cleveland ; died April 6, 1866. Henry Clay, born April 27, 1831; married Catharine Houck ; attorney at law and Auditor of Medina County. Almira S., born January 17. 1835; married Johu G. Houston, Don A., born March 29, 1837 ; married Julia E. Hard. George K., born March 1, 1839; married Caroline C. Hard ; attorney; resides in Akrou. Frances, born December 25, 1844; married P. V Wilkins. Mrs. Wilkins died. Ella N., born September 5, 1850 ; married Dr. Wallace A. Briggs. Sutliff E., born September 14, 1852 ; married Olivia Douat.

Simcox Families .- Three brothers by that name were among the early pioneers-Michael, Benjamin and William. Michael removed to Harrisville ; Benjamin lived upward of thirty years in Wadsworth ; died in Harrisville. Chil- dren-Jerusha, married John Brown ; still lives in Wadsworth. Peregrine Piekle lives in Harrisville; Betsy married John D. Haynes ; moved West. William Simeox, born in Penn- sylvania, in 1792 ; came in 1816; married Es- ther Robinson ; second wife, Margaret Wheeler ; died February 6, 1855. Children-Resin B., married Rebecca Heath; Nancy, born 1820; married Joseph Bolich. Talbert, born August 31, 1822 ; married Hannah Baughman ; resides in Wadsworth.

Spillman Family .- James Spillman came from Ireland; married Nancy O'Brien ; was one of the earliest settlers in Wadsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Spillmau were among the earliest members of the Methodist Church. Children- Johu married Abigail Ward ; Charles, Mitchell, Heury and Robert; noue of them remained in

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

this vieinity. Dr. Henry Spillman, fourth son, rose to considerable distinetion as a physician ; married Laura Ann Brown; died at Medina.

Harvey B. Spillman, son of Buel Spillman, a native of Conneetieut, was for several years a merehant in Wadsworth ; married Luey Henry.

Snell Family .- Isaae Snell, born in Rhode Island, 1786 ; married Abigail Chapman ; re- sided several years in Westfield; eame to Wadsworth in 1829 ; was Justiee of the Peace and County Commissioner ; died April 17, 1851. Children-Job, born 1807; married Sarah Belden; died in California. Isaae M., born February 16, 1811 ; married Naney A. Hill- iard ; died April 24, 1873. Martin, born 1813 ; married Eliza Davis ; second wife, Mrs. Laura Ann (Brown) Spillman. Mary, died 1835, aged eighteen ; Chauneey married Ann Seott ; lives in California. James S., died Mareh 25, 1849, aged twenty-two.

Tyler Family .- Benjamin Tyler, born in Uxbridge, Mass., February 22, 1796 ; eame with his brothers, Parker and Solomon, and first set- tled in Norton ; moved to Wadsworth in 1825; married Mrs. Olive (Brown) Bartlett, who died August 21, 1874. He was for fifty-seven years a member of the Methodist Church; died in 1875. Children-Joseph, born 1822; married Eliza Ann Williams ; lives in Wadsworth. Sol- omon, born 1824 ; Rosina, married Amos Hart.

The Turner Family .- Alexander Turner was born in New York Mareh 29, 1797. Married Betsy Freneh ; eame to Wadsworth in 1825 ; Mrs. Turner died November 7, 1871, aged sixty- nine. Children-Alonzo, born Angust 4, 1822, lives in Idaho ; Maria L., born February 22, 1826, married Charles B. Curtis ; Jasper, born April 14, 1838, lives in Missouri ; J. Q. A. Tur- ner, born April 1, 1841, married Mary Etta Traver.

The Warner Family .- Salmon Warner was born in Westmoreland, N. Y., April 26, 1764. Married Lueina Field ; moved from Fairfield, Vt., to Wadsworth, in 1815. He died Deeem-

ber 5, 1839 ; Mrs. Warner died September 28, 1829, aged fifty-nine.

Children of Salmon Warner-Harriet, born in Vermont about 1790, was unmarried ; died in Iowa, 1870 ; Lamira, married Oliver Dur- ham ; Reuben F., born in Fairfield, Vt., August 26, 1794; eame with his father in 1815. He was four times married-first wife, Hannah Bartholomew ; seeond, Sarah Reese ; third, Mrs. Chloe (Bartholomew) Griffin ; fourth, Susan Reese. He died September 28, 1838. Lucina married Alvin Agard; Salmon Warner, Jr., joined the Mormons and went with them to Salt Lake, where he died in 1871. Capt. Daniel Warner, born in Vermont, 1800 ; married Phi- leeta E. Mills ; died August 30, 1839. Orpha, born 1804, died 1826 ; Horatio, born November 1, 1806 ; moved to Iowa; was for some time Sheriff of Clayton County, and held other offiees of trust. Dr. Amos Warner, born 1808 ; studied with Dr. A. Fisher, of Western Star, and praetieed in company with him at that plaee ; married Mrs. Esther (Carter) Griswold ; removed to Garnavillo, Iowa; was an able physician and highly respected. He was killed by being thrown from a earriage.

Children of Reuben F. Warner-Elmer A., born 1822; married Antoinette Crittenden ; lives in Iowa. Bennett B., born 1824 ; married Eliza Cogshall ; resides in Massillon, Ohio.

The Wall Family .- Christopher Wall was born in Germany, November 27, 1779 ; died in Wads- worth October 24, 1853. Children-John, born Deeember 24, 1804 ; married Mary W. Baugh- man ; still lives in Wadsworth. Mary, born 1806 ; married Jonathan Everhard.

Children of John Wall-Paul, born August 6, 1830 ; married Isabella Ruthaker ; resides in Wadsworth. Daniel, born November 3, 1835 ; married Abigail Geiger ; resides in Wadsworth.

Hon. Philo Welton was born in Waterbury, Conn., Mareh 7, 1782. Married Sarah Blakes- lee ; was a Colonel in the war of 1812; was one of the earliest settlers of Montville; after-

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

ward moved to Wadsworth, and owned the farm late the residenee of Orlando Beach. He was for many years one of the leading men of the county. Was twice Representative in the Legislature, and served one term as Associate Judge. He died September, 19, 1852. Mrs. Welton died 1852, aged sixty-four. Children- Sally, born 1806 ; married Caleb Chase, seeond husband, Nathaniel Bell ; now lives in Iowa. Dr. William S. H. Welton, married Caroline Croeker ; praetieed medieine several years in this eounty ; now lives in Iowa. Susan, born September 15, 1815 ; married Orlando Beach.

The Weeks Families .- Three brothers of that name eame about 1818 from Vermont. They were men of great strength and vigor ; were earpenters. John Moody Weeks married Mar- tha Dennett. Leavitt Weeks, born about 1794 ; married Celestia Taylor, of Norton ; worked as a earpenter many years in company with his brother, Peter Weeks ; the greater part of the barns and houses of the earlier years were ereeted by the Weeks brothers. He died in 1870. His son, George Weeks, lives in Akron.

CHAPTER XI .*

GUILFORD TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY AND BOUNDARY-ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS-ITS SETTLE- MENT AND ORGANIZATION-THE ANNALS OF A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD- ORIGIN OF SEVILLE-GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE- CHURCH AND SCHOOL INTERESTS.

A LL persons possessing ordinary intelli- genee, as they arrive at the age of un- derstanding, beeome students of history, not to the same extent, nor in the same manner, but usually in keeping with their general mental enlture, by sueh means as are at their eom- mand, and always for the purpose of gaining a knowledge of past events, and with the expeet- ation of being benefited thereby. The pro- fessor and the student, the aristocrat and the man of toil, the statesman and his most hum- ble constituent, alike pore over the pages of the history of their own and other countries, and find therein mueh that is beneficial to them in their many and varied eallings. While the unlettered savage of the forest and desert, by listening to the diseourses of those older in years than himself, beeomes learned in the legends that have been handed down from one generation to another, and is influeneed largely in his acts through life by his knowledge thus

gained ; as all men are more interested in the community immediately surrounding their own homes, and to which their acquaintance extends, than to any other portion of the world, so a his- tory is of a general or loeal interest to the ex- tent that it treats of subjeets which are of a general or loeal nature. A history of the world is of general interest to the inhabitants of the entire globe, while the history of a State is more particularly benefieial to the people of that particular State, and so of the history of a township or eounty. The immediate deseend- ants of those enterprising fathers and mothers who earved our present homes out of the un- broken wilderness, naturally have more sympa- thy for their snfferings, privations and diseour- agements, than would others. So those de- seendants take more pride in contemplating the many deeds of heroism, instanees of self-denial and final triumphs of those ancestors, during their early experienees in the woods, than would those who were in no way eonneeted

* Contributed by J. T. Graves.

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

with them. As hallowed associations seem to cluster more and more around the memory of the scenes of our youthful days, as time grad- ually removes ns from them, so "distance lends enchantment to the view" of that, to us, im- portant epoch of the past, the time of the first settlement of our county and township, as those days and the events that then transpired, seem to recede from us. Beiug admonished that sources now existing, from which to gather ma- terial for a history of that period, are rapidly slipping away beyond our reach, and as it re- quires a vivid imaginatiou, even when assisted by the narration as it falls from the lips of the pioneer, to set aside the picture that is now presented to the cye of the beholder, as he views this beautiful Chippewa Valley and the hills adjacent to it, and draw one of them, as they appeared when clothed with nature's adorn- ments, and during the process of, and shortly after their removal, the necessity for a written history covering that period, becomes apparent, as it will tend to refresh the recollections of those who have helped to make it, and be of use to others who will live when the tougue of the last uarrator who cau tell the story from personal recollection, shall have been hushed in death for ages.

As many of the events herein treated of are not matters of record, some dates have been arrived at by calculation and from recollection, and that there are some inaccuracies, is quite probable. Yet it will be well for those who are disposed to criticise, to bear in mind the fact that they may also be mistaken, and on that account be charitable.

The territory now comprising the township of Guilford was, prior to its being organized as such, known as No. 1, in Range 14, in the West- ern Reserve.

It was purchased, originally, by four individ- uals ; Mr. Roger Newberry, of Windham, Conn., owned the southeast quarter, Justin Eley, of Springfield, Mass., the southwest quarter ;

Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, Conn., the north- cast quarter; and Elijah White, of Hudson, Conn., northwest quarter. It is situated in the south central portion of Medina Couuty, and bounded on the east by Wadsworth, west by Westfield, north by Montville, and south by Mil- ton, in Wayne County. The land throughout al- most the entire township is of a good quality for farming purposes, and produces well all of the products adapted to this climate. The Chip- pewa Bottoms extend for some distance each side of the creek of the same name, and along these flats are to be found many of the most valuable farms in Northern Ohio. The soil is strong, durable, and especially adapted to the raising of corn, of which valuable grain thou- sands of bushels are shipped yearly, besides much that is takeu by teams to the central and northern portions of the county. Potatoes are extensively cultivated, and, for the last decade, a great amount of tobacco has been raised in this valley, the sandy ridges that are to be found in almost every field having been found to produce a quality of this article that com- pares very favorably with the famous seed-leaf of Connecticut. The high lands on either side of the valley are considered rather superior to the low lauds for the production of wheat and oats, as less straw is produced, on which ac- count there is less dauger of injury to the grow- ing crop, resulting from storms of wind and rain. The character of the land along the Hub- bard Creek Valley is similar to that just de- scribed. In the northern and central portions of the township, clay predominates to some ex- tent, and the farmers use more fertilizing sub- stances, and exercise more care in cropping. The extreme eastern portion descends into the River Styx Valley, and therc the land is of the best quality for uearly all purposes. The en- tire township was originally heavily timbered, all the varieties natural to this latitude being found' in abundance, and of fine proportions. This necessarily made the clearing of land very

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laborious, and yet the early settlers seem to have undertaken the task cheerfully, and with the determination to overcome all obstacles. The first white man who came to No. 1, with the object in view of there making for himself a future home, was Henry Hosmer. He was born on the 22d of May, 1793, in Massa- chusetts, and, in his youth, had often listened to stories of frontier life, as told at his father's fireside by his unele, who had removed with his family to Central New York. As that section of country was at that time almost an unbroken wilderness, this uncle, who occasionally re- turned East, of course had much to tell of hard- ships that he and his family had experienced, and instances of personal adventure through which he had passed. Those narratives fired the young Henry's heart with an admiration for frontier life to such an extent that he then and there formed the resolution that, "as soon as he was old enough, he would go West," and, during the many long years that he remained with his father thereafter, laboring upon the old farm, he seems not to have chauged his mind, for, upon his twenty-third birthday, it being the 22d day of May, 1816, he shoul- dered his knapsack, and, in company with one William Trall a young man about the same age as himself, commeneed the journey on foot to this then far-off and almost unknown region. On arriving at Buffalo, which place was then only a small village and the end of all stage lines, they found that there were but four sail- ing vessels upou the lake, and that there was but little regularity to their arrival and depart- ure. There was one small vessel in the harbor, owned in Cleveland and commanded by a Capt. Graves, of Newburg, that place being larger than Cleveland at that time. The vessel was laden, and only waiting for a favorable breeze to waft her on her way homeward. The young men waited two days in order to take passage on board her to Cleveland, at the end of which time, finding the wind still unfavorable, aud

her speedy departure very improbable, they again swung their knapsacks upon their backs and started on foot for Ohio. The country through which they were now to pass was al- most a wilderness, except that occupied by the Cattaraugus Indians, they having so far ap- proached civilization as to cultivate the soil somewhat. The Ohio line was crossed at last, and the first night in this State passed at Mes- opotamia. On leaving there the next morning, they found that their course lay through a dense forest, and, as the day passed and no clearing was reached, they continued their walk, and, as night came on, it became very dark, and soon they commeneed to hear what were to them strange noises from the surrounding woods, in all directions. Supposing them to be the cry of some species of the owl peculiar to this country, the travelers plodded on their way, and at last arrived at a house at midnight, where they obtained lodging. Here they learned that the strange noises that had attracted their attention in the woods were the howls of wolves, and that persons were often attacked by them upon that road ; that, shortly before, a man was passing through there on horseback, and, being attacked by them, was obliged to keep them off with an umbrella, it being his only weapon, but that he finally escaped, with his pantaloons nearly torn off, and with his legs bad- ly scratched. As the young men sat there in that eabin and listeued to that woodsmau's tales, they began to think that they were, truly, in a new country, and that they had already had one " hair-breadth escape." Having reached Trum- bull County, they found but few roads open in any direction, and those that were opeu had but little in their appearance or condition to cn- title them to the name. While traveling through Newton, Trall mounted a prostrate log, in order thus to get over a low, wet piece of ground, and, when he had proceeded about half the length of the log, he slipped off, and came down in the thicket of tall weeds, astride of a fawn.

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What then ensued is thus described by Mr. Hosmer: "They were both very much fright- ened. The deer jumped and bleated most pit- eously, while Trall scrambled to regain the log, screaming at the top of his voice. For a short time, it was a most laughable scene. The fawn, finally, being more considerate than his human trespasser, went away a few feet, where it qui- etly lay down, while Trall was so badly fright- ened that he was also obliged to lie down. While he was thus resting, I caught the fawn and brought it to him. It was very beautiful, and appeared to have recovered entirely from its fright. After amusing ourselves with it for a few minutes, we started on our way, and were surprised to see the fawn follow us like a dog, nor could we drive it back. I finally carried it back, placed it behind the log, and, by running, finally got away from it."

The settlements through that region of country were from five to thirty miles apart, and, owing to the bad roads, traveling was a very slow and tedious business, and must have fully tested the pluck of those young men, who had never had any experience of the kind be- fore. Notwithstanding all this, they pressed on, and, after a continuons walk of eighteen days, arrived at Warren, where they remained a few days, when they again started westward and came to Tallmadge, in Portage County. Thence to Canton, Stark County, thence westward again, through Wooster and Ashland, to Mans- field, where there was simply one log house. While on the way through Ashland County, a little incident occurred, which, in Mr. Hos- mer's own language, was as follows : " While passing through a small prairie, about sunrise, we saw some object approaching us, but just what it was we could not determine, owing to the height of the vegetation. Making a halt, we soon saw a large bear rise up on his hind- legs, and, folded in his fore-legs, he was carry- ing a hog that he had evidently just killed. We raised a loud shout, whereupon he dropped his

plunder and fled. The weight of the hog was certainly more than one hundred pounds." On the same day, another, as follows : " When near where New London now stands, we heard a hog squeal, not far from the trail in which we were traveling. and near a cabin. We frightened away the bear, and a young man at the cabin, hear- ing our shouts, came out with his gun and shot it." Still continuing, in a northerly direction, they arrived at the place where Norwalk now stands, which place they passed, and stopped for the night at a house not far distant there- from. This was on the 3d day of July, and they there learned that the inhabitants of Ridge- ville and the surrounding country had made preparations to celebrate the Fourth.

Here was an opportunity afforded for a slight departure from the monotony of continuously tramping through the woods, and, starting early the next morning, they determined, if possible, to reach Ridgeville in time to participate in the dance that was to take place in the evening. In this, however, they failed entirely, as they did not reach the town until near time for breakfast on the following morning. The danc- ing party was still there, as the homes of many were several miles away, and traveling through the woods at night not at all pleasant, if possi- ble. After breakfast, when the party began making preparations to depart, the young "down-easters" found themselves, more fully than ever before, facing some of the amusing realities of new-country life, as they beheld the various and novel modes of conveyance. Some of the ladies rode on horseback, while their escorts went on foot. In several instances, a lady and gentleman rode together upon one horse, on saddle and pillion. There were sev- eral wagons, some of which were drawn by horses and others by oxen. The last load to depart was one upon a sled drawn by two yoke of oxen. Large bundles of straw placed upon the sled, afforded seats for the ladies, while the gentlemen all went on foot. This load was

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from Columbia, seven miles distant. This was, in every sense of the word, a new-country party. No superfluous articles of dress adorned the ladies, and no rough language or unbeeom- ing conduct was indulged in by the gentlemen. Many of them had been reared and educated in the East, and found it just as easy to be ladies and gentlemen in the woods, as in the midst of civilization in Massachusetts and Con- nectieut. On leaving Ridgeville, Messrs. Hos- mer and Trall proceeded to Cleveland, where they found the little vessel for which they had waited in Buffalo, and found that it had arrived but a few days in advance of them. This was long before the first steamboat had been launched upon the waters of Lake Erie. At Cleveland, those two young men, who had jour- neyed so many miles together through the woods, separated. Mr. Hosmer returned to Tallmadge, where he remained a few days, when he started through the woods and alone, for No. 1, or what is now Guilford, where he arrived on the 13th day of July. Having arrived upon the grounds now oceupied by the village of Seville, he stopped upon the north side of Hubbard Creek, a few rods from where the new iron bridge now is, and, as he says, "Standing there in the midst of the primeval forest, which seemed to be rejoieing in the glory of midsum- mer, and gazing up and down the two streams whose waters went bubbling and rippling on their way, with none save the denizens of the forest to hear, and listening to the songs of wild birds, with which the forest seemed to be flooded, I thought I had indeed found the para- dise for which I had longed, and of which I had dreamed." Crossing to the south side of the Hubbard, he turned westward to the Chippewa, which he found too deep to be forded. He then walked down this stream a few rods, when he came to a large elm-tree that was lying en- tirely aeross it. Upon this he passed over, and aseended the little hill upon the west side, and there, amid the fine timber that eovered it, he

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 70

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