History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 72

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 72

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

that swung on huge wooden hinges. The first summer sehool was taught by Miss Adeline Derthick, and the first winter term by Mr. John Bell. Jaeoh and James A. Bell, Josiah, William and James Crawford, Levi Nyc and Amer and Jacob Moore were among the pupils who improved the means there furnished them for obtaining an education. These boys all grew to manhood and occupied farms in Guil- ford Township. James A. Bell, for two con- seeutive terms, represented Medina County in the State Legislature, and was for the same length of time State Senator from the district composed of Riehland, Ashland, Lorain and Medina Counties. He now resides with his daughter at Anamosa, Iowa. Jacob Bell ad- vanced from the rude benches of the pioneer schoolhouse to college at Hudson, where he received a liberal education. He eugaged in teaching and farming for several years, and, at one time, was interested in a carriage manu- factory. He now resides in Missouri. A de- bating society was organized, and therein many questions were handled in a manner that would do eredit to the young men of the present dlay.

A little " hunt " was engaged in this year, also, as the following anecdote, related by Hen- ry Hosmer, will show. He says : "In the fall of 1821, Mr. S. Barrett went out in a northerly direction from our little settlement, in quest of his cows ; when about half a mile out, his dogs treed two bears, a female and her eub. He well knew that, should he leave the tree, the bears would come dowu and escape; he there- fore commenced hallooing at the top of his voiee, which soon brought a Mr. Harney to his assistance. One theu remained at the tree while the other went for help. A. Forbes, C. Hosmer and myself went willingly to the scene of action. When we arrived at the tree, it had grown so dark that we were unable to see the game. We then built large fires around the tree in hopes that we would be able to shoot

them by fire-light. The bears, however, were too shrewd for that, as they kept constantly secretiug themselves among the thick brauches ; so we were compelled to wait until daylight, when Forbes soon shot them off, and, upon looking a little farther into the tree-top, a large raccoon was discovered, and he was also brought down by Forbes. Guided by the re- port of our guu, a party of eoon-hunters now came to us, who, like ourselves, had been out all night. They had three eoons and a large wild-cat, so, altogether, we formed a triumphal procession and came into town with two bears, four coons and a wild-eat, a pretty good haul for one night." There also occurred, this year, a sad death, that caused a gloom to rest upon the-eutire settlement. Mr. Elijah Porter started in the month of November, from the residence of his son, Shubael Porter, who lived a short distanee south of Seville, to go to Medina on business connected with his pension, which he was then receiving from the United States Government, as a discharged Revolutionary soldier. He went on foot to Wilson's Corners, where he obtained a horse from his son-in-law, David Wilson, and with it started through the woods for Medina. Late at night the horse returned without a rider, and some blood was upon the stirrup. Mr. Wilson and the ueigh- bors at once set out in search of him, with lan- terns, and finally found him in what was called the "four miles woods," near the center of Montville, sitting at the foot of a beech-tree, so chilled that he could scarcely speak. He had taken off oue of his boots, and it was nearly filled with blood. A deep wound was upon his leg, which had the appearance of having beeu caused by a snag or root. They placed him upon a horse to take him to Medina ; but, when they had proceeded but a short distance, he waved his hand as if for them to stop, and ini- mediately expired. With heavy hearts, they then returned home. He was buried near Da- vid Wilson's residence, and was the first white

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man buried in Guilford Township. A militia company was formed during the same year, it requiring all male persons of the required age, in Harrisville, Westfield and Guilford Townships, to make up the requisite number of officers and privates. In 1822, the following new settlers came into Guilford: David Clute, Oliver Houghton, Ambrose Houghtou, James Harkness, Judah Dodge, Asahel Parmeuter, Miles McCabe and Drs. John and Chapin Har- ris. The one last named remained here but a short time, when he went to Baltimore. Dr. John Harris settled in Seville, and was the second practicing physiciau in the township. Miles McCabe purchased land in the eastern part of the township. Ambrose Houghton settled south of Seville, on the State road. He died in December, 1880, at the age of nine- ty-one years. The wolves beiug more trouble- some this year thau usual, the State offered a bounty of $5 for each one killed. The county offered about the same, and individuals enough in addition, so that in all a wolf's scalp was worth about $12. Mr. Alexauder Forbes, an old hunter and trapper, commenced at once and soon captured about twenty. He used a large steel trap, to which he fastened a piece of wood about as large as a wolf could move. He dare not fasten the trap permanently, as the wolf, when caught, would proceed to amputate the confiued foot and escape. He trapped one, at last, so large and strong that he deliberately walked away with both trap and log. There was a light suow upon the ground at the time, and they tracked him about two miles east, to the summit of Chestnut Ridge ; thence norther- ly nearly to the uorth line of Montville ; thence east half a mile, thence south nearly to the south line of Guilford, where they came up with him ; aud, notwithstanding they had sev- eral dogs and guns, they did not succeed in killing him until he became entangled in the top of a fallen tree, as he would fight off the dogs and keep out of range of the guns. This

was pronounced to be much the largest wolf that had ever been seen by any of the party.

During the same year, John Coolman, who lived at that time about four miles southeast of Seville, ou what is now known as the McDer- mott farm, prepared to build a large double log barn. When he had his timber upon the ground, he invited all hands from Milton, Wadsworth, Guilford and Westfield, as it re- quired all the meu then in those towuships to accomplish the task before them. Mr. Cool- man offered a gallou of whisky to those who should be first upon the grounds iu the morn- ing. Judge Henry Hosmer, in relating the an- ecdote, says : " We left home at about 1 o'clock in the morning with our axes and torch. Ar- riving at Coolmau's at about 2 o'clock, we woke him up, got the promised whisky, took a drink all around, and lay down by the fire for a little sleep. Just before daylight, Jacob Knupp and others arrived from Milton, and called upon Coolman for the whisky. They were sorely disappointed when he informed them that the Yankees had beaten them by several hours. So, to mend matters, we again took a drink all around, and commenced work immediately after breakfast. Coolman selected Marshall, of West- field, and Knupp, of Milton, for captains, and said he meant to determine who were the best men, the Dutch or the Yankees. Each party took an " end," as we termed it, and long before night we had the barn up and all left for home without the slightest accident or difficulty. I never saw men work as they did upon that oc- casion. It was a continued strife throughout the entire day, and the best of feeling pre- vailed."

People were often lost in the woods, even the most experienced huuters occasionally losing their way, and being obliged to remain out in the woods overnight. Upon one occasion, Mr. William H. Bell, upon a stormy evening, went into the woods as usual to find his cows. Not finding them readily, it became very dark,

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and, becoming coufused, he was unable to find his way home, and so he sat down by the side of a tree and remained there until morning. At another time, Mrs. Deborah Scranton, mother of Luther Scranton, was lost in the woods, and was found at about midnight, by the neighbors who were searching for her. As it was a cold, stormy night in November, she would probably have perished with cold before morning. When found, she had her dress pulled over her head to keep her ears warm, was sitting quietly upon a log, and, although the wolves were howling around her, she said "she had no fear, except that perhaps she might not be found." Wild hogs were numerous in the woods, and persons often went out with kettles and other fixtures for dressing them, and killed as many as they desired for their own use, and, oftentimes, some for market. In 1823, Apollos Dean, Noah Hatch, William Wilson and J. A. Johnson came in and settled, and, from that period, set- tlers came in rapidly, and all new lands were soon taken up. During this year, Henry Hos- mer put up and burned a brick-kiln on the flats south of Seville. These were the first bricks manufactured in the township. Henry Hosmer was elected Justice of the Peace, and the log schoolhouse, previously described, was burned down, and with it were consumed uearly all of the school-books in the western portion of the township. During the same summer another, very similar in material and architectural de- sign, was erected upon the south side of Hub- bard Creek, on the ground now occupied by J. K. Caughey's dry goods store. Miss Emeline Forbes, who afterward became Mrs. Chester Hosmer, taught the first term of summer school in the new house, and Mr. Nathaniel Bell, the succeeding winter term.

David Clute commenced keeping " tavern " in a log building that stood upon the bill west of Chippewa Creek, and a few rods east of the oue where Barker had previously opened a store. This was the first hotel, and the only one of

which the people of Guilford could boast for the succeeding four years. Previous to this, the inhabitants had all kept hotel, so far that strangers and travelers were never turned away, but always received with cordiality, and treated in the most hospitable manner possible under existing circumstances. Abel Lindsley settled at the center of Guilford, and John Canuon on the Center road, upon the farm now owned by Hon. J. C. Johnson ; Nehemiah Abbott, at Dor- sey's Corners, on lands now owned by L. W. Strong, Jr., and Heury Earle built a log house upon the farm now owned and occupied by Rev. Varnum Noyes.

In 1824, several new settlers came into the southeast quarter, among whom were John Halliwell, George Coolman, Valentiue Riggle- man, Samuel Wideman aud Charles Hecka- thorue. David Halliwell aud Rufus Thayer settled iu the southwest quarter. Thomas Hayes erected a water-wheel and turning-lathe on Fall Creek where it crosses the north-and- south center road, near the residence of Jacob Smith. The dense forest surrounded him on all sides ; and, from the fine trees that then grew upon those hills, he selected the timber from which he turned wooden bowls, churns and truncheons, the latter being a kind of wooden bottles. These articles were all very useful to the inhabitants and met with a quick sale, as crockery was rather scarce and costly.

A schoolhouse was built at Wilson's Corners, being the third one in the township. Maj. Aaron Leland came in from the State of New York, aud settled south of Seville.

The cemetery east of Seville was surveyed, and conveyed by deed to the township for burial purposes. It is known at present as " Mound Hill Cemetery." The grounds ascend gradually from the road, north, to the mound from which the cemetery takes its name. When or by whom this mound was built, of course is not known ; but there it is, and a most beautiful spot, from the summit of which a fine view of the surround-

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

ing country and of the village below may be had. For many years it was only an ordinary country graveyard, with nothing about it to at- tract attention except its natural beauty. A few years since, however, the authorities of Seville added several acres to it by purchase, had the grounds regularly laid out into lots, walks aud drives, the drives graded and the whole inclosed by a hedge, with appropriate gates. Two rows of evergreen hedge surrounded the mound, which adds very much to its ap- pearance. The citizens and others, whose friends are buried there, take great pains in grading and decorating their lots, and many fiue and costly monuments have been erected there. Mrs. Harriet Wilson, wife of Robert Wilson, died on the 9th day of June, 1824, and was the first person buried there, and the first adult who died in the Seville settlement. Mrs. Margaret Wilson, wife of John Wilson, at Wilson's Cor- ners, died during the same year, and was buried near David Wilson's house, she being the sec- ond person interred there.

In 1825, a mail route was established between New Haven, in Huron County, and New Por- tage, in Portage County. The route lay through Seville, and William Hosmer was the first Post- master, having his office in Chester's log house, north of Hubbard Creek. Postage, at that time, was paid when the mail matter was deliv- ered, and the rates were as follows : For five hundred miles or over, the postage on a letter was 25 cents ; for three hundred miles, 18 cents ; and for any distance less than three hundred miles, 10 cents. The date of the first mail ar- rival of which there is a record, is January 1, 1826, when there was a letter for Henry Hos- mer, and two newspapers. The latter were un- doubtedly addressed to some person or per- sons, but for whom, the record does not state. A few of the succeeding entries in Mr. Hos- mer's record are as follows : January 8, Suuday -Continues cloudy and misty ; snow gone ; wind south ; mail arrived ; brought one letter

to Nathaniel Bell, and three newspapers. Sun- day, January 15-Wind southwest; stormy, with snow ; mail arrived ; brought two newspapers ; sent away one letter to Manchester, Hart- ford Co., Conn. Monday, 18th-Cold, south- west wind ; flying clouds ; Mr. Clute lost his watch Thursday. Mouday, 23d-Chilly, south- west wind ; cloudy, sour weather ; a little snow. Sunday, February 19-Wind east ; clear and pleasant ; Elder Freeman preaches ; mail ar- rived; three letters, one newspaper. 22d, Wednesday-Henry's calf lost ; Hills caught a beaver. 23d-Southwest wind, hazy , Hills' wife sold the beaver skin to a peddler. Friday, June 9-Bought of Mr. Gillett five and one- half yards of calico, at 41 cents per yard. Sunday, 11th-Mail arrived ; oue letter and sixteen newspapers. Sunday, July 26-Mail arrived ; one letter and twelve newspapers ; Shubael Porter's fence is on fire ; sent $3 to pay for the Religious Enquirer, to Hartford, Conn. Such entries as these appear, from the records, to have been made daily for several years.

During the year 1826, David D. Dowd, E. W. Harris, Joseph Ross and Dr. L. Stewart came in from the East and settled here. As the wa- ter-power at Hayes' turning-lathe on Fall Creek seemed to invite some greater enterprise, Henry Hosmer and Nathaniel Bell purchased the site and erected a saw-mill thereon. This mill was owned and operated by different parties uutil 1847, when it was toru down. A frame school- house stood for many years on the hill just north of this mill, aud was removed at about the same time. There is nothing left there now that would indicate the fact that either had ever been there. Some time previous to this a Methodist society had been organized at Wil- son's Corners, with David Wilson as Class-lea- der. During this year another was organized at Guilford Center, with Reuben Case as Class- leader. Circuit-riders preached there once in two weeks. William H. Bell was elected Jus-

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tiee of the Peace, and Shubael Porter Constable. Mr. John Cook, who had but just come from the East, died and was buried in the new eeme- tery, being the first man that was buried there. In 1827, Henry Hosmer built a large frame barn. This was the most marked improvement in the matter of buildings that had ever been made in the settlement. The people apparently became more patriotie this season than usnal, and determined to celebrate the 4th of July. Accordingly, when the day arrived, the inhabit- ants of the town and vieinity gathered together in a grove, and Elder Rufus Freeman delivered an oration. Mr. David Clute prepared the dinner for the oeeasion, and around his rude table, upon that anniversary of the day of which all Americans are proud, this jolly company of hardy pioneers gathered to partake of such delieacies as their host had at his eommand. The Elder Freeman referred to was the father of Elder Rufus Freeman, who reeeutly lived in Westfield, and grandfather of Joseph Freeman. The "old Elder," as he is often termed, was a Revolutionary soldier.

Prominent among the new-comers of this season was Dr. Nathaniel Eastman, who eame from Wadsworth, where he had been staying for some time. On the 16th day of Deeember of the same year, he ereeted a sign and opened a hotel in the large log house upon the west bank of the Chippewa, ereeted by Henry Hosmer in 1819. Here he carried on, unitedly, the two eallings of landlord and praetieing physician until 1830, when he erected a hewed-log honse of his own upon the north side of the road, nearly opposite from where he then was. This house he oeeupied for four years, when he erected the large frame building just east from it upon the west bank of the ereek. Here he continued to offer refreshment and rest to the weary traveler for several years, when he took charge of the American House, and, after hold- ing forth there for a short time as " mine host," he turned his whole attention to the practice of

medieine. He was one of the most active of the early settlers, and was something of an invent- ive genius. During these early years, he con- structed a steam wagon, somewhat similar in appearance to the present portable engines. Though mueh skill was displayed in its eon- struetion, it was found upon its completion that the proper application of the motive power had not been made, and failure erowned his first effort to make it move its own weight. Several yoke of oxen were then attached to it, and it was hauled out upon the hill west of Chippewa Creek, where the little park now is, and there left. And for several years it stood there an object of wonderment to travelers and a play- thing for boys. The doetor was a regularly educated physician, was a surgeon in connection with Commodore Perry's fleet, and at the noted battle upon Lake Erie on the 10th of September, 1813. He was quite a public speaker, and fre- qnently leetnred upon the snbjeets of temper- anee and medieine. When the civil war broke out in 1861, he often entertained elosely listen- ing erowds with army narrations, and deserip- tions of soldier life, those being subjeets in which all were interested in those days. He died August 15, 1861. Both of the houses ereeted by him on the west side of the ereek are still standing, and are oeeupied as dwelling-houses. A post office was established at River Styx, with David Wilson as Postmaster.

In 1828, a mail route was established from Cleveland to Columbus, over which the mail was earried on horseback for a short time, when Jarvis, Pike & Co., of Columbus, estab- lished a line of stages over the entire route. The first stage-coach arrived in Seville from Columbus on the 5th day of April. The snow was about four inehes deep upon the ground at the time, and, as the roads were quite bad, the new "euterprise " eame leisurely into town, where it was hailed by shouts from a large crowd of enthusiastie observers. James Craw- ford, Jr., soon became a driver of one of these

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coaches, and, as he was driving from Medina to Seville, near where Fritz's steam saw-mill now is, in June of this year, he was overtaken in the midst of the woods by a heavy shower of wind and rain which blew down a large tree near him, killing three of his horses. Six pas- sengers who were in the coach, the driver and one horse, escaped injury. James Elliott erected a frame house a short distance west of Judge Hosmer's. In this he opened a dry goods store; but, failing in a short time, en- gaged in shoe-making. This house is still standing just west of A. P. Beach's residence. Seville Village was laid out on land belonging to Henry Hosmer, and surveyed and platted by Nathaniel Bell, who was County Surveyor at that time. It was named Seville after a city in Spain. Although reference has previously been made to it in these pages by that name, it was known simply as the "Burgh " before this time. In 1829, Smith & Owen opened a dry goods store in a small building on the south side of the road just west of the creek where J. C. Boice's residence now stands. As their business soon necessitated their having more room, this building was moved up on to the hill, where it now forms a part of A. P. Beach's residence, and a large one was erected on the site from which it was removed by the same parties. This building was occupied as a dry goods store by different parties until about 1855, when it was removed to the east side of the creek by Mr. John Harris, who sold goods in it until about 1861. Louis Leon, now of Cleveland, then occupied it for a year or two, when it was taken by J. C. Hamsher. The firm of Hamsher, Hay & Co., was then formed, the old building rebuilt and made into a very nice room. Kuder Brothers bought out this firm in 1868. George D. McCoy now owns and occupies it for a grocery store. A frame school- house was built on a lot donated for the pur- pose by Chester Hosmer, it being a part of the present vacant space west of the upper mill.

Shortly after this, Henry Earle and Sylvanus Thayer started a blacksmith-shop in the old log schoolhouse on the corner, and there the in- habitants had their horses shod, their chains, hoes, shovels, tongs, plows, harrows, etc., made and repaired for several years. A daily line of stages was now running, and frequently extras, as this route had become the thoroughfare to the South and West, and there was a vast amount of travel over the road for those days.

In 1830, Henry Hosmer, Chester Hosmer and Aaron Leland erected a saw-mill upon the north side of Hubbard Creek, in the village of Seville. A dam was built about half a mile up the stream, which flowed the water back toward the center road ; from this pond, the water was conducted by a race to the mill below. Near the mill was quite a large basin, which, when filled with water and frozen over, formed a very fine place for skating, and, at almost any time when the ice was sufficiently strong, a score or more of boys and girls, and oftentimes many grown people, were to be seen there, with skates and sleds, enjoying the sport. At that time, Hubbard Creek afforded sufficient water with which to run the mills upon it about nine months in each year.

During the fall of this year, the stage broke down, in coming from Medina to Seville, when near the Cook farm, and the driver was obliged to leave it and take the mail-bags upon the horses. Soon after he had gone, Henry Hosmer and his wife, and Nathaniel, Margaret and Mar- tha Bell, who had been to Medina in a lumber- wagon and were returning, found the stage standing where it had been left, and, for sport, took off the broken wheel, put one of their wagon-wheels on in its place, and transferred their horses from the wagon to the stage. The ladies then got inside the coach, and the men mounted the box. Hosmer did the driving, and Bell blew the horn. As they drove into town, the continued tooting roused the people, who, having seen the driver pass through on horse-

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back, knew not what was coming. They ac- cordingly turned out en masse, many without hats, headed by Dr. Eastman, who kept the stage tavern, and, when the point of the joke was discovered, and the strange occurrence un- derstood, a merry time ensued.

The old Methodist meeting-house that used to stand west of Seville, where Mrs Mary Cook's house uow stands, was erected during this year.

Iu 1831, John Martin, an Englishman, just over from England, came in and settled north of Seville. This was an event of some impor- tance at that time, as he was the first and only foreigner then in the settlement.

The present Rebman House was built this year by Lovell Redway. It was erected simply for a dwelling-house, and was used as such un- til about the year 1860, when it was purchased by I. S. Towers, who rebuilt it and opened it up as a hotel.

In 1832, David D. Dowd built the house up- on the north side of Hubbard Creek, where George Porter now lives. Heury Hosmer erected the large frame house which he still occupies. J. S. Fisk built a large store build- ing just west of the present little park, aud south of John Hayes' present residence. It was the intention of the citizens at that time to have the business portion of the village up- on that hill, and this building was occupied as a store until the flats upou the other side of the creek became the business center, when it was abandoned, for that purpose, and was re- moved many years after, by James Sickner, to the south side of the road, aud rebuilt for a dwelling-house. It is now owned and occupied by Jacob Scomp. During this year, J. M. Cole started a rake factory about two miles southwest from Wilson's Coruers. In 1833, Parsons and Butler erected the large building, a part of which is now occupied by John Hayes, as a dwelling-house, also west of the park, and started a cabinet-shop therein. This

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 72

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