History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 77

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 77

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Pawnee is a post office, situated in Harris- ville Township, three miles west of Lodi, in the western part, on the line of Homer Township. It was formerly known as Esselburn's Corners. There are about a dozen houses clustered to- gether, and the inhabitants are all mostly Ger- mans. In 1872, Louis Esselburn erected a

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

large store building-the largest in Medina County-at this point, and carried on an ex- tensive trade. The property is now owned by D. B. Dudley. The hamlet was set apart as a post office in 1879, and is supplied with a tri-weekly mail from West Salem.

Crawford's Coruers forms a small settlement in the southwestern part of the township. It is located about three miles from Lodi, and contains about seventy-five iuhabitauts. The first settlement was made in this vicinity by Josiah Perkins, in 1819. Several years later, Joseph Crawford moved with his family from Wayne County, and settled in this locality. He opened up a store, and also erected a tavern. People traveling from Cleveland to Columbus frequently stopped at his place. After him the settlement was named.

In the fall of 1816, the Rev. Mr. Bigelow, a circuit rider of the Methodist Church, whose station was in Kentucky, came into the Harris- ville settlement while on his way from Cleve- land to Columbus, and preached a sermon to the pioneers. He was accompanied by Mr. Harris as far as Wooster, on his way to the State Capital. The Rev. Royce Searl, Rector of St. Peter's Church, in Plymouth, Conn., preached a sermon in April, 1817, in the little log schoolhouse that had been put up that spring near the center of the town, on Timothy Burr's farm. Other ministers of different denomina- tions came into the settlement about this time ; among them, the Rev. Mr. Jones, a Baptist Minister, who was stationed at Wooster, and who held meetings at the different cabins in the settlement. This was the first religious life of the little colony.

The origin of church societies in Harrisville Township, dates back to the fall of 1817. Re- ligious worship and devotional exercises had been held during and previous to that time in the little colony. It was on the 5th of October, 1817, that the first Christian Church was organ- ized in Medina County in the log schoolhouse

in Harrisville Township. It was formed on the Congregational model of the Pilgrim Fathers. During the summer previous, there had been a revival among the settlers in the township, and all those who felt the need of salvation must be gathered into a church for their own safety, and that they might save others. On the 3d of October, all persons having a desire to form themselves into a church, met at the school- house, and gave the reason of their hope, and their views in uniting together as a church. The Rev. Luther Humphrey, settled in Geauga County, and Rev. Amasa Loomis, a home mis- sionary from Counecticut, were the ministers on the occasion. The examination was completed on the 4th, and on the 5th twelve persons came forward and formed a church. Their names were Isaac Catlin, Eunice Catlin, Loammi Hol- comb, Hannah Holcomb, Nathan Hall, Pemibri Hall, George Burr, Mehitable Burr, Cyrus Cur- tis, Russell Burr and Carolus Tuttle. On the 6th of October, 1817, the church voted to euter into connection with the Grand River Presby- tery, according to their rules of practice, and, on the third of the following February, their delegate appeared in Presbytery at their meet- ing in Tallmadge.

There is nothing left on record to show what the confession of faith and covenant of the church was in these early days. No doubt, they were the same or similar to the other Con- gregational Churches on the Reserve, which were connected with Presbytery on the " accom- modation plan." This plan was formed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1801, and was approved by most of the New England ministers. Its aim was to relieve the new settlements, com- posed of mixed populations drawn partly from New England and partly from other States, and so partly Presbyterian and partly Congrega- tional. By uniting these elements for a time upon a fixed plan, they hoped to strengthen the weak church. It was conceived in a Christian

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spirit, and no doubt for some years accomplished good. It was abrogated by the old-school branch of the Presbyterian Church in 1837, and, on the 31st of July, 1841, this church voted to withdraw their connection from Pres- bytery. They some time after joined with other Congregational Churches in conference, and now belong to the Medina County Confer- encc.

In the early days of the township, an occa- sional sermon or a sacramental Sabbath service was obtained from a missionary traveling, or from some minister principally occupied in another settlement. At other times, meetings were held without preaching. In this way Revs. Treats, Simeon Woodruff, Caleb Pitkin, Joel Talrot, John Seward, Varnum Noyes, William Hanford, Mr. Fay and Alvan Coe assisted the infant church. Rev. T. H. Breck was the first stated minister of the church, but it does not appear how long he continued in charge. The Rev. Joseph Edwards was the next stated min- ister-he served but one year. This was in 1831. There is no record to show the names of the ministers who were stationed herc dur- ing the time intervening from the first organiza- tion up to this date. In 1832, the Rev. J. McCrea commenced preaching, and continued the whole or part of two years. Rev. Joel Goodell preached in 1834, who was followed for several years by the Rev. Asaph Boutelle. The Rev. B. W. Higbee preached for seven months in 1839. The Rev. Alvan Ingersol commenced a three years' service in 1840. Rev. J. H. Baldwin then served the church for a year. In 1844, November 30, A. N. McConoughey came, and left in 1847. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses Longley, who was Pastor for the year. Then came A. J. Drake, who preached about four years from 1850. From 1855 to 1865, the pulpit of the church was filled for different periods by T. H. Delamater, Q. M. Bosworth, William Russell and Rev. J. N. Whipple, who died in Lodi on the 29th of De-

cember, 1865. He was followed by the Rev. James Gray, who continued for a year, and was then succeeded by the Rev. S. F. Porter. After the resignation of Mr. Porter, the Rev. A. H. Robbins became Pastor of the church, and remained such for six years, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. L. Donaldson.

The first Clerk of the church, Nathan Hall, was appointed October 6, 1817. Isaac Catlin, was appointed Aug. 29, 1822 ; James Rogers, May 10, 1836 ; Milo Loomis, March 30, 1839 ; Uriel T. Burr, April 29, 1841 ; R. Hunter, De- cember 25, 1852 ; and H. S. Chapman, the pres- ent incumbent, March 25, 1864. The church was incorporated on February 14, 1840. The act of incorporation reads as follows :

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of th- State of Ohio, That George Burr, Isaac Catlin, Justus Burr, James Rogers, Augustus Phelps, Milo Loomis, William Converse and their associates and successors be, and they are hereby created a body corporate and politic, by the name of the First Congregational So- ciety of Harrisville, in Medina County, and as such shall be entitled to all rights, privileges and immunities granted by, and shall be subject to all the restrictions of an act entitled, " An act in relation to incorporated religious societies," passed on the 5th of March, 1836.

SEC. 2. That said society shall give ten days' notice, by posting up advertisements in three of the most public places in the township of Harrisville, in said county, of their first meeting under this act.

THOMAS J. BUCHANAN, Speaker H. of R. WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN, Speaker of the Senate.

The meetings of the church were continued in the log schoolhouse, where it had been formed, until the same was destroyed by fire a few years later. The burnt schoolhouse was replaced by a hewed-log town and school house. where meetings of this society were also held. Sometime in 1828, the congregation built for themselves a log meeting house, 24x30 feet, one story high. It was altogether primitive, both in structure and the furniture within-slab, benches, rough board pulpit, etc. The building

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at present used by the society was erected in 1843. It was an enterprise not undertaken by the church, but by Mr. Milo Loomis, assisted by Mr. Jeremiah Higbee. After finishing the house, they sold the pews as best they could for payment. A semi-centennial was held in the church on October 7, 1867. One remarkable fact in connection with this church is, that it has not missed a single Sabbath service during its existence.

The record and origin of the Methodist Epis- copal Church in Harrisville is not well known. Religious observances of the Sabbath Day were held by the Methodist ministers as early as 1818, but no organization was formed until several years later, and no record has been kept to show the date. At different times, services were held in the Cotrell Schoolhouse, located a mile and a half northwest of Lodi. In 1825, the Wesleyans and Methodists joined with other denominations, and helped build, with the township, the two-story town and school house on the site of the first log schoolhouse, which had burned down, and there, in the upper story, they continucd union worship for a number of years.

During 1846, the first Methodist Episcopal Church organization was formed in Harris- ville. In 1847, the church list had a membership of seventy-five, and the Revs. Warner, Dodge, Hitehcoek and others were the ministers in the following years. The present Methodist Epis- copal Church edifice was erected and fin- ished during the years from 1867 to 1869, and was dedicated by Bishop Clark, of Cincinnati, in August of that year. The church was in charge of the Rev. G. A. Reeder during this year. He was followed by the Revs. Mr. Pope, E. O. McIntyre, B. D. Jones, V. P. Lawrenee and G. W. Huddleston. At a revival held in the church in the winter of 1878, there were sev- enty-two eonversions, and there was consider- able interest attending the revival meetings. It was the largest religious movement ever known

in Harrisville Township. The membership of the church now numbers 172.

Another religious element which asserted itself in the earlier days of the settlement, and for several years maintained an organization, is the Universalist Church. For several years preceding the war of the rebellion, the Rev. Henry Gifford came at regular intervals and ad- dressed the small congregations at the town hall, and at private residences. An effort was made in the fall of 1871, for a permanent or- ganization of a Universalist Society. It was successful, and remained intact for several years. Meetings were held regularly every alternate Sabbath Day for religious worship, in the town hall. The incorporators, at this time, of the Lodi Universalist Society, were H. Ainsworth, Joseph Reynolds, A. Pomeroy, Mrs John War- ren, N. E. Shaw, E. O. White and Calvin Holt. The Rev. N. Stacey Sage was the resident minis- ter, and preached for three years, when he re- moved to the West. The regular Sabbath services were then discontinued, and the society gradu- ally died out, only a few meetings having since been held by the society in Lodi. The Rev. H. F. Miller and Rev. Mrs. Danforth have both preached several sermons.

In the year 1840, a Presbyterian Society was formed in the western part of the township. The incorporators were John Douglas, William Finley, William Jeffreys, James Stevenson, Joseph Faulk and Skene Lowe. They held re- ligious worship at the little log schoolhouse, near the corner, with the Rev. Varnum Noyes as minister for five years, and then disbanded and joincd the Presbyterian Society at West Salem.

The first public instruction given in the township of Harrisville was in the spring of 1817, in a small log schoolhouse erected on the farm of Timothy Burr, now belonging to E. W. Minns, one-half mile west of the town of Lodi. Miss Diadema Churchill taught school during the summer of that ycar. In the winter follow-

AlbertNorris

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

ing, and for several years after that, Mr. Tim -. othy dealt instruction in the rudimentary branches of learning to the few ehildren, num- bering from four to eight at a time.

A few years later than this, another sehool- house was put up by the few settlers in the western part of the township, on the site where now one of the churches at Cherry Cor- ners stands. Miss Harriet Hosford taught there a few terms, and also a Mr. George Me- Quay. A division of the township in sehool distriets was made on the 10th of October, 1827, with the following boundaries, as given in the original ordinanee made by the Township Trustees :

Commencing on the south line of the township, at the southeast corner of Lot No. 156, running from thence north on lot line, to the north corner of Lot 96; from thence west, on the line of the lots, to the West Branch of Black River; from thence northwardly, following said stream, to the outer road running east and west; from thence west, to the west line of the township. All that said part of said Township west and south of that line, shall constitute District No. 2. District No. 3, bounded by District No. 2 on the west, and a line run- ning from the northeast corner of Lot 96, running east to the south, to the southeast corner of Lot 87; from thence north, to the northeast corner of Lot 68 ; from thence east, to the east line of said township ; said dis- trict shall include all that part of the Township south and east of the said line not included in District No. 2. District No. 1 to contain all that part of the Township not included in the other two districts. The following are the names of all the householders in District No. 1 : Seth Lewis, Michael Loomis, Alvin Loomis, Justus Burr, Carolus Tuttle, John Jason, Jr., Nedebiah Cass, John B. Utter, Charles Lewis, Lomer Griffin, Willis Griffin, Anson Loomis, James Rogers, Amos Kinney, Timothy Burr, Joseph Harris, Thomas Dunbar, Eli Utter, Michael Simcox, Cyrus Chapman, Henry K. Jo- line, Asher Loomis, Ira Kingsby, Elijah De Witt, Isaac Catlin, Diodema Birge, John Jason, Moses Parsons, Ralzemond Griffin, Parley F. Griffin, Richard West and Perrin Chapman. District No. 2-Loammi Holcomb, Reuben Harrington, Daniel Delevan, Timothy Munson, Josiah Perkins, John Munson, Nathaniel Rogers, Leon- ard Chapman, Samuel R. Munson, David Sausman, Roger Phelps, William Rogers, Perez Rogers, Anson Marsh,

Jonathan Fitts and Thomas Holcomb. District No. 3- Thomas Russell, Russell Burr, Webster Holcomb, Jere- miah Hill, Elijah Bishop, Levi Chapman, Warren John- son, Sceva Chapman, Orange Stoddart, Reuben Chap- man, Isaae Rogers, Ebenezer Harris, William Burr, George Burr and Celina Young.

We, the undersigned, Trustees of Harrisville Town- ship, certify the above to be a true description of school districts in said township, as laid off by us, and also a correct list of householders in each district.

Attested :

JAMES ROGERS, JONATHAN FITTS, Trustees.

ANSON LOOMIS, Clerk.

An enumeration taken on the 4th of Janu- ary, 1830, of the householders in the different sehool distriets in the township showed eighty- oue householders and one hundred and thir- teen children between the ages of four and eighteen. Another subdivision of sehool dis- triets was made on the 16th of May, 1835, add- ing two more and making five sehool distriets. Two more distriets were ereated by the town- ship trustees, on the 15th of May, 1837, and on the 9th of October in the same year, Alvin Loomis, Joseph W. Roekwell and O. S. Kinney were appointed Direetors of Sehool Distriet No. 1. An enumeration of the youth between the ages of four and twenty, in the several school distriets iu the township, taken on the 20th of October, 1838, showed 253 males, 253 fe- males and a total of 506. This number had in- ereased in 1840 to a total of 538, and in 1845 to 638. In 1855, the number of youth had de- ereased to a total of 484, and in 1860 there were only 447 ehildren between the ages of four and twenty years in Harrisville Township. Twenty years later, in the fall of 1880, the total number of sehool ehildren between the ages of six and twenty-one, in the eutire township, in- eluding the special sehool distriet of Lodi, was 482, being, strange as it may seem, just 156 less than were enumerated in 1845.

By virtue of an aet passed by the Ohio Leg- islature on April 9, 1867, a special sehool dis- triet was ereated in the winter of 1868, embrac-

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ing the territory within the limits of the town of Lodi. At the first election, held in April fol- lowing, H. Ainsworth, H. Selders and N. Harris were chosen a Board of Education for said dis- trict. Township District No. 8, on petition of the householders of said district, was merged into the special district of Lodi in April, 1872, and is now an incorporate part of the same. A few years previous to the separation of a special school district, the question of the es- tablishment of a higher grade of school than that of a common district school had been ex- tensively agitated among the people of Lodi, and consultation and private meetings had been held by its citizens, at various times, to en- courage a movement of this kind. In the fall of 1867, the following call was issued and placarded on the streets of the town :

LET US BUILD THE HOUSE !

The advocates and Patrons of Education, within and adjacent to Harrisville Township, are hereby notified that a meeting will be held at Lodi, on Saturday even- ing, Fehruary 16, 1867, at 6 P. M., to devise measures for the erection of an academy in said town. All are respectfully invited to convene on that evening at the Congregational Church.

FRIENDS OF EDUCATION.

The people of the neighborhood at onee re. sponded to this call, and there was a large at- tendanee and a great deal of enthusiasm mani- fested on the subject. Dr. M. Hoag was called to the chair, and spirited addresses and appeals were made by H. Ainsworth, Rev. Samuel F. Porter, T. G. Loomis, John Taylor, M. Hoag and others for the cause of education, and the ereetion of an academy building. A pream- ble and subscription list was offered by Mr. Ainsworth, and $8,500 was put down at this meeting. Committees were appointed and an adjournment had for a week, wheu an organi- zation was effected. H. Selders, S. C. Munson, H. Ainsworth, T. G. Loomis and W. W. Pren- tice were elected a board of trustees, with the following board of offieers : President, W. W.

Prentice ; Vice President, John Taylor ; Secre- tary, F. R. Loomis ; Treasurer, Henry Ains- worth. The total stock had been placed at 200 shares of $100 each, all of which were taken in less than a month's time ; there were sixty- three original stockholders. The project had so far advanced by the first of May that the se- lection of a site was made, and the proposals for a building given out. On the 5th of June, 1865, the first assessment of 10 per cent was made, and the ground was broken in the "Orchard" lot, within the town, for a large academy building, which was completed in the spring of 1871. The first academy school year opened the next fall with Prof. J. N. Haskins as Principal. There was a very large attendance of seholars, which increased during the next year, and the school bid fair to become a prosperous and successful institution. A Boarding Hall, large enough to accommo- date 120 studeut boarders, was erected south of the Academy during the first year. At the fourth annual meeting of the stockholders, held on April 5, 1873, the following proposition was submitted to the voters : "Shall the trustees ereate an indebtedness sufficient to complete the building, and inclose grounds?" which was adopted by a vote of 118 for, to 12 against. The success of the school continued for a few years, and the people of Lodi felt gratified and encouraged. Then came the panic of 1873, with it assessments on the capital stock of the academy association to meet contingent ex- penses. Prof. Haskins resigned on account of failing health, and the attendance of the school grew less. Prof. H. N. Miller, a Universalist minister, took charge of the school and con- ducted it in a very able manner for three years. After that the Rev. Mr. McIntyre and Prof. W. R. Grannis took control of the school uutil the spring of 1878, when the school was closed for an indefinite time. One or two private se- lect schools were held in the building after that. In April, 1879, the question of purchas-

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

509

ing the academy building and using it for a union school was submitted to the voters of Lodi Special School District, and carried with an overwhelming majority. John Warren, T. G. Loomis and E. W. Minns were clected ·Directors of the district at the same election.

The building, which had originally cost $25,000, was bought for $5,000. It is one of the finest structures for school purposes in Ohio. The public schools opened in it on the 2d of Sep- tember, 1879, with S. Thomas as Superintend- ent.

CHAPTER XIII.

YORK TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTIVE-COMING OF SETTLERS-PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENTS-UNDER- GROUND RAILROAD-MANNERS AND MORALS.

TT often occurs within the experience of the historical writer, that, when any section of country was first settled, some portions were cleared and inhabited a quarter of a century be- fore other portions removed but a few miles dis- tant. Owing to some natural feature which un- fitted the land for occupancy in early years, no improvements were made ; and some of the finest farms in the county have been cleared and subjected to cultivation within comparatively late years. Following the natural instincts of human life, the pioneer complacently selected what, in his judgment, was the finest land within the reach of his limited purse, for what- ever object he had in view, whether agriculture, horticulture, stock-rearing, milling or mechanics. Its proximity to mills, stores, schoolhouses, churches, good water, quarries, etc., was an im- portant item to be considered. If any or all of these were yet lacking, the settler chose a home where the configuration of the land and the natural surroundings gave promise that the farm would be favorably situated when the country became well settled. Sometimes, as was quite often the case, the settler arrived in the wilderness with more children than dollars, trusting that with the aid of those two valuable assistants-help and self-denial-he might at last secure a home where he could pass the re- mainder of his days in security and peace. “It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of

hope," and what a rest it is from the dreary prospects that hang like the shadow of some impending calamity over the future. How precious to our happiness are the castles that we build ! How swect it is to let the imagina- tion wander off into pleasing representations of future stages of life ; and how universal and cherished is this phase of human character. It opens boundless fields of enjoyment as vivid as reality, and crowns desolate and desponding lives with the bright flowers of approaching happiness. When all the blessings from Pan- dora's box are fied, hope alone remains, a sol- ace in the darkest hour of human life, to irradi- ate the future with the smiles of Divine promise and love, and to save man from de- spair at the approach of death. The pioneer, removed from the influences of human society, no doubt thought as did Alexander Selkirk :

" O Solitude ! where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face ? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, Than reign in this horrible place.

" I'm out of humanity's reach ; I shall finish my journey alone ; Never hear the sweet music of speech ; I start at the sound of my own."

His only prospect for relief from anxieties and toil lay in his sturdy nature, and in his hope that " something better would turn up." The total avoidance of human society is a

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cross that weighs heavily upon the heart as the years advance. In the seclusion of non- intercourse with fellow-men, the tendency of human nature is to revert from the standard of society in its present artificial character, and to renew the cast-off instincts and habits of barbarous man. Evolutionists insist that soci- ety is an organic growth or relation, and that it is neither the natural nor primitive condition of man. They assert, that, if the usages of so- ciety be partially relaxed or wholly avoided, the infallible result is a fatal retrogression to primitive conditions. This would place man back almost to the higher plane of brute capa- bilities. However, the pioneer had nothing of this nature to fear, as his isolation from social contact with his fellows was but temporary, from the obvious fact that thousands of settlers would locate near him in the course of a com- paratively short time. This philosophical ques- tiou was not the one which most perplexed the settler. His problem was something like this : " How in the world am I to feed and clothe this 'raft' of children ?" That same question has staggered many a man not recognized in histories as a pioneer ; and it may be added that many a husband and father never suc- ceeded in reaching a correct solution. He could not look in a book as the school-boy does, and write the answer in its proper position on the slate. That estcemed privilege was denied him. The case must be met with honest and incessant toil, and no legerdemain could de- ceive the great Teacher looking down from above. Others in the school of life could solve the problem at a glance, and the prosperous condition of their children, the presence of a broad scholarship, and a lofty refinement in thought and act, attest the accuracy and prac- tical value of their solution of the problem of social life. Pioneers belong to that division of humanity known as benefactors. Through countless dcuials and self-imposed hardships, through almost a lifetime of unceasing priva-

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 77

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